Jason Brandt IMAZ Race Report 11:20
IMAZ Race Report- Jason Brandt M44 6th Ironman 11:20
· Thankful to have the support of my family to keep racing Ironman. This was my 6th Ironman race. They’ve already given their support to do another.
· Thankful to have remained injury free over the past 6 years of racing long distance triathlon
· Thankful to have a really good friend, Kent Gavin, who is into the sport, trains with me and competed with me at last two Ironmans.
· Thankful to have been able to have a decent performance coming just 9 weeks after IMWI completion.
Pre-Race
@Kent Gavin and I caught the first flight down Thursday before the race. Airline forgot to load our bags so we had to return to airport at 2:30PM to get them. Used the time to get checked in (no line and super easy given we were ahead of most athletes in getting checked in). Walked the expo and for the first time ever tried Normatec Recovery Boots for 15 minutes since there was no line. I loved the boots but can’t justify to myself the expense although my kids probably would like them as well for recovery from their sports.
Drove down to Tucson Thursday afternoon so that we could have dinner with my Mom who moved there in August. On Friday visited the Boneyard at Davis Montham Airforce Base and toured the Titan II ICBM Missile Museum. Both were absolutely fascinating and didn’t expend a lot of energy. Enjoyed our time at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and their amazing breakfasts.
Saturday morning drove back to Tempe in time to get checked in, practice swim (glad I did as hadn’t worn wetsuit since IMWI and reminded myself of the 60 water temps), IM Foundation lunch (got picture with Mike Reilly) and then put the feet up. Dinner again with my Mom and Kent’s parents who had flown in for the race.
Race Morning
Awoke 3:30 to eat 3 cups applesauce, 1 scoop whey protein, banana and a bottle of Gatorade. Laid back down with multiple alarms sent for 4:45. Showered, dressed and departed hotel at 5:15 to walk to TA. Body Marked, Tires Pumped, bottles filled and then got the heck out of transition to avoid the nervous energy. We walked east just past run special needs to find a bank of porta potties with no line. Hung there with Kent and just kept the HR down and relaxed. After using the port potty 2-3 more times got my wetsuit on and headed west to the new race start. Pushed our way up to just behind the 1:00 swim sign and awaited race start.
Swim
I miss the mass swim start which seems weird writing given that the swim was what I used to fear the most about Ironman. The upside of the current swim start is it has significantly less contact and sighting was easy. We were told to keep all buoys on our right so I was thrown at the end when I had started swimming towards the exit but had one last red buoy to round this time on my left. That probably added a minute or two to my time.
I’ve done 6 Ironman races and my swims have all been between 63 and 69 minutes. I swim year round and I wonder if I could swim less and still turn in the same swim time and apply those hours to running which clearly needs to improve. Seven years ago I would have classified as a weak swimmer and now I enjoy it but I wonder about the efficiency of the amount of time I spend in a year swimming.
T1—The run to T1 is a lot longer than the previous swim course configuration. The change makes it easier for spectators to see their athletes and swimmers get to go up a ramp versus negotiate the stairs which always caused some to stumble. I sat outside change tent, put on socks and shoes and helmet and asked the volunteer to put my suit in the bag. Time was 5:54 which I think is pretty good given the distance we had to run to the tent and then to bike out.
Bike 5:17:59. I enjoy the flat bike course though I think I am better vs the pack on a hillier course. Goal was 183W and I ended up at 181W with my 3rd lap power down a few percent over the first 2 laps. Given the 3 loops there is a lot of legal free draft, unavoidable draft given the number of riders during lap 2 & 3 and inevitably illegal draft packs. I had a group of 4 that were clearly in cahoots to draft their entire bike leg and I resisted the temptation to say anything but I smiled as I passed them at the end of bee line on lap 2 as they waited out their drafting penalty. They did later pass me again either not caring or unaware of the rules. Nutrition went well though I need to adjust for future with more gels and less liquid as I peed probably way more than anyone should ever pee during a bike leg.
T2 was 1:59. Just a footwear change and grab my gallon Ziploc and race belt. Stopped for sunscreen.
Run was 4:46—So my race had gone very well up until this point. I biked hard but didn’t feel that I had over biked. I found myself lacking motivation on the run and questioning why I race. My mental weakness caused me to start walking intermittently during each mile which slowed my pace from a planned 9 minute to one of 11:04. I need to reflect upon this before I race again. My first couple ironman I didn’t have this problem (3:53) as I was out to prove a lot to myself and show my family what is possible. I’ve been there, done that and now feel like I’m completing Ironman more than racing Ironman. Similar story at IMWI though at that race I had a lot of GUT pain.
So I’m sure that having done IMWI 9 weeks ago had me carrying fatigue into this event. Admittedly I didn’t run this year with the frequency or intensity that I should have. Most importantly though I need my “One Thing” or multiple one things that I can keep top of mind when I am thinking about walking during the run.
