Muncie Half IM Race Report 2004
Dana Chang 

Its one thing to train for a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run but its another to actually look at the lake, drive the bike route, etc. This weekend I would take a dream and make it reality or a nightmare. While everyone else said, oh I know you can do this...I maintained my doubts. I often felt like I alone understood what it meant because I alone had done the training.

Once I hit town, I wandered over for my pre-race talk where they announced the water was 82 degree’s. Definitely too hot for a wetsuit, but yet I wondered if I could do this without the help. Fate is such a fickle friend. I spent the rest of the night hoping the rain would come and cool the water off, little did I know 1000 other athletes would also be doing this and together we might have gotten a little more than expected.

It did rain that night, but the rain left a fog which put the entire race in question. As I drove out to the lake Saturday morning my mind was still trying to comprehend what was ahead of me that day. While I was not the first out to the course I was with the early birds. I wanted to try and make myself as comfortable as possible. This of course started with a humorous attempt to borrow a tire pump, I have short valves so instead of topping my tire off, the pump managed to drain the air off. Fortunately the car next door had a better pump and the guy was so nice enough to lend a hand. I tried to explain I was a nervous newbie and in typical triathlete form he just smiled and said “no problem”. My husband helped me carry my gear up to transition and with a quick kiss left me to walk in alone. It was then I realized that not only was I going to do this race, I wanted to do it.

Unfortunately the lake was covered in fog, you couldn’t even see the first buoy. As time slipped by I walked to the lake, did a warm up, talked to some tri club folks and waited. The 7:00 am start time slipped to 7:30. My parents arrived and I explained that the race was being delayed. Finally at 8am they announced in the next 5 minutes race officials would decide if the swim was to be replaced with a 4 mile run. I was devastated. I actually threw my wetsuit at my poor husband and said I am screwed, no way I can run 17 miles with my heel injury. ( I had abike wreck a month ago that left my chain ring imbedded in the back of my Achilles, not pleasant) Imagine my mixed joy when the fog cleared off the water for an 8:30 swim start. Well I had griped for a swim, so a swim I got.

We waited in wave groups for 45 minutes, my group was last. I chatted it up with some nervous racers but then broke off for some time alone. I highly recommend taking some time alone before a race. I tried to picture my stroke and swim. In my head I made my focus…my mental box was corner to corner. As we approached the beach I did some dolphin dives to seal my goggles and fight my nerves. All lined up, we were sent on our way at 9:15am. The start was brutal. I had tried to align myself to the back but didn’t notice several swimmers had re-positioned to be behind me. I tried to fight off some swimmers taking as much as I got. Finally, frustrated with what I knew was a high heart rate I purposely swam off course to the outside. If 3 minutes ruined my day then at least I didn’t drown. It actually helped m a lot because I set my visual beacon and got in my stroke. By approaching the first buoy from the outside I was able to swim a tight line and gain some time. I passed a few folks and had the occasional swimmer pass me. I honestly didn’t know if I was in last place but I tried not to think of place. I tried to only think of 15 strokes, sight stroke twice, 15 strokes, sight again. I passed someone in a green cap from the wave ahead of me and that made me feel great. As I passed the second corner I began to realize I could do this! I got cocky and tried to sight every 30 strokes but this made me drift off course too much. I hit buoy three and felt great. My pace started to pick up but I noticed that I felt a little hot so I calmed down. I didn’t want to lose time on the bike and run for 5 minutes less in the lake. Don’t I sound all professional? LOL. Oddly a guy in a kayak was following me so I once again thought I must be the last swimmer out here. As I approached the shore I could hear people yelling and I was proud of myself for swimming until my hands filled with sand. I stood up and started stripping my wetsuit. My husband yelled to me 47 minutes! My PR for a 1.2 mile swim. Now I just had to run/walk up the hill to transition and hop on bike, Clyde.

I ran into transition to cheers from my family. I felt great. I had never felt so good after a swim, this was going to be fun! I did a “blonde girl” and tried putting my helmet on backwards. Fortunately my entire family yelled at me so everyone in transition could turn and share my chuckle. After a little flip of the helmet and a gu I was off. Last year I was afraid of the bike but a year of training I have grown to love it. It is by far my most improved sport, although the swim has come along pretty good. But I like the bike and I find I am steady at it. I was looking forward to this ride and its long rolling hills. My goal for the bike was to be on it before the pro’s were running. The bike and run course share about 10 miles, so I was worried I would have pro’s running as I left. But today I was 15 miles out before I passed the overall leader returning. Talk about an immediate positive feedback, I yelled for joy for him as much as I did myself. I tried to pace out the next 5 behind him and yell how far off they were. I am sure they thought I was a silly back of the packer but I didn’t care. I hunkered down into aero and just rode my race. I had two guys that I played tag with a lot. We would alternate passing each other. I found I was a better climber, they were better descenders. I have to say that weekend of hills in Austin paid off, I never saw a long hill that I thought I couldn’t do. False bravado I assure you. The bike is lonely, you ride alone and never talk with other riders except to pass or be passed. Imagine my laugh when the first person I passed yelled he wasn’t in the race just out on the course for fun. My box for the ride was the turn around. I passed a wheel chair competitor and cheered her on. I was given a quick “cya on the run” by her. She truly is inspirational, and she did pass me on the run. Slowly I reeled people in. As I hit the last 5 miles to the turn around I got a surprise cheer by my family. Apparently they tried to race me to the turn but I beat them. I really had to visit a port a potty so I cranked it out knowing my legs would get a 2 minute stretch and rest. A lovely police officer even held my bike for me. When is that ever going to happen again?

