Marc's IMLP Race Re-Cap
Goal – simple ... to FINISH ... therefore no pressure ... GOAL MET …
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WAVED GAVE HI-FIVES & HANG LOOSE SIGNS ALL DAY, OR TOLD ME I COULD DO IT (Mariah, Woody, and Coach-P) UNTIL I BELIEVED IT!
What a day, still have to pinch myself to make sure it’s not a dream that I finished!! Not a perfect day, some adversity, some hurdles, but a little voice kept saying “just kept making decisions" and it served me well …
Pre-Race –
Arrived a week ahead of time, stayed in Upper Jay where the bike route went within one tenth of a mile from my rental house! Turned out that my VRBO owner and his kids volunteered at the first run aid station on River Road. From the moment I arrived I knew it was my week! Of course, getting to Lake Placid from Kansas took a couple of days but I love road trips and driving is like meditating for me, plenty of time to visualize the race … over and over again!
As detailed in my pre-race schedule and plan I took advantage of arriving early, got two swims in, two bike rides on the course including Keene descent, and several short runs. In the final analysis staying where I did was a blessing and driving the route from Wilmington to Lake Placid for a week allowed me to gain confidence every day. Last year I did not finish CDA due to mechanical problems with my bike, so I knew how much “good fortune” would play to get to the finish line … I had trained a lot, finished Quassy Half, completed weekends of climbing rides in Idaho and Colorado … confident in my readiness for my 1st finish!
Race Morning –
Up at 0300 ate breakfast, protein and applesauce. Quickly headed to Lake Placid to make sure I could park. Arrived 0400 to parking lot, pulled in and parking was available everywhere. I have an F350 extended truck (small bus) but found a corner spot, pulled in, the stress of making sure I could park was gone (signal #1 that it was my day). Found my son’s sweatshirt in the back seat (it was cold) and headed to body marking then to transition. Bike was soaked dried it off, put bottles in cages, aired up tires, added arm covers to aero bars, added water to BTA system and left. Took extra time to make sure wetsuit was on completely and properly to eliminate shoulder pull … started eating Powerbar and drinking Infinit bottle as I headed to Team Picture. Ahead of schedule and calm! Talked to both Mariah and Coach Patrick who were very reassuring and had a very calming effect. Took pics, broke huddle, headed to swim start to warm up. Go time!
Swim Start:
Waded through spectators to get to the beach, time was ticking, started deep breaths to calm myself down as I was trying to get to the beach. Finally made it, immediately ran into Woody who gave me a hug and asked how I was doing, told him I was nervous but ready. He pulled out a sharpie marker and wrote “BOX” in big bold letters on my hand which I looked at 1,000 times throughout the day. Immediately noticed the song blaring was the Who, Who Are You which is on my running MOJOMAXX playlist! I shook my head because I have listened to that song and asked myself that question thousands of times over the last year (signal #2 that it was my day). Dropped bottle under bench and went for warm up, fast arms, hard kicks, easy strokes, gliding, got heart rate up and face wet … got out … got into 1:00-1:10 line, finished Infinit bottle, saw family in VIP area waved, swallowed lump in my throat, game on! Went over the timing mat and started swimming.
Swim – Goal 1:10/Actual 1:18
Quickly got going, just like practice, fast arms to start and wide body to protect my space. Very early on it was apparent it was going to be rough. Got to where I could see the cable and got into a rhythm. I completed the CDA swim last August and was confident and comfortable to just get in there and use my big body and crank it out. Good pace, a lot of congestion, just kept moving. Around turn #1 I had to pee … sounds mundane … but I cannot pee in my wetsuit or while laying flat … especially while moving! So kept going, made it to beach, as soon as feet hit the bottom, pulled gel out of sleeve and downed it, went over timing mat, and back into water. Standing up made the pressure on my bladder much worse … felt like I was going to explode … made it about 200 yards and BOOM it happened, I peed in my wetsuit! I DID IT, was laughing under water and was very amused with myself … but man it felt so, so good (signal #3 that it was my day)! NOW THAT THAT was off of my mind, really settled in and got into groove, found good place about 8 feet off of cable and followed bodies, made the turns, picked up pace on final return to swim out!
