Nemo's 2013 IMMT Race Report or, How to roll with Plan B
It’s been a few weeks since I finished Ironman Mont-Tremblant and for some reason I’m having a hard time putting my thoughts to paper this time. Usually the words start to form in my head during the race or immediately afterwards on the flight home. But for some reason, this time, it seems a little harder to figure out how to summarize the experience (and for regular readers of my race reports, you know that I already don’t do a great job of “summarizing&rdquo
. I think it may simply be that this time the race was more like a vacation. Yes, I know that seems ridiculous, doing an Ironman was a vacation? But yeah, this time, at Mont-Tremblant, Canada, it really was!
Training: Now don’t just skip to the end. This part is important and you need to read it to understand the whole story! Although the race was in August, this report has to start back in April when I was out for a trail run with a friend. I tripped on a pine cone and twisted my ankle. After hopping around a bit, settling my heart back into my chest, and taking a few cautious steps all seemed to be fine. Until the next day when just 30 minutes into a bike ride my knee started to swell and every peddle stroke or clip into/out of the pedal was met with pain. I went home and immediately began RICE therapy. I was unable to swim (pushing off the wall hurt), bike, or run at this point. After several weeks of doing pretty much nothing and seeing very little improvement (I was eventually able to swim and bike short distances gently but that’s it) I saw a doc who essentially said give it another 2-6 weeks. By June I was running out of time, continued to see little improvement, and needed some answers so I requested an MRI. The MRI showed a torn meniscus, in the white zone which meant it wasn’t going to get any better. With only 10 weeks left to race day and having done very little training up until that point, I didn’t have enough time left to recover from surgery and still train adequately for the race. So I had a decision to make: A) pull out from the race and get surgery now, or 
continue managing the pain/swelling as best I could and train enough to swim, bike, walk the Ironman. Obviously, I chose B.
Race Week:
Wednesday: Joe and I flew to Montreal and caught a ride with friends from the airport to the ski resort of Mont-Tremblant. Yes, I said ski resort. Did I mention this course was hilly? If I didn’t already, don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll mention it just a few more times before this report is through! We arrived at our hotel (Marriott Residence Inn) in the Village of Mont-Tremblant and hooked up with our roomies for the week, Michele and Chuck Potter. The hotel was less than 500 yards from the Ironman finish line and our room was a 2 bedroom/2 bath suite with a full kitchen that we could use for cooking meals- it was perfect. After a quick chat and setting up room arrangements Michele and Chuck headed off to their massage appointments at the Scandinave Spa (I’ll talk more about this later) while Joe and I went for a walk around the village to find some dinner. It was at this point I started to realize just how extra ordinary this particular Ironman race venue was.
If Disney and Ironman had a baby it would look like Ironman Mont-Tremblant. The Village of Mont-Tremblant is a giant tourist/ski/pedestrian only resort and because August is their off-season, the Ironman gets top billing. There are Ironman signs, posters, stages, lights, camera, action on every corner! There were tons of activities (hiking, biking, this funky luge ride, wall climbing, balloon bouncing, swimming, kayaking, shopping, a movie theater, street performers, etc) and lots of dining options. That said, everything was tourist priced and the multiple Canadian taxes are a killer. After enjoying our first dinner in the Village we were very thankful for that little kitchen in our hotel room!
Thursday: After a leisurely morning we all four headed down to the lake to meet several of our other friends to do a practice swim and check out the water conditions. This was the first IM swim practice I’ve been to where they had beach chairs, picnic tables, a changing room, bathrooms, and showers! Additionally, they had swim buoys set up for approximately 1/2 mile out to a boat where they were serving cappuccino!!! I thought they only did that in Kona! Unfortunately it seems we got there a little too late that morning and missed the cappuccino boat! Bummer. But the good news was that the water temperature felt just perfect. Cool enough for a wetsuit to be comfortable, but not too cold that I had to worry about freezing on the swim. After our swim we went back to the hotel for lunch picked up my bike and gear up from TriBike Transport, checked in at Ironman registration (fastest and most efficient registration ever) and then Michele and I headed out for a ride to check out the “big climb” to Lac Superieur on the bike course.
