Ironman Arizona 2012 --
Nov 25th, 2012 - It has been a week since the Ironman Arizona race, and while I have survived the trip home, quite a bit of recovery and the Thanksgiving holiday/family stuff, I have had some time to think through my race, and its failures - my failures. I will say this, though… while the race for me did not go as planned, there were many bright spots in the day.
The trip out to Tempe was pleasantly uneventful. The truck was loaded with bikes, wetsuits, and all the equipment for three of us. That is the great thing about driving as opposed to flying - I know we can over-pack and not have a problem… lots of extra bike needs, plenty of nutrition - we were all set.
Once we got to Tempe, we were able to check in to the rentals, and drop off all our gear. Pretty nice accommodations - swimming pool, hot tub, pool table, a decently sized kitchen and a garage to lock up all the bikes, tools, packing tubs, and other stuff we didn't want laying on the floor in the house.
After emptying the truck, we went to the Ironman Village, wandered through the vendor tents being set up, and into the Ironman store. As before in Ironman Florida, I bought a cycling kit from the race, knowing that if I didn’t complete the race, I would never wear the kit. Next I met up with the IronHeart Racing team so we could go through athlete check-in as a group. This year's race was to be a bit different for me; I was going to be shadowed for parts of the race by a camera. I had agreed last summer to be part of a documentary being put together by the IronHeart Racing team, to demonstrate that even after major cardiac events, people can still participate at the highest level of the sport. IronHeart is primarily made up of cardiac survivors who participate in endurance events and support smaller heart-related charities… right up my alley.
Being there early Thursday, check-in was not crowded at all. We were able to get in and out without any delays. This year, Ironman was giving to the athletes a really nice backpack with the Ironman Arizona logo stitched on the flap… so THAT is what $675 buys me - a 17-hour window of pain and a really nice bag to carry what's left of me home.
After check-in, we were hungry, so we made our way to FatBurgers - they have some pretty good veggie burgers, and some REALLY good onion rings! While I was waiting for my food, an older man standing there looked at our backpacks, and asked me "So - did you get those fancy bags at that fair down by the river?" - trying to not laugh, I explained the race to him. I guess there are a lot people at Ironman race venues who really don't know there is a big race going on...even with all the signage that is posted.
After check-in, we were hungry, so we made our way to FatBurgers - they have some pretty good veggie burgers, and some REALLY good onion rings! While I was waiting for my food, an older man standing there looked at our backpacks, and asked me "So - did you get those fancy bags at that fair down by the river?" - trying to not laugh, I explained the race to him. I guess there are a lot people at Ironman race venues who really don't know there is a big race going on...even with all the signage that is posted.
One of our BeginnerTriathlete.com forum members had set up a get-together, so we headed over there for a bit before I had to leave for dinner with the IronHeart group. Dinner at Monti’s and meeting more of the IronHeart group for the first time, and then it was time to head to the house and unpack our stuff.
Once back at the house, we checked over all the bikes, made sure all the bike repair stuff was safely stowed in the seat bags and put our race numbers on the bikes and helmets.
Saturday we loaded up the bikes and transition bags for the afternoon check-in, and then we were off to the practice swim in Tempe Town Lake. Wow! That was rather chilly water! We knew from volunteering last year that the water would be colder than what we normally swim in, and we had done some wetsuit swims at Barton Springs at home, but that first little shock was a bit “refreshing” to say the least. Once in and moving though, it was actually a nice swim, albeit a whole lot less crowded than what it would be Sunday morning. I did a complete loop to get a feel for the swim and the sunshine in both directions, and I felt getting out that as long as I didn’t get beat up too much by the other swimmers, I would be okay. After turning in our gear, we chilled for a bit and then out for an early dinner, followed by a final review of special needs bags, and it was time to hit the sack.
