Ironman x3--Boy did that HURT!

Ironman Maryland was September 20, 2014.  I knew going into this race I was going to hurt and HURT BAD!

I had not done a swim session for training since June and had not been in water since the Wildwood triathlon in August.  I had not ridden my bike more than three hours at any point this year.  I had not performed a run lasting more that an hour since June.  Not the way you want to go into an Ironman would be an understatement!

If an athlete I coached told me this information before any race, I would have told them to pull-out....they were not prepared...they could get hurt...there is always another race.  Did I listen to any of this for myself...NO!!!!  I figured I could SUCK IT UP, listen to my body, and get through the day.  I registered for IM Maryland only after deciding to defer from Challenge Atlantic City because I KNEW I would not finish if I entered that race.

I had done Eagleman 70.3 last year, so I knew the course pretty well and the area of Cambridge, MD.  I also knew I could camp at the local High School for only $50, way cheaper than a hotel for 5 days.  I went down on Friday morning (a 2.5-3-hour drive), I set my tent in the gym so I would not have to deal with mother nature, and went to check-in.  Ironman did it right again according to my experience.  I had no trouble at athlete check-in, or the IM Village for that matter.  Bike racking was next, and it was only .5 miles from the finish area.  I went and had lunch with my free meal voucher, then off to the gym for a nap.  After waking I finished setting all my gear I would need for race day, and after I returned at the end of the day.  There is nothing worse than trying to do all that after a race...especially an Ironman.  I found the same pizza place for dinner that I ate in at Eagleman, and then off to bed.

packing is just as hard as the race

nice note from Cathy

Enough about that...the race:  14:36:51...super slow
Swim:  1:44:30
T1:  5:01
Bike:  6:30:33
T2:  9:09
Run:  6:07:38

Ok now on to the race.  The swim is in the Choptank River and has the standard rolling start, you walked down a boat ramp to start.  I had to borrow a wetsuit since mine broke at the Wildwood Tri.  Again, just before I went in the water, I went to zip up and SNAP, the zipper would not stay closed.  So I swam the 1.2 miles with a little parachute on my back since the back of the wetsuit was not closed.  I suffered through the swim.  Between the current, the broken suit, lack of training, and knowing I was going to suffer, I did not have much real effort, or so it seemed, during the swim.  Plenty of water safety and the course was marked well.  Came out of the water and found my bike quickly.

  

I had a pretty good T1.  I got in the change tent and dressed for the bike quickly.  As I headed out I made sure I got extra sun screen because I knew I would be out there a while.  The bike course rolls through the town of Cambridge along the western edge then out to the Blackwater National Refuge.  The high school I stayed at is the special needs location, so knew exactly when I was.  The only problem with the bike course, is there is literally no spectators out on the course in Blackwater.  There is only one road around the area, and we were on an open road to traffic.  The only cheering was from the special needs area and the aid stations.  Don't get me wrong they were loud when we came by.  The best part of the course is its flat, but that means your are peddling the entire time, not coasting downhill, or climbing out of your seat.  It is 112 miles of steady state cranking on your peddles.  Look at my belly hanging on my legs.

Made it to T2 pretty sore.  Those last 15 miles were tough.  I felt like I had nothing in my legs.  But that is what happens when you don't put in the training.  I did follow a good nutrition plan, it was just I had no drive in my legs and my rear was sore.  In T2, I took my time and got plenty of fluid in, and a volunteer gave me a little bag of peanut M&M's, perfect.  Once I got more sunscreen on me, especially my neck and shoulders, I left T2.  Almost immediately I knew I was in for a really long day on the run.  I could not run at all.  Not for lack of effort or nutrition, simply my legs would not turn over...lack of training and preparation for sure.  The run was a three loop course, so plenty of chance for spectators.  It was a really well supported run course.  The aide stations were awesome and the volunteers at those stations could not have been any more supportive.  I straight out walked the first 1.5 miles.  Then I started slowly.  Run for 1 minute walk for 1 minute.  Then my plan became run as long as I could then walk until I could run again.  Some times I lasted 3 minutes running, sometimes 30 seconds....So I basically walked/jogged a marathon.  Each time I tried to run, my feet felt like I was walking on glass.  Not enough callouses built up I figured.  The final half mile was awesome. Coming out of the downtown area to the finish was great.  Mike Reilly wasn't there to call you in, but there was a ton on energy in the area.  I did my best to look normal but it was tough.

