Ironman 70.3 Miami - A Weekend Full of Firsts

This past weekend was a weekend full of firsts for me.  It started with travelling to Miami, on my own, with my bike, to race at Ironman 70.3 Miami, where the swim was in the Ocean, and I was racing as an Ironman Pro Athlete.  

P is for Pro, no age this time.

 Ever since I've had my kids, I've not been a fan of flying.  I realize that is silly, as flying is one of the safest modes of transportation and much safer than driving, however, with young kids I wonder what would happen to them if I didn't make it back?   I'm also afraid of the mysterious monsters of the deep.  Yes, that includes the lakes.  This summer I didn't want to dive in Otisco Lake in New York because it was full of 5 ft long Muskies, can you imagine what I was thinking may be in the dark waters at the Bayfront Park in Miami.  Over the last year I've been learning more about my bike, however, I have a great team at County Cycle, in Beamsville, Ontario that take care of my Devinci and I rely on them a lot to keep her in good shape.  So flying to Miami with my bike in a bike box, partially disassembled with no teammates to help me put her back together was causing me a bit of anxiety as well. On top of this, I decided to race as a Pro Triathlete in a field of amazingly fast women not fully sure of what to expect of them or myself.

And a pool was found with help
from new friend Gus.

Hello Key Biscayne and Florida Coconut 

A friend of mine from University and an amazing triathlete, Amanda Stevens, recommended a bike shop she'd used before to assemble her bike.  So I gave them a call and worked it out that I'd bring my bike directly from the airport to the bike shop.  After a super smooth flight to Miami from Toronto, I grabbed a cab and went directly to South Miami Bike Shop. The owner, Jean, met me as I brought ALL my bags into the shop, I sat down on a stool, took a big breath and felt like I was at home; comfortable in the bike shop.  The people there were amazing, helpful, and super social!  While I was there so many people came in to chat, the shop is an amazing and positive place to be.  They arranged for me to get a ride back to the hotel, with friend Gus, who took me on a tour of the bike routes around the area, and also found me a pool to swim in the next day! Jean met me for a bike ride at Key Biscayne, as they knew I was on my own, and gave me some helpful advice about staying safe in downtown Miami. I do tend to be overly friendly and very trusting and that has the potential to lead to bad situations, or  so I've been told.  They even came to support me at the race;  the South Miami Bike Shop helped make this trip a really great one; not only have I found my bike shop for when I travel to Florida, I've found some great new friends.  

THE RACE EXPERIENCE

Sunday morning at 4:30 am my alarm went off.  I rolled out of bed, put on my race gear, ate breakfast, and walked over to the transition to make sure my bike was ready to go.  While in transition,  fellow Canadian, Miranda Tomenson, was racked next to me.  It was nice to have a familiar someone to talk with, we stuck together until the race started.  

THE SWIM

Me (pink cap) and Leanda Cave

We were informed at the pro meeting the day before that the good news was there were no jellyfish, yeah!, the bad news was there would be no swim warm up.  However, Sunday morning they did allow a short warm up period, for the pro athletes, in the water before the cannon went off for the first wave.   So we jumped off the dock into the very salty ocean, no sea creatures appeared out of the depths to eat us, and did a in water warm up.   Two minutes before the female pro wave start we all began to jostle for our positions, and when the race started I received the biggest shock of the race.  As an age group athlete I was used to swimming through waves of people, as generally I started an hour behind the pros.  I thought swimming through the men was tough as sometimes they would swim off course, or I'd have to swim between people, that seems like a piece of cake now.  Nothing is like swimming with a group of people who are swimming for their livelihood. I'd injured my shoulder two weeks ago and knew it would be tough for me to get out in front early; I was lacking power.  It's an aggressive arena, no holds barred kinda swimming.  There was a point during the swim I actually said to myself, "what am I doing?  I'm in way over my head".  But I calmed myself down, settled in and continued on.  This was an amazing opportunity to finish, not one to give up on.  Finally the swim was complete, and time to transition out onto the road.

THE BIKE

The bike is not yet a strong area for me.  Looking at the other women, I can see where my legs are lacking strength, but it's not something that can't be improved with a little winter weight lifting and lots of power trainer sessions.  My coach told me not to worry about the others and just go race my own race, so that is what I did.  I watched as the other girls passed, admiring their  strength on the bike. My shoulder was aching throughout the ride and I had to leave the aero position multiple times to bring some relief from the pain, however, I held my own and enjoyed the twists and turns out and back into downtown Miami.   My transitions, although not quite where they need to be, were much better than they have ever been thus far.  I threw on my runners and race belt and headed out on the final leg of the race.

