Race Day: Sunday - 8.28.11
Dear Family and Friends,
It is with great pleasure and pride that I sit down to write this race report for Ironman Louisville. This report will hopefully relay the days events, take you through my high and low moments, share my diabetes management successes and lessons, and last but not least, express my deep gratitude for all of your love and support over the past year. My race ended with a finish time of 12:54:57 (1:12 Swim, 6:41 Bike, 4:31 Run with about 30 minutes in transitions and 4 smaller stops on the bike). Be warned: This report is long, and may be a bit of an endurance event in itself...
Last year IM Louisville had the highest DNF rate out of all the IM distance races worldwide, including IM Kona, this was due to the high heat and humidity (heat index of 105 for most the day) So to say that we were a bit concerned about the heat going into the race would be an understatement! So my first thank you goes to all those of you who prayed for cool weather on the 28th, because those prayers were answered. Sunday the 28th proved to be one of the coolest days in a stretch of 90-95 degree weather, with a high of around 88 and decent cloud cover for most of the morning!
Sunday kicked off with my alarm being set for 4:00AM, but I didn’t really need the alarm, seeing as I was wide-awake by 2:00AM and there was zero chance of me going back to sleep. So I just laid in my bed and thought through my day from start to finish about 1000 times. Race breakfast was about 150 carbs of bagels, yogurt, and a banana all washed down with water, sports drink, and some coffee. Blood sugars were stable around the 100 mark all morning. Scott, Raja, and I headed down to transition to pump up our tires, fill our water bottles and do one last gear check before heading to race start for body marking and last minute hugs and kisses from family before we jumped in the water just after 7:00AM.
The Swim:
I was going to be eating one gel prior to race start and would be turning off my pump for the duration of the 2.4 mile swim. Pre-race BG was about 150. I had arranged with the IM Support Team to have my Omnipod meter held for me at the “Eye Glass Drop Table” where a volunteer would move it to the swim finish for me so it would be awaiting my arrival. Enough cannot be said for the support and volunteers that IM has organized. I was so impressed with the level of dedication and competency that their team showed leading up to and through this entire event, just awesome. As the cannon went off and we made our way into the almost 80 degree Ohio river the usual pre-race jitters were there, but I felt ready, still walking myself through my race day strategy and diabetes plan. The first 100 yards of the swim were darkened by me witnessing volunteers doing CPR on an athlete on the side of the river. I was saddened to learn after the race that the gentleman passed away from a heart attack. It was a pretty upsetting way to start a 13-hour day. But, shortly after my spirits were lifted as I breathed to my left and I saw Raja swimming right next to me! Immediately I was back on track as I tried to get his attention by yelling and pumping my fist in the air. I finished the swim feeling okay but not 100% when I got into the T1 tent I tested my sugar and was a bit low (BG about 59) so I immediately ate 1 extra gel then went on with my scheduled insulin plan. Big BIG shout out here to Cliff Scherb for writing my pre-race, and race day insulin plans and food intake strategy. They were spot on, and a major factor in my success. Thank you Cliff, I could not have done this without you! So I took 6.5 units of insulin right into my thighs and was on my way to a great bike ride!
The Bike:
Raja, Scott and I went out Friday to drive the entire bike course and to ride a bit of the loop though the town of La Grange. This proved to be a great idea. We all had read that Louisville offered a tough bike course, so getting to see it first hand and to ride a bit of it before race day was invaluable. We discussed our strategy – easy on the ups and hammer the flats and downs. To say the least, the strategy worked, with Raja and Scott averaging over 18-19mph for the day (amazing!) and me averaging just about 17mph! (2 mph faster than I thought ol’ Big Red could push). The bike course was amazing. Touring through the Kentucky countryside, passing horse farms, and rolling green hills. Also, the weather was just about perfect, light breeze, and mild temperatures with light clouds offering the occasional patch of shade.
I thought about my Dad quite a bit throughout the day, but most while on the bike. On my many training rides through the Bay Area, up over Mt. Diablo and Morgan Territory Road I would feel him with me. And now on race day, I was thinking how much he would have loved to be out there with me riding and taking it all in, appreciating the beauty and the challenge that Louisville had to offer. Thank you Dad, that ride was for you.
I stopped 4 times on the bike – twice to eat and check my BG (100, 115) and twice to use the restroom. People talk about relieving themselves on the bike without stopping, but I just could not bring myself to do it. Maybe next time! The bike ride could not have gone any better; I paced myself and focused on keeping my heart rate at or below the 150 mark. If I went up a climb and noticed that my HR went up I would allow myself adequate time to get my HR back well below 150. I really felt strong for the first 60 miles and that is when I felt my first ping of doubt, a guy passed me climbing a small hill and I was starting to feel a burn in my quads and as he passed he said “…and to think, you still have to run a marathon!” Right then I doubted myself, but I immediately forced myself to start thinking positive and put it out of my mind. I started talking to myself, “Stick to the plan, you are ready, easy boy, fresh and loose, nice and easy, fresh and loose…”
I found that these low points or “dark moments” would come and go, and as the day wore on and fatigue set in, they would get closer and closer together but they would always pass, I just had to keep pushing on.
