Brent's IM Florida Epic Fail Race Report
Water temp was 77 Degrees, so I decided to do the swim without a wetsuit. Dove under the first wave and my goggles ended up around my neck. Quickly put my goggles back on and started to swim. My googles quickly fogged and continued to be an issue through out the swim. Finished the swim in 1:28 a personal worst.
Transition went well at 6:11 including reapplying chamois cream and sun screen.
Road the bike to my power meter, at 35 miles checked my speed and realized I was riding faster then anticipated. Dropped my power output to play it safe. Bike nutrition was the best so far. Drank 2 bottles Gatorade per hour until the last hour when I started burping it back up then drank one bottle. Gu's on the half hour with honey stingers and salt tabs on the hour. Felt I was at the end of my riding legs at the end of the bike so I felt I rode about right. 5:57 split.
Transition 2 was slow. My feet were wet from the rain and I took the time to change socks and tape up the bottom of my feet to avoid blisters. 8:35
Run started great, put ice under my hat and a bag of ice on my neck. Kept my heart rate down transitioning from bike heart rate to run heart rate. At mile 7 left foot pad started to blister. At mile 9 right foot pad started to blister. The tape had pilled off my feet and was rubbing blisters. The blisters started to get into my head and my run pace dropped as I lost form. Saw my family at the turn around point and got back on track. At mile 17 started sharp abdominal pains. The wheels came completely off. Made three ports potty stops, the sit down kind, and completely lost focus. Mental tuffness was not up to it and finished the run in 4:45, 40 minutes off my goal.
Race was a 7 minute PR, but was not what I worked for. I need to revaluation if I have the mental toughness to finish off a ironman distance race strong.
Transition went well at 6:11 including reapplying chamois cream and sun screen.
Road the bike to my power meter, at 35 miles checked my speed and realized I was riding faster then anticipated. Dropped my power output to play it safe. Bike nutrition was the best so far. Drank 2 bottles Gatorade per hour until the last hour when I started burping it back up then drank one bottle. Gu's on the half hour with honey stingers and salt tabs on the hour. Felt I was at the end of my riding legs at the end of the bike so I felt I rode about right. 5:57 split.
Transition 2 was slow. My feet were wet from the rain and I took the time to change socks and tape up the bottom of my feet to avoid blisters. 8:35
Run started great, put ice under my hat and a bag of ice on my neck. Kept my heart rate down transitioning from bike heart rate to run heart rate. At mile 7 left foot pad started to blister. At mile 9 right foot pad started to blister. The tape had pilled off my feet and was rubbing blisters. The blisters started to get into my head and my run pace dropped as I lost form. Saw my family at the turn around point and got back on track. At mile 17 started sharp abdominal pains. The wheels came completely off. Made three ports potty stops, the sit down kind, and completely lost focus. Mental tuffness was not up to it and finished the run in 4:45, 40 minutes off my goal.
Race was a 7 minute PR, but was not what I worked for. I need to revaluation if I have the mental toughness to finish off a ironman distance race strong.
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Comments
Brent,
Consider that the effects/load of that level of heat/humidity cumulatively wear you down and manifest during the run. Most don't appreciate how hard that is to manage and it is hard to prepare for prior to actual race day.
I think you did a lot of things well and came up with a PR on a very tough day. Give it some time to gain some perspective, remind yourself what you did right, tell yourself you now have one more IM under your belt, more experience and take that into 2016 focusing on the things you can improve = another PR in 2016!
Very nice to meet you.
Well done IM!
SS
Brent,
It was nice meeting and racing with you. Sounds like your race was pretty similar to all of ours: swim sucked, bike was good, run was a sufferfest. The last half of the IM run is difficult enough on its own, and it's easy to let your head take control and convince you that this was all a big mistake. If you throw other distractions on the fire like chafing, blisters, cramping or GI, then it can unravel quickly. All we can do is stubbornly follow the plan for 130 miles and put ourselves in the best possible position to tackle those last 10. That includes pacing properly, calories, hydration, salt, chafing and blisters, but you already know that. Chafing and blisters used to be a huge distraction for me. I eliminated the former by moving to a quality set of race bibs, which I wear throughout the S, B and R. Game changers. And when I toughen up my feet a bit in the weeks before a race via sockless short runs, then wear a good pair of pre-lubed socks and drain-friendly shoes, there's no possible way I'll blister. Even when I'm constantly pouring ice water into them. By eliminating those potential distractions, my head has fewer excuses to lob my way at Mile 19.
I too was beating up on myself a bit about my time until I saw where I stood among the field, at which point I realized this wasn't a normal day and anything under 13 was a big accomplishment. And, the fact that we walk that thin line between success and failure on race day is one of the allures that draws us back to the Active sign-up page. If this were a simple matter of going through the motions with guaranteed success, I would have moved on to table tennis years ago.
Hey David,
As for socks, I got hooked on the thin Wigman models made of Ultimax years ago and still run in them. They have several that are IM branded if you're into that. I also run in the Asics Kayano socks, but I prefer the Wigmans for anything over 15 miles. You just need to find the sock that works consistently for you, day-in and day-out, in heat and in rain, and stick with it.
I pretty much run 49-50 weeks per year. I never lube or Bodyglide my feet or socks for any training run. Call it tough love. I also run without socks any time I'm leading up to a sockless race (I put on socks for HIM+ only) and before a marathon or IM. More tough love. The result is, my feet are pretty tough year-round, leaving little vulnerability to blistering on race day.
If I'm gonna race anything longer than 13 miles where heat (water/ice dump) or rain is potentially in play, I also make sure that my shoes drain. Most tri-specific shoes have dedicated drainage features.
The day before an IM, I turn my socks inside out and douse the bottom and toe box with TriSlide (I used Chamois Butt'r before that), slip em right side out, roll them half way and put in the bottom of each shoe. On race day, I take a second extra with each foot to get the sock on perfectly.
Eleven years ago, I put a sleeve of Pringles in RSN (you bet I stopped and retrieved them). That was the last time I put anything in one. Everything else I could possibly need is on me or available at an aid station.
Hope that helps a little.
Brent, Your race was far from an Epic fail. When you live and train in a place that is so different than the race, you are already sure to face difficulties. You live at elevation and in a very dry region. Panama City is neither. The air was heavy and hard to breath. The heat and humidity are nothing like Utah. Now add the swim where you spent far more energy than any training swim. You made good decisions on the course to adjust for the conditions. One of the best racers on our team is Tim Cronk. He went to Kona this year and had tons of issues.(Read his Race Report) That has not changed his mindset at all. Every race has something to learn from. I spent 2 months after IMLP this year making everyone in my house miserable. I will not let that happen again. It was great meeting and racing with you.
Sounds like it was a tough race but you suffered through it. No doubt you will emerge from this experience a wiser triathlete.
It is only an epic fail if you come away from this experience learning nothing.
As for the abdominal stuff...I agree with Mike...let's break that down. Sounds like too much calories not enough fluids...or fluids you were taking (enough on a normal day) werent' enough for the cooling and digesting action you needed on race day.