IMFL 2010 - Race Report of Clinton Fletcher
This was my first Ironman, and first real race report so forgive me if I ramble.
Pre-race: At about 8pm the night before the race, I was lying on the floor stretching my hammies. All of a sudden, one of my best friends and college buddies walked into our condo and surprised me. He flew all the way from California to watch me race and act as a sherpa. My wife had organized the entire thing behind my back. Took me completely by surprise. I was overwhelmed that my wife organized and my friend took time off from work to travel across the country for my race. It made the weekend that much better, which led to my great day. Despite his arrival, i was lights out at 9:15pm. Probably fell asleep at 10:30ish.
At 2:00am, I got up to pound 2 Odwalla protein bomb smoothies. My buddy was actually still up considering he was on California time. It's so much more enjoyable to pound pre-race fuel when your sherpa is yapping at you.
At 4:30am, alarm went off and I put on my race gear, covered by my dry clothes. Race temp was about 40 degrees with a good wind. With friend and wife in tow, we schlepped off to body marking and transition. Friend dropped off special needs bags at Alvin's Island. You definitely need a pit crew for these things.
Ambled through the pre-race check list. Not enough porta-potties! Got onto sand for start 7 minutes before cannon because of that delay.
Swim: 1:00:27
I positioned myself at the front of the crowd for the start, sighting directly on first buoy, only ten yards behind the front row of age groupers. Got a little emotional during the national anthem; turned around after the singing and uttered "you wake up in the morning and sweat excellence....It's go time.....what the heck am I doing here?!?!?!" Conflicting thoughts. Cannon went off and I sprinted into the water. There was some initial bumping and punching. As a Clyde, I just swam my own race as a somewhat immovable object and didn't let the flailing get to me. Many folks tried to move me, but it wasn't happening. One guy tried to swim between me and another guy and we just swam closer together to prevent the breach. Felt the advancing guy duck behind my feet to try other side. I swam a pretty good pace the first lap. Adrenaline was kicking in. At the first red buoy, I started to lengthen out and get into a strong rhythym. The rising sun made sighting difficult for second red buoy. Once around that, it was easy to get back to shore.
First lap, I came out of the water and heard the announcer yell 27 minutes. My actual lap time was 28 something. I was shocked at how fast the first lap went. Seeing that I was going probably a little too quickly, I walked the turn-around to get back into the water. On the second lap, I slowed my arm turn-over down for two reasons. First, I was starting to get hot in my wet-suit. Water temp was around 72 degrees. Second, I was kicked in the shoulder while at full extension and it seemed as if my shoulder dislocated (hyperextended?) for just a split second. My right shoulder killed for a majority of the last lap. I powered through it, mostly pulling like crazy with my left arm. In any event I still finished with a good swim time. In fact, I forecasted a 1-1:10 swim. Pleased
Transition: 8:21
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. I just made sure I took off everything and put on everything correctly (had jersey and bike shorts under wetsuit). Probably could have gone a little faster, but I consciously made myself go slowly. Did everything standing up. There were no chairs. I felt great. Walked to get my bike in my shoes. Bikers look ridiculous doing that. Probably should have run holding my shoes. They sure do make you negotiate a maze. In any event the Blue Bomber was waiting for me. Hopped on and off I went. Got to hug family right as you turn onto Front Beach Road.
Bike: 5:53:06
I generally consider myself a strong biker and often times kill it on the bike, but fail miserably on the run. I made another conscious effort to ride the EN way. I'm an HR athlete. My LTHR was 170. I averaged 130 the entire race. What slowed me down was having to pee at every bottle exchange after mile 20. Seriously!!! It was so frickin' cold, that I wasn't sweating. Moreover, I made sure I downed a water bottle every 10 miles. I probably could have pulled an RnP and pee'd on the bike, but mechanically speaking, things were not working in that cold. As to the cold, I was numb the first 40 miles (not IMSG cold so I've heard!), but soon warmed up. I only had arm warmers and running gloves they throw in your check-in bags at road races. I thought it turned out to be perfect amount of gear, unlike folks in full windbreakers and long pants that they wore the entire race. Enjoyed the entire bike ride, other than chafing, which is to be expected. Loved the look on the face of a little old lady volunteer at special needs when she watched me jam a gob of vaseline down my shorts! Managed to ride with a training buddy the last 20 miles of the race (no drafting! just kept passing each other). In any event, following the EN method of going out slowly and building, I passed many guys who blew by me in the first half of the race. They were suffering on the back portion. I predicted 6 hrs, so pleased with result, despite stopping so much.