THE RUN

The run course was fantastic!  It was certainly a challenge!  We ran over grass, through sand under a bridge, and then over the causeway 4 times!  It was an out and back double loop, and whoever tells you the run will be flat in Miami, slap them!  Going up the causeway was not an easy task the fourth time around, it's a fairly big incline and makes you work.  The first 15km of the run I was moving; I felt great until I hit the turn around aid station with 5km to go, then the piano hit.  I knew with only a relatively short distance to go  I could manage to hold myself somewhat together, however it was a painfully slow finish to what was almost my fastest run.  I still ran a 1:35.04 half marathon which was faster than I thought, and I'm very happy with that.  My time was also within the 12% of the overall winner which qualifies me to compete again next year as a pro!

SUMMARY

Had I come to Ironman 70.3 Miami as an age group athlete, I would have won my age group and qualified for Ironman 70.3 World Championships for 2017.  However, I did not go as an age group athlete this time.  I choose to go as a Pro; I wouldn't change that decision if given the opportunity.  There was no prize cheque for me and I don't get an automatic qualifying spot to World's. What I did get was an opportunity of a life time, a chance to race pro, to meet some incredible people, make new friends, learn that I can go to these events on my own, if I need to, and be okay. The sea monsters didn't get me, my bike made it to and from Florida just fine, and really I was never alone.  My family, coach, teammates, and new found friends provided amazing support throughout the weekend.  It's okay to be afraid of new experiences, of all the 'firsts', it's not okay to let fear keep us from those experiences.

The Decision to Go PRO....at 42

Sketchers Performance Barrelman Triathlon 2016, L to R,  Angela Quick, Miranda  Tomenson,
Jennie Hansen, Sheila Treleaven, Leah Sherriff

When I turned down Kona last month, at Ironman Mont Tremblant, there were some rumblings that I may be a bit crazy. It was a decision I made during the race and one that I am still content with.  However my latest choice has been receiving a few raised eyebrows as well.  A few weeks ago I received my Professional Triathlete designation, raced my first local race, Barrelman Triathlon, as a Pro, and  signed up for Ironman 70.3 Miami, in 2 weeks, racing in the Pro Wave, right up front (with the jellyfish and sharks).

Why would I do this when I'm top of my Age Group in my Ironman races? I'm under no delusions, I will not be top of the podium as an Ironman Pro, yet.  I only started training and racing triathlon just exactly 2 years ago. I could stay as an Age Group athlete and continue to compete as I have been this past year, but at the age of 42, I met all the criteria to go Pro.  I do not have 5 years to build strength in my legs and master my bike skills, get my transitions down to a science and learn to run a little faster before turning pro.  I have only now.  Those needed triathlon skills I am learning and will continue to learn as I go.  I will need to learn them fast because if I don't, I'm certain to take a beating in the rankings by the amazing athletes I get to watch and race against.  

Yes, I have fear

Me and my girls.

Of course I am a little afraid.  There are amazing athletes out there, some that have been competing for a long time, and some fresh and young, all of them fast.  Something that my husband and I try to teach our children is, although you may be a little afraid you still need to try.  Failure is what ultimately leads to success.  Bravery is not being without fear, it's acting even when you are afraid.  I'm stepping into a world I know little about. I'm doing it at the age of 42.  I have three amazing children, a career with a fantastic company, a household to run, and now training to squeeze in.  I don't have the luxury of training as my only job, my career is full time, and getting my kids to their activities is also crazy busy.  I don't get the recovery time that I should.  Luckily I have supportive family, friends to help with advice and driving the kids when needed, and a great coach to work around my crazy life. 

You will not hear me speak of back to back 8 hour training days, or of catching a nap of more than 25 minutes during the day, once or twice a week, however you will see me talk about how it is possible to do things you only imagined were for "other people".    

Continue to Chase Doubt Away

3rd place Multisport Barrleman
 Triathlon

Two years ago I laughed, inside and out, when my coach told me I had talent to go pro.  "Do you know how old I am?" I asked him.  I still sometimes think that, especially when the day has been long at work, sandwiched by 2 workouts, driving the kids to the pool, or picking up my eldest daughter from work at 10 pm when I'd rather be asleep.  My doubts are there, did I make the right choice to go pro?, how badly am I going to get beaten in my first race? How can I improve the way those girls do with my time spread between all my responsibilities?  Then I remember I need to chase them away.

Regardless of whether I am top of the podium or not, I earned the spot as a pro based on my times and overall placings at the Ironman races I've competed in.  My bike will only get better as each month goes by with more and more time in the saddle, and the same with the run.  My swim, it will continue to hold it's own.  

Doubts are always there but shouldn't keep us from striving for goals, reaching, way outside our comfort zone, and taking a shot at something, even if it seems impossible, unrealistic, or a bit crazy.  Sometimes we don't have time to make our doubts go away completely.  Sometimes we only have what's right now.