First, let me begin with an explanation as to why this took so long to post. This post has been the most difficult for me to write not because I'm ashamed to DNF and not because I feel like I didn't try hard enough but only because I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me. Emotionally, I am over it. Yes, it was a mental hurdle to get over my first EVER DNF. But, I am now both physically and mentally in a better place. On to my report and then a bit more follow up.
Race morning broke to clear skies and sunshine. The air was cool and the water in lake Michigan was even warm. The butterflies in my stomach weren't too bad and I was excited to do this race. Physically, I was feeling like I was bursting with energy after my 2 week taper. I had no nagging injuries and everything was perfect! (that should have been a sign that this day would go horribly wrong at some point)
I arrived at the race site right on schedule at 6am and got my transition area settled. This was the longest, narrowest, most crowded transition area I had ever seen. The buzz in transition before the race was awesome. I chatted with a few other competitors and everyone was excited to be doing this race. At 6:45 my wife and I started walking down to the swim start (1.2 miles up the beach to the south) This is when I decided to put my wetsuit on up to my waist and suddenly realized my timing chip and strap were still in my transition bag! A quick 100m sprint back to transition and some begging and pleading later I was in the now CLOSED transition area with the gruff instructions of "you better hurry your A$$ up!" whew, race was almost over before it even started. Back to my wife and walking up the beach we stopped about half way and watched the pro men swim by then continued on down to the start. I had about 30 minutes to kill at this point as I was going off in wave 12 at 8:07am. I found a quiet place on a dune and chilled to some tunes on my iPhone while I went one last time through my race plan in my head. At 7:50 I began my final prep with a quick warm up swim, told my wife my stroke felt strong today got my pre-race kiss and I love you and headed over to the testosterone festival called a starting line. After wave 11 went off, we were allowed to head down to the waters edge for a beach start. I think that felt like the longest 7 minutes of my life waiting for that start. At 30 seconds till start I put on my goggles, at 10 seconds I got ready to hit the start on my watch. GO!
I took 1, yes exactly ONE step and felt an excruciating POP in my left calf. Did someone kick me? what the heck? Maybe it's just a cramp. Keep moving forward and just get swimming. We can work a cramp out while we swim. I've done it a thousand times before, this isn't over yet! I finally get to water deep enough to swim in and with in 100 meters I'm feeling better already. I'm not kicking but I feel like I'm able to flex my foot back and fort a bit and stretch out the calf. Ok, now focus on just swimming. Sighting for the bouy's was interesting. You had to time it so that you sighted at the top of a swell not at the bottom. If you sighted at the wrong time all you saw was water and swimmers. As a side note, it was amazing to look around at the top of a swell and you could see swimmers stretching as far in front and behind as you could see. About half way into the swim I start passing some people with white swim caps, they were in the wave ahead of me. Then some pink swim caps, 2 waves ahead of me. The last half of the swim was pretty stretched out people wise. I was feeling good and constantly reminding myself to keep it an easy stroke. I knew an easy stroke would be enough to keep me on plan. My goal was around 35 minutes. As I made the turn for shore I really concentrated on trying to stretch my calf. It was still pretty sore and I had no clue what was going to happen when I tried to stand up. I decided to swim as far into shore as I possibly could to minimize how much running in water I had to do. I swam almost until my chest was scraping the bottom and then attempted to stand. I could put almost no pressure on my left foot and my calf would shoot pain. Damn, not a good place to be. I hobbled up the beach and saw my wife about half way up to transition. I gave her a quick run down and hobbled off. I figured ok, if I can just make it to my bike then maybe, well who knows.
