Mark Erkenswick's IM WI Race Report
I don't think there is any better way to describe this year's IM Moo than to steal coach RnP's term - "EPIC". I can't imagine a better support crew than the EN team that showed up last Sunday. From the coaches to the EN athletes, volunteers and spectators, the course was covered with support, encouragement and entertainment all EN-style. If I were racing in any other kit I would have been very jealous of all the shout-out's and coverage team EN had. Thanks to all of you nuts for everything you did out there.
My day...Overall 13:39, which was 39 minutes slower than my "best case scenario" I had in my head, but given that this was my first IM, I'm pretty happy. Here's how it went down..
Swim (1:27) - 3 minutes faster than my goal pace so thumbs up. I was terrified of the mass start from the day I signed up for this race. Come race day, this was one of my favorite moments. The energy in the water was just awesome. Truth be told - it was an absolute slug-fest for most of the swim, but I was having a great time just soaking in the whole experience.
Bike (6:43) - basically right on my target. I felt great the whole ride - IF 1.05 and NP 143 (target 150). The spectators along the hills were a riot. The comparisons to a tour de France were pretty much spot on. The speedos, cow bells, brat stands, and even Elvis were out in full tilt. I was actually looking forward to the second loop to pass through those hills again.
Run (5:10) - basically 38 minutes slower than target - I came out of T2 and felt like I was shot out of a cannon. Thank god for the Garmin, which told me I was running 1:30 faster than I should be. I kept hearing Rich in my head saying give me 6 miles at your easy pace plus 30, so I shut 'er down and got on my 10:20 pace. First 6 miles, 10:16 - right on target and feeling good. Around mile 9 things went south in a hurry. I started feeling dizzy and was having a hard time holding a straight line. So I started walking a bit. I'd run a bit, then walk a bit. I'd see an EN kit and hear "c'mon EN" and feel like I couldn't let down the flag, but every time I ran I felt worse and worse. After seeing a woman puking and laying by the side of the road I just decided I needed to listen to my body and take it really easy for a bit. So I just walked. Tried some chicken soup, some oranges, and just put one foot in front of the other. My legs felt strong, but my head was just not right. After a while I started feeling a bit better. My two middle 6 mile splits were at a 13:09 and 12:58, respectively, but that was more running on the ends and walking in the middle of the two. In any event, by about mile 16 I started feeling pretty good again and moved to more running and less walking. My last 6 miles ended up at 11:03, which I feel pretty good about given my target of 10:20 and the hole I was in during the middle of the run. My final wall hit at mile 25. The slow hill up toward the capital just had me defeated and I started walking when Heather runs past and says "c'mon EN - you got 1 mile, you can do anything for 10 minutes" - I tried to keep pace with her, but she was way too strong for me, so just hung on through the finish. Thanks Heather for the kick in the arse!
So basically - what a great day. I feel like I have unfinished business on the run, but like I said, I'm glad I was able to get it back together and finish strong. Thanks again to all of you that were in Madison. I won't be racing next year, but I'll be there to help EN represent for next year's IM WI racers.
For all you vets, I'm open to any ideas you have about what might have gone awry for me on the run. I think my execution was really good up to that point, and I don't think I was short on fitness. I can only guess that I screwed up my nutrition. I was hot so took in more water, but maybe I didn't drink enough...or maybe I drank too much. I've never been dizzy like that on a run before, but then again, I'd never been running after 9 or so hours of exercise either.
Comments
Hi Mark,
Congratulations on wrapping up your first IM so well!
To help get to the bottom of the dizziness that you felt after mile 9, can you provide more details on your nutrition up till that point? For example, are you on the "liquids-only" plan?; how many calories did you take on during the bike? Were you feeling light-headed or just hard to stay focused?
Congratulations on finishing your first Ironman.
Even with all the training we do, there's no way to know how we will do on the actual day until we're in the middle of it. Keep at it; you'll crack the code. Being a member of EN gives you a huge leg up, no matter what.
Hi Mark--wonderful day. Congratulations!!! You sure looked terrific at the Great Dane afterwards!
Re the dizziness--it was really, really hot out there. While the temps "only" said 80, it was dry like dessert, and the sun was beaming like the Sahara. I think the dry conditions and the wind took more out of people that we may have thought it would. I really am just guessing, but the conidtions were perfect to mess up GI tracts and equilibrium. No matter what, that was a race that ruled!
Congrats Mark! Ya know I think a lot of peeps out there on the run course were having dehydration and stomach problems...I sure was. Linda had a good point about it being hot and dry and we make have overcooked and not known it. I think that is what happened to me. Anyhoo.....you did it...with a very respectable time and great effort!!
Congratulations! It was great seeing so many EN kits, wasn't it?
It was only eighty on the bike? I think they were lying. That course is not very shady, and I think lots of people were dehydrated.
P
I was definitely hot and felt like I was dousing myself with water all afternoon. Way to dig it out of the hole. CONGRATS.
Matt
I'm still not sure what to do for a fix but the motivation is definitely there to do a another one and execute even better.
Congrats, Ironman! It was a pleasure cheering for you!!!
Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet. Very solid effort and, like others have said, great execution on the bike. Seems like it could have been the heat. Guess you need to stick around and try another race to get it right!
Congratulations!
so, reading those 2 reports, I think you, rick, and myself still have some unfinished business.... hmmmmm. I'm just saying