Now while the entire Ironman Mont-Tremblant course is hilly (depending on who you talk to and what data you look at it has somewhere between 9000 and 1200 feet of total elevation gain), this particular climb is about 7 miles long with several 12-15% grade sections, and you get to do it twice at about mile 45 and 100 (yeah, nice treat, right?). Everyone that had done either the Ironman last year or the Half early this summer told us that the only section we really needed to do a recon ride on was this hill. Not because it was technical, but because you have to wrap your head around it. Michele and I took our time going up the hill and I’ll admit to wishing the turn-a-round was a bit closer than it was. But it really wasn’t toooooo bad. Of course that’s with fresh legs. I’m glad we rode it because it gave me a clear undeniable and unforgettable warning that I had to reserve my legs for that climb a second time at mile 100 on race day. Afterwards we ran out for groceries, made dinner in the hotel room, and just relaxed.
Friday: My friend Glenn picked me up shortly breakfast for an early massage appointment at the Scandinave Spa while Joe went for a hike up Mont-Tremblant with another friend, Sue, and her son. Glenn and Laura had been to Mont-Tremblant earlier in the year to race the Half Ironman and picked up 50% off discount coupons for us to use on race week. What an incredible treat! First up was a relaxing Swedish massage (not the deep tissue sports thing I usually get that has me crying for mercy, but the incense, candles, whale songs and ahhhhhhhh kinda thing), followed by as much time as we wanted relaxing and enjoying the hot and cold Scandinavian baths, saunas, hammocks, and relaxation rooms. Glenn and I spent the entire morning just relaxing at the spa. After lunch Michele and I began the work of preparing our transition bags for drop off the following day and then Chuck, Michele, Joe and I took a gondola ride up to the top of Mont-Tremblant to soak in the view. Of course Joe had already hiked up earlier that day, but we decided to take the easy route! It was beautiful and you could see the whole (hilly) race course venue below. Back down to the hotel for dinner and then Michele and I walked down to the transition area for the Athlete’s meeting. Now I’ve been to 3 of these meetings before. There is usually some rah rah video, a little whoop whoop for first timers, some recognition of oldest and youngest athletes, and so forth. But this meeting was incredible. When we walked in they had just started the dual chainsaw ice sculpting competition (apparently we had already missed the multiple drummer performance) and shortly after a few of the traditional Ironman inspirational videos there was a gospel choir performance! The meeting was a little long for my preference but eventually we were all lead out onto the pedestrian streets of the Village of Mont-Tremblant in an Athletes Parade by folks carrying the flags of all the countries represented at the race. Once we got the to the village center, there was another performance by the gospel choir followed by a firework display!! In anticipation of the fireworks, we secured a spot on the gondola and rode it up and down the village over and over again while getting the best view of the fireworks in town.
Saturday: This is the day to relax and rest up for the next big day so not much happens here. We had a leisurely morning with a late (but rather big) breakfast and then Michele and I checked in our bikes and dropped our transition bags to have all the admin stuff for the day done and out of the way relatively early. Again, this whole process was amazingly efficient and I can’t say enough about the volunteers at this race, from registration, to bike check-in, to the aid stations on race day- they were over the top super helpful. We had a nice big lunch as well and walked up the street to see a little of the Iron Kids 5k race and watch a movie (“We’re the Millers”- light, funny, silly, stupid, and just perfect for a pre-race movie). We did a little shopping in town and really, that’s about it! The day flew by so quickly we didn’t make the 5:00 athlete’ s blessing at the chapel that Michele and I both wanted to attend. But we improvised with our own blessing in our hotel before dinner and it was just as special. Joe helped me put my race number tattoos on and then it was time for bed!
Race Day!
