Hello out there. Family and friends are making their plans to come watch me at my first IM race in LP next month. Time is tight, and so far I’ve only committed to Monday breakfast, but many of them will leave Monday at 12 and are making a big effort to get there. I’d like to be able to do dinner with them Sunday night if I finish in a reasonable time. I know nobody can know in advance how long I’ll take to finish, what might happen during the race, etc., but in general, how do you feel at the end of an IM versus end of a half-IM or end of a marathon? (Let’s say you weren’t trying to qualify for Kona or Boston ). Is there a realistic chance I might be up for dinner or will I be asleep in bed 30 min. after the race?
Secondly, I’ve seen something on this board or elsewhere about volunteers taking you at the finish line and sitting you down in front of food. Is that a typical thing or just for people who look in need of assistance? What’s the finish area like after an IM? Will I be fending for myself grabbing stale scraps of bagels or will there be plates of food? Thanks for your input!
I’ve done two IM’s. Not enough to be really scientific (esp. what to do after the race) but there are some things that I’ll never forget. After the first one (LP in 2001 - great finish venue, BTW) I stood around in the oval with family and friends. Should have gone straight to the message table and/or walked around for a spell instead. I think the first 10-20 minutes after the race are critical. Keep moving and get a rub down. There was no wait for a table. There were people at the line with the sole job of escorting folks to the tents.
The day after the race basically didn’t exist. All I remember was a dark room, a bowl of potato chips on my stomach, and my wife checking my pulse from time to time. I got up the next day and ate a whole pizza. I’ll never forget that. But I was extremely sore. Stairs backwards for several days kind of sore. I think the mistake was letting blood pool and waiting too long to move around.
Totally different experience after the second. After a hug from the wife and kid, I did some walking and got a message. I was absolutely fine the next day, enough to walk around and do some sightseeing. Was this due to the quick rub down and “cool down?” I’ll never know for sure, but I know what I’ll do the next time I cross the finish line.
Best of luck. LP is a great place and a great race.
You’re right, no one can really predict how you will feel at the end of an IM…you could feel like walking on air or you could feel like a Mack truck ran you over. I’m sure everyone feels different at the end—I’ve not felt ready for sleep for at least a few hours after the three I’ve finished, usually too wound up. Both times at Kona I’ve been ravenous after about an hour or so—last October it was so late it was hard to find what I was craving, which was a hamburger.
At the finish, you’re not sat down in front of plates of food—the volunteers kind of direct you depending on how you’re reacting as you finish. If you need medical attention, that’s where you go. If you’re okay and feel like getting a massage, you’ll go there. Some food is available, and again it depends on what you’re up for at that point, but don’t expect to see a full-on buffet at that point.
Others I’m sure will chime in with their experiences.
And to beat this quote into the ground, “expect nothing and be prepared for anything”. (Paula Newby-Fraser at the carbo dinner pre IMH 2004)
One IM under my belt. I felt great after finishing. I was so thrilled to be done. Followed Gordo’s advice and went down to the swim start to cool off my legs. When I got out, I sat down, and started shivering uncontrollably for about 10 minutes. After that passed, I was fine.
Went and got a burger and a beer, and waited for my training partner to finish his race… he had a pretty rough day.
EDIT
Oh yeah… about the volunteers. At Moo last year, they offered to take me to the Med tent, if I needed it, but I was feeling fine. Didn’t see the food table.
Took me three IMs to be able to eat anything substantial or even walk afterwards. After IMAZ this year I was happy since I made it back to the room, showered, power napped for 30 minutes, got up, had dinner and a few beers and then hung out at the finisher’s chute until midnight.
The volunteer thing is true. They WILL grab/support you immediately after you cross the line. Ask several questions, How do you feel, Do you hurt, How was the bike. Mainly to see if you are dilerious or able to continue moving about on your own. Then you get your choice from the volunteers - Food, Medical or Massage.
No big surprise to anyone that after all three I have gone right for the food. Didn’t always eat much, stomach has been shot after each one, IMAZ was not so bad though. Good luck at IMLP, I am considering either IMLP or IMC next year.
tough to predict, as others have said, there are so many different variables. the best recommendations i could make is for things to make you feel better during the race and to give you a better chance to feel up for celebrating the way you’ll deserve after crossing the finish line. don’t race outside your abilities - it’s a looooong day, you might get pumped up, feel good, but conservative restraint should be used, especially 1st time around. you can always make a lot of time up in the back half of the marathon if you feel strong. don’t turn down aid, especially during the run. take in fluids, food, gel, salt, whatever you need to get through. keep your head in it. since it’s a long day, it can be mentally challenging in keeping focused and keeping your morale up, especially if you feel your body going through some rough patches. if you put in the time, then your body can bounce back if you give it the chance. it’s not like a shorter race where once you’ve bonked you’re done. LP is also a great course, so take in the scenery when you can, have fun, and cheer your fellow competitors on. hopefully you’ll have a great race and celebrate like a champ. good luck!
