Ironman Wisconsin

Ironman Wisconsin is held in Madison which is about 5 hrs from where I live so planning a whole day of travel to the race was not needed like last year going to St. George, UT.  We left Friday morning in a convoy fashion with my parents following. 


(Friday) Arrival to Madison: I figured stopping at the race site to check in prior to getting to the hotel

Line for Check in Friday

would be the best option for some reason.  Originally I planned to get the family settled in at the hotel then head over to the expo.  After waiting in line for an hour and a half, I was finally checked in with the race so glad we stopped there first. We got checked in to the hotel, made supper (spaghetti) and settled in for a good nights sleep.

(Saturday) The weather forecast was calling for temps in the 90s today so I figured the sooner I got my workouts in and equipment turned in the better. I met up with Jason who was doing his first Ironman (and rocked it by the way) to do quick bike, swim and run. We met at the hotel, rode out on the course for a few miles then rode back into town and to the swim start.  My dad was at the swim start; he had our bags since I planned to drop off my bikes and bags after finishing our workouts.  I got into to the wet suit and swam out to the start line, to the first bouy and back to the start area.  Out of swim gear and into run gear then we headed out on an easy 2-mile run.  Pretty much nailing the pace I was planning for the next day (8:00/mi).  

            
I packed up my T1 (bike gear) and T2 (run gear) bags and we head up to Transition area. I was able to walk right through to get my bike checked in to T1.  I did a quick check of landmarks to look for so I knew where my bike was the next day.  Headed back inside to drop off my bags at the two transition areas.  This race the transition area is in the same place T1/T2 (change area for both) are inside the Monona Terrace and the bike rack taking up a complete level of the parking ramp.  In 2012, my buddy Matt and I worked in T1 so I had a good idea how to navigate through the transition areas and where the change room was. After that it was time to head back to the hotel for lunch.

             
The rest of the day I mostly chilled out in the room, continued to hydrate and took a nap. We had some family come to visit that included some swimming/play time for the kids; we picked up dinner to eat in the room.  I was able to get my special needs bags together and to bed at a decent time to get some zzzzz before the 4:00 am alarm went off.

(Race Morning)
That 4:00am alarm seemed like it was never going to go off. I laid awake for the last 30

Swim Start (Calm before the storm)

minutes just thinking about the day. Finally the alarm went off I got up starting making my breakfast: bagel, PB, banana, yogurt, chocolate milk and coffee (of course).  I got all my nutrition for the day together to load on my bike in the morning and double-checked my special needs bags. I met my Dad down in the hotel lobby prior to heading over to the Alliant Energy Center where the shuttle buses were. We hopped on a shuttle, which drops you about 2 blocks from the race finish and the Monona Terrace.  We walked over to drop off my special needs bags then over to transition to prep the bike.  Put all my nutrition on the bike which was only 2 bottles of UCAN and 2 cliff bars.  In line for body marking and then we headed over to the swim start area.  Final prep time, butterflies were going, drank my pre-race UCAN started to get my wetsuit on and before long it was time to head to the water. 

Swim- 1:11:33 Division Rank 48/264

In the water I attempted to be on the furthest side of the ski jump.  Before long the pros were on their

Shortly after the swim start

way.  Soon the other 2500+ athletes and I were awaiting the count down.  Soon silence fell among us and the cannon…BOOM! We were off; I planned to stay with a similar paced pack trying to swim around 1:10 or faster.  The swim course was one big loop were we swimming down the shore line along Monona Terrace to the bridge then back to the swim exit.  I assumed by the time we got down to the first left turn it would clear up. Man, was I mistaken it seemed as if I was swimming in chaos the whole way. I couldn’t move around mostly suck in the middle of a pack of all the other average IM swimmers (1:05-1:15). As we made out last turn to the shore it finally began to open up and I was able to not worry about catching an elbow or foot to the face. Finally I was able to swim hard (kicking to get the blood back to the legs) for the last 300-400 yards to the swim exit. Out of the water I saw the clock just over my goal time but nothing I can’t make up later in the race.

T1- 6:47

Once out of the water came the task of running over up to Monona Terrace 3 levels up.  Wet suit strippers were right there as we got out of the water.  Then up the helix, it seemed like we ran in circles forever to finally get to T1.  I ran into the T1 area straight to my bag and over to the change area. Out came the helmet, shoes and sunglasses in went the wetsuit goggles and swim cap. Ran out of the change area and out to the parking level with the bike racks. I was two light poles on the right, headed straight to my bike and then over to the bike mount line.  Then it was down the helix out on the bike course.  

