Ironman Race Report: T2 & the Marathon

T2:
As I rolled around the last corner on the bike course I had my shoes already undone, I pulled my feet out for the easy shoeless dismount.  I had practiced this procedure about a bazillion times in my training at home so it went smoothly.  I handed my bike to an official bike catcher volunteer.  I did this volunteer job last year when I signed up.  It went smoothly.  I started slowly jogging to my gear bag.  I had my helmet off as I reached down for my gear bag.  I made my way into the change tent and it was empty.  I actually had a volunteer to help sort stuff out.  It was cool.  He just said throw everything on the ground and take what I want.  I put my hat on and my shoes.  I grabbed my gels.  I almost wish I would've changed into a fresh pair of socks because I would've saw this massive garbonzo bean sized blood blister on my left toe where I was stepped on.

I looked at my watch as I was killing the the T2 time, it read just past 1 minute.  I did have to hit the bathroom since I didn't let loose into the spectators on the way into town.  My final T2 time was over 2:30.  I went through this line of volunteers on the way out who were handing out gels, sunscreening people, water, and gatorade.  Definitely nice although my tank was topped off and I didn't need or do sunscreen.

The Marathon:
So I started to last part of the Ironman journey, my strength and I was still ahead of my goal pace.  If I rock this marathon, I have a shot at Kona which I thought based on previous results I needed around a 10:10 total to get.  I didn't know that the conditions and possible massive draft pack I heard about was making this the fastest IMC for my age group.  The top 20 in my age group were all under 10 hours and the last Kona slot went to a 9:53.

I started running and was trying my best to go real "EASY".  I actually focused on this but it still didn't help that much.  I did blow by all the fast downhillers that I was leapfrogging on the bike about a half mile into the marathon.  I thought evil thoughts which basically amounted take that you fast bike split guys.  HA!

I got the first mile and it was 6:33.  OH SHIT!!  Okay time to slow down even more, just relax.  I saw my support crew, waved and smiled as it was still easy.  I missed the 2 mile mark but did start taking in gatorade at the aid stations.  I clicked at mile 3 and saw 13:50.  Well that's a little better but still not my pace.  Finally at mile 4 I saw 7:10.  Okay, this is the pace just hold this.

After mile 4, we start to head out of town and it hits.  My stomach/side just starts to hurt.  Crap!  Like I need this for another 22 miles, I've run through side aches a couple of times.  It's not fun but it can be done.  I definitely don't want to add that on top of the typical marathon wall which I was expecting at mile 18.  I started to look for an open portapotty to see if I could release some inner demons.

As I was looking I definitely started getting hammered by the headwind, I knew this would slow me down which would be good on the way out because we'd get that nice tailwind during the 2nd part.  I just tried stay relaxed but I could see with each mile the headwind was turning my 7:15 effort into 7:45s.  I found a portapotty and left my stomach/side ache and came out refreshed.  I busted out a nice mile after that and was feeling pretty.

I just kept passing people as I made my way to the turnaround.  The headwind was brutal in the open areas and I was using the people I was passing for a little draft and then it happened.  I didn't notice til mile 14 but looking back on it about mile 12 the headwind just sortof disappeared and the clouds had come over which cooled it down a bit.

I got to the turnaround, half-way and grabbed my special needs bag.  I loaded the gels into my pockets and started drinking my cytomax.  It was nice to have easy access to some liquid but still a pain to be carrying it.  I felt good and started to pick up the effort.  I put in a nice 7:40 mile to 14.

This is where I noticed that the tailwind was non-existent.  Basically, Mother Nature was like Kathy Bates in Misery where it starts out all nice(tailwind on the bike), then ties you up(headwind on the first half of the run), and finally she's got the sledgehammer and you have a 4x4 between your ankles.  No friggin tailwind!!  Are you serious?!?!  I was cursing furiously out loud.

On top of no tailwind, I hit the Ironman WALL.  Mile 14 and the wall, WTF!  My legs were just completely in pain.  Each step was muscle pain in both quads and both calves.  Oh hell, I have to mentally suffer for 12 more miles.  I had prepared for the wall at mile 18.  Crap 4 miles too early.  Before all my running injuries, I would've just pushed through this as best as possible.  Now, I was worried that pushing through this stuff could cause a hamstring problem or something else.  There was no way I wasn't finishing this f-in Ironman.  So instead I went to just getting to the next mile.  Just moving forward and in my head my Kona hopes went POOF!

