Went to Tempe on Wednesday am, so I could get rested, finish the last few workouts, and not have to rush anything. Tribe Multisport (great shop!) set me up with a homestay, Brandon, right off the IMAZ run course. I had a great time, everyone was very helpful and fun to hang out with. Definitely a relaxed and smooth lead in to the race.
Saturday afternoon, I started to have some problems with my digestion. I'm not sure what the issue was. I've given everything I ate to Jesse at QT2, and we're trying to figure it out. The great thing about the people I work with, Cliff English, Jesse Kropelnicki, Chris Ramsey; we can look at issues and address them, rather than just hoping for the best next time.
Anyway, something was definitely off. I was burping, and was feeling like I was going to throw up that night. Pretty uncomfortable sleep. Got up early to eat breakfast, and felt a bit better. Went back to sleep for a while, then got up to start to head over to the race.
I was feeling quite bloated and uncomfortable pre race, but there wasn't much I could do about it then. Just hoped that I would feel better as the day goes on.
I was surprised how cold the water was, I had raced a few weeks earlier there for Soma, non wetsuit, and now it was 61*...no problem. Started in a good position, and tried to stick to the feet I found early. Uh oh, not happening. Ok, next group, nope...settled into a pack around the turn around, and figured I'd just sit in the rest of the way, but again, no luck. I've been swimming well the last few races, very good for me actually, so I figured this would be the case. I guess not.
Got out in 55 min, right by guys like Jordan Rapp and Trevor Wurtele, who also had rough swims. I knew it wasn't great, but also knew I wasn't out of contention, and it was a long day.
Uneventful transition, and got out with a group I thought I could ride with. Sitting in (legally), I started to try to get my nutrition/hydration in early, as was the plan. The gastrointestinal issues I hoped would subside..nope. Right from the start, nothing was staying down. I won't bother with explicit details, but nothing was staying down. another Uh oh. So when the group started to push the pace above where I wanted, I let them go. And that theme was consistent for the rest of the ride. Got passed by some guys I figured I could ride with, but it just wasn't happening. Cramping on the last lap, but nothing terrible, just uncomfortable.
4:48 ride. I know I'm talking about how poor the ride was, but for me, it was still important that I stayed with it, rode the best I could on the day, and get ready to go run. I have to admit, it's a long distance. I was a little unsure, not that I could finish, but that I could just keep going as best I could, and not give in. A lot of issues for me relate to where I feel I should be at certain points in the race. It's not an issue of pain, or effort, but of expectations. I got off the bike, knowing I was back of where I expected to be, knowing I would get beat by LOTS of people, but just going out and accepting it. If someone beats me, they deserve it. It shouldn't change my effort, or my desire to do my best. So I just started running. I knew I didn't have it, and just ran from aid station to aid station, getting in whatever I could and hoping I could just keep going.
At some point fairly early on the run, I saw my coach Cliff. He asked how it was going. I was pretty miserable, told him I hadn't been able to take in calories, etc...He told me, "hey man, you're still running! I know it sucks, but you're still running. Get in what you can and just see what happens." It was exactly what I needed to hear. I was starting to feel kinda frustrated with how the day was going, thinking, "Crap, 20 more miles of this?" But he was right, I was still moving. And that's pretty good in an Ironman. So I just went with it. There were times when the pace would lift, would drop, but overall I was still running. 2 kind of long bathroom breaks (again, no details needed), but I came out of the porta potty and got back to running.
3:30 run. 9:20:19 Finish time. Well short of the goal, but it's a starting point. I think the pacing/goal plan was right, it was just a matter of execution. I read a Paulo Sousa tweet, "experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." I agree, and this was definitely an "experience" kind of day. Medical tent, a few IV's, and I was feeling better. Legs pretty beat up for a few days, but feel much better now.
Right after the race, the thought was, "well, at least I finished one, I don't have to do that again." Amanda Stevens (also in the medical tent) told me, "give it a week." Well, it's only been 3 or 4 days, but yeah, already thinking of how to improve for the next one. I was happy to finish, but I know it's far from the best I could have done.
As I said before, the support was ridiculous. The community really gets behind this race, and it was a great experience. My homestays Brandon and Steve (who again, went out of their way to help), Tribe Multisport, everyone else I met in Tempe that week. My sponsors, Scott and Justin at Ameriprise Financial, the David, Chris, and everyone at PACE, Sean at Quietly Fierce Media (who raced AZ as well), Garmin and Powerbar. My coach Cliff English, who had me ready, and knew exactly what I needed to keep going, and my nutritionist, Jesse Kropelnicki, whose advice gave me the ability to work through my issues, where as I would have been in a lot of trouble otherwise. And of course my entire team at Athletes Lounge, who work so freaking hard and allow me the freedom to train and race and keep trying to improve.
The biggest thanks go to my family. My wife, Sarah, who does all the heavy lifting at home and never gives me crap for training (though she does give me a hard time when I miss a session), and my parents who support what I do 100% and have always been supportive and encouraging. My boys Jack and Bennett, who give me all the motivation I need to keep at it.
I'll take a short break, then get back to training, start planning for next season. I'll keep everyone updated on the schedule when I know.
Thanks for reading.
