Pam Kassner's Ironman Wisconsin Race Report
It wasn’t my best ever, but it was my best effort and I’ve never been more proud. 
Most meaningful of the six. Ran for David my 18-yo nephew fighting leukemia and my sis in law Mary, who battled (and won) breast cancer while caring for David. Raised nearly $6400 for Racers Against Childhood Cancer.
Smooth taper. Calm until race day. Usual race morning emotions.
Swim: Brutal. Kicked from start to finish. Mostly in head and of coursed felt like I had to kick as well to keep people from kicking me. So stressful physically. Also noticed the amounts of water I was getting up nose and sinuses. Despite goggles under cap I also had to make several stops to fix goggles that were kicked. I just could not believe this. This was going on the entire swim...not just until first turn. Beginning to end. Please just leave me alone. Don’t dunk me. I really don’t want to drown. When it was thankfully over I still swam a minute faster. (LOL I got back to my first Ironman swim time after I kept going up&up. LOL)
Bike: Began immediately with a stomach ache and half the lake up my nose and head. Told myself to work through it. Major nose blows of congestion where I literally could not peel the nose goop from my face. Stomach ache was with me until Mt. Horeb. Big deal -- a stomach ache. Not cancer like David. That’s what I yelled to my friend Brian as others looked at me a little strange.
Despite this rode calm ride, gear easier than could. Stayed within watts but noticed heart rate a little more in zone 3 than I would like. Also noticed began to have to go to bathroom pretty regularly within an hour of getting on bike. That is unusual for me and had not done anything differently pre-swim. My sister, an MD tells me, that water ingested (LIKE THE LAKE BEING CONSTANTLY KICKED UP YOUR NOSE AND THROAT) needs to go somewhere and suspects that was why I was passing water so quickly and often. (For the unfamiliar, I just stand up, coast and go. There is no stopping.)
Possible race day execution error: Maybe missing an expected 1440 mg sodium that I’m used to training with over this time frame. Different (from past IMs) squishy water bottles distributed on course made difficult for inserting Nuun tabs. Despite electrolytes in CarboPro, Thermalyte & Hammer Anti Fatigue fuel sources, was I missing electrolytes? Regardless, should I do IM again (not likely at this moment), need to rethink bottle system. Works fine for half IMs, but not longer.
Wind did pick up on second loop and I was feeling the heat. Noticed I was continuously pouring water on my neck. Also notice my power watts were going up. That should be good thing but I can’t tell if it was me having more power or power meter, which has been flaky. Despite day so far, I never panicked or had any real low points. Finished bike about 20 seconds faster than last one. It’s okay. Kept positive that I could execute a good run and have an opportunity to take back time.
Run: Uh oh— at mile 2 making a return appearance from ghosts of Ironman and other races long ago say hello to that immobilizing upper side stitch—on left side..huh?. I just kept saying to myself walk, work through it. David and Mary have gone through far worse and they are here for you (David in spirit) and waiting for you. Don’t panic or let this go south. My mantra “Pick up your feet bitch.” And that’s what I thought for a very long time.
Surely wasn’t feeling great like in 08. I’ve already had the big personal best and the excitement that goes with that. Reality sets in, not going to happen again (I won't have a personal best testimonial for EN), so I’m shifting goals and trying to figure out what will keep me happy and game on. What will make me proud? What will make me excited? I know I’m doing this for David and Mary. But what am I doing for me? What will make me happy when I’m done?
My stomach ache went away and for a bit there I thought okay, I’m having fun...but not for long.
Hydration not an issue as relieved myself twice on the run which I never do (unlike bike, unable to multitask and stop at porta). Yet, during run continued to drink Nuun (finally) infused 12 0z water bottle dry immediately, like I couldn’t get enough. Felt like I had dry mouth (understand this may have been from PowerAde perform) entire run. Bloating. Numb hands. This one was hard. I was alert, but couldn’t get comfy. This was a gut buster, a hold on, don’t let it go south on you. Ditched my usual fuel source about mile 17. Went for chicken broth, Perform, try a grape in the mouth, a potato chip.
Constant dumping of water down head and back. Ice down chest. Had heard put ice down pants and that helps. All that did was make my parts numb and I think messed with my run gait because I couldn’t feel anything between my legs. You are kidding me. Oh man, I don’t want this race to go backwards. Please want to still break 13 hours...please not make 2008’s 12:48:17 (an hour plus personal best) a fluke. I want to get this done. Get this over. Stay focus. Just keep your feet moving became the next mantra. With 10k or so to go, I gave up on any walk breaks (I usually run 5 mins walk 30 seconds until mile 22.) Just grab and go at rest stops if you need something keep moving. Save this. Save this. Keep moving. It was like if I kept going then the race boogey man couldn’t quite steal my Ironman from me.
