Last night at midnight I logged in to look at the results of Ironman China and felt a whirlwind of emotions. First, I was blown away by the conditions--temperatures in the mid-90s with 75% humidity. Unless you've been training in such conditions (and who does?), that must have felt like a very wet blast furnace. Second, on a personal note, for those of you who have been reading this blog know that I was training for IM China when my knee went out. Since then I've found myself thinking things like "This is the week I'd be doing a 110 mile ride" or "this is when I'd be starting my taper". I had romanticized the training regimen, not remembering how cold it could be on those early morning rides when it was still dark at the beginning of the ride or heading out on a run even when I simply didn't feel like running or had "better" things to do. When you are doing training in the mind it is all too easy to think of just the good times, the epic work-outs, the ability to eat non-stop, the constant feeling of accomplishment and of being in such great shape. However as I read about the actual race conditions and reflected back to when I had raced in similar conditions I realized that yesterday's race in China would have tested everything I had and, sadly but realistically, could have bested me.
I've raced in severe heat before: Wildflower long course, Ironman Arizona (twice), and IM CDA (on a particularly hot day) and ended up in the medical tent at each--close to a DNF. The Coeure d'Alene was an unseasonably hot day and was 95 as we headed out on the marathon. In the span of 30 minutes I went from feeling strong, confident and fast to feeling weak, struggling and slow. It was a literal meltdown and the next 4+ hours were some of the worst I'd ever felt as an athlete. In other words, I know what can happen trying to go long in immense heat.
As I read about the conditions in Hainan and put myself there, all of the romantic notions of being in such good shape that I would have PR'd the run, high-fiving people on the way to a glorious finish. Not on this day. For me it would have been nothing less than a death march. Everyone who partiicpated in IM China and especially those who were able to make it across the finish line have very much earned their "You are an Ironman". You have my greatest respect as I truly wonder if I would have been able to finish such conditions--knee or no knee. I look forward to hearing your stories. Feel free to email me (pacifico555 [at} hotmail.com).