IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai | 2017
Making the decision to race.
My last event before this was the ITU African Cup in December 2016, in Morocco. Lucky me I won a money prize and finished in the top 10, after that trip back home, I started thinking about the next goal.
In 2016, I did not participate in many races, but there is a commitment with sponsors, my career and my passion, so I always need to make important and compromising decisions about what races to sign up and work for, knowing that living in Michigan, where the winter is long, very cold, long and no events around. I decided to sign up for Dubai Ironman 70.3 a race early in January 2017, with the support of my amazing sponsors that motivated me to push my limits and take on this challenge.
PRO or Age Group Category?
Competing as a Pro was never “my goal”. An honorable personal invitation from the Dominican Triathlon Federation to race as an Elite representing Dominican Republic at the Olympic Circuit (ITU) since 2013 and for 7+ consecutive years. Since I was already competing as an Elite-Pro at ITU. I was by default Elite Status or at Professional Category in IRONMAN races.
I registered for this event and started to train for the distance. In terms of the training and distance differences, the sprint triathlon distance is : 750 meters swimming, 20kms draft legal cycling and 5k running, the Olympic distance is 2 times the sprint distance, and a 70.3 or Half IRONMAN distance is almost 2 times the Olympic: 1900mt swimming, 90km cycling and 21km running.
TRAINING FOR A 70.3 IRONMAN
I was very motivated and focused on doing my best during a hard winter in Michigan. I spent days like Christmas and New Year’s Day training like any other day…
I was running outside most of the time in very low temperatures and during a strong snowstorm I made an abrupt running change of surface that brought on a minor injury. I was careful and stopped running until I was able to get an appointment with the doctor. After 10 therapy sessions and about 22 days without running, the doctors ordered x-rays and other tests and told me that with rehab I could complete the event.
In 2016, I was not able to run a lot, which is the area where I have the most room for improvement. None of these things were going to become obstacles, so I had a positive attitude and concentrated on the things that I could control, doing my rehab as well as possible and doing my best with swimming, cycling and nutrition.
I arrived 8 days before the event, ready and prepared mentally to deal with the time change and jet-lag. I arrived at 1:00 am after 23 hours of travel, dead, but at the same time not sleepy. I arrived at the hotel at 2:00am (for me, it was 12:00 noon) and I was able to sleep 3 hours from 6-9 am. I am very much into a routine. It's hard for me to adapt to changes related to sleeping habits, but I have been learning as I go along.
NUTRITION & TRAINING A WEEK BEFORE RACE DAY
I have learned that it's good during trips to take with me as much food as possible for at least two days. For this trip, I brought from home: my protein, spinach, basic supplements for my shakes, my bread, some snacks, dehydrated fruits etc.
I found a very good deal an apartment-style hotel where I could cook, as it was more affordable, comfortable, and I could keep my nutrition as close to the same as at home.
First day: I did set up the bike; went to the supermarket, paid attention to nutrition. I had some mechanical problems, I was able to find a bike shop. Then finding a safe/legal place where could I ride, swim and Run? Many details.
I had to figure out where to ride legally (it's not permitted to ride on certain roads). Sometimes I felt bad as I was not resting enough, and I started to have invasive thoughts, but I kept positive and able to focus on what was under my control. Some triathlon friends invited me to a pool where I was able to swim.
3 days before the race, I went for a short 15-min run with some race pace and my foot was really hurting, so I thought "Omg, would I be able to finish?" I felt horrible, tired, lethargic and with lots of pain. But I focused on keeping a positive attitude and my nutrition.
RACE-DAY | The alarm went off at 4:40 AM
This race was special because it had a divided transition, a place for the bikes and another for the items for the run, with changing rooms. I studied the area well, visualized the transition and did not have any problems during the race.
At the start, the Pro category was not allowed to wear wetsuits, and it was very cold, and by then I did not have a skinsuit or race suit, so I raced in a Speedo swimsuit. I tended to get cold easily, and the water was cold, and I did not get into the water to warm up. We were all freezing. The men leave and 3 minutes later the women,
“Ladies 2 minutes”, all the women lined up for the start. One of them right next to me and said “Another F. Race!” I smiled and said “have fun” :)
I was very calm as I had my race plan ready and, of course, focused on nutrition, my mind my mantra and enjoying the event.
ON YOUR MARK!
Swim: I started slowly. A small group formed. I had an easy pace, and it was a really easy swim, some waves. I was able to keep the same pace throughout the swim.
The left athlete is taking her skin-suit or race-suit off.
Bike: On the bike was my plan to keep up with hydration and nutrition, which I was able to do well. I worked on the watts with Coach Mark to keep them at an average of 210 watts, and I was able to hold that pace without problems. I was breaking the race in micro-moments, thinking about the now and here.
Run: The initial plan was to keep a pace of 4:20 min/km, keeping up with hydration. I was concerned about having pain in my foot, and it bothered me for the first 5 km only. Someone ran in front of me and I fell down but quickly got up and kept running. I did cut myself a bit and the first aid people came right away to assist me and I told them I was OK. I had kept my pace and at 10 km I remembered that I had forgotten to wear my socks! Right then, I had some blisters, but I just said “Raquel, just do the best you can!”
Conclusion:
I admit that I cried with happiness when I crossed that finish line. Just because I was able to complete it, as only God and I know how many obstacles we had to endure. The satisfaction of knowing that I did my best is priceless. I was able to complete it in 4:32 (4 hours and 32 minutes), finishing 16th in the Pro category. It is an honor for me to represent my flag at the highest level of international triathlons in the long distance. I believe that we should all challenge ourselves in any area we want to grow, and if we have the passion, it’s a lot more fun to challenge ourselves, always with a positive mindset.