Ironman Mont Tremblant 2018

" Adversity can cause some to break; others to break records"

I was looking SO forward to my third Ironman attempt this weekend in Mont-Tremblant. I had heard amazing things about the course, the town, and the environment. They didnt let down and I am so glad I chose this race ( I HAVE to come back ....but maybe just the 70.3 😂). Logistically, from a scheduling point of view it allowed myself to have a great build around the rest of my seasons races and peek just in time as probably the fittest I have ever been. I was confident with the work done and just excited to reach my finish line. 

Sherpa Jacob at the classic chair photo-opp

We made the longgggg 12 hr drive to MT on thursday morning leaving around 6am. I just started a new job so was trying to minimize time out of the office and this seemed do able. Funny how 12 hours is just a hair too long and we were so excited to get out of the car and walk down to the town for some dinner and to move our legs. We met up with some friends (whom we had alot doing the race and spectating from DC) and things were off to a good start. 

I mention the above quote as Ironman is a very mentally and physically demanding event. Its often time, not the race that derails you but the things in life in between that do. Friday morning we woke up and did an easy spin. Toward the end of the ride I felt my hamstring seize up and immediately had a S*It reaction. I had felt this before earlier this year. I didnt know how I was gonna race. We decided to go take a swim in the afternoon before getting groceries to see if it would loosen my leg up. The swim was OK, but then the worse was yet to come. Jacobs lock got cut off and someone took his pants with his car keys, wallet, and phone. We spent the next couple hours at the pool with the police and the storm was brewing. Not exactly relaxing, but atleast I forgot about my hamstring...

Pre-Race riding the run course with Joanna and Adam.

Prepping Breakfast in gear ...because if you know me, eating ASAP is important.

Next thing I knew it was the day before the race. Holy crap! I did my pre-race stuff, opted to not test my leg out on the run and just bike and could see it was barely hanging on but it MIGHT make it. Luckily, a friend Joanna was staying at our house and she worked some magically PT skills on my leg which helped a ton. I got all my bags together, dropped off my stuff then back home by about 2pm to relax the rest of the day. The nerves were kicking in. I wasnt nervous for the distance, I was more nervous because I knew how hard I had worked and I just wanted the best race I could possibly have. I went to bed with my leg sending me pulses letting me know it was there and I told it to calm down and rise to the occasion tomorrow. As for Jacob and I...we were still without keys and cards but we were slowly working on details.

Relaxing the night before the race by the pool.

Racked and Ready. No turning Back.

RACE MORNING!

Woke up feeling optimistic and positive. Normal race morning breakfast, some stretching and glute activation. I think my leg felt ok.... We walked down to drop our final bags and then to swim start. Being a Meteorologist and knowing that when water is warmer then air temperature it usually creates fog, I looked over the water as the sun was coming up and saw just as I expected FOG. At first we delayed 15 mins and then we were up to an one hour delay. Would we get to swim? I decided to go for a quick jog to warm up since swim warm up was not really an option. Felt pretty good.

Getting my Zone3 Swimskin on.

Then all the sudden it looked as if it was lifting and all the sudden it was game time. Except it really only lifted for about 3 buoys (or 300m) and then it was into an abiss. The pro womens field was a NON-wetsuit swim and it was a small field. I knew this meant I would be swimming alone and sadly this happened pretty fast. The problem was not really that- it was the fact I could not see a dang thing. I actually looked BACK to find the buoy I just passed to make sure I was still going forward. By the time I crossed over the lake to head back home, the age groupers who were in wetsuits were flying by. At first I thought, oh yeah Ill jump on their feet. Except I couldnt! They were going so fast. Then they created a wake like non other and I Just got destroyed. It was my worst swim ever, but I kept reminding myself that in the pro race you are racing the other pros, and I was still exiting the water in about 6/7th place so I was gonna be just fine, albeit a little frustrated. 

Into T1- Another Pro gal and I exchanged looks and a "WTF was that" comment....Off to bike and I never been so happy to ride.

