Ironman CdA Race Report - Pete G
I initially had considered not writing a race report since I felt like I didn't really attempt an Ironman. For those of you that don't already know I failed to make the swim cut-off. After some time to think about this, and reading other's reports and comments, I decided I absolutely needed to do this.
I arrived in CdA on Wednesday after a long day of traveling. I felt prepared for the upcoming days but definitely had a few reservations especially regarding the swim. I was staying in a house with 3 other EN members. This definitely helped ease the nerves that were starting to build up. We went out for a late evening run to check out the "hill". I was feeling pretty comfortable and felt that hill wasn't going to be that much of an impact.
On Thursday we planned on swimming and then riding the hill sections of the bike course. Due to the race admin stuff we ended up only doing the ride. I went out with the group, some of which were hammering the ride, but just tried to ride my numbers. It was cool to see that I could actually fairly steady even on the hills. Again, I felt real comfortable out in the hills and was feeling much more confident about my chances of successfully conquering this adventure.
Then comes Friday morning, time to finally swim. The water temperatures had been the talk of the forums for the entire past week. This had made me a bit skeptical, but figured how bad could it really be. Friday turned out to be a dark day for me. The lake was extremely choppy in addition to the cold. Did I mention that this was going to be my very first OWS?
We jumped in and started to head into the current for our first lap. I immediately realized that I was in for some serious problems. I didn't know how to deal with the constant waves hitting me in the face. Panicking I never thought to try and breathe to the other side. I simplty tried pushing forward as best I could. After a couple 100 meters I simply turned around and headed back to shore. It felt like I had been out there for 30' or more and only covered 300-400 meters. I sat on the steps, shivering my ass off, thinking that I was DONE, and the race hadn't een started. If it was for the House and other EN members I would have packed it up right then. I spent the remainder of the day dwelling on how and if I could actually do this.
Knowing that I need to get back in the water we returned to the beach Saturday morning. This time the lake was a bit calmer, but I was still pretty nervous. The House was very supportive and stayed with me the whole way. Everyone was doing their best to help talk me down off the cliff. I have to say that this second swim went rather well. By the end I was to the point were I knew if I kept my head that I could get through it.
Race Day! I did the 2am/4am thing like everyone else, taking in 800-900 calories. I honestly should up relatively calm. I worked through the prep stages and before I knew it I was standing on the beach, fully suited, and ready to swim. After discussions with other EN Members I decided it was best to line up to the right and back. In addition I was going to wait 30-60 secs to avoid the masses of swimmers. As I stood there I picked out a few sighting points and waited for the cannon to go off.
BOOM! I have to say watching the swim start in person was just mesmerizing. I then hit the water myself, and I panicked. That first red buoy was a LONG ways away. I immediately reverted to swimming with my head above the water. I kept doing the best I could to make forward progress. In the first couple hundred yards there were people already hanging onto boards. A bit to my surprise there were also people already calling it quits. This really got into my head. I thought if there are already people giving up after 10' minutes there was no way I was going to make it. I almost gave up myself.
I finally set up and grab a board. I set there a moment talking to the life guard. He had been watching me swim for a bit and commented that I needed to get my head in the water and use my lungs to help me float. This finally got me back into my box. I took another moment, collected myself and went to work.
Swimming into the current was considerable harder than I expected. I was finally making decent progress but was way behind the other swimmers. Once I rounded the outer bouys the swimming became a bit easier. However, it had taken me so long to get here that at this point the other swimmers were on their second lap. I now need to deal with them. I did my best to simply stay on my line and swim within my box. It didn't take long to realize that they would just swim around me and stayed focused on myself.
I finally made it through the first lap. I have no idea on how long it took me. I have to guess somewhere in the neighorhood of 1:30. I didn't hesitate starting the second lap knowing I had to make up some time. Once again, I was back swimming against the current. It wasn't any easier this time. I finally hit the back strech and someone indicated that I had 15 minutes before the cut-off. That was almost 1000 meters. I knew it was going to be tough. At this point I was finally feeling good about my swimming, but was getting tired. I just put my head down and tried to swim as fast as I could. Unfortunately it just wasn't enough. I finished in just about 2:25 minutes....5 minutes to slow. Day over!
I spent the next few minutes hanging my head, walking through the crowds in search of my wife. I finally found her, with tears in her eyes. She was more frightened that something had happened, rather than sad that I hadn't finished. We both knew that going into this race that there was a 50-50 chance on whether I was ready for the swim, especially after Friday's ordeal. We both took a few moments and then knew that reagrdless of the outcome that this was one of the best experiences of our lives.
I went and collected my stuff, changed and found some lunch and beer. I knew I then had one other thing to do. It was time to get out on the course and support the other EN members. We located ourselves at the corner of Sherman and 7th knowing that we would be able to see them on the run 3 times before heading to the finish line. Michele and I both wore the EN colors so that we were easily recognizable. We took over the corner with Coach Rich and stood right in the middle of the road as if we owned the place. I was fantastic to be able to be there and cheer everyone on when they needed it most.
