John Stark 2011 IMAZ Race Report / Worst Triathlon Ever - Best Triathlon Ever
The Set-up:
Made the decision in January 2011 that this was going to be my last Ironman distance triathlon. Training was going great. It was progressing as expected. However, 7 weeks or so before IMAZ I had knee issues and after an MRI I was told my running career was over. So everything changed.
My "One Thing" for IMAZ was then simply to have fun and high-five as many volunteers I can on the course.
Game plan: Swim a solid 1:10 to 1:15, bike 5:30 to 5:45 and try a run/walk strategy and see how it goes.
What happened?
SWIM
Felt really good when I got into the water. Water was not too cold and I seeded myself 2nd from the front and to the right. The gun went off and all hell broke loose. I was pushing pretty hard to get some space but with no luck. I was getting pummeled from every side! I was sighting fine but just couldn't find ANY open water. No real way to get into a groove until the turn around back heading to the finish stairs. Over the whole swim I maybe had 10 to 15 minutes where I wasn't dealing with human contact or swimming around/over someone else.
About 500 yards from the finish line I started feeling woozy and I felt like I was gonna throw up! This has NEVER happened to me before. I had to stop and try and gain my composure. After a couple of minutes simply floating I tried to swim again and after about 100 yards I had to stop again. I could see the finish stairs . . . . but I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it. I felt like crap! I slowly made my way to the last turn and about 50 yards from the stairs I was done. I was beaten. My stomach was toast, my face was cold and my toes were numb. I then meandered (treaded water) to the stairs, got out of the water and slowly walked to T1 not sure if I could handle the bike.
I have NO idea why this stomach issue happened.
Swim time: 1:23:15
T1 – 12:27
The T1 tent was packed, but very warm and it felt good. I sat down and regained my head space. Got changed, stood up and just put one foot in front of the other and made my way to my bike and then headed out.
BIKE
Got on the bike, wasn’t cold and at mile one my right hip, quad, hami, and inner-thigh started cramping on me. This also has NEVER happened to me before either. I thought that it might loosen up and I would be fine. But it never did. For the first hour I couldn’t take in food because my stomach was trashed . . . and now this hip issue! In short, I stopped 11 times for 4+ minutes each to stretch out the cramps and try and also change my attitude (I was swearing like a Marine). It was killer after mile 60. Hip would lock up and I would cry in agony. I thought about DNF'ing several times but I kept thinking about what Coach Rich said at the team dinner . . . "This is just a game. No one is shooting at me. Focus on what you can control and not on the things you can't." What I could control is the stopping, stretching and getting back on the bike and getting as far as I could before I was forced to stop again. It truly was one mile at a time.
I made it T2 and was mentally hosed. Had a horrible swim and now a bike that was beyond the worst thing I could have imagined.
Bike time: 6:24:01
T2 – 6:40
Got into the tent and just sat there for a few minutes and looked around. Everyone was hustling and going out for the run. I wasn't sure I wanted to go on. Had no idea what my hip would do out there. But I just smiled, laughed for a minute and thought of a sign my wife made for the event . . . . "Suck it up, Buttercup." So when in Rome . . . . .
RUN
Saw my wife and son outside T2 and it made my day. I was told about Dave Ambrose' run issues and how he was probably a DNF. I was crushed. I knew he had a good swim and he was flying on the bike. We had pushed each other all year for this day and his was done. FOOK!
I started walking the first mile just to check my hip and it seemed OK. I started a run/walk strategy using the light posts on the path. Run 5 posts / walk 3 posts. This worked well. I started chatting up folks and it lifted my spirits (and hopefully theirs). I ran a little further with one lady and we had a nice chat. However, after mile 13 my knee wasn't happy and I was forced to walk more. I did finish the run (well, run/walk) and hammed it up in the finishers shoot!
Run Time - 6:12:41
Finish Time: - 14:19:04
CONCLUSION
This was BY FAR the worst triathlon I have ever had. My race execution plan went out the door one hour into the race, my issues were things I had never, ever experienced before, and my attitude for 2/3's of the event absolutely sucked! This is NOT the way I wanted to end my Ironman career, but is what it is. I still have 2009 IM Coeur d'Alene as my best race with flawless EN execution.
However . . . .
This was the best triathlon I ever had. Here are a couple of things I learned about myself (again):
1. I do have a mental 6 pack. Though I don’t give myself much credit at times, I now know that I can work through physical pain and adjust as needed.
2. That even though my race plan was hosed, I can use the EN tools and mantra’s to make it through a very, very long day.
3. It really is just a game. The last few hours I simply enjoyed the experience and made sure that I understood that Ironman is nothing. What matters in life is family, friends and my personal health. I have all three so I am doing well.
4. If you simply put one foot in front of the other you will get to the finish line! I am NOT a quitter.
So, all in all, the day sucked from a time and execution perspective. But from a personal perspective . . . it was a winner.
Comments
You are a true leader, leading by example of having a good time!
Well done John. Great attitude.
Tough looks like a lot of things, doesn't it?
great job, your perspective gives me hope given I had a less than stellar experience myself on run execution due to an injury. Your persective on your last IM is helping me deal with me first IM.
Way to gut it out. Proud of you! Never quit!
So sorry that things went so south for your IM finale; what a disappointment. Way to see it through and find your way to the finish line; I'm proud of you.
As for CdA '09 being your IM high point; I'm so glad I was there to be a part of the experience. It was a time I'll never forget.
I would be confident in saying that the majority of us are here to get faster, go fast, push the clock. And sometimes, we lose sight in the simple fact that, when all the details are stripped away, this an ENDURANCE event. The backbone to this challenge is endurance.. Yes, you've had faster days, but I doubt you've face many days as challenging as this one (in the world of sport, of course). Be proud of yourself that you got it done, no matter what was put in front of you, you got it done.
I, too, rely on that 'put one foot in front of the other'. Use that one daily, tri or no tri!
great job John.
C
Congrads on the best IM ever. Anyone one can race when things go well and when your body is playing well with the race execution plan. It is all about how you react when the wheels fall off the bus. It was great seeing you out there training this year. Proud to be on the same team as you.
X2 on IM San Luis Obispo with Al in 2027. May be we should set up an EN group....
John,
Nice job to keep things in perspective and fighing through the adversity you faced.
Gordon