In transition I almost quit right then. I was in pain and couldn't put my left heal on the ground to save my life. I almost fell over twice while trying to maneuver my bike to the bike exit. It took me a half mile to just get my feet into my shoes. (I have my shoes pre-clipped in and don't actually put my feet into them usually until I am up to speed) I almost causes a few wrecks in that first half mile but I managed. I decided right then and there that I would give it a couple of miles and if I couldn't find a comfortable or somewhat pain free pedal stroke that my day would have to be done. Not a decision I wanted to make but something I had to consider. By mile five I was actually averaging over 20 miles and hour and as long as I pedaled with a high left heel I was pretty much pain free. Standing and pedaling was interesting but if I played it smart I figured I'd make it ok. At mile 25 I kind of knew in my heart that this day was not going to end like I intended. But, I now had a plan. Keep the nutrition going, keep the fluids coming. I was cruising on the bike we gotta hope and pray that this stupid calf would work itself out. At mile 38 we made the turn for home, only 18 to go and now it was head wind city the rest of the way in. Like 17 - 25 mph head winds and I was still keeping my average speed higher than I anticipated. 1 mile to go, time to prepare to get off the bike. It was at this point that I had to make the toughest decision of my racing life. I felt great physically. I was as fresh as I have ever felt coming off the bike in any distance race. I was ahead of my goal time by almost 10 minutes already. But, could my calf stand the pounding of the run? I got my feet out of the shoes early. I didn't want to cause a wreck and ruin someone's day as well as mine with my calf in a questionable state. The dismount line was coming and I was about to find out if my race would continue or end. I wouldn't know until my second step because I always plant off the bike with my right foot but I was prepared for pain. As I came off the bike, my left foot finally hit the ground and I almost kept right on going down to my knees. I still couldn't get my heel to the ground. I was devastated. I hobbled my bike back to it's spot on the rack on took a few moments to ponder my next move. I tried to stretch my calf, no good. If I forced my heel to the ground searing pain radiated from my calf and almost brought tears to my eyes. For a few moments I considered trying to run. I thought if I just get started maybe it would get better. Then I would try and put my heel down again and I knew I couldn't go on.
I walked/hobbled to the nearest official and asked for the medical tent. They asked me three times if I was sure I wanted to end my race. The price for entry to the medical tent is a high one you see, you have to give up your race chip and your day is over. I admitted I couldn't go on any further and they showed me yet another reason why a true, sanctioned, Ironman branded race is the elite, quality event that it is. I was ushered quietly and quickly to the medical tent where immediately a doc, a nurse, a physical therapist and a couple others started checking my calf out. They brought me fluids, they got my wife in there with me. They were AWESOME in their professionalism and their understanding of my sadness of not finishing my race. They also gently reminded me that I couldn't continue when I asked for my chip back because I thought maybe I'd just try. The doc and physical therapist both agreed that there was no Achilles damage. They concluded that I may have partially torn or severely strained one of the muscles in my calf.
My times for what I completed were as follows.
1.2 mile swim 36:52
T1: 4:50
56 mile bike 3:10:55 (17.6mph avg)
On a good note, I did get to talk with Andy Potts who won the overall race, while waiting to get my bike back out of transition. He is the nicest down to earth person and seemed more concerned about my leg with the compression wrap on it than his win. Nice guy!
So what happened next? For the first 72 hours or so I followed the (R.I.C.E. method) rest, elevate, compression and ice method as instructed. Pain was so so for the most part. Each day I noticed a little more range of motion coming back and some cool bruising and swelling moving about my calf and ankle. I wore a compression/recovery sock by Skins for the week following the injury. 1 week after the race I was able to get into the Michigan State University Sports Injury clinic. Those doc's are awesome. They did my shoulder almost 2 years ago and from a sports perspective they never disappoint. Everything is always, "ok, we got this injury so what are your goals and how can we get you there?" I was confirmed to have a slight tear/strain of the gastrocnemius muscle (inner calf muscle) common to those in the 35 - 45 age range. It is a breakdown of the muscle fibers (the pop I felt) that finally gives way. There was no avoiding it. The doc said if it was going to happen it was going to happen. The stretching and warm up helped to lessen it but would not have encouraged or discouraged it from happening. No surgery is needed as I/everyone else suspected. I was right where he would expect my healing to be 1 week out from the injury. I was prescribed physical therapy with my favourite mistress of pain a couple of weeks later to speed up the recovery process.
I was cleared to swim and bike (no hill restrictions but only a pain restriction) and no running for a few more weeks. I was advised to increase my bike and swim to compensate for the no running.
Port Huron Blue Water Tri was out as I kind of suspected it would be but I am cleared to race again September 12th just not to expect a PR at that time.
PT has been going good this week. I do love the place I go to. Much like MSU Sports Injury clinic, they are awesome people there. Stacy kicks my butt and takes no excuses. Right now I am in no pain and have full range of motion back with some "pulling" feeling in the calf at certain times. I am just now feeling like I am able to walk "normal" again. I am planning on trying a short/easy run this weekend to see where we are.
I'll keep everyone posted more often now that the cat is out of the proverbial bag.
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