As usual the 4:00am wake-up call felt like it came a bit early. I snuck down to the kitchen to pour a cup of coffee and warm up the steel cut oatmeal with peanut butter and agave syrup that Chuck had made for me the night before (Michele and I had the best Sherpas). Threw a mashed up banana in the oatmeal, added a little almond milk, and that was breakfast. By 5:00 everyone was awake ready to head down to the transition but as usual, my bowels were not yet ready. Fortunately the hotel was so close to transition I was able to walk down, drop off my special needs bags, get my tires pumped, put water bottles on my bike, and then walk back to the hotel room for one more try- which, by the time I’d done all that, was much more successful. Unfortunately it meant I lost contact with Michele and worried I wouldn’t find her before the start. Joe and I took the roughly 1 mile walk down to the swim start and I got in the very long port-o-potty line knowing by the time I made it to the front I’d need to go again. After the singing of the National Anthem the professionals were sent off with a cannon shot, fireworks, and two fly-overs by the Canadian Air Force! I squeeeeeezed myself into my long sleeve wetsuit (note to self, lose a few pounds before you try that again) and Joe and I made our way over to the start. I finally found Michele just minutes before we went into the water and we gave each other a huge hug! It was such a relief to see her before the start, somehow that really calms me down.
Swim: 1:23:44
The swim start at IMMT was a little different than other Ironman races. They sent us off in waves of about 500 people each with each wave going off about 3 minutes apart. Our wave (woman 45+) was the last one to go off and I must say, I found the first 500 meters or so reasonably civil. There was still pushing and positioning, but not the typical water polo atmosphere of other races. I was actually able to just swim and find feet to draft behind- which was great because my only goal on the swim was to use as little energy as possible. I didn’t really care how long it took, I wanted to save as much energy as I could because I knew that it was going to be a very long day. Unfortunately that didn’t last long and by about 1000 meters into the race we were catching up to the slower swimmers in the waves ahead of us. The more different colored caps I saw the more congested, crazy, and stupid the swimming got. I’m the last person to judge the way other people swim, but really folks, learn to sight and swim strait! Anyway, about 1.5 miles into the swim I had to pee, and since I still can’t figure out how to do that while swimming, I had to swim to the outside where the safety kayak crews were hanging out and when they asked if I needed help I said “um, no, but could you please just look the other way for a moment?” That got a giggle from the lifeguard! A little more than a half mile later and I’m finally coming out of the water, completely relaxed, happy, and feeling fresh. Perfect!
T1: 14:32
Now don’t judge me here!! Yes, that’s a long time. But the swim exit was half a mile from the transition tent and unlike everyone else, I had to walk it (remember the torn meniscus?) Anyway, I saw Joe and Chuck just next the first set of port-o-potties before the tent (yes I had to pee again) but since they were full I decided to pass them up and figured there would be more on the other side. Into the tent I went and the place was super crowded! Eventually found an empty chair and by the time I sat down a volunteer came over to help me with my bag. When the volunteer said temps were already in the low 60s I set aside the zip lock bag of cold weather gear, pulled on arm warmers (which were really tube socks), lathered up with sunscreen, and then threw on my helmet, shoes, and sunglasses. As I headed out towards the bikes I looked for the next set of port-o-potties and dang it, they were not only full, but there was a line! Grrrr. So I waited, and waited, and waited, and finally got my turn. My new motto on port-o-potties is never pass up one that doesn’t have a line!
Bike: 7:34:24
I set off on the bike course and immediately became aware that this new wave start thing where we are in the last wave kinda sucks. There’s no one around!!! I’m used to the bike being a little lonely towards the end of the race, but right from the start it was time to queue up Eric Carmen and I was singing“All By Myself”!!!! Thankfully a good part of the bike course is out-and-back so at least I got to see lots of riders coming back in the other direction. The bike course at IMMT is really fantastic. Sure, it’s hilly (have I mentioned that yet?) but the roads are smoothly paved and they actually close down one side of the road so all the bicycle traffic is completely separate from car traffic. Oh yeah, and it’s just beautiful! Because this is the North American Championship race they were broadcasting live over the internet and there were helicopters flying overhead taking the video. I made sure to sit up and wave every time I saw a helicopter in hopes that someone at home would see me! Anyway, after a long ride out on the highway (where there are absolutely no spectators except for the wonderful volunteers at the aid stations) you head down the main street of the little town of Saint Jovite where they were having what seemed like Mardie Gras and we were the parade! There was live music, dancing, hooting and hollering, and all sorts of fun. That was a blast! Once you leave Saint Jovite you head back towards Mont-Tremblant and the “big climb”! I pitched a bottle at the last aid station before the climb so I wasn’t carrying any more weight than necessary, saw Chuck and Joe, and settled in to take the climb as easy as possible.
