Race Recap

After 9 months of training and 12 hours, 48 minutes, and 30 seconds of racing, I am finally an Ironman. I’ve been delaying this blog post because I just can’t seem to find the words to adequately describe the day. It was just simply amazing.

Sarah, Reese, and I flew into Scottsdale on Friday afternoon and met up with Sarah’s parents and the Smith family, both groups driving more than 10 hours each to join us for the big day. After getting settled into our hotel rooms and grabbing a quick dinner, we all headed off to bed early in anticipation that the following day would be filled with tying up loose ends for the race and checking out the Ironman village.

Bright and early Saturday morning, Sarah’s dad, Bob, and I picked up my race packet from one of the Ironman tents and my bike from TriBikeTransport. The Ironman village was already buzzing with triathletes when we arrived, and as the morning progressed, the main park area would become chock-full of people. I grabbed my race packet, which contained all of the regular triathlon items (timing chip, bib numbers, wristband) as well as two “special needs” bags (fuel bars, sunscreen, etc), which I prepared that morning and dropped off near the transition area. Next was the bike, and after taking it out for a quick lap to confirm nothing had been damaged in transit, I checked it into the transition area where it would stay overnight.

Time for a quick lunch, then back to the hotel where I could relax and get off my feet. My dad and his girlfriend, my sister and her husband, and the Strong family were all scheduled to arrive later that afternoon, and we planned on having a big, pre-race dinner that evening. It was at that dinner, where I was surrounded by 16 of my closest friends and family, that I was reminded how many people have been so supportive of me and my training over this last year and just how thankful I am to have people like this in my life.

The 4:15am alarm seemed to come awfully quick. I sent a “wake-up call” text message to Kelly, who so graciously offered to give up his peaceful night of sleep and join me in the 40 degree desert air.  By 6:30, most of my cheering section had arrived as well.  After a good-luck kiss from Reese, I headed towards the water.

The Swim

What a zoo the swim start was. 2,884 triathletes treading water out in the middle of Lake Tempe, which turned into a feeding frenzy as soon as the announcer fired off his flare gun, signaling the start of the race. Leading up to the race, I had viewed several YouTube videos of the swim start from previous years, yet nothing short of seeing it in person really does it justice. I waited until the swarm had been given a 3 or 4 minute head start before leaving my perch alongside the lake embankment. Despite the late start and battling with the other swimmers, I swam strong and in control. I was able to monitor my breathing really well and basically stayed at a very comfortable pace. This equated to a swim time that was at least 15 minutes faster than I had anticipated. The swim has always been my weakest leg and it was certainly the one that gave me the most anxiety coming into the race. 1:29:06 official time.

T1

My goal for this triathlon had always been to simply finish the race, and my transition (T1 and T2) times really reflect that mentality. I came out of the water, elated with my swim time, but casually jogged into the changing tent, made a complete clothing change into warm, dry cycling gear, said a quick hello to the Strong family who were cheering me on from outside the tent, and then finally clipped on my helmet and jogged out to grab my bike. 10:18 official time.

Bike

After throwing my leg over the bike, I specifically remember telling myself, aloud, the words written in all CAPS on my Ironman training schedule describing this very moment in the race: “PACE YOURSELF, BREATHE, YOU HAVE A LONG DAY AHEAD OF YOU!” So I did just that. The course is relatively flat and fast with a long, gradual climb of a few hundred feet, spread over a 18 mile out-and-back bike loop (37 miles per lap, 3 laps total). Other than a gusting headwind on the outbound portion of each lap, the course was relatively undaunting. My entourage of supporters were at the end of each loop, cheering me on and waving “Go Mike!” signs.  By the time I was rolling across the timing checkpoint and entering my third and final lap, my legs were getting sore and starting to cramp at the hip flexors. I was able to stretch out through the uphill portion of the final lap, and as I was turning around at the half-way on the final lap, I felt a burst of adrenaline, knowing it was (literally) all downhill from there. 6:24:09 official time.

