Ironman Arizona - TriathlonFull Ironman

In one moment everyone started swimming. This is the part that scares most people. I had placed myself in the middle because I wanted to try to draft off of some faster swimmers. I have to say that I did ok. I am a big guy and all it really felt like is people bumping into me. Only one person caught a hold of my swim cap and rolled the back of it a bit. I felt like I was going at a good speed and I was happy about that. At one point in the swim I noticed that I was alone. I panicked a bit until I started looking around and saw that I was surrounded by other swimmers but none of them were close to me. I tried to swim closer to the main stream of swimmers to get some drafting but it never really worked. I made the last turn to head in and started to kick my legs to get some blood flowing. I picked an exit and before I knew it I was out of the water. I heard my coach’s voice. I swam 2.4 miles in 1:30. This was the upper end of what I wanted so I was happy.

Swim faster.

I started calling out my race number as soon as I was close to the volunteers. I turned the corner and started running to get my bag. A volunteer had my bag in her hands so I got the handoff and headed into the changing tent. The inside of the changing tent can only be described as hot and sweaty. And let me tell you the smell of hot sweaty man is not pleasant. I knew that my T1 time would be long. The tent was packed and there were no open seats. Once I had a seat I started changing into my bike shorts and the rest of my bike gear. The guy sitting next to me was not moving very fast and was not doing very well. He was so out of it that he fell off of his seat and needed help from the volunteers to get changed. I tried to pee while swimming but that did not work so I had to go before I got on the bike. Oh my, did I have to pee. I ran out the front of the tent and had some sunscreen applied by a volunteer. I headed out to get my bike and started yelling my number. I took me a second to realize that no one was getting my bike. The volunteer working my isle smiled as I ran down to get my bike and turned to me and said “good luck” as I ran past. I got on my bike, made eye contact with my wife and was off.

Nothing really, not having the volunteer get my bike only cost a few seconds overall.

The bike leg started on a good note. I let myself start with an easy fast spin. After about 30 minutes I started increasing my gearing and speed. I started the race with all the nutrition I would need for the whole race. I started on my Accelerade drink and then worked up to gels. After the first hour biking I started eating my main solid nutrition, Fig Newtons. I made the first turn and was going about 30 mph when a pro passed me like I was standing still. I had been telling people that I thought that the race would go well as long as the wheels did not fall off the bus. Funny that I said that. I was coming back from my first lap and was feeling pretty good when all of a sudden my back wheel fell off. At some point my quick release came undone. I think that it may have gotten loose when it was on the rack or I hit it with my heel. When the wheel fell off it twisted slightly and was pinched by the brake pads. I stumbled to the side of the road and started to take stock of the situation. I pulled the tire away from the bike and put it back on and gave it a spin. It worked! I did another quick check of the tire, chain, and derailleur. I got back on and started slow but after a few minutes picked up the pace and got back into the race. Had the wheel came off when I was going 30 mph who knows what could have happened? I was able to stay close to my planned pace. I wanted to make each lap in under two hours but it took a little over two hours to do each lap. After the second lap I had consumed all of the Accelerade that I brought. I started grabbing water from the aid stations and it was kind of fun grabbing water while ridding. The bike leg had gone well and I had passed a lot of people and I was feeling good going into transition.

Bike faster, need to train in the aero position longer.

This was much faster than T1. My feet were out of my shoes as I came down the chute and quickly stopped and handed my bike off to a volunteer. I yelled out my name and the bag was in my hand before I knew it. The changing tent was not as full this time so I was able to find a seat quickly and change. I had more sunscreen applied and I was off.

Nothing. It all went well.

Well I was 2/3 done with the race and I still felt ok. I started the run easy to get my legs warmed up. I settled into an 11 minute pace. I stuck to water and Gatorade for the first lap, cola for the second, and cola and broth for the last lap. I had a gel bottle that I was using for my main nutrition and I also had some Luna Moons. The only other food I grabbed during the run was some banana pieces. I had some developing knee pain that started on the bike that I was managing with Motrin. By the end of the night I would consume over 2400 mg. At some time during the second lap of the run the toes on my left foot started to feel weird, almost like they were beginning to cramp up. Very quickly the feeling changed to pain. The pain increased quickly and then a wave of fire rose up my leg. I think that if it was not for the massive amounts of Motrin and the general fatigue the pain would have stopped me right there. I looked down and noticed that the tip of my left shoe was darker than the right toe. What happened was that a blister formed on my middle toe and it popped. A mixture of blood and blister juice filled my toe box. I still need to wash my shoes. At one point I started running with a 60 year old woman from Alaska. We played tag for a few hours with one of us stopping at a rest stop and then catching up with the other at the next one. She was holding a great pace and she kept me honest while I ran with her. At one point we were running through the area where most of the people were hanging out. The crowd went wild when they saw her. A few hundred yards down the path I turned to her and said “All of that was for you, I got none of that”. She smiled and laughed a little. Around the third lap she started losing steam and slowed down. She finished in 13:30:43 I can only hope that I am in good enough shape to run an Ironman when I am 60. Once I started my third lap I knew that it would be over soon. When I passed the motivational mile I discovered that if I pushed it I might be able to come in under 13 hours. I tried for about 30 minutes but I realized that I could not keep that pace to bring it in less than 13 hours. I finally crossed the last bridge and was on the last length of the run. I ran as fast as my sore feet and legs would carry me. I started looking around to see if I would be finishing with anyone. There was no one in from or behind me for at least 50 yards; I would have the finish to myself. I made the last turn up through the parking lot and I could see the light and hear the crowds. I saw my wife and daughter just before I made the final turn into the stands. I put my arms us and smiled. I high-fived people as I ran through the lights. I did not hear my name called out but, but my wife did. I didn’t turn off my watch or try to grab the tape. Like that it was over. I crossed the line, was blinded by camera flashes, and a volunteer put a space blanket around me. Someone put a medal over my neck and I had a picture taken. I met my family at the end of the chute and we walked over to the athlete food tent. We hung out for a short time and then went back to the hotel. I took a shower and was in bed and asleep by 10:00.

Run faster

I wish that I could say that this was a life changing race. The truth is that the race was easy. I had been training hard for over a year. I had a coach and there was a plan and I was able to stick to that plan. This race was proof that if I plan and train than I can do just about anything. I am glad that I did the race and my family and friends are very proud of me. I am already planning my next triathlon and my next Ironman. Now I just need to get the tatoo.