Immt 2015

This has been rather delayed in its posting but I have reasons....

- It has been hot and my palms are too sweaty to type.

-I fall asleep too early to do anything in the evening.

-The children demand too much attention, not to mention Luke.

Thus, here we go. Going to try to provide more detail then usual as I tend to read other bloggers race reports to scoop out fine details that may be to my benefit. Also, a lot of pictures have already been posted on all my other social media sites so these are the left behinds. My official race photos look like I am having a seizure cause I might be the least photogenic person there is.

Pre race...

When I signed up for IMMT, Luke thought it would be fantastic to invite his whole family, so he asked and they though why not,  so it was to be a big Mccutcheon- Bellamy adventure. Stephane B called the accommodation people to book in August of last year and she booked into Tour De Voyagers which may have been the most perfect hotel EVER.

Seriously, it was at the finish line, and the expo, right on the bottom of the small gondola so we could just hop on/off. Easy to get in/out of the village.

We arrived Thursday early afternoon and I went to the expo right away expecting to find the Argon tent as it had been there for the 70.3 and has a large Quebec presence. I have been having issues with my seat and possibly thought I would need to new clamp. The bike guy in town had Macgivered it and we were sure it was pretty stable but he/ I wanted to be sure SURE, cause really carbon tri bikes are not really his area of expertise.  So I wander around with my bike and there is no Argon tent, and I am freaking out. There were dealers in Ottawa and we could have stopped.... anyways the official bike mechanic people gave me a smile and told me I had lots of time and sent me into Chemin du Village which has a argon dealer in the old village, and along the run course, so I actually knew where it was and could bike to it. Low and behold, my seat was fine, they just replaced the bolts to have neoprene on them which apparently is a good thing. Was a good time, left a tip for dealing with me quickly and was on my way confident I wouldn't have to worry about my seat, just my tires, derailer, and any other moving part or basically fixed part on my bike.

My bag packing took several hours, many lists consulted and trips to the expo. Big believer in the wish I would  have had it if I didn't pack it, so I packed a lot. I had lube and spare socks in every bag. Electrical tape and zip ties in bike special needs, extra shorts in case I had diarrhoea, and any case scenario that could be solved with pharmaceuticals  I had had the pill for it.

Swim

Goal- 1:30

Coming into the swim all I wanted to do was survive. I am a turtle in the water. Just slow and steady... well, perhaps not steady.
Down to the water in plenty of time, suited and lubed up. On and off crying with worry/ excitement. Day had dawned already warm at 6:30... and foggy. So foggy I could not see past the first swim buoy. Saw this initially as good thing as I had no idea how far out I had to go, and thus kept the freaking out to a minimum. Lined up and ok and just before the gun goes off I realise I am wayyyy to front of the pack, I needed to be back, but then the gun goes off and I have to move forward cause that is what everybody else is doing. I do ok until the first buoy, ok until the second, by the third I feel like I am going to die in this mess of people wildly thrashing around me. Catching drafts but all in all I am completely overwhelmed. At that moment I consider quitting, seriously. I imagine conversations that I would have to have explaining why I quit and thus  realised just how pathetic that would be. I madly try to problem solve this hell I am in. I decide the only thing I can do is wait until my wave passes, and the next one until I have clear water. I then realise that my take some time, and seeing as I am not fastest swimmer and how would I explain I didn't even make the swim cut off I have no choice but to keep on going. So passes forth and fifth buoy and then I loss count cause I my energy is being used to actually see the buoys. After I passed one, I had to stop and look intently for the next one, the fog was so thick and I guess my goggles are just to tinted. In any event I  might as well been swimming blind. A little while later I assumed a massive storm had unexpectedly blown in as it was suddenly rather wavy. I had pleasant thoughts of water rescues and being shuttled to shore. When I did not hear a call for evacuation after awhile I called up to a kayaker asking about the sudden surf like conditions and apparently a boat went by, personally I didn't know ocean freighters were in Lac Trembant. A few buoys go by, there was quite a few of them and I am hearing a lot of shouting going on, I assumed several people had to be calling for help, I imagine at the back end of the swim where I am now people are dropping like flies. Being as I am a nurse I figure I am a caring person and I should be helping, but I do not want to, I just want to keep swimming so I can get to land sooner.  Slowly it dawns on me that it is a volunteer yelling 'aller', or go in English. But I do not know what aller means. So I stop and tell her she has got to stop cause she is stressing me out thinking people are drowning.  Few more buoys go by and I try to catch feet here and there. I am on the look out for Dave cause I assume he must have past me in all my stopping to sight where I was going.  Finally though the fog I can see the swim finish and it took forever to get there. I kept on looking up but it seemed to get further and further away. I may have been one of the last few out of the water at 1:33. I am all good with this considering I do not think humans were not meant to swim.
Time: 1:33   Pace 2:28/100metres     78/91


T1
On the run back to transition along the red carpet, I saw Luke and let him know I actually survived my extended time in the water. I even kissed him I was so surprised myself. Then I need to pee so bad, and thinking of chafing, I decide not to let urine soak into my bike shorts but wasted precious seconds waiting for and using a loo. Transition was easy. I decorated my bags with scraps of garbage ( literally pulled garbage and cut it into strips) tied to the strings. All I had to do was put on socks, shoes helmet, glasses,  and sunscreen and go. But where the heck was my bike? I ended up having to look at my wrist for my number and then find my spot. Although considering in my age group I was 78/91 where should have been so few bikes left to chose from there should have been no reason for the frantic search and rescue.

