I came out of the changing tent and was handed my bike. With a flat front tire.
I think when i had the guy help me with inflating the rear tire, he also hit the front with a shot of pressure, which it didnt need. Overinflated, during my almost two hour swim and transition tent meet and greet, the temp warmed up and pop. Not a problem, if youre going to have a flat anywhere, this is the place to do it. They fixed it for me, 10 minutes and i didnt even get my hands dirty.
I had advice from the guys at Endurance Nation on my race execution. Dont chase people passing me on the climb out of town. Save yourself, you will see many of them later at the end of the bike portion, or certainly during the run. Stay aero, focusing on form on the bike will improve efficiency and preserve much needed resources for the run discipline. They also gave great advice on where to grab nutrition, where you wouldn't be able to (like the 40mph + descent into Keene, no, you dont start messing with a gel packet then).
I also knew from personal experience that I needed to force myself to drink, I should be emptying all my bottles between aid stations. Kona Kola Nuun in every bottle. A gel every 20 to 30 minutes also a must.
Throughout the day I played leapfrog with the same group, being passed by them on ascents, blowing by them on descents. For me at least this wasnt going to be about chasing or making a breakaway. Like I had written on my forearms, "patience" and "purpose" would bring me my own success this day.
At bike Special Needs I stopped and took some time to move off to the side, dismount, restock my Nuun tabs, eat some Sports Beans and have a long drink. And goofed around a little with the volunteers. A nice little break, maybe 5 minutes spent, a good investment with the return being a smile on my face as i left for loops number 2.
Climbing out of town on the second loop I noticed the words on my forearm beginning to fade. Moreso my left arm than right. So my mantra for the rest of the ride was "my patience may be wearing thin, but my purpose is still clear"
I stopped at the portosan on the Haselton out and back and fully utilized the service provided there.
I was feeling a little bonky passing through Wilmington Notch the second time. i broke out my secret weapon, Peanut M&Ms I had saved in my bento box. The sugar really helped to carry me through. I did come out of the saddle up Papa Bear, more to stretch than anything else.
Returning to the oval i went up around the back of the high school, then carefully down a hill,and pass offed the bike.
Bike Time 8:10:14 13.7 mph pace
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Swim to Bike Transiton
On the way into transition i called out my number, and that was passed down the line so my gear bag was waiting for me when i got into the changing tent.
I decided i would be comfortable for this long ride, so i had my bib shorts. After taking my time getting dressed and applying the chamois butter, i went to the sunblock table, oy what a mess.
This was a very long transition, but really set the tome for the rest of my race. Im built for comfort, not speed.
T1 23:12
I decided i would be comfortable for this long ride, so i had my bib shorts. After taking my time getting dressed and applying the chamois butter, i went to the sunblock table, oy what a mess.
This was a very long transition, but really set the tome for the rest of my race. Im built for comfort, not speed.
T1 23:12
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
swim
Phil, Javier and I walked down to the start. We didnt talk much.
I went to check on my bike. I was having trouble with the valve extension in the rear wheel, so i walked the bike up to the bike techs to figger it out. dropped off the morning clothes and got ready to head down to the lake. The skies had been threatening to open, and many of the racers still remember clearly the 2008 weather: steady rain from the swim start until midnight. Now around 6:30am we felt a few raindrops, and i heard a woman's plaintiff whine "Oh Cmon! Give me a break!" Who was she talking to?
At this moment I felt completely calm and very enthusiastic about starting. All of these outside factors are out of my control, so why worry? I headed down to the lake.
I stayed to the rear. actually standing chest deep. National anthem, some blabber from Mike Reilly, canon blast and we're off.
I stayed a little to the outside and in the back of the pack. While I couldn't see the underwater cable, there were enough swimmers trying to stay on the line that I had no problem slighting and staying on course. Remarkably;y little contact with other swimmers. When I reached the first turn, i missed the buoy and realized i was inside the turn as i reached the marker. I started to turn around to swim around it, but a woman in a kayak there said i was ok and waved me on.
