Ironman California Race Recap · Tri-Loco Triathlon Community

Ironman California Race Recap

Hey Locos! I wanted to share my race recap of IMCA! For those of you who haven't been following I DNFd my first attempt at the Ironman distance last month at IMWI. I undertrained on the bike (missed some critical workouts during the build due to illness and wasn't prepared for the almost 6000ft of elevation gain) and missed the time cutoff. The next day I signed up for IMCA as my redemption race as I knew I had what it takes to get across that finish line.

Adding 6 more weeks of training after dedicating an entire year to IMWI was more challenging than I expected. All of the work commitments and family needs that I had been pushing off until "after my Ironman" seemed to crash down on me after Madison. I did my best to keep in training mode but will admit I did not adhere well to the training plan.

My first impression of Sacramento was a little underwelming compared to the show Madison seemed to put on with Ironman Village and the convention center but Sac Town definitely grew on me as I was there and I appreciated the Cali vibes before I left!

The swim was so fast and so fun! The American River did not feel as cold as the shock I had gotten in the practice swim (62-63°F) so I was dialed in from the moment I put my face in. The water was very clear so I easily navigated other swimmers and plants in the water. The temperature dropped more than 4 degrees when we hit the Sacramento River and you could immediately feel the current pick up. I swam really hard to hit the red turn buoy until I noticed it was being pulled away from me by a jet ski. I stopped to try and understand what was happening and eventually a volunteer waived us on. Apparently the buoy had come loose and was floating down river. Many swimmers didn't even attempt the turn buoy so I can at least say I tried to follow the rules! The Sacremento River was fast and I was making the turn into the ramps to get out before I knew it. No sea lion sightings while I was swimming but I am sure they enjoyed watching us swim. My time was 45 minutes faster than what I had done at IMWI so the current was definitely flowing! Great swim for slower swimmers like me and for first timers with anxiety about open water swimming. I really liked that I could see in the first river and after the shock of the transition to the second river you are basically done before you feel like you have put in much work!

The transition was quite a walk up the ramps from the river to the wetsuit strippers, across the street, through the bags, changing tent, and then out to the bike. No one around me really ran due to the shock of the cold and lack of carpet so transition time was a little long.

My strategy for the bike was to hit at least the minimum cutoff speed whenever I felt bad/had a headwind and at least 16mph whenever I felt good/had a tailwind. Even though I had banked an hour on the swim I wanted to hit the standalone bike cutoff as part of my redemption from Wisconsin. That strategy worked out pretty well and I averaged 15mph. There was a section of chip and seal road in the middle of the course that made me very nervous. I have gotten migraines from riding on chip and seal twice this year (due to the vibration and visual stimulation) so I took this section slower than my target and out of aero to give myself more shock absorption. I saw many bike parts/bottles on the road and saw someone get taken away by ambulance so this was definitely the right call. (Since the race I have learned there were MANY accidents in this section.) After this section the roads were perfect and wound through private vineyards and along the river. I faced a headwind going out which was a mental battle to stay in aero and constantly pedal and had a tailwind coming back which made for some of the highlights of the day. My first leg out I got some bad cramps in my legs so I took some salt tabs...then got bad cramps in my stomach...but eventually got enough water in me to flush everything out before I hit the 20mi mark and was good to go for the rest of the ride!

The beginning of the run was a blast as I chatted with a group of people that said they had been trying to catch me on the bike. I ended up leading a small pace group at 12:30/mi + walking through aid stations for the first 3-5 miles as we chatted and then people went off on their own. The run course was not my favorite as it was primarily gravel paths and rough asphalt/concrete. My feet got tired and sore very fast. The course was also not lit outside of the aid stations so athletes shared their headlamps the best they could to keep others safe. I saw a few people get scraped up from falls in the dark. The highlight of the run was definitely the Tower Bridge where it was well spectated and people would call out your name to cheer you on. I started to do the "Ironman shuffle" around mile 16 as my hips, quads, and calves started to get tight. My goal was to only walk during aid stations and I managed to maintain that all night. I turned my watch off the last three miles as I knew I was well within the cutoff time and just wanted to reflect on the journey and be present for the finish line. When I came down the finishers chute I tried to work the crowd a bit but the lights were so bright I totally missed my husband and the first timer bell. After I crossed, I immediately started to tear up. This has been a goal I've been working towards for almost 12 years and have dedicated training to for over 12 months.

Overall it was a very flat and fast course. Would definitely recommend for first timers. I'm so so grateful for all of my friends and family for supporting this busy mom of two in training, watching my kids, and forgiving my absence/exhaustion during events this past year. Huge thank you to my coach

@Taryn Zappia

for her support and encouragement this past year. I saw stready improvement in my fitness throughout the year and felt like a completely different person crossing the finish line than when I went at it alone my first season. I'm also so grateful for this community for motivating me and supporting me in this sport. I joined the Tri Locos in 2021 when I was 5 months postpartum and saw a tent at my very first Sprint. It has been such a fun journey these last 4 years!

I AM an Ironman. ❤️

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