login
 Swim
Comments: In my previous Kona race report, I discussed how difficult this swim is not because it's lack of wet suits or the conditions but because if you swim anywhere from 55min to 1:10 it's a crowd the whole way around. The first couple hundred yards is a mass of foaming water, flaying arms, and kicking feet all conspiring to end your life. You don't so much swim as engage in a form of aquatic hand to hand combat while trying to make forward progress. Any time there would be an opening in front of you, five people would all try and occupy it at the same time. As the laws of physics are not suspended for the event, that can't happen and the result isn't pretty. Somehow I found myself buried along the buoy line, another place where all bodies want to occupy at the same time. I was stuck, there was no way to get over to the left of the line so instead I swam up the middle to the left of the markers. The kayakers kept trying to get us back over to the left, but there was no where to go so me and a group of people took the inside line. It actually worked out ok and there were even consecutive minutes when I could actually do something resembling swimming. Once around the boat at the turn, the crowd had thinned some but it was still very crowded. I did manage to find some feet to follow and had to defend that position a few times from others who also coveted my little draft group. Back off, he's mine...at least I think it was a he but there are some blazing fast women who were dropping me like a bad habit. One even pushed me off line as she blasted past! I really felt good on the swim despite the contact. I knew it was coming and never let it bother me. With about 500 meters left you would think we were in the 50 sprint! Everyone starts to hammer and you either go with or get dropped which really means get run over. At some point here, an arm clobbered my left wrist and actually stopped my watch. I hit the stair and glanced at it and saw 1:00:xx! Sweet! I had a great swim! Oh, wait, my watch is stopped. I glanced over and saw the race clock which by now has ticked over to 1:06. Some 450,000 yards of swimming this year was about :30 faster. Good grief, I need to work on that.  Transition 1
Comments: But as I always like to say...or at least think...my swim sucks but man can I bike! I had hoped to pick up a few minutes in the water but also allowed for a result similar to 2007 in my pre race plan. I made pretty quick work of T1, hitting the mount line with my shoes already clipped in. In an effort to avoid my lack of basic directional knowledge I suffered last time where I had my shoes clipped in on the wrong sides, Matt had tagged them for me with little R and L tabs so I knew where they went. Thanks, Matt. I got away clean and began the journey.  Bike
Comments: The first 10 miles or so are all in town with an out and back up the Kuakini Highway. Everyone is all jammed together so there really is no meaningful drafting enforcement on this early part of the course. Still, I tried to keep legal although I had to do a few 3 wide overtakes climbing up but all in all it was pretty orderly. Once you climb back up Palani and turn left on the Queen K it's time to get to work and get legal. Well, apparently a lot of people didn't get that memo. I can recall the drafting being bad for the first 40K or so last time but this was ridiculous. People were pace lining when overtaking, riding 3-4 abreast across the road, sitting on wheels for way to long, it was un fricken' believable! I was making massive effort to stay clear which often meant having to spike my HR to get away from a group or sitting up as a group passed and I tried to drop back which is tough when the guy's wheel passes mine, I drop back, and 5 other wheels go by as well! I was getting very frustrated with this one Korean kid who apparently has never read a translation of the rule book. He was the worst initial offender in the group around me and within moments, the Marshall rode and hit him with a red card. It was awesome as he then proceeded to nail all these other dudes in front of me who had been pace lining and sling shooting everyone else. The Law hung around my general vicinity for a while and at one point with a line of about 4 slower riders ahead of me, I looked over at him and gestured if it would be ok to take them all at once. He nodded affirmative and I hustled to the front. Conditions at this point were very good, it was getting warm but not too windy. Boy, would that change. I began to get on top of my nutrition and hydration which consisted of 2 Cliff Bars cut in half in my FuelBelt box and a gel flask with 5 GU Roctane's. I also began the bike with a water bottle and a frozen bottle of IM Perform so I could avoid having to slow down and contend with the first few aid stations. Two things happened within the first 40k that were different for me. One was I really felt like I had to pee, something I have never done during and Ironman race and I was feeling a little flat. My HR was where it should be, right around 142, so a pushed on and actually came good again before the turn to Kawaihae. I think the early overtaking surges and taken a bit of a toll. I refocused my effort and began to contemplate the climb to Hawi and what the conditions would be like. Well, they were complete crap. The wind was absolutely ripping down the mountain. Everyone