I know a lot of people will tell you to leave it out on the course but if your time is going to differ by 20 minutes and your options are; if you push it you will be a wreck or if you just walk an extra 15-30 seconds at each aid station you will be fine, walk a little extra. Make sure someone is equipped with dry, warm clothing for you because if you get chilled (temperature or dehydration) it is hard to shake it. Have someone pick up your stuff in transition with the ticket that they give you and put it in your car while you are running. I could not sleep for hours afterwards due to excitement, pulse rate, etc so you should be able to hang out but be prepared for cramping and things like that if you decide to try to sit down and eat. Good luck to you!
Another thing: I encountered at LP in 03 was the temperature after finishing. I had to borrow a sweatshirt to make the walk back to the hotel.
As to dinner I didn’t feel like eating too much, I was just happy to be not moving anymore. Sleeping was quite difficult, the shower showed up all my abrasions, quite the experience.
The people in the next room didn’t surface for two days. My girls were pleased to have my attention once again so not much rest for me.
I’ll be there this year, hopefully the rain will stay away.
I have felt like crap right after every IM I have done would never contemplate a proper dinner right after.
However, I am always really hungry for anything that is not sweet. At Moo last year after the requisite questions from the med staff I was approached by a volunteer, a young teenage boy, who asked if I wanted some food. I said yes please anything that is not sweet. The kid comes back with 6 pieces of pizza piled up high on a paper plate! He obviously thought I looked like I needed feeding, bless him. I ate them all and two cans of coke and then sat down to wait for the wife (that was the first time it has every happened and she vows never again) Seriously I had a hard time walking after that race!
Hmmm, only one under my belt, but I felt almost nothing after the race. Also, I was left pretty mentally awash for the next few weeks. Life kinda slowed way down after Ironman as I dove back into college classes with no real emotion at all. It was a very humbling experience. Doing 1/2 Ironman and marathons, for me, do not even compare. Best of luck with your race, and enjoy yourself!
I’ve crossed the finish line a number of times, and worked as a finish line catcher for every single one of the finishers at the innaugural IMF in 2000. As a finisher - I’ve felt differently each time. First time, I was fine, just really hungry. The volunteer walked me to the food tent but I was fully aware and in control. I ate a bit, then went back to my room, showered, and returned to the stands to cheer everyone else in till midnight.
Second time I was wasted (but finished nearly three hours faster). I fell down at the finish and was walked to the food tent, but I was OK, just too tired to return to watch others finish.
Third time I went back to the room, showered, and went to a restaurant with my folks and my wife, then went to the finish line to cheer till midnight.
AS a volunteer at the finish - everyone is in different shape. A full 1/4 of the people - mostly those that finish in the middle of the finishers, from 12-15 hours, are not able to locomote themselves to the food or to the med tent. A small number simply cannot stop running and have to be chased down! I good many think they’re OK, but you can see them start to wobble within a second of stopping, and they fall down (unlike a weeble).
I’d say you can hope for the best, but don’t plan on it.
I was freezing about 15min afters. Couldn’t get enough blankets. Thank you to the guy who gave me his nice omph shirt. All I really wanted was a pepsi (for those in the know who sang that line?) and to take my shoes off. The volunteer freaked when I bent down 15 secs after crossing the line after saying hello to Debbie from Trisports.com.
Have your family volunteer as a catcher, my wife was waiting just across the finish line for me and was able to place my finishers medal around me. Although she was a volunteer captain in a different area they still let her back for me which was cool IMO.
As for the exhiliration and thrill people get when crossing the line, well I’m still waiting. I guess some get it and some don’t.
Yeah thats not good desert dude. We dont’ want to see you bending down, because the vast majority of folks who stop to bend down/put their hands on their knees cannot get out of that position, and the volunteers need to clear the finish line for the next finishers/photo.
I was freezing about 15min afters. Couldn’t get enough blankets. Thank you to the guy who gave me his nice omph shirt. All I really wanted was a pepsi (for those in the know who sang that line?)
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES…they rock(ed)!!!
and to take my shoes off. The volunteer freaked when I bent down 15 secs after crossing the line after saying hello to Debbie from Trisports.com.
