Posts Tagged ‘Cervelo’

Ironman Louisville Race Report

I was excited to race Ironman Louisville and excited to test my fitness out in Kona like conditions. Race temps over the past few years have been in the high 80s to low 90s, so I thought it would be a great preparation for Kona. As race week rolled in, so did a cold front and we were greeted with much cooler than normal race temps. It wasn’t exactly Kona like conditions, but it did make for a fast day.

My training has been going well and I was excited to race and see what the day would bring. The swim was a struggle as usual. Somewhere along the half way point, my arch started to cramp. I was really wishing we were wearing wetsuits at the point! Fortunately, it worked its way out and I didn’t even think about for the rest of the race. I entered T1 with a lot of catching up to do.

I started the bike with a huge deficit, but I did my best to keep my anger and emotions in check and focus on the next task at hand; a solid bike split. My plan was to bike more conservatively than I typically do with the hopes of nailing my nutrition and running a fast marathon. I was really impressed with the bike course. Within a few miles, we were out in the Kentucky countryside surrounded by green rolling hills and horse farms. I felt great on the bike from the start. My P3 paired with an 808 front and 1080 rear was the perfect set up for this course. The longer I biked, the better I felt. My stomach and legs both felt great. I knew I would have a good run. I entered T2 in 4^th place, only 6 minutes down on 3^rd .

The run course was flat and with a predicted high of 76 degrees, I knew it was going to be a fast day for everyone. I opted to run in my new K-Swiss racing flats. They are incredibly light and perfect for the flat fast course. My plan was to go out a little harder than I usually do. I wanted to just run by feel and if I felt good, I would go with it. My opening miles were 6:30s and I felt great so I just tried to run sub 7s for as long as I could. Around mile 7, I moved into 3^rd place. I was gaining on the top 2 women, but the time lost in the swim was insurmountable. I ran from mile 7 to the finish in no man’s land. I knew I was close to a run PR and the course record, so did my best to time trial it to the finish. I crossed the finish line in 3^rd place and accomplished all of my goals for the day, a top 3 finish, a Kona slot, a new run PR and a run course record!

My trip out to Louisville will be a memorable one. We had the BEST homestay host and made some new wonderful friends. My legs are recovering well and I am looking forward to my Kona preparation. Once my legs are ready, I will head out to Tucson for a heat training camp then off to Kona for the Ironman World Championships. I am fortunate to have the support of K-Swiss, Powerbar, Cervelo, Zipp, Trakkers, Blue Seventy, Fuel Belt, Katalyst Multisport, Ski Rack, Rocket 7 and Vasa, Thank you all for taking such good care of me and I look forward to seeing you on the Big Island!

Ironman Lake Placid Race Report

Ironman Lake Placid Race Report

After a 3 year hiatus, I was so excited to race the Ford Ironman Lake Placid. I finished second in 2005, had to skip it in 2006 because there was not a pro women’s race and had to pull out 4 weeks before the race in 2007 due to a shoulder separation. Ironman Lake Placid is one of my favorite races. The course is nestled in the Adirondack Mountains; it’s beautiful yet extremely challenging. I trained on the course over a dozen times in the past 3 years and I was just so excited to be healthy and finally able to race one of my favorite events.

My swim training was inadequate going into the race due to chronic shoulder injuries resulting from my shoulder separation last year. I exited the water with quite a deficit. Fortunately, my bike and run training have been going really. I hoped on my Cervelo and felt great. I’ve had so many good training sessions on the bike course throughout the summer, and I knew I would work my way towards the front of the field. Then it happened, I hit the first long 9 mile descent heading out of town and started shivering incessantly. The torrential downpours were relentless and combined with the low temperature and winds, made for quite the bike ride! For the next 5 hours it was a battle to bike hard enough to stay warm but not so hard that I had to walk the marathon. By the middle of the first loop I moved up to second place and started closing the gap on Hillary Biscay. I knew that I had to continue to eat and drink, but I was so cold I was having a hard time getting anything into my body. I entered T2 in second place and managed to close the gap down to 7 minutes and post the fastest bike split of the day. I put on my new K Swiss racing shoes (which by the way are the most comfortable shoes I have ever raced in!), grabbed my fuel belt flask and slowly tried to replace some fluids. Even though I am from Vermont, my body does not do well in the cold, at all! My legs felt empty and I was hungry for most of the run. The cold reeked havoc on my muscles and I knew I would have to race smart. I ran patiently and by mile 18 passed Hillary for the lead. I knew that Caitlin was a phenomenal runner, but I did not know how close she was. I failed to see her at the last turnaround and had no idea that she was running 2:59 pace! Right before the 23 mile mark she came storming by me. I tried to respond, but the pace was so much faster and within seconds she put on a sizable lead. I ran as hard as I could to the finish line, but Caitlin ran faster, went on the take the win and set a new run course record in the process.

Once again it just goes to show that there are so many variable to great ironman racing; swim, bike and run fitness, mental prep, nutrition, and environmental conditions. I am looking forward to a week off to rest up and spend some time with my family on Long Island. My plans for the rest of the season include a Boulder training camp with Kelly, an Olympic and 70.3 race (TBD) and then off to Kona for the Ironman World Championships where I will try to improve on my 8^th place finish there in 2005. I’d like to thank all my sponsors for all the support. I have the best of the best this year and would like to thank K-Swiss, Powerbar, Cervelo, FuelBelt, Lifesport, Katalyst Multisport, Zipp, Ski Rack, Blue Seventy, Giro, and Vasa.

See you in Kona!

Kim

Maui Training Camp

Greeting from Maui! I’ve always wanted to visit Maui and when my coach Lance Watson told me about a training camp that he wanted to do with his elite athletes, I jumped at the opportunity. It does feel a little strange being in Hawaii in February. I’ve been to the Big Island every year for the past 6 years for the Ironman and this is my first time visiting another Island. My mind keeps flashing back to last year in Kona. I trained so hard for that race and to start it injured and have to hobble through race day was extremely frustrating. The feelings fuel and motivate me to work harder than ever this year. Four days into camp and every muscle in my body is sore and I love it! The workouts have been painful at times, but I just keep telling myself, nothing is more painful than being injured and sidelined. If I can stay on crutches for 41/2 weeks to heal a stress fracture, I can do this dam workout!! We’ve been doing tons of ocean swims, volcano climbs and long runs in the heat. My Cervelo feels light and fast and I can’t wait to pop on my new sub 9 and kick off my race season. Tomorrow is a rest day and as much as I love to train, I am looking forward to it!