got bunched up again and the drafting started anew. This time it was long lines of German's working together in my little corner of the course who were the worst offenders. Again, though, the marshals seemed to be everywhere were handing out penalties with great vigor. Once the climb began in true, all I could do was ride the bullhorns, spin, and hold on for dear life. I could see the men pro's descending even some of them were off the aero bars and riding sideways. After the pro women went by, I caught a glance of my buddy Kevin coming down and looking great. The turn came up and I was looking forward to the descent but dreading the wind. In regards to time, I was never entirely sure how I was doing as my watch was off my a few min., but I seemed to be about on pace for what I hoped would be around a 4;55 split. The descent was sketchy beyond description. I was riding 808's but it didn't matter, the wind was so stiff and gusty even people on narrow rims were all over the road. I found I could ride with my left hand on the bull horn and my right on the aero bars and maintain something resembling control. The biggest issue I had with the wind was it put a dead stop in my eating and drinking for a period of time until I felt it was safe enough to grab a bottle or a slug of gel. I was grateful when we got down towards Waimea and off the slopes of that damn mountain. It's amazing how fatiguing stress can be. Once back on the Queen K, the wind was cross coming up off the ocean, but really not too bad. This is always the tough part as it's a long, lonely grind back into town and you really start to feel the start of fatigue setting in. As opposed to 2007, there were more riders in my immediate vicinity which kind of helped as I could sort of gauge my effort against them and try and keep moving the pack, albeit slowly. At one point here I witnessed the most blatant drafter of the day. He was a big guy, clearly beginning to suffer, who was sitting on this other guys wheel and over to the left to stay put of the wind. He kept looking over his shoulder for the Law. I rode up to them and yelled," Pass or drop!". He dropped and as I went by his victim I said," Dude, he is sitting on you." Never did see them again. The one thing I did see somewhere around mile 90 was my HR was falling off bit. Now 138 felt like 142. Also, doing some quick math in my head I realized I wouldn't break 5 hours. That was disappointing...a lot. I haven't had a chance to look at other peoples bike splits on the day and see if the course ran 5-10 min. slower than 2007 due to conditions, but I got off the bike about 1 min. off my 2007 time. Transition 2
Comments: I ran through T2 and again had a good, efficient transition.  Run
Comments: I headed out on to the run course with a lot of conflicting and not so positive thoughts in my head. My legs felt very flat and tired and my lower back was sore again. It hurt if I twisted at the waist or took a deep breath. I tried to use the first mile to see what kind of pace I could manage. I had been hopping to hold 7:30's but I never got close. What turned put to be more of an 8:50 felt manageable and knowing how tough and hot the initial 10 miles of put and back were along Alii, I focused on what I could do as opposed to what I couldn't. The spectator support was incredible as always with people yelling out your name in encouragement. At one point I caught and ran along with a woman pro who was having GI problems but was refusing to DNF. We chatted for a bit before I moved on. Her comment stuck in my head. Bryan, you may be running slow, you are being passed like nobody's business by everyone around you, but you are running and you will accomplish two things today: You will finish this race while it is still light out and you will run every step no matter how slow. AG podiums, PR's, even my sub 10 streak of 3 IM's would come to an end, but I will respect the race, my fellow competitors, the sacrifices and compromises Jamie and I had made to get here, and I will be grateful and humble. Having made my peace, I felt more at ease and stayed with my nutrition and hydration, hitting up every aid station for water or Perform and sucking in my second gel flask. The turnaround was right by our house and Mike and Charne were out there cheering. I mentioned dinner might be somewhat delayed. Back in town, I actually felt ok and headed up to the Queen K. About a mile and half up the road I saw Jamie, Matt, and Joan waiting to see me. They knew I was going slowly but that didn't stop them from cheering and yelling just loud. Apparently it also didn't stop Jamie from proposing marriage to Faris as he ran by going the other way! I soldiered on and as usual, the Energy Lab seemed to never come. When it finally did, I knew I was hitting the worst part of this run. It's not so much that the Energy Lab is a difficult 3 miles, it just comes at the worst time. I know I was very slow getting through this section and was worried that anyone seeing my splits would think I was walking. I had a nice little boost of spirit when I crossed the Inspiration Station and saw a note light up on the board saying that my dog, Chip, loves his daddy. I didn't even realize he knew how to turn on the computer let alone type! ;). The last 10k just plain hurt. My back wasn't really bugging me anymore as my legs hurt way more, so that was good! When I got to