Runner Leana

...sometimes with a little swimming and biking thrown in...

2016 Ironman Boulder Race Report: run

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Catch up on my Ironman Boulder swim and bike reports!

Ironman Boulder Race Report run

The Run – 26.2 mi/42.2 km

I made my way out on to the run course, with my feet showing no signs of the cramps and soreness that had bothered them on the bike and through transition.  It was less than two miles until I’d get to see my family cheering on the course.

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Angie was so excited about the day I was having and she asked how I was feeling.  Honestly, my legs were feeling pretty tired and I wasn’t feeling super awesome.  Things go up and down during an Ironman so I just needed to keep moving forward.

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Problem Solving

I was feeling a bit lightheaded and fuzzy.  It was warm out, so I assumed my lightheadedness had something to do with the temperature.  At every aid station I’d take a cup of ice, stuff it in my bra, and get some calories in via Coke and Gatorade.  I even managed to take two gels in the first half of the run.

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There were moments where I was focused on putting one foot in front of the other and was feeling good, then other moments where my legs felt too tired to run.  I was walking every uphill to manage effort and fend off the fuzziness.  The Gatorade began tasting too strong and sweet for me, but given the heat I knew I needed to keep getting electrolytes in.  I grabbed a tube of Base Salt from their cheer station and switched to Coke and ice cold water.  Ice was still getting shoved down my top.

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The Setting Sun

Then, just like two years ago at Ironman Boulder, as the sun started to set the lightheadedness began to improve.  It was time to dig deep and at mile 19 I tried to really buckle down and start moving toward that finish line.  Despite starting my day with a fully charged Garmin I had been getting low battery warnings during the run.  I had neglected to turn off the Bluetooth on my watch which I suspect drained the battery faster.  Just before mile 22 my watch died.

I needed to keep running, no matter what the pace.  I estimated I had started my day around 6:30 so I was doing math in my head for when I’d need to finish by in order to come in under 15 hours.  At the final turnaround at 24.6 miles I knew I needed to pour on the effort.  It was mostly downhill from here and I needed to work it!

That last mile and a half felt like a sprint that late in the day.  My 11:11/mile pace wound up being my fastest run split of the day.  As I turned to the finish chute I looked behind me and saw no one.  I’d be able to savour my moment, running to the finish.

A spectator held out his hand for a high five and told me that the best part of my day was just ahead.  That last few meters down the carpet.

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All the pain and hurt leaves your body as you hear Mike Reilly call out your name and say “You are an Ironman!”

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26.2 mi – 6:15:45 (14:20/mi)
W35 – 39: 42 out of 68
Women: 238 out of 415
Overall: 968 out of 1,490

The run was so hard, but I problem solved and stayed positive the entire time.  It was slower than my run in 2014, but I wasn’t disappointed.  Overall it was a really great day with a very nice 57 minute personal best at the Ironman Distance.  I am so thrilled with my day after working so hard this year!

14:44:32

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Comments

  3. 5

    Congrats on a great day out there! Any time you cross an IM finish line is a major accomplishment, and, as others have noted, that is a HUGE PR! I hope that you’ve processed the race and enjoyed some well-deserved R&R post-race
    Kristina recently posted…Boulder 70.3: Highs and lowsMy Profile

  7. 13

    Congratulations on a great race! Those are some amazing smiles you had throughout the day 🙂

  8. 15

    This is just amazing. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear about it. It has been a long time since I have had a PR… beginning to feel that it is no longer possible for me. But then I see you put in the work… and achieve huge success. Congratulations!

    • 16

      Thank you so much Andrea! I struggled for several years where I was well off of PR shape so I completely understand the feeling. It took a lot of faith to keep pushing on. I also had to learn to be grateful for what my body could do in the moment when I was so used to driving for PRs. Hang in there!
      Runner Leana recently posted…2016 Ironman Boulder Race Report: runMy Profile

  9. 17

    What a race! I’ve loved each recap. Congratulations, Leana! Your hard work clearly paid off big time!!! Awesome pics. 😀

  10. 19

    This is just so awesome! You should be SO PROUD of your awesome race and how much you crushed it. Do you feel like your mental preparation/meditation helped you with the tough spots? I love your big smile at the finish, way to savory your accomplishment. Congratulations!
    Marilyn recently posted…IRONMAN RACE REPORT…SORT OFMy Profile

    • 20

      Thank you so much Marilyn!!! Great question on my thoughts on meditation and how I think it helped on race day. I definitely do think it helped me in training and throughout the day. I would say that I’m more focused in the water now thanks to daily meditation practice. That has definitely been huge. I also believe it helped me on the run too. When things were hard I’d focus on counting breaths and overall I think it helped me keep a more positive headspace overall. I truly believe the benefit has been worthwhile and I plan to keep up a daily practice now that it has become so routine for me.
      Runner Leana recently posted…2016 Ironman Boulder Race Report: runMy Profile

  13. 24

    Amazing job Leana. I’ve been following your blog for a few years now and it’s very inspiring to see how your hard, focused and consistent work has paid off so well for you in the past year or so. Congrats on reaching your big, scary and AMAZING goal.

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