Ironman World Champsionship 2007

I was a bit unprepared for the swim to start – I was floating in about the second row in the middle of the start line, when out of the blue Mike Reilly said “Have a good day” – BOOM!  No count down, just go.  The swim start was the roughest I’ve been in – probably had something to do with the fact that this was the World Championship!!  I got kicked a few times and elbowed in the nose once.  Finally, near 1/2 way to the turn around things started to settle a bit.  I did my best to stay on others feet and had varying degrees of success in it, but mostly found lots of good draft.  Got out of the water in 54:09 – didn’t feel disorientated at all.  I ran through the showers, grabbed my bag….

And as I turned into the changing tent I took a beautiful digger – landed directly on my hip, right elbow and then slide on the concrete scuffing my right leg a bit.  Didn’t hurt, just took me by surprise.  Got changed and out the door onto my bike.

I did my best to ride according to my HR, but with the climb up Kuakini I had a semi hard time doing so.  Eventually (with the aid of the downhill after the climb) I got my HR under control and then rode my plan.

I made the turn in Hawi in 3:00 flat of riding time, and took it easy down the 7 mile descent.  Using it as a good time to recovery, pee, and drink some fluids.  Once I got to the bottom I followed my plan and started riding a bit harder then “usual”.  Late in the ride I really began counting down how many miles were left, wanting to get off the bike badly.  My enjoyment of the ride just wasn’t there.  I also felt a bit off – part of me like stopping and throwing up would help.

Soon enough though I pulled into T2 handed my bike off and ran to get my run bag.  The Pier was excruciatingly hot under foot.  After a quick couple of minutes I was out and on my way.

The first few miles of the run went great – my legs felt fresh, bouncy and I was running solid 7:3Xs.  Shortly after the turn around my stomach (maybe even slightly before) to feel a bit full and the small urge/though to puke returned, along with an unexpected thought of “How the hell am I going to get up Palini Rd.?”

I got to Palini in great time, but as I turned off Kuakini my legs told me “no more run” – a complete shock since they had been good so far – my mind just didn’t have the willpower/drive to override my legs so I walked up the hill.  As I was cresting it Macca was coming down at about mile 25.

Miles 11-20k were very rough, very dark.  Around 20k my mind came back and I was able to get a few 9 mpm miles in out to the entrance of the Energy Lab and down into it.  A small amount of walking, but not much.

At 17 it started to get rough again – physically my muscles and legs felt very rubber – almost as if someone had thrown a hand grenade in them.  Mentally I was worried about my stomach – it felt full and I could hear and feel fluid sloshing when I did run.

At mile 19 I figured that I had about 85-90 minutes left to get in and be 10:5X.  I got myself moving, mainly by walking the first 60-90 seconds after a mile marker, and then running(more of a ugly shuffle) to the next marker.  I skipped the aid stations as my stomach was gross.

I got to town and walked down Palini, running down it hurt my legs and stomach to much for my mind to handle.  At the bottom I saw Mary who had this evil look on her face, a look so evil that if I hadn’t planned to try and run from that point on, I would have out of fear for my life!

I crossed the line at 10:51:30 a rough day, but not my worst.  It was my best effort – at the line I had nothing left.  I was totally spent.

After the race it became pretty obvious to me that my stomach had shut down at some point during the day.  At dinner I had little to no appetite and my stomach was gurgling like mad as it restarted.  Did I ride to hard? To many calories?

Not enough plain water to dilute the Infinit?  Ultimately, looking back it’s not important as I had a grand time.