within 5K, I did some more math and realized I would he just under 10:30. As other runners came by, I pilfered words of encouragement and when they reciprocated I told them I was trying to see how slow I could run 5k and that so far, I was doing great at that! Down Palani one last time and over to Alii. Once on Alii...well it really is magical. I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it sitting here typing this on the plane ride home! Everyone is cheering and as you pass, they single you out and offer a personal congratulations. They don't care how fast or slow you are, they just love on every single athlete put there and it's the most wonderful feeling in the world. I let a few people pass by me as I wanted to get a little bit of empty space while I ran down the chute slapping hands and smiling ear to ear. It was still day out and I was exactly 45 min. behind my 2007 time, but I made it. And after I crossed, the most special moment of this race occurred. I began walking down the ramp and looked up.....to see my beautiful wife standing in front of me with a lei to put around my neck. As part of the Janus VIP program, she was invited to hand them out to finishers between 4 and 6pm and was there to give me mine. It couldn't have been a better ending to the day and is now my most cherished Ironman memory. She put her arms around me and I felt so proud to be there with her. Post race
Event comments: So, what happened? So many thoughts are going through my head as I commit this to writing 32,000 feet above the Pacific. To begin with, let me address my original time and placement goals as this is the first time I have totally missed the mark. My estimate of a 9:20 to 9:30 finish was based off my IMAZ time vs. Kona in 2007. I was 3 min. faster that year in Hawaii so I felt if I could replicate that, I had a legitimate chance to go sub 9:30. Also, last year 9:22 won the AG. This year, 9:20 was 5th! I am amazed they went that much faster, although the run course conditions were excellent with not a lot of wind and some cloud cover. I wasn't ready to go that fast this year even on a perfect day. 9:08 won it...good grief. My training this year has been massive to say the least. My race results coming into Hawaii have been the best they have ever been. Everything was looking very good up until I developed the issue's in my right hip/leg. The final 5 weeks of my run training was compromised despite our best efforts to work around the problem, treat the problem aggressively, and still get in the volume I would need. Nick did an excellent job adjusting my training and I am very grateful as always for the care and attention he provides as a coach. But I think we both knew that the situation was less than ideal. Being hurt was a new experience for me and it was difficult to deal with, both physically and mentally. I admit, it rattled my confidence a bit, made me question if I would be capable of performing up to the level of my fitness. Nick kept me focused and positive, as did Jamie and all of my friends both at home and online and I am so appreciative. My taper started a week earlier than usual, both as an accommodation to my injury and because my volume had been so high. I felt really good up until the final 7 days when I didn't seem to have that pent up anxious energy I usually feel pre-race. I did for a bit then it seemed to leave me and then suddenly I am on the plane heading to Kona in pain with a brand new problem. It was very stressful and it shook my confidence. So, where do we go from here? First thing will be identifying, treating, and coming up with a preventative strategy to FIX me. I will be back at Dr. Sherman's office this week to come up with a plan. Once we get this squared away, I would like to get back to running and look to possibly run PF Changs half or full depending and the Ragnar relay in Feb. for sure as part of a Durapulse Ultra team. Training for that I hope will give my run fitness the same boost as it did this past winter and spring. My running form really peaked it seems mid season, my last two half IM runs were not so good but my bike was great and even my swims were stronger then. Again, I think the mental aspect of the injury had far reaching effects beyond my run. Also it's time for either Masters or more swim coaching. Next year I am looking forward to doing more racing, maybe the new Red Rock Half IM in April as a season opener, Las Palomas and Deuceman to defend my titles.......... Last updated: 2009-11-25 12:00 AM
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK
United States
World Triathlon Corporation
82F / 28C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 716/1800
Age Group = M40-44
Age Group Rank = 131/265
On Tuesday morning, I woke up early to go for a 45 min. run. I felt good over the first mile, not any noticeable pain in my hip, but a bit of tightness in my lower back on the left side. As I continued on, the tightness become a dull ache. I finished the run and went inside to see if I could stretch it out. The pain was really becoming more acute and I made the mistake of going online to try and self diagnose. For some reason, the first thing that jumped out at me was I seemed to be symptomatic for a kidney stone! Holy hell! I had images of Peter Reid being carried off the Ironman run course after collapsing from what turned out to be kidney stones! I'm screwed!
