How to say NO - Dinhofer IMLP RR
Ironman Lake Placid 2015 - How to decide not to race (note this was written for the FB crowd)
Ironman Lake Placid was to be my sixth Ironman. As many of you know by now, I DNSd this event because of a back issue. I am writing a race report as I think we are all programmed to KMF, but sometimes the wiser choice is to not play the game. I have used that phrase borrowed from Coach Rich Strauss of my Triathlon Team, www.endurancenation.us, in my race reports in the past. Triathlon is a game, one that I have been fortunate to play, on this day, the wiser, but not feeling good choice, was to stand down and not play.
My buildup to the Lake Placid this year was largely uneventful. I had rotator Cuff Surgery in December and held onto a decent modicum of training through January managing to run a bit with my arm in a sling and get in two FTP sessions per week on the bike trainer. I hit a funk on different items in my life and dropped off significantly in February & March with my weight topping out at 170. I started to realize that the Tour of Cali camp was looming and began to focus on weight & training getting back on the wagon in April and setting up a strong build through LP.
On all counts, I had gotten my weight down to where it was in my IMs last year (mid 150s) and my FTP right back to where it was last year (247), while I had not done a Vdot test, I feel pretty confident in my run and that my speed was probably in the 46/47 Vdot range that it was in previously.
I logged a strong number of 5-6 hour rides with significant corresponding elevation, I hacked my training plan with extra runs & volume. I had 5 runs of 17miles plus, including two 18s & a 20. I felt my swim might be suffering as I hadn’t really logged much volume due to the surgery, but ramped it up and in a IM distance swim in Tim’s lake I logged a swim that suggested I could PR. I started doing a few OWSs at Tod’s point and also saw good similar speeds.
Race week:
I tapered with purpose the previous week and was getting psyched to be in LP. I arrived late on weds night after an uneventful 4 hour drive. To my disappointment, the house we rented wasn’t configured as desired, the broker neglected to tell us that to access two of the 4 upstairs bedrooms, you needed to transverse one bedroom each to do so. Teri & Steph allowed me one of the more private rooms with a double bed built into a single bunk as my GF was coming up Friday. I had a fitful night of sleep in this bed, which was a very soft & springy mattress. I woke up and did a practice swim with Teri, Tim, Steph, Al & everyone we found at the beach. I know I complained a bit about my back hurting a little, but back pain for me is a constant issue, so I did not really think much of it.
I have a weak lower back, my own fault for not doing a lot of core, but it leaves me susceptible to a recurring issue with my sacroiliac joint as I injured it badly three years ago when I slipped on a step and injured it.
Later in the morning, we drove over to the top of the infamous “Keene descent” with my car loaded with 4 bikes (a doode in town remarked “there’s some serious hardware on that vehicle” as we rolled to a stop sign with Cheryl Truscott at the wheel. We did 2 runs down the descent with a quick rack and ride to the top with the car. I maxed out at 49.3mph (75th on the strava segment of 1400+ riders!) and felt very good about my skills and the knowledge of where to slow at the bottom for the broken up pavement.
Thursday evening, my back didn’t feel great and I realized I had a problem. I made arrangements to see my friend & Chiropractor Stu Weitzman (www.drstu.com) the next morning. Thursday night again, didn’t sleep well. I woke up and as soon as I stood up things did not feel right. My lower back, left side hurt, and I knew what the issue was. As I had on Friday morning at the ART booth at the expo and again that night as his house in LP. The work he did, did not last even for the walk back to my house a few blocks away.No fault of his, Stu has the most amazing manner and as I like to call him, "he's the man with the million dollar hands."
We all know our bodies, and I pretty much knew that this was not going to be fixed by race morning. Everyone around me, great support team of friends in the house and all around, kept telling me to wait until race morning. “You never know how it will feel.”
My plan was to go out, do the swim, do the bike & then see what the run would bring. I knew this would be problematic. I mean really, I can’t walk to the bathroom without significant pain, but I am going to run a marathon after biking for 112 miles on some serious hills?
Race morning came and as soon as I sat up, it was clear to me this wasn’t happening. I didn’t hem and haw, seek pity, or engross others with conversation. I knew the right thing to do and I pulled the plug. I had friends who needed to be in the right frame of mind for THEIR races, some who are very accomplished in ironman, competitive and needed to be focused on their race. This was a time for them. I wished them all well, and gave them extra incentive to kill it on the day.
I really wanted Jill to have the IM experience, but standing at the coffee maker was painful, so we packed the car and left. I did have the issue of having two bags in transition along with my Tri-bike, but Cary Blanco was more than helpful in volunteering to grab it and take it back for me.
