Part 2/3 Ironman

Athletes were launching themselves into the river 3-4 at a time. I was about 100 back but, I was moving down the dock fast. Quickly anxiety filled my entire chest, my speed suit now felt tight, my goggles just didn't seem to fit right. I felt like every noise in the world was screaming into my head. No time to think, no time time to change m mind, or even evaluate what was happening. My muscles kicked into an involuntary autopilot as I jogged closer to the end of the dock. Ironically the volunteer standing on the dock kept yelling "All the Way To the End, All the way to the end". Since I my body was obviously more ready than my mind and I WAS running down the dock, that sentence made sense. I knew as soon as I hit the water, I am going All the way to the end. I leapt in a sort of foot first/oops I started to dive/ belly floppish kind of way, trying not to hit another swimmer. Underwater I heard was bubbles mixed with silence. When I popped up something switched on. Maybe I was comforted by the warm waters of the channel, I am not sure. I started swimming, winding my way through the pack. Many people were splashing and kicking like they were victims of an alligator attack. Possible, I thought. My goggles were a bit dark and I couldn't see that far but, the crowd was getting thin. I had only been in the water for about 2 minutes. This was nice. I opened up my stroke and kept telling myself to hold a good pace but, don't anaerobic. When I hit the first buoy I had a group of 3-5 guys on my feet. I thought i felt someone back there I just don't ever stop to look. I picked up the pace a little and opened up a good lead on them. I would look under my arm down my body and there was nothing. Sighting was tough if you looked buoy to buoy. I just swam. When I would spot another swimmer I would slowly reel them in and pass. I could see the green kayak that lead the AG swimmers, I just couldn't catch it. I was passing pro's left and right though. Kind of made want to stop and tell that from the dock that "I told you so". So far the the race felt good. It always does during the swim for me. That's my thing. Soon I came up ladder and ran up into transition. I wish I could have enjoyed the crowd more but, after 2.4 in the water I had a little tunnel vision going. The change tent was empty. Just me. Pretty cool I guess. I ran out grabbed my bike...and socks for the run, and took off.

As I was biking out of town I looked down at the speedo making a mental note that I need to stay above 20 mph. That was a goal I set and I don't know why. As long as I was off the bike at 5:40 I would still have a great day. Just need to be done sub-11 hours. At this point though those numbers were reading 27. My heart rate was low, I already fueled, and I was flying. I just kept telling myself, "Back off a little, still got a run". So I held back a lot it seemed. I was passed by a 30 year old at mile 4, I figured I see a lot of that. At mile 8 a pro passed me. He was a nice guy, said hi and told me to watch my heart rate on the hills. Thanks. I will. We turned down the out and back and this section was beautiful. I was enjoying this ride. I hit the turn around and came back. No other athletes came by for almost 10 minutes. Crap, I better back off, I must be working this too hard. Coming up through LaGrange was awesome. I played a little here, Got up out of the saddle and got up around 32 mph then dropped aero to fly by the crowd. It was really cool...until I hit the timing mats and was raped by my bike seat with the prison name of "taint smasher". That'll teach me to showboat. Just before I met back up with the rest of the race on their first loop a race official pulled up next to me. He said I was the 2nd overall amateur and 3 was about about 5 miles behind. Then he pulled off. Of course he meant 2nd in succession not overall. Right? I came back into the turn, my watched beeped, as it does every 20 minutes to remind to take in a 100 calories. Now it's crowded, really crowded. I was just right of center blowing through the crowd. I came upon Phil, he was looking pretty good. Just before Lagrange I went by Brian Kostura, I didn't stop because it was so crowded I didn't have a chance. 15 seconds later Brian was kicking me down. We rode together for about a mile, it was nice to see someone. The race was pretty lonely up to this point. LaGrange was crazy this lap. A huge moral booster. My speed was still up over 22, I needed to back off. At mile 90 it hit me. I sat up, fueled and smiled. Iam going to do this. I am going to have a great bike and I am putting the whoop on here in KY. Right then, at that very second, my inner leg cramped HARD! I couldn't even pedal while seated. I laughed a bit, Ironic. I had to ride out of the saddle for almost 3 miles but, finally it let go and I was feeling strong again. I didn't want to crush the last 20 miles Still had that run. I had passed a pro awhile back and he told me I was crushing the bike, I really didn't think so but, hey whatever. I backed off for a second and he pulled along side of me, I just said "I heard there's a marathon coming up, and the race begins at mile 13." He laughed and said I was right. So, anyway, rolling back into town I biked pretty easy to rest the legs a bit. I was really worried about the run. During this time 2 age group males passed me putting me in 4th numerically. I came to find out I was really in 6th overall for real. Probably a good thing I didn't know this today.

I ran threw another empty change tent and out on the streets of Louisville I went. My first order of business was to fill my run bottle. I was pretty worried about going to far without fuel. My legs felt good and I made a conscious effort to take it real easy. Mile 3 I'll pick it up if I needed. As I turned out onto the street I saw Mr. Loman and Brian. A nice little pick me up. First mile I looked at my watch and I was at 8:53...actually my watch read 58:53, I'm not sure why, I picked it up a little, just a little, and as I passed mile 2 my watch read 5:05. Nothing was making sense except for the fact that there was only 2 athletes on that bridge when I was there. Me and the guy behind me. That was pretty cool. As I ran onto the streets I saw the other runners coming up onto the bridge, it was a nice lead that I didn't care about losing. I still had 24 miles to go. I made myself a promise, no walking until special needs. That's mile 13. No problem right? Well when I tried to take my gel fueling it didn't happen, immediate stomach pains and side stitch. I continued with the 275 calories I had. When I hit special needs I still felt good but, no fuel now for 30 minutes. I didn't walk, I just pulled out my powder and dumped it in my bottle. At the next aid station I called out for ice water and was handed very warm water. The next cups were cold but, there was a problem. I shook the bottle and took a big swig. It was bad, real bad. Gatorade endurance mixed with perpetuem. I was not happy. And again my stomach was mad too. I stayed with it though and tried to drink a lot of water with it...just no more than 30 oz an hour. I can role with it, that's because at mile 13 I was at 8hrs. I could walk half of the next 13 and still be in by 10:30. Now I was having fun. Then I crossed mile 17. Here's what's funny about mile 17. That's the same as my longest long run almost a month prior. Now I am hurting a bit but, hell this is Ironman. It's not easy. My pace was just below 9 min miles. All of a sudden there was this knot welling up in my hamstring. I had to stop. If it took hold I would be walking for sure. I popped 2 more electrolyte tabs and swigged some nasty. 30 seconds later I was running, and not fast. As I began to move I began to cramp. I wasn't run trained for this. All endurance doesn't compensate for muscles that just had too much. This is when the deal making began. Run for 5 minutes, walk an aid station...I saw a lot of hurt out there. The face of pain were extraordinary. Men that I knew as strong athletes were beginning to crumble. All those miles of preparation and we still have to earn this. One foot at a time slamming into the ground screaming lighting bolts of pain through my legs and back. I put my head up and as others made that right turn I ran straight down a cobblestone road covered with carpet. mdot, mdot, mdot, I focused on the those red numbers clicking by and finished 10:09.57.

72/23 hundredish, 20/350 in my age group.

That's it. I did it. Now where's my family. It's been awhile.

I was extreemely please with that race. I know where my flaws were and I really don't care for this one. My first Ironman was for learning. I soaked it all in and loved the experience.