IRONMAN LAKE PLACID - 2009 Race Report (Finally)

IRONMAN = 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run = 140.6 miles... 11Hrs 45Min including a pretty bad bike crash early into the race!

I had a fine swim (but people were really physical on both laps, it was non-stop boxing for the full 2.4 miles!!). First lap was quick, second lap, the people I was with slowed down, unbeknownst to me.

I got 0.5 miles into the bike and had a pretty bad crash. It rained before the race and hard during the swim. Roads were wet and quite slipper in sections – I was going about 25mph down a hill in a bunch heading out of town from transition – didn’t see a weird bump coming – and before I knew what happened – BOOM – down I went – HARD! Huge deep bruise on my left hip (impact point I think), then road rash across my back to my right lower leg which got scalped! OUCH! Plus my front wheel was jammed bad and I thought my race was over because my bike was broken! Luckily, I was able to get everything sorted out – and got going again. :(

That crash freaked me out a little for the descent down the mountain into Keene (6 miles of steep road where you can average 50mph if you want to) – so I really rode the brakes.

But, on the rest of the bike course I TORE IT UP!

The wind really, really picked up and the sun came out making it quite warm. The wind was tailwind on the downhill leg (so no help since I’m already riding the brakes) and serious headwind on the big uphill leg from Wilmington to Lake Placid. That destroyed a lot of people – especially on loop #2! I kept going really strong (too hard?) and even with the direct and indirect time lost from the crash, did 5:48, which was about top 15% overall on the bike!

I was very much on top of my nutrition during the bike, but my stomach was bloating badly on the 2nd loop – and my pee was very dark (dehydration for sure). I kept taking fluids in, but it just sat in my belly and didn’t move into my intestines apparently. I looked 4 months pregnant starting the marathon and about 6 months pregnant by mile 3 on the run. I avg. about 8:30/mi the first 2.5 miles, until I knew I would have to do some walking to get the fluids moving – or else my race would be a DNF!

I was really dehydrated (but ironically so full of fluids that weren't leaving my stomache, I couldn’t drink anymore!). Walk/run during miles 3-7 and found a friend who blew up badly (Jonathan Hoag – stellar athlete from Toledo area). We walked about 2-3 miles together and I started feeling better. I was kicking myself for wasting my family’s time before and during the race by blowing up, but knew if I could get nutrition back on track, I could hang on and finish. These were very low times, physically and emotionally (which is what Ironman racing is really about – overcoming these horrible patches and rebounding strong).

Coming back into town – there was no way I would be walking with all the spectators and family to see me. I somehow mustered a run again – and started to feel better. These were still slow miles (about 10:00/mi), but it was better than walking! Though town I saw the family and stopped for a minute to talk – tell them what happened (crash) and that I thought I was toast. When Amy asked when I might finish – I started doing the math and said if I did – it would be like 12:30. I couldn’t believe those words coming out of my mouth! I got really embarrassed and pissed that this could be my slowest of 4 Ironman races. NO WAY! I worked too hard for this, to have a crash ruin it all.

I started with setting goals... Finish... then I set my sights to keep it under 12H18M (my first IM time). Then was running 9:30miles... Then I thought, maybe I can break 12H00M… now I'm running 9:00 miles… maybe I can break my past course record here of 11H50M… now I'm running 8:30 miles now… maybe – just maybe – I can still set a PR! Push! Push! Push!

Came back into town and ran my fastest mile on the big UPHILL into town. Feeling really good now (finally) and the feedback from the spectators to see such a running pace and my big smile this far into the pack got them going, which got me going! PUSH!! PUSH!! 8:10-8:15 miles now… last 2 miles! Hold this pace and you can PR!

So hard to do, but I gritted through it, and finished in 11:45 (was 11:46 in IM Louisville on a hotter, but much easier course). So, with a crash (lost time), rainy wet roads (lost time), serious headwind (pushed hard) and a major gut problem – all overcame to set a PR! I was ecstatic!!! And frankly, quite a bit emotional! I had decided earlier during the marathon – just getting by battered, dehydrated body to the finish would make this race the one I was most proud of already – to overcome such pain and agony. To do all that and set a personal best – ICING ON THE CAKE!

That is what Ironman racing is all about! Hitting the lows, and figuring out how to handle them and get through them. Gives you real strength in sports, as well as in life.


The week before and the week after were just wonderful for me and the family too! Fantastic house right on Mirror Lake… great weather! Did EVERYTHING you can do in the region (except fit in the bobsled run). It was simply a fantastic trip!

3 Countries Marathon - Germany, Austria, Switzerland in one day!

This is one of the coolest venues and unique race experiences you can hope for! Marathon starts on the little resort island of Lindau, Germany. It is situated on Lake Constance at the south-western part of Germany… beautiful lake with the Swiss Alps towering in the background. Quaint and beautiful town. We stayed in a cool little hotel on the Isle of Lindau, where the marathon start was.