I was clicking 8:10 somethings and even saw a couple of 8:20s and the 8:37 mile with the last big uphill in it.  During these miles, I had a couple of guys who were passing me between aid stations and who I was passing when they stopped to walk the aid stations.  Oh well, they weren't in my age group so no biggie.

I got to mile 22 and decided to really look close at my overall time.  It read 9:46.  Can I run 7:30s to meet that 10:15 time goal?  My legs hurt like hell but 30 something minutes isn't that much left.  Still no tailwind...and then it started to rain.  Fucking great!!  After the initial pissed off moment came and went, I was thankful that I wasn't on the Yellow Lake descent.

I started to push as best I could and left my co-runners and then I felt it.  A tailwind on Main Street...sweet or at least I saw the flag blowing a little bit in my direction.  I passed McDonalds and said yep I'm going there sometime soon after this F-IN thing is over with.  I looked up the road and saw a couple of runners way off in the distance.  I figured why not try to catch them.

I pushed as best as I could but I could only manage just over 8 minute miles at this point.  Lame!  I was trying to get free energy from the crowd but it really didn't work.  The wall had been wearing on me for over an hour and I'm a wimp.

I got to mile 25 and was thinking yes I'm going to finish this F-IN thing.  Okay, let's gut it out some more.  We started the out-n-back section.  About 50 meters from the 25 mile mark is the finish line but you must turn the opposite direction and complete just over a mile of out-n-back.  The funny thing is I didn't hear the announcer when I turned maybe by luck no one was finishing around that time or I was just oblivious to it.

As I started the out-n-back, I saw a group of 4 runners.  One guy was in my age group so I decided to go by the group at a quick pace so he would have no chance of latching on.  I thought to myself each place counts because who knows maybe I still have a super longshot.

You can see people coming towards on their way to the finish and I didn't see anyone else in my age group so I just kept the pace the best I could.  I turned and looked down the big long road to the finish.  There was only one person and he was way ahead.  Cool I thought, I'll just cruise it in and enjoy the moment.  Right then I got passed by a guy who said to me, "Let's go!".  I was like WTH!  I immediately looked at his calf, "42".  Cool so I let him go a little bit but did pick up just a tad to use his energy to get me to the line.

One of the single biggest moments of my Ironman happened, another guy came by going a good pace but his calf had a "37".  OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!  I immediately reacted.  I was holding pace just right behind him and the other guy.  We were within 200 meters of the finish line and I made my move.  I put the hammer down with everything I could muster.  Again if I went early enough and fast enough he wouldn't have a chance to react even if he was feeling better than me.  I have no idea where I got the energy from but I was in a full sprint when I went by.  It's hard to relate how fast it was because of all the 8 minute miles but it was easily sub 6 pace if not closer to 5 minute mile pace.  It was only from 200 yards but I was unstoppable.

There was no reaction or attempt as I flew by.  They had the "tape" at the finish line ready and I through up my arms as I crossed for the finish line picture.  I was finished with the clock reading 10:20:something.  I didn't hear anything during the finish area.  I didn't even notice the crowd with my sprint finish.  I later heard from Amber that they did announce, "Alan Sherman you are an Ironman!" but I didn't hear it. I didn't hear Elena, Amber and Joe cheering like mad, nothing. This one guy changed my entire Ironman finish.  It was almost if I hadn't done the Ironman.  I got my finishing times with their new timing system and found out that one place was worth 30th overall in my age group.  Oh HELL!!  I was so upset that I wasn't even close.  I did run a 3:25 marathon split which considering how I felt for the last 12 miles wasn't bad at all.

I had two people grab me at the finish line which was cool as I really didn't have think at all.  They asked if I wanted to go to medical, I said nah...my legs hurt like hell but that's about it.  As usual, I didn't feel like eating anything so I just drank a PowerBar recovery shake but that didn't sit to well so I made my way to the portapotty.   It was raining pretty good by then so once I sat in the portapotty I didnt' want to leave.  It was warm, dry and I was sitting down.  My fortress of solitude!

Tomorrow, I'll talk about my post race thoughts and I'll give my Top 10 Ways Ironman atheletes and mental hospital patients are similar...