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Wednesday, May 2, 2018

IMTX 2018 8th edition


What a wonderful day to be an Ironman. Some of you that follow me may have already heard some of this but  See post ->
This is my 10th Ironman and 8th time doing IMTexas. I’ve race with starting temps of 35 in Florida with tidal waves. Had 54 degree air temps with sleet in Coeure DeAlene, Texas with a heat index over 100, Tsunami rain and wind, hail, extremely dangerous lightening, and flash flooding. 
I knew that if I did enough Ironman races I would eventually have one that had decent race conditions. Except for the run temps., I don’t think you can ask for a better day to be an Ironman.
Lets start at the beginning. The off season went great. Made some tweaks to my plan and everything was going to great, and my motivation was high. December-January brought great running weather, which was a bummer for me because I sustained an injury from a skiing accident. That really hampered my run progress. Swim and bike were on track to be some new PR’s for me. My swim was feeling very strong and my bike power was ever increasing. 
Bike training also had its challenges but I was able to turn those into positives. Once we got some decent weather for south Texas I really took advantage of it. It was time to put all my indoor trainer rides to the test and see if what I designed would play out in real life. 
I was able to do more 100 milers than I ever have so far out from IMTX. I was feeling pretty confident except for my run. I wasn’t able to run pain free for more more than 12 miles and I had 4 weeks to get my volume up. 2 weeks out I was finally able to complete a 3hr run. It wasn’t pretty and I don’t recommend it, but I got it done. It was more of a mental thing than fitness.

Taper finally arrived and I was thrilled. I was so tired, which I knew meant that I was ready. I was getting my energy back and started doing more chores around the house. Although, my wife would probably disagree with that statement. I do owe her alot of thanks. She even offered to mow the yard several times. After being gone so much for training I knew she was as invested in this race as much as I was and was very supportive. 
With having so much more energy I probably chewed off more than could handle. I don’t know what happened but about 8 days out I sprained my back pretty bad and was on meds. I could hardly move! I was just hoping to be well enough to start the race and see what happens. I basically rested for 8 days with no activity. I slept in on Race Eve. Got in the hotel hot tub to loosen up. Then got in the pool for a few laps to test the pain level. I was able to put in some efforts but hip rotation was very painful. This will have to do. I grabbed my race bags and bike and rode to the bike and gear drop off. Even that was a little stressful because it was painful to get in the drops. Bags dropped off. Picked up something for dinner. Got my feet up and just rested my back. 

Race morning-
I couldn’t sleep worrying about the stress of being able race and trying to go over alternatives to my race plan and then deciding what to wear with this unusually cool Texas weather.  I got up at 3:30am had breakfast and got ready. I had plenty of time to do everything I needed to before the race. I even had time to talk and take pics with some pro’s while waiting in line for Transition to open. I made some last minute changes to my clothing as it was going to be a wetsuit legal race and the temps didn’t feel as cold as I was anticipating. In doing so I dropped my compression calve sleeve and with it being black it was impossible to find in the dark. I thought maybe it will all shake itself out when I open up my bike bag in T1. Finished up my business there and headed over to the swim start.  I was super early and there was plenty of parking. I put my wetsuit half up and walked to the start. I wanted to get in the porta potty line before it got too long. Too late. I have never seen so many people waiting for the potty EVER!, and I was early. It took 4 EVER! I did my business and ran over to the clothes drop off. A volunteer offered to help me finish putting on my wetsuit and sunscreen. I took off my watch for her to hold while I put on my wetsuit. I guess she thought I didn’t need my Garmin and dropped it in the backpack we received at packet pickup. I thought I was going to have plenty of time to get warmed up and get lined up in the swim where I wanted to this year. The gun went off. Crap! We frantically looked in the bag for what felt like an eternity but was probably only a  few seconds. My Garmin must have fallen into the backpack abyss. I finally said screw it and took off for the swim. I got in the water and was very timid at first trying to see how my back was going to feel since I didn’t take any meds. I started to feel ok so I picked up my pace and was constantly swerving every which way to get out of traffic. In doing so some lady  scratched my face with her Ironman bracelet. The water seemed darker than usual and I could not see anything, including the foot that I took to the nose and right goggle. This was a big guy and the kick carried a lot of weight to it. I just knew my eye ball was going to fall out when I took off my goggles. Only took on a little water from the kick so I kept going. About 50 yards later it was just too painful so I had to stop and take off my goggles for a few seconds to relive some of the pain and pressure. Then I got clobbered from the folks I had just passed. I swallowed a little water but not anything like the Duck Poop Smoothie I drank last year. Onward. After the first turn it cleared up and I had some room to swim my own pace and not worry about my back. I just stayed relaxed and tried not to do anything spectacular. Made it to the canal and was finally able to put in some good effort and hold my position. The thing about wetsuit swims is that is makes everyone much more aggressive.There was way more contact than years past in my opinion. With all the focus on my surroundings and my back I forgot to get my legs ready to stand up. I made the final turn buoy to the stairs and forgot how to walk. I felt like a new born doe learning to walk. https://youtu.be/f-orxRWXA20

Swim time: an unimpressive 1:22:10 but I got out unscathed.

