JIM'S IMMD RACE REPORT
2016 IMMD RACE REPORT
We arrived in Cambridge on Tuesday. The weather had already been wet and we drove the bike route the next day. I completed the ChesapeakMan bike in 2011 and the roads were flooded and it seemed that would be true this year also.
On race day the wind and poor weather grew worse. The swim was cancelled since the support kayaks and SUPs could not control their movement. It was announced the bike would start with 3-5 sec time differences and would start with the lower numbers. The bike route was shortened due to deep road flooding and the three loops of the run had tidal flooding when going through the transition zone 4 of the 6 times. I had a high bib number so I sat for a long time talking with other competitors in the change tent. None of us had “trained” for a 90 minute T-1. As I was sitting there in the change tent and going out occasionally the temperature was very cool. I of course, on the Outer Bank, generally train with high heat. In my run bag I had a short sleeved cotton T-shirt. I found the big run bag and rummaged thru till I found my bag and took out the shirt…and some extra nutrition.
I got on the bike route around 1020. I had been having problem with a decade’s old dislocated big toe on my left foot. After 3-4 hours on the bike the pain would be so intense I’d only average 9-11 mph. I tried many options and finally put a bike sandal on the left foot. Not too aerodynamic but it gave the toes room so they weren’t being crushed. Add to this I had a pain in the left knee, starting 4-6 weeks before IMMD, which turned out to be 2 bone spurs with accompanying other area pains. This had been an issue for over a month and I’d discovered my best bet was to try to speed walk the marathon (it worked on an Olympic tri three weeks earlier& helped?
). I could do about 4 mph which meant the run would take about seven and a half hours! I had to make up time on the bike to ensure I had enough time to use speed walking. My bike was 6:30. That included a stop when I thought I heard something metal fall off the bike. When I walked back to that area it turned out the sound was just the bell on a timer for the race hidden in a road crack. Plus the time at my special needs bag (I had a packet of frozen chocolate milk wrapped in tinfoil; it was still cold while a drank it at this stop). I also had five hydration bottles on the bike. Three would have been fine and prevented the drag of two bottles behind my seat.
I can’t say much about T-2 since I’d raided it in T-1.
Did that give me sufficient time to finish the marathon? I didn’t know if midnight was the cut off. I never heard when the end would be with the hour plus start times for the bike. The three loops of the run took you by transition six times. Four of those had you running thru 4-6 inches of tidal water for about 40 feet. I saw no one lifting their feet above the water. Runners tired to begin with had to change their pace and again run with soaked shoes.
As I started my “run” I noticed a runner also limping and we went together. My Garmin said we were only averaging 3.3mph which was fine while I got into the run but would required higher speeds to finish before the cut off. At mile 6 my limping partner stopped at a port-a-potty and said he’d catch up with me. I then began moving ahead (I certainly can’t call it running) at about four mph. Each time I made it past where the shortened third loop turn would be an official always asked me how I was doing. My answer was always positive. At about mile 15 I began asking for the time and when the cut off was. I was only given the time. At my special needs bag I had a cheap bright yellow hoodie I’d just bought for this occasion. I just draped it over my shoulders and it kept me warm for the rest of the marathon and fairly dry when it began to rain.
I passed the official at the short loop turn around on the second loop and he only said if I kept up my pace I’d finish the race. It was dark when I began the third and shorter loop. He again asked how I was feeling and said keep up my pace. After the third loop turn I noticed my “limping partner” was being followed by one of the electric carts. It turned out he was going to be the last one allowed to finish the race. My marathon time was 7:35 and there were about 30-45 minutes of marathon finishers behind me.
Of course I ached! I had compression braces on both knees. I put one on my “good” knee figuring it was going to take extra stress compensating for my injured left leg. The folds caused behind that knee caused six bruise lines that are visible two weeks after the race. The oddest effect to me was aching on both sides of my tong that persisted for over a week. Maybe that effect was from stress due to gritting my teeth?
Though I am a swimmer and my left leg didn’t have an effect on swimming; I may have done better in my age group if we swam. But since I was a DNF last year, just finishing was satisfying. I doubt I can use this Ironman for time examples. I hope I can clear up my left leg issues with better training (more stretching, lower my weight which was 10 lbs over my goal) and improved strength training. It’s been two weeks since the race and my left knee swelling has gone way down since I’m not really exercising much…but my weight has gone up. Nutrition will be an issue also.
Comments
Jim, congratulations getting it across the finish line. Any IM, regardless of the circumstances is no easy day!
Nice work on a tough day moving forward and finding a way to get it done!
SS
Jim - Man oh man, talk about dedication and perseverance! What a single minded focus, no matter the handicap, whatever the odds. Respect.
Tks, Shaugn
Al, it may just be i'm cheap. after paying for the tri and a great BnB location (& being a DNF last year!). i had to finish. my wife, a writer, commented on your run "economy of movement"...where as my last 6 miles were done only because i was heavily pumping my arms to keep my legs going.
Jim, so sorry to hear about your troubles, but you hung in there and finished! Take some time to get healthy and you'll be back stronger!