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 Swim
Comments: From my previous experience with a mass start I knew there would be some bumping and shoving. I knew I could handle it both physically and mentally but didn't want to expend the energy. During the pre-race meeting the RD stated that as long as we made the turns with the buoy to our right we could swim either to the inside or outside of the buoy line. I chose an inside line to the first turn, an outside line to the second and a gut shot on the final stretch. I executed it to perfection. Very little contact and some good drafting. My sighting was a little off up to the first turn but I corrected my stroke and swam straight as an arrow the rest of the way. I was so happy and excited during the swim and in such a groove that I actually started singing during my exhales. Thoughts of being a kid and spending my summers at Folsom Lake produced happy thoughts all the way to the finish. My hand hit sand, I popped up and started running to transition. Within the next six steps my day changed from finishing for time, to surviving to finish. What would you do differently?: Reflecting on the swim now I realize that I really didn't work that hard. I got in a groove and stayed where I was comfortable. I beat my goal time by over two minutes but if I had it to do over again I would swim harder. I have no doubt that I could have easily have dropped another minute off my swim.  Transition 1
Comments: Coming out of the water I went from horizontal to vertical to sprint as fast as I could. After about five steps I felt a "pop" in my left calf. On the next step I felt a "pop" in my right calf and the pain that followed nearly dropped me to the ground. I stood straight up and slowed to a hobble. A person who I assume was the transition director came up to me and asked if I was OK and if I needed water. I told her no, she asked if I just cramped up, I told her yes, and she allowed me to press on. I had not cramped up, something had just gone horribly wrong. I made it to my bike where my wife met me. She asked how I was doing and I told her "not good". I quickly explained what happened. She asked if I was going to continue. I told her I was and that I'd work my legs out on the bike. I hobbled to the mount line, got on my bike and started to pedal. The pain wasn't crippling but I could definitely feel it. I knew what was coming on the bike course and decided that all I could do was race where I was at and worry about the rest when I got there. *Note: I went to the doctor on the Monday following the race and she confirmed that I tore both calf muscles. No tendon or long term damage and the prescription for healing is ice, heat, Ibuprofen, and time. What would you do differently?: Not blow out both my calves! I need to learn how to let my feet hang naturally in the water as opposed to pointing my toes. I think this contributed to the blown out calves.  Bike
Comments: Once I got moving I was fine. My calves hurt but while riding it was more of a discomfort than pain. My plan (before injury) was to stay in the saddle as long as I could and only stand and grind for Garvin Heights. I knew I could do this with the rolling hills on the out/back portion but didn't know how I would do with the big hill. I reminded myself to race where I was at and worry about the rest when I got there. At about mile three, on a small uphill, my chain popped off. I got unclipped and stopped but couldn't get off my bike, the pain was intense. Once I managed to get off my bike and get the chain back on I couldn't get back on the bike. I was still on an uphill and couldn't push off to get a rolling start. I started to hobble to the top of the hill, once there I was able to use the curb to give me a boost, got on the bike and got a rolling. At mile four I hit and got stung by a bee. It made me laugh, because really at this point what more could go wrong. As I was approaching the turn there were a ton of riders heading the other way. One guy pointed at me and gave a giant fist pump. This little boost/show of support was exactly what I needed. I nodded at him and kept pedaling (Dude, if you read this thank you). I made the turn and headed back toward Garvin Heights. As I made the turn to go up Garvin Heights I said to myself "here we go". I wanted to follow my plan as much as I could so dropped it into granny gear and stayed in the saddle. I made it about halfway up the hill before it became too much to sit. I stood to try to grind and simply couldn't, there was too much pain. I sat back down and tried to keep spinning but it was too much. I tried to stand one more time and got the same result as before. I stopped and stood there for a good 4-5 minutes trying to decide how to tackle this hill. Finally I decided the only way up was to walk, so up I went. I had to take my shoes off because the combination of the uphill and cleats made a tough task even harder. So there I was... two torn calf muscles, hobbling up a hill, pushing my bike, in my socks. But I made it! I got to the top of Garvin Heights and mounted right at the timing mat. I knew the next five miles were flat and after that it was literally downhill. The headwind was tough on the flats but nothing that I hadn't trained in, in Iowa. I was able to reel in four people before the downhill, which made me feel good. As I started downhill I decided I was going all out, I got into my drop-downs and tucked everything in; I topped out at 47.8 mph. I started screaming on the way down. The pain went away and I was having FUN! The downhill was worth every painful step of the climb. The rest of the ride was uneventful. My wife and kids were waiting for me at the dismount line. I thought about doing a flying dismount, as I had practiced, but decided against it. Got off the bike, across the mat, and into transition. What would you do differently?: I don't think I could have done anything differently given the circumstances. What I got right was my nutrition/hydration. It was the only part of my pre-race plan that I was able to execute successfully. It paid off on a hot day. Transition 2
