It has been a long 30 weeks of training leading up to one day. I felt as though I had really prepared myself but wouldn't know until race day if this was the case...


Registration and Pre-Race:

I drove up Friday afternoon and after meeting Steve, headed over to check in.  It was quite a process, taking nearly 75 minutes to complete everything.  After dropping some cash on souvenirs we headed to meet other MSM people for the pasta dinner. We waited in line for about 25 minutes (and the line not moving) then Steve and I decided to head out to find our own dinner. Called it a night after that.  Saturday I drove out to the course to give my wife some directions on how to get out to the bike course. It was pretty simple.  Met Steve around 10:30 and we went to drop our T1 and T2 bags then check our bike.  The rest of Saturday I spent relaxing in the hotel watching some college football. My wife and oldest two drove up Saturday late afternoon and we went to dinner.  After that it was back to the hotel room for their homework, baths then bed time.  I always have difficult times falling asleep before big races.  It was no different this time although I probably got a good 6 hours.

Morning of the race:

Left the hotel at 5:00am and went to check on my transition bags and drop off my special needs bags.  Stocked up the bike with water and nutrition then met Steve at 6.  We went to the Hilton and met Mark and Ken for some last minute encouragement.  Good to see some familiar faces before the race.  My wife and boys surprised me by showing up and meeting us there as well, she told me they would not show up for the swim but it was a pleasant surprise.  Steve and I donned our wetsuits, said goodbye, posed for some pictures and headed down the Helix to the swim entrance

The Swim:

No amount of words can describe the swim, it is an experience to say the least.  It was very helpful to have Steve there since Friday, two first time Ironmen and training partners for the past 30+ weeks.  Nearly 2800 athletes all in the water trying to accomplish the same thing.  Steve and I entered and stayed to the right of the ramp.  We somehow kept drifting towards the front of the line.   15 minutes of treading wasn't the easiest thing to do before swimming 2.4 miles.  I was getting kicked and kicking people just waiting there treading water.   The start was amazing, all I could see was water and swam with my head out of water for about 50 yards.  No amount of open water swimming practice can prepare you for this swim.  There was kicking, punching, hitting, submerging, swimming over, swimming across etc....It was insane.  People would swim on each side of me and I would have to fight to keep them off of me.  The first lap was crowded the whole entire lap.  The second lap thinned out a little and I had some space to get in a rhythm and just swim.  There was the occasional kick and punch, especially around the corners but it wasn't as bad.  My wife was watching from the Helix  (and on both loops I could actually pick out where they were because they were holding a huge balloon) with my boys and she said people were crying because it looked so bad. They could see people getting submerged and swum over.  50 or so people were rescued by kayakers and boats.  She was standing next to some ironman coaches and they told her this is the most amount of people they have ever let swim this course and its insane and dangerous.  Upon exiting the water I felt good, 1:14 swim time, used the wetsuit strippers and then saw my boys and wife running up the Helix.

T1:

The volunteers in transition were amazing. I grabbed my bag and ran to the changing room. I was searching for a chair and this volunteer grabbed me and said come over here by the wall and sit down. He dumped my bag out and said "Ok Mike what do you need".  I was a little frantic and he was amazing, he lined up everything I needed.  I didn't have to put anything away, he did it all, told me now to worry about a thing and just have fun. He even helped me put on my msm tri top

Bike:

It was tough, but thats to be expected.  I rode the loop twice this past summer.  My plan was to ride while keeping my HR in the 140's.  The first 20 or so miles it was difficult to get my HR out of the 160's but eventually out in Mt. Horeb it started to come down.  First loop was great, saw Trudy at the special needs bag drop.  Then made our way to Mt. Horeb, Cross Plains (where I got a drafting penalty) and then to the hills of Old Saulk Pass.  I got a stupid drafting penalty on stagecoach road. The road is in terrible shape and I guess I just got to close to someone (totally unintentional).  Everyone around me starting booing the motorcycle then came up to me and said its ridiculous.  The person I was "drafting" off of said sorry, she felt as though she would get a blocking penalty because she was all over the road to try to minimize the bumps.  .  There were people all over the place and this motorcycle came up and gave me a red card and told me to stop at the penalty tent 25 miles away.  But it is what it is and no one to blame but myself for not paying attention.  My family was at the top of Old Saulk Pass and it was great to see them.  Then on timber road there was an insane amount of spectators cheering us on. I saw Dan Delgado dressed in an indian head dress and I couldn't tell if he was wearing pants or not! He ran up the hill with me and gave me some support. Back to Verona, 4 minutes in the penalty tent and I was off for my second loop. This loop was tough and I was pissed after getting the penalty.  Saw my family again and also saw many people who were intentionally drafting, not getting penalties.  This time up timber road I saw Karen and Peter cheering me on.  Also saw Ken in Cross plains. It was awesome to hear everyone and the "go madness" cheers from people I have no idea who they were. The stick back to Verona was tough but I was feeling good and had a bike time (including penalty) of 6:15.  

T2:

Same thing with the volunteers here, AMAZING. They grabbed everything out of my bag and put everything back in.  

Run:

I knew this would be tough. My HR plan for this was to keep it in the 150's.  Coming out of transition and the first 5 miles it was in the 160's, but thankfully not above 167.  After the turn at mile 6 I started to see it come down and then the rest of the race I would rarely see it climb out of the 140's which I was very happy about. I was running according to my plan.  I was very nervous about calf cramping.  At Chicago marathon last year I had major calf cramps and had to stop running at mile 22. Could barely walk.  Then at Racine this year, same thing happened at mile 12 on the run. Calves just totally started locking up.  After research and advice I added salt tablets to my nutrition plan and bought calf compression sleeves 2 weeks before the race (undecided if I was going to wear them or not on the run).  I ended up wearing the compression sleeves on the run and took plenty of salt and thankfully no cramps all day.  This is the coolest run I have ever done. The spectator support is unparalleled.  The first 6 miles to the end of the loop I felt pretty good hydrating at every aid station. I carried some bloks with me and ate every half hour.  It was getting pretty warm so I took sponges at the aid stations too.  My family was at mile 6 and it was great to see them.  Also saw Mark, Ken, Trudy and Karen on state street. Thanks for the support guys.  I saw Steve who was maybe a mile or two ahead of me as he was coming out of state street.  I kept trucking along, walking the aid stations and walking up the hills.  Back into Madison again I saw my family. Stopped at my special needs bag to get some pringles then off on the 2nd lap.  13.1 down, 13.1 more to go.  I felt very good on the second lap, finding people to run with and talk to.  It was much harder to fuel on this lap but I just shoved down whatever I could, mostly cookies and pretzels.  Back to state street again it was awesome to see my family and supporters.  Saw Steve again and was gaining on him!  20 miles down 6.2 to go.  Less than a mile back of Steve!  After some quick mental math and checking my watch I knew that if I kept this up sub 13hrs was in sight.  My goal was 13.5.  I just grinded the last 6.2 out, pulling my fastest splits of the day.  It was amazing coming back into Madison, making the turn at the capital to the finishing chute. I saw my family, gave them a wave then finished strong.  Volunteers again at the finish were great, walking with me for 2 minutes to make sure I was ok. I kept telling them I feel real good, I'm fine. But they stuck with me which I appreciate. Saw my family and it was just great.  Total run 4:46

 

Great job to all MSM racers and supporters out there. It was great. 
Hat's off to Steve, amazing race!  Especially considering you had no way of judging your output except for "feel". Awesome job. 

Overall I feel great, legs are sore right now but ready to do it again sometime, just not next year.