Transition #1 – Goal 10:00/Actual 9:48
Uneventful, just like rehearsed in mind, pics at drop off and walk through made it easy and smooth. Took se time to get from beach to transition but other than that thought it was pretty efficient. Only time burden was volunteer for my row was not there so had to run to the end of the rack to get bike. Grabbed bike and headed to mount line.
Bike – Goal 8:00/Actual 8:11
Arrived mount line, was running by and heard my family, so got to the side and went back to see them for a second, got some hugs, waved at Mariah and Coach Patrick, and off I went. The S curve was crowded, but just like rehearsed and visualized, got outside took time and zoom down the hill, here we go! Started climbing out of town eating powerbar, started Infinit feeding, settled in to routine for feeding. After Cascade Inn was in a small group with people on both sides of the street. A huge black dog (on a leash with a clueless owner) shot out as I went by and I felt his mouth close (about 1 cm from my right calf) swerved a bit and the rider behind me asked if I was ok? I said yes, we both shook our heads that a dog attack almost got me, but it didn't (signal #4 that it was my day). Made it to the yellow sign at the top, and started down Keene Descent, just like I had practiced earlier in the week, knew my line, zoom … about ½ way down passed an accident that looked gnarly, heard ambulance in background. Stayed focused, topped out at 48 mph, it was fun! Made turn at Keene, headed to Ausable Forks, kept feeding, kept cranking. Had ridden this stretch earlier in the week, no surprises. Made turn toward Wilmington, told myself this is where it will be decided and to stay in my box. Not going to lie, being a larger man climbing is hard, just settled in, knew distances for each climb from week long recon drives, chin in chest, get it done. Before I knew it, there were the bears, up and over, around and about, went through town. First Lap ~ 3:45.
Brief stop at SN, drank my coconut water and went around for lap #2. Kept on feeding, Infinit bottles were mixed heavy, 4 hours food in each bottle. Only thing I needed from aid stations was water all day. Started adding black cherry powerbloks every 15 minutes on second lap. Kept telling myself that all I needed now was good fortune and time. Seemed like second lap went quicker but took 4:26. Slower than I wanted … but ahead of cutoff, headed to Bike-In, dropped bike and headed to transition. YAY!
Transition #2 – Goal 10:00/Actual 10:34
Felt good getting off bike, went smooth due to walkthrough in race prep. Grabbed bag, went into tent, was smooth, uneventful UNTIL after they took my bag I realized I didn't have my hat. Tried to grab it but they had already sent it back to be racked. The volunteer was very helpful, he radioed to bring it back, seemed like it took forever, probably 3-4 minutes. Grabbed hat and off I went.
