Now that Jens race report has settled in i can put my own perspective on everyones races at IMF. I'll also add some race day photos up here when i ask for them from Amy and Caity ... i'm not good at photo taking ;) A few race day photos now added!
Past races at Ironman Florida are ones that have left a bad taste in my mouth. I raced there twice and never put together the races that i was even close to capable of for a variety of reasons. (overtrained, mentally cooked from getting pissed off at all the drafting, mechanicals etc.) Regardless, i was using Jen, Layne, and Cheryl to help remove this taste!
The weather and surf while we were there was VERY nice and the beaches are among the best in the world. Those things are enough to put athletes in the right frame of mind for a long race day ... or make spectating and race "sherpa-ing" much easier.
Cheryl Collins ... attempting her first Ironman for a 50th birthday gift to herself! Cheryl had great preparation for the event even though she had to fight off a number of small injuries and existing bio-mechanical problems during that time. Fight them off she did in flying colors. For someone who wasn't sure when she started the training if she would make the cut-offs, those time cut-offs ended up being a complete non-issue as Cheryl blasted her way through the day. Not only did she finish with TONS of time to spare (14:53) but she looked great every time we saw her. Brilliant execution AND Happy 50th Birthday Cheryl ;) NOTE ... you can read Cheryl's race report here: http://www.tridogs.com/IMFlorida.htm
Layne Scoggins ... going for Ironman number 3 he got a huge scare when he opned his bike box upon on arrival to Panama City Beach. A nice little dent in the side of a beautiful bike is not the way to start off the final days of prep for the biggest race of the year. Luckily i have some experience in this department (unfortunately) and got to look at the bike the day after i arrived. After seeing the damage it was a relief for both of us that it wouldn't have an effect on the performance of the bike, or Layne ... phew! I believe that was a collective "phew" from a bunch of us. Layne's preperation for this Ironman was the best and most consistent of his three. Well, not only was his prep very good, his execution on race day was outstanding ... and thats what it takes for success. Good prep and smart execution. In all honesty we both thought on his best day he might run a little faster (in the ideal world) but regardless he left everything out there and we both learned alot through his big PR. Now he knows he can still go faster! As a coach or an athlete one can't ask for more than giving 100% of what you are capable of on race day! Good on ya Layne, my hat is off to your, efforts start to finish!
Jennifer Surprise ... Well, you can read her report below and it covers all the fine details. Like Layne and Cheryl, Jen nailed all of her pacing/execution during the race very, very well. Also similar to Layne, we thought Jens "ideal" run might have been a bit faster but she took everything her body would give her on the day and left it all on the course with a big PR! I was very proud of her pacing and execution and i know she learned alot about training and execution through the WHOLE process prpearing for the event! She has finally recovered from her upper respiratory illness and is feeling better.
For some time i always thought i had to go wipe that bad taste away from my mouth by doing Ironman Florida one more time to get it right. Well, since Jen, Cheryl, Layne all got it right on the day i feel like i have just been chewing on a nice piece of mint gum for a week ;) ... this resolves my two tough days there and puts one in the bank. Thanks to the three of them i won't be going back anytime soon! ;)
More pictures to follow and a description of the best $9.99 investment i ever made!
Best ... DL
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