Fuel It Right

The Utah Half Ironman

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Location:

Layton,UT,USA

Member Since:

Sep 24, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Short-Term Running Goals:

2016 Races

3-12 Rex Lee 5k 22:39

3-19 Tour del Sol Stage Race 3:30:45

4-16 East Canyon RR 

5-7 Provo City Half(SU)

5-21 HITS 70.3 Tri

6-18 Utah State TT Championship

7-9 Echo Tri

8-13 Jordanelle Tri

8-16 Hotter Than Heck?

9-10 LOTOJA

10-8 Layton Half

Personal:

I can't decide what sport I want to be good at so I do them all sorta good.

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Altra Lifetime Miles: 79.50
Mizuno Trail Lifetime Miles: 25.10
Adidas Pink Lifetime Miles: 345.52
Insoles Lifetime Miles: 233.82
Kinvara5 Lifetime Miles: 260.89
Hoka Lifetime Miles: 295.80
Race: The Utah Half Ironman (70.3 Miles) 05:58:02, Place overall: 30, Place in age division: 11
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
13.601800.0056.20

40:58 T1 2:14 3:07:07 T2 1:43 2:06:02
Started off laying in bed not being able to sleep. It popped into my head at 11:30 that I didn't have a timing chip and I couldn't stop thinking about it. It probably said in emails(I need to figure out why I never receive race emails) that we would get them in the morning and when I got up i looked on the website and it did say. All that worrying for nothing. 

Woke up and had some coffee(it served its purpose nicely) and calories and made some pb and honey toast to eat on the way. Did all the pre race stuff and got set up. Sat around for awhile and listened to music. I feel like a Negative Nancy, but when the pre race meeting finally started about 15 min late they spent about 15 min giving away prizes and telling stories about competitors. Really? Just get to the point and let us get on with it! Especially when there is a late start! Just me ranting :0)

SWIM- They finally started the heats for the swim. I ate a banana at this point. I opted for a wetsuit for the first time and I liked it except I felt like I was being choked and it caused my breathing to be a little weird. Swim went smoothly, though, other than that, excepts goggles leaked a little. I had to flip once to my back to clear them. Kept my stroke even and consistent. Getting out of the water was good(no dizziness or weak legs) other than being slippery but they had people there to help you past the slime which was nice.

BIKE- First of all- WOW! THIS COURSE IS REALLY GORGEOUS!

Hopped on the bike and was off for the 56 miles. I forgot the sandwich i was going to eat at this point. Oops. But i did have a gel in tranistion. Almost right away my right calf started bothering me. It made me nervous and I started over compensating with my left leg. It slowed me down some. Took a gel about 45 min in. Got to the turn around and was dissapointed to not see any porta potties and flat open fields with nowhere to hide. I didn't care though. I had to go bad! It just kept coming too! But damn! It felt good. Ate a sandwich here. Drank about every 10 min. I could tell I was making my lungs really tired on the second half of the ride. I tried to breath as deep and slow as I could but it was difficult at times. My legs felt decent though.

RUN- Got back to the transition area and my brain was not working that well. Went out the wrong side on the run and it didn't even register that people were yelling at me for about 20 sec. Oops. I was in my head and just trying to not over think this run I still had to do. My lungs were so tired and my breathing not so good. I REALLY had to concentrate on taking deep steady breaths. Good thing my legs still felt ok. Got through the first half of the run and right on que I saw Josse there to help me through the second half. It was a happy day! And seeing cole and his happy face gave me a 2nd wind. I also had a little bird riding his bike next to me, making a posse, and I like it :0) She had water and Gatorade I had made up last night and some extra gels. I was going through gels very quickly in this second loop so I'm glad she had them! Not positive, but pretty sure I had a negative split run. I was so exhausted but sped up the last few miles and pushed it to the end. This was a very good learning experience and can say I will most likely do it again. I had a few people ask me if the ironman is next. I highly doubt that! Unless I become rich and have all the time in the world to train. 