So what did I learn from this experience:
- I need to practice OWS. I totally underestimated the difficulty of dealing with currents and sighting. I know many people have contributed problems to the cold water. I unfortunately can't really comment on that. I just have to say that even after being in the water for 2:30 hours I wasn't really cold coming out. However, if I had to get on my bike it may have been a different story.
- I need to improve my swim technique and experience. It took me way to long to get back into my box.
- You can start too far right. I started at the far end of the beach. I beleive, but can't quantify it, that I swam farther than 2.4 miles this way. I was swimming a diagonal to the first buoy instead of a straight line.
- Endurance Nation ROCKS! The support of this group of people is just simply fantastic. I was absolutely floored when I recieved a call from StarkMan immediately after he found out I failed to make the cut-off. I have people who are considered my closest friends who still haven't bothered to find out how I did. Thank you John, and everyone else for your supporting comments.
P.S.
I have already registered for 3 shorter distance triathlons for the remainder of the 2011 season. I am in search of a swim coach, again. I will be prepared and ready to crush IM Mont Tremblant in 2012.
P.S.S
Many people were amazed that I signed up for an Ironman as my first triathlon. They are now asking whether I would do it again. ABSOLUTELTY! Is there something I could have learned from doing other shorter distance races? Certainly, namely OWS swim experience. However, I feel that the Ironman is such a different type of event that the first one would intimidate anyone regardless of their background.
--Pete
Comments
Do those shorter races. You will build confidence. Also, swim a lot. Swimming is by far the easiest leg of any tri, IM included. You know that you can bike and run. Make swimming a priority. What stuck out to me was that due to the admin stuff on thursday you only did the ride and skipped the swim. How many times did that or some other similar thing happen in the last year? If you want to be a triathlete, you need to learn to swim. Get lessons and go 4-5 times a week, every week.
Peter- Thanks for having the balls to write a report. Your experience WILL help someone in the future that struggles with the swim. I consider the swim my strongest event and I STILL get 4-5 OWS in before every tri. There is no substitution to that Open water experience. Find a lake, river or the ocean and get used to being uncomfortable in the water. After a few OWS's you will be as comfortable in the OW as the pool. Carrie told me about your story that evening with tears in her eyes. I have to tell you that I LOVED LOVED LOVED that you were out on the course for the rest of the team. Knowing that I was going to see you guys as I went through town was a huge motivator for me. It was great meeting you and your wife and hope to see you at another event in the future.
peter: you have a race plan for the future. you made it out safely. you have plenty of time to get the IM finish! sorry i didn't get to meet you properly, but your support on the run course was greatly appreciated!!! best of luck with your studies as well!
gh
Peter - Congratulations on making it to the starting line and for having the courage to make the attempt. I must say that you're report really resonated with me. My first OWS was at the Mooseman in 2005 and I completely hit the panic button - I thought I was going to drown. It's a scary place to be and you're out there a long time. A few months later I had it all worked out. I've no doubt that you will conquer the swim in IMMT next year and it'll be great to race with you. BTW - I've got a great swim coach in Bridgewater that I've worked with on occassion that might really suit you (John Quintana at VirtualSwim.com). Best of luck for the rest of the year! Dominic
Pete - I neglected to tell you this (I don't think I saw you after the race?), but your presence at 7th & Sherman, as much as Coach R's, helped me keep going on the run/walk. You had a smile and an energy that pulled me forward.
I PROMISE you, any future triathlon swim you do will be easier than what you went thru on Sunday. That water was COLD, and I'm amazed you had to grit, tenacity, and strength to get all the way around twice, after what you experienced Friday morning. Like Crhis says, find a lake, hop in, and keep your head down!
Pete: A very insightful report - you really opened up your feelings to us about your experience. I saw how the tough the open water swim was for you on Friday and Saturday, so I had and still have the utmost respect for you for starting the race and completing the swim leg. True grit. And thanks again for being on the run course cheering us on. Sounds like you have a good plan going forward and I bet you'll make unbelievable improvements in your swimming in no time at all. You certainly have already demonstrated you have the will power. Go gettem!!! You can do it.
I've done 7 IMs, including CdA twice and I can tell you that that lake is the worst of any I've been in. Both times I had panic attacks; mostly from the amount of people in the water and getting run over constantly for the longest time. The waves definitely bothered me too.
Next time pick Lake Placid, IM Arizona or Vineman!
Thanks for the report.
@ Pete -- gutsy guy -- thanks for sharing your race report and for getting in the water on race morning.
paul
"Unless you test yourself, you stagnate. Unless you try to go way beyond what you've been able to do before, you won't develop and grow. When you go for it 100%, when you don't have the fear of "what if I fail", that when you learn, that's when you are really living!" ~ Mark Allen Keep living Mate!!
Thanks to you and your wife for being out there, supporting us all. It was so important to me. Good luck!
Wow! First OWS and it was this one? You rock!!!! Great report. This was so insightful for so many reasons. I neglect this swim because it is my least favorite training "thang" but my favorite part of the tri interestingly enough. You have encouraged and enlightened so many. Thanks for you tenacity and courage. Like your wife, I am glad you were out safe and sound.
Great job you!