Liberty 70.3

June 7, 2013

I did this race in 2013 as a "test" of the longer distance events.  More specifically, could I handle thinking about Ironman.  In 2013 I had many things go "wrong" with my race plan, but learned a lot!  I was going into this race planning to take 45 minutes out of my previous attempt.  If I had "my day", I was shooting for 1 hour or more!

When you wake up in the morning to cold, thunderstorms & hail on race morning, it is tempting to roll over & go back to sleep.  Not me (on this day)!  I was hoping the storms would roll through & we would have a great day to race.  Well, the storms didn't just "roll through", but we did race!

Freezing before the swim start!  Photo by Ellen Thomes 

I was on site at Lake Rebecca Park Reserve shortly after the transition areas were opened.  I was a little surprised to see so many people there!  A year earlier, there was hardly anyone there that early!  I quickly claimed my spot in transition, found some familiar faces & walked through my transitions.  We found some large puddles to be avoided, but nothing too bad (yet).

Swim Start (I'm in the sleeveless wetsuit on the right)
Photo by Ellen Thomes

    As I was getting ready to head down to start my       swim warm up, they announced that another cell was to the west.  We were going to get wet. There would be lightning. The race was being delayed 30 minutes.  We all headed for shelter, but I was surprised at the number of people that packed up & left!

After a few more delays, we got underway about an hour after the scheduled start.  I was afraid that they were going to shorten the distances, but they kept the course. Things were wet.  It was cold!  The Transition Area was muddy.  Some roads were flooded (but the water had receded).  But we were still on!!!


We got wet on the swim, go figure!  My heat started 1 minute behind the Elite heat.  It was a good feeling to start passing those guys by the third buoy!  Nothing too exciting happened in the water.  I flooded one of my goggles early in the swim, but I decided to just go with it.  I had a good swim.

Photo by Ellen Thomes

Photo by Ellen Thomes

Running into transition was interesting as the added water had created a muddy mess. I got changed quickly & onto the bike.  While things started fast and feeling great, the tables turned quickly!  A little over 10 miles in, as I turned onto a road to the south I found a large change in road height due to construction.  A couple guys just in front of my flatted right there.  Just when I thought that I had made it through fine... about a mile later while going down a hill my front wheel began to shake & I heard the hiss.... My first flat during a race.  Thank you to the Waconia Ambulance crew for stopping to check on me as I was working on the tire!  I changed things fairly quickly, but I definitely got cold in that change!  The rest of the bike was wet, cold, & windy.  I was able to nail my nutrition with GU Energy Gels, flat Coke, GU Roctane Drink, and water this year!  Racing without GI issues makes for a much happier race!  I felt like I kept things (aside from the flat) right where I needed to be throughout the bike.

Photo by Ellen Thomes

As I rolled back into the park, my family (who said that they were not coming if it was raining) was waiting.  Talk about a mental boost!  I quickly transitioned to my run gear & headed out on course.  Right as the transition area met the paved trail, a lake had formed.  I felt like a kid splashing through puddles!  The first half of the run felt good.  We got to run on a gravel road (aka mud)  for the middle couple miles.  My pace slowed as I looked for "solid" ground to run on.  When I got back to the asphalt trail, I just couldn't get my pace back.  I was running hard, but trying to keep within my limits.  Cresting the hill to the finish was a great sight!  A few dedicated fans were lining the trail.  I gave my son a high five just before crossing the line!

After the race, I was shot!  My legs did not want to move.  It felt GREAT!  Thanks to my LAMS teammates & families, I got dry clothes & food!  I finished in 05:51:26...just 8 minutes slower than my original goal.  All things considered, I am happy with that!  Would I do it again?  Do you really have to ask?

Fellow LAMS 70.3 participants post race.
Photo by Ellen Thomes