Congratulations to Heidi & Trish!

We would like to congratulate Heidi and Trish for a fantastic effort in the Ironman, truly inspirational!

Heidi and Trish recently took part in the 2008 Ironman New Zealand event held on March 1.

Read on as we recount Trish and Heidi's race plan and what they experienced on the day.

Heidi's Race Journal

My Race Plan

my main goals were simple...

• To complete my first Ironman as close to 11 hours as possible,
• To keep my blood glucose levels between 5 – 10mmol/L throughout the whole Ironman race,
• To finish Ironman feeling proud of what I’ve achieved no matter what the outcome.

Pump Preparations

I programmed the pump Friday and double checked on race morning.

Race Day

• Wake at 3:55am
• I will leave home at (time) 5.15am

Actions

• I will take at race venue: check bike, wheels, tyres – pump up, put nutrition on bike, Vaseline, sunscreen, test blood glucose levels and make any last minute adjustments to pump, put on wetsuit, swim cap, & goggles...

Warm Up

• I will start a warm up at 6.15am (20minute run...test blood glucose...wetsuit...10minute swim)...

My Swim Plan is...

• I will start near the back in the middle of the start line.
  
• The first 10-100m I will get through the washing machine and find a rhythm of 10-12 strokes then look up.
• I will eat a Gu gel after the 2nd turn buoy…by kicking on my back (Gu will be in wetsuit).

Transistion 1

• Wetsuit off, check BG level, make any adjustments to pump, Vaseline, eat banana, extra clothes on if required, helmet, glasses, shoes, drink.

My Bike Plan is...

• Keep the first lap of the bike consistent and last lap faster
• My heart rate will be between: 140 – 160bpm & my preferred cadence will be: 80 – 90rpm
• I will drink: electrolytes every 15minutes and water with food every 30minutes
• I will eat: a Gu gel (25g), ½ of a Powerbar (27g), & banana ½ (15g) every 30minutes
• If I drop my nutrition I will collect more food at the nearest aid station.
• Before entering transition I will get into a lower gear, spin, and take my feet out of my shoes...

Transistion 2

• Helmet off, test BG level, make changes to pump, running shorts, fuel belt, socks, running shoes, running cap, glasses, Vaseline and run out of transition.

My Run Plan is...

• My goal heart rate is between 150 –170bpm
• Run nutrition plan is the same as the bike

The Race

Click image above for larger version.

I tested 3 times before the event, in transition after the swim, cycle and run, and 2 hours after the event. The average of the day was 7.7mmol/L and the average while racing was 6mmol/L.

8% HbA1c – 14/02/08

Click image above for larger version.

Many factors have contributed to my HbA1c result improvement over the last couple of years...

1. The use of a Cosmo Insulin pump has made the world of difference...before the pump my HbA1c was 9.6% but after 4 months on the pump its now down to 8%. The pump has made me more aware of accurately matching of insulin to CHO’s in food. It has also helped me to monitor BG levels and identify patterns and trends.
2. Regular visits to Louise Farmer at the Hutt hospital have also kept me on track...we discuss my blood glucose, training, insulin, life, and come up with management strategies to be in better control.
3. Testing, recording and analysis of my blood glucose levels has been a vital factor in the lowering of my HbA1c. Recording and having a visual representation of my blood glucose helps me to avoid those nasty highs and lows...
4. TRAINING FOR IRONMAN...exercise everyday whether it’s a 6hour cycle or a 20minute run all helps to lower blood glucose.

What's Next...

I have one more race (Wellington Standard Triathlon Champs - Sunday 30 March) before I head off to live in England.  I will be moving to Brimingham, England on Wednesday 2 April to start a teaching position at Parkfield School.

Once in England I will commence training for the ITU World Long Distance Duathlon Champs in Geel, Belgium (10 August) and ITU World Standard Distance Duathlon Champs in Rimini, Italy (27 September).

Trish's Race Journal

Coming soon...