One loop down, one more to go!!! I stopped at bike Special Needs for to chug some of my coca cola and headed for the second lap out only to have my one and only water bottle launch out of its cage on the only bump on the course on a bridge at the bottom of a decent. Ugh. This is bad. I now have to ride the next 20ish miles with no hydration and oh, it’s getting really hot! The only thing I can do is dial things back even further and spin as easy as I can until I get more water. About 10 miles later another athlete notices I’m on empty and offers me one of her bottles- which I gladly took. Thank you whoever you were!
The wind picked up on the second lap and while most folks around me were looking forward to getting the wind at our backs at the turn-around, I knew better. It was really a cross wind and we’d be feeling the adverse effect for the entire lap. The second trip through Saint Jovite was a bit more subdued but there were still live bands and people cheering “Allez Allez Allez!” which provided a nice pick me up at a much needed spot in the race because next up was the second trip up the big climb! I saw Joe just before the climb and he shouted “enjoy the hill!” It was tougher the second time around but I had conserved energy well and felt pretty good about not being one of the many folks I saw getting off their bikes and walking up the hill on that lap. My proudest moment of the bike ride came when another athlete came slowly from behind and said “you climb pretty good for a girl from the beach!” Yup- those 2 trips to visit Michele and Chuck in Maryland for some hill practice really had paid off!
T2: 3:35
I handed my bike off to a volunteer and walked through transition with a big smile using the time to pull things out of my pockets and take off my helmet. Once in the tent I made a quick wardrobe change to running shorts, put on my shoes and visor, and grabbed the little zip-lock baggie of run needs before heading out for my walk.
Run: 6:23:29
First stop was another port-o-potty run! I had stopped 2 times on the bike to pee (yes, I still haven’t learned how to pee on my bike) but still needed one more stop before I started my run/walk routine. The plan was to alternate walking for 2 minutes with jogging for 1 minute. I’d been able to work up to 12 miles in 2.5 hours total during training by using this routine with minimal swelling of my knee so I knew it was good enough for 12. But of course 12 is not 26.2 and flat lands of OBX are not the hills of Mont-Tremblant! The run course was essentially a double out and back where the first 3ish miles are hilly and the next 3ish miles are mostly flat on a pea gravel surfaced trail. Reverse the course and repeat. On paper when you review the course it looks relatively easy (especially compared to the bike), but you would be mistaken to think so.
I held to my run/walk plan for the first 13.1 mile lap without too much trouble but made the decision that on the second loop I’d have to let the hills be my guide on the second lap. I picked up the long sleeve shirt and headlamp visor clip I put in my run Special Needs Bag and gave Joe a wave and a smile at the turn around. At this point I was feeling pretty good, but I knew everything from here forward was new territory. The sun was going down, it would be pitch dark on that gravel trail, and I was going to get cold.
Around mile 16 things started to take a downward turn. My knee was complaining, my lower back and hip were on fire, and my energy level crashed. I tried to rally by stretching out my back and getting more sports drink and coke, but my stomach was also starting to shut down and I was unable to move fast enough to stay warm. Anyone who knows me even the littlest bit knows that cold is my nemesis. The minute I get cold I get miserable (odd for a gal born to Newfie parents, huh?) By mile 17 I was cold, miserable, and quite frankly ready to call it quits. I had 3 other Ironman finishes under my belt and nothing to prove, so why was I going to suffer for another 10 miles? I’d just about made my mind up that I’d turn my chip in at the next aid station and ask for a ride home when one of my friends also doing the race, Big Al, came towards me and said “they have chicken broth at the next aid station- get some”. Yeah, sure Al, whatever. Next up was Michele who said “get a mylar blanket at the aid station to warm up”. Stupid friends, fine, I’ll get a freakin blanket and have some soup.
