Ironman USA Lake Placid - TriathlonFull Ironman

I must've picked the perfect place to start! My nervousness was completely unfounded. I encountered VERY little contact. I have had worse at many other races. I eased my way to the left and made it to the turn buoy in 18 minutes. There was some traffic here but really not that bad. A hard turn and I was on the buoy line. Out of the first loop at 37:xx and right on target for my 1:15.

Took my time re-entering the water, cleaned my goggles and restarted right on the buoy line. Again, very little congestion until the turn buoy. My HRM died so I stopped looking at it (I saw the day before the battery was low, couldn't do anything about it and so I wasn't surprised). I think that was a mistake. With no one around me I just took it easy and played "spot and follow the buoy line." I was just real comfortable. At some point though it did seem like it was taking a long time to finish. As I approached the finish I stopped to stand and the water was over my head. YIKES! Then both hamstrings spasmed! Scary moment as I breast stroked (w/o my legs) a few feet until my head was above water. I limped out of the water,cramping and noticed the 1:19:xx.

I think I was lulled to sleep by the lack of traffic. No other reason to be 6 minutes slower than my first loop. I'll chalk it up to inexperience at this distance. I wasn't gonna let it bother me.

First IM swim DONE! Despite the time I really enjoyed it. Maybe a bit too much ;)

Actually swim the second loop instead of taking a siesta!

Hammi's spasmed as I laid down to have my wetsuit pulled off. Stood up cramping but was able to walk/hobble it off. Managed a slow jog through the long transiton area in the pouring rain. By the time I reached the tent the spams had thankfully stopped.
I wasn't changing but took my time to ensure my gels and endurolites were properly pocketed. I looked at my arm warmers and remembered they did no good in training camp in June when they got soaked so I left them. A tactical error on my part.

My bike was at the far end of the oval. So I had a long run to it and the exit. Another thing I couldn't control so I dealt.

All in all I had a decent T1.

Nothing really.

Left T1 in pouring rain figuring like all week the showers would pass. A weatherman, I am not. It either POURED or rained hard the entire ride.

Made my way out of town navigating the crowds as best I could. I was never concerned with the other athletes other than from a safety/drafting perspective. I was riding at my own pace.

The first Keene desent pretty much sucked. It was pouring rain, cold and crowded. I had my first dark moment, thinking it just wasn't worth it. Thankfully that passed when I survived the descent. Then onto my favorite part of the loop, 9N. My spirits rose with my body temperature and I started having fun w/ some other athletes. The rest of the first loop was uneventful. 3:13 at a very managable pace. I made a quick stop at special needs to grab my 2nd bottle of Perp - powder only - per my plan I'd stop at the next aid station and add water. I was now used to the rain and was happy heading back out.

Don't know why but I got emotional as I entered town. I spotted my family and just felt aweful for them. I wanted to stop but was well beyond them so it was back to business.

Again took it eay getting out of town. The Keene descent was better the 2nd time mostly because there were a lot less people. The rain sure as hell hadn't let up.

The climb to Wilmington was definately harder this time around and as I turned at Hazelton for the out and back I prepared myself for the climb out which I think is under-rated. I managed o.k. Back on rte 86 I passed the 101 mile marker at 5:50 and thot a 6:30 bike was there for the taking.

As I got out of the saddle for a climb though I heard a rubbing noise on the disc. It sounded like a brake. I thought of reaching back and loosening the caliper but with the rain I wanted the ability to stop. I had no desire to get off the bike (in the pouring rain)and inspect it. In hindsight it was tactical mistake number two. Those last 11 miles took me 40 minutes and I'm sure I used more energy than necessary. 2nd loop -3:28. The inevitable fatigue I guess. I would've like it to be closer to the 3:13 of the first loop. Saw my family agian before heading out on the run.

Still, I was pleased with the bike; 6:41. Aside from the absurd rain I never felt bad out there. My legs felt good, I stayed within myself, managed to have some fun with the spectators and other atheletes and got off ready to run.

I wanted to start the run at the 8 hour mark and saw that it was 8:15. Close enough. Nutrition was spot on - Two six scoop bottles of Perp w/ 6 electrolites in each. Approx 10 gels. Had half a bag of Cliff Shot Blocks and half an Uncrustable but neither tasted good or seemed necessary. Oh, and the ONLY good thing about the rain was that I pee'd myself about 7 times never really giving a shit cuz it was immediatley washed off me and for sure no one could tell with all the precip falling. Still I was conciderate of the other riders ;)

I know to race faster I have to ride more. Plain and simple.

Original plan was to wear the tri-suit for the entire race. During the sleepless night I decided to throw running shorts in the T2 bag. Since it stopped raining at this point I decided to throw them on. I thot I was the smartest man on the planet. A weatherman, I am not. They would quickly become as wet as as my tri-shorts!

