Race Report: Ironman Maryland

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough...”  - Charles Jones, Life is Tremendous

So, it has been two weeks since Ironman Maryland and I am just getting around to writing a race report.  It is always funny to sit down and try and write these after an Ironman - I try and jot something down as soon as I can, so I don't lose the grit in the midst of the good stuff from the day (and believe me, there is always grit).  While I certainly had some tough moments out there, overall I had an amazing day, felt great, and truly enjoyed this race.  

One of the most special things about this race for me was having the opportunity to link up with the original crew of people I trained with when I first started in this sport.  I have moved twice since those days, and to be able to do this race with them on the course was pretty special.  

My last days leading up to a race are normally pretty boring - other than the ongoing struggle to keep extra high energy levels in check, I have a standard regimen of what I eat and do.  Once I arrived on Thursday and did the things I had to do like athlete and bike check in, it is a lot of laying around in the hotel room waiting for race day, and drinking/eating specific things at specific times.  

Extra motivation for along the way
courtesy of Tattly and X-1 Audio

I slept great and got up at 4AM on Saturday morning and had my usual IM race morning breakfast:  two packets of GoGo Squeez apple sauce, banana, small bagel with Justin's Nut Butter and a protein shake (it just works for me.  I also brought a bottle of X2Performance for immediately prior to the swim start).  As I was getting dressed, a thought creeped in:  rewind about three weeks from race day - it was a typical hot and humid training day in South Florida, although this particular Sunday ride was more fun than others (weekend training with the M3T crew is priceless).  We had about 10 miles to go on a ~60 mile ride when I crashed.  I will not rehash it all here, but you can see my previous blog post for pictures and detail.   As I got ready race morning, the hematoma on my right thigh was still present.  I am well aware that after 140.6 miles even the slightest injury could really start to bother you, but I blocked it out of my mind, hoped for the best, and headed to the transition and swim start.


The Swim:  2.4 Miles:  1:09:43
This was a two-loop swim course, and given that I did the 70.3 here, I was slightly worried about the narrow, boat ramp start being congested.  As I stood there waiting for the start, I tried not to think about the long day ahead.  Once I hit the water anxieties in general faded away and were replaced with a weird calmness, and I tried to get into a rhythm. I always tell myself to focus on one leg at a time - when swimming, just focus on the swim (if you start to think about the sheer amount of time you are going to be out there all day...) They did a great job with the swim start and I also think for the most part athletes did a good job seeding themselves appropriately (I went with the 1:00-1:10 group).  After two loops of the course, I wrapped up the swim and headed into T1.  For those that have never experienced an Ironman changing tent, it is a very surreal experience (those who know, know...) - to me, one that makes me want to get in and out quick.  

It isn't always all smiles :) 

The Bike:  112 Miles:  5:39:16
Again, I've done the 70.3 here so had the advantage of knowing what to expect (this was a two-loop bike course).  This course is flat, with potential for winds.  As I headed out for the first loop, I felt great.  I settled into a pace and felt I could maintain it for the long haul.  I followed the nutrition plan for the bike (special thanks to The Nutrition Store):

- 4 Bottles of Cytomax Tropical Fruit
- 6 Gels:  Honey Stingers and Ignite Naturals 
- 1 Honey Stinger Waffle
- 1 Bonk Breaker Cookies and Cream (if you have not tried this flavor you must)

Call me crazy, but I still can't pee on the bike.  At the halfway mark, I did get off my bike to hit up a toilet, then hopped back on to crank out another 56 miles for the 2nd loop.  


It always seems like you hit headwinds when you are most tired, and right around mile 90 thoughts of the upcoming marathon started to creep in my head. I again brought my thoughts back to the bike and just finishing up and getting to T2!


The Run:  26.2 Miles
When I head out of T2 in an Ironman, I have mixed emotions to say the least:  On the one hand, I am usually overjoyed to be off the bike (not matter how comfortable your seat, 112 miles on it and I am more than ready to get off).   On the other hand, you now have to run a marathon.  The run was 3-loops, which some people may love and others not-so-much.  At the end of the day, the marathon leg of an Ironman is still 26.2 miles of running after swimming then biking, whether it is out and back or loops.  

Nice touch on the run course

I felt great and got into a groove.  I got to mile 10 without any real issues, then encountered some stomach cramping (take away:  no matter how good the crabcakes in Maryland, do not eat them until after the race - I deviated from my nutrition plan  during lunch the day before the race and can't help but think I could attribute the stomach issues to this).  I tried to just work through it and after about 4 miles, it seemed to dissipate.  

Right around mile 18 I met a new friend - enter Christian.  Christian and I ended up running almost the entire last loop together.  One of the greatest things about a three-loop course is the spectator factor - you end up seeing the same people and we passed a few that were cheering for "Chris and Chris." 

The last few miles of the race, I got a second wind and that part is very spectator-heavy, so I had a blast running through town knowing that was my final time passing through.  I couldn't wait to run through the finisher chute and hear those famous words again.  I realized on the third loop that this was going to be a decent PR for me, and I had hit every time goal I had planned for each part.  As I came through the finish line and realized it was actually a 58 minute PR, I was overjoyed, and finally..."Christine Perez...YOU ARE AN IRONMAN"

So, I had a good race and my body, mind and spirit cooperated, however, I need to thank:  

• X2PERFORMANCE®, my INCREDIBLE sponsor.  I am proud, honored,and humbled to represent a first-class company and an amazing product - X2PERFORMANCE® has made a significant improvement on my fitness, energy levels, and recovery. 
• X-1 Audio for providing a soundtrack to my life and workouts ;) 
• M3T and Big B for being a simply awesome band of team mates.  
• Steve Brookner for teaching me so much and helping me through more than one rough time in 2014 (Clermont ended up being the easy one!)
• All of the family and friends out there who have supported and cheered me on along the way - not just in this race but in life! 
• GOD - through HIM all things are possible
• Ironman and Cambridge, MD for hosting us (the crabcakes were worth 4 miles of a debilitating stomach cramps on the run.  Really, they were)

THANK YOU!!!