T2: 6:06
Uneventful transition. Just slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Only changed out of bike shorts into regular tri shorts. Ahhhh! You don't really know the extent of chafing until you change shorts. You just get so used to it on the bike. However, once in comfortable shorts again you realize what you had been missing.
Run: 4:28:19
Four weeks before the race, during the first 40 minutes of one of my long EN runs, my right knee exploded. Literally, could not take a step without a stabbing pain. I emailed Coach P and we tentatively diagnosed it with IT band syndrome. Took a week off from all running and biking. Saw a neuro muscular therapist for four weeks. Did a lot of swimming and gingerly eased my way back into biking. Only was able to do one race rehearsal, incidentally. The last four weeks, I only did three runs of no more than 4 miles on a treadmill. Didn't tell wife, but I thought I wouldn't make it.
Starting the run, my legs felt great. I tried to follow the EN way by going 30 seconds slower than what you think your pace should be. I was supposed to run 10's, but my first 6 were at 9:45. Probably excitement. I throttled back, partly stretching at aid stations in addition to the walking at each aid station. My legs never gave out, meaning I never had to walk just to progress. I just hummed along at 10:00 minute miles. The only distress I faced on the run was feeling severely light headed at about mile 7. I tried to think if I missed any fueling and couldn't think of any gels or clif bars I had missed. Fortunately, I remembered my last marathon in 1997. Not feeling right then, I was thrown a banana by my then girlfriend, now wife at mile 15. I immediately felt better. Therefore, next aid station in this race I took in two bananas. Energy came right back. I then proceeded to raid each aid station like a retiree at a Piccadilly's. Stomach didn't bother me, so I ate pretty much what I wanted, walked my 30 paces and took off. Throw in three Endurolytes every hour, a gel every 45-1hr and that was the extent of my fueling.
I tried to start counting folks I passed after the line, but just kept forgetting. I would get distracted by spectators, racers collapsing, scenery. I was taking it all in. I do know I passed a significant amount of fit folks. I passed two guys walking in the park who were all tricked out with their matching team gear, Newtons, compression sox, Oakleys, headsweats, etc. When I ran by, one guy says "dude, you're making us look bad." Seriously! I turned around and said "just feeling great." From miles 22-24, Mark Roberts came up behind me and we ran for a little bit together. Mark was obviously sniffing the finish line so he took off. Two EN'ers finished within a minute of each other. Kinda cool.
Coming down the last mile of the race was one of the coolest things. I can only imagine how Ali'i Drive must feel compared to Panama City. Focusing on the finish line, I completely forgot to look into the stands to see my family. That's one of my biggest regrets. Fortunately, they got me on video, but I wish I had looked up to acknowledge them and what they did to help me finish. I crossed the line in no distress. My goal for the run was sub 5hrs, mostly due to not knowing what my knee would do.
Final Time 11:36:17. Goal was to be somewhere in the 12's.
In retrospect, I probably left a lot of time on the course going to the bathroom and enjoying the scenery. When I do another one (not for two years or so!), I will approach the race with a little more focus and intensity. Try to race it a little more. All in all, I'm super pleased about my time.
Thanks to RnP for the help. Thanks to the Haus for its encouragement and advice. Good luck with your races. Over and out!
Comments
You're right: coming down that last mile of an IM is one of the coolest things; the pot of gold at the end of a long rainbow.
Your first IM? You nailed it; well done.
I think me and Bob McCallum finished within a minute of each other too..cool!
Nathalie
BTW- I've now finished 3 Ironman races and I have yet to be able to find my husband in the crowd when I cross the finish line or coming out of the water. And the dude is not short either! Must be something about that finishing shute :-)
"Super pleased" is the way you SHOULD feel!!!! Every bit of that and more. Outstanding day. Congratulations!
Woo Hoo, you had a tremendous day! Congratulations on your amazing execution!
Great to see you!
Great job Clint! Nice execution, you nailed it. Enjoy your recovery.
I bet the dudes were talking about their great bike splits before you cruised by them "feeling Good" love it
Clint:
An 11:36 for fist time IM plus an IT band injury = AWESOME. Great job.
Best,
Brian
Great race, great report. Your enjoyment of the day shines through.