After the turn around we rode into a direct head wind. After racing down at 20+mph (fast for me) I slowed to 13mph. I tried to relax and breathe. I knew the head wind would last for about 6 miles. I just went low and plowed through it. Because this portion of the road was smooth I used sometime to refill bottles and reorganize them so my next bottle grab would be more effective. I knew I still had along way to go and just paced myself. You have a long time to think on the bike and while out there I realized I love this sport and racing. Even being in the back I was damn proud to be out there. For every racer I passed I said something positive. I couldn’t help but smile, I was riding at my estimated pace and I felt good. My biggest surge came in the last 10 miles. After one last port a potty stop I came upon 2 sets of riders. In 10 miles I passed about 10 people. I felt strong and good. Even on the last hill I kept my wits about me and just went to low gear to spin up it. As I approached transition I had two really empowering moments, one was a racer retrieving his bike who yelled I had a lot of guts and to keep going; the other was my family gave another big cheer. My husband told me I had a three and half hour bike, which was ahead of my four hour estimate. Like I said I am a back of the packer.

Finally I began the run. My doctor and my physical therapist had all told me it would hurt. But they all said I could run past that and not do permanent damage. I took the first mile in 10 minutes, knowing I was going to hard I slowed my stride. Unfortunately this is where the pain began. As I approached mile 2 my parents were there cheering but all I could yell back was “this hurts”. I was also a little bloated form all the fluid on the bike, so I passed on drinking and just grabbed some ice for my hat and a cold towel. Thus began my aid station march. My plan was run 10 minutes walk 1 minute. This lasted until mile 3 when I started limping. I was suffering from a partial tear to my Achilles tendon that brought on plantar facitis. It just plain sucked.

But I had lots of time to finish, almost four hours so I knew I could at least walk the distance. I started power walking all hills and jogging flats. My parents decided to play peek-a-boo with me at the aid stations which forced me to run when they were in sight. Its hard to not run when people are out there cheering for you. I passed a few folks, some of which seemed to really be suffering. I tried to give encouragement but I had little to spare. I still don’t see how they keep going in an IM. This went on until mile 11 where I heard a familiar voice behind me. Another Chicago tri club’er was gaining on me. So Susan and I tried walking together for a bit but she went ahead jogging. This inspired me to jog a bit so as to not lose sight of her. At mile 12 we laughed about how many times we had run 1 mile, yet this mile went on forever. I came upon my husband who tired to have a conversation with me until I told him, I just need to finish. He ran along side letting me know how great this was, and wow I was going to finish. Finally he took off in a sprint to see me cross.

Those last few blocks into town were the best. I couldn’t see my parents but I knew they were there. All I saw was the finish line. The crowds were gone and volunteers were even setting up for the nights event but in my head I heard them cheering. No one announced my name as I crossed, they had stopped doing that an hour ago. But I could hear “Dana Chang, you are a triathlete…you are a half-ironwoman!” With that I smiled crossed the line.

After the race I had a massage and shower. I wrapped a nice ice bag around my heel and limped around town. I had to stop at the med tent for ice and must have been a bit goofy because after telling the guy my name, I informed him I was a female 30-35. He told me had gotten the female part. I was impressed by the other racers sticking around and felt like a member of a beloved community. I had friends stop and ask if I was ok and talk about the race. I ate dinner with my folks and parted ways. On the way home my husband asked how great I felt and I told him I couldn’t out it in words. You could only know by doing it. I am tossing around thoughts of a full IM but that takes time and dedication. For today I want to relish what I have done, I have fulfilled a dream. How many people can say that? I will tell you…every triathlete, every time.

On the flip side two days after my race I suffered a complete fluke of an injury at the hands of my fickle friend fate. I have lost my left big toenail in a rather painful, completely-moronic and non-sporting way. I don’t know which races I will do later this year but I really don’t care. I got to live my dream and that is good enough.

Dana