IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai | 2017
Deciding to race.
My last event before this was Morocco's ITU African Cup in December 2016. Luckily, I won a monetary prize and finished in the top 10. After that trip back home, I started thinking about my next goal.
In 2016, I did not participate in many races. Still, there is a commitment with sponsors, my career, and my passion, so I always need to make essential and compromising decisions about what races to sign up and work for, knowing that living in Michigan, where the winter is long, very cold, and no events around. I signed up for Dubai Ironman 70.3, a race early in January 2017, with the support of my fabulous sponsors, who 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 the 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 had, by default, Elite Status or was in the 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, 20 km draft-legal cycling, and 5 km running. The Olympic distance is twice the sprint distance, and a 70.3 or half-IRONMAN distance is almost twice the Olympic distance: 1900 meters swimming, 90km cycling, and 21km running.
TRAINING FOR A 70.3 IRONMAN
I was 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 change of surface that caused a minor injury. I was careful and stopped running until I could 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.
After the sprint triathlon in Morocco, I could not run much, and I had a lot of room for improvement. None of these would become obstacles, so I had a positive attitude and concentrated on the things 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. I arrived at the hotel at 2:00 am.
A WEEK BEFORE RACE DAY | Nutrition & training
I have learned that taking as much food as possible for at least two days during trips is good. For this trip, I brought from home my protein, spinach, basic supplements for my shakes, bread, some snacks, dehydrated fruits, etc.
I found a very good deal on an apartment-style hotel where I could cook. It was more affordable and comfortable, and I could keep my nutrition as close as possible to that at home.
First day: I set up the bike, went to the supermarket, and paid attention to nutrition. I had some mechanical problems, but I was able to find a bike shop. Then, find a safe/legal place to ride, swim, and run? There were many details.
I had to figure out where to ride legally (it's not permitted to ride on certain roads). Sometimes, I felt terrible because I was not resting enough, and I started to have invasive thoughts, but I kept positive and was able to focus on what was under my control. Some triathlon friends invited me to a pool, where I could swim.
Three days before the race, I went for a short 15-minute 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 in 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 had no problems during the race.
At the start, the Pro category was not allowed to wear wetsuits and was very cold. By then, I had no skin-race suit (the other alternative when no wetsuit is permitted), so I raced in a Speedo swimsuit. The water was cold, and I did not get into the water to warm up. We were all freezing. The Pro men leave, and 3 minutes later, the Pro women,
“Ladies 2 minutes”, all the women lined up for the start. One of them right beside me said, “Another F. Race!” I smiled and said, “have fun.” :)
I was very calm. I had my race plan ready and focused on nutrition, my mind, my mantra, and enjoying the event.
ON YOUR MARK!
Swim: It was at Jumeirah Beach, in the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean Ocean. I started swimming slowly, and a small group formed. I kept a comfortable pace, and it was an easy swim with a few waves. Furthermore, I maintained the same pace throughout the swim.
The left athlete is taking her skin-suit or race-suit off.
Bike: My plan on the bike was to keep up with hydration and nutrition, which I could do well. I worked on the watts with Coach Mark to keep them at an average of 210 watts, and I could hold that pace without problems. I was breaking the race into micro-moments, thinking about the now and here.
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”
―Thich Nhat Hang,
Run: the plan was to keep a pace of 4:20 min/km, keeping up with hydration. I was concerned about foot pain, which only bothered me for the first 5 km. Someone ran right in front me, and I fell, but I quickly got up and kept running. I did cut myself, and the knee was bleeding. The nice first aid people immediately assisted me, and I told them I was OK. I had kept pace, and at 10 km, I remembered forgetting to wear my socks! Not only that, but I had some blisters then, but I said, “Raquel, just do the best you can!” I actually ran better than I had imagined.
Conclusion:
I admit that I cried with happiness when I crossed that finish line. Just because I could complete it, as only God and I know how many obstacles I had to endure. The satisfaction of knowing that I did my best is priceless. I completed it in 4:32 (4 hours and 32 minutes), finishing 16th in the Pro category. It is an honor to represent the Dominican flag at the highest level of international triathlons in the long distance.
We should all challenge ourselves in any area we want to grow in. If we have the passion, it’s much more fun to challenge ourselves, always with a positive mindset.