I wrapped the blanket around myself and huddled over the soup cup slowly shuffling forward. The soup was like magic, it tasted sooooo good and it was hot and warmed my soul. All I could think about at this point was “just get to the turn-a-round and get back to that aid station for more soup”. As I was shuffling along I passed by a fire fighter who was doing the run part of the race in full on firefighting attire (including carrying an oxygen tank). You know, it’s pretty hard to quit not matter how bad you feel when you see stuff like that. By mile 20 I was back to another cup of magic soup and feeling well enough to start moving with a bit more purpose which helped me warm up more and improved my mood. Around mile 21 I was ready to pull the mylar blanket back off, but I afraid to give it up so I tied it around my waist like a sumo wrestler- I’m sure it was quite attractive. Around mile 22 I was ready to start run/walking again, but I was a little worried of bonking again so I decided to wait until I hit the 5K to go sign. With 3 hilly miles ahead I returned to my run walk strategy using the hills as my guide and decided to just not worry about the knee anymore, I was ready to be done!
I dropped the mylar blanket at the last aid station and tossed my throw-a-way shirt to Joe just before heading to the finish line (gotta look good for the folks watching at home, right?). Before the race I had decided to raise money for the fight against ALS and promised myself that if I finished (because after all, I knew this race was an “if” not a “when&rdquo I’d do a Blazeman Roll across the finish line. So once I heard my name “Nemo Brauch from Nags Head, NC. You are an Ironman” I rolled over the finish line! When I got up the woman’s professional winner from the race that day, Mary Beth Ellis, was there to put my medal around my neck. You gotta love that stuff!
Finish: 15:39:44
Joe helped me get back to the hotel room so I could shower up, change cloths, and walk back down to the finish line with Chuck and Michele (who finished about an hour ahead of me) to watch the final finishers at midnight. After 4 Ironman finishes, I was finally able to stay awake and get back to watch the last finishers at midnight (again, very thankful our hotel was so close)! They had a group of “Iron Angels” with wings running behind the last finisher to escort her to the finish line and everyone cheered “You Are an Ironman!!!” Finally, the day was wrapped up with more fireworks!
Post Race:
The next day we relaxed, took naps, and enjoyed more of what Mont-Tremblant had to offer including taking a ride down the luge. If you ever go to this race, I highly recommend getting the multiple ride discount pass because it was a blast! Dinner that evening was with all our Maryland friends and then we were back to bed because we had to get up in the middle of the night for early flights back to Norfolk. My only regret is that we didn’t extend the trip to join friends who stayed in Montreal for a few more days soaking in that beautiful city as well. So, as you can see, it really was mostly just a big vacation with, oh, about 2 hours of suck in the middle. But don’t all vacations have just a little bit of suck?
Comments
So many things in your report brought me right back to those moments. Thanks.
cuz, in the end, aren't all of these things we go thru just another chapter in our own novel?
Congrats for that journey!
PS- if the report doesn't drive this point across enough. I LOVED THIS RACE!!! Seriously, this is a MUST DO and if you are on the fence about doing it next year when it will be an EN focus race, get on it now (I think there are only 100 slots left). If you were to tell me you were only ever going to do one Ironman, I'd tell you to do this one. Don't let the hills scare you, if a girl from the Outer Banks with a bum knee can do it, you can do it.
PPS- Surgery is scheduled for 11/12 and 2014 is an Ironman Free year for me. But I'd really like to return to IMMT some day when I can give that course a true effort. I'm pretty sure I'll be back.
Good luck with the surgery. Just imagine what you'll do when you're properly tuned up.
Seriously though, you had a smile on your face every time I saw you, and that's awesome!!
Nemo - Nice report...I mean about the guy at breakfast, Very funny,
Seriously, Congrats on finishing an IM when you've only got one good knee. That is fortitude. You rock. Also, thanks for the insights into the town & race. JT & I are signed up MT for next year, and are looking forward to it. Now rest up and good luck with your surgery. Wishing you a complete & speedy recovery.
In a nutshell, I think both are perfect courses for an EN athlete who knows how to ride a hilly bike course smart.