She came home with a new PR and the fastest time ever (10:45:49) in a foreign iron distance event by a woman from the Woodlands MultiSport coverage area. Even though Karen herself admitted in a Facebook comment that Kim Hager's 10:55:29 Ironman France in 2006 was probably a better overall performance because of the course's difficulty.
A member of the MarkAllenOnline Elite Amateur team, and coached by Mark Allen and Luis Vargas, Ponette-Maldonado will join a handful of individuals from our coverage area to finish two Ironmans in a single year when she travels to Mexico to compete in IM Cozumel in late November.
We caught up with Karen as the first in our new "Filing Our 10-Q" feature!
1.) Congratulations on your great finish in Germany last month. What was the reason for choosing to do a foreign Iron distance event?
Thanks, I had so much fun in Germany. My cousin Pierre lives in Brussels, Belgium and he has been doing triathlon for three years now. As soon as he started racing, he started bugging me about doing an Ironman together! I finally gave in around June of 2009 and I agreed to travel to Europe for a small family reunion "and" a race for the summer of 2010.
We had several to choose from including Ironman Switzerland, Austria, Frankfurt, and Challenge Roth. I tried for Austria but didn't get in (though they emailed me a week later offering me an entry believe it or not!).
Next up I tried for Frankfurt, but didn't get in either (that one filled in 26 minutes!).
Finally, it was my husband that told me he would love to go to Roth. Back in the earlier days of triathlon (the 80's!!!), Roth was the most competitive race after Hawaii. But, when the WTC (World Triathlon Corportation) formed, Roth organizers eventually went their own way as they did not agree with some of the criteria the WTC demanded. It is rumored that The Challenge Group will soon be organizing another "World Championship" for Iron distance. Their races have great prize purses and attract top tier Pro's and age groupers alike.
So anyway, Roth it was and both my cousin and I were able to sign up no problem. (Editor's note: Pierre Henderyckx of Belgium finished in 12:59:31.)
2.) The Challenge Family of triathlons were new to me until I found out that you were competing in one of their events. How would compare and contrast a Challenge Family race to one produced by Ironman?
Ironman events have probably changed quite a bit since 2002 when I raced in Florida. I remember people thinking it was crazy that there were going to be a whopping 2,200 starters that year. Now all of the Ironman events are that big and bigger! Challenge events are extremely large as well. I think in Roth there were 3,000 age groupers and another 1,000 doing relays!
At this point, I don't think I can compare. Each race has its own organizer. For instance, I've done several 70.3's over the past couple of years and I can say that some are incredibly well organized and others not as great so I assume same thing goes for Ironman events.
What I can say with certainty is that the Challenge Roth is the best race I've ever done from an athlete's perspective. I've raced several international races since I started this sport in 1993 and many of them have been fantastic, but Roth was simply unbelievable. The support is amazing: from the organizers, the volunteers, and the hundred thousand spectators all over the magnificent course! And there is a thing or two to say for the sausages and the beer!
3.) A mutual friend of ours, Kim Hager, once told me that every Ironman's dream is to race two Ironmans a year (the second one, of course, being Kona). But you chose to do two after not having done an Ironman since 2002. First, why return to the distance and why two races this year - other than the fact that they're both great travel destinations?
Did Kim say that? (Yes, she did.) Well, I came back to Ironman, like I said previously, due to a little coaxing on behalf of my cousin!
Then, my close friend and training partner Ana Rivero-Lemus talked me into Cozumel.
Another one of my closest friends and long time training partner from Mexico, Nelly Becerra -- the fastest woman Iron distance triathlete in the history of Mexico nonetheless -- lives in Cancun and is one of the organizers of the race. She said she wouldn't forgive me if I didn't go. So the way I look at it, I had no choice! I don't think my husband fell for that story, but it's true!
4.) Talk a little bit about your race at the Roth Challenge.
Frankly, the week leading up to the race was tough. I was only able to get one hotel room where we wanted to stay so my children (ages 14 and 5), my husband, and I were sleeping (or not sleeping really) together. I got to share with Sophie, and well, if you've ever slept with a 5-year-old, you know what that's like!
Unfortunately, my bike was lost the entire week. It made it to Frankfurt and rather than continue on to Nuremberg, it seems someone put it on a plane to Paris. The bike arrived at the hotel late Friday night, and the rear wheel was damaged, the case had been opened and stuff was moved around. Saturday morning before race day, we found a mechanic at "Stadler Bike Shop". That would be Norman Stadler's store! He spoke no English, but he definitely knew what to do with out any instruction from us!
