I read this morning in an article by Lee Gruenfeld that this year's IMAz had the 3rd highest dropout in IM history, at nearly 18%.

I pulled this excerpt from an article by Lee Gruenfeld recapping of IMAZ:

“Temperatures in the mid-90s and enervating winds on the outbound leg of the three-loop bike course conspired to plant this season's opening event firmly into the record books as having the third highest dropout rate in Ironman history. Nearly 18% of the field failed to make it to the finish line. Some were SAG'd in, having discovered that there were some times when, no matter far how down you reach, there's just nothing there. Others made it back to T2 on their own power and, in a striking demonstration of how much of a mental game Ironman is, simply decided to let Mother Nature win this one, and packed it in.”

My hats off to Bruce and Steve for finishing also on such a tough day. It was windy on the bike last year, but this years bike seemed so much harder. That is by far the hardest bike ride I have ever done.

IM Az was my A race for the year, and I went into it with high hopes of finishing well. I got strep throat a few weeks prior to the race and so started my taper early. I finished my course of antibiotics, but never got to feeling back to 100%.

On race morning I got up around 4 am and had 2 Baker’s Breakfast cookies and a banana. I usually have a Starbuck’s latte, but the Starbucks near the hotel was not open. Last year it opened early, at 5 am. I had a regular cup of coffee at the hotel just to get some caffeine in my system.

I saw Bruce before the race and we chatted a while and tried to calm our nerves. A few minutes after the pros started their race, we finished getting into the wet suits and jumped in the water. I moved to the inside to swim along the buoy line, which has been a good spot for me the last 2 years at Arizona. The race started and within a few minutes I got kicked hard in the left cheek bone under the eye. This threw me off a little, and I pulled up to try to maneuver around traffic and find some clear space. It was crowed again at the buoys at the turned around, but I had open space on the way back and tried to push the pace a little. I exited the water at 1:10 and was a little disappointed as this was 2 minutes slower than last year.

T1 went fine and I headed out on the bike and directly into a head wind. As I weaved through town out toward the Beeline Highway, I realized we would be heading into the wind on the uphill outbound section of the Beeline, and back into town downhill with the wind. I checked my heart rate and it was up to 157, so I knew I had to ease up and try to bring it back to 130-135, according to race plan. My heart rate was generally 135 – 140 going into the wind and 125-130 coming back with the wind. I was able to sit up completely on the bike with the wind and be blown 28 mph on the downhill sections, which was a nice break and rest period. I used Carbo-pro and water for the entire bike. I used a pre-measured amount of carbo-pro and two water bottles at each aid station. I would grab a water bottle at the front of the station and fill my areobottle and another at the end of the station, which I drank right then and tossed the empty. I took one salt tablet every hour on the bike. By the last loop I was dreading the ride into the wind, but knew once I got to the turn-around I could rest going back into town. I was really hot by the time I got to the turn-around and was seeing spots, which worried me. I stopped at the turn-around aid station, where they had ice cold water bottles. I had salt caked on my face and neck at this point so I rinsed off, added another more water to my aero bottle and took off carrying a third bottle. I finished the last of my carbo-pro on the way in and took water at every station.

Run/Walk

At T2, I moved more slowly through transition. I was feeling a little sea sick and dizzy again and figured I should try to gather myself before continuing. My heart rate was in the mid-130’s as I walked out of transition, changing my Garmin from bike mode to run mode. I started off walking, took more salt, coke at the 1st aid station and some sports beans. It was so hot. I put a cup of ice down the front of my running bra and soaked myself with sponges. I walked for the 1st mile and then tried to run. At a 13:30 pace, my heart rate jumped up to 140 and at my planned 10 minute pace, up to 150+. I knew I couldn’t keep my heart rate this high or I would be filled with lacatic acid in no time. I slowed to 13:30 again, and within a few minutes I was chilled, seeing spots again and dizzy. I slowed to a walk , and talked with a few people around me about the tough conditions. As I crossed the bridge on the 1st loop, I watched one of the pros stop and throw up. I stopped and offered him ice, which he gladly accepted. I moved on as he stood there trying to collect himself. As I moved through the next few miles, I was completely bummed that I couldn’t run. I had stomach cramps, and moved in and out dizzy and goosebumpy as I tried to run. I saw Jill around mile 7. She told me to try going to the bathroom and to keep walking and eating, and that maybe later in the race I could start to run, as soon as I felt better. This made me feel hopeful again that things could change and I could maybe run. After going to the bathroom at the next aid station, I felt much better. I started running at this point and was able to run for several miles before feeling dizzy again. In the second loop, I got supper dizzy and started walking again. At this point I knew I was in trouble. I figured I was pretty dehydrated and because of the goosebumps, close to heat stress. Rubbed ice on my face and neck to try to keep from passing out. On trying to run, my heart rate moved in the 140 – 150 range, and walking at 18:00/ mile it was 125 -130. I really wanted to finish the race, so I decided to do whatever I needed to keep moving, and if that meant walking, then that is what I would do. The rest of the race I alternated running and walking. I passed a clock with 5 miles + left to go and it was at 12:54 race time. I tried to pick it up and run as much as I could over the last 5 miles. I switched over to Gatorade for the last few aid stations and this made my stomach feel better.

I finished in 14:11, with a run time of 6:23. In spite of drinking a lot of water and Gatorade after the race, it took almost a full 24 hours after the race before I urinated. I was feeling bummed after the race, it is so hard to put so much into training and preparation and then had a bad day. My husband asked me if I was signing up for Arizona again in 2009 – on the walk back to the hotel. I promptly told him “NO way, I don’t ever want to see the Beeline highway again”. I told him it might be better to ask me tomorrow if I want to do another Ironman. By morning I was decided that I will shoot for Canada in 2009.