Great Illini Full Distance Triathlon...
It has been a week since I have done this IM type of thingy, so here goes a brief race report.
The swim:
I think there were over 70 racers that showed up for the Full Distance event, another 200 who raced the Half distance event. So I figured it would not be a washing machine like IM swim's usually are. So somehow I started in the inside and just tried to keep a steady pace. It was a two loop trip, for a small group I sure did get hit a couple of times. One guy tried to swim into me, not once but twice, I looked up and he was alot older than me, so I didn't get to pissed about it. It was actually a relaxing swim for me, but I had a hard time staying in a straight line, veering off very wide at times because I had less people to guide off.
I actually thought I had a good swim, but 1:36:57 was a slow IM swim time, all the bikes were gone in my age group rack, that is never a fun feeling. Going to have to work on it alot harder next year and trying to swim straight in my races.
T2: 04:12
I had decided to put on my bike shorts over some running tights and applied some "butt creme" for the long ride. I did hear some teenagers or little kids in the background so I felt a little uncomfortable sticking my hand down my pants to apply the creme, but you do what you got to do right?
Bike:
I actually was not sure how this would go, my longest ride going into this was 89 miles over a month ago. So I knew my "bonking" was coming, just not sure when it would happen. Everything was going well than I started to slow down considerably around the 25 mile mark. I looked down and CRAP my tire was half flat. What to do? I actually made the decision to just pump a CO2 cartridge in the tire and see if it would hold up. So that is how I rode. Every 20+ miles or so I checked my tire, just to make sure it was still inflated, so getting off the bike was a routine I was getting into. Hmm, maybe I should have changed my tire, but I went with the moment.
Well after mile 80, I knew this coming, I was getting tired and my legs were cramping and the bike ride became a little bit of an ordeal after that. But I made it through even with one close encounter with some old lady driving her car trying to pass a car who was also passing a cyclist heading right towards me, WTF.
Bike time was 6:48:17.65 (16.5mph).
T2: 03:44.85, transition went alot smoother and just went with my cycling bandanna instead of my lucky IM hat for the run, ahh yeah I think I should have worn my hat.
Run:
After the bike, I saw I was at 8:33hrs, so if I had a decent run maybe I could finish at 13 hrs. But that quickly faded after mile 3. I had no more energy on the run. I was getting tired and not sure what was happening. Just did not have the legs to run. So loop 1, 2, and 3, became an real ordeal, a test of my mental resolve for sure. Just trying to run to each aid station was my goal. Tried changing my nutrition and "yelling at my myself", "happy thoughts", even double espresso Cliff shots. I just could not run long periods at a steady pace. Then my last loop came, it was starting to get dark and I was tired of being out there. So CRAP, WTF, it's dark out here, I needed to run, GOD DAMMIT!! and so I did!!! Not a great pace, but my best split time for sure was in the final loop. So in the darkness of night I ran in with a marathon time of 5:06:43 (my slowest IM marathon time).
Finish time was 13:39:56! In the grand scheme of things not a bad time actually, but felt I should have done better. But then again I didn't put in half the work I did to get a 13:07 at Iron Man Wisconsin in 2007. So I'll take it.
I do have many thoughts these days after finishing the Great Illini Full Distance triathlon. It was less frills than the corporate M-dot IM races. But it was well run and I did not get lost along the course. No 10+ volunteers waiting for you at the finish line, I had to actually go get my finisher's award myself. But maybe one day I will be back, because above all else it was a well organized triathlon race.
But I have to say, I was a little disappointed with my results, but upon reflection I trained less than 10 weeks for this and just wanted to have a respectable finishing time, so I did accomplish that goal.
A Goal that started with a podcast I listened to about a person who completed a 100 mile ultra Marathon and Iron Man race in the same year.
I thought to myself, I could do this. So with a grin on my face, I guess I did it. Now with one or two smaller goals for the rest of the year, I look forward in accomplishing these things as well.
It has been a week since I have done this IM type of thingy, so here goes a brief race report.
The swim:
I think there were over 70 racers that showed up for the Full Distance event, another 200 who raced the Half distance event. So I figured it would not be a washing machine like IM swim's usually are. So somehow I started in the inside and just tried to keep a steady pace. It was a two loop trip, for a small group I sure did get hit a couple of times. One guy tried to swim into me, not once but twice, I looked up and he was alot older than me, so I didn't get to pissed about it. It was actually a relaxing swim for me, but I had a hard time staying in a straight line, veering off very wide at times because I had less people to guide off.
I actually thought I had a good swim, but 1:36:57 was a slow IM swim time, all the bikes were gone in my age group rack, that is never a fun feeling. Going to have to work on it alot harder next year and trying to swim straight in my races.
T2: 04:12
I had decided to put on my bike shorts over some running tights and applied some "butt creme" for the long ride. I did hear some teenagers or little kids in the background so I felt a little uncomfortable sticking my hand down my pants to apply the creme, but you do what you got to do right?
