What to bring to an Ironman

So just brainstorming, so hopefully I don't have to think through this for every race.

Swim Gear
-WETSUIT
-GOGGLES
-swim cap-an extra cap helps to keep my goggles on
-warm swim cap- just in case the water is cold
-swimsuit-to practice the day before the race, without getting race jersey wet, and just in case the water is to warm for a wetsuit, and you don't want to swim in your trisuit
-antifog spray, or those awesome blue wipes for my goggles
-chamois cream
-tri glide-to help take off the wetsuit and to prevent chaffing
-plastic bag-to help with putting on the wetsuit
-body glide-to prevent chaffing, especially under armpits
-gum if it is a salt water swim, to get the salt out of my mouth
-safety pin for my timing chip-once my timing chip fell off
-gu prior to race start
-pre race capsules
-pepto bismo
-vaseline-to protect myself from the jelly fish and to help with the cold
-socks-to walk down to the race start, my feet are real tender
-flipflops-just in case they let you use them to run to transition
-sunscreen prior to putting on my wetsuit
-a spare tire-just in case the tire is flat on race morning
-my garmin watch
-a water jug/gatorade bottle to hydrate prior to race start. And to wash the sand off the feet after the swim, which i have never done.
-trisuit
-towel, but I never seem to use it after the swim
-duct tape to mark where my bike is
-electical tape, just in case you need to tape something to your bike
-scissors to cut the bike number smaller

Bike Gear
-HELMET!!!!
-SHOES!!!
-RACE BELT
-arm warmer-usually use sock cut off, so I can ditch them at an aide station
-hand warmers to put in tri jersey if it is cold.
-rain gear
-booties for your bike shoes
-cheap gloves that I can ditch
-sunglasses-but I usually never use sunglasses because they bother me
-gus (half ironman 6 gus/olympic 4 gus/ full ironman 6 and use aide stations for gus)
-salt pills 1 per hour in full ironman
-special drink mix for the first part of the race
-two water bottles for the bike
-spare tube, 2 cartridges, 2 tire levers, fix a flat

Run Gear
-SHOES!!!
-hat/visor
-pepto bismo tablets
-2 favorite gus
-water in case your water bottle are empty the last leg of the bike
-baby wipes-to wash up after the race.
-clean shirt/shorts/flipflops if you are racing by yourself

Bike special needs-bar/gu/spare tube/1 cartridge

Run special needs-visor/zofran/ibuprofen/socks/longsleeve shirt/

Other things to bring include a roller and tennis ball for after the race, spare biking and running clothes, and sleeping bag and pad.

Saint George Half Marathon 1/19/21013

The saint george half marathon course started and finished at the Dixie Convention Center.  We headed northeast along East Riverside Drive and ran past the Red Cliffs Mall and Fossil Ridge Intermediate School. The veiws were awesome of the red bluffs overlooking the northern part of the city as well as the edge of the Mojave Desert to the south and Zion National Park off in the distance, as well as the peaks of the nearby Pine Valley Mountains. The second half of the race keeps runners close to the river, up and back along neighborhood streets before heading back to the convention center.  I loved the paved trails that winded through the river valley near the end of the race. 

But most of all it was nice to be out of the salt lake inversion!

I was a little nervous about this race.  I really wanted to improve my time from last year.  I wasn't sure if it would happen with my training though.  The week before I had a 12 mile long run. On Monday 800 repeats.  On Wednesday I ran 4 miles at 7minute mile pace, needless to say my legs were not fresh.  I took an ice bath the night before the race, hoping it would help me recover for the race.  I think it helped even though all my nurse friends thought I was crazy. 

What to wear was a big concern.  The race started at 9am, so i was hoping it would warm up.  However, it was still cold.  Finally decided on a longleeeve shirt, wool socks, shorts, gloves, and an ear warmer.  I ended up striping down to my tshirt and shorts by the end of the race.   I love 9 am starts.  So nice to sleep a little longer.  I woke up at 6 am to eat a banana and some toast, and to hydrate. 

I found my good friend Kim at the start of the race and found Emily who I was hoping to keep up with.  The gun went off and all the adrenaline kicked in, I tried to hold myself back, I tend to start out my half marathons too fast.  My Coach wanted me to start slow at a 7 minute mile and progressively pick up the pace.  This year I believe I ran a smarter race even though time was about the same as last year.  I felt better after the race, and went for a ride afterwards.  Don't get me wrong I was definately tired.  Made it through the race without any GI issues, but after the race-my stomach went crazy!

 

2013 time 1:27:34 (6:40 average)
Mile Splits
1-6:37      2-6:50    3-6:49       4-6:46     5-6:52       6-6:54      7-6:49  
8-6:26      9-6:28    10-6:34     11-6:39   12-6:29    13-6:36
My last 6 miles were all under a 6:40!

2012 time 1:27:46 (6:45 average)
Mile splits
1-6:31     2-6:40     3-6:33     4-6:31        5-6:46      6-7:02  7-6:54
8-6:24     9-6:50     10-6:53   11-7:00     12-6:58    13-6:41

There is my freind Emily in pink, probably the main reason I had a good race!




Most running pictures I really do not like, but this running picture didn't turn out too bad, especially considering it is the end of the race.  I always feel like I am smiling when I see the photographers, but somehow it just doesn't show.  I decided it is okay, inside I am smiling...