august 11 2012 nyc ironman (almost) My day at the nyc ironman 2:00am alarm clock 2:05am alarm clock 3:00am car service to the 39th street Manhattan ferry terminal Let the day begin. People are still out gallivanting and I am headed towards a race in the dark. I was on the first ferry out of 39th street and arrived in NJ around 4:30am. I checked out my bike. I checked the air pressure. I filled up water bottle and said hello to the neighbors. Some of the Swimfree team had their bikes right by mine. Shook hands hugged etc… went to the line for the ferry to the transition dock. Now I am sitting with the first ten people which should mean that we should be the first to arrive at the swim start dock. The eerie glow of the floodlights begin to fade as it starts to brighten up as sunrise approaches. As we are headed upriver on the ferry the sun pops up like a glowing orb rising over the Bronx. We were the first to dock at the swim start after the pros had started. I ended up in the first group of 10 to 12 swimmers. The anthem was sung, the cannon fired, and we were walking down the ramp to the swim start. Check goggles and just jump in. put my head down and swam swam swam. I did not check my time or look to see where I was other than trying to stay in a straight path about 15 feet to the right of the buoy markers. I did not even look to see where the finish was until I had about 1,000 meters left and then I just put my head down again and swam. I got my standard swim leg cramp in the last 300 meters or so. The swim was fine until right at the finish and then it got sandy / muddy. You could not see anything it was like a wall of mud had erupted. Now it is out of water up the ramp being pulled up by the willing arms of the volunteer crew. The swim was over and it wasn’t even 8am. I was feeling good and had gained an hour against my nemesis the time cutoffs. I took my time going thru the swim bike transition. A volunteer handed me my bag and I proceeded over to my trusty Bianchi. I sat down by the bike, drank some Gatorade. Tried to clear the river and mud out of my nasal passages and did all my stuff. Socks, shoes, helmet, swimfree bib all were put on but I still ended up forgetting my bike gloves and putting my bib on backwards. 10 minutes or so later I was out the exit and up the hill saw an old friend Ann Marie on the hill, leg cramp hit again on the hill. Up on the road and moving well and feeling ok. Out on the highway things seemed to be moving along. The sun was trying to break through the clouds. A lot of riders saying the phrase that I hate “on the left”. Start into a big long fast downhill segment where I got up over 40mph. That’s a bit faster than I like to go. Remembered that it is an out and back course so I realized that the big long downhill is going to be a real terrible uphill on the way back (which it was both times). Rolling hills the entire course. There is a bad bike crash with the poor rider lying on road in the returning lane with volunteers there helping out. For the next mile or so I was yelling at all upcoming riders to slow down. On the return leg the injured rider was still there with the ambulance crew. Did some more cruising along until that long downhill is now a long uphill and it is a killer. Just put it in low gear and kept my head down. Soon that uphill climb was over. Almost at the bike halfway point and I stopped to grab my bike special needs bag from the great volunteer crew. Eating a Peanut butter sandwich and some Gatorade as I sit in shade under the gas station overhang. Make a couple of phone calls, cramps not going away. Try to stretch it. Take some Advil. Put some sunscreen on. Back on the bike and off to the turnaround. Doing good make the first turn around at around 12:15 and I am 75 minutes ahead of course cutoff. Probably just under 15 mph average. Still on track.. Sunscreen is screwing up my grip on bike. That is why it helps to remember your bike gloves. Plus the padding is an extra benefit. It was good that I switched my bib around to the right position as I was eating and trying to work on the cramps. If I hadn’t done that then I would not have been recognized at the 70 mile needs station. One of the nice things of the day was I stopped at one of the water tables and the man in charge saw my swimfreeangel shirt. He said that all the kids working the tables were from children’s village which swimfree supports with the donations raised. Two of the kids said that when they complete their swim training they wanted to be an angel just like me. Now I have been called many things in my life but I am not called an angel too often. It does show that the programs that swimfree supports do make a difference in peoples’ lives. Course is starting to get empty. Cramps are getting worse. Pulling on knee. Tightening the right thigh. Shifting foot position. Standing on pedals. Leaning back. Leaning forward. Nothing works long. Realize that my time advantage is beginning to slip away. All the people who are left are either slow like me or those who had a slow swim or were on the later swim starts. See a deer on the side of the road. See some other small animals scurrying around. Pace is slowing. I just can’t get comfortable. Each move sets off cramps. Calf is rock hard. Fluids and foods are ok. Stomach is fine. But the cramps are staring to really exert a toll. Last 27 miles are pure hell. Constantly need to keep shifting in the seat. Trying everything to kill the cramps but nothing is working. Cramp is now pulling on knee and forcing thigh to cramp. Speed is dropping as I try to adjust to cramps. Nice downhill to finish but need to take it slow because of all the people. Probably averaged in the 12mph range for the second half of the bike. The slower speed is making my nemesis the time limits grow larger and larger. Finally get off the never ending uphill last portion of the palisades. Nice downhill ride to the finish but I can’t enjoy it as I can’t get comfortable and I am realizing that I am out of time. I see Brad from the Swimfree team and CIBBOWS heading up the hill and starting the run course. Make it into the changing tent and it feels like an oven. Sneakers on. It is now 4:50 and as I do the math there is no way that I am going to be able to do the 14 miles in time to beat the 9pm cutoff. In fact there is no way that I am going to be able to do the run / walk at all. The leg cramps have won and I am go into the medic tent and hand over my chip. They ask if I am ok do I need help do I need fluids do I need medical help do I need a doctor. I tell them I am fine other than the cramps The Cramps have won today. I just head to the head of the ferry line and tell them the medics said to get on the next ferry back to NYC. I cannot get comfortable on the ferry and I need to stand to try and relieve the twitching and pulses in my legs. The worst thing is that the ferry puls into 79th street and I get to see people who are just finishing the race. That is just a smack in the head. My race day is over and I am now back in the real world with people who have no idea that I was even in a race. What do I need to do in order to be more ready for the next ironman or its equivalent? I need to figure out why I keep getting leg cramps in longer swims I need to have a better bicycle that is fully equipped for triathlon events I need to increase my speed in walking / jogging so that the idea of a time limit is not even an issue. Lose the last seven pounds. Continue to workout. Continue core work. To all the volunteers - thanks To all who supported me – thanks To my wife April who puts up with me – a great big thanks.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 19:30:13 +0000
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