T1- I took more time in T1 than usual. I got out and I was doing a once over to see how everything felt. I very gingerly bent over to put my socks and shoes on. I almost always clip my shoe into my bike but this yr. I was told by several officials that absolutely no one but the pro’s were allowed to clip in. I put on my one compression calf sleeve hoping the other would fall out of the bag. Nope. It must have fallen out of my bag in the morning when I was shuffling things around. Oh well, at least I had put a back up pair of socks in my bag. Got dressed and headed out for my bike. I am always pretty diligent about making mental notes as to where my things are. I knew exactly where my bike was supposed to be. I got to my rack. 3rd rack over in the middle and I could not see my bike. It was kind of hard to distinguish between the 10 other black and red bikes with disc wheels on. I finally spotted it and took off. 
T1 time 6:51 not too bad for taking my time.

Bike- I eased into the aerobars as my back was feeling a little tight and had slight discomfort. After my back warmed up I was pretty comfortable in aero. I took the first 20 miles easy just trying to focus on my nutrition and keep my power under control. Got to the toll way and I was ready to finally start racing. I start to pull up my power numbers and I think I am flying pretty good at about 22-23mph. Then I get passed on the left. I ease up to let him pass then another guys is right on his wheel so I ease up some more. Then I get passed on the right. I’m thinking WTH. So I sit up and look back and there is an entire pack on my wheel. By this time I am right in the middle of this peloton with really no safe way out. So I gradually make my way to the back. After being behind these guys for just a minute and seeing them swerve around and jut left and right unexpectedly, it was clear these guys had no business riding in a pack like that. Not to mention several were in aero position. I didn’t want any part in what I knew was inevitable. I make my way out the back and there are few stragglers trying to keep up with the group. By then we were approaching the turn around at the bottom of a hill. I sat up and just coasted. All the while I am thinking why are they hammering to be the first to the turn around they are just going to slam on the breaks and get bunched up. Sure enough as predicted the got tangled up and I saw 1 guy take out 2 others, as I passed the group going wide and outside. Of course they got right back on my wheel and  reorganized. I just did my thing and tried to stay safe. No sense in averaging 26mph if you wreck and can’t finish. I never did see another race official after that first out and back. I did see an official come up on a group but there were no penalties given out. The official must have just given verbal warnings. Super frustrating. By the time I made the second out and back it was very clear that this had become a team event. I couldn’t believe how big the groups were getting and no one seemed to care. Except for some leap frogging with a few guys I mostly rode solo the entire ride. I was feeling really good and was putting in some surges when I could. Then about mile 90 my back and hamstring were really talking back to me. I backed off my power and said lets just make it to mile 100 then we can start to shut things down and get ready for the run. Remember, my run is almost an unknown with the lack of training volume. I wanted to give myself my best chance to put in a decent run. Losing a few minutes on the bike was worth not loosing hours on the run. I make the final turn to transition and I dismount, forget to stop my bike computer so I go back and stop it. Then I go back again to take it off the mount. I put it in my helmet so I wouldn’t lose it also. 
Bike time 5:21:42 WOW! I am shocked. I thought and hoped that I was capable of 5:30’s but did not expect this. My computer said 110 miles. Two miles short of the 112 but If you factor that time in I still come off at about 5:28ish. I felt like I had a solid bike split but I have to admit that alot of that free speed came in the form of expertise bike mechanics. 2 days before leaving town I took my bike in for a tune up, (since I could finally carry it around). My race wheel was a little wonky so I asked them to true it. A few hours later I get a call that a spoke broke. Apparently, my wheel uses a special spoke thats not commonly used and patented for this wheel. It took some calling around but they were able to get me fixed up. Crisis averted. I have to hand it to Matt and all the guys and gals at Bicycle Heaven. They really took care of me. Matt was not going to let my bike leave the shop until he was 100% sure my bike was a clean and fast as it could be. When I picked it up I almost didn’t recognize it. It even smelled good. My bike hasn’t been this smooth since the day I bought it. I owe you guys big time. At least 20 minutes. 