But seriously, I was very worried and for a brief moment considered going to the hospital instead of the airport. Jamie calmed me down and we decided to press on to Sky Harbor. On the way, I called a doctor friend and described what I was feeling. He said it sounded more a muscular issue and if I had kidney stones I wouldn't be driving to the airport and chatting with him the pain would be so severe. So we made our flight, a direct flight to Kona, and I tried my best to relax. My back continued to hurt when I would turn my torso and I was drinking a ton of water just in case it was a kidney thing. When we arrived in Kona, as we were waiting to deplane, I had some serious thoughts about my ability to even start the race.
Rather than focus on the negative, I stayed positive and looked forward to seeing our house. It was right at mile marker 4.5, a few hundred yards from where the run turnaround would be and was next door to the GU house! Brooke from GU has always been so great to work with as a sponsor and I had a chance to meet her, which was great. The house was awesome. Right on the water with the waves crashing on the lava rocks and a staircase lead leading down to sea. It also turns out we had some beautiful reef right there for us to snorkel on. I even saw a turtle.
We arrived early enough for me to head into town and collect my bike from TriBike Transport. Everything was in good order and I rode down Alii for one block to give my friend Mike my wheel bag so he could drive back to the house while I rode. As I went, I passed Mark Allen walking the other way and said hello. Too cool, my first sighting! I found Mike and he left me and I went all of twenty feet up Alii....when my left pedal unscrewed from my crank arm and remained attached to the bottom of my cycling shoe! WTF?! The guy at TriBike hadn't tightened them down. So now I had to one leg pedal back to their location as I didn't bring my pedal wrench. The guy started to put it back on when he noticed that when the pedal came off, it stripped the threading and would now need to be re-tapped! WTF does that mean?!
So this genius who screwed up my bike and I start hitting every expo mechanic looking for anyone who had the right tool. I'm walking around in my compression socks, no shoes as all I had were my cycling shoes, trying to see if this knuckle head can get my bike fixed. Half hour later, we are back at their tent and my bike is in the back of a pick up truck heading to Cycle Works to get fixed. The owner of TriBike, Mark, and I drove over there together. He was actually very cool and we had a good laugh. I had to leave the bike overnight and Mark picked up the tab. He then drove me back to our house as the sun began to set on our first day. I turned to Mark and commented how nice it was to be sharing this special moment...with him and not my wife. Oh, and my back still hurt.
So I woke up early to the sound of crashing surf and enjoy my first of many pre-dawn coffees on a lounge out by the sea. The plan for Wednesday was to get in an early swim, go through athlete registration, pick up my bike..again...and take it for a ride. The pier at Dig Me Beach was hopping as usual and I actually had a very good swim out to the quarter way marker and back. My back soreness was still there and I had begun an aggressive ibuprofen and icing strategy to see if I could get it to go away. Going to athlete registration put me in a better mind set. I WILL DO THIS RACE. Any thought of not starting was put to rest as the volunteer strapped the KONA 2010 wrist band on me.
Well, I could swim, now it was time to see if I could bike. I had brought my helmet and shoes so Jamie and out friends dropped me off at the bike shop and I rode out to the Queen K. Back felt ok, hurt when I went over bumps but I figured I could manage. I turned around before the Energy Lab and headed home. Once there, I planned on spending the afternoon setting my bike up for the race...only to discover the brake pads I had bought new for the race were for Campy and didn't fit SRAM! And back to the bike shop I go. It was becoming a comedy of errors but I wasn't laughing! Our other friends arrived that afternoon and we had a nice dinner at the house.
Thursday morning brought the promise of the second best event to be held this week, the Underpants Run! Jamie and I had our outfits all planned out consisting of white briefs, compression socks, arm coolers, and two Army hats...don't ask, we just happened to have them.Our friend Charne also joined in the fun while the rest of our crew videotaped and took pictures...and shook their heads in bemusement! Oh, and I wore my heart rate monitor. Needed to pace properly. ;).