Up at 3:00am; the usual race-day bagel and peanut butter breakfast, get the nutrition stuff ready, and then it was time… Ironman #2! We were able to get a parking space close to transition, and that would be important later. I had to meet up with my designated IronHeart camera guy, who would be following me throughout pre-race activities. Once we got to the transition area, we went our separate ways to our own bikes and began the preparation – getting the nutrition and tracking devices set up, final additions to our transition bags, and getting ready for the swim. Once all that was done – I accidentally left my swim booties in the bottom of my morning clothes bag when I dropped it in the collection box, so I had to run back and get those – we met together with TriDoc Tuggle for a brief prayer. Then it was time to head to the swim start, and stand around for about 30 minutes.
Race management kept stressing repeatedly over the loudspeakers that all athletes needed to be ready to get into the water as soon as the group was called. Last year, we watched a number of athletes getting into the water as the cannon sounded for the start, and we did not want to get caught up in that mess. We watched the pros hopping in and then we “normal” people started crowding into the dock area so we would be able to get in when allowed.
Finally, it was time for us to jump in… hold the goggles so you don’t lose them, and jump away from the dock. We swam out to the where the kayaks were keeping us separated from the pros at the start line, and started treading water, keeping the feet moving so we didn’t get too cold. I remembered the view from the river side from last year, looking out at the swimmers and the bridges above them, so I took a minute to look up and around, and take it all in. I recognize that for any number of reasons I may never be in this spot again, so I have learned to appreciate it as much as I can when given the opportunity.
It wasn’t too much longer before the pros started. BOOM! the cannon went, and they were off. Then, a few minutes later, it was our turn. Again, the cannon shot loudly, and it was a mass of 2500+ bodies flailing in the water, trying to make some headway without getting drowned. I did the best I could to make myself some space, but that was difficult with the wide swath of people across the swim start line now funneling into a much narrower formation (think a flock of geese in the sky) and I in fact was having to kick more than one body off my legs. Having done the whole loop on the practice swim, I was more comfortable knowing how many bridges we would swim under and knowing the path of the buoys in the lake. Making the first turn into the short leg of the "U", there was a lot of traffic, as expected. I swam out around the handful of folks who were hugging the corners. Turning the second corner into the long leg back to the finish, I realized I had a little more space around me. I was able to get into a rhythm, and I could feel my shoulders loosen up from the self-imposed stress of the first leg. I noticed that I was consistently swimming with two guys who were following a similar track in the water, and the three of us formed a pod that kept a number of people from swimming on top of us. There was one more female swimmer who crossed into our path and swam into the guy on my left, but he bumped her off away from us. I think she realized each of us three were probably twice as big as she was, and figured out there had to be a safer path. We approached the final turn toward the exit, and the three of us spread out for different sections of the steps. High-fiving each other as we climbed out of the water, we were all happy to exit the water.
Swim - 1:30:59
Once peeled out of the wetsuit by a couple of talented "strippers", it was a trot to the transition area, with a now-collected camera guy behind me. Another great volunteer ran and retrieved my T1 bag, and came with me to the changing tent. One look inside and I knew I would be changing outside - I didn't see a single empty chair. I went back to an open space in the grass and tried to untie my bag, but the fingers were not cooperating, and sitting there, I began to feel the effect of being kicked pretty hard in my right thigh in the swim. The awesome lady who had originally snagged my bag offered to open it and get my stuff out. I told her which ziplocs to get out while I peeled off my shirt. I switched into my IronHeart cycling jersey and wrapped my towel around my lower body while I peeled off my shorts with the other hand. My lady volunteer laughed and said "tell me when I can turn around" - extremely considerate and so skillfully helpful, I was lucky to have somebody who knew what they were doing. She handed me the race belt with the tracker and bib on it, and then into the bike shoes, helmet and sunglasses, leaving my great new lady friend to pack all my wet stuff into the bag, it was time to get to the bike, stopping briefly at the tent to get lathered up with sunscreen by yet another great female volunteer. We were off to the races!
