IMKY 2008 - for better or worse? (Page 2)

I estimated that 50% race effort would bring me home in 13hrs or so.  With a finish time of 13:16 that included 5-10 minutes of stopping to help a fellow racer and staying with her until a cop with a radio showed up....i would say I hit the mark pretty well considering the heat and the gastro issues I had on the bike.

Since it was my first IM my overall goal was to finish before 17.  I was thinking I could probably do it in under 15.  I trained hard and really wanted this, but knew knew I would just be happy to finish.  I had a great race. 

Could have pushed the swim more (1:08), backed off on the bike (6:08), and saved more for the run (4:56).  I felt great during the swim and the bike (best ride ever), but was in pain on the run.  I pushed through it.  I saw so many people that were having a much tougher time.  Walked through every aid station, but ran/jogged in between. 

Finished in 12:24:35!  All the hard work paid off.  It was the most amazing feeling!!!  So, considering my goal was really under 15, I did much better than expected!  :-)  My first IM experience was wonderful!

You are awesome man!  Good for you!

11:23:48 was muuuuuch much much better than I imagined.  I put alot of time into estimating and planning out my finish times in all the races I do and I blew this one away by more than 30 minutes!  I had been struggling on the long rides with saddle and knee pain, which frequently required me to stop after any more than 2 hours at a time.  This did not manifest itself at all during the day (except maybe the last 5-10 miles down river road, but by then the end was near).  This is where I made up just about all of my time. 

The swim and run were pretty close to what I thought I could do, same with transitions.  This now has me thinking with some improved fitness on the run, I could entertain the idea of a sub 11 time for next year.

Sounds like I'm posting a B-script plot here -- same script, different actors.

Those deep private expectations?  Nope, didn't beat them.  Never did super-specific calculations before the race, but can say that I had a better than expected swim and bike.  But like some many others here, my stomach shut down about mile five on the run, and then it was nothing but walk. 

But I've been fortunate enough to be surrounded by mentors and friends reinforcing the "It doesn't matter when you finish.  You're still an Ironman." mantra.  I never hit any really dark places.  Was I annoyed?  Sure!  But I never let in doubts that I wouldn't keep walking until I crossed that line.  The darkest thoughts were along the lines of "&$&@, where the *&#$ is the next mile marker?!?  This is taking forever!"

(If nothing else, I took the time to look around more and soak in more of the experience.  For instance, it wasn't until I was walking that I happened to look around and notice that I was walking right past Camden Downs.)

After the fact, I can even say I was glad I finally got ill in the last two miles, as it cleared my stomach enough that I could run the very last blocks including the finish.  And running across that line was fantastic.

14:10:57 --  I am an Ironman.

Personally, I wanted between 12:45 (the old "your HIM x 2 + 1hr" ) and 13:30.  To anyone who asked, I just said between 13-14 hrs.

I was happy with my 13:13:33 finish under the hot challenging conditions Sunday. This being my first IM, I just wanted to cross the finish line with a smile.  That mission accomplished.

However, I also feel my game plan was slightly too conservative, as I had left some out on the course (okay not a ton, but definitely gas left in the tank at the finish).  Next IM will be for time.

I started out with a sub-13 hour goal and, if I had actually been able to throw down a run like I had done in training, I would have had it.  Instead, the day just started to slip away from me.  First went my 13 hour finish, then my 13:30 PR, then my 14 hour finish.

Thankfully, Ckinsey hooked up with me and paced me in to a 15 hour finish, losing just 2 hours off my goal time.