IM LOU RR - Rick Jansik
My plan was to take the experience from last year's race (11:37 finish) and cut some time by being faster in transition, the swim and bike. I knew my run wouldn't improve but I hoped for at least a couple of minutes.
I got in line for the swim 2 hours before the start, it took just 3 minutes to get in the water from the point I was at. While in line a race official came up and checked out my speed suit, she wasn't sure if it was legal so she took the brand and style number to check it out.
She came back about 10 minutes before the start of the race and told me the speed suit I have been wearing for the last 1 1/2 years was not legal. So I stripped it off and gave it to Laura, I had been swimming without it all summer due to the water temps so that didn't bother me a lot, it did slow me down though. I was just thankful that this year I decided to wear something under it unlike I did last year. I did PR the swim by 2 minutes.
I got out of the water and jogged up the path, grabbed my bag and did a quick change, slathered with sunscreen and on the bike. I ate some oatmeal cookies in the first few miles, got my legs warmed up and pushed a little while it was flat. Once we turned the corner about 10 miles out and hit the wind and the first hill the race strategy started for me. The bike was windy and hilly, these are not rolling hills, yes you roll down them but only a couple you can actually get enough momentum to crest the top of the next one. The bike was good as it is my strong event, I just tryed not to get bored and kept an eye on the others around me. I got a little light headed about 15 miles from the end, I almost ran off the road then I finally realized I had not taken in any nutrition for over an hour other water and Perform. I downed a gel, some E-caps and SportsLegs pills. It wasnt long before they hit me and five miles from the finish I was able to pick it up and motor on. I tryed like heck to pee on the bike but just couldnt manage anything. I suffered for 6 hours since I had to go before the swim finish. I had a goal to average 20.5 or better, I ended up with 20.4 cutting off 15 minutes from last year. It was not a good day for deep dish wheels, I am glad I had the 808's and not the 1080's since the cross wind was really bad. After the race a friend mentioned that there was almost no tailwind on the course at all. Go figure.
I handed off the bike and into transition, the vounteer found my bag right away and it was a quick change, head for more sunscreen and a relieving stop at the port-a-john. My legs were really tight and I was worried it would be a walking marathon. It took the turn-around on the bridge before they felt better and that was a big relief. The run was typical for me, slow and steady. I was hurting a little more off the bike than I was last year. My arms and shoulders were sore from hanging on the aero bars so tight, also my left thigh and I.T. band were really acting up. I spent most of the run going from water stop to water stop icing my thigh and taking in any fluids I could get. I stayed away from the Ironman Perform drink since it tends to be too sugary and I was pretty sick of it after the bike, I drank a lot of coke, water and towards the end some chicken broth (drink the chicken broth!) My plan was to maintain 8 1/2 - 9 minute miles and walk the water stops to average 9 - 9 1/2 minutes miles to the end. Talk about consistency, my run time was 4 seconds faster than last year.
Overall a good race, I cut 6 minutes from transition, 2.5 minutes from the swim and 15 minutes from the bike. It was not the finishing place I was hoping for since the same finish time last year would have gotten me 6th in AG and a Kona slot. The age groups were stacked this year, there was really no roll down since everyone took their Kona slot, I think there were a lot of elites looking for a easy Kona slot due to the slow times from last year. The first place guy in my age group was 27th overall with a time of 9:45. I am not too disappointed in not going to Hawaii for my birthday, yes race day in Kona was my birthday, it would have been a great experience, but the thought of doing another Ironman right now isn't very appealing anyway.
On to Augusta and the Miami 70.3 to make up for it. See you guys later.
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Comments
Rick, sorry I didn't get to meet you in Lou, but great job on your PRs.
Rick - a 23 minute improvement, putting sub 11 hours in sight, is something to be proud of. Now, get to work on some run speed!