Kim Loeffler Racing

Season Wrap Up

Once again, it’s been a while since I updated my site.  I was so upset after my DNF in Kona, I just wanted to put the race behind me and move on.  Kona was the typical Ironman Horror story.  I had to take 3 weeks off from swimming before Kona becuase I had another flair up with my shoulder.  I had a few decent swims race week but unfortunatley my layoff caused me to lose quite a bit of fitness and I came out of the water with another PW (personal worst!) seems to be the year for swim PWs, but I have some ideas for next year and I am believe it or not, very excited to start my swim focus.  Anyway, back to the race.  I felt great on the bike, and started moving up through the field. Unfortunately, at about the 2 hour mark, I went to take a salt tablet and they were gone! The wind blew them off my bike and I had to complete the bike without any salt tablets.  I felt so good on the bike, so I wasn’t really that worried.  I moved up through the field and entered T2 in 17th place and the 5th fastest bike split.  This was the highest I have ever entered T2, so I was confident I could run about a 3:05-3:07 and finish in the top 10 .  My legs felt great off the bike and I started running 6:50s. Unfortunately at mile 2, my stomach started to cramp badly and by mile 5, the porta potty stops started.  I was so upset, because I was holding 7 min pace, but every time I stopped I would put in an 8:30 mile pace.  I was having a hard time eating and drinking because of my stomach cramps and by mile 13, I was so dehydrated my right hamstring cramped badly.  I chugged gatorade, stretched, tried to walk it off, but it just wouldn’t  release.  I hobbled to mile 15 where I eventually called it a day.  It was a hard decision to make.  I am a firm believer in, you finish what you start and you learn a great deal about yourself when you suffer badly in races. There are times to tough it out and there are times to throw in the towel.  Last year I raced Kona with a stress fracture in my femur.  I toughed it out, suffered a great deal and finished just to finish.  I couldn’t do it this year. I didn’t  want to risk tearing my hamstring and being out for an extended amount of time.  I had to take 4 months off from training after Kona last year and I chose to put my health first. 

After Kona, I decided I would do Ironman Arizona.  I trained so hard for Kona. I felt so fit and I didn’t want to waist all that fitness.  I didn’t want to end my season with a DNF.  Unfortunately as soon as I got home from Hawaii, I came down with bronchitis and was forced to rest for 2 weeks.  That left me with 2.5 weeks of training and a 10 day taper going into IMAZ.  All I could do was have faith that the training I did all year, would still be in me.  I ended up finishing 4th and top American in a very competitive international field.  Considering the obstacles that I had to overcome with my shoulder and illness, I am happy with my race.  I will post a race report this week.  Below are a few photos of the day.