IMAZ - A different kind of race report
I am going to give my (late) race report from the perspective of a guy that just wanted to complete the race. This was my first full distance Ironman. I did St. George this year and was able to finish that race in 7 hours. I am decent at the swim and my bike is improving. My running is pretty ugly though. I have been dealing with meniscal tears for a couple of years and so run training is always dicey.
Leading up to the race using the beginner plan I was able to do approximately 90% of the scheduled swim training, 70% of the bike training but only 25% of the running. I also took two separate weeks off for only pool running (the most boring thing ever) when I had some worsening of the knee problems.
My goal coming into this race was to beat the midnight clock. I wasn't planning on racing so much as enduring. I felt pretty good race morning and my knees were in about 90% shape after tapering.
The swim (1:19) went well. I got punched and kicked in the face quite a few times early on until I found someone to pace me. It took me about 15 minutes to calm my heart rate and get to bilateral breathing. I came out of the water feeling awesome. If I had pushed myself I could have easily been under 1:10 but I was trying to hold back and conserve energy.
I took my time in T1 (12 min) because I wanted to be dry (laughing at that notion now) and comfortable for the bike ride.
I followed EN race plan and took it slow the first time up the Beeline. It was really hard watching people pass me for those first 17 miles. Finally I got to the top of the Beeline and let it rip. Heading back down that Beeline at 31 mph I felt great. I made the turn around for my second lap and started chasing some of the females pros. I was able to keep up with Michelle Vesterby for about 4 miles! At the second Beeline turn around the rain hit and everything went to hell. I took it slower down the Beeline and was really careful on turns because I didn't want a wreck to end my day. My knees were feeling great still and other than being soaked I was still okay. On the third lap on the way up in the rain my stomach turned. I am not sure what it was. Maybe too much of the orange gatorade (I am still sick at the thought of orange gatorade to this moment). I wasn't able to consume much fuel for the whole third lap. Besides that I was getting seriously hypothermic. 7:08 bike
T2 was the closest thing to a DNF that I have ever done. After I made it into the tent I could not stop shivering. It actually scared me a bit because I felt sluggish and was pretty sure I wasn't going out on the run. I stripped naked and grabbed a couple of blankets and started chugging chicken broth (I have been a vegetarian for 14 years so this was no small feat). My wife and daughter were waiting for me outside and after 25 minutes of warming I decided to give it a go although I was pretty sure I was done. After a whopping 37 minutes I emerged from T2
I figured i would run a little bit and see how it went. I actually started feeling a ton better during the first five miles. I ran 6 miles and then started interval running of 4 min on 1 min off up until mile 10. At about mile 9 my knees started aching. No sharp pains but uncomfortable. At mile 10 I switched to 1 min run 1 min walk intervals which I kept until mile 14. From mile 14 to mile 16 I would target a lamp post and run to it and then walk to the next one. From mile 16 to mile 25 I walked. I was hurting pretty bad but I now felt like I could make it. I was then able to run the last mile on pure adrenaline. Run 6:54
I spent 16 hours out there at IMAZ. It was brutal but wonderful. I am so happy that I did it. Crossing the finish line I told my wife that I was one and done for long distance and I was going back to 70.3s. By wednesday of last week my soreness was almost completely gone and I have already decided that I am going to do it again. Short term memory loss maybe...
Thank you to the EN coaches and my teammates. I truly believe without this team it would not have been possible. I still wake up at night and can't believe that I did it.
Up next Vineman 70.3 and Austin 70.3. Then it is Ironman number 2 for 2017. NEXT TIME I AM RACING.
Comments
great job toughing out a very tough day!!!