The run was a blast but it scared the crap out of me. I was in a LOT of pain running for less than a mile at a slow jogging pace. I will be honest, I was about to panic. I knew that the Ironman ART folks had a tent by the pier, but there was nobody there. Desperate, I planned on walking into the King K hotel to ask where they were when I spotted a lady on a cell phone by the side door wearing an IM ART shirt. I literally stood there like a stalker waiting for her to end her conversation so I could assault her in a desperate plea for help!
She couldn't have been more nice. She literally escorted me to the area behind the pool where they were working, no appointment needed.
She asked where I was from and it turns out she knew very well my local ART doc in Scottsdale! He used to go to Kona as part of this team. Small world. My heart soared as I finally felt someone was going to be able to help me. And it got even better. My new bestest buddy in the world, Fay, handed me over to Dr. Leahy, the guy who actually invented the ART program! He had me bend at the waist and turn my shoulders and poked at my lower back. Within maybe teem seconds, he identified my problem. My spine was twisted along a few vertebrae pulling on my rib cage. Christ, how the hell had I managed that?! He lay me on a table and with two quick adjustments told me to stand up.The pain was appreciably less. I thought I might be cured.
Feeling so relieved, we did a little shopping at the Ironman store in the hotel. I figured I was going to races it would be ok to get some stuff. We were hanging out in the lobby after and who walks by but Faris Al-Sultan. Now to say Jamie has a crush on the speedo sporting German would be a massive understatement and ever since our last trip here, when Faris was standing right next to us and we were to shy to ask for a pic, all Jamie wanted was a picture with him. She froze, I was fumbling to try and find our camera as he passed by with his bike.Our super Sherpa friend Joan jumped into action. She bolted down the hallway with Jamie in tow and accosted the Ironman World Champ. I was still trying to find our camera and missed the action which apparently involved hugging and some light petting. The picture Joan took looks great.
Friday morning, 24 hours until the canon would sound, I was back in the bay swimming with Jamie, Matt, and Joan. We all went to the Coffee's of Hawaii boat and back. Once back at the house, I decided to go for a three mile run and see how I felt. It wasn't great, to my disappointment, but I figured I could manage. Maybe one more adjustment fro Dr. Leahy would help. That afternoon we headed back down for bike and gear drop off. Once I had everything all set, I set off in search of the good doctor only to find their tent empty! Defeated, I was sulking back to Jamie when I saw in a conference room all the ART folks at what looked like the end of a meeting. I went in and found Dr. Leahy and he gave me another adjustment right there on the floor. Victory snatched from the jaws of certain defeat! Back out in front of the hotel, Jamie got a chance for a picture with Norman "how much glue did you use!" Stadler and Joan and Matt got to talk to Andy Potts.
Friday night was another nice dinner at home with family and friends. I felt calm and relaxed and was ready for bed around 7. I fell asleep quickly and slept very well. At 3:30am I decided to start my morning routine of coffee and some food while I sat outside under the stars of race morning. I thought about the day to come and decided I would accept whatever came to pass and do so with as much grace and humility as I could but I wasn't concerned either way, it was such a beautiful morning.
We left the house around 5 am and headed down to body marking. As usual, WTC's system was fast and efficient for moving the athletes through. I even had a chance to wish Craig Alexander good luck which he returned in kind to me. As I mass my way around the hotel and into Transition to load my nutrition on the bike, there was Jamie on the other side of the barricade! We had Janus VIP passes for Jamie, Matt, and Joan which gave them access to the pier to watch the swim start!It was awesome, I could be in Transition with them right there up until I had to get in the water. We watched the pro start and then I said goodbye. Time to do this sucker.
I hit the beach around 6:40, giving me 20 min. To stand around, slowly make my way into the water, and swim out to the line. With 10 min. to go I swam out into the bay. I found a quiet bit of ocean real estate about 20 feet from the pier, maybe five feet behind the line. While waiting, I ran into my local buddy Kevin Taddonio and we wished each other the best. Kevin is an amazing young athlete and went on this day to finish in 8:58, 4th on his AG and 6th amateur OA. Yeah, he's going pro. The countdown was passing quickly, I had my finger on the start button of my watch when...BOOM!