IMSG 2012 Race Report...What a day!
2012 Plan: IMSG (for the expierence....I got it!) and IMAZ (for the PB)
9th IM Last 3 IMLOUs in 12:xx
IMSG Swim: 1:14 (usu. 1:01) Bike: 8:04 (usu. 6:00) and Run 6:44 (Goal <5:00)=16:17 (4 hrs longer than usual)</p>
DNF Rate 29% (previous high for WTC was 16% ....I was at that race also....WTF....this one was alot harder!)
This is RR is not about the numbers, but, what my mind went through to get to finish line.....
SWIM: Smooth start, make 2nd buoy, immediately 40mph winds, with waves and spray right into our faces. It was very difficult to breathe and sighting. There was times I had to just breast stroke just to see where I was going. I'm sure I was all over the place. I was kinda starting to freak out alittle. Said alittle prayer..."Lord, keep me calm"....it worked and I made it home. Problem was I was swimming way too hard just to get otta there and swallowed lots of water. Bloated and nauseated at end. (Obviously you've heard of the people going onto the island, kayaks capsizing and hundreds of peeps pulled out)
BIKE: I was thinking..yeah...onto the bike. Problem was it was directlly into the wind and the 1st major category climb is 5 miles in. The wind was blowing us all over the road. Got some downwind to St George but then got to go the next 25-30 miles up to Veyo going uphill net 2000ft, bumpy roady and against very stiff winds. It got to the 50 mile mark at 3:51. Holy crap. I climbed the Veyo wall OK, but, was already getting mentally tired at the 5:00 mark and only half way through the bike. Many times I was going under 5mph
The turn for the 2nd Loop is about mile 65. I started to think...."maybe I should just stop".....kinda hoping for a mechanical. Unfortunately, bike held up fine. The thought of the next 25 miles up the mountain again against the wind had me very depressed. "I did not come all this way, with the expense and training to stop......just keep pedaling" So I thought...
Just get to mile 70...done (still wanted to quit)
Just get to mile 80....done (still wanted to quit)
Just get to mile 90...done (still wanted to quit)
Oh crap, the Veyo Wall....I almost broke down emotionally....I REALLY didn't think I could make it up....I was strung out emotionally. there was a Sag wagon there with people getting in.
Got to Veyo somehow......at mile 100 you can essentially coast home......
1 Little hill at mile 110m....steep and I cramped...I stopped to regroup and got home. Got there with 1 hour to spare on cutoff. (Unbelievable....the thought of missed any cutoff NEVER entered my mind)
RUN: Just said "you're not stopping here"..put head in hands for a second. I realized I hadn't peed all day....Uh oh. Grabbed a whole bottle of perform and just started walking. I tried to run a few times but got really crampy. I thought "I'm not about to NOT finish at this point and if I have to walk the entire f#$%^king marathon, I will!!! Just plugged away. Just talked with alot of peeps. Many of us were hours behind our expected time. Stories about 200-400 people not finishing the swim and many not making the bike cutoff were circulating so I started feeling better about my expierence....I WAS going to finish...many came along way and won't get the medal. I enjoyed the walk. I couldn't believe how many of us finished after 11pm.
OVERALL: I have never been in such a DARK PLACE so many times in an Iromnan and never had to dig so deep mentally just to keep going and finish. I wanted to quit soooooo many times BUT refused to give in! I told Carl Nofstger before the race that doing an Ironman will "change you".....I can tell you finishing this race "changed me also".
Congrats to Carl ( my new hero), Gene, Joe, Carrie, Teri (enjoy Kona!!), Patrick..who all said "hi" on the course. I needed you all.
BTW IMAZ....I'm going under 12:00 hours!!!!
Comments
Michael it was great to meet you. We did it! I think everyone redifined hard out there and our goals. I know my only goal that mattered was the finish. IMAZ better watch out. I'll bet you go sub 12.
Who cares about your finishing time....you are an ironman...
Are people getting M-dot IMSG 2012 tattoos....
Way to keep moving forward on a very tough day!
"Head in hands"....yes. But to pick your head back up, point yourself in the direction that leads to MORE work and MORE pain and MORE dark places....you've earned my respect.
There's something about those people who, against all odds, are scratching and clawing and fighting their way across that finish line close to the midnight cut-off that gets me way more than the dudes who cruise across it in broad daylight.
That being said - Mike, I hope you're one of ^those^ dudes at IMAZ.
CONGRATS on an epic epic race. You're part of history now....
:-)