T2

Same motto as T1: take my time, full change of clothing, hydrate, stretch, kiss wife and daughter, hit the road. 13:02 official time.

Run

I thought for sure after 112 miles on the bike, I was going to be in for a very long, difficult marathon run. Surprisingly, I still had some juice in my legs. I paid close attention to my gait and stride, making sure not to expel any additional energy, and was able to knock down the first 7 miles maintaining an 8min/mile pace. Then my feet began to hurt, my hamstrings and calves began to cramp, and my spirit began to fade. My pace slowed to 10min miles, then to 12. I was carrying my Blackberry during the run so I could send Sarah text messages alerting her to where I was on the course, and I felt my phone buzzing with a message that read, “Kelly will meet you near the transition area.” Kelly, who I’ve run several triathlons with and who I personally thank (or “blame” when I’m hurting) for getting me involved in the sport, took one look at my face in the second lap and knew that I needed a mental pick-up. We jogged together for few miles, talked about my performance earlier in the race, and generally just killed some time while keeping my mind off the pain in my legs and the daunting 15+ miles ahead of me. We ran off-and-on together for another couple of miles, well into the evening hours. It wasn’t until around mile 19 when I finally got the boost I so desperately needed. Kelly had just joined back up with me to complete the final 7-mile stretch when we overheard another athlete say, “59 minutes to complete the race in under 13 hours.” I turned to Kelly, vowed that I was finishing this race in under 13 hours, and hit the gas. Kelly dropped off after a couple of miles of my new pace and he went back to prepare the troops for my finish. There were still a few hills that I decided (had) to walk because of some cramping but when I passed the 23 mile marker, I was running full tilt. The last 2 miles I was running as hard as I could. Those last 7 miles, I averaged about a 7:50 min per mile pace – about 10 seconds faster per mile than I had run at the very beginning of the run leg. 4:31:56 official time.

Finish

Running down the finishing chute to complete my first Ironman triathlon in a time that was 2 hours faster than I had anticipated is by far my proudest athletic achievement to date. 12:48:30 was my official time and I was immediately greeted afterwards by a crying wife, my very sleepy 2 yr old daughter, the rest of my loving family, and a group of my closest friends. I was/am elated by my performance and the event could not have gone any better.

Recovery

I can tell you, without any sense of guilt whatsoever, that I have not worked out in over a week. I think my finisher’s medal earns me that right (or at least that’s what I’m telling myself). I spent the first few hours after the race soaking in a hot tub and nursing my wounds. Three severally blistered toes, a rash underneath both armpits, and a horrible farmer’s tan from my cycling bib and running tank (fortunately I wasn’t burned altogether too badly). Those first few days after the race, I was doing the “Ironman shuffle” and it took me the better part of the following week to actually start walking normally again.

Whats next?

My wife is hoping I answer that question with “nothing.” For those of you who know me, that would never actually be the answer. The 2009 triathlon season is officially over for me and my next event is running the inaugural Santa Barbara Marathon this next weekend. Of course, I will continue to train, as the start of the 2010 triathlon season is just a few short months away (Spring).  TriathlonForACure.com will continue as well, right up until a cure for SMA is reached.  I will be posting periodic blog entries on my training, schedule, and races.  Until then, I encourage all of you to participate as well: forward your friends the PetitionToCureSMA.com, donate your time or funds for SMA research via the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation or UniteForTheCure.com, and get involved in your local legislation.  Every little bit helps, and we can all work together to make a difference.

Thank You

Most importantly, I want to thank each and every one of you for following along this Ironman journey.  I have felt your support through emails, blog comments, facebook posts, encouraging words, monetary donations, and positive thoughts.  Race day saw more than 30 emails and comments from those of you following the live results.  Triathlon is a single-person sport, but it definitely takes a whole community of supporters.  I’ve felt this through all of my training and know it played an instrumental role in my race performance.  Again, thank you to everyone who helped me complete this triathlon, especially the Strong family, who have inspired me and who have made it so easy to want to give.

Pictures from the race here and here.

Perhaps I’ll hit the gym soon…