Afterwards
I had mixed emotions after the race. I’m proud of doing another and doing it under 12 hours. I’m proud that I’ve now done 6. I’m disappointed in myself that I walked as much as I did during the run and I have a bit of post race blues. Writing this race report has helped…today is better….I’ve bought a smart Wahoo Kickr Core that I need to unwrap this weekend and likely I’ll be signing up for IMSR for May 11th 2019. If you want to help me be accountable, ask me about my running frequency and intensity.
Thanks Endurance Nation for all of your support, guidance and education you provide me on this journey.
Comments
Congratulations on #6, Jason. I noticed the idiots drafting on the bike as well. I actually enjoyed lap three the most because we didn't have the speed demons whizzing past us as if they were in the Tour. The wind cooperated and, at least for my second and third loops had shifted and was with us going up the Beeline.
I plan to ask Santa to upgrade my Computrainer to the Wahoo Core this year as well. I think the direct-drive trainers are the future. Good luck in Santa Rosa. One day I will be back there for redemption.
Congratulations on your race! Kudos for sharing your thoughts on the run. I'm bet those thoughts are not uncommon for most during at some point(s) during the run. As you mentioned, you might have been carrying some fatigued from IMWI. Good to know you found a way to get through the run with an overall great finish time and that you're already thinking about signing up for another IM.
Jason,
I'm not sure I saw you or not, there was at least 2 peeps in EN kits I could not identify.
I wish I knew you were coming to Tucson we coulda met for a 5 min coffee, but I get the busy/stress feeling pre-race, visiting family etc. Very cool on the Boneyard, Heather and I did a 10k race through the Boneyard 2 years ago, after the race she is did you see this did you see that? , I raced and didn't see a thing LOL, the difference between racing and sight seeing, but had fun walking around the planes before and after, cool venue.
Great race up to this point?
{I found myself lacking motivation on the run and questioning why I race. My mental weakness caused me to start walking intermittently during each mile. Most importantly though I need my “One Thing” or multiple one things that I can keep top of mind when I am thinking about walking during the run.}
At least you have it identified down to what it is. Mental game is the 5th discipline and probably the most difficult. Yes "one things" are important tools but so are those past performances where you did have something to prove (but always remember you only do this for you and no-one else so it for you that you have to prove acceptable performance/decisions on the day) , use those as baselines to what you will accept. Build your mental game through music/motivational quotes/reading race reports, what ever is necessary. Mentally prepare to run the entire Marathon (except for 26 aid station walks) walking in-between is unacceptable, as long as you are nutritionally and physically able do not accept less. When you get ready to walk tell yourself, this too shall soon be over and it was never as bad as you thought it was.
Dont be so hard on yourself with post race blues, stick to those positives in your race, its not an easy game and what makes it so much fun :-) Love to hear some feedback on your new trainer!
@tim cronk you have given me very sound guidance that I will surely apply to my next Ironman. I don’t do this for anyone else, I do this for me and I’ve trained to hard all year to not honor that with a killer run. No more walking (except the aid stations).
Jason...didnt get to see you on course, sonds like you had a day to motivate a better race experience next year. A few comments...swim less? I' d say 3x/ week for 10 weeks is needed to avoid having the swim race day leave you more fatigued than you want to be later in the day. It'not about getting faster, its about staying stronger longer. You could probably swim sub-70' on 1-2 days a week, but that would surely impact your ability to run the way you want. Swimmng slower on race day won't help, cause the technique changesand tires you out anyway.
Second, zi hope you've done an in-depth analysis of your bike data to male sure your sense that you didnt overcook is fully correct. EG, your Avg power should be 177 or greater for a VI of about 1.02. Amd your HR should be pretty much the same the last two laps, not drifting up. (Example, my 3 laps were all within 1' of each other, my HRs were 104/111/111). If you were steady the whole way, with a stable HR, then Chart yor pace/HR by mile on the run. Subtle race execution changes may improve your capability to dig deeper the last 8-10 miles of the run.
More later...Turkey Time.
@Jason Brandt Congrats on the finish. While I'm not fast I'd echo the Al's comments on the effect of not swimming enough on impacting your race day and ability to stay stronger. I cut corners trying to swim 2X and also average less than 2X for one IM with not good results. All my IM swim times have been in the 1:30-1:36 until I dropped in a 1:50 from cutting down the swims.
Finding that one thing(s) for the race is important but you will also need to find the reason/motivation to train to race, particularly if you want to improve the run. If you don't it's still fine to complete IM's with you friend and execute to what ever level of fitness you have.
So I see a couple pieces here and you've already committed to racing to your ability for the next race.
Congrats.
nice to see you out there.
looking forward to hearing about Santa Rosa.