Joey Dussich: Lake Placid Report and a 23min 2010 PR

Aug 05 at 10:35am | 0 comments

I'm not one for Race reports, but Coach Cliff asked, and seeing how I
don't usually question what he asks me to do, I must comply:)

This season, my focus race was Ironman Lake Placid.  This was my 3rd
consecutive year racing Placid and I wanted to make it a good one!  Last
year was my 1st season being a member of Tri-Star and also being coached
by Coach Cliff.  With that being said, last year, I pr'd IMLP by over 35
minutes with a 10:54! I was excited to see what Cliff could dig out of
me this year!

I worked extra hard this season and put in many hours.  I even managed a
150 and 200 mile bike ride...which I was instructed to do by our
fearless leader! I also attended week long Tri Camp out in Arizona which
ended with a climb up the infamous Mt. Lemmon.

I raced two tri's prior to LP this season, St. Anthony's Olympic and the
REV3 half, both resulting with significant Pr's. I liked where the
season was headed!

The week before Placid, I took time off from work and concentrated on
getting some needed rest and really let the taper take hold.

Those who know Lake Placid, know that weather is always a wild card. In
2008, it was a monsoon the entire race and last year, it rained early,
then got real hot towards the afternoon. I was curious as to what was
going to happen this year?

Race morning was now upon me.  I suffer from severe stomach cramps
during most of my races, so this season I really wanted to have my
nutrition dialed in.  This meant that on race morning, I did not have my
usual oatmeal.  Instead, I opted for 2 Ensures, a banana and a power
bar.  I really wanted to limit the solid foods in my stomach.  Before
leaving the house, a friend and I wrote down our target goals so that
our little fan clubs would know when and where to be out on the course.
My secret goal time was 10:35, but 10- anything would have made me
happy.  My goal splits were 1 hr swim, 5:35 bike, 3:45 run...let's see
what happens!

The Swim- I took a gel 30 minutes before the swim start and made my way
down towards Mirror Lake...there were a couple hundred more athletes
this year, so I knew the swim was going to be pandemonium!  I got in the
water and warmed up for a bit.  This was the part that I was most
anxious about.  I am decent swimmer, but the swim freaks me out!  I
usually start way outside, but this time I wanted to see what the middle
would be like.  I made my way to the front and waited for the
cannon...it got tight real fast, then boom!  We were off...The race plan
was to basically sprint for the first 400-500 meters and then see how it
pans out...it didn't pan out...and I never got close to the line...I
stayed wide the entire swim...every time I tried to move in, it just got
too crazy.  I was fine with it and just pulled along...I got out of the
water on the 1st loop and saw that I was under 30 min!  I so badly
wanted to break an hour...so I jumped back in and took off.  I did stay
smart however, and never had burning lungs, just dead arms. The result-
a 58:56 swim!  I was pumped, but knew it would be a long day ahead.  Oh,
and by the way, it was raining.

The Bike- I got out on the bike and my plan was to take it REAL easy to
settle down...and that's what I did...I also did not take in any
calories yet, as I was instructed to wait 20 mins to let the body
settle. At exactly 20 min, I took my 1st gel.  As I mentioned earlier, I
did not want to take in solids this year, so I only had 1 concentrated
bottle of Carbo pro (over 1500 calories) w/ 5 salt sticks and 1 nuun
mixed into it and Power gels...I figured at least 1 gel every hour and
sip the carbo pro every 15 to 20 min...I stayed diligent with this.  The
1st time down the dreaded downhill gave us rain and big wind gusts!  The
bike was windy the whole time this year...not just on the 2nd loop...I
kept my HR in check and stayed within myself for the 1st loop.  Its an
easy race to get caught up with the other racers passing by you, but
history proves that the people that bomb by you on the 1st loop are the
same people you usually pass on the 2nd.  I held my pace and hit town at
2:46...right on track.  The 2nd loop brought out the sun and more wind.
The downhill was much better this time and I took advantage of the free
speed and did not ride the brakes:)  As I neared the climb to
Wilmington, I noticed my legs started feeling a little more dead then I
had anticipated?  There was a new out and back this year, and with it
came a head wind...did I go too hard?  I watched my pace and started
upping my calories. The climb back into town turned out to be as
physically demanding as I had remembered it and my legs were shot!...I
was getting nervous...am I going to be able to run?  I got into town and
could not wait to get off the bike...5:36!  Still on track!

The Run- I headed out of T2 and felt great!  Thank god!  The weather was
cooler than in years past, that was nice!  I watched my foot cadence and
let my HR come down...I was running sub 8's and it felt easy!  I saw
Coach Cliff around mile 4 and I told him that I felt great...I was
waiting for something bad to happen. He said to keep cruising...well,
about 45 min in I took another gel and BOOM...massive stomach cramp!
Damn!  I slowed the pace and kept trying to work it out...it eventually
eased up and I got back on pace...unfortunately I had to take another
gel...BOOM again...Stomach cramp...I did not have any other options, so
I had to deal with it.  I ran the 1st half marathon around
1:45...hopefully I could hold somewhere around this pace...Around mile
16, I walked through one of the aid stations and felt dizzy?  What was
going on?  I had not been taking in a lot of fluids for fear that it
would make the cramps worse...at that point a woman said, "Chicken
Broth?"...I said why not?, "PowerAde?" Why not? "Cola?" Why not?  I left
that aid station bloated and satisfied...I obviously need something
other than water.  From that point on I just put my head down and
counted off the miles.  The cramps came and went, feet would hurt,
etc...I felt like I was more doing a shuffle than running.  I just
watched my cadence and tried to keep some kind of form.  I knew I still
had strength in my legs, but my stomach had other ideas...the finish
time kept getting re-calculated...If I run 10 min miles, I'll come in by
10:35 and so on...As I neared town, I realized if I really picked it up,
I could break 10:30!!!  I picked it up, but my body did not want to...I
started feeling little twinges in my hamstring, quads, etc...And I
decided to just hold on and just make sure I got there in one piece.  As
I neared the finish line, I saw one of my friends who screamed out,
"What a Frickin Ironman you're having!"  That brought a tear to my
eye...I had worked harder than ever this year, put in tons of hours, not
to mention the epic bike rides!!!  It all paid off!  I rounded that oval
and saw 10:31! I had run a 3:46 marathon... I was going to come in under
my goal!  10:31:18 was the final time...a PR of 23 minutes!  I did what
I came to do...Thank you Coach Cliff...You're the MAN!!!