For the most part I was happy with the race set up. What a huge undertaking! But there were some things that bothered me. I thought there needed to be more porta potties along the course, the pre race meeting needed to be more efficient and bouyie set up should have started a lot earlier than it did, they needed mile markers on the run, some parts on the run were confusing and I think should have been manned, they should have offered more gels at aid stations.. To name a few. 

One thing I really liked- I thought the police presence was spot on. They did a good job. 

After thoughts- I have a lot to learn still about this sport and am excited to learn and race smarter.  I lost about 6 lbs I really didn't have to lose during this training but I still feel strong so I don't know how bad that was for me. 

Comments
From runningafterbabies on Sat, Aug 25, 2012 at 21:55:05 from 71.195.219.247

you go girl!!!

From Burt on Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 00:39:52 from 72.223.86.148

Can't wait to hear about it.

From MichelleL on Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 01:03:07 from 168.70.21.27

Post details when you can. Love the pic. Don't you think heaven will be a nudist colony (we'll all be sculpted, of course)?

From Smooth on Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 06:59:58 from 75.165.251.74

YOU DID IT!!! WaHOOO CONGRATZ !!! :) :) :)

From Brent on Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 08:33:23 from 66.7.127.67

Ericka, outstanding race, did not know you were doing Tris, congradulations, cannot wait to read your full race report. It was a fun/hard day, the volunteers were great, next time yell at me or something. 1,000 commando points, great job again.

Stay Kool, B of BS Rools out

From josse on Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 08:56:09 from 70.196.195.166

I feel like a very proud mama. great job little sis:) your did so great and you should have seen how many people she passed on the run and absolutely no walking either.

From Brent on Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 08:59:53 from 66.7.127.67

Ericka, another 500 commando points for the run, it was a real gut check on the run and you did it. I would agree on the race support assessment. It was better than last year, but, needs major improvement if they expect this race to become a destination race.

Stay Kool, B of BS Rools out

From RAD on Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 13:43:42 from 98.202.23.178

It was SO nice to see you Ericka! You did a GREAT job, and I was SO jealous on the run of your posse :)

I agree with all your assessments. Except that maybe it was just me in my own head, but I didn't see any gu or cokes or anything at the aid stations except gatorade/heed and water! I really wish it would've been like a marathon and they'd have had food (candy, fruit, pretzels etc) at the run stations. My gut was tired of gu, gu, gu and I wanted/needed real food since my glycogen was long gone by the second loop!!

I have a whole new found respect for full IM competitors. Seriously, SO hard! You did an awesome job and finished strong! WAY TO GO!!!

From RAD on Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 13:44:17 from 98.202.23.178

oh, especially the pre-race meetings! uggghhh...and PLEASE start on time when I'm already going to be running at noon!!!

From MichelleL on Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 17:42:44 from 168.70.21.27

Funny race report. Welcome to my world of squatting at inconvenient times :D Good job pushing the end. Bad job loosing 6 lbs :/

From Burt on Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 20:04:33 from 72.223.86.148

I know I told you I couldn't wait to read this, but I lied. I knew you finished writing it because I was getting emails, but I put it off until now. I just want to be up front and honest with you. Anyway, great job! You are an animal! Love the Josse posse.

From Rachelle on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 09:30:57 from 199.190.170.28

You are funny and I loved your report! Congratulations!! Wow what an amazing accomplishment.

From Ericka on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 16:42:01 from 24.10.179.23

Thank you everyone for the kind words!

Michelle- sculpted and nude.. Sounds about right but you forgot the unlimited amounts of ice cream. Funny how decency goes out the window in certain situations in life.

Burt- thanks for the honesty. It means a lot to me :0)

Josse- love it! And you!

Rachel- the gu and coke offerings were extremely random. I was offered once for each. Having real food at the aid stations would have been heaven! And yes, on time starts are kind of a big deal when your athletes are out in the dead heat and mugginess of the day.

Brent- I heard about last year and that's why I wanted to bring my own fluids. I can't even imagine how aweful the run would be without water at the aid stations. Hopefully they are learning more each year.

Rachelle & Melody- you are both amazing and I get inspired whenever I read your posts.

From Ericka on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 16:48:25 from 24.10.179.23

And SMOOTH- I didn't forget you. You're such a sweetie. Just seeing your name makes me smile!

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