Not bother changing.

NO RAIN! Grabbed my Red Bull with the hope that holding it would keep my pace in check. I was so psyched that it had finally stopped raining. My spirits were soaring and I started engaging ALL of the spectators.

Managing my pace w/o my HRM would be tricky as I had trained with it for 8 months. I remember thinking I'd have to go by RPE whatever the hell that means ;).

Goal was 9 minute miles for as long as possible. First mile 8:30. I was feeling good and knew it was because of the crowds and the downhill. Forced myself to slow down, a little. 2nd mile, 8:45. I slowed and my pace was comfortable and relaxed as I passed the Ski Jumps and made the left onto River Road. I missed the next mile marker then stopped worrying about my splits. The turnaround came pretty quickly.

Unfortunately the rain returned as well. I mean F'n torrential, AGAIN! This time I'd had it. I started cursing and swearing I was going to rip up that voucher for 2009 and never return to IM again. It was my lowest point of the race. I was demoralized. I actually stopped, raised my hands to the sky and YELLED "Is that all you got? Come on mother f'n nature you can do better than this." Some people laughed, some thought I'd lost it. So did I.

Nothing else to do but run I guess.

Then, suddenly a change in fortune. I was befriended by another athlete, aptly named - Mark. We started talking and he mentioned that his mentor told him that if things got tough on the run to find a partner. Would I mind? Hell no. I told him I thought I had just about lost my mind. Amazingly, we were at almost the exact same pace. We met around the halfway mark and would run the next 13 miles together.

I saw Gail on Main Steet. I stopped for a rejuvinating kiss. I told her I had some dark moments out there but the worst was behind me and I'd be back. Soon! Again, I felt worse for her and my family and stopped feeling sorry for myself. An aside, I don't know what happened to my run splits on the NAS computer but those watching at home thought I had problems since nothing showed up. Some others had the same issue (Pam). It must've been the water.

Our strategy was comletely in snyc; run from aid station to aid station get our nutrition and run again. It worked like a charm. I ate my Carb Booms and water and alternated Coke. I didn't need or want anything else. Mark ate everthing in sight. I got a kick out of that. At his recommedation I tried some chicken broth. The warmth felt good and it tasted alright but soon after my stomach let me know it was not welcomed. Enough of that.

Our conversations were the best distraction from the pain and of course the rain. The whole complextion of the race had changed because of this chance meeting. I was really enjoying myself. The way it was supposed to be.

The miles just ticked away. At mile 18 I told Mark this was where the race began. Our pace remained constant and we were really feeding off of each other. At mile 20 we were in a groove and getting stronger. As we approached the hill at the Ski Jump Mark said he planned on walking to keep his heart rate in check and that I could go ahead. As we all know, my ONE goal was to run the ENTIRE marathon. Well, things change for a variety of reasons at Ironman. I had no problem putting my pride aside. We'd walk together. He had made such a difference in my attitude that my original goal took a back seat. It was no big deal. In fact it probably made us faster. We walked the big hill into town too. But now our spirits were soaring as the we could hear Mike Rielly! We really picked up the pace on the out and back passing many, many walkers. At the 24 mile marker Mark said "you've got more in the tank than me go ahead". I wasn't having it. We had come this far, we were going to the rest of the way togehter. I made a point to thank him for making the last two plus hours of the race the most enjoyable and memorable and then I told him to go ahead so that we could each enjoy the Olympic Oval on our own.

Wow! What a feeling. It's hard to describe the actual finish. I wanted to soak it all in yet there was a part of me that didn't want it to end or maybe didn't believe it actually was going to. But alas, there they were, the words I'd worked so hard to hear,"Mark Dabrowski, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!"

Incredible!


Hard to say I'd do anthing differently for my first IM. I executed my plan, nailed my nutrition and stayed within myself. My training times indicated a 12:30 and I finished w/ a 12:28. It's true, you reap what you sow. It was really as I had hoped; the race itself was not that hard because I had trained to the best of my ability.

The weather sucked and may have had an impact but as usual I felt much worse for my incredible family than for me.

Grabbed a foreign meat substance hero and tossed it as the pizza arrived. Ate two slices to fast and felt like puking. Thankfully didn't. Finally found my family, got my bike and headed to the hotel for a hot shower.

After a burger, we put the kids to bed and Gail and I headed to the finish at 11 pm and stayed until midnight. I'm glad we did. It was fun.


The monsoon


NAS can do a better job w/ things like registration and directions after the race (I wasn't directed to the finisher's photo area).

But the venue, spectators and volunteers can't be beat. With the new voucher system for particpants, NAS has made a return trip in 2009 very appealing. As with all distances, the experience gained here was invaluable. If I return in 09 I'm confident I can perform even better. And I'll be the on the young end of the 45-49 AG :)