Training and Racing during Covid - IMFL Race Report 2020

Before reviewing my year, I want to start by saying that I am still passionate about the sport and helping others reach their goals. This year has been a roller coaster. I pivoted from trying to achieve a personal best to accepting a respectable finish. I maintained endurance with some threshold work sprinkled in but allowed myself grace. I needed to accept the stress that this virus has added to our lifestyle and find a way to continue to reach for my goals. The hardest part about the cancelled races has been the need to continue to train for the "what if". With full distance triathlons on my schedule through November, I had to continue to build endurance as it would have been too risky to race unprepared. 

Pre-Covid Race Schedule:

April - Ironman Texas...deferred to Waco in October....deferred back to The Woodlands for 2021

May - Ironman Tulsa...deferred to Ironman Florida in November 2020

After Ironman Texas was cancelled in Waco, I had to focus my energy toward Florida. I was well prepared for my April and May races. I let off a bit for the October race but was able to get my head into the game for this November. I was ready! I had been working to achieve race weight, which has effected my bike power but otherwise, I felt as ready as ever! As I consider my goals for IMFL, I like to have levels that can keep me motivated to finish...if I don't reach the first, I move on to the next. Plan A is to finish in under 12:46, a PR. Plan B is to have a run under 5:23, a PR. Plan C is a healthy race with a respectable finish. 

One of the most difficult aspects of race week are balancing family, work, and the upcoming race. Planning, packing, and travel...oh my! Although this is my 7th ironman, I still worry about packing the right items while NOT wasting anything. The new protocols that eliminate the change tent, has added a wrinkle because I want to have the option to change clothes before the marathon. This race, in particular, carries the unknown of ocean swimming and the wildlife that I may encounter, most notable the jellyfish!

Notable changes to Ironman Protocol for this race. 

Pre-Race:

Packet pickup reservations, but they weren't strictly enforced

Temperature and questions every time you entered the village/transition

Mandatory face coverings 

Transition bike spacing was AWESOME, 4 bikes per rack

Bags at your bike, like at a shorter event

Race Day:

Notices for NO spectators 

Queue based on finish time, escorted from transition to swim start

Notices for athletes to be "self-sufficient" 

Less aid stations for the bike and run

Touchless finish line

Race Day

Swim:

Water was choppy past the pier

Note to all, salt water burns your throat

"find your rhythm" relax into the waves to find the right breathing pattern

Deep sand to run in for second loop

Water shower was not enough, glad I had a bottle of water in transition

Bike:

Mostly headwind out then tailwind in but lots of crosswind too

Aid stations 15-20 miles apart

Bonked a bit, should have started eating sooner, 1:15- banana never tasted so good

T2

Deck changed my shorts

Run:
Took 4 miles to settle in

Aid stations 2 miles apart

Narrow course for both directions of athletes + 70.3

Dark early but never cooled down much