Comments: My wife met me at my rack and asked how I was. I told her I would be OK to finish. About that time the same woman who stopped to check on me coming out of the water showed up and asked if I needed medical. I told her no, I would be fine, I was going to finish. At this point I think it hit my wife that I really wasn't fine. She stated it wasn't worth finishing if I was jeopardizing my health. I very calmly told her that I was good to finish. She said OK asked how long I'd be out there,I told her 1:45. I kissed her and both my kids and made my way out for a 10k trot.  Run
Comments: There's no easy way to say it... This 10K was painful. I alternated walk/trot as best I could. Most everyone who was finishing passed me going the opposite within the first mile. By mile two everyone who I reeled in on the second half of the bike passed me. I thought about quitting was at mile 2.5. My legs were killing me, I was hot and my feet felt like they were on fire. I knew the water station was up ahead and that they could call and have someone take me back. I decided that this was a bad idea. I didn't train to quit with 3 miles left, I didn't drag my family up there to have them watch me throw in the towel, I didn't run "For Her" to discard the lessons she taught me. I looked at the names written on my arm and I HTFU. As I approached the aid station and turn, one of the volunteers shouted at me "We have ice, we have water, and we have Gatorade". I shouted back "Do you have hugs?". She said if I had the time she had a hug and wrapped her arms around me (THANK YOU!). I told her I had all day and squeezed her tight. I grabbed three cups of water and some ice, made the turn and started the trot back. I remember passing two people on my way back. Gave the guy a high five as he said "Lets hear it for the Clydes" At mile 4.5 I realized that they closed the course at 1300. I checked my watch (1211) and did some quick math (16:00ish pace) and knew I'd make it, but I picked up the pace anyway. As I made the final turn I could see that most everyone was gone both athletes and spectators. I could also see that my family had made a sign for me, a bright 80s neon yellow sign, that said "Way to Go Dad!" As I passed them my wife told me to finish strong and my son and daughter paced me to the finish chute (shhh, don't tell USAT this is against the rules). I heard my name called, crossed the finish line and received my medal, all with a huge smile. What would you do differently?: Everything/Nothing - I think I did the best I could given the situation. Post race
Warm down: I had a gallon of water dumped on me and it was AWESOME. One of the USAT race officials stopped me and said that he saw me hobbling after my chain popped off and wanted to know what happened. I relayed my story and he apologized for not being able to get back to help me but he was glad I had finished. My wife and kids helped me pack up my stuff and we watched and cheered for the final four finishers. We packed the car and headed home. What limited your ability to perform faster: I'm not even going to dignify this question with an answer. Event comments: I had to finish this race. Not only "For Them/For Her" but for me. I don't know how I would have been able to handle not finishing and I don't know how I could teach my kids the same lessons that my Mom taught me, knowing that they saw their Dad quit(regardless of reason). Some of my friends have called me a Hero and some have called me Stupid, I think there's some truth to both sides. My Trinona experience was one of the most physically and emotionally demanding experiences I've ever encountered however, at the end of the day I won. I will go back and run Trinona. I will go back lighter, stronger, and faster and I will make the score Brian - 2, Trinona - 0. Profile Album Last updated: 2012-02-03 12:00 AM
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United States
Trinona
90F / 32C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 289/293
Age Group = M35-40
Age Group Rank = 42/43
**This report is long but includes WHY I decided to TRI, why I picked this race, and why it was important to me to finish. It’s amazing how honest one can be to a group of strangers.
In January 2011 I went to my doctor for a routine physical and the news was not good. She informed me that my weight placed me in the obese category (6'5" 320lbs), my cholesterol was really high, high enough to warrant medication, and that I was classified pre-diabetic because of my blood sugar levels. I needed a lifestyle change so I started to run. As someone who hated to run I found that I really enjoyed it. I learned how to run, how to pace myself and most importantly that I didn't have to go out and run an 8 minute mile, it was fine to shuffle along because I was doing it. I developed the mantra “For Them”. I was running for my wife and kids, to be healthy for them so I could be here for years to come.
