Ahhhh.... BACH!!!

Ahhhh.... BACH!!!  for those young folks out there, that was the quintessential saying from one of the most watch sitcoms of the 70's MASH*  , meaning translucently "I get it.... "

4 hours on the plane back, several hours puttsing around the house, washing TRI war gear, folding and putting it away... the thoughts congealed, and the answer to my personal inquiry on my IMAZ was found.

Very well prepared, physically and mentally , I was spot on for this race.  My primary error was miscalculation due to a comfort zone called "overly conservative."

First race , IE long distance , 1/2 IM to Full IronMan that I felt physically on target, no leg cramps, lock ups etc. Watching fellow competitors passed out on the course, getting sick, some even doing a side step IM shuffle, have never seen that before, unbelievable.

Individuals that were walking side ways, because they couldn't move their legs in a forward facing motion. Witnessing this was intoxicating to the extent that it prevented me from reaching outside the comfort zone.

However the dizziness and pass outs that almost occurred due to lack of caloric intake, magnified the internal quest to stay in the comfort zone of "overly conservative."

Will never know if an additional push would have yielded a different positive or negative result, but should an athlete find themselves in the conservative comfort zone and experiencing "no" ill effects, IE dizziness etc. Then you should get on with the show before the curtain lowers, and that curtain lowers faster than you think it can... I know....

 I am prepared and ready for Act II....   lights, camera, ACTION!

Act II occurred , November 2012, comfortably finished @ 16:38…. w/ 10+ additional IronCrabs from ATC, Annapolis Triathlon Club. Best friends, competitors, TriAthletes, anyone could ask for. Incredible race….. absolutely incredible.

Iron Man AZ in the books

IM AZ is the books...., without a doubt the best race/experience to date. Thurs thru today was spent in Tempe AZ site of the Ford Iron Man Arizona. Weather was perfect. Water a little chilly but doable, 61-62 on race morning. Massive swim start, non-Pro's, 3,000+ Triathetes waited until the last minute to get in, which left many almost a 1/3 waiting to jump in with as little as 2 mins to the start and 150 yard swim to the line...

Swim was pretty cool, stayed left, which probably accounted for a 1:30 swim time for 2.4 miles, kept getting pushed left, but well worth it, an utter cauldron all the way around , never thinned out.  At the 1.2 mile turn around everyone stopped, it was like suspended animation, a fellow athlete needed assist, it was similar to Pee Wee football or Jr. Club Lax where the kids take a knee, everyone stopped, I mean everyone. And for about 6 seconds we just floated, until finally one Kayaker said, "Go, Go , keep going.... "   it was amazing to see 750-1000 swimmers at the turn just stop from thrashing, kicking and pushing for the last mile, and then go again.

T-1 could not have come sooner, face was frozen, got the ole ice cream headache every time I put my face in the water, brutal.

Swim exit was so cool, hundreds of volunteers at the ready , you raised your arms and within 2 seconds your wet suit was being being stripped off by the volunteers, incredible.

A super nice changing tent, your bike bag handed to you , and off on the bike. This course, swim , bike and run is the most spectator friendly course in the world. People camp out all day from 6 am to midnight on what ever portion they deem the best, with the intersection of the swim, bike and run around Tempe Towne Lake, spectators can see it all. It is like a little mid - west Kona for them, cheering all day, all night , even to the last of the finishers. The volunteers were top notch, awesome.

Back to the bike, uneventful, 112 miles , three  34 mile loops, with the Pro's whizzing by , and I mean cranking it. These men and women tore up the bike course. My plan was to  stick to a plan to finish, with limited time for training available of late, even, steady, on pace. My mantra the entire race, to myself, was stick to the plan. Actually when I wanted to sprint to the finish in the swim, I held back , and "stuck" to the plan. Even, steady, on pace.

Bike was awesome, in and out of the "venue" , transition at Tempe Towne lake three times with throngs of cheering folks, tons and tons of them, amazing. At the end of the 2nd loop, I became concerned that my conservative effort was putting me too close to the cut off , which was not even in the "plan." And my thoughts were correct, my pace brought me at 5:10 pm and all runners had to be on the run course by 5:30.

Minor set back, 26 miles and 6.5 hours, not a problem.... so I thought.   Bike transition was smooth, very special to have  Kate Hite and her daughter, greet and hand me my T2 bags, first person in 114 miles that I knew wishing me good luck and well wishes, Kate took some pics for my kiddos, and I was off on the run.

The run, 26 miles, big Q... do you follow other's plans of attack, IE walk the first mile or so to get your legs "back" or just go. This was the first time, 1/2 Iron Man to full Iron Man that I felt great physically, legs specifically, no cramps, no lock ups, no hamstring issues etc. Just felt awesome. Wanted to run out of the gate, but walked the first mile and then began the runs between the water stops.

The water/fuel stops were awesome, huge line of volunteers with everything from chicken broth to chocolate chip cookies . About mile 5 began to see the results of what an Iron Man can do to a person, a couple of folks laid out, some not feeling well, others imitating stick figures on both legs , hobbling down the course, unable to bend their knees. I knew what that felt like and did not want to get to that point. Stuck to the "plan" and moved on.

Two loops in , it was 10:14 and I had to get to Priest Bridge timing mat at mile 20, before 10:30, my pace had slowed from run, to run walk, to walk at 20 miles into the run portion. But still had my legs, felt great, had gotten dizzy and disoriented several times earlier in the run I believe from lack of calories, just can't eat enough pretzel sticks to fuel the fire. I contemplated several times to start a full run / sprint for the Priest Bridge, but remembered my daughters, "Don't over do it Dad... don't kill yourself... " so I kept with my pace until the cart with the flashing yellow light on top got closer and closer... and at 10:40  was respectfully asked by the official for my timing chip.

Some may say oh my god, Fletch must be so devastated. Exactly the opposite, I looked at my watch, 10:40 and 6 miles to go, I could have done it. But rules are rules and it is for the safety of the athletes, IE someone perhaps like me pushing it too hard "just to finish."  I looked around and just took it in. Not finishing was not in the plan, but being here on this side was in the plan. I would not have traded the last 4 days for anything. And after that swim, I can swim any venue, not a problem. A few less potty breaks, and more work on the bike, and the M-dot will be forth coming. This was the best race personally that I have ever done, I like the IM distance, firming up the calendar now for 2012.....

2012...... Finished..... was life transforming.... incredible.....

IM AZ 10 days out....

10 days out... ready...... uhmmmm, mentally yes.  Review the course nightly, matching maps with visuals from Recon visit in September. Highly recommend training  on the 1/2 or full IM course prior. You get the feel for the course, understand your false flats, elevations, enormity , timing, and familiarty.

AZ, specifically Tempe is gorgeous, in the desert, quiet, dry, warm.  Swim course in Tempe Town Lake has one bump , the temp, will see race day, otherwise no current, flat, an all go Houston.... Bike is interesting, urban then immediately desert, with sneaky false flats, semi fast return first 1/4 of return, into urban and then  2 more times for 3 loops..

Run is pretty cool, switch backs up and down Tempe Town Lake, into the park, for a two loop .

Very excited, need to focus on the hydration and fuel and it will be an interesting race......oh... and the weather....

http://www.tempe.gov/wx/TownLake.aspx