IMLP Race Report - The day didn't go like we hoped...
Ahhhh – Lake Placid, NY! One could easily argue that the Adirondacks provide the most beautiful (and challenging) venue in the world for an Ironman.
Not really sure where to begin… This was my 14th trip to Lake Placid to participate in the Ironman. If I understand correctly, there are 5 athletes who have done the event every year. This was also Ironman #26 overall. Note to self... find another hobby!
This is my first season w/ EN – and thus far, the program has been great. Dottie Catlin introduced me to EN last fall and I haven’t looked back. This program is SO different from any type of coaching I have used in the past. Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical at first. In the end, Work Works!
Race week is always exciting! The positive energy throughout this quaint Adirondack community is nothing short of infectious.
On Sunday morning, the swim went off without a hitch. I intentionally swam conservatively, knowing it was a small portion of a long day. Despite 2,800 + athletes, I managed to avoid the traditional smack-down of the mass swim start.
Leaving the swim-to-bike transition, I felt a bit of a “shimmy” in the rear wheel as I crossed the mount line. UGH – flat #1! Staying within the box, I remained calm and changed this as quickly as I could.
It was a challenge to avoid the mentality and mindset of trying to get back the time lost changing a flat. Instead, I focused on wattage and remained as calm as I could.
It should be noted that I was experimenting with a fairly new race fueling plan – which called for 7 bottles of fluid each loop, in addition to Power Gel, Clif Blocks and Succeed Caps. That's a lotta drinkin'!!
¾ of the way thru loop #1, I started to feel that my stomach was not passing nutrition well – and I was experiencing an ugly sloshing feeling in my gut. I tried to push water thru, in an effort to help with digestion. Note to self… pushing water thru to assist w/ digestion can and will cause vomiting. Second note to self: If you think you might puke, save a bit of fluid to rinse your mouth out after.
Loop #2 started of reasonably well – focusing on wattage… trying to juggle (translate – salvage) what was becoming a nutrition s*^tshow… and to think positively despite all that was going wrong.
At 60 miles, I looked down and realized I was developing the proverbial zebra stripes on the ole’ DeSoto Tri Shorts. Note to self… bring more Succeed Caps during hot weather races.
At 75 miles, the same “shimmy” in the rear wheel appeared, discovering that I had another flat in the rear wheel. Note to self… when you lay your bike down to change a rear flat, all contents of your aero-bottle will spill out.
At 85 miles, the same damn “shimmy” in the rear wheel found me. Note to self… review the idea of bring more than 2 spare tubes and cartridges and have patience while waiting for neutral support. Second note to self… when you lay your bike down to change a rear flat, all contents of your aero-bottle will spill out.
A generous athlete saw me struggling and called out, asking if I need assistance. I said I needed a spare tube and cartridge. He dropped a sandwich bag, containing a tube and cartridge. Note to self… focus on getting the race number of athletes who assist you so you can extend the appropriate thanks! I opened the bag and started to install the new tube – only to discover that I received an unthreaded cartridge (I have a threaded CO2 cartridge dispenser).
Neutral support arrived to assist with the final flat of the day – off I went, hoping and praying and wondering if I would make the bike cut-off. I was reaching a new level of anxiety… how much do I exceed the race pace wattage and not blow up more?!?! (insert image of Coach P holding a gun to my head!)
Anna (from the Chicago area, as I recall) and I crossed paths during the last few miles of Loop #2. I asked if she had any extra electrolytes, as the Zebra stripes were growing by the minute. She graciously shared a vial of capsules – THANK YOU ANNA!!!!
Dismounting the bike, I asked the volunteers to throw “Babe” into Mirror Lake! “Babe” is the name given to my Trek TTX, borrowed from folklore hero, Paul Bunyan’s large blue Ox sidekick.
Thrilled to have made the bike cut-off and no longer riding “Babe” – I tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, while trying to salvage the remains of what had become a very, very L-O-N-G day.
Trying to push nutrition and fluids without crossing the “throw-up” line again, I walked each aid station. Admittedly, and looking back, I am not sure the walking pace was significantly different from the run pace!
As the sun went down, I tried to find the energy to “run” more and walk less. Physically, I felt reasonably good. Psychologically, I was in a pretty dark place and despite best efforts, I could not seem to find much positive about the day. Note to self... If you throw up on the bike - the probability of throwing up on the run is high!
The last few miles of the run were a bit better, as healthy doses of chicken broth and cola started to help. I didn’t pee on the bike or the run, which goes in the “bad column” of the training & racing notebook. Note to self… drink more.
Traditionally, when I reach a dark place in a race, I slip into a very isolated zone – and tune everything and everyone out. I know the crowds are cheering… I know friends are hooting (with the help of a few pints!)… and I can’t focus on anything other than dragging my fat arse across the finish line as quickly as physically possible, knowing the sooner I cross the line – the sooner I am done!
Crossing the finish line, I walked a few steps and started to experience that same damn “shimmy” once again. The difference was – I did NOT have a flat tire, nor was I riding "Babe"! The “shimmy” became more evident – and I was escorted to the medical tent. 3 bags of IV (with anti-nausea medication injected for good measure) later – and with the help of my wonderful partner, Sue – I was able to claim “Babe” from the transition area, grab my bags and head home.
Thank you to all of the EN folks on the course and from the sidelines – it would be impossible to name everyone, so I won’t even attempt to do so. Someone said it best – you couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting someone in an EN uniform – and that was tremendously helpful! Thanks to John Stark - his behind the scenes help was great! Thanks to Kevin Walter for his help as a co-Race Captain. Thanks to Dottie for all of her EN help – in this relationship, the teacher became the student. Thanks to Patrick (and Rich, too)for his leadership, guidance and great sense of humor.
Lastly, I want to thank my wonderful partner, Sue, for her patience and support. Let’s be honest… this is a pretty damn selfish activity. One can “bank” SAU’s all season – and in the end, we still spend a great deal of time away from other things. Thanks, babe (no affiliation with a large blue Ox!) – you rock!
Looking forward to a few well-deserved days off. I am in a slump right now – it’s difficult to think that I was in really good condition – and yet, despite the work – just about any/everything that could have gone wrong, did! Here’s hoping all the crap and bad karma has been taken care of for the remainder of the season.
Note to self… find another hobby!
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Comments
After 26 IMs, there's still more to learn! Amazing dedication to IMLP; I gave up at IM CDA after the first 9.
I hope you buy new racing tires before I see you in Hawaii.
What are the zebra stripes and how does salt capsules help with that?
I'm a big fan of the do-over and apparently so are you (14x!!!) - expect your 2013 do-over is courtesy of the WTC!
I look forward to seeing you up there next year.