The amount of triathlon experience displayed each Sunday morning during Mere Mortals on Pensacola Beach is staggering. While the goal is to help, teach, mentor, and encourage new athletes, MANY experienced athletes also use the time to push themselves to new distances, speeds, and overall achievements. Ironman is often at the top of this list. From a TGC leadership perspective it’s extremely gratifying to see an athlete continue past his/her original goals. Each of the athletes in this blog series participated in the same race, but each of the athletes had a completely different experience. I hope these race reports inspire other athletes to take a chance, set a goal, and do something outside of his/her comfort zone.
From Kim White…
Ironman Florida 140.6
Swim 2.4 mi, Bike 112 mi, Run 26.2 mi
Warning: This report is extremely long, like the race!
This was the hardest race I’ve ever done.
I finished in 12 hours, 51 minutes, 26 seconds and was 13th in my age group overall, bike, and run, and 4th on the swim! I was the last full distance Ironman to rank Bronze AWA in 2020!
My “Thank-You’s”
Thank you, Tripossibilities Coaching!!
Helen Ruckstuhl Cain and Dom Risola, YOU ARE FANTASTIC COACHES!! So, so great to see you at the race!! In the first half of the year, you helped me race faster, and in the second half, you helped me race longer, both successfully!
Thanks to my swim group, Jim, Eric (such a surprise to see you at the race!!), Harrison, Bill,
Jeff , Steve, and Kent! Especially Jim, Thank you for being there for every swim that I needed, any day, any time, any condition.
Thanks to my cycling crew, especially David and Tracy for doing all my last long rides with me. Also Chris and Scott and Derek, Mike, Jason, and Jeff (helping make me faster as I chased you!).
And thank you of course to my family, especially Shane, for his patience, love, and support and dealing with this confusing triathlon stuff that really is hard to keep straight!
The volunteers and spectators and friends were phenomenal and really made this race spectacular during these strange times. I now have a deeper understanding of how important these roles are and how much these folks mean to an athlete struggling on the course.
Kimberlee, I can’t tell you how great it was to have you as a wonderful “partner in crime” on this journey. I enjoyed our training weekend in Panama City Beach and all our communications, lunches, and dinners leading up to the race. And you have wonderful Base Team friends who are each fantastic! I can’t wait to follow you on your journey to IM Texas!
The Swim.
I put my wetsuit bottom on at the hotel, because I wanted to make sure it was fitted right, and it can be hard to put on properly while sweaty. I checked my tires and derailleur and sprayed key areas of my neck and shoulders with Trislide. My swim pace bracket got called, and we migrated towards the swim start in an organized procession, keeping distance from each other. I broke out when we got to the beach sidewalk, so I could place some socks by the showers, hoping they would still be there when I returned. I ran back to find a place in my bracket, where I waited until we were on the board walk to put the top half of my wetsuit on. I think positions got a bit mixed up when people wouldn’t walk all the way down to the front rows as directed.
I found myself crying during the “Star Spangled Banner” and told myself that it’s way too early to get teary in a race this long. We stayed distanced and wore masks up into the moment we took off for the water. They gave us about 5 sec between groups of 3s, where I didn’t feel too close to anyone until the first turn buoy. They didn’t allow us to warm up in the water before the race, so I applied antifog spray and rinse in the hotel that morning. My goggles had dried up and were fogged for ¾ of the first loop. I should have taken the time to wet them and clear them, but I could see partially and decided to make do. I then ran into a SUP support board and had to negotiate around it. After turning the last buoy, I got tired of the poor visibility and stopped to clear my goggles. So much better! I then started drafting off a smooth swimmer, and another swimmer started drafting off me. This is one of my favorite configurations, to be sandwiched between two smooth swimmers! The journey to shore was most enjoyable, but then we broke up, as we had to walk/jog the beach, get a sip of water, and start the 2nd loop.
The water got choppier, but the 2nd loop was already better with improved visibility. Then the fun – the backside traverse above the pier was another favorite – big swells, where you can slow down your stroke and glide! The water then got choppy again as I made the last buoy turn and headed to shore. I started to dual breathe, since breathing on the right was hit or miss. Half-way down, I thought I saw a friend on a kayak and called out, “Deanna Matthews, ?! Deanna? I guess not.” I felt silly. 