T2- Had a decent transition. My back was a little stiff so didn’t try to run too hard into the tent. Grab my stuff, put on my shoes, Still no compression sock. Dang it. I guess I am going to have one crazy tan leg tomorrow. I am so happy to be off the bike I can’t wait to run. I shove everything in my bag, hand it to a volunteer and take off. As soon as I exit I thought, Dang it. I should have brought my bike computer so I could at least have a timer. Another lesson learned. 
TIME 4:29

RUN- Since I was running completely on feel with no Garmin feedback I wanted to be sure to start very easy. In the past I have been so pumped to run that I usually take off a little too fast. I wanted to race smart so I stopped to get lathered up with sunscreen, said hi to Michele and Leia, I took 20 steps then started to run slowly. Again, I did a once over to see how everything was feeling and trying to keep the focus off my back. It honestly felt better to be erect than slumped over for 5 hrs. <-(insert that’s what she said joke here). I start running and breaking down the miles, nutrition, pace, etc. when I ran up on the Moxie Crew. I fist bump a guy and a girl and keep running, Then a guy runs up from behind be and starts aggressively cheering me on like he knows me or something. I keep running and final realized it was my San Antonio Tri-friend Carlos and his wife Brittney. That was a good mental boost. Thanks for being there to help support the athletes. 
I get out past the HUMP. You all know what I am talking about. Its literally the hardest 10 yards on the run course. It’s starting to really warm up and there is one lonely cloud in the sky. I pick up some ice cold sponges and fill my top with as many sponge boobs as I can fit in there. Ok, now its time to start settling into a consistent pace. My entire goal was to be patient and hold back for the first loop. I complete the first loop and see Michele and Leia at their usual cheering spot. I feel good so now its time to pick up the pace. Careful not to go too hard I speed up to a guy just ahead of me and ask what pace he is running. I decide to run with him for a few minutes then decide it is slower than what I want so I pull away. I hit special needs and pick up my bottles of RedBull. While I am doing that there is a guy coming up that looks like he is running a good pace. 
I run up to him and ask the same question. He says we are just under 9. Cool I will run with you if you don’t mind. He welcomes it. We come up to the aid station on the backside of the lake and as I slow down to pick up some ice my left calf starts to lock up on me. WTH is this! Ouch!. I have never had a cramp like this in a race in my life. What is going on? I stop to try and stretch. I end up right at the med tent so they ask if I need to lay down and have them stretch. I  said no because I’m afraid I won’t get up. I stretch and stretch. I finally start walking and the muscle is still very stiff. I slowly start to jog and it only takes a few steps before it locks up again. I stretch and maybe let out a few choice words and decide to just walk. It’s getting FN hot by now. I decide to limp run until I can’t any more. This felt weird but worked. After a while I lock up again and need to stop and walk. This goes on for the rest of loop 2 but I continue to run my best pace given the circumstances. It’s about the time I saw Michele again that I realized that I probably don’t have enough sodium since I have just been drinking redbull this entire time. I increase my sodium intake and this seems to help. The tightness in my calf never really goes away but relaxed enough that I can run a decent pace. I am very aware of running too hard as my calf is just one hard push away from locking up again. Besides the calf the rest of my body feels amazing (Might be all the redbull in my system). I get to mile 20 and enter the HURT BOX! BIG TIME! I am really in excruciating pain. My right knee doesn’t want to bend too much so I am sure my run looked really funky. But I am still running. Keep going, Keep going. I get mile 23 and I literally ask myself out loud. Why do you do this to yourself every year? Then I can hear Michele say “but did you die? Suck it up buttercup!” So I keep running. I tell myself that I am literally less than a 5K away from the finish. JUST GO! I decide to run as fast as I can until my body fails me or I cross the finish line. The finish line came first. Final TIme 11:30:1.

Despite all the things that went wrong this was my fastest race, (well if you don’t count the 2016 shortened course)

. It is also the race I am most proud of. Sure things didn’t go the way I pictured in my head, but they never do. I did what I could do when I could do it and I didn’t let anything get in my way. I knew what my body was capable of. So in my mind this was just another long training day. I dealt with my obstacles and found a way to make it happen. 
I have to thank my awesome Cheering squad. Michele and Leia you are my motivation to always keep going no matter what. Your undying support means everything to me.
I dedicate this race to my Aunt Sally who recently lost her battle with cancer. Every time I was hurting I thought about you and what all you went through. Facing every day with optimism, humor, and always with a smile. It was then that I always felt lighter on my feet. I know you were smiling down and watching over me.  To my awesome sponsors I couldn't do this sport that I love without your support. #AlamoSpringsDental, #AvertineHillInc. #BicycleHeaven, #CarabinShaw, @ceramicspeed #partofthevictory, @infinitnutrition #Iaminfinit, # Cryofit, #Findfaster @Roka, @RolfPrimaWheels, #RudyProject