T1 - 14:20
The second and third loops were uneventful, other than a stop at an aid station for a potty break on loop two. The Beeline was just as fun coming back in the second time, and the third. I felt pretty fortunate not having had any flats, because there were a number of people I passed who were having to change tires. Once I came back down the hill on the third loop, I realized my lower back was trying to have a very loud conversation with the rest of my body. By the time I made it back to Transition, I knew it was definitely time to get off that saddle! I also knew my ride was slower than I had wanted it to be.
Bike - 6:44:02
I have to admit - it is pretty cool being able to get off the bike and hand it to a volunteer to rack. With cycling shoes on, it was good that we were on the grass rather than sliding around on pavement. I snagged my T2 bag and sat down again outside, knowing the changing tent by then was likely hot and sticky inside. With yet another awesome volunteer helping me with my bag and its contents, I was out of the cycling jersey and shoes, and into the running shoes and tri top. Grabbing my bag of M&Ms and a water cup, I stopped at the tent exit for the second round of sunscreen. Finally, the last leg of Ironman was here!
T2 - 7:33
Here is where it all went downhill fast, figuratively speaking. After the water and a few of the M&Ms, I trotted off to start the run. I spoke with a number of the IronHeart support team on the way by the run start, and then was ready to start my run/walk sequence. I made it into the first mile, and could tell the right leg and lower back were going to be a problem. I felt I had plenty of time to get the race completed, so before too long I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to walk almost the entire marathon. Every so often I would try to run a short segment, but my body had had enough. I knew my time for Arizona was going to be much slower than Florida last year. So the decision was made - enjoy it as much as possible, get to the finish, and talk to people along the way… just keep moving forward. A couple of us had joked about being the last people to finish, and that we were going to pull a wagon and pick up the cones from the race course, and now it looked like that was going to be the case for me. I don't like running on gravel, and there is quite a bit of it on this course. On my second and third loop of the run, the gravel section is really dark, and it occurred to me that even if I had been running, I would have been walking this part. Just as that thought entered my head, a woman just in front of me stumbled in a hole on the path. Fortunately, she managed to grab the runner next to her to stabilize herself and not get hurt.
Walking the last section of gravel before the finish area, we met up with one of my IronHeart folks, who then called one of the camera guys… yeah, let's document the slow, fat bald guy out here by himself. But I didn't care - it was about to be finished, and I was really happy that midnight was still 25 minutes away while the finish line was only a quarter-mile away. I told Brian about the cone story, and decided I was going to do that, so just before making the turn into the finisher's chute, I picked up one of the cones and jogged down the chute with it, high-fiving a number of spectators and slapping hands with Mike Reilly while he was laughing about the cone.
Run - 8:03:06
I was completely blown away by the crowd at the finish; it is so much more of a party the closer you get to the midnight deadline. The people are cheering really loud, reaching out to slap your hand, pushing you to that finish line, celebrating your effort. With the IronHeart folks waiting, the finish line was crowded, but I appreciate the pro finishers being there to hang medals around the necks of us late arrivals. There truly is great cameraderie amongst triathletes.
I was the last of the IronHeart folks to finish, but the rest of them were all at the finish line (patiently) waiting, along with my friends who had also raced. Hugs all around (and admittedly some just so they would hold me up) and then I stood still long enough for my finisher's picture (I really should learn how to smile). Selene's husband Eloy had gone to FatBurgers and bought a burger and fries for me, so I sat down on the curb and ate while Briana, Selene and Eloy retrieved bags and bikes.
I know there are still things for me to figure out about what went wrong, and I will do that. But what went right? I PR'ed the swim by a couple minutes, and I survived the bike and "run". I met so many encouraging people; some who recognized the jerseys from the trailer, some who were just crossing my path in the race. I got to celebrate a number of my friends' Ironman finish, some of them first-timers. Chrissie Wellington's statement "smile as much as you can" kept popping into my head, and I did, while I was "embracing the suck" - thanks, Macca, cuz I had a LOT of suck going on this day. But a vertical finish at any Ironman is something to be enjoyed, and I did!
Race Time - 16:40:00…
Ironman - FOREVER!
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