And as I headed around the second to last corner I reached into my back pocket where wrapped in plastic had been my little Moo Jo cow (and yep I wore my silly cow bracelet too) and a picture of David. And I held that picture of David up for everyone to see. I ran as hard as I could and when I crossed the line, I closed my eyes and kissed that picture of David. The first person I saw at the finish line (aside from my catcher) was my friend Tom, who was my volunteer partner for 04 and 05 Ironmans. I broke down in heavy sobs. My catcher was trying to put me in the finish picture line and I said, no I’m not really looking my best. No finish picture for me. (I never get one.)
I wanted my family and my friends. Tom walked me over to my sister in law Mary. I showed her David’s picture and then two of us sobbed. The suffering for me is over. My celebration can begin. But we still wait for David’s.
Thank you to everyone who has supported my family with prayers, good thoughts, funds and fun. EN Chicag Beth said no one does Ironman alone. So true. I’m the luckiest person in the world and will do my best to remember that as often as I can.
This youngest from two muti-pack a day smokers gone from me too soon....this too small, to slow to get picked for even the C level sports teams, this not quite “in” enough for the high school or freshman sororities, this MBA drop out...well she is a six-time Ironman with the world’s best husband, a loving and supporting family, and the best kinds of friends,
team mates and coaches (thank you thank you thank you thank you).I’m blessed. I’m happy....and yeah, I’m really tired.
12:56:59 Total
17th AG out of 94 registered and 81 started
1:20:39 Swim
6:37:51 Bike
4:45:16 Run
TOTAL SWIM 2.4 mi. (1:20:39) 2:07/100m
BIKE SPLIT 1 40 mi. (2:20:26) 17.09 mph
BIKE SPLIT 2 43 mi. (2:31:52) 16.99 mph
BIKE SPLIT 3 29 mi. (1:45:33) 16.49 mph
TOTAL BIKE 112 mi. (6:37:51) 16.89 mph
RUN SPLIT 1 6.35 mi. (1:04:05) 10:05/mile
RUN SPLIT 2 6.65 mi. (1:13:02) 10:58/mile
RUN SPLIT 3 6.23 mi. (1:11:35) 11:29/mile
RUN SPLIT 4 6.97 mi. (1:16:34) 10:59/mile
TOTAL RUN 26.2 mi. (4:45:16) 10:53/mile
T1: SWIM-TO-BIKE 8:34
T2: BIKE-TO-RUN 4:39
Oh here is a weird factoid. Key races...Olympic 9 mins faster, half IM 9 mins faster, IM a little less than 9 mins slower. What's up with the nines? Could be worse. It could be three 6x. Yikes. HUGS!!!
Now I need some advice about how to get to my IM Miami 70.3 October 30.
0
Comments
No profound thoughts except -- did everyone end up with Lake Monona up their noses?
Great race Pam. Way to keep your eye on the bigger prize and taking what the day gave you. Nice job!!!
Way to get it done Pam, congratulations !! What's up with everyone I've talked to having stomach distress, could it be all that algae in the lake or bad water on the course???
I certainly couldn't explain my throwing up.
Loved reading your story....thank you for sharing your journey against cancer for David and Mary with us....I know how important a fight that is for you...they are blessed to have you fighting for them! A lack of hydration and stomach issues seems to be the recurrent theme from IMOO....I was dealing with that also. Mouth felt like a wad of cotton until mile 18....way to finish the swim despite getting pulverized and drinking the lake...way to finish the bike strong and personally I think your run rocked!! that time is something to be proud of!! Onward to Miami 70.3......U R CRAZY
bunch of hugs!
Hi Pam,
Awesome race and fantastic report. Good luck in Miami.
I loved meeting you!!!! Your energy was palpable, and you were truly ready to go. Congrats on an super tough race on a very tough day. You rock, chica! Wonderful wonderful!
Very solid execution on a tough day. I was sorry that we didn't really get a chance to meet. I think I introduced myself as you were walking your bike to the bike mount in T1. Saw you a few times on the run and you were focused! Great race!
Patrick
Thank you for a great RR!
Matt