The BIKE!

The bike course has GREAT roads. Amazing. Very similar climbing to what I ride at home too, so I was finding myself saying "just another day to Poolseville". 2 Loop course is spectator friendly and leaves a section of hills at the mere 100 mile mark. Ouch. Anyway, out on the course I was feeling great. However, since my pathetic swim left me mixed in with age groupers I was surrounded by quiet a few more then I usually am at the beginning of the bike. And with all my luck, 25 miles in to the ride I am given a Blue card, or 5 min penalty, for passing an age grouper incorrectly. 😡 I was furious. I got the same penalty in CDA last year. This is redic. I almost felt like they were just trying to find a "pro" to penalize to show they were watching us. I tried to remind myself to just use the 5 mins to chill, eat, drink, and its still a long day. I rolled into the tent around mile 40 and served my time. I saw the person I passed go by the tent a mere 3 MINUTES after I landed in it....so UH clearly I was not drafting them....Its just real shit. Eventually down the road I re-passed them again and just kept on riding. It was nice to see friends back in town as I headed into the hilly section. I LOVE the hills. I almost wish there was more. The race caps out somewhere between 5500-5900 ft of climbing, but dang I almost wish there was more! 

Out on the bike near town.

Second loop was pretty un-eventful. Much more quiet. I was still in the top ten so just tryin to stay steady. I road my sescond half of the ride consistent and even with the 5 min penalty I was on target for the split I knew I could produce. 

t2! I almost crashed into transition. Very pro....But I didnt! Anyway off into the tent and a minute later out on the run. I FELT GREAT! First mile I came out at 730 and Jacob even commented "dang shes gonna run them down". 

The RUN:

The two loop course starts with about 3.5 miles of some hills. They arent horrible, but in an ironman marathon, they are pretty horrible lol. I came out the gate running 730 pace, HR on par...I was like dang my legs are there! I got into the rollers and my pace dropped but that was to be expected. I noticed that my Feet were like HOT STONEs. I had some last minute cycle shoe problems and had to end up racing in an old pair that kind of makes my feet go numb. I knew this and accepted it but didnt think my feet would STILL be numb 8 miles into the run. So I walked. Anyone who does an ironman knows that when you start walking its a hard process to stop. Anyway, the walking helped my feet ALOT. So I took off again. When I got to the turn around point I counted 3 girls in front, 3 girls behind. I was like SHIT they are coming! It was around then I was starting to feel rather tired. Like, I can go to sleep tired.😴 It was happening. THE BONK! I spent so much time worrying about my damn feet the first couple miles I pretty much wasnt getting calories. I was sooooooo tired. I made it to the half way point where I saw Jacob and told him how i wasnt gonna stop but man i was tired. I just kept eating, kept drinking, trying my best. "Making the best out of MY day", was all I wanted for this race. Its hard because I knew I needed calories and lots of them...But its like it was just was never enough. Even coke, which usually helps me perk up wasnt doing justice. Out on the second lap I saw so many great fighters. We were all out there struggling and we were all gonna get back to that finish line. Not the run I wanted or am capable of but do I regret it- hell no!  I kept pushing. I crossed the finish line in 10:44. And the icing on the cake.....(that I didnt even know) was a top 10 Pro Female Finish!  My first ever and something I have always dreamed I was worthy of.

I mentioned on IG the other day after the race that I feel the Ironman process is so much more then the finish line result its self. I still feel this way and am proud of myself for doing nothing but my best on race day. I have grown so much as an athlete this year and am so thankful for Coach Matt Hanson's guidance. I may not have another Ironman in the cards for a while, but I am already beginning to brainstorm whats next.

Through adverse times we will prosper. 

Also huge thanks to all my friends on the course and my sponsors, DC TRI Elite, QunitanaRoo, Zone3, Klean Athlete, Bonzai Sports, SBR, my Mom and Jacob. You guys are the best! 

Heres some more pics as the recovery block continues....