So I made it to the transition Saturday with plenty of time to rack the bike.
Unfortunately, I never got to ride my bike because I had to get new tires too and they are glue-ons so you have to let them dry. Didn't ride for an entire week prior to the race.
I had a super solid race. I swam super comfortably (1:01), the water was pretty warm. Actually, too warm for my taste.
I felt flat on the bike, but I was steady and I just focused on my heart rate and staying in my prescribed range the entire time. I got passed by several women riding like bats out of hell, and this worried me a bit, but I stuck to my plan and did a lot of positive talking to myself. I took a small spill on the famous Solarberg hill (a place on the course known for it's Tour De France-like atmosphere) but recovered quickly from it. Other than that my bike ride felt pretty routine, just like my rides here at home! (5:48 bike time)
It wasn't until the run where I came alive. I took plenty of time in the changing tent, which were unisex! One difference with WTC races that I didn't mention! And as I ran out, I just knew I was going to have a decent run. I had to give myself kudos for being so patient on the bike.
In the first 10k, I caught about 10 women, that was extremely motivating to me. At about 25k, I hit a wall. It was very, very sudden, and I knew it was time to re-negotiate with myself. For the next 10k, I took a walking break at each aid station, got plenty of fluids in as the temperature was rising and at km 35, with only 7k to go, I knew I could run again without stopping, in fact, this was the fastest part of my marathon.
There is nothing like running into the town of Roth! I saw my husband and two daughters and at kilometer 40, I slowed to give them a huge high five and then at 41, I saw my cousin Pierre's wife, Sue, their two teenage daughters, and Mimi, my Aunt and Godmother. Mimi is 70 and a recent breast cancer survivor, she is a huge inspiration for me and one of my greatest supporters. From there, it was pure elation! (Marathon time 3:49)
5.) Did you feel that your 5:06 at Lone Star was a pretty good predictor of how things were going to go for you in Germany?
I'm not one to focus much on times, rather, I like to compare with other athletes in my age group that I know. It was a windy day and my bike was sub par, but considering where I was in my training, I had a uneventful and solid race which did give me confidence leading into Roth only 11 weeks away.
6.) I noticed that only 11% of the finishers at Roth were women whereas anywhere between 20 to 30% are at domestic Ironman events. Were you surprised that there wasn't as many women competing at Roth?
You know, I was indeed very surprised. When I looked at the participant list, I noticed how small the women's field was. Don't really know why, I guess you'll have to get the stats on other European IM's and see if there is a trend!
7.) Next up for you in Cozumel. How's your training coming along? I know that you took a week or two off after getting back from Germany, but I thought I read you've been dealing with a nagging injury here or there.
Yes, Cozumel. I'm totally psyched, if I weren't, I would plan on going, but I am.
It took me about three weeks to recover from Roth and training had been going great up until two weeks ago when I had sudden and severe abdominal and back pain which put me in bed for about four days. I only missed about 6 days of training though because as soon as I could stand up I was ready to hit the pool.
Please don't tell Dr. Winklestien. Just kidding! He said I could exercise "within reason" on the sixth day; not sure if we're on the same page about that but I am taking it pretty easy right now...
I am having some testing this week. It's probably an ulcer for which I am being treated with medication and diet already, so I have been feeling better every day. No Grimaldi's pepperoni pizza for me anytime soon!
And, no major sports related injuries thank goodness. It's been a fairly injury free season for me barring little issues here and there.
8.) What kind of expectations do you have for yourself in Cozumel?
I've been asked this question a few times after Roth.
I placed seventh in my age group there within a couple minutes of fifth place there in a highly competitive arena.
With my overall time there of 10:45, I think that on a good day I can be in the mix in Cozumel. Especially because I have learned to race in the heat better these past couple of years.
They have announced four slots for Hawaii in my age group. That gives me the idea that I have a slight possibility of qualifying. My strategy will be to see where I am off the bike in T2. Unfortunately, wind on the bike is not my forte so until that point I want to race soley focused on myself. We'll see what happens I guess!
9.) I saw in the rush of the Ironman Texas announcement that you seemed to be gauging whether or not to sign up for it. So the big question is: Did you?
I did "not" sign up. Yet. There are still Foundation slots, right? Ha ha!
10.) Are you surprised with the number of Texans (over 1,500) who have registered as well as just over 200 from our immediate area, not counting Houston, Harris and Fort Bend counties?
No way, I am not surprised at all. Ironman has become much more mainstream. Texas is a huge state with tons of triathletes. This is their chance to become and Ironman or Ironwoman on their turf! How cool is that?!