Bike- 5:50:59 (19.15 mph) Division Rank 46/264

Once on the bike the same crowd I had during the swim was still around me. It was congested but I wasn’t going to try to go hard right away, I will wait until we get out of town. There were a number of turns and bike paths before we got to that point so I just stated with pack.  The bike course when right by the hotel we stayed at so that was my first chance to see my support crew. On our way out of town I started to make some passes and got set in with my power and pace.  Approaching a section of

some rolling hills I noticed no one on a bike in front of me so I got the TT bike tunnel vision (only looking at the pavement 3-4 feet in front of my front tire).  Before I knew it I am looking at a guy trying to move off the roadway. He made it out of the way but not with his chair. I went straight in to his chair over the handlebars and in the ditch.  It was one of the photographers taking pictures sitting on the roadway. My first thought was “what the hell what that” then it was concern my bike was damaged. I jumped over to my bike picked it up checked it over the camera guy asked if I was ok. I said I was fine; the bike seemed to be fine and ride able. I checked to make sure I didn’t lose any water bottles or gear off my bike then I started back out. I looked down at my watch 8 miles in, man lot of bike leg left. I was pretty upset but I knew I needed to curb that and start focusing on the bike.  As I made my way to the loops on the course, I noticed my power meter was not synced with my watch anymore after the dive in the ditch.  Eventually I stopped and let it sync since it seemed every one else around me had a power meter. Finally after 21 miles in on the bike all the fall out from the mishap seemed to be remedied.

The loops on the bike course were new terrain to me so I planned to take the first loop conservatively. I had a few attempts to ride the loops of the course but never got the opportunity. There was a good amount of uphill but also some fun downhill sections. There were a few tough climbs where the riders got to experience something similar to the Tour de France, while riding up the hill and having spectators run up the hill with you dressed in an array of costumes. As I finished the first loop I came into Verona where most of the spectators were and caught a glimpse of my support crew and later on some friends from Mankato. With the first loop complete, I was feeling good so I figured I was just going to similar keep power/pace for the second loop.  Then on the way back in to town I spent the last 15 miles just getting myself ready for the run. Again I came by the hotel got a wave from my parents (it was nap time for the boys). As I headed back to the Monona Terrace I pulled my feet out of my shoes and started to pedal up the ramp and on the helix. Once to the dismount line and I ran my bike to a handler and in to the building for T2.

T2 4:18

           

Again running to my bag in T2 and straight over to the change area to put on my socks/shoes and visor. I had a volunteer helping this time since the first time I had about 200 other dudes in the change area.  He grabbed my helmet put it in my bag and I was on my way out. I started to run out and realized I left my sunglasses in my helmet so I ran back to find my bag.  In hindsight the sun stayed behind the clouds and most of the time my sunglasses were on my head anyway so I probably could have saved the 2 minutes by leaving them but it is what it is. Ran out of the building off the parking ramp and on the streets for the 26.2-mile run.

Run 3:40:04 (8:23/miles) Division Rank 25/264

           

Mostly likely you have read something on my blog to know this is my strength. I had a great season with my run as my anchor.  I set a goal to run a faster marathon in this race then I had run a year prior in an open marathon.  So the plan was to keep my pace around 8:00/miles not to worry to much about overall pace but real pace so I can walk the aid stations as needed. This course was a 2-loop course with the highlights being the University of Wisconsin stadium, State Street and running along the

Though the Stadium

shore of the lake. I felt great, glad to be off the bike with road rash on my elbows and hip to help motivate me. I knew a number of athletes competing today and with the design of the course with a number of out and back sections I was sure to see some of them during the run. The first loop I kept pace very well, I was mostly taking water at the aid stations and began to take some fruit here and there during the first 13.1 miles. There were a few hills, which I slowed to jog/walk, but there were downhills where I used it to my advantage.

Finish!

On my way to the midway point I was able to high five Chaun as he was digging in to the first mile of his marathon on his first Ironman. Soon I saw Jess and my Dad, I stopped to give her a kiss and thank her. Just what I needed as I started in to the last half of this run leg. With two sections of the loop on State Street part of me wanted to join in on the tailgating and crack open a beer. On another out and back section I ran in to Tom, a very inspiring ultra runner also doing his first Ironman, and he was just having a blast. Good to know in 30 years I can still be out there having the fun he is. During the second loop I took a little more time at the aid stations more water with some coke here and there along with fruit. I forgot about the flask of UCAN that I had until into the second loop so I took a few pulls from it as well. Finally the end was insight the last mile of that run was very electric with the crowd. I knew my goal of going under 11 hours was going to happen. I made my way around the capital build and on my way to the carpet. It felt great, down the carpet on my 2^nd Full Ironman Crossing the line in 10:53:41.

Under the finish line with my boys!

Couldn't have asked for a better day with temps in the upper 70s and a cloud cover most of the day. Some handlers grabbed me, even though I was fine. I found out later they missed a few that needed help and ended up crashing after the finish line. Got to an area where my support crew could find me and congratulated a few athletes around me that I had seen a number of times during the day.  Got my post race photo then it was time to reunite with the family.  Another great day! Awesome to have their support! And I did beat my open marathon PR from a year ago of 3:41:11!