Have your family volunteer as a catcher, my wife was waiting just across the finish line for me and was able to place my finishers medal around me. Although she was a volunteer captain in a different area they still let her back for me which was cool IMO.
As for the exhiliration and thrill people get when crossing the line, well I’m still waiting. I guess some get it and some don’t.
Finished, felt dead tired. Convinced the finish line catcher I was ok to be left alone. Decided to skip the food tent, my stomach felt ok but if I wolfed down a bunch of pizza it might have come back up and ruined a good thing. Took a few minutes of walking around to reunite with my cheering section. A friend had already gotten my bike so I just had to gather up my bags and walk the 5 minutes (which took ten minutes) over the BIG Holiday Inn hill in Lake Placid and down the other side to our house. Got the most refreshing cool shower ever, hung out with the crew until 11:00 then headed down to watch the last hour of finishers. Went for pizza after the midnight cutoff and chowed down something serious. Back over the hill (had to stop and rest this time) and in bed at 1:00. I was wide awake at 7am and ready for breakfast. Spent Monday walking around and doing some sight seeing. I think it’s important for recovery to stay active the day after and keep the legs moving.
You might feel ok to go out and eat after the race but don’t count on it. Everybody is different. I worked the finish line as a catcher from 8:00-midnight last year in Lake Placid. Some people were barely able to speak, others were all but jumping for joy.
In 2003 I was a finish line catcher from 3 pm until midnight at IMC. The first things I would say as I caught a finisher were, “Congratulations, and how are you feeling”. About a third of the time the reply was a moan, or a “not well”, or an “I need help”. For those I would offer to take them to the medical tent and no one refused. For the rest it was either complete joy of being finished, or just feeling tired. I offered everyone water or gatorade although I don’t think anyone took gatorade - go figure . Some just wanted to walk around, some wanted to find their loved ones, and some just wanted to sit. Some wanted pizza, some wanted chicken soup, some wanted fruit. Some wanted to go straight into the hot tubs, and others wanted to get a massage. Everyone was different - and I only held on to those that didn’t require medical attention.
In 2004 I completed IMC. I felt really stoked when I finished. I was quickly grabbed away from my catcher for family photos (my sisters had finished a couple of hours before me) and then I walked around transition a bit with a friend. Then the hunger hit and I gobbled up several pieces of pizza. After the pizza I was off to the massage tent for an extra long massage by a friend.
I guess what I’m saying is everyone is different. Enjoy your first Ironman. You’re only an IronVirgin once.
IMLP last year was my first IM distance race. If I remember correctly, there was quite a bit of food at the finish line. I think I had a bagel with PB and a banana or something along those lines. I waited for my two training buddies to finish. Neither one of them was up for going out after the race, but my girlfriend and I went to a pub and watched the local coverage of the race over beer and a plate of wings. I have very fond memories of that meal… I didn’t want to consume a ton of food after the race, but that really hit the spot.
I think it is hard to predict how you’re going to feel after the race is over. I tend to race pretty conservatively (wimpishly?), especially if it’s a distance I haven’t raced at before, so I don’t generally collapse after races. Also, I remember feeling that the excitement/rush of finishing Lake Placid stayed with me and carried me for quite a while after the race was over. That may be a first-timer thing - I can’t say.
*All I really wanted was a pepsi (for those in the know who sang that line?) *
Dude! What a flashback! That just took me back to the early 80’s as a freakin’ teenager and a triple header of suicidal tendencies, DK, and COC - in an old dilapidated skating rink. sweet…
I rested and drank sodas for 20 min, somehow staggered to the Ocean Cafe (or something like that) had 3 beers, grilled Ahi and eggs. Dragged my ass to the King Kam and slept. I think the Ahi helped alot in the recovery. I poured a ton of shoyu on it. Had the same thing the next am and went on a snorkle trip. The water felt good and being lazy on the boat was wonderful. Congrats and good luck
I’ve rarely spent much time at the IMUSA post-race (01, 02, 04), although there always seems to be a lot of food. Instead, there is a restaurant called Cameron’s on Saranac Ave - as you head out of town - where my crew and I usually go to celebrate (after I stop at the condo to shower, of course). All you can eat salad bar, pitchers of beer, decent steaks. You won’t find that at the post-race. Typically I’ve seen a bunch of people in race shirts with finisher’s smiles, in fact last year we had a table next to Joe Bonness.
If all goes well, I plan to drink and dine there on the night of July 24 this year too. Afterwards, throw on a sweatshirt and stumble back down to the oval to cheer on the late finishers.
). Is there a realistic chance I might be up for dinner or will I be asleep in bed 30 min. after the race?