Ironman Lake Placid : Official Thread (Page 58)

Originally posted by TankBoy

Originally posted by JMoneyI just wanted to wish everybody a great race on Sunday. It was fun watching how everybody's training has been going. I'll be up there tomorrow night, and will cheering you guys on from Run Aid station #2. I plan to be there all day and I'm sure I'll be handing everybody something. Is the annual BT swim happening on Saturday? Who's bringing BT tattoos? I'll be sure to put mine on correctly this time

Doh! Jmoney - I forgot the tattos!!! About to start organizing my transition bags - cannot wait to find out what else I forgot... See you in a bit at the swim start.

By the way, does anyone know when/where they make the official announcement about the wetsuit/water temperature.  I cannot imagine that it will be above 76.1 now, but it would still be nice to know when they are making the announcement.

Have a great race everyone!

Lake Placid is  magical place.

Congratulations everyone! I was able to post this in my mentor group, but was never able to get back online to cross post it here.

For those of you that raced this weekend or have raced IMLP before, well, you know what cell service is like here....

Update on me, and it is is not good since I am writing it - hah.

First DNF - experienced these crazy lower back spasms through the whole swim, then in T1 mishandled my bike a bit. Nothing out of the ordinary, really: I was running with my bike and had to kinda jump from one side of the back wheel to the other in the crowd and just as soon as I did that it felt like someone stabbed in the low back with a knife. Rolled on out on the course, but the first little climb out of town was pretty tweaky in my lower back. The only upside was that it was the most comfortable in the aerobars - I couldnt sit up on the horns. When I stopped a couple of times to try an stretch out I it was difficult to stand up straight, and when I would finally get upright then I couldn't bend back over. Made it up the climbs and back into town, but it was just getting worse and worse and I knew there was no way I could run, so rolled into T2 and handed in my chip. If you ever want to DNF, then I highly reccomend you do it early - there was no lines and no waiting in the Med tent, and the medical crew spent about 45 minutes with me. Docs said it looks like I have a locked SI joint, whatever that is. I guess my own doc is going to be busy with me this week.... Ah, well, so it goes.

Other than my own personal issues, the rolling start is super - I lined up right at 1:05 and was in the water in about a minute-and-a-half. The weather is actually OK - temp is currently about 70 degrees, and it was raining pretty steady for the Keene descent, but fairly dry after that - drizzling again when I went in the med tent, but it looks like it has stopped now. Thunderstorms may be rolling in in an hour or two and for the rest of the day/into the evening though.

Quick shower then out to cheer for Ms. TankBoy, James, and the rest of the BT crew.

and then:

Hey all - thanks so much for the well wishes! I have had a blast watching the race with friends - it is so much fun watching everyone giving it there all out on the course. JT crushed her time from last year, PR'ing the course by a little over an hour-and-a-half. I spoke with James briefly before my phone died just a little while ago. I am sure he will chime in when he gets a chance, but he was in very good spirits. His feet got beat up on the run but he dug it out when he realized he could still sneak in under 12 hours. We spent part of the afternoon spectating with his wife - good lord, she is a riot! But then again, I guess she would have to be, right? 

We got the wife cleaned up and fed and then went down to the finish line party and stayed til after midnight to watch the final finishers come in - it was an absolute blast! This morning we are all packed up and headed out for breakfast, then off to the airport for an uncomfortable flight home - the back is a little better this morning, but I cannot wait to see the doc.

Safe travels, everyone!

Kent -- I'm sorry you had a rough go in the water.  I did too.  I wonder what others thought of it.  I was really beat up on the second lap with two kicks to the face -- one right in the mouth -- and one very sharp elbow lifting me up from under the ribs.  The fact that you came out with such a great improvement is really astounding.

I strongly encourage you to take note -- write down, make a video, whatever -- the positives of the experience.  You will be back.  You should come back.  You'll be back and ready and will flatten those hills all the way from Wilmington to Lake Placid.

Rusty -- Please post an update once you get squared away with your local caregivers.  Sounds sappy, but we care.  And, I should note, I'm really impressed with the quality of decisionmaking you had out there.  If nutrition is the fourth discipline, good decisions must be the fifth because that is what can make or break the day as well as your ability to come back next week, next month, next year...Feel better soon.

To all, thanks for all the support for the past two years on these BT forums.  I'm not doing IMLP next year -- two in a row is enough for me and my family.  In 2014 I'm going to concentrate on the 70.3 distance a bit and make sure I don't miss as many of the kids' swim meets.  I've got a short blog post up with my results but will be doing a deeper dive and a race report on BT later in the week/weekend.  I look forward to reading all your race reports as soon as I get caught up at work.

Again, thank you all for the help, ideas, support and goodwill. -- Kent

Thanks Kent - we got home late last night. I am OK and have an appointment with my doc tomorrow. We will see what is what then, but right now I have an ice pack stuck down the back of my pants and am doing just fine so long as I don't bend over, stand up, sit down, or basically move in any way. Congratulations on such a spectacular race - I cannot wait to read all about it, and hope others write theirs up as well when they get the chance. Like you I find them to be invaluable. 

I wrote up a race DNF report (ha!) It is not very exciting, and I think I have already given away the end, but you can read it here if you like: http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=496674

For what it is worth I found the new start format to be great, but at the same time I have never been so beat up on a swim. It was weird: one minute it would be smooth, and then then POW! a shot to the head or a kick to the ribs. Several folks I have talked to had similar experiences. Not sure if it had anything to do with the format, or if it was just one of those things. 

My second time through their station, a clown woman (your family?) handed me a drink and said very clearly what it was.  (I forget if I was taking Perform or water at that station.)  I nearly stopped, looked her right in the eye and said, "You must be joking.  What am I a clown?"

I don't know where it came from or why I felt so cheeky other than simply being wiped out from the day.  She looked back at me for a moment and then we both grinned as the realization that even out there in the middle of a endurance event, a shared joke is a good thing.  I thanked her and moved on.

Please let her know that we all go home talking to anyone with an interest in the race about how helpful, kind, and generous of spirit the volunteer team is on race day.  I know I do.

My second time through their station, a clown woman (your family?) handed me a drink and said very clearly what it was.  (I forget if I was taking Perform or water at that station.)  I nearly stopped, looked her right in the eye and said, "You must be joking.  What am I a clown?"

I don't know where it came from or why I felt so cheeky other than simply being wiped out from the day.  She looked back at me for a moment and then we both grinned as the realization that even out there in the middle of a endurance event, a shared joke is a good thing.  I thanked her and moved on.

Please let her know that we all go home talking to anyone with an interest in the race about how helpful, kind, and generous of spirit the volunteer team is on race day.  I know I do.