Hypothermia is a *itch! IMLP Race Report

[triflor]

Hey Ladies! Thanks to all of you for your encouragement along the way. I'll start with the obvious fact that I did not finish. At around 10pm, I was out on the run and it started to pour down some very chilly rain! I'd been doing cautious walk/runs because of a knee problem, and after the rain hit I got too cold and couldn't keep any kind of decent pace. I was going along with two other women, but my legs just weren't moving right, and pretty soon I was seeing them 100 yards ahead. I would run to catch up, and walk about ten steps before they were ahead of me again. At 11:34 pm, I looked at my watch and started calculating. Some how the past mile had taken me a half hour! My muscles were TOO cold. I had 3 miles left to go, and I knew that to make it I would have had to go the pace I would do that distance alone on a training day. Not to mention the biggest hill on the run course was in that stretch. So in the rain, shivering, wobbling, and barely keeping my eyes open I made the heartbreaking decision to call it a day.
The race support crew was right there (being the last runner on course sometimes has benefits), and put me in the truck and took me straight to medical. The minute I got there I collapsed, which tells me that my decision was for the best in the long run. My temp was 96 I think, so it was low, but could have been much worse. The medical staff were wonderful. Seriously! Its horrible to be lying on those cots, knowing what you've just missed out on. But the medical staff were kind and attentive, helpful...

All that being said I can back track to the rest of the race. The swim was beautiful! Mirror Lake deserves its name, and proves to be as calm as most pools. Coming out of the water I felt as good as when I got in. One thing I did have trouble with was Charlie Horses in my calves about 3/4 of the way through.

The bike course went really well the first lap. The hills are nice the first time around. The second time around they turn into something different. I know now that my hill climbing needs a lot of work. But the thing that really got me was the descent, 9 kilometers of it at one time! Normally the descent gives me a good chance to relax, but this time my neck and arms were taking a beating. Turns out I was the last cyclist allowed through transition, which means its miraculous that I made the cut off! I'll be putting a big focus on my muscular endurance and cycling for next time around.

Out on the run I felt really good. Not being in the saddle was a welcome change! And the first half went great, with good pacing, and pleasant weather. But after the sun went down it started to get cool, and the previously mentioned rain did me in.

I can't express how disappointed I am to have missed it by a mere three miles! But the flip side is that three miles is nothing, I know that I can do it. I just need to insure that next time (hopefully two years from now) I prepare better for the weather shifts that I know hurt me.

My brother finished just under 14 hours, which was great for him. His bike was amazing, (being a cyclist who decided that doing Ironman would be cool), his swim was great considering he learned to swim two months ago (yes, roll your eyes :P), and he was happy with his run.

My mum, finished 16:56, third to last official finisher. She, like me, struggled on the second lap of the bike. She felt her training had suffered from her recent move to a far less hilly part of Ontario from where she trained last time she did IMLP.

As for my aunt, she killed it, got 5th place in her age group, at 12:39.

Thanks again to you all for your words of encouragement. And I assure you that I will go for it again, and I know I am capable of doing it!

[triflor]

btw, my mum and i were on pace with each other just about the whole course. We ran together for quite a while, which I wish I could have maintained.

[chickwhorips]

sorry to hear you didn't finish it, but in my humble opinion you did a great job. sounds like you made the best call when you did. i take it your feeling much better now.

i think its really neat that this tri was a family affair. good job to all of you!

[Nanci]

I'm sure you'll do better next time! IMLP is _known_ for crappy weather. I hate being cold more than anything- I totally know how you feel...It's impossible to move! it's miserable! I'd _way_ rather be too hot. Maybe you can convince your family to do a warmer IM next time! You should get to pick!! I'm happy for the rest of your family. I watched you guys all day at work.

