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Rick
Spencer I did it! I ran my first 10K at age 8. I got burned out and quit running when I was a junior in high school. By that time, I'd run about 150 races and had peaked at 14 years old! For the next 9-10 years I didn't run at all. On occasion, I did some weekend warrior-type cycling... touring and commuting, but that was the extent of my activity. 2 years ago, I weighed 215 pounds and was still cycling some, but decided I needed to drop some weight and get back in shape. I'm 28 now, so I remember seeing Ironman coverage growing up and thinking, "That's what I want to do someday." In December 1999, I decided that someday would be less than 2 years away. I set up an incremental training plan well in advance, because I can't do anything without goals. The training was hard, but satisfying. My training wasn't quite what it should have been 2-3 months prior to the race, but I was ready. I'd originally hoped to break 12 hours, but breaking 13 would be great I told myself. I was realistically shooting for 13:30. The swim was like being in a washing machine for the first 10 minutes, but evened out a short while. I came out of the water in 1:22- two minutes over my projection, but OK given the crowd and having to wade quite a bit at the start and between laps. 8:13 transition. I took my time, but didn't waste any time in transition. The bike is always my strongest leg, so I was looking forward to it. For those who think there are no hills in Florida- think again!! I'm from a rolling section of North Carolina & the hills on the course rival our area. Nothing awful, but still pretty challenging. More wind than I'm used too as well. Coming down the downhills with the race wheels (lot of surface area), I felt like I was gonna wipe out a few times. Some of the roads in the first 25 miles were pretty rough, but no flats for me. Lucky thing too, since I gambled & didn't take a spare tubular tire. The heat really turned up all of the sudden after a nice climb up Sugarloaf. The AM cloud cover was gone. I started feeling a little sick around mile 70, but it went away by 90. I had to pee a lot on the bike- about every 15 miles from mile 50 on. I didn't think much of it, but soon would. I only got all the way off the bike once to do #2. Bike time: 6:34 with a 6:30 projection, so I was right on schedule. Transition: 6:53. Feeling great! I dreaded the run. The only other marathon I've done left me injured (IT Band) for 3 months. I figured something similar would happen. I tripped & fell in the first 1/2 mile because I wasn't picking my feet up enough. I scraped up my hip, hands, elbow, knee... but I was OK. First mile in 9:00! I knew that wouldn't last, but I was very pleased. The gigantic hill in mile 2 had me walking for about 2 minutes. I walked up the next, more gradual one too. I began to panic a little. I wondered what I'd gotten myself into & if I'd be able to finish. It began to get really lonely out there. I cried a couple of tears out of fear. I caught up to TriTater and we passed each other several times over the next couple of miles. I had diarrhea at mile 3 & kept worrying. By mile 4, I was determined to keep running except through aid stations. I stuck with that plan miraculously. I walked just long enough to eat and drink... and go to the port-o-jon & then started running. I had the runs on the run for the first 8 miles or so, but I had to stop and pee every single mile through the whole race with the exception of one. I tried to swallow some salt tablets after the first 8 mile loop, but ended up gagging and puking. I puked 3 times. All liquid because I can't stomach much food in a race. My wife & parents were watching me. Immediately after the last heave, I looked up at Jennifer & said "I'm OK now," & started running again. I felt much better. My stomach was visably bloated and the constant urination told me I was too hydrated (which I'd take any day over dehydration or heat exhaustion- something I've experienced in a 1/2 Ironman). I felt better, but kept up the peeing. I'm usually not competitive at all, but took pride in actually running much more than most people out there (at least around me). Most people walked for a minute & ran for a minute. I've been in that situation before & was glad I wasn't there this time- I could keep it going as long as I was out of the toilet! I finished the run in 5:28:35- 12:30 miles. Total time: I expected to finish 10 mintues faster, but be in awful shape. Instead, I felt great! Sure, I was tired, but nothing particularly hurt, I was in good spirits, was well-fuelled the whole race, and actually felt kind of fresh. People have asked me what you eat in such an event. I stuck pretty close to my fuel plan, but added something on the fly which worked out, but is probably not the way to go. As much as you tell yourself, "Race with what you train with," you get some strange hankerings out there. I carried a super-concentrated mixture of my own sportsdrink- a little Gatorade mix, Ultra Fuel, and Hammer Gel. I squirted the thick mixture into my aero bottle and added water at each aid station. The vast majority of my energy came from this mixture which left a lot to be desired in the taste category. I had a couple of straight gels on the bike and one Clif Bar. I also ate 5-6 bananas- something I don't usually eat, but had trained with a little because I knew they'd be on the course. The simple sugars in those could have contributed to my stomach problems. I hadn't had a cola to drink in over 10 years, but that seemed like the best option for me on the run. I figured if I started with it & stuck with it, the simple sugars and caffeine wouldn't really spike and crash- they would maintain an even level. I drank a cup of Coke every mile and took a gel at about every other mile. I also threw in a handful of popcorn, pretzels, & animal crackers here & there. Another explanation for the peeing could have been the caffeine- something I'm not really used to. This was my first Ironman but it won't be my last. The physical toughness it takes is obvious, but the mental toughness is much greater in my opinion. Though it was nice to talk to other racers, you're out there all day with nothing to rely on but yourself. You race from dawn to well after sundown (at least I did!) and it takes a lot to keep going. I'm not going to make it to GFT next year, but I'm ready to go long again in 2002! |
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