I finished the first inshore leg, was feeling like i was getting in a nice groove, focused on my form, not too hard, glide, keep my head down. Now I got out of the water, walked around the floating dock and back into the water to start the second loop. I paused here for a minute, and I was nto the only one. Just a bit of a self analysis, gut check, deciding whether or not i really want to do this. Sure I do. So off I went.
Now, the course is getting a little more congested, i think because of getting lapped by the faster swimmers. The times when I drifted in toward the cable, I had some contact, but in general nothing too serious. There was one guy, doing the breat stroke, and as i swam past him he gave me a nice frog kick into the solar plexus. That really sucked.
About 200 yards from the swim exit, i just dipped inside the cable and stopped to look around. A guy in a kayak came over wanting to rescue me. No thanks, just taking in this scene. I did notice a pretty good current pushing me inshore, from all those people swimming in a circle I guess,
I came out of the water, plopped myself down and let a stripper help to remove my suit. I usually dont need help, but how often so you get wetsuit strippers? Maybe once a year?
I rolled up the wetsuit to the size of a football, tucked it under my arm and ran down the chute toward T1.
Swim time 1:32:48
I went to check on my bike. I was having trouble with the valve extension in the rear wheel, so i walked the bike up to the bike techs to figger it out. dropped off the morning clothes and got ready to head down to the lake. The skies had been threatening to open, and many of the racers still remember clearly the 2008 weather: steady rain from the swim start until midnight. Now around 6:30am we felt a few raindrops, and i heard a woman's plaintiff whine "Oh Cmon! Give me a break!" Who was she talking to?
At this moment I felt completely calm and very enthusiastic about starting. All of these outside factors are out of my control, so why worry? I headed down to the lake.
I stayed to the rear. actually standing chest deep. National anthem, some blabber from Mike Reilly, canon blast and we're off.
I stayed a little to the outside and in the back of the pack. While I couldn't see the underwater cable, there were enough swimmers trying to stay on the line that I had no problem slighting and staying on course. Remarkably;y little contact with other swimmers. When I reached the first turn, i missed the buoy and realized i was inside the turn as i reached the marker. I started to turn around to swim around it, but a woman in a kayak there said i was ok and waved me on.
I finished the first inshore leg, was feeling like i was getting in a nice groove, focused on my form, not too hard, glide, keep my head down. Now I got out of the water, walked around the floating dock and back into the water to start the second loop. I paused here for a minute, and I was nto the only one. Just a bit of a self analysis, gut check, deciding whether or not i really want to do this. Sure I do. So off I went.
Now, the course is getting a little more congested, i think because of getting lapped by the faster swimmers. The times when I drifted in toward the cable, I had some contact, but in general nothing too serious. There was one guy, doing the breat stroke, and as i swam past him he gave me a nice frog kick into the solar plexus. That really sucked.
About 200 yards from the swim exit, i just dipped inside the cable and stopped to look around. A guy in a kayak came over wanting to rescue me. No thanks, just taking in this scene. I did notice a pretty good current pushing me inshore, from all those people swimming in a circle I guess,
I came out of the water, plopped myself down and let a stripper help to remove my suit. I usually dont need help, but how often so you get wetsuit strippers? Maybe once a year?
I rolled up the wetsuit to the size of a football, tucked it under my arm and ran down the chute toward T1.
Swim time 1:32:48
wakey wakey
Sunday July 24
2AM Im up to apply sunblock and drink 500 calories worth of Ensure.
Wont get any more real sleep, but im going back to lay in bed for a couple more hours.
2AM Im up to apply sunblock and drink 500 calories worth of Ensure.
Wont get any more real sleep, but im going back to lay in bed for a couple more hours.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
crunch time
Saturday July 25, 2009
Waking this morning and checking my schedule, I realized this would be would be a very short and busy day. Bring the bike down to the Olympic Oval for check in. get on line to register for 2010. Eat lunch. Eat lunch again. Drink lots all day. Go to bed around 7pm.
