Ironman Lake Placid 2012 Race Report

Pre-Race
With the exception of my first Ironman, I definitely had more pre-race nerves this year as compared to previous years.  From the moment I woke up my stomach was a mess.  I didn't even want to eat breakfast in the morning but had to force my PB&J sandwiches down. Not sure why, maybe because of the expectations that I was putting on myself for the race. So the morning was the normal routine, up at 3:30 and leaving the hotel around 4:30, go to body marking, finalize the bike and transition bag setups at the Olympic oval, then make the walk over to special needs to drop my bike and run special needs bags off, then off to the swim start to wait for the family. Everyone arrived and I got to spend about 15 minutes with them before getting my wetsuit on and getting into the water. It was great to see my little girl before the race and to give her a hug and kiss goodbye.

Swim
The swim started as they all day, like a crazy mosh pit. I inched up a little closer to the starting line this year and the 1st 300 Yards or so of the swim were interesting. I first got kicked in the face right off the bat. So my eye hurt and my goggles were leaking. But since it was so early, I couldn't stop to adjust them or I would have gotten trampled, so I had to deal with it for a while. Then shortly after, I hear all this yelling. So I stop and look to see about 30 people treading water screaming for lifeguards to come over. So instantly I begin to think about Laura and Maddie sitting on shore and the ramifications of what can happen when incidents happen in the water. Finally after about 1/4 of the swim my head clears and I try to get in a rhythm. At the half-way point you need to get out cross a timing mat and jump back in for your second loop. So when I get out, I can finally adjust my goggles and I look at my watch and see its 37:33. So of course I instantly multiple that by 2 and think wow, if I can hold this pace I can do around 1:15. My previous best was 1:17:27. So I can back in and try to really hold a strong rhythm. I have never negative split the 2 loop swim, meaning you swim the 2nd loop faster then the first. But I did it this time, clocking a 2nd loop of 37:28 for a total of 1:15:01, setting a personal best by 2 minutes 26 seconds.

T1
Identical time as last year down to the second.  Not my fastest, but still keeping me on track for an overall PR.

Bike
Maybe it was the excitement of PR'ing the swim, but I went out strong on the first loop, 56 miles. Unfortunately as I found out later, it was maybe a little too strong. My personal best on this course if 6:41:36 which is 3:20:45 per loop. I did the first lap this year in 3:06:21. With it being 2 loops bike and going right past our hotel practically, I get to see the family on my way by twice during the bike which is always nice. Halfway through the 2nd loop around mile 90 or so, I could start feeling the effects of the pace of the first loop. It was also at this time that I dropped my chain, my only bike issue of the day, but had it back on in about 15 seconds so no worries there (compared to last years 2 flats and a dropped chain). The last 11 miles or so of each loop is a steady series of climbs back into Lake Placid, and on the 2nd loop, it also came with a strong headwind. It was at this time that both the pace of the first loop was evident, and that my stomach wasn't feeling that great, setting me up for what I knew was going to be a painful run. I ended up doing the 2nd lap in 3:24:56 for a total bike of 6:31:17 setting a personal best by 10 minutes 19 seconds.

T2
6:32 taking over a minute of last years T2 time.  At this point I am ahead of last years time by about 14 minutes.  While I am excited, I am fearing what I know will be coming, as it always does.

Run
The goal for me has always been to try to run a 10 minute mile for the marathon, but my stomach never cooperates with me. I thought maybe this would be the year, especially after setting PRs on the Swim and Bike. This year the heat played a factor as well. It was 81, with a feels like of 85 and almost full humidity. Normally that is still warm, but after already being on the go for over 8 hours, it felt HOT. Things were OK for about 9 miles, a little off pace but moving along. Then I got sick, the heat will killing me, and then my stomach issues came on fast. I hate to admit it, but I walked miles 11-24. I really hate to admit that I actually considered throwing in the towel after the first loop of 13.1 miles. I was wrecked, I knew I wouldn't be running anymore and my mindset was gone. I saw Laura and Maddie, they new it wasn't looking good, but just told me to keep going and walk the rest and that they would be waiting to cheer my across the line with smiles on. If it wasn't for the fact that I knew how much all the training kept me away from the family, and how disappointed I would have been with myself for quitting, I might have DNF'd, but felt I owed it to them and myself to at least finish. It was a very LONG walk. It was hot, I had blisters on my feet, stomach pains, my hamstrings were on the verge of cramping etc.... Not a fun way to walk 13 miles. Its amazing in Ironman that if you are even running an 11 minute mile, the miles seem to go by at a descent pace, but walking a 16.5 minute mile, the miles seem endless. At least I wasn't alone, it seems like the heat knocked a lot of people out. I found 3 people and we basically walked and talked for about 8 miles or so. When I was around mile 24 or so, I saw that if I could muster some sort of run, I could maybe still break the 14 hour mark. I actually ran an 8:51 miles for the last mile.  Its after the fact that you start to think/realize how much is mental.  I managed to run for 2 miles, could I have HTFU'd and starting running 5 miles earlier, or is it just knowing that the finish line is right there and its almost over that your mind starts to somewhat forget about the pain.

Unfortunately my results are a big disappointment for me this year, compared to what I was hoping for.  Maybe next year the 5th time will be a charm, still chasing the sub 13-hour mark.

Total Time 13:58:55
Swim - 1:15:01 (1:47 per 100yd)
T1 - 11:28
Bike - 6:31:17 (17.17 MPH)
T2 - 6:32
Run - 5:54:37 (13:32 per mile)