Coming in off the bike was great, I felt okay for having just ridden 112 miles and was ready to set out on the run. I headed into transition, changed my socks and shoes, geared up, hit the restroom and I was off!
The Run:
Heading out for the marathon I felt confident but respectful of the challenge that was before me. I had a plan to take it really easy for the first 3-6 miles and by mile 5 find my pace and settle into a rhythm. As I ran onto the course I was greeted by my family, Melissa, Regan, Mom, Jenn, and Benet all cheering and yelling “We love you!” and “Chael is up the road and is going to run with you!” My spirits soared at this point, having not seen them for hours, their love and support lifted me so much. I round the corner and there is Chael, or as I like to call him Captain Positive. He checked in with me, asked if I was okay and said “dude, you look strong” and “dude, you are two thirds of the way to being an Ironman!” We ran together for a few blocks, he gave me the update on Scott and Raja flying through the course ahead of me and then peeled off to join the rest of the family.
A special note here for Chael – We all joked that this whole thing was Chael’s fault for talking us into signing up in the first place. But all joking aside Chael has been not only a great friend to me over the past year, but coach, champion and therapist, guiding me on my path to completing this race and it would not have been possible without him. Thank you Chael.
By mile 5 I was feeling good, I was in my groove and was consuming my 55 grams of carb every hour. I would eat one gel and then at the aid stations I would walk through, fill my water and drink either coke, sports drink, or later in the day chicken broth. The run was a two-loop course and heading in around mile 13-15 to start the second loop I was excited to see the family again and there was Chael running along my side checking in. I stopped to check my BG and it was 135, which was awesome, I felt okay, but not great and my stomach was starting to take a dive. As I headed out for the second loop mile 15-20 were rough. I was hitting more and more low points and my emotions were raw. I was definitely feeling it in my legs and body, and told myself, “Alright buddy, this is it, you know you will make it, time to suck it up and tough it out.” Gut Check Time! Mile 20 hit and I was on the home stretch. Only 6 miles to go, I would feel great like I could hold my pace no problem for the next 6 miles then 30 seconds later I would feel like I would need to walk the remaining miles. About mile 20 I was also doing the math, I knew I had about 1 hour to go to break the 13-hour mark, so I was really pushing.
The waves from feeling good to bad became more and more frequent and my stomach issues were constantly on my mind, but I didn’t want to stop, I had to keep pushing forward. I found that saying “thank you” to the volunteers or “good work” to the athletes next to me really helped pick me up when I was starting to struggle. Also, small things would trigger thoughts on the course. At around mile 22 some people had their stereo blasting “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield, and I could not help but laugh and think of my sister Maureen, Don and the girls. It brought a huge smile to my face and for a few minutes I felt great! Just the thought of my family would lift my spirits, and a wave emotion that I would have to hold back.
My Omnipod finally gave up the ghost around mile 20. Quite frankly I was surprised that given how much I sweat that it was able to hang on as long as it did! I felt it flapping on my arm so I tried to hold it down, but at mile 25 I stopped at the special needs tent and grabbed an extra syringe of insulin to take with me to the finish line just in case I needed it.
Coming around the bend for the final half-mile I knew I had made it and I saw Chael standing there waiting to run with me for a couple blocks. He told me Raja and Scott had made it, which made me feel great, I was so proud of them. Then he told me my family was waiting for me and I had to hold back the tears. Rounding the turn onto 4th Street and seeing the lights of the finish line and hearing the crowd is something I will remember for the rest of my life. All the pain was gone; I could not believe that it was over. Coming across the finish line I saw my family waiting there cheering, smiling, and crying. Saying it was incredible moment and feeling does not do it justice.
The sport of triathlon may be an individual event. But completing this race was only possible with support from family and friends along the way. I am so thankful for all the kind words of encouragement, advice, and love that you all offered me over the past year preparing for Louisville. A special thank you goes to my wonderful girlfriend Melissa for supporting (and putting up with) me along the way. Dealing with all the long workouts, crazy diet needs, early nights and even earlier mornings, pushing me when I needed it and being there to listen when I needed someone to share my concerns, doubts, and fears with. You are an amazing woman and I thank you for all the sacrifices you made this year to help me accomplish this goal.
Lastly, I want to dedicate this race to all of you, my family and friends who mean so very much to me. You know who you are. This race was about proving to myself and to all of you, that anything is possible. My Dad told me many years ago that if your mind has the ability to conceive a goal, whatever that may be, your body and mind have the ability to achieve it. The challenge lies in setting your sights on that goal and being unwavering in your pursuit to success. I now know that is true. Anything is possible.
So I guess the only question that remains is – when do we start training for Kona? :)
With Love and Thanks,
Jeff
