mytrilife

Prestige 1/2 Ironman

I managed 3rd place at the Prestige 1/2 Ironman this past weekend, earning a whopping $300. To be honest, it was due to a small field of only 85 participants. However, it was probably one of the most messed up races I have ever done and I was happy to hang on to third. Here's how it unfolded.

On thursday night I drove up to Calgary, so that I wouldn't have to do the full drive to Cranbrook the next day. I was unable to stick around long enough to catch Heather coming out of her second surgery at the hospital before I left. I hoped to get a good nights sleep on Thursday in Calgary in case I didn't sleep much on race night.

However, I checked my work email before heading to bed, and due to some emergency issues, ended up working until 4am. Uggh! Stressed about Heather's condition and all my work problems I only managed about 4 hours sleep after that. I felt horrible when I woke up that morning and decided, due to the problems of the previous evening, to quit my contract position of 5 years! Not like I needed any more stress...

I got in quick swim that morning, before connecting with Trev to car pool to the race. I was so under-prepared... my bike and chain was dirty, I had rushed to get my new tubulars on my rims, and my gear was all over my car. I checked into the hostel in Cranbrook and managed to get all of it ready for the race in the morning. My stomach was churning and I was feeling sleep-deprived and stressed. Another 3.5 hours of sleep before my buzzer went off at 4am.

I cooked my usual breakfast of oatmeal, but added more yoghurt than usual. Did a quick stop at Tim Horton's to get my caffeine fix and drove the 30mins to the race site at Wasa Lake. I could tell something wasn't going right with my stomach... my breakfast refused to digest. 15mins to race start I still felt full... uggh..

The swim start was fast and clean. Only 85 participants makes for plenty of room. I let the lead pack go.. I could see they were swinging out wide and not holding a straight line. I had the dilemma... do I sit on feet going off course, or do I hold a straight line on my own? I decided on the straight line.. and I think I made the wrong decision. I tried, but couldn't pick up the pace, I felt like going any harder would make me throw up. 32 and change... acceptable.. but not up to my swim fitness.

I totally screwed up T2, struggled to get my wetsuit off despite the help of a couple of eager volunteers. Since my stomach was shut down I made a decision to switch a bottle of sport drink to a bottle of water on my bike. This was critical.. as the only thing I could get down on the bike was this water. After a speedy barefoot mount, when I tried to get my feet into my shoes, my calves completely seized up. I was swearing and yelling in pain and finally had to dismount, take my bike shoes off my pedals, put on my shoes and remount.

The bike was uneventful, I just got down to business and was moving pretty good. At the first turnaround I found myself in third, but way down on 1 and 2. I could see my pursuers were not far behind though. I put the hammer down and sipped my water. Luckily it was not a hot day... but man.. it was WINDY! As I crossed back over the river, the sharp concrete lip of the bridge launched my sport drink bottle and into the opposing traffic lane. Despite not being able to drink anything but water, I figured I would need that sport drink if my stomach came around. So I stopped, got of my bike and ran across the bridge and retrieved it! Easily lost another minute from that one... thanks to the motorist going the opposite direction who stopped for me!

At the next turnaround I was a further minute or more ahead and decided to push it as hard as I could to transition. Then 10k from the finish, my neck gave out. I couldn't stay in aero position for more than 30seconds. I sucked up the wind sitting on the hoods, finally managed a few sips of sport drink and pushed on to T2.

I took my time in T2, tied my shoes (forgot to put on speed laces), and off I went. As I was still in third place, I had a cyclist following me with a sign that said "3rd place male". COOL! I had enough of my troublesome stomach though and was determined to try and clear it. I stopped at about 4k and tried to make myself vomit. Nada... just couldn't do it. The lady following me on the bike was looking concerned and some guys pulled up in a truck and asked how I was doing. "Uh.. just trying to vomit.. feel great, thanks!"

First lap down, I was was passing the finish line to go around transition and the volunteers told me to go the the finish line. I was thinking.. no... that doesn't seem right.. why? They thought I was the leader (apparently wearing the same color jersey was enough?!!?) and so I walked into transition and had to run back out and around.. losing another 30-40 seconds.

The last lap was all business. I just tried to get in coke and water at each station and not stop for anything. At the final turnaround 4k from the finish, I went all out to the finish. This was it... I saw the 4th place guy running strong but figured I was up a couple minutes and had 3rd in the bag if I didn't fall apart.

4:44, almost the same time as last year. Considering all the mess-ups in my race, and the slightly harder course... not too bad of a result. I'm feeling like I'm starting to get peak fit... I might just line up at Sylvan Lake 1/2 in 4 weeks and see how it goes. But first.. Regina Beach triathlon!

posted by Greg @ 6/24/2007