Bike:
I actually was not sure how this would go, my longest ride going into this was 89 miles over a month ago. So I knew my "bonking" was coming, just not sure when it would happen. Everything was going well than I started to slow down considerably around the 25 mile mark. I looked down and CRAP my tire was half flat. What to do? I actually made the decision to just pump a CO2 cartridge in the tire and see if it would hold up. So that is how I rode. Every 20+ miles or so I checked my tire, just to make sure it was still inflated, so getting off the bike was a routine I was getting into. Hmm, maybe I should have changed my tire, but I went with the moment.
Well after mile 80, I knew this coming, I was getting tired and my legs were cramping and the bike ride became a little bit of an ordeal after that. But I made it through even with one close encounter with some old lady driving her car trying to pass a car who was also passing a cyclist heading right towards me, WTF.
Bike time was 6:48:17.65 (16.5mph).
T2: 03:44.85, transition went alot smoother and just went with my cycling bandanna instead of my lucky IM hat for the run, ahh yeah I think I should have worn my hat.
Run:
After the bike, I saw I was at 8:33hrs, so if I had a decent run maybe I could finish at 13 hrs. But that quickly faded after mile 3. I had no more energy on the run. I was getting tired and not sure what was happening. Just did not have the legs to run. So loop 1, 2, and 3, became an real ordeal, a test of my mental resolve for sure. Just trying to run to each aid station was my goal. Tried changing my nutrition and "yelling at my myself", "happy thoughts", even double espresso Cliff shots. I just could not run long periods at a steady pace. Then my last loop came, it was starting to get dark and I was tired of being out there. So CRAP, WTF, it's dark out here, I needed to run, GOD DAMMIT!! and so I did!!! Not a great pace, but my best split time for sure was in the final loop. So in the darkness of night I ran in with a marathon time of 5:06:43 (my slowest IM marathon time).
Finish time was 13:39:56! In the grand scheme of things not a bad time actually, but felt I should have done better. But then again I didn't put in half the work I did to get a 13:07 at Iron Man Wisconsin in 2007. So I'll take it.
I do have many thoughts these days after finishing the Great Illini Full Distance triathlon. It was less frills than the corporate M-dot IM races. But it was well run and I did not get lost along the course. No 10+ volunteers waiting for you at the finish line, I had to actually go get my finisher's award myself. But maybe one day I will be back, because above all else it was a well organized triathlon race.
But I have to say, I was a little disappointed with my results, but upon reflection I trained less than 10 weeks for this and just wanted to have a respectable finishing time, so I did accomplish that goal.
A Goal that started with a podcast I listened to about a person who completed a 100 mile ultra Marathon and Iron Man race in the same year.
I thought to myself, I could do this. So with a grin on my face, I guess I did it. Now with one or two smaller goals for the rest of the year, I look forward in accomplishing these things as well.
posted by RunBubbaRun at 10:10 PM
11 Comments:
Great job. Only 32 mins off your IM wisconsin time with considerably less focussed training. What's not to be happy about?
Looking forward to reading about your upcoming adventures...
I will take that finish any day!! You are a machine and your outcome only shows that.
You took a big risk on the bike tire... I kept waiting for some big drama with that one..but nothing.
Anyone who tackles Ultras had the mental focus to tackle what you have in this race.
CHEERS!!!!
Dude you are amazing!! Seriously homie it seemed like just yesterday (ok less than 10 weeks ago) that you said you were going to do this. How many people are THAT fit that they can pull this off, and not only that but come in at that time. You totally rocked!
And I have to thank you. My new word of the week is "butt cream" HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAAA Love it!
It sure isn't easy being well enough trained to complete both an IM and a 100-mile ultra in one season, you kicked ass!
I like that Mcnaughton buckle BTW, i don't know that I saw it before.
That's a very good time in comparison to your previous IM, considering the difference in training.
I'll be interested in your opinion later on - I'm kicking around a post comparing IM training to ultra training. If you want to beat me to it, feel free.
Dude, I think you did an excellent job when considering where you were just a month before. And if when not considering that setback. One of these days, you'll have to tell me what "butt creme" you use. I'm sure you provided some kids with a great tale to tell. And, you likely were the butt of some jokes among them thereafter. He he.
Truly, you kept at it when everything was telling you not to. That's perserverance if ever I heard it.
SIMPLY.
AWESOME.
You amaze me! Congratulations on two HUGE accomplishments!
I have been waiting for Donald to compare an IM to a 100 miler. I'd be interested in your take on things as well.
Congratulations on a solid race!
I read this report and it strikes me: we athletes are strange. I too anticipate the bonk, the pain, and yet do it anyway - that's a given. But the part that really gets me is that by anticipating it, we somehow deflate its power - just like you did. Nicely done.
Hey, did you realize that you & I finished within 2 minutes of each other at IM '06? I never did until now! I did a 13:09. Unreal!
You are awesome Bubba. I am inspired by how you just go out and get it done! Congrats!
Sorry I'm late to the party, but WAY TO GO BUBBA!
All those run loops would have gotten to me too. That's gotta be tough to keep going on another one, and another one, and...
And don't worry about butt cream and teenagers. They just don't get it.
Again, nice job!! Congrats!
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