The Rookie

 

Splits:

Swim - 1:00:55
Bike - 4:44:05
Run - 3:14:57
Total - 9:04:22

Highlights from the race:

Set new personal record for swim, bike, run, and total time.

Stung by jellyfish twice during swim.

Stung by yellow jacket once during bike.

I solo'd the entire ride.  The only time I was near another rider, it was a solid pass for them or me.  This makes me very proud of that bike split.
 
Beat all of the women.  That's a huge boost to my big male ego!

Nina Craft (an admitted doper/cheater who has just returned to racing from her two year ban) passed me at mile 21.  My disdain for cheating gave me the extra mental strength to pick up the pace, repass her, and finish ahead of her.  Thanks Nina!

What I learned from the race:

My electrolyte research paid off.  I consumed ~800 mg of sodium per hour on the bike to about 30 oz. (0.9 L) of water for the same duration.  I was shooting for 1 gram per liter per Goldberger's recommendation (see note) and a few other published studies. 

I only consumed gel on the bike and first 20 miles of the run.  I used only cola and gatorade over the last ~5 miles.

My HR monitor didn't work on race day.  I paced my effort on the bike by my stomach.  If my stomach was emptying, I was riding easy enough.  If my stomach was not, then I backed off the pace.  This led to me riding pretty conservatively and coming off the bike fresher than I've ever felt.

I've had stomach absorption/emptying issues on the run in all of the previous Ironman races.  In this race, I didn't force anything down.  In fact, I didn't consume anything at a couple of aid stations to allow my stomach to empty. 

The combination of high sodium to water ratio, conservative pacing on the bike, and paying VERY close attention to the signals my stomach (and body) were telling me led to what I consider perfect race nutrition, and a great race.

Although my cycling computer/HR monitor was not working, every time I looked at it out of habit I could see the reflection of the cross printed on my race-suit.  This seemingly simple situation conveyed a potent message to me.  I, like the HR monitor, do not live up to the standard of my owner (God).  The only real purpose I can have is to reflect the extreme love that is represented by Christ's work on the cross.  If I'm able to show even the tiniest bit of love shown to me by God, then I have served my purpose.  That being said, I'm still in the market for a new cycling computer.  I hope God isn't looking for a replacement, as well!

I'm really proud of all of the folks that I know that raced in Florida: Rob Moscato, Nick Frank, Mary Dorsey, Brooke and Nicolai Tvermoes, Duran Greene, Cid Cardoso, Jr., Dan McGowan, Paul Sullivan, Dave Lubitz, Daren Marceau, Ed Burgess, and Ted Aas who all either put together good races or didn't but stuck it out anyways.  It is much easier to finish when things are going your way.  If I missed your name, I love you just the same.  Congrats to all!

Thanks to everyone else who helped me along the way this year.  This is two successful seasons back-to-back!


note: Goldberger E:"A Primer of Water, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Syndromes." Philadelphia: Lea and Febinger,1986 .