Well, IMFL (Haines City) did not turn out the way I would have liked and was certainly a very demanding challenge for me. This was my 154th triathlon and 15th IM and my first DNF. Highlights:
-the weather on race day turned out to be a perfect storm for me. Dew Points reached 76 degrees and I’ve long since lost my heat adaptation. This was not the day I had prepared for these last 4 months.
-I had a solid swim. I clocked just over 80 minutes as I chose to be very conservative in the crowded 2 lap swim with 13 turns (9 left and 4 right). My garmin clocked it at 4536 yards and so I either swam a lot further than necessary (for sure true) and it was probably long. I’ve heard many clocked it at around 4500 yards as well. At 4200 yards this is equivalent to a 74 minute IM distance swim...which seems right because I would characterize it as relaxed and an easy effort.
-Transition seemed endless and it took me over 10 minutes and I left for my bike between 91 and 92 minutes in.
-I settled in at around 160 Watts, which was lower than my target at the beginning, just to ease into the ride. However, very early, by 10 miles, my arms, hands and shoulders began to cramp. I carried on, hoping it would pass. I was drinking a lot, trying to eat gel or shot blocks every 15 minutes, and eating 2 Electrolytes every hour.
- my cramping continued and soon, and painfully spread to my quads. The cramping would persist for the whole ride and became quite debilitating as the miles and time passed. I went through the first check point at 28 miles averaging around 20mph and low 150 Watts, both way below my expectations.
-despite this low effort, it became apparent to me by 35 miles I was in a for a tough ride. I was feeling dehydrated, having trouble eating and felt worse then I’ve ever felt at 35 miles. I continued to slow.
-I passed through 56 miles a bit over 3 hours (vs my plan of 2:45) and told Judy as I rode by: “I can’t eat and I’m dying”
-by 65 miles I was in real trouble. I had trouble getting either fluids or solids down. I was really sweating and despite a low power output my HR was over 150 bpm and I was breathing heavily. I really backed off the pace and was doing about 100 Watts and 15 mph.
-at 90 miles I felt I like I was about to pass out so I stopped and lay down by the side of the road for about 3 minutes, which seemed to help. I got going again with the sole goal at this point of trying to finish the bike and see if by resting in transition, I might be able to rally.
-things began to go down hill rapidly from here. On the flats I was doing 70-80 Watts and riding about 12-13 mph, with a HR in the 140s. I had to stop 4 more times at mile 98, 102, 108 and 110.5. I could only manage to stay upright for 5-10 minutes without waves of dizziness coming over me. The last time I stopped for about 10 minutes just 1.5 miles from transition with a cop and medical staff watching me closely.
-I pulled it together and finally managed to roll across the finish line some 7:20+ after starting...my last 56 miles took nearly 4 and a half hours. I stopped right past the finish line and rested still straddling my bike but soon felt very light headed.
-I managed to get off my bike and sat down a few feet from the dismount line. I soon needed to lay down. A race official told me I needed to sit up or go to medical so I sat up. I just wanted to collect myself so I could walk to T2. She told me I needed to take a drink of water which I declined but she insisted I do so or go to medical. So I took a swig and then this precipitated a pretty violent bout of throwing up.
-they told me I was done. 4 people lifted me into a wheel chair and off to medical I went. I was white and very dehydrated. My fingers were wrinkled like you get after soaking in the bath for a long time. My family was very concerned and I felt really bad about that. As I rolled to the med tent, people were clapping for me and frankly I was pretty embarrassed.
-my blood pressure was 80/40, which is why I was dizzy but my HR was a solid 65 so they basically figured I was low a quart or two and probably low on sodium. My core temp was 96 and my hands were cold and blue. I was hooked up to an IV and soon the ordeal was over. I recovered quickly and soon walked back to our car with my family and drove back to our place. Later that evening I had some pizza and even got a whole IPA down.
-disappointing for sure. I was ready (for sure) to go 13 hours, which easily would have punched my ticket to Kona. But I’m ok with that. I literally drove myself all the way to the limit and there was nothing left. Given how my body reacted it was clearly the heat and humidity. I probably should have backed off right from the start but even that probably would have been a challenge. I just don’t race well in those conditions, even when I’m ready for them, which I wasn’t yesterday.
-not sure what the future holds. I think I still have another good IM in me and it would be nice to be able to finish my IM career on a high note. But I also need to recognize how selfish this sport is and the toll it takes on my family and especially Judy. I’ll decide later after I think about it for a while.
Onward and Upward! Soon it will be time to get ready for mountain climbing in Bolivia with Anders. After I rest a bit....