Nanci

[Tri Girl]

Hey Triflor- I'm sorry to hear that you had such a difficult time near the end of your day. I kept watching IM live to see you cross, hoping to see you coming in (your mom was so cute when she finished). I was so sad to see it start raining again, and was doing the un-rain dance to make it go away. I'm so happy for the rest of your family!! As for you- 3 miles short is nothing in my book. You are still an ironwoman in my eyes. I marvel at your toughness and tenacity as you tried to make it to the finish! You are soooooooo made of iron!!!! I'm so thrilled that you did as well as you did. 2 loop courses can be tough, but you did a great job. It must have been hard knowing you had to tackle that bike course twice. I admire what you've done and accomplished thus far!!!
Thanks for the race update! I'll be here cheering you on in 2 years at whatever race you enter! Congrats on your race- you deserve amazing accolades for your accomplishment!!!

[Lise]

Triflor, what a wise woman you are. I am so glad you had the presence of mind to stop and accept care. Delighted to hear that the rest of your family finished, and that you will be around to do the next one!

I agree with everybody else--three miles is nothing. Cold rain in July sucks. Your body could not overcome that. Great that you can look back and see what to work on for the coming year. You are a champion here at TE!

Take care and keep us posted, Lise

[Running Mommy]

Well You got my PM, so you know that I've been thinking of you.
I'm just glad that you've decided to give it another go. I'm sure you've got that IM vibe in you, and now you just need a couple extra miles. But you still went out there and logged WAY more miles than most folks would ever think of. And the cold... Oh yes the COLD! I tell people that is why I moved from nor cal. I must be warm. I guess I'll never do IMLP tho, because I hear it's like that alot. But man it sure looks like a beautiful course!
I'm glad your ok, and congrats on a hard fight. I think sometimes as endurance athletes the toughest thing is to know when to say when. It's rough, so I commend you for that.
Rest up- you still did log MAX miles that day!
And we'll be there cheering for you at the next one! I promise!!

Heck, IMAZ is warm!!!
Denise

[triflor]

ladies, thank you for all your kind words. I must say I laugh to hear you all say go for a warmer race. I live through 9 months of winter here in Montreal (well not quite, but its only hot three months) and the heat gets me almost as much as the cold. I love the course at Placid, and the proximity to home can't be beat, so I'll probably stick with it. You will all definately be hearing about my training in the future.

[Brina]

I am sorry to hear that you didn't finish, but you ran a gutsy race and came so close. You made the smart decision, and there is always 2008.

[colby]

So sorry you didn't finish, Triflor, but you are a superstar just for starting and making it as far as you did -- finishing "3 miles short" is still Iron in my book.

Consider it a trial run

[Lise]

ladies, thank you for all your kind words. I must say I laugh to hear you all say go for a warmer race. I live through 9 months of winter here in Montreal (well not quite, but its only hot three months) and the heat gets me almost as much as the cold. I love the course at Placid, and the proximity to home can't be beat, so I'll probably stick with it. You will all definately be hearing about my training in the future.

I know what you mean, triflor! Here in Chicago, it's cold Nov-April. I'd rather run in 35 degrees than 85 degrees any day. It was the wet and cold that got you. You will burn it up next time. L.

[Running Mommy]

You know I wrote the part about IMAZ a bit tongue in cheek. Knowing where you live I could only imagine what training for an April IM would be like!!

I have no doubt you will tear it up next time. You know the ropes now. This was just a dress rehearsal.

Just please be careful and don't try to do too much too fast. Like I said, your body pretty much went the distance. I mean, shoot what is 3 miles when you've gone 137???!!!! Your body DID an Ironman!! So it needs to recover- and believe me when I say- it takes TIME!!

[triflor]

lol, Running Mommy, I hear that! The first day or two I was cold than hot than cold again. The day after I would take a few steps and then some muscle in my leg wouldn't act right and my legs would buckle. Hunger has been weird, full after small portions, than hungry an hour later. And the napping!!! Today I went for a very easy run, no more than 2 km, and had to do a couple of walk breaks. But it felt good to move my legs. I'll definately be taking it easy over the next while. My mum called me up the other day and asked if I wanted to enter an Olympic toward the end of August. It may be a go, but if I do it, it will just be for fun, to remind myself that its not all about Ironman, its about the fun of triathlons!

[DirtDiva]

So close! I agree with everyone else here - you're iron to us.

[Brandy]

So close! I agree with everyone else here - you're iron to us.

I totally agree! Congratulations on a job well done triflor!