The race was really just for fun, with no significant distance training since early July. The race left Germany into Austria… through the town of Bregenz, where the 10km mark was and the scene was crazy! Thousands of people watching, really cool scenery, then into the forests and country on the way to Switzerland. We were right at the feet of the Alps, but the race director was kind and didn’t run us up and down too much.

Switzerland… home of the true cowbell! There were cattle everywhere cheering us on! Plus people with cowbells too! One old man had a HUGE bell – nearly as big as he was. Using his whole body to swing it slowly back and forth… I’ll always remember that guy! “Hopp Hopp”, “Zuper”, “Schnell” were the cheers I recognized from the crowds… plus many more things said that I simply didn’t understand.

Eventually, back into Austria toward the finish line in the stadium of Bregenz. There were times I honestly didn’t know what country I was in… 3 unmarked border crossings… so you didn’t really know when Austria stopped and Switzerland started, etc. I ran the first 1/3 of the race at a planned 7:30/mi pace and held that till about the halfway mark. Then my lack of endurance training – coupled with a nice little bout of the squirts (2 times before race, once during… ugh) caused me to back off the pace. This race was for fun and the experience… so I didn’t really bring the mental intensity to push hard or through a lot of pain… a nice catered training run of 42.2km (26.2 miles) at 8:05/mi pace. (I have a hilarious but disgusting story for those who want to hear it!! JUST ASK!)

At the finish in Bregenz, Austria… there was a great finish line and after party. Good food and free, cold Erdinger Weissbier! I really appreciated John Holmes coming along on this trip too. He was great company before and after the race… and provided great support during the race! Great pictures, cheered me on, there at the finish, and was good enough to drive both ways. When we returned to his apartment in Stuttgart, Germany, he cooked fillet mignon on the grill, and we watched the Cincy Bengals / Cleve Browns game on skype! What a great way to finish the weekend! I drove another 4 hours from Stuttgart to Swisttal, Germany where my hotel was waiting for me… or so I thought…

Sleeping in my car - in Germany... UGH!

Sleeping in my car… Swisttal, Germany: After running a marathon, 8 hours driving back from the race, dinner, and watching a football game, all I wanted to do was crawl into my familiar bed at Hotel Weidenbruck in Swisttal. After getting settled in around 1am, I ran out to my car to grab my glasses and contact case. “CLICK” went the outside hotel door, and I immediately knew what I had done… left my room key in my room… and now I’m outside the hotel in the cold (8C/46F) with no way back in.

This is a small, family run hotel in a little German town. At 1am on a Monday morning… I am the only person awake. The hotel buzzer was met with no response… all doors / windows locked… all I can do is laugh (to avoid crying or getting stressed about my fait accompli) and set up camp in my VW Passat. My body was tired and getting stiff from a marathon run that day… mind exhausted from being up for nearly 20 hours…

I tried to sleep in the car, keeping warm with some dirty clothes from the weekend. Five long hours passed until someone from the hotel staff arrived to open the restaurant for breakfast. I sheepishly asked to be let in at 6:30am… and crawled into a wonderful, soft, warm bed for about 1 hour of real sleep before heading in to the office. LOL – my kids are telling everyone who will listen back home that their dad slept in his car in Germany… oh… what they must think!

I'll never forget the feeling of "oh crap" when I heard that door click. There was no hesitation... I knew I was screwed and would probably be sleeping in my car... I was right! : (

ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS GO TO SLEEP IN MY "OWN BED" AFTER RUNNING A MARATHON AND BEING IN 3 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN THE SAME DAY!!

Highlights from Germany trip / Oktoberfest

Highlights: Oktoberfest, Running 3 Countries Marathon (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Mercedes Museum, weekend in Stuttgart with John Holmes (high school friend), process improvements and understanding with Europe Logistics/Purchasing team, and a real Dutch windmill! Oh – and sleeping in my car one night because I locked myself out of the Hotel at 1am!!

Oktoberfest / Stuttgart Volksfest with John Holmes (Lakota ’90). Biggest bunch of happy beer drinkers I have been around!! What a fun time! Drinking beer by the liter in huge glass steins (your arms get a real workout!)… fantastic chicken dinner… great music (live band – German classics and 80s music from America)… wonderful people! Despite all the beer consumed… no fights... no arguments… no mean looks… no sloppy drunks… nothing of the sort! Amazing! After shutting down the tent… we took the U-Bahn to another part of the city to an Irish Pub in Stuttgart. Awesome cider and more fun. Some delicious shawarma and a taxi back to John’s apartment safe and sound.

