IMLP Race Report!

So, I’m an Ironamn now. It hasn’t really sunk in yet though. Yesterday was a long long day. Definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done, both mentally and physically. I’ll go through a bit of a recap here, although there was  a lot of highs and lows the specifics are escaping me right now (ironbrain?). I definitely have two clinically recognized conditions today, they’re known as ironfeet and ironcrotch. Both of them are pretty well ton to pieces. But on to the report.

I lined up for the swim with Mike Hoffman, that kid can freakin swim. I took it out pretty well, but it definitely wasn’t hard enough. I got boxed in, and was trapped for pretty much both loops. This resulted in a slower than expected swim, and a lot of frustration. I feel like I did a good job staying calm, and focusing on executing my race regardless.

Swim: 59:25

T1: 4:49

On the bike, I took it easy out of town, waiting for my legs to get there, and my heart rate to come down after the swim/transition. It all came together somewhere around the climb before the big descent into Keene. I took it a little easy on my way down. I didn’t want to end my day because I wanted to see how fast I could bomb down sketchy roads to pick up a few extra seconds. After the descent I got into a good rhythm on the flats up to the out and back. I nailed my heart rate there, and my nutrition. The only hitch was I realized after the turnaround that my rear brake was rubbing some, so I stopped to adjust it. I ended up having to fix it twice more, because it didn’t want to stay put. I ended up taking in 1.5 bottles an hour; it felt hot so I upped it a little. I had trouble finding a good rhythm on the climb from Jay to Wilmington, but used the slight descent into empty my pretty full bladder. I then turned back south to head back to Lake Placid, and tackle the climb past Whiteface, and the rollers after there. I still had a bit of trouble getting into a rhythm here. I caught up to Ken though, he looked great. We chatted for a minute, then I continued on. Just a note, I expected to see some drafting on the bike, there’s 3000 people all riding at once, there’s going to be people near each other. But I didn’t expect packs of like 50 people all coming through together, it was pretty ridiculous. The climb up Papa Bear heading back into town was pretty cool though, there were crowds out there all day. I didn’t see Mary or Alexa when they were out there though. I headed back into town where there were even more crowds, waved to Amanda as I passed her, and headed out for my second loop. I managed the first loop in 3:00 which is pretty good for me. The second loop was a bit slower though. The winds picked up, and the flat portion between Keene and Jay was ridden into a headwind, which slowed people down a lot. That second loop really nailed home how ironman is just a war of attrition. The day just keeps chipping away at your legs, and your focus constantly. I executed the second loop better than the first I think. A lot of the initial excitement was gone, and I stayed in zone better on the climbs. My nutrition was solid. One shotblock every 15 minutes, and two salt tabs an hour. I peed again the second loop, so I was well hydrated, which is good. I rode back into town feeling pretty good. I had a low point heading past whiteface where my legs started to feel weak, but I focused on just keeping my cadence up, and pedaling an easier gear until they came around again. Headed back into town, was never so happy to get off my bike, and changed into my run gear and had a volunteer apply some sunscreen.

