Gulf Coast 70.3 Ironman: A Race Full of Unexpected Turns
The Gulf Coast 70.3 Ironman was quite an experience, and a race I had wanted to do for several years. Panama City Beach holds such a special place in my heart, so when I discovered that my triathlon team, One80 Multisport US, had Gulf Coast 70.3 on the team calendar, I knew it was time.
I was excited not only to race, but to meet new people and train alongside other athletes. I followed a rigorous training plan from Coach Jason Wilford and invested in sports massage and physical therapy to help manage the chronic injuries and little “niggles” (as the South Africans on our team call them), that seem to come with my active lifestyle. The process is no joke, and I am incredibly grateful for my husband whose patience, encouragement, and support carried me through all the hours of training and all the emotions that came with it. Though he couldn’t come for the race due to work and holding up the fort at home, he was there for all themoments that led up to the big day.
Then the storm hit...The day before the race, a major storm rolled into Panama City Beach. I actually hesitated to turn my bike into transition as planned, but ultimately trusted the plan and checked it in. Shortly afterward, bike check-in was closed because of severe winds, heavy rain, and a tornado watch. Then came word that bike racks had been knocked over and bikes were scattered on the ground.I nervously made my way over to check on mine, only to discover that it had already been collected and moved safely under cover. I wouldn't be able to inspect it until race morning. Thankfully, when I arrived the next morning, everything checked out perfectly. Unfortunately, others weren't so lucky. Some athletes couldn't repair their bikes or find an alternate option in time and had to withdraw from the race. It was heartbreaking to watch after seeing how much work goes into getting to that starting line.
No swim?!?! - Race morning brought another major curveball. The Gulf was still angry from the storm, and double red flags were flying along the beach because of strong currents and unsafe conditions.
The swim was cancelled.
This was a huge disappointment, and only the second time in 40 years that the swim had been cancelled at this race. I shed a few tears, took a deep breath, and switched mental gears. Instead of starting with the swim, athletes were sent off in waves based on transition order from the bike.
And then it was time to race.
Bike + Run -
I felt strong on the bike. The course is flat and fast, although it requires almost constant pedaling, and the backside of the course often brings challenging headwinds, which was the case this time. I made one bathroom stop and even stopped to help after a crash happened directly in front of me. Sometimes racing is about more than your own race.
The run was also relatively flat, but hot and with very little shade. Volunteers sprayed athletes with water along portions of the course, and I made good use of every aid station, stuffing ice underneath my hat and into my sports bra to keep my body temperature down. Then, because apparently the day hadn't thrown enough at me already, my monthly cycle decided to arrive right in the middle of the run, bringing some additional cramping with it.
Maybe that cancelled swim really was a blessing!
A few numbers worth celebrating
Despite all the unexpected twists, I finished with a huge sense of accomplishment. If I use the same swim time from my previous 70.3 nearly four years ago as a comparison, I improved my overall time by 1:16:01. Granted, this course was flatter and faster than my last course (Whistler, Canada), but each course and race day brings its own beauty and challenges to navigate.
And our One80 Multisport US tri club took 3rd place!
The people behind the race
One of the greatest parts of this experience was the incredible support crew surrounding me.
My One80 teammates were there, along with my parents, Lee and Kathy Smith, and dear friends Nicole Bennett and Sarah Rogers. Nicole and Sarah even had a special cheering outfit for each sport of the race, and their antics provided incredible laughter and inspiration for everyone around them. They were so much fun that they even made the local news!
I am incredibly fortunate to have people like this in my life. The truth is, the sherpas and support crew are such a huge part of this journey. When a race throws unexpected challenges at you, and this one certainly did, I don't think I could have fought through them nearly as easily without my people cheering me on.
PCB, I'll be back!Gulf Coast 70.3 certainly wasn't the race I expected when I showed up. There was no swim, a major storm, damaged bikes, extreme heat, unexpected cramping, and plenty of moments where I had to adjust my expectations and simply keep moving forward. But maybe that's part of what makes endurance racing so meaningful.
You train for months to execute a plan, and then race day reminds you that you don't always get to choose what happens. You learn to adapt, keep your head in the game, lean on your people, and finish anyway. I may just have to do this course again someday, not only because it's an excuse to spend time at our condo right along the bike course (my happy place!), but because I still need to experience that Gulf swim I missed.
Make it a Gulf Coast Race-cation!If you're traveling to Panama City Beach for Gulf Coast 70.3, why not turn the race into a little race-cation?We extended our stay after the race and took some much-needed time to relax, soak up the beach, and enjoy everything this area has to offer. One of my favorite parts of PCB is that you can go from a hard day of racing to feet-in-the-sand relaxation in no time.
And if you're looking for a place to stay, we have a condo right along the bike course, one of my favorite spots in PCB and the perfect home base for race weekend. Being able to stay here means you can be close to the action while still having a comfortable place to recover, relax, and enjoy the beach after the race.
If you'd like to see our condo and check available dates to stay, click here.
And because one of the best ways to recover from a 70.3 is apparently to trade your bike for a boat…we headed over to Destin for a Tiki Cruise to Crab Island!It was the perfect post-race adventure with beautiful water, sunshine, and absolutely no running required. Click here to request more information on our Tiki Cruise and/or Crab Island.
If you're planning your own Gulf Coast 70.3 trip, I'd highly recommend adding a few extra days before or after the race. Train hard, race hard, then stay awhile and enjoy the Gulf Coast! Click here to read more about my favorite activities, restaurants and more in PCB!
Race. Recover. Relax. Repeat.