Summer’s IM 70.3 Santa Cruz Race Report

Goals:

Written: Not to be taken to the med tent, which meant nailing nutrition.

Unwritten: Win the amateur race and qualify for my pro card.

Splits:

Swim	32:30 (1:40/100m)
T1 (long run from beach)	4:21
Bike	2:29:52 (22.46mph)
T2	1:56
Run	1:29:51 (6:51/mi, 5th fastest overall)
Total	4:38:18

Training:

My previous two races leading up to Santa Cruz had been pretty disappointing. Collegiate Nationals in April was a mess and Eagleman 70.3 in June wasn’t much better. For a while I thought about dropping triathlon and going back to running, but decided to give the sport one more shot at Santa Cruz 70.3 in September. But after Eagleman’s mediocre preformance I took a lot of time to reflect on how I wanted to train going in to Santa Cruz. I decided to shift my attitude, and to start letting things go. It wasn’t perfect, but I eventually started to actually “let things go”. If I had to stay late for work and the swim was going to be impossible? I let it go. When my shoulder started to get aggravated? I let up on the swimming and let go of the fear of getting out of shape. When my professor asked to play tennis, or we entered an all-day sand volleyball tournament? I let go of my anxiety, and just enjoyed what life was presenting me.

My swim workouts, once I stopped fretting about them, were going quite well. I hit a breakthrough when I was able to do 10x100y at 1:13-1:14. This gave me some confidence going in to Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, with about two weeks left before the race, I tried to change my swim form, got a little over zealous, and ended up straining my right scapularis. This meant that I only swam twice the two weeks leading up to the race; but again, I let that go and reminded myself that I had already put in so much work, it wasn’t going to all disappear in two weeks.

Pre-Race:

Oh boy. If you had asked me about the day(s) leading up to this race before the gun went off I would have told you it will be a miracle if we both finish. Ben and I flew to Santa Cruz (our second time ever flying to a race) and got in around 4pm on Friday. It all started because I was overly busy and had forgotten to apply for health insurance once starting my new job in September. I was trying to apply on the Marketplace in between flights but was having little success. We had changed time zones, the HR department at my previous employer never picks up the phone, I couldn’t find any documentation for “loss of coverage” (yadda yadda yadda). I was left frustrated, frazzled, and without health insurance going in to this race. Ben spent the night putting the bikes back together and came to realize we would be needing to stop at a bike shop as early as we could Saturday morning to bleed his brakes. Getting ready to set up transition and getting organized, I accidentally toppled Ben’s bike over and it hit the ground hard. Words were said. I thought it was for sure it was a sign that we should not race. So many things were up against us. Luckily, one of my high school best friends and former cross-country teammate met us for lunch after we set up transition, and I was able to accept reality and get excited for Sunday.

Race:

Swim: The water was cold (upper 50’s) and I was anxious. “What if I get eaten by a shark?” Many thoughts and feelings were tumbling around in my mind as I walked to the start line, but as soon as the buzzer went off for my four-person wave I was ready to RACE. It was incredibly easy to sight with buoys marking every 100 meters and even easier when I got to the point I could count them down. I PR’ed my swim by almost a minute. With an angry scapularis and potentially angrier rib, I was thrilled with the swim time, even though I learned later I would have been the last pro female by over a minute.

Bike: Oh, the bike. Usually my strength, but not in this race. It was an out and back course (my favorite) but we had crazy head/cross winds on the way out. The fear of being injured in a bike accident and not having health insurance to cover the cost honestly crippled my “out” portion. The cross winds blew me all over the road and I spent most of my time out of aero. I would pass people on the uphills, and then get destroyed on the downhills. I was not comfortable being in aero down the descents. On one downhill a girl passed me and my light was quickly blown out. I just prayed that the way back would not be as treacherous and I could really put down some power.

Thankfully that wish was granted, and the way back I was able to get my head back in the game and I started picking off people one at a time. Normally around mile 45 I start bonking. My focus for this race was all about nutrition, and keeping nutrition on my mind payed off in a big way. I had a strategic plan: 3 scoops of Gatorade Endurance in the front bottle, 3 scoops in the back bottle, and 2 packets of Gatorade Endurance Carb Chews. My plan was to drink everything up front and grab a bottle at the second aid station. All chews needed to be eaten before mile 40 to avoid any pooping issues that could arise on the run. Needless to say, I stuck to the plan, and with 10 miles to go I felt amazing… and I knew I could crush the run.

Post Race:

What’s Next?

On the racing front, Ben and I will be racing Waco 70.3 in October for our first race as a professional couple! I have also already begun coaching with Good Stuff Coaching (under our long-time coach and friend, Brett Jenner). We hope to coach athletes, gain sponsors, and crush races in the upcoming months- so watch out!