White Lake Half 2013

Well, this half ironman turned into a duathlon for the Miller family!  After receiving an email on Thursday evening that the water temps were expected to be 54-56, I got a little concerned.  I mean, I start whining when the pool is 74!  We got to WL during the pre-race meeting on Friday, picked up our packets, and while walking back to the car, my ears perked up when I heard 'duathlon'.  I spoke to a USAT official after the meeting and he explained that the swim was going to be optional and that if the duathlon option was selected by the athlete, it would begin with a 2.4 mile run then go into the rest of the race.  SOLD!

I was the only one of our group that stayed together that night that decided beforehand to not swim.  A. I hate cold water. B. I'm not trying to get sick before IMTX.  I have to say I was extremely pleased with my decision and still am!

As Jonathan and I got body marked on Saturday morning, we watched the wind whip up some serious chop in the water. It was then that Jonathan decided to join me in the duathlon endeavor.  Happy to have him join me :)  We certainly don't need him sick either!  Soon after, our buddy Brad made up his mind and joined us at the finish line to begin the duathlon.

The 2.4 mile run went well; I played it as a warm up since I wasn't sure what my foot was going to do for the day.  (Back story: a couple bones in my ankle got out of place a week or two ago causing a good bit of pain. Chiropractor popped them back in and it seems to feel better each day.)

In T2 I had to take a layer off as I over dressed.  Oops. My transition times always seem to be fabulously horrendous. 

The bike...well, I've come to the conclusion that I am just not meant or built to be a biker.  I will work my ass off until IMTX so that I can do my absolute best there, but I'll be done with long course biking for a very long while.  This course provided an unbelievable combination of headwinds and tar strips that made me loose my mind around the 42+/- mile mark.  I cried out of sheer frustration; it was ugly.  I got through it and that was the best that I could do on this day.

The run: I did it!  I had talked to my husband, my coach, and my chiropractor and we had all decided that if I had too much foot pain that I'd just drop out of the race so as to not jeopardize IMTX.  I did have some pain during the race, but it came in waves - maybe once or twice a mile there would be a pain.  I eased off for a few, then started back running and that seemed to work well.  The waves of pain made it very hard to decided whether or not to call it a day.  Each time I would start to consider it, the pains would have eased up and I'd be running comfortably again. I made it through and am glad that I did.  The foot hurt after the race was done and on the car ride home, but once I got home and was able to put some ice on it, elevate it, and take some meds, it was a lot happier.  I don't know that I'm quite ready to run on it yet, but I think it would be good in a couple of days :)  The silver lining though?  Even with a half-bum foot, this was my best 13.1 time in a HIM by about 15 minutes!

Next stop?  IMTX.  Less than 6 weeks now...