Run – Goal 5:00/Actual 6:52
I am a 225 lb. run/walk guy. My cadence was to be 4:00 run then 1:00 walk. Ran out of transition down the hill and passed the EN crew and family. Made the turn and headed toward the ski jumps. Glanced down to check my HR and saw dashes on my 920 … WTF … what’s my HR? At next walk break worked with it a bit, times were good, logging cadence, time alerts were consistent but NO HR, How do I stay in my box when I can’t confirm I am in my box? So, kept moving … I am not a seasoned enough runner to know by feel how hard I am pushing myself. Obviously better than I was last year … but still a long way to go! Took a deep breath and said, stay in your box, it’s a curve ball, a nasty, breaking bender, but you can do it! Kept using my Infinit run blend and water at each aid station. Ice in RunSaver bag on sternum. I was in a 2XU IceX Tri suit, it was amazing, technology amazes me really, it combined with ice in my bag kept me comfortable all day. Made turn on River Road saw my VRBO owner and his kids … very encouraging … made it to turn, kept doing 4:00/1:00 … back to town … saw and talked to Coach Patrick, said I was doing OK, HR monitor problems, told me to relax and change up run/walk times and get it done. Also, that it was going to get dark and make sure I could stay warm and to grab broth as soon as it was available. Only spent 30 seconds talking but man Coach Patrick calmed me down, made spot on recommendations, and encouraged me to get it done … Run SN …. My daughter was a volunteer and my whole family was there waiting. Sat down to change shoes and socks and drink my coconut water. Worked on watch a bit, still no HR! Went to stand up and was a little stiff. Took a family group pic, grabbed their care package of notes from SN bag and headed out for next lap. Honestly, that was the hardest part of the day for me, knowing I had to repeat what I just completed and knowing I was going to be HR blind. Their notes were very sweet and encouraging, made me cry, (signal #5 that it was my day) composed myself and kept going. When I got to River Road the second time my feet were hurting, I was playing with run/walk times … about half way to turn around I was running and people in front of me were walking and seemed like they were getting farther away, ugh. I stayed with it, when it got dark, pulled my Roka pocket jacket out and my neck scarf. Very comfortable all the way. Seemed like time was flying by, knew it was going to take a lot to finish but just kept moving. Made it back to Ski jumps and my sons were there waiting for me, what a boost! They ran/walked with me until the final turn past SN area by the lake. They sprinted off to get to the stadium, the whole time we were together they kept me pumped up and encouraged and informed of time. All I could do was walk past the swim beach looking out at the water and the stadium in the background. As I neared the stadium Larry Pfeffer and Rob Sabo were at the corner and Rob said “come on Marc, you have to run now” … so I started running … the energy as I neared the stadium picked me up and carried me to the end. It was blinding, deafening, and felt like an out of body experience … high 5 for Mike Reilly, high 5 for Brent McMahon … FINISH LINE!
After race, no blisters, no chaffing, all systems were good ... just sore for a few days.
Final Analysis - So the day didn’t go as fast as I wanted but man it felt good … I am hard on myself, very self conscious, humble, we all have some demons or something that drives us … I am glad that mine turned me into an IRONMAN … going faster will be NEXT TIME!
2017:
Lost 45 Pounds – CHECK
Stop drinking caffeine – CHECK
Stop using smokeless tobacco – CHECK
Complete Quassy Half – CHECK
FINISH IMLP- CHECK
Complete NOS – about to begin ... early …
2018:
Lose 40 more pounds!
Complete FOS
I registered for IMLP but might change it up, IM Hamburg? (anyone else want to plan a destination race)
IM 70.3 Superfrog?
Global Swim Series race or two?
Thanks for reading and being awesome!
Marc
Comments
Marc,
It was great to meet you and share the course with you. Congrats on the IM finish and checking off all the goals for this year. IM very rarely goes as scripted and great job to complete the race without HR it can be unnerving. It happened to me in 2015, although I was more comfortable with perceived exertion that you noted. Finally it was great to run with you on the course and have a quick chat. You looked strong at that point, and you had a good run walk plan. I was so happy for you when I check the results ensuring that you finished.
Congrats on the great work and some lofty goals for 2018 but I'm sure you are up to the task.
Gordon
@Gary Lewis ... thanks, still can't believe it!
@Gordon Cherwoniak ... thanks for the advice on River Road! Your July was definitely MVP worthy, congrats on finishing with the road rash you brought to LP with you ... way to push through!
@tim cronk ... can't tell you enough how much your words meant to me at breakfast, can't wait to catch up later this year or next year ... thanks for being a great teammate!
@Alan Brown ... thank you, see you on a course sometime I hope!
@Doug Sutherland ... thanks DS, yes as a general rule, NO caffeine, of course all things go out the window on race day, right? Trying to get all chemicals out of my system during training ... see you on the road, I hope!
@Trish Marshall ... still sinking in, will be following and hope to see you somewhere in the future!
@Tim Sullivan ... as a general rule, pursuing goals set is therapeutic ... at present, I feel a little lost ... time to set new goals and STRIVE ... I find when I am rudderless I suffer and lose discipline. Don't want to digress ...