John B - IMLP 2015 Report
So IMLP 2015 gets started with the cannon. 
“IS THIS WHAT YOU CAME HERE TO DO??” I told myself early in the morning, keep asking yourself this question and until the answer is yes, until then calm down.
Swim: Pretty uneventful, just stayed as calm as I could UNTIL…on the last leg of the second loop just swimming along and BANG…that was the sound of my head going right into the side of something and hard…oh it was a Kayak with a lifeguard asking me if I was ok? Sure I’m ok, Why? What is wrong? Oh nothing, sorry, ah…I was trying to get your attention. Excuse me what? I was trying to get your attention? WHY? Ah…are you ok? Yea I guess, have a nice day and I swam away trying to calm down after than and even checked how far over I was and there were people to the left of me so I do not know what that was all about. Only a couple hundred yards later….and I was on the look out for these “Rouge Kayak mid Swim Interviews” when WACK….oh that was my head again, only this time into the side of a Paddle Board. WOW are these folks tricky. This time the guy wasn’t even looking in my direction (the direction that people were swimming) he was totally facing the other way and in the process of paddling from right to left. He was nice enough to not acknowledge my question of W.T.F.?? with any response at all. Keep your head in a box??. Literally, I think I needed a helmet.
Finished 1:19 which was a little slower than I had hoped but I never felt like I was pushing.
Bike: Planned NP>150 for 90 minutes then NP=151. Actual NP=149; Avg P=137 and Finished 6:27 (10 minutes slower than at the June Training Camp but also 10 watts lower so good enough) and compared to last years numbers of Actual NP=151; Avg P=138 and Finished in 6:46. Nutrition = 1 gel/45 minutes, about 1.5 24oz. GEF/Hour, and Base Endurance Salt about every 20 minutes.
Never felt like I was pushing. Rode about ¾ of the 1st loop within sight of Steve West and could see he was riding very disciplined and in control. Once we started the second loop I knew I would eventually not see Steve again as he would take off down the decent and he did a great job. It was fun to be riding near him and watch everyone else doing the exact opposite of the EN protocol of easy up the hills and riding smart on the downhills and flats.
By the second loop I think I was truly pissing some people off cause I would pass them and get right over to the white line and make them go around me if they wanted to pass on the next uphill. I figured why not make them work for it….not like they were dropping back when I passed them anyways. Not like that was in the rules or anything…HAHAHAHAHA. Even at one point when Al Truscott re-passed me coming back from Au Sable Forks he told me “ya got a nice peloton behind ya”. I got a great laugh out of that, thank you Al !!
Compared to last years numbers I was a couple of watts lower and almost 20 minutes faster, and I felt way way way better than in 2014.
Run: OK, this was going to be it. I wanted to run well this year. This what was what I came here to do. To run well was going to mean that regardless of time, I did not want to be out there slogging it out in complete misery like previous attempts at this distance. My goal was to be between 4:00 & 4:10….Started out with trying to keep my HR in the low 150’s, and kept filling my small ziplock bag with ice. After a few miles I stated really having issue keeping my HR down without my pace dropping significantly. It wasn’t until about Mile 6 on after the turn around on River Road and feeling like I was on fire that a guy mentioned that his friend told him it was in the 90’s out. Now it made some sense…it’s super hot out dummy!!! Must have been those early blows to the head in the swim. Maybe that is why I kept putting that Ice bag on my head
After special needs I was able to get a second ziplock bag and was able to have ice in each hand and it started to help. I just thought, ok fine….it is what it is…everyone else has to deal with it, stop bitching about it, and if its not your finest hour…just give it one good hour. So I just kept running and stated to see my pace picking back up and I started to feel better.
IN the end (from my garmin file) miles 0-13=2:18:01, and 0-26=4:36:03 So I might not have reached the time goal that I wanted, I am happy to have put things back together and evenly split the marathon.
At the finish, I did not feel physically wrecked….just mentally. This did not last long. After seeing Laura Becker, Jason Baldomir, Edwin Croucher, Coach P, Steve & Brenda Ross, and Doug Johnson at the Finish it quickly changed my mindset of being disappointed about my time. Additionally getting back to the condo and getting some messages of support from Turby and Carol really helped. Training with them this season has been a lot of fun, and I have learned so much.
Hope you enjoyed reading and Thank you Everyone!!
Comments
Great report John. Congratulations on what seems like a well-executed race in that heat. Great job pacing the marathon. Love the photos. Congratulations, well done!
John, You had a great race. I grabbed a bunch of MOJO from you when I saw you on the course. I remembered seeing you during the training camp and how you helped me get a run in. That run was not happening without you. You ran super at IMLP! thanks for being such a great teammate.
See you at Timberman!
Love those pictures!
You can tell this was number 5 by the way you managed the swim issues, held the bike steady and ran like a pro!
You were/are such an important part of this team, always very nice, experienced, helpful and kind.
I saw you on the run and it put a smile on my face. You were running like a man on mission that had been there before! Perfect reminder for me at that moment to take that mojo and keep moving forward.
Super Congratulations bro!
SS
Congratulations
It was great to see so many folks out on the run course, and it really helps to keep moving along.
@Tim...that is crazy to get run over in a swim...happy that you did not get hurt.
@Turby, we are going to have to ride again soon. Just let me know when and where and I'll be there.
Super stromg race, John. Yeah, it was a real hoot to see all those people - about 8-10 of them - lined up behind you on the bike. Take it as a compliment.
It was really fun to ride the first loop with you as we leapfrogged our way past so many others. Following you on Strava I could tell you were cued up for a great race, seeing your even split marathon is solid proof of your execution skills. Excellent job!