Am heading out to Zurich (from the UK) for Ironman Switzerland tomorrow…and Im 99% sure I will not start the race. Although I seem to be going OK (relatively speaking) over short distances this year (did my second fastest 10k ever in May) I just havent done the distance work at all. Longest ride has been 3 hours (most rides being 1 - 2 hours) have done only one run longer than 10k, and swimming - whats that!!!
Add to that coming off a really bad cold and cough that knocked me out for two weeks, a blister on my heel just where the top of my running shoe would rub, and still feelng hungover after getting absolutley wazzocked two days in a row this past weekend, and I am feeling very un-Ironman like! I feel like if I try and plod round there is no guarantee I can finish the course, also I will just end up with a even worse than usual time, a sense of disapointment and a knackered body that could take weeks to recover. I have completed 6 IM distance races before so its not like I have anything to prove to myself - and I will be be back!
There are 5 guys from my tri club racing, so will enjoy the race cheering them on and watching the pro boys and gals kicking ass and taking names.
Questions:
1)Any slowtwitchers racing at IM Switzerland - let me have your real name and race number and Ill try to give you a shout!!
2)Id still like to go to the pasta party and after-race party with my buds, swim the practice sessions etc. I paid for it, so feel like Im not cheating anyone. Anyone ever done this? Should I register and say Im not racing? Register, keep quiet and just not start? Whats the ettiquete on this?!
3) I guess I could do the swim and a lap of the bike and then call it a day and spectate. Bad karma, DNFing on purpose?!
Cheers, see you on the course one way or the other!!
Hey man, what have you go to lose? Start the race, and see how you feel half way through the bike. If you feel bad then you can quit without the weeks to recover scenario, and if you feel good then you can carry on run a good time.
If you register and don’t start then do have the courtesy to advise the officials so they don’t go looking for you in the lake!
While I was ready to race @ “Mickey Marathon” in Orlando, I go sick 3 days before… I was not able to keep food and fluid in my body and thefore I was dehydrated and completly out of energy.
Even the night before I had some trouble eating plain pasta…
I still gave it a try and I stopped @ the 1/2 Marathon after 2h45 (If I recall correctly which was about 45 mins from my target marathon time) after puking all over the place & realizing that I actually bonked @ mile 2 maybe 3 (instead of mile 20)… I have to admit I considered for 1/2 a second to keep going as I felt better but realized it was better to stop here and somewhat enjoy the rest of the afternoon with my family.
So give it a try and see how it goes, you could be surprised!!! You never know!
Dammit! I knew people would talk me into at least starting!
But it seems “disrespectful” to the race and the other athletes somehow to start with an intention of pulling out partway through…
WIll play it by ear - but dont worry, if I dont start, or start but pull out, i will definately tell the race organisers so they dont spend any time looking for me!
If you know you don’t plan to start, at least pick up your stuff as you did pay for it, but turn your chip in right then. I was entered in IM NZ 2003 but due to some impending surgery, I was unable to race. I went, cheered on my friends, and had a great time and came home and had surgery about 3 days later.
Well, its now the day before the race - have decided to at least start, do the swim and one loop of teh bike - I hear the course is fast, scenic and with great road surface - then see how I feel - thanks for the thoughts and ideas…
Everyone in Zurich for the race looks uber fit and uber fast…
Well, its now the day before the race - have decided to at least start, do the swim and one loop of teh bike
How was your race? How long did you stay in the race?
Out of curiosity I looked him up. Looks like he did the swm and bike and pulled out after that.
NAME Matt Davis
BIB NUMBER 1388
AGE 33
PROFESSION Exotic Dancer
STATE/COUNTRY Oxford OX28ET GBR GB
SWIM BIKE RUN OVERALL POSITION
1:18:55 7:44:09 --:-- --:-- –
RACE LEG DISTANCE PACE POSITION
TOTAL SWIM - 3.8 km 1:18:55 2:04/100m 1145
BIKE - 60 km 60 km (2:16:28) 26.38 km/h
BIKE - 120 km 60 km (2:30:09) 23.98 km/h
BIKE - 180 km 60 km (2:57:32) 20.28 km/h
TOTAL BIKE 180 km (7:44:09) 23.27 km/h 1713
FIRST RUN SEGMENT - 10.5 km 10.5 km (–:–) --/km
SECOND RUN SEGMENT - 21 km 10.5 km (–:–) --/km
THIRD RUN SEGMENT - 31.5 km 10.5 km (–:–) --/km
FOURTH RUN SEGMENT - 42 km 10.5 km (–:–) --/km
TOTAL RUN 42.2 km (–:–) --/km –
TRANSITION TIME
T1: SWIM-TO-BIKE 7:08
T2: BIKE-TO-RUN --:–
Logella - Nowhere to hide these days now the t’interweb has been invented, huh
As you can see I did the swim and bike but bailed the run completely. Swim was great - waited until I was almost the last one on the beach to get some fairly clear water before heading off - the lake swim was fantastic, warm and clear water, with views of the mountains on each stroke - awesome+
Headed out on the bike to see how it went - the course was great - the screaming fast descents on the second half of the loop were almost worth the climbs in the first half - ALMOST
As my splits suggest I got worse and worse thru the 3 laps of the bike - had to have a sit down on the side of the road during the final lap, and had a damn good think about triathlon and life in general…
Back in T2 and there was no way I was going to push myself through a marathon death-shuffle. So I guess Im at least 1 third a big girls blouse if not more…
Headed back to the digs to shower and change, then went back to cheer a friend home - her first IM finish, after her first attempt 2 years ago ended 1k into the bike with a broken wrist and broken elbow. She stormed home in 11.26 with her demons laid to rest - go Irish Emma+
Stayed at the finish line cheering everyone home to the bitter end - including the two guys who finished less than 2 mins outside the cut off - was the least I could do…
Awards ceremony today was great - biggest cheer went to the sole M70+ competitor who obviously took his age group win - inspirational.
Legs are shredded, but will be back in training when I get back to the UK - three short races coming up in September, time to make amends…+
Rumour has it that you lost a pretty silly bet by not finishing. What’s that all about then?
Logella - Nowhere to hide these days now the t’interweb has been invented, huh
As you can see I did the swim and bike but bailed the run completely. Swim was great - waited until I was almost the last one on the beach to get some fairly clear water before heading off - the lake swim was fantastic, warm and clear water, with views of the mountains on each stroke - awesome+
Headed out on the bike to see how it went - the course was great - the screaming fast descents on the second half of the loop were almost worth the climbs in the first half - ALMOST
As my splits suggest I got worse and worse thru the 3 laps of the bike - had to have a sit down on the side of the road during the final lap, and had a damn good think about triathlon and life in general…
Back in T2 and there was no way I was going to push myself through a marathon death-shuffle. So I guess Im at least 1 third a big girls blouse if not more…
Headed back to the digs to shower and change, then went back to cheer a friend home - her first IM finish, after her first attempt 2 years ago ended 1k into the bike with a broken wrist and broken elbow. She stormed home in 11.26 with her demons laid to rest - go Irish Emma+
Stayed at the finish line cheering everyone home to the bitter end - including the two guys who finished less than 2 mins outside the cut off - was the least I could do…
Awards ceremony today was great - biggest cheer went to the sole M70+ competitor who obviously took his age group win - inspirational.
Legs are shredded, but will be back in training when I get back to the UK - three short races coming up in September, time to make amends…+