We drove home, stopped at Jill’s brother’s country home on the way back and just relaxed. I think getting out of LP helped, when I went through my HCM issue, I stood on the side of the LP course and watched, it wasn’t fun. I think this was made easier to deal with as I had a few days (and many of tim’s oreos) to help me prepare for the ultimate decision. Had I woken up on Sunday morning with the issue, I probably would have tried. Doing so, would probably have caused more damage.
What’s the lesson to be learned? I am not sure. We live in a community of people that say “don’t worry, wait til race day and do your best.” We are all programmed to push the limits, mind of matter, etc. These aren’t dumb people, but at heart, we are all triathletes, we all prepared long & hard for this day, at some point, while this IS just a game, we have to realize that we are not children, we are adults and sometimes you have to make an adult like decision.
If it is any reward, my four housemates and long time friends crushed a monster of a day in terms of weather. Tim achieved his goal of winning his age group, Teri contemplating a year off from IM next year, took 3rd in age group & got a roll down spot for her 3rd trip to Kona, Al got a 3rd in age group, no Kona slot today, but he earned his in AZ last November. Stephanie got taken out by someone at a bike aid station and toughed out a good finish on a really tough day. I can’t speak enough about the mental discipline she possesses.
Where does this leave me – still in pain.
Had a visit with my Chiro and got some relief. Have visited a sports med doc. The initial assumption is that I have a herniated disc. It will get better, Humpty dumpty will get put back together.
Unlike the HCM incident of a few years ago, my mindset is very different. I have been shockingly less emotional about this. Yes, I was psyched to race, I had experience of 5 IMs under my belt, knew this course well, prepared for it, physically & mentally. I had friends that I have friendly competition with that I was looking forward to testing my fitness against. Surprisingly, so far, it’s a speed bump. I have goals I achieved for this race and one’s I haven’t, primarily in body composition. So I am going hard after that, resuming my training as soon as possible and have another Ironman in 8 weeks in Chattanooga. I will have MY day to play the game again.
I also pulled the trigger and signed up for Lake Placid again in 2016, this time I booked rooms at the Golden Arrow & know they have good beds!
Comments
getting back on the horse tomorrow with a swim (doc ok'd it) should be on bike trainer thursday...
---KMF
sorry things didn't work out as you had planned...heal up for Chat.
would ease back into training and of course, add some core work
good luck
So smart. I hope you feel well soon.
It is a game. And, you have to play the hand that's dealt.
There will always be a challenge out there waiting for you. So, you def have the power to choose which Scott shows up....the healthy & ready to race Scott or the injured/stubborn/dangerous to his future Scott.
Backs are a funny thing. Sometimes a day or two or rest with lying on the floor is all you need. If it had happened a week ahead or behind, who knows.....
@Doug - feel like i missed the one guy on strava i wanted to connect with in Placid... look forward to Choo with everyone here!
Brandon
Hey Scott,
I was sorry to hear about your back but admire you for the tough decision that you made. The smart decision is not always the easiest to make, but you did what you had to. It was an absolute pleasure meeting you in LP and I look forward to racing the course with you next year!!! Good luck with the rest of your season!
Scott,
Sorry to hear about your back issues and this must have been a tough decision. It was great to see you again at the team dinner.
Gordon
Appears that I suffered a Herniated Disc. Not sure what really brought it on, but I can think of a few things that I did that fateful Thursday. I am sure the bed wasn't THE culprit, but it definitely had a supporting (pun) role.
Monday after LP I saw a sports med doc, Ordered me for an MRI (Saturday) and a course of oral steroids.
got the MRI on Saturday as the Prednisone started to wear off
Started taking Vicodin on Monday and that helped
Went to see the pain management doc for a consult on Wednesday. Had been told she couldn't do a epidural injection of steroids because I had taken 2 Aleeve on Sunday(where was the warning from doc 1 on that? !
. But she declared off the MRI (which according to the first doc was a "pretty horrible herniated disc") that she could go in "another way."
OK, so got the epidural, and well, I am a new man... 90% of pain or more is gone
, will see if that sticks and may or may not require a 2nd injection. Issue is that I still have some numbness in the lower part of my left leg along with the inside of my left thigh. Clearly all of my muscles are not firing... 
Rebuilding of the machine begins tomorrow with a walk/ jog... The next two weeks will be telling if I can ramp it up again as I was planning a big tri-week on vacation in Shenandoah and possibly rescue a completion of Choo, but the season I was hoping for is clearly gone, and the ability to do any IMs this year may be possibly gone as well... Looking at figuring out a potential of IMAZ...I swore after last year to never to train on a bike until November again...
spine stuff sucks.
good luck with the recovery.