Ironman Wisconsin - TriathlonFull Ironman


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Madison, Wisconsin
United States
Ironman North America
85F / 29C
Sunny
Total Time = 12h 08m 12s
Overall Rank = 530/2700
Age Group = m35-39
Age Group Rank = 78/
Pre-race routine:

I've been stoked about doing this since I registered about a year ago. However, I may have started my training too early because I was feeling burned out a few months before race day. I was losing steam both mentally and physically heading into this. It also didn't help that I fell off my bike five weeks before the race. I wasn't paying close enough attention and just rode off the edge of the road...ouch. When I peeled myself off the road, I just looked at myself and my bike and thought..so this how it's going to end? In the end I was ok. My shoulder took the brunt of it and this hurt my swim training. Luckily my newer tri bike was usable after 3 weeks of repairs. As my training progressed, I began to realize how deep I was committed to this day. My wife taking the kids to all their activities and even doing stuff like mowing the lawn. The closer I got to race day the higher the stakes were to make sure I got there and did the best I could, anything less would be disrespectful to those who helped me get there.

Swim
  • 1h 20m 2s
  • 4224 yards
  • 01m 53s / 100 yards
Comments:

As we made our way down the helix toward the water there were fans lined up and it was electric. I wasn't very nervous, I just wanted this day to begin. I had been swimming for the past year, 2-3 times a week improving my stamina and confidence in the water, but not so much my speed. I placed myself more toward the outside and about half way back. It was body to body and I was lucky that I didn't get hit harder and more often than I did. Someone grabbed my ankle and yanked, thought that was excessive but then remembered I had done that to someone once in a tri- must be a grasping reflex. I got to the first turn buoy and most were swimming upright b/c of the lack of space. I heard a guy yell "I just got it in the jewels" I thought that was funny until a few seconds later I took a direct shot to the same region. As the swim progressed it didn't seem like I was getting passed too much so I think I placed myself well at the start. I really like my sleeveless wetsuit I got a few weeks ago b/c my shoulders don't get as tired and I don't over heat. This was a good swim for me and I didn't work too hard.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. The swim for me was all about conserving energy and I think that was accomplished.
Transition 1
  • 09m 38s
Comments:

I had my tri top and shorts on under my wetsuit to save time. Did not use porta potty, took care of that near end of swim. Ran from building to bike carrying shoes. Forgot to have sunscreen applied and paid the price.
What would you do differently?:

Did not see suncreen people, look for them next time.
Bike
  • 5h 44m 33s
  • 112 miles
  • 19.50 mile/hr
Comments:

Through out my training it became apparent that I wasn't getting blown away by my peers on the bike like I was in the water. Having biked the course a few times this summer I knew I was capable of a solid time. I just had to remember that this wasn't just a bike race and it would be nice to have something left for the run where I knew there would be a lot of people seeing you if it became a walk. Within the first few miles I launched one of my two bottles of perpetuem that I was carrying behind my seat. At first I thought it was the bottle that had all my tire changing stuff in it, so spent the next hour or so freaking out and wishing I would have turned around and got it. Eventually I realized it was my perpetuem, which I don't like much anyway. Saw a lot bike marshalls out there especially on the stick out. Saw family and friends twice at the hill on midtown, that gave me a boost of energy. Biking this course prior to the race is important for the usual reasons, but also for your own safety b/c there are some sharp bends on steep descents that you may want to be aware of.

BIKE SPLIT 1: 54 mi (2:46:10), 19.50 mi/h
BIKE SPLIT 2: 40 mi (2:10:02), 18.46 mi/h
BIKE SPLIT 3: 18 mi (48:21), 22.34 mi/h
TOTAL BIKE: 112 mi (5:44:33), 19.50 mi/h
Transition 2
  • 04m 58s
Comments:

Decided to change out of tri shorts into more comfortable running shorts. A volunteer helped me make sure I was set and off I went. Made sure I got suncreen applied this time to minimize the damage.
Run
  • 4h 49m 1s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 11m 02s  min/mile
Comments:

The run course was buzzing with activity, quite a contrast to the previous seven plus hours that mostly found me lost in my own thoughts. This was to be my first marathon so not sure how it would go. I finished the first loop and the finisher line clock was at 9:30 and some of elites were bringing it in. At the aid stations I wanted to eat some of the cookies and stuff but thought that might put me over the edge. Yeah, all that money and all I feel like is oranges and grapes. I was walking a lot and the sub 12 I had calculated earlier in the run was slipping away. I knew I had to pick up the pace soon or it would be too late. I felt like I was on the verge of bonking so I decided to do the best I could but not kill myself. With about three miles left I started running with a guy who looked inspirational and we helped each other to keep going until he couldn't sustain the pace so I ran it in strong to the finish. I thought a 4:30 was doable, so came up short here. I was catching the guy ahead of me as we approached the finish line so I slowed down a bit. Right when he crossed the line I picked up the pace but realized instead of running through the finish line he had stopped just after he crossed the line and so my finisher's photo has both of us in there.


RUN SPLIT 1: 8.9 mi (1:25:07), 9:33/mi
RUN SPLIT 2: 4.3 mi (46:52), 10:53/mi
RUN SPLIT 3: 8.75 mi (1:50:34), 12:38/mi
RUN SPLIT 4: 4.25 mi (46:28), 10:56/mi
TOTAL RUN: 26.2 mi (4:49:01), 11:01/mi

What would you do differently?:

Try not to walk so much
Post race
Warm down:

I knew I was dehydrated b/c I didn't pee since sometime on the bike. I had grains of salt all over my face and was hungry but not sure food was going to sit well.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Lack of experience in this distance. This was my first full iron and as part of my training for it I did my first half iron a few months ago. Also not taking the nutrition aspect seriously. I had hoped to finish in 12-13 hrs. and just under 12 if I had a great day. With the weather being so good I thought I had a chance of breaking 12.

Event comments:

I had heard that IM Wisconsin is an awesome experience. I built this day up for a long time and it was every bit as good as I thought it would be. I feel very fortunate to participate in an event of this magnitude. Thanks to all the volunteers, fans, IM, and especially my wife who gave up a lot for me to do this. I will not do this next year for sure, but might try it again sometime there after.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2011-09-12 12:00 AM
Swimming
01:20:02 | 4224 yards | 01m 53s / 100yards
Age Group: 167/
Overall: 1279/2700
Performance: Average
Suit:
Course:
Start type: Plus:
Water temp: 70F / 21C Current: Low
200M Perf. Remainder:
Breathing: Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 09:38
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
05:44:33 | 112 miles | 19.50 mile/hr
Age Group: 72/
Overall: 441/2700
Performance: Good
Wind: Little
Course:
Road:   Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 04:58
Overall:
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
04:49:01 | 26.2 miles | 11m 02s  min/mile
Age Group: 78/
Overall: 530/2700
Performance: Average
Course:
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized?
Events on-time?
Lots of volunteers?
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5]