IMFL 2010 - David Martin
So, 7AM at the start was kind of chilly (I heard 38 degrees), but the wetsuit helped a lot with that. The gun went off and I felt ready. I was a little back from the front, but I did get hit a few times. I didn't know what to expect because it was the first time I ever swam in the ocean. I had a hard time holding my form as I was rolling around from side to side. Counting wasn't helping the form, but it passed the time. I ended up swallowing quite a bit of water (more on that later). Sighting on the way out wasn't too bad because I found someone next to me who was constantly sighting. I just stuck close to him. After the turn, though, I was pullled really wide, and I ended up swimming diagonally the whole way back in just to stay within sight of the buoys. I hit the turn at 53 minutes. I was hoping for better, my final full swim in the pool took 1:19, but I've only been swimming for two years. I don't think I can expect a whole lot better my first time in water with waves and currents. Back in for the second loop, I was doing fine until I felt a little off. I wasn't sea-sick, it turns out I was sick of swallowing too much sea. I ended up vomiting 8 times and dry heaving 6 times on the remainder of the second loop. I actually vomited on someone who swam past me, but I'm really glad he didn't notice. Total swim time 1:59:43.
Out of the water with my wetsuit off and soaking wet, it was COLD! Luckily, I got my bag quickly, and I was on the bike without too much trouble. I decided that with all the vomiting I did, I was probably a little dehydrated. I also wanted my stomach to settle, so I decided to take it REALLY easy on the bike for the first hour. I also only drank water for that hour. After the hour, I started drinking the Perform, and I didn't eat the energy bar I usually do at special needs. It was really windy, but I had decided not to use the rear wheel disk cover, so I wasn't blown around too much. I had arm warmers and a vest on top of my tri-top, and I had started with calf compression sleeves because it so supposed to be cold. The only thing I wish I had would have been toe covers for my feet. They were numb the whole ride. The roads were fine except for the first out and back, but there I just rode the white line on the side except when I was passing people. The tail winds were nice coming in, and I spent most of it north of 20mph. Total bike time 6:50:26.
T2 went quickly, but I decided to keep on the arm warmers and vest (turned out to be a good idea for me). I had a hard time keeping my speed down, but I just adjusted by increasing walking time. Rich and Patrick looked really miserable at mile 5/18. Thanks to them for being there, it gave me something to look forward to. I was doing OK until the sun went down, and I started getting really cold. It also took a while to figure out that I could only get down the broth. Everything else was making me burp a lot, so I figured they didn't want to go down. I started with the broth at about mile 14 or so, and it didn't come back up. I stuck with the broth for the rest of the race. I put on a long sleeve running shirt on under the vest at special needs, but my feet were so cold they hurt every time I put them down on the road. After 2-3 miles of walking, I told myself to HTFU, and I picked a road lamp and ran to it. The next 5-6 miles consisted of picking a spot to run to, and then walking for about 30 seconds. I gradually began to warm up, and I realized that no one had passed me since mile 16. I began to run more and more, and faster and faster, because I didn't want anyone to pass me in the last 10 miles (petty, I know, but whatever works). I had my last walk at about mile 23 1/2. My final two miles were 9:03 and 7:48. I actually passed 13 people in the chute, speeding up so I wasn't passed by someone wanting to finish strong. Total run time 5:13:25.
All in all, I was happy with the day. I don't think I could expect more from my swim, and I felt I was really smart on the bike. I would have liked to run more/better, but I finished well. Total time 14:20:10. A 43 minute PR.
Comments
hard to argue with a 45 minute pr...enjoy some time off...
what are you racing next year?
David - Remarkable perserverance and problem solving. Many others would have just given up during the swim with all the GI trauma you were experiencing. And kudos on the resolve and speed you dredged up at the end of the run. You really deserve the PR, and if you choose to do an IM again, you still have a lot more time you can chop off!
Way to hang in there! Awesome job!!! It was definitely cold and windy and it sounds to me like you were smart in playing it smart (I did the same thing). So glad the stomach issues resolved and you finished your day strong!
Huge congrats on the PR, that's awesome!!!!!
Enjoy your victory and recovery!
Nathalie