Background: Ironman # 34. In this, my age-up year, I’m trying to re-create the success I had 2005-2015 (7 AG wins, 3 course records, 9 KQs). That plan has always been risky, given the physical and mental ravages of so many races and a full life of sports over the previous 6 decades. I did manage a 2nd place finish this May 4 at the ITU LD WC in Spain. Which left about 3 weeks of real training time between Big Races, during which I anxiously awaited the birth of our first grandchild, who finally popped out May 25. After which I left for my annual Bad Ass camp in CO.
Goal: Simply KQ. One other competitor already had a slot, and 3 others were DNS. which left 2 real competitors in my AG.
Admin: Arrived in Boulder Friday after noon. Lodging fortuitously one block from finish line and buses to start, T1 & T2 20′ away @ Boulder Reservoir. Spent the next 24 hours registering, meeting EN teammates for dinner, sleeping, prepping bags, transporting to the Rez, returning to watch Rocketman, followed by traditional Jamba Juice dinner. Weather was warm (80s), with afternoon showers in the days leading up to the race. Race day promised wake-up temp of 46, cloudy in the low 50s until 2 PM, the sunny in the low 60s for the run.
Swim: Despite only ~ 1300 entering the water, it took over 45′ to single file us into the 67F water for the one loop swim. I lined up near front of 1:20-1:30. I swam steady with very little contact and almost no one slower or faster than me around. I was hoping to go 1:24; went 1:26 by the mats, more like 1:25 of swimming. Garmin shows 4500 yds. T1 a fairly long trip, made longer by putting on socks, sleeves, and vest needed for the cold. I was 3/4 in T1, 11 compared to 10 and 8′. Out of T1 in 2nd place.
Bike: Goal, 6:30; actual 6:34:30, which includes about 6′ of stoppage time for porta-potti x 2 and SN stop for moving time of 6:28:30. My plan was for an NP of 127, KJ 2700, a VI of 1.05, with no spikes over 180, and very little time above 150 watts. Actual numbers: NP 123, VI 1.08, KJ 2665, 1′ power of 211 (4 x 10-12% grade), 3′ of 172, 5′ of 165, 10′ of 146, 20′ of 134… The two-loop course had very good pavement, and was mostly 1-2% up or down, with 2 hills of 4-6% for 5-10′, with those short, steep kickers. The biggest negative during the ride was my pedaling balance: 58L/42R for the first three hours, 57/43 for the next 3, and 56/44 for the last 30′ This reflects my increasingly damaged Right knee with osteoarthritis and concomitant R quad weakness. T2=6:30. This was actually fastest in my AG. I was in 2nd Pl @ this point.
Run: The first 14 miles went perfectly to my plan of 11-12′ miles – all were between 10:50 and 12:20. Then, just as in Spain @ the same distance, my Right knee swelling became prominent enough that I entered a forced march to the end: I averaged 14-15′ miles to the end. I had not run more than 12 miles during training, and that distance only once. So, I guess I got what I paid for. I ended up a bit over 14 hours, but still able to walk, unlike the race in Spain when I was pretty crippled for 24 hours after the race, which was “only” 18.6 miles.
Finish: The highlight of my day came at the finish line. EN co-founder and erstwhile Coach Rich Strauss, who moved to Boulder a few months ago and who had come to dinner with us Friday night (and who rode his moto hauling head referee Jimmy Ricotello around the course) was there at the finish to greet me. Not only did he offer congratulations, but he stayed with me all the way back to my motel, carrying bags and bike for which I am forever grateful.
My motel was close enough to the finish line that I listened to Mike Reilly hollering “You Are An Ironman” until 11:55 PM. I checked the results, and discovered I was 3rd, and thus had lost the Kona slot. I found I was actually relieved with the news, rather than upset. I admitted to myself that I had been fearful of both t and ski. I’m @ peace with retiring from IM, satisfied with my career and palmares there.”You Never Know Your Limits Until You Go Past Them” <
Next morning, at the urging of my wife, I made sure to attend the awards ceremony – in my mind, to honor and respect the race and my competitors. I sat with Steph Stevens and Patti Rosen (who won her AG), and stayed for the Roll-Down, as it is usually entertaining and sometimes heart-warming seeing the re-actions of those who get the slots.
Little did I know…
In all previous years, the roll-down has started, like the awards, with youngest first. This year, the oldest AG – 70-74 men – was called first. I was dumbfounded no one responded when Mike called the 2nd place finisher’s name three times. I had just become the entertainment I stayed to see.
Running up to the stage again, Mike asked me how many times I’d qualified. I answered, this was the 10th. AND THE LAST. I have been given a wonderful gift, the chance to “go out on top” and one last opportunity to get it right, whatever that means in my condition.