Three's for my third finish.

Look at the rounded belly sticking out on the side.

The walk to get my bike and gear after was tough.  I talked to Cathy, gathered myself, put on dry/warm clothes, and made the slow painful .5 mile walk to pick up my bike and gear.  I think that took 30 minutes.  I noticed lots of other "suffering" should shuffling along.  In Lake Placid, I always had someone to help carry my gear and I would push the bike.  This time I was solo. Once I got my bike I had another .5 mile to my car with two gear bags, a transition bag, and my bike. I made it back to the high school, took a shower, and made it down to my ultra comfy air mattress.  I never really sleep well after a long distance race, so I did my best to calm down, rehydrate, and put my lags up.  I have a hard time eating a lot after, so I had a few little snacks and passed out.

I woke up round 5am and started the process of breaking down the tent and packing all my gear into the car, multiple back and forth shuffling.  It is funny, I was trying to be quite but there were many other finishers milling around, near the bathrooms, and the front door.  I finally hit the road around 6am for the 3 hour trip home.  I did stop at Wawa for gas and food...I was starving now.  Another one down!

Tri another Tri the Wildwoods

This is one of my favorite races every year and it all starts with the Race Director Stephen Del Monte of Delmo Sports.  I have been fortunate enough to do around 10 races a year the last few years, and his are always the best.  You get good SWAG, great communication leading into the race(video updates, not just email), great courses, and unbelievable race support....everything a participant could ever want.

Tri the Wildwood is also on my "home" summer course.  I have been going to Wildwood in the summer since I was born, so its like a second hometown.  Plus my mom and dad now live just outside Wildwood, so its FREE to stay for the weekend---BONUS!!  This was by far my SLOWEST race at Wildwood, but no less fantastic due to the course, athletes, and location.

The race:  1:13.58
Swim: 13:38
T1:  3:24
Bike:  30:28
T2:  1:35
Run:  24:52

91st of 869...terrible place for me, but I finished safe and with a smile on my face.

I always arrive early at Wildwood as I want to park on the beach block.  Also, the racking for your bike is first come first serve, and with many first timers competing, I want to make sure I get an accessible location.  Set up was easy, ran into some tri friends, and headed to the swim start.

I know it has been a tough long year for me, and I was heavier this season then any other season, but as I stood at the start, I was soaking in the sights and feeling very lucky to just be there.  The swim start is a rolling start, no waves, just go when ready.  While I was waiting to go, I went to pull up my wet suit and SNAP, there went the zipper.  Proved how heavy I was this season, the zipper just couldn't hold any longer.  It was too late to take it off, so I went in with a flapping back to a wet suit, basically like swimming with a parachute on.  I love the ocean swim, you bob up and down with the waves, but the "parachute" was slowing me down.  There are plenty of lifeguards in the water with Jet Ski's, paddle boards, surf boards, and boats.  I always feel safe at the Delmo event swims.  Made it out of the swim safely...no JAWS sighting, so a double bonus.

The bike course was different this year, you would head straight out of North Wildwood, perfect to get in aero and go for speed.  The problem for me was lugging around extra weight..DOH.  The new bike course was awesome...5 miles out and 5 miles back...only 2 bridges in each direction, so 4 hills that are short and steep.  The bike is a little congested but not real bad as long as you are paying attention.  

The run is a great beach run, down by the ocean, so its packed sand and not overly difficult.  The toughest part is the little soft sand getting to the hard sand, but it is not that soft or long.  Once you make the turn to the boardwalk, it gets even better.  The run North along the boardwalk, through Morey's Piers with all the rides, is fantastic.  It is also great for me because my kids go on all those rides.  The boardwalk has lots of people out for walks or riding bikes, so you get lots of looks...like they had no idea there is a race going on.  I always have a blast at Wildwood.  After the race you get access to the food tent, with a full breakfast buffet, with plenty of Bacon!  Instant race results as well.  Can't beat it.