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Days leading up to an Ironman race are always bitter sweet. Anxiety, nerves, fear, worry, doubt, along with a variety of other emotions become more apparent as race day grows near. Although well prepared, the enormity of the race and the experience about to be endured generates a feeling of anticipation unlike any other. The worst thing we can do is sit in our hotel room, stare at the ceiling, wait, and ponder. The best thing we can do is occupy our minds; a movie, dinner with friends, etc. Since I knew Steve Born (Hammer Nutrition) was in town I decided to wonder over to the Bike Barn (famous Canadian bike shop) and pay Steve a visit. 
I’ve met Steve several times before. This time we had the opportunity to have a lengthy one-on-one conversation. I asked a lot of questions and learned more about race day nutrition. Things I’ll share with you through upcoming articles and clinics.
Once the training is behind us, there are 3 things that make or break our Ironman day; Nutrition, Attitude, Pacing. These are not independent! There are very much linked to one another like three sides of a triangle. If one is shortened or elongated, the other two sides will adapt. On this day, the nutrition side of my triangle was very much shortened by a series of mistakes.
I wear my chip strap the day before the race to ensure I don’t loose it. I was so nervous for a race once I slept in my singlet and tri shorts to make sure I knew where they were the morning of the race. I don’t forget things.
Race morning everyone makes the pilgrimage to the start dropping off their special needs bags and putting the final touches into transition bags (perishable calories) and bike. As I do my pre-Ironman ritual, I realize I left my water bottles filled with Prepetuem in the freezer (mistake #1). 90% of my day’s complex carob hydrates (long lasting fuel) are in those bottles. This year I did not plan to stop at the bike special needs and therefore didn’t put any significant fuel in the bag like I did the year before (mistake #2). The back-bone of my race plan was in the freezer laughing its head off. Everything else I had on the bike or in my race bags were simpler sugars or gels (quick energy).
Why so concerned? At mile 20 on the run last year, I had gone though 10000+ calories. About 4000 came from Prepetuem. The rest came from body fat, a couple sandwiches, and simple sugars (gels). I was short almost ½ my calorie plan. Big gap! Almost all of the fuel available at the aid stations is made up of simple sugars. I knew my sugar levels were going to spike and drop all day long because it was depending on simple sugars. My pace would not be consistent and my attitude already started to suffer. I’m not a cussing man, but at this moment, I thought every ugly word in the book in three different languages. If I wasn’t such a manly man, I would have busted out a few tears. I looked at my bike and new the engine was going to run out of fuel. 20 minutes left to start; time to sport the wetsuit.
After a poor swim, I headed out on the bike still upset with myself for making such stupid mistakes. Lesson learned, don’t focus on the past. Make the best of what you have ahead of you. I inhaled 1/2 of my sandwich at mile 5 on the bike with the intent of eating the other half at mile 65. The bike ride was as beautiful this year as it was last. I know because I spent an additional 45 minutes soaking up the countryside. At mile 65 I reached into my pocket only to realize the other half of my sandwich had fallen out. It was that kind of day. It started to sprinkle and I thought to myself, when it rains, it pours.
After cresting Yellow Lake, there is a 15 mile drop heading back into town. Sprinkles turned into rain as we approached Penticton and Transition 2. The entire run was in the rain. It was a refreshing rain, not a cold rain. At mile 13, I estimated my time to be 13:15 if I swapped to coke for fuel.
When I swapped to coke as fuel at mile 2 at Ironman Wisconsin a few years back, I ended up with PR; 13 hours. After the race my body was confused. On one hand it was exhausted. On the other it was wired. It was a nauseating feeling. My digestive system was messed up for 3 days. So this year at Canada, I passed on the coke resulting in longer and longer walk breaks. By mile 18 in Canada, I was toast and wanted to quit. Just let me see the finish line. It was not meant to be today so I just enjoyed a slow job back into town.
Maybe its time for a new laptop. Thanks for reading. –Tony
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