I completed the C25K program and entered a few 5ks, I even signed up for a half marathon in October 2011. The weight started to melt off, by Memorial Day I was down to 290lbs. At the same time I developed a long term plan to keep myself motivated: 2011 = 5k and half marathon, 2012 = Olympic Distance Triathlon, 2013 = Half Ironman, 2014 = Full Ironman. Somewhere in there I would mix in a marathon but had not decided where. I found Beginner Triathlete and was inspired by the stories I read. In May of 2011 I bought a road bike to cross train on and toughen my taco before Tri training started in January 2012. In my search for my first Olympic Distance Triathlon I came across Trinona, Battle for the Bluff. The thought of racing up the bluff, the difficulty of that task appealed to my competitive side. I decided if I was going to do it, I was going all in. This would be my first!
By the end of June 2011 I had finished three separate races and was getting miles in on the bike. I felt really good and knew I was on pace for the Half Marathon and more. Little did I know my best laid plans were about to fall apart.
While on vacation with my wife and kids I got a call from my parents, my Mom said on the phone “If you want to see me alive, you need to come now”. She had been battling COPD due to years of smoking. In February we had placed her in Hospice care, now at the end of June she was starting to take a turn. I flew out to California to be with her for a week. She was not what I would have considered as terminal, and I honestly felt that we would see her during the holidays. However once I got home the stress of daily health updates, being so far from home and not being able to help started to take its toll. I began missing runs and cross training days. I stopped riding and started slipping back into old habits and in August we admitted her into a full time care facility. I managed to piece together a few training runs but hadn’t done any runs over any sort of distance. Time was running out and I was at the point that I needed to decide if I was going to actually pick up my race packet; Turns out that the decision was made for me as Mom died the Friday before the Half Marathon. Instead of racing on Sunday my wife, kids and I boarded an airplane to attend to my Mom’s memorial.
Once back in Iowa I coped the only way I knew how, eating. I had no interest in any sort of activity and very quickly put on the 30lbs I lost, plus another 10. I was an emotional wreck during the Holidays and continued to “cope”. As 2011 drew to a close I knew I had to pull my head out of my arse. After a very long and therapeutic talk with my wife I came to the conclusion that even with the setback there was no reason not to follow the plan I previously laid out.
When the calendar turned 2012 I got back on the training horse and started my journey to Trinona. I joined my YMCA’s triathlon training class which gave me swimming and biking instruction, and I changed my mantra to “For Them/For Her”. “For Her” is obviously for Mom. She taught me that I am responsible for my own successes and failures, if I want something I need to work for it, things aren’t done half-assed, and that there’s no other option than to see things through to completion… one does not quit.
The first month of training was hell, I never actually puked in the pool but I did dry heave a couple of times. My legs and taco hurt from spin class and my shoulders were sore from swimming, but by the end of January I was making progress and on January 30th I paid my registration fee for Trinona. Once I got into a routine the rest was easy. Five more months of training and a sprint tri under my belt I was ready.
I had a difficult time emotionally Saturday morning. I got too focused on who wasn’t here as opposed to what I needed to do. My wife was there for me, cried with me, and helped me redirect my energy. We got to Winona Saturday evening for packet pick-up right as they were packing up for the night. My son had a baseball game Saturday morning that ran long and on the drive up from Iowa we got caught in a random “Safety Check” by the highway patrol which cost us some time. Once we got checked into the hotel and had dinner it was almost 2100. I had planned on driving the bike course, but with the late hour and still needing to put my bike together I decided to forgo the drive and do what I needed to do and get to bed.
I was up at 0515 and very quietly ate breakfast (Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich on wheat, banana, Spark) in the bathroom as to not wake my kids. I said good-bye to my wife and had a quick ride to the transition area. Set up my stuff and walked the transitions. The pre-race meeting was at 0700, with the elite’s going at 0730. My wave wasn’t until 0825 so I watched the Elite International heat go and the first few sprint waves and then met up with my family. As a little extra motivation I had my wife and kids write their names on my arm. At 0815 I moved to the starting area.
None, but in hindsight I should have streched my legs.