Ironman 70.3 Muncie

 With the Y-Tri this Saturday we'll dedicate the blog this week to the Triathlon and those few who are crazy brave enough to take it on, below is a race report from Matt Etieene from the Muncie 1/2 Ironman, enjoy the report and Good Luck to those racing this weekend.

Ironman 70.3 Muncie

Matthew

Etienne

When Jeff asked me to do a write up about my Ironman 70.3 experience, I did not know what to focus on more, the race or the training. To me the race was just a few moments and the training was an eternity. 

One evening back in December I was swimming with the Southern Indiana Triathlon Team at Castle High School. Everyone was talking about the upcoming races for 2011. As I listened to everyone’s races, several stated the Ironman 70.3 in Muncie as the big race for 2011. I do not know if it was my youth or machismo but I decided to do it as well because if these “old timers” could do it, so could I.  Heck, I swam 1.2 miles so many times that I cannot keep count. Fifty-six miles on a bike is a cake ride. I knew the run would be the easiest part of the race since I ran 12 miles or more almost every Saturday since October with the Band of Runners.

My official training began the day after Band of Runners’ short road race in Little Rock (well it was short for me; the others did a full marathon). I was convinced after this race that the 70.3 distance would be difficult but not too difficult (of course I learned I was wrong). Something happened during my training that I did not foresee; it rained. When I say it rained, I mean we had Amazonian type rains but in Indiana.

So when June rolled around, I was ahead of schedule on swimming and running but behind on my bike mileage. So I did what any person with “under training phobia” would do, I increased my bike mileage and kept my swimming and running totals the same. By the time my taper came, my IT Bands were screaming. My hamstrings hated me and my grocery bills resembled that of a family of four. Keep in mind, I live alone.

My mother and sister traveled with me to Muncie to cheer me on. When we went to check out the course, I will never forget the look on my mother’s face when she saw the white caps on the lake. She asked if I realized how strong that current was going to be. Naturally I acted as if it was nothing. Inside, I was thinking, “WTF???? Matt you are an idiot. You will not make it pass the swim!” The bike course seemed flat which does not suit me. I love rolling hills. The run course did not seem difficult. I had been on hillier runs with the Band of Runners.

So race day finally came. As expected, several in the later start waves passed me on the swim. Fortunately there were not white caps on the lake. I came out of the water 4 minutes slower than my expected time. The first half of the bike ride was incredibly easy then came the turn around. It was at this time that I realized I had a tail wind and now I had a head wind. My hamstrings and IT bands were screaming by mile 40. I kept remembering a mantra from Thomas the Tank Engine; I think I can I think can.  I kept this mantra up during the run, even after my hamstrings locked up on mile 6. Although I was well over 2 hours into the run, it felt like I blinked and I was at mile 12. All the pain left my body. I had a mile to go. As I crested the last hill at mile 12.5, I saw my sister and mom. I felt immortal. I kept chugging along like Thomas the Tank Engine. I crossed the finished line and nothing but relief ran

through my body.

I did it!  I had my Ironman 70.3 hat and medal. My biggest disappoint was that there was not a beer tent at the finish line. I compromised for half a pizza instead. I cannot forget to say my thank yous. I want to thank anyone who supported me or trained with me. If it was not for you, I would not have been able to do it. When I doubted myself, you were there to pick me back up.

So do I recommend doing a half Ironman? ABSOLUTELY! It is a major test of endurance and motivation. I tip my hat to anyone doing a full Ironman. I wish Michelle the best of luck in Louisville and I hope to be there along with the other Band of Runners cheering you on the entire time. I hope you don’t need a mantra to keep going but if you do, I will let you borrow the one that got me through my race.

http://ironmanmuncie.com/