I was out of the water uncrowded, so I took a normal beach shower, took off my wetsuit, and joked with the spectators, “You’re probably wondering why I’m still standing here in this shower….” I then found my socks and sat on a bench to put them on. A lady in the crowd cheered, “Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about!” I laughed with her, “I have really tender feet.” I then jogged gently to T1, looking like an “Underwear Run” wannabe (that tradition didn’t happen this year). I was super pumped to see Jenn there cheering and capturing that moment!
The Bike.
I had some difficulty changing into my bike bib shorts (no changing tents due to COVID), as my towel didn’t want to stay put, but I managed. I added lube discretely, put on a fresh jersey and loaded up the pockets with oranges. I really should have done that ahead, but we were supposed to leave our stuff in the bags. I started my rental bike computer as I exited T1 and got comfortable as I moved away from the crowds, eating an orange.
After about 15 minutes, I started eating potatoes, a salt pill and an Altred (not sure if this helps, but I have taken them before good rides). My eat/drink alarms didn’t seem to be sounding off, so I just tried to constantly eat and drink, sticking to the plan by and large, but I may not have had enough plain water to drink, as I did get dehydrated later (contributed by the run too). I knew the wind forecast was ENE, but I forgot to check it in the morning. I tried to hold back my effort in the first ~40 miles, where I expected the wind to be at its worst. I let folks pass me up the overpass on our way to the man with the bagpipes. I grabbed a Gatorade at the 2nd aid station at pretty high speed, pointing at the volunteer to let her know I was targeting her.
Once I hit Hwy 20 heading West, it was fantastic with wind support to help with the hills. I repeatedly exchanged lead with a guy who powered up the hills, while I flew down them. I waved at the scary clown (Graham!) and Eeyore. There was a banjo player out there somewhere too. I then stopped at Special Needs ~5 min, where I felt like a goose force feeding itself for making foie gras. I loved the cucumbers the most, shoving them in my mouth 3-4 at a time, chomp, chomp, water, mini snickers, pringles, water, cucumbers. I grabbed the chicken finger and put it in my back pocket, along with the Pringle’s can, and 2 oranges. I put my daughter’s Halloween M&Ms and mini snickers in my bike bag and took off, carefully avoiding bike traffic grabbing bottles in the same area as SN. I ate the oranges, but only took 2 bites of the chicken (not for me) – will try a boiled egg next time. I know I’m supposed to have all of this nutrition stuff sorted out in advance but eating while exercising has been a struggle for me.
Heading north on 79 was more challenging than anticipated. I think the wind had a stronger north component than expected. I passed a young lady, who then passed me back within 5 minutes. I didn’t chase her or see her again until heading west on Hwy 89 near Publix, where I passed her a final time. 79-N was the hardest part of the bike, and several of us cheered when we hit the turn-around. I couldn’t take much advantage of having the wind at my back on 79-S, because my legs were getting tired, but it was still fast, so I didn’t worry about it too much. The last leg was again against the wind along the beach, so glad to finish that!
The Run.
Now the hard part. I felt fluid gush out of my body (sorry) when I stood vertical off the bike. I was going to have to use the restroom. I went back to my station and changed into my running shorts using the changing towel, sprayed my inner thighs with Trislide, took a salt pill, Altred, and drank some water. I took “forever” in T2, as I started feeling lost, like I didn’t know what to do next. It was so vacant, hardly anyone around, didn’t feel like I was in a race. I reluctantly started to leave, when I realized I was still wearing my bike gloves. I put them back at my rack and lingered again contemplating what else I might be forgetting.
I forced myself to leave the deserted lot and entered: Disney World!! There were bright lights, happy crowds, music, and FRIENDS!! Stephanie, Alice, Tina, Jim!! I know you were with them in spirit, Kimberly! Then who? Coach Dom!? He said he wasn’t coming! And Pete! Then around the corner, Tracy, Laura and Dale! I had renewed energy and started off at a slightly higher pace than intended, but quickly reeled it in. The pace I settled on for the first 9 miles was right where I wanted to be. Dom and Pete rode bikes with me for a bit before heading onto other athletes they knew on the course. At close to 6 miles I saw more friendly faces, Helen?! She said she wasn’t coming, Surprise!! And Keena, Valerie, Pete, Teresa, Patrick, Mo!! I was also great to see fellow racers Joe, Marsha, Theresa, Kimberlee, and Carol throughout the run.