Bike: 6:11:34

T2: 4:31

I felt great heading out on the run. I passed Amanda and my parents just out of transition, and I passed Mary in the Score-This ten at the top of Rich Clark hill. They all gave me a great cheer, and I headed down the hill to the River Rd out and back section. I felt strong. My legs were there. My HR was under control. I hit the first aid station, and started power-walking as per my strategy. I grabbed a cup of perform drink, took one sip, and it was all over. I barely made it past the aid station before emptying the content of my stomach. I started running again, and made it to the next aid station where the same thing happened. At this point I started to feel nauseous just about as soon as I began running, so I switched to run walk, where I was running maybe half a mile, then walking for 30 seconds to try to clam my stomach down. I ended up throwing up everything I tried to get down. I tried sipping water, I tried eating some ice, I tried a pretzel (I only got one down, then it came back). I tried to keep getting salt in me, but it was hard when I was throwing everything up. Ken passed and asked if I was okay, I let him know I was pretty sick, but I was going to keep going. Then Kim passed and I ran with her for a little while. She really saved me out there. She got my legs moving again, and helped me get my heart rate back up. I ran with her as far as I could, then let her go as I threw up again. I slowly worked my way back into town, and met up with Josh G, who I ran with for a while. I held on with him, and we chatted. I helped lift my spirits a lot, and I let him go as I had to throw up again. He ended up running into trouble with his leg hurting later, so I got to return the favor as I walked and ran with him for a couple miles of the second loop. As I came back into town on my first loop, I saw Aexa in the score-this tent, who let me know that Amanda was really worried about me, and that Mary was over with the QT2 guys further up the road. I looked for Amanda, but didn’t see her (turns out she was looking for me in the medical tent). I came across Mary, and Jesse from QT2. Jesse took over the situation, he told me I need to get my core temp down, and sip coke, and just keep moving forward. That’s all ironman is about, keeping your body moving forward no matter what. I knew that my time goals were out the window pretty early into the run. It just became a battle to survive. I picked up the pace on the second loop as my stomach started to settle a bit. I could run a bit more before feeling sick again, so I stuck to my walk-run system. Even feeling like hell, I picked my way through a surprising number of people that second lap. As I came back through town, I got a huge cheer from Rich and Jeremy in the Score-This tent. Then Jesse and Pat of QT2 asked how I was doing. They seemed genuinely concerned with my race. It meant a lot to me, they had their own athletes out there to worry about, and they took the time to take care of me. I headed down the short out and back along mirror lake, and came up to Stefany just before I headed to the finish, and she headed back out for her second loop. She looked awesome. She always has the best attitude, and she really helped pick my spirits up too. I headed into the oval, and the energy of the place just carried me around the track. I high-fived as many kid’s along the fence as I could. I found Amanda and gave her a big kiss, then headed across the line to become an ironman.

Run: 5:00:05

Total: 12:20:24

I didn’t have the day I wanted. Not by a long shot on the run. I feel like it’s well within my ability to go at least an hour faster. I’m happy with my race though. I worked through some really tough challenges, and I stayed positive though the sickness and pain. Although I won’t be racing ironman next year, in a couple years I’ll show it who’s really boss. Now it’s time to get recovered, and finish up all the wedding stuff. Then it’s off to Europe for ten days of relaxing! I have a couple more races to round out my season. I’m excited to hit the 70.3 Poconos race. I have a date with another PR there I think. We’ll see. I just want to finish this up with a list of thank-yous for the people thar got me through yesterdays race.

Amanda-you’ve been there every step of the way, as outlined by my previous post!

Mom & Dad- you’ve come to almost every race I’ve ever done, it means so much to me that you were there

Mary- You’re an amazing coach, and an even better friend! I can’t wait for our next step this fall!!!

Alexa- you’ve been an awesome friend, and a great guide through this, you’re going to tear it up at IMOO!

Solveig- it’s been amazing getting to know you this spring, thanks for coming and cheering!

Travis- you picked up my spirits with your cheers of “HORROCKS!” every time you went screaming by the other direction, you had a killer race, and congrats on your podium and kona slot, no one deserves it more!

Kim- you had an incredible race! You saved me at my lowest point out there.

Ken- you had a great race too, thanks for checking on me whenever we crossed paths.

Josh- you’re amazing. Way to gut out a finish through the pain. I’m so happy we found each other out there to help one another through.

QT2 Jesse- You had much better things to do than to help out some random kid, but you saved my day. Thank you.

Kirsten- Thank you for cheering so loudly for me! Amanda and I will definitely be making it out to wherever you do your first iron!

Jeremy & Glenn- You guys are awesome! Thanks for coming up and supporting all of us, your energy helped keep me going.

Score-This Rich- I was great meeting you, your screaming at me up the hill was a kick in the pants I definitely needed!

Corey- Thanks for giving me a place to stay, your family is awesome, and you had a great race

John- way to race with a separated shoulder and still rock it, I wish I had seen you out there.

To all the rest of my family, soon to be family, and friends that couldn't make it up- thanks for all the well wishes heading into the race, and for checking up on me all day.

Seth- Thank you for convincing me to start cycling two years ago, and for breaking your face playing water polo a week before what became my first tri when you convinced them to turn us into a relay that I then ran alone.

I’m sure there’s people I’ve forgotten, so if you’re one of them THANK YOU!

 

I think the list above shows that NO ONE does an ironman alone. It takes a lot more than fitness to get there, it takes support. I love all of you, and can't come close to expressing the thanks I feel.