Ironman Wisconsin 2008
Good lord. Has it really been over a week since I finished? Sure as hell doesn't seem like it. I will say, being back in the office for my first full week of work was a little odd. It was a sort of a letdown after last week. Anyways, forget about that. I promised everyone a race report, didn't I?
Pre-Race
This time around I was smart. Two years ago, I stayed at a LaQuinta Inn about 8 miles down the road from downtown. Saved a little money, sure, but I was driving back and forth all weekend. This year I stayed at a hotel right off of Capitol Square, about two blocks from Monona Terrace (the main hub for the race). It sure was nice not having to pull out the car all weekend.
The weekend leading up to the race was great. The weather was perfect. I was able to get a few swims in and a short ride and run in in the days leading up to the race. That did wonders for keeping my mind at ease. I had a lot more doubts going into the race this year. Thankfully, I had done the distance and course before, so the big unknown wasn't a factor. After last year, though, I had a lot more doubts about my ability to complete the race.
Anyhoo, I spent a lot of time wandering Madison, getting a few workouts in, shooting some photos, etc. After getting everything checked in on Saturday, I had nothing to do really but keep off my feet as much as possible. Which sucks when your mind is racing. So I spent the afternoon reading a bunch of the magazines I had brought with me. Yay for making a dent in your reading pile. Finally crashed that night around 10 or so. Up and down most of the night and finally got out of bed around 4 the next morning.
I got my special needs bags dropped off right at 5 when they started accepting them. Went and checked on the bike, topping off the tire pressure while there. Headed in to make a pit stop and then just sat down to mentally prep for the day. Talked to a couple of others racing that day and just tried not to dwell on what lay ahead.
Swim
Around 6:30 I headed down to the water. Moved through the crowd, made sure the wetsuit was all good to go and watched the pros go off. After, that, I headed into the water. Had 10 minutes to go before the mass start, so I moved out to find a good spot in the water and swam a bit to get loose and warmed up. Soon enough it was 7:00 and the cannon was going off.
They call the mass start in an Ironman "the human washing machine". That's about as close to an accurate description as you're likely to find anywhere. I got out away from the elbowing and kicking as fast as I could. About halfway through the first leg I had found a good rhythm and was drafting off of a few different people. Unlike two years ago, this time the water was smooth and clear. I was able to get out of the water in just under 90 minutes. Out of the water, on my back as the nice (and cute) volunteers stripped off my wetsuit. (Really is nice to have wetsuit strippers after the swim.) Head up the helix and into transition.
Bike
Heading out on the bike, I'm feeling good and strong. Nice and cool out, but no rain this year! No wind either, for that matter! Bike is behaving as well. The bike course is a two-loop course. Well, mostly. Actually, its more of a lollipop. Seriously. You head out from Madison to Verona, about 15 miles or so. Then its two laps around a ~40 mile loop over mostly rolling hills.
For most of the bike, I'm playing tag with John, another racer who's keeping pace with me for most of the ride. We're able to chat a bit and get to know each other. Turns out he was racing two years ago with me as well. We were even keeping pace with each other back then as well. Get through most of the first loop and then to the only real sustained climb on the course. At this point, John and I are joking that we're getting nervous. We haven't been passed yet by the lead pro. Last time, we had gotten lapped about 2-3 miles before this climb. We make it up the climb feeling strong and get passed by said pro right after we finish the climb.
The first lap ends after heading through the small town of Verona. On race day there's a small festival going on and you have screaming people on either side of the road as you head on through. It really is a great experience. The second lap is just more of the same. I'm still feeling good and strong. I finally lose John at the long climb with about 25 miles left to go. I finish the second lap and start heading back into Madison. At this point, there's finally a little bit of wind. My left knee is starting to bug me a little bit at this point. (Hitting it on the wave runner a week prior prolly wasn't the best thing.) Get back to the Terrace around 4:15.
Run
After the bike, my left knee is twinging a little but not feeling too bad. Heading out of T2, I check the time: not quite 4:30. I'm feeling confident now that I'm going to complete this race. For the first lap, I'm running for the most part, only walking the aid stations. Once on the UW campus, I have to walk up Observatory Hill (my knee is sore and the leg is tightening up) but am able to run the rest of it. Finish the first lap back by the capitol and grab my snack out of special needs. Run down the hill through mile 14. Then my run started to fall apart.
For the rest of the second lap, I'm slowing down more and more. My left knee is still annoying me, but not too bad. My legs have started to really tighten up, and my feet are killing me. I can tell I'm going to have a nasty case of blisters after all this. I'm starting to psyche myself out, running the numbers and questioning whether or not I'll finish. Thankfully, I meet Candice and we spend a good chunk of the lap encouraging each other. By 9:30, I only have another 5 miles to go and I finally relax: I know I'm going to finish this.
Long story a little bit shorter, I cross the finish line right around 11:30.
Final Thoughts
My goal for this race was to simply finish. After last season, I was using it more as a confidence builder and a baseline to go from next season. I'm signed up for Wisconsin again next September. I have several goals to meet between now and then, but am looking forward to seeing how much of a difference I can make in the next year.
Ironically, my body bounced back a lot faster from it this time around, despite being so much more beaten up. I was a bit of a sloth on Monday afternoon, but come Tuesday I was up and about. Well, as much up as my poor, blistered feet would allow. That gives me a lot of confidence in the base I have built up over the last few years.
So, here's to next year! Huge thanks to dw_duck and bittergem. I really appreciated the hospitality and opportunity to see you both!