I then started feeling pain in my legs and feet and overall fatigue. It was a lonely section, where I convinced myself that I would run at least the first half marathon. Then I would stop at special needs and decide what to do next. I felt like walking several times but pushed on. I noticed hardly anyone was carrying a bottle like I was, and they all looked stronger than I felt, so I tossed my bottle (maybe I shouldn’t have done that with aid stations 2 miles apart instead of the typical 1 mile). I kept pushing. I then saw Stephanie, Alice, Tina, Jim!! And Eric, surprise!! That helped me get to Special Needs, where I used the restroom and grabbed 2 oranges to pocket. I also took a salt pill and Altred and drank some water. I grabbed the espresso beans but forgot I had them or didn’t care. I carried those beans, a chicken finger, cliff blocks, and an empty cup in my back pockets for the rest of the race not remembering or caring that they were there. I should have thrown all that stuff away (or used it!), but I wasn’t thinking straight. I proceeded to walk and eat the oranges. That was the last food I ate for the remainder of the day. After that, I only took in a small amount of Gatorade and coke.
When I finished the oranges, I didn’t feel like running anymore. I started to resign myself to walk the rest of the way. This wasn’t the way I wanted to finish this race, but I was going to finish, so that was something. But it was going to take a really, really long time, and a long time to be kind of disappointed. I passed Jenn and Anita, who said, “You know I’m here for you! Come on, Kim!” I apologized, “I know, I know!” I kept walking. Then I saw Tracy, and she wanted to know what happened. “I’m just really tired.” And she walked alongside me, “I’ll bet! You’ve been racing a long time!” And we chatted a bit, and I felt a little better. And I kept walking. The guy holding my favorite sign, “You are faster than the ballot counters!” pointed at me and said, “You really are!” I grinned and kept walking.
I heard some cheering from behind me, when Chris Nikic (first person with Down Syndrome to attempt and complete an Ironman) approached and passed me. I noticed that he was jogging slow but steady. I thought, maybe I could do that, just jog slowly like that for a while. So I started to jog behind him. I started to feel like I could jog faster, but I said, “No, just stay here for a while.” I felt like I could jog faster again, so I thanked him for inspiring me to run again, and I sped up, never regaining my pace in the first half, but satisfied that I was jogging again. I then cried, thinking about the effort and focus Chris and his family put into making this happen. I saw my friends again near the turn-around and caught half of a wobbly high-five with Helen. When I returned, Helen held my hand briefly. I said, “It hurts so bad.” She replied that the pain wouldn’t be much longer.
Wearing the “Bike Law” jersey on the run turned out to be a great move – spectators remembered me each time I passed and called out to me. One couple in their wedding dress shouted, “You look better on your second lap than you did on your first. I don’t know how you do it!”, Ha Ha! Another instructed me to smile, that it would lessen the pain. I molded my face repeatedly into a Claymation smile. It was harder than I thought and may have been easier to do with my hands. I allowed myself to walk briefly one more time after an aid station, and then got back to jogging. Dom showed up with his beach cruiser and some music that helped lift my spirits for a bit, before riding ahead to catch others and videos of us in action.
My Finish & Post-Race.
I picked up my pace as I headed through the streets and corridors towards the finish line. I could hear crowds of people cheering and saw my friends again – Stephanie, Alice, Tina, Jim!! I slowed on the red carpet to savor the moment and soak in Mike Reilly’s words, “Kimberly White, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!”
I crossed the finish and became confused about where to go next. I got wobbly, started dry heaving, and got wheeled off to Medical. They tried to get me to sip Gatorade, but I didn’t take in much before barfing twice. They offered me an IV, since I didn’t think I could ingest anything. I requested ice, and they brought me 4 bags for my hamstrings and calves, which I also used on my feet. As I cooled down, they brought me foil blankets. I didn’t want to leave, but they did (lol)! They helped me to my feet and I hobbled slowly out of the tent. I didn’t see if there was food or an after party, just kept hobbling towards transition to get my bike. Note: I highly recommend paying Tribike Transport $40 to get your stuff out of transition. When I got to my phone in transition, I called for help, and Helen and Dom met me at my car, where we locked my stuff inside, and left my car there overnight. 
They drove me to meet Shane and Heidi at a Publix, then off to our hotel, where I took an Epsom salt bath, drank a glass of OJ and water, used the recovery sleeves for 30 minutes, skipped dinner, and went to sleep.
As each day passes, I feel better and more proud of this accomplishment.