Mercedes Museum – Stuttgart, Germany = WOW!

What an impressive museum! 100+ years of automotive history, beautifully wrapped in a building that rivals the Guggenheim. Millions of dollars of incredible machinery and historic equipment alike. For any car enthusiast, this is a must… for non-car enthusiasts, this is still an amazing place to visit! Adjacent to the breathtaking museum, is the Stuttgart Mercedes Showroom / Dealership. Good thing I have to fly home, because I’d have been seriously tempted! These cars there were the ONLY thing I found in Europe that cost less than they do in the US!

I could go on for hours and pages about the museum... I'll attach the link to their website, and direct you to my pictures of the Museum on my Facebook page!

http://www.mercedes-benz-classic.com/content/classic/mpc/mpc_classic_website/en/mpc_home/mbc/home/museum/overview_museum.html

Process Improvements and Understanding

Process Improvements and Understanding of Europe Logistics / Distribution / Purchasing:

The purpose of the trip, of course, was work.

To continue the training, understanding and improvement of the inventory control processes and systems for European region. The team is coming together well, and making progress in understanding the processes that aren’t effective, and making improvements to them. They are good people, who care a lot and work hard. The language barrier in the office isn’t to bad. English is the second language for these people, but they are fluent, which helps a lot.

My lean / six sigma / process improvement background from manufacturing is translating well into business processes. I am driving a deeper understanding of the systems we have at our disposal. It is challenging, to get the team to take the leap of faith and get rid of the “security blanket” currently where the system allows inventory to become negative (meaning there is a problem with the transaction). We also seem to have a problem with the team in Spain, which may require a stop there on my next trip.

Hey everybody… I’m in Holland… isn’t dat Veird??

My first real trip into the Netherlands (Holland) - besides driving through to another destination. The trip landed me in Bergen op Zoom and Tholen. I was there for a meeting with a key European Supplier, with whom our relationship started on what I took to be a rocky note. The Dutch are notoriously direct and blunt… a cultural nuance I didn’t understand until after my first encounter. I felt defensive and under attack during our first meeting in June, which I arranged primarily as a pleasantry to start the working relationship. I have since learned what to expect. This meeting was really very pleasant and constructive. We spent the first hour with light chit chat over a variety of pastries, brought in by one of the employees, whose father owns the local bakery. As the guest now, instead of the host like our first meeting, things were very different! A plant tour and some real business discussion about future plans, volume, etc. made for a good day. I had a few hours to walk around the quaint little fishing town of Tholen.

To my complete surprise, I came around a corner to find a huge, restored windmill from the 1870s. This was Don Quixote material!! It was just the nicest surprise! I wanted to see one in Holland when I was there, but didn’t know how to find one! Wandering the streets in little (and big) European towns is just the best way to find interesting things! I had to drive all over to find wooden shoes for the boys too. They are actually used/worn for gardening, apparently, because I had to find the Dutch equivalent of Lowes, where a wall of “Klompers” were found in the gardening section, by the fertilizer and live kipper (chickens)! I had a really cool apartment for the night in Bergen op Zoom, and had dinner outside in the Grote Markt square. Very European to say the least! Loved it!

Missing the family while in Europe…

I love Amy and my boys and routine. These trips to Europe are an amazing experience – I could not be more thankful that this is my destination, instead of some “crummy, boring town”. It is broadening my horizons in terms of culture, language (I spoke not a word of German before May of this year), how to manage a multi-site, multi-language, multi-currency, multi-national operation. And I get to stay in a “perfect” little German village, with enough time to go exploring and get to know Europe.

Having said all this, I miss my family a bunch! During this trip, Amy and I had our 14th wedding anniversary (October 7th). It was a little tough to be gone for that special day. We celebrated before I left town with a nice dinner out together without the kids (Nemo Grille)… and we’ll celebrate more when I get home this weekend. My boys are always fun to shop for… and are excited about everything I bring back – even the “neat” sugar packets! T-shirts from Germany, wooden shoes from Holland and chocolates from Switzerland. I found a beautiful gold/diamond ring for Amy in Euskirchen, Germany. I know she’ll love it, and it brings an interesting story (having come from Germany on our anniversary and all).

This was the first trip where Amy and I both had Skype accounts. We skyped about every day – which was nice. Fun way to keep the line open for a while – so I can hear the chaos that is our home… Murphy barking, kids running amuck, etc. So, I have lots of work and sightseeing that I do to stay busy… but when it gets quiet, I miss them an awful lot. I always want Amy to join me… so far, she hasn’t been up for the flight, etc. I think she’ll be convinced, and we’ll have a wonderful trip together! I offered a weekend in Paris on the last trip for our anniversary, but she was unwilling to fly and no one could watch the kids for two weeks, either. NEXT TIME!