Race Result

Racer:	Steve Smith
Race:	Ironman Utah
Date:	Saturday, June 8, 2002
Location:	Provo, UT
Race Type:	Duathlon - Other
Age Group:	Male 30 - 34
Time:	5:13:47
Overall Place:	311
Age Group Place:	77
Comment:	Surf's up! Windy swim kills an athlete, changes course

Race Report:

IMUtah Frequently Asked Questions
aka stv's race report

There are a couple of things that didn't fit into the FAQ format. First, the hard fact that someone died. I have many different emotions about this, but none that I can effectively voice. Second, how much I enjoyed traveling with fellow RATS. It was a lot of fun to be around friendly faces, especially when the morning's craziness started to unfold. Third, many experienced IM athletes said the race organization was really well done. Fourth, Lake Utah is really silty. You couldn’t see a thing in the water. Very green/white. Lastly, we stayed at the Provo HoJo for a ridiculously cheap rate of $49/night. Nice clean hotel with a jacuzzi, ESPN and ESPN2 to follow the World Cup.

** Was the swim really that crazy?
** Were you scared on the swim?
** How far did you swim?
** What will you remember about the swim?
** Was it windy on the bike course?
** How was the bike?
** What happened to your plan?
** How fast did you bike?
** How fast did you run?
** What was your total time?
** Were you disappointed that you couldn't race a full IM?
** What was the general attitude at the race?
** Will you do IM-Utah again (for the first time)?

** Was the swim really that crazy?

Yes, it was. I've read reports of 30 mph gusts and 3-foot swells. Three foot swells may not sound too bad. They are when your head is only 6 inches out of the water. For effect, lay on the ground and look at your kitchen table top. Can’t see much, can you?

** Were you scared on the swim?

Yes and no. At first my only thoughts were "Holy cow! I hope the beginning swimmers have a chance to bail ... this could be a mess!" and then I quietly, guiltily, giggled 'cause I was having fun. However, later, when I realized the buoy I was sighting was *moving*, I started to worry a little bit. I just kept swimming to where I thought I should be going and where most of the other athletes were going. There wasn't much else I could do. Occasionally I worried that I may be in the water for a couple of hours, but I always had other athletes nearby so I didn't feel like I was in real danger.

** How far did you swim?

Before the race I guessed a time of 58 minutes. Total guess. During the swim, I would check my watch every now and then as an aid for course navigation. It got to a point where I could see some shore, but not the finish. At one point I was trying to sight the finish when I realized I could stand. Standing, I looked at my watch: 58 minutes. Well, I did my swim, right on time, so I started walking to the nearest piece of land. I figure I swam at least 2 miles over all if not more, and walked about .5 miles.

** What will you remember about the swim?

The scene of athletes walking in to the swim finish. It was like a war movie. Athletes in uniform (black with green/blue swim caps) wandering in from everywhere, looking dazed, confused. Overhead were helicopters flying in tight circles. Off to my left is a speedboat zooming by with a dozen athletes on board. Thump. Thump. Thump as it hits the waves. In front of me is a finger of land, the finish?

about 1/2 mile away. I had overshot the finish line quite a bit. Behind me are athletes alone or sometimes in pairs walking toward the finger of land. Everywhere around me are athletes, alone or sometimes in pairs, walking toward land. When I finally reached land I realized that the finish line was even further ahead. The war-movie image was cemented as they packed athletes onto pickup trucks. Athletes sitting on the truck bed walls. Athletes packed onto the truck bed. Athletes dangling their legs off the edge of the opened truck bed door. Like a group of WWII pilots being rushed to their airplane, the truck took off toward T1. And somber quietness all around.

** Was it windy on the bike course?

Yes. It was hard to say how windy, but IMHO most of the course was in a cross wind.

** How was the bike?

For the most part, the bike was really nice. Mostly scenic, a little smelly with cows at times. I think we passed a dump of some kind too. Some fellow RATS behind me on the bike said they saw a lot of horse poop/diarrhea on Lincoln Beach Road along Lake Utah (one of the most scenic parts of the bike); luckily I didn't see this. The course wasn't rolling, but there were a number of long false-flat hills. Once the ride returned to Provo proper there was a long shallow hill back to T2. That hill hurt me.

** What happened to your plan?

I tossed it as soon as they announced the shortened run. I signed up for IM-Utah to ensure that I logged some good base mileage over the winter. I did. I wanted to work hard during the winter/spring on my bike endurance, my relative weakness. I did. My original IM plan was to go very easy on the bike and run a comfortable marathon. When they announced the 70/13 course I figured I'd blow it all on the bike and survive the run. Given my winter's focus, I figured it would be a great chance to see just how far I'd come.

** How fast did you bike?

My fastest. My best bike last year was a 22.5 mph at Reston Triathlon (22.5 miles). Figuring a 70-mile course and a 3:02 finish that puts my pace at 23 mph! I'm giddily happy with that. Winter's mission accomplished. Anyway, it turns out that all the Hawaii qualifiers in my age group but one had a faster bike split than I did (not by a lot -- fellow RAT Dave Glover finished 9th overall on the bike and 2nd in our AG with 2:54). Still some work to do, but I think I’m set for short-course endurance.

** How fast did you run?

I didn't! I ran the first 1.5 miles and the last 1.1 miles. Outside of that, I ran in 1/2 mile increments. I would walk the aid stations and have to walk about 1/2 way between the aid stations. I had strange GI problems all day, nothing severe, but I had a hard time eating on the bike. I think I swallowed a *lot* of Lake Utah and that didn't sit well. I hit the porto johns three times on the run. My neuroma problems really flared up in both feet too. However, all of these were minor issues; my real problem is that I biked too hard. If the bike was 56 miles I would have been a lot better off!

** What was your total time?

5:13:47 ... At the awards ceremony I realized the 50-59 AG winner beat me by a minute. I love this sport.

** Were you disappointed that you couldn't race a full IM?

Not at all. IM-NA did a great job making the best of a bad situation, in my humble opinion. I really feel for the first timers who went there looking to become Ironmen; all that training, dedication. Personally, however, this format worked better for me. The day turned into a seriously hard workout, one in which I'm almost fully recovered. I can now focus on my real goals 3-4 weeks earlier: fast short-course racing. I think the IM-NA solution (250 IMU slots next year and additional slots in other races) is a fair and effective solution. Others will argue, that's just my opinion.

** What was the general attitude at the race?

I'm sure it was a bit of everything. However, my personal experience was that every athlete I talked to race day was taking the situation gracefully. The death of an athlete put everything else into it's proper perspective. There was lots of talk about a long bike course (something the updated results now reflect). And the following day I heard some grumbling, but not much. Still, it pissed me off. It's just a freakin' race, chill out.

** Will you do IM-Utah again (for the first time)?

Definitely. I have the mug, I have the shirt, I have the license plate holder ... Gotta earn the schwag.