Bike
Goal 7:00
Funny how our memories work. At the 70.3 in 2014 I found the bike to be rather challenging, so every hill I rode, every hot day, every bit of wind I rode into I complained yes, but was thankful cause I knew it was preparing me. so I kept on waiting on the course to get hard, but really it wasn't. I loved that course, and all day I was thankful it wasn't Muskoka, cause that course it hard. No joke.
Was still foggy when I got on the bike but quickly by the time I was out on the highway it had burned off, and we were in for a roast. There was no wind so if that was the price I had to pay I am ok with that. But seriously it was hot. I drank so much I had to stop and pee I think twice but maybe three times. On my second loop I opened my tri top and held out my bra and offered my bust to a teen boy volunteer doling out ice. 
My plan was to eat a granola bar at the top of the hour, salt taps at 15 and 45 and gel at 30. But I get on the bike and I just didn't want the granola bars I  had lovingly packed. So I did some quick calculations and figured if I stopped for special needs to get my back up gels I would have enough. So that's what I did. With one to spare at the end. On course nutrition is honey based... and I am allergic/ sensitive.
The only mechanical issue I had was the  brand new bright red bar tape I had put on three days ago came loose and it drove me nuts so I stopped at a mechanics tent to tape it back on. Oh and my left shoe didn't unclip so I had to go to the loo in my sock, that was really REALLY gross. Which brings me to another interesting point. The port a loo was a two seater....
Spent most of the day just people watching, looking out for my people, checking out all the cute kits. Making bits of conversation here and there. On the  hard out section I reminded all the people I was riding around that when we were coming back I didn't want an ambulance ride today cause really the back section was scary. The screams on on your left becoming frantic as I am sure some crazy speeds reached, and for petes sakes people hold your line and stay right! Even I got boxed in a few times. Did my best to spin the up hills and push hard on the downs... within reason.
Time- 6:37                           48/ 91 AG             27.1km/hr



T2
Jumped off the bike with surprising ease and was prepared to walk into transition, but I saw somebody else jogging so I thought I would and I think I burst out laughing cause it didn't hurt. Was surprised about that. Initially my clothing plan for the day was to wear tri top all day which I did but on the bike wear tri shorts and bike shorts then quickly take off bike short and go out on the run in tri short. However during the sauna that was the bike ride I thought it would be best to take both off and put on my lulu run shorts cause they would be cooler.


Run
Goal 4:30

Going into this race the biggest goal I had was to not end up doing a death march. A death march is any time in a race, be it triathlon, trail, or traditional road runs. My past experience with phenomena has been limited, but it leave an impression and a dread of it happening again. Happy to say it didn't happen.
Started out excited about the run, which quickly led to confusion. It is a two loop course and I spent the majority of the race wondering if people were on their first or second laps. Seriously, I was so confused I was getting mad. Like a couple of chatty Cathy's  who looked so fresh when I was getting pretty tired on my second when they were on their first but I assumed they were on their second. I was only competing against myself really but it would have been nice to know.
My mantra was powerful forward progress and really focused on just moving. I think I hit the porta potty only once but I was taking in so much fluid, it was just so hot sweating it out. I honestly think it got hotter the long I was out there. I had brought along a compression sock in case my ankle starting misbehaving but I ended up using it constantly to wipe sweat. Ice  or la glace as I learned to say in French at every aid station. Ice in my mouth, my bra, my pants, and in my hands. I am a big believer is the cooling powers of being wet/ evaporation so was soaked by the time I finished.
Luke was on his bike for portions of the race keeping me updated on my friends racing progress, and just keeping me company, I was conscious of the fact his presence could be called pacing so sent him on his way often. Really enjoyed seeing my people on the course, Luke's father was at the split for the finishline/ second lap and I had to laugh when he pointed me to the finish, thankfully I was with it enough not to do that hahha. Stopped when I saw Ever for a quick little snuggle.
Great to see my friends looking so strong out their on the run. I had a fear that Dave actually died or didn't finish the swim for some irrational reason. I actually thought that people lied to me when I asked if he was OK so I would keep on going, It wasn't until I saw him at an out and back that I stopped worrying about him being dead.
I completely expected to find a friend and chat, but I just could not find that right person to hang with. Either I was to 'fast' or they were not chatty enough. Did meet a few people and went out of my way to talk to many. At one out and back section I called out every persons name I could see on bibs which actually helped the time pass. Got lots of smiles. I danced a few times just to move in a slightly different manor, and it was fun.
Time- 4:41       35/91 AG          6:39/km pace

Grand Total- 13:08:27

Overall, my goal was to be 12-14hours, and I think a sub 13hour finish would have been possible, had it not been for the heat or of I even had any idea what my race time was. I had a Garmin on but I had messed up switching from the bike to run and only had a combination of the two running. I did know that to finish in day light would be sub 14ish and that was my overall goal. Next time I will make sure I know what my race time is, cause when I crossed the line I had no idea where I was at.
The entire day I felt strong and in control ( except for the first half of the swim), of course I made it that way. Mentally I was strong and knew what I had to do. I dug deep, but I know I can go deeper/=faster, but perhaps not so much in the swim.

I find it so interesting that in my age group alone I passed 35 women. Obviously due to swim waves and those who did not finish,  I did not actually pass that many people but overall in the swim I was 2017 /2350. By the finish line I was 1193/2350 thus I moved up the standing and passed 824 people.
When I say I passed people all day, I really mean it. Apart from a couple of men on the bike and one female on the run I do not recall being passed. If anybody was going to get a passing pendity on the bike it would be me.

Moving forward, I am training for the full at Beach to Battleship cause I figure I am trained, just have to maintain, YOLO and I have a free place to stay.