Im not at all nervous, no anxiety. So much planning, checking and rechecking. Everyone is very quiet, resolved.
Waking this morning and checking my schedule, I realized this would be would be a very short and busy day. Bring the bike down to the Olympic Oval for check in. get on line to register for 2010. Eat lunch. Eat lunch again. Drink lots all day. Go to bed around 7pm.
Im not at all nervous, no anxiety. So much planning, checking and rechecking. Everyone is very quiet, resolved.
check in
Friday July 24, 2009
its all getting very real now. A visit to the ironman village, bought a trigger point therapy roller, just because its there. same as the 2 red foam rollers i already have, but its got some fancy textures on it and its orange. walked over and checked in for the race. Id given, weighed, waivered, spindled, folded and sent packing with a plastic bag containing special needs bags, stickers, numbers, instructions, and an ironman poster.
I met Iron Crackhead and had a pleasant talk about expectations. I have none. That sounded very odd to me, surrounded by many athletes who are just BUGGING OUT with nervous energy. I had a conversation with one young woman who was a first time ironman participant, asking me questions about the swim, for tips on managing the course, etc. Do i look like i know what im doing? I have that quality, the ability to appear calm and therefore in control, when actually in completely out of control and unmanageable situations. Interesting.
Went into town for lunch at the crepe place, then for a light run and a short swim. The Phil and Javier have arrived. The garage is looking like a bike repair shop, everyone checking cables, tuning gears, and me taping 22 power gel packets to my top tube.
Bed early tonight, 2 more sleeps.
its all getting very real now. A visit to the ironman village, bought a trigger point therapy roller, just because its there. same as the 2 red foam rollers i already have, but its got some fancy textures on it and its orange. walked over and checked in for the race. Id given, weighed, waivered, spindled, folded and sent packing with a plastic bag containing special needs bags, stickers, numbers, instructions, and an ironman poster.
I met Iron Crackhead and had a pleasant talk about expectations. I have none. That sounded very odd to me, surrounded by many athletes who are just BUGGING OUT with nervous energy. I had a conversation with one young woman who was a first time ironman participant, asking me questions about the swim, for tips on managing the course, etc. Do i look like i know what im doing? I have that quality, the ability to appear calm and therefore in control, when actually in completely out of control and unmanageable situations. Interesting.
Went into town for lunch at the crepe place, then for a light run and a short swim. The Phil and Javier have arrived. The garage is looking like a bike repair shop, everyone checking cables, tuning gears, and me taping 22 power gel packets to my top tube.
Bed early tonight, 2 more sleeps.
Settling in
Thursday July 23, 2009
Today's Thursday and Im just settling in to my spot in the house, unpacking my gear, greeting the housemates. I'm do not feel at all prepared for this race, and strangely i do not feel at all nervous either. On the ride up we discussed how i was feeling and how i would approach this major thing on Sunday. I wasn't quite sure how to articulate it, but i think ive got it now. Ive adjusted my expectations and re framed this from a focus on makign cut off times and finishing, to simply starting. I know i can do that. This has always been for fun, for me, and just chucking all the nervous energy really makes this an exciting adventure. its why im here.
later in the day I plan to swim. I havent had more than 4 or 5 swims since the winter. I'll do 2 loops if i can.
Other than that, some healthy eating , a few beers and plenty of rest planned.
Today's Thursday and Im just settling in to my spot in the house, unpacking my gear, greeting the housemates. I'm do not feel at all prepared for this race, and strangely i do not feel at all nervous either. On the ride up we discussed how i was feeling and how i would approach this major thing on Sunday. I wasn't quite sure how to articulate it, but i think ive got it now. Ive adjusted my expectations and re framed this from a focus on makign cut off times and finishing, to simply starting. I know i can do that. This has always been for fun, for me, and just chucking all the nervous energy really makes this an exciting adventure. its why im here.
later in the day I plan to swim. I havent had more than 4 or 5 swims since the winter. I'll do 2 loops if i can.
Other than that, some healthy eating , a few beers and plenty of rest planned.
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