IM Cozumel: 9:34 my new PR

Pina

I'll begin by saying that this Race report is not in the typical EN fashion. It was written for non-athletes, but I hope you still enjoy the read. Please post your comments here…. and I'm happy to share more IM race specific details.

http://www.drsukhi.com/my-journey-to-a-new-ironman-personal-record-934

Sukhi

Al Truscott

Sukhi - thanks for the inspiration provided in your performance and report.

I can't help myself, here are my additional reactions:

• At times, you seem to thrive by digging yourself, or finding yourself in, a hole, and then doing whatever it takes to get yourself out. Now that you're there, it's time to start climbing the mountain, in IM, as you have done at other times in your life.
• For someone with your life trajectory, personal and professional philosophy, and athletic talent, not qualifying for and racing at Kona would constitute a DNF. You've got more work to do before you can close this chapter of your life.
• It may not take a massive increase in w/kg or any increase in VDOT at all.
• Given your current fitness, at IM AZ, I project you would go 8:05 for T1 + bike + T2 + run. Hard to tell about your swim based on the Coz experience, what with the short course and currents, but you may be looking @ 9:0X (or better?) as your current well trained well paced well fed race in Tempe.
• Adding extra biking is not a necessarily bad thing. Only caveat - you need to have both the time and the stamina to pull it off. In my early years @ IM, I was cycling a lot also, due to multi-day bike tours, mountain bike excursions, and bike commuting. I think it really helped me as I kept raising my level of performance. My only advice is, Don't devote the added time to more FTP, VO2, or other intensity. If you've got the time, add volume, sure, but don't dig another hole by doing too much intensity, above what an EN advanced plan already has.
• A VDOT increase of 1 is worth maybe 3 minutes at best on race day. Given your desire to load volume onto swimming and biking, and your already stratospheric (for an IM AG racer) running ability, any extra work on running may not be worth the ROI. If you get faster with normal, "maintenance" training, fine, but do you really need to make that a focus?
• There's nothing like having a kid who's going to graduate from college when you're in your 60s to keep you young. My wife and I had our last, Annie, @ age 41, and it was the best thing that could have happened. You do NOT get to think of yourself as "old" @ 40.

Final thought: It doesn't have to be that hard! Here's hoping we both have races we can be proud of next Nov in Tempe. See ya there!

Pina

Thanks for your insights Al. I retired as a hockey player in 2005 after being in the sport for 27 years I never thought I'd fall in love with any other sport the same way. In 2006 I ran my first marathon in 3:47 and I became hooked. In the past 8 years I've had the "perfect" Half marathon, Marathon, ultra-marathon(s) and HIM races. Yet, during my 5 IM races they've been plagued with drama and I've found myself being dug out of some hole. I'm still waiting for that perfect IM race from the mountain top and I know it's within me. Before IM COZ racing anything close to 9 hours was just a dream. Now I know with absolute certainty that I'm just scratching the surface at this distance and I have a 9 hour and even sub 9-hour race within me. 

I completely agree with you, "For someone with your life trajectory, personal and professional philosophy, and athletic talent, not qualifying for and racing at Kona would constitute a DNF. You've got more work to do before you can close this chapter of your life. 

This chapter has now cracked wide open and won't be closing anytime soon…. : ) Thanks for your tips and insights! I look forward to racing and formally meeting you in Tempe.

Paul Hough

Sukhi - congrats on the PR done the hard way. Must have been the special rubber bands!! I think a little more patience on the bike will pay dividends for you on the run.

Re those wheel sucking drafters. I'm too old to get away from them, so after IMFL 2014, I simply am not going to repeat any more flat courses. I want hills where everyone had to pull their own weight.

BTW, I am 56 and my daughter is 15.

MattAaronson

Posted By Sukhi Muker on 12 Dec 2013 07:15 AM

 "For someone with your life trajectory, personal and professional philosophy, and athletic talent, not qualifying for and racing at Kona would constitute a DNF. You've got more work to do before you can close this chapter of your life. 

This chapter has now cracked wide open and won't be closing anytime soon…

Love it. Just make sure as you take the journey to keep everything in perspective (I know you will...you of all people, of course you will).



Great race, and great "revenge race" afteryour humbling experience earlier this year. I was following you along with everyine else and it was great to see.

 

tim cronk

Sukhi, Race Report titled "Journey" describes the IM.... Its a giant puzzle to be solved and what fun would it be if we just went out and nailed it right away.... There would be nothing to shoot for and no feeling of accomplishment.... Bummer about the drafting debacle but it is what it is ... Totally understand you coming out of your box on that one.... With your drive and ability I believe its very important for you to pay attention to your training this year since your probably a good candidate for over doing it. ( always balancing that training with rest, recovery , life , etc ) ... Caution biking 6 days a week....

robin sarner

again big congrats.

will look forward to following your iron career.

and here is to the hope of intersecting at the show.

 

John Withrow

Posted By Sukhi Muker on 11 Dec 2013 12:21 AM
It is the ultimate runners high and I welcomed it. I felt an immense sense of love and gratitude for being able to do this, for being able to connect with that special something within me so intimately. The miles passed, 15…. 18…. 21… My pace continued in total flow and I’d still stop every several minutes being completely detached to the pain my body was experiencing. I’d just sit patiently and wait for the spasms to release and then jump right back into the rhythm of my stride. My feet felt light and my sub 7 minute/mile pace actually felt easier and easier as I got closer to the finish line.

Great race on so many levels Sukhi. I particularly liked your description of the latter parts of the run. I liked it so much actually that I have shared the link with several of my non-EN friends. You will eventually find that magical race you seek and we'll all be super excited to be a part of it. How you could run so fast between those leg spasms is beyond comprehension for me...