This past Sunday I completed my first half Ironman race
in Racine Wisconsin and proudly did so representing Spark Multisport Coaching.
I am training for the full Ironman in Madison Wisconsin in September of this
year, and like many, Racine is part of that journey. While it is a measure and
marker of one’s progress and provides a chance to prepare and practice for the
big day it is also an accomplishment in its own right.
For me it was my first race of the season and a
culmination of training that started on January 1st of this year and a
commitment made last September when I volunteered at Madison IM so I could get
a guaranteed spot for this year’s race.
Looking further back it is the culmination of a journey and preparation
that goes back several years; learning to run and quitting smoking at age 42,
joining a masters swim team at age 46 in order to learn to swim so that I could
compete in triathlons, buying a "proper" road bike that same year to
start developing my cycling, spending the past three seasons competing in short
course triathlons. I had set a goal of doing a full ironman by the time I
turned 50 and here I am at 49 realizing that goal.
I was very nervous and anxious in the days leading up to
Racine. So many things to coordinate and worry about; making sure you have all
of your equipment, that your bike is tuned, all your nutrition is in place, did
you taper properly, are you hydrating enough, are you eating the right things
for loading your glycogen stores, are you getting the proper rest? Saturday
morning I went down to the lake for one last open-water swim before I left. As
I swam I felt strong and knew I was ready. I left for Racine shortly after
packing all my things into the car and all the nervousness and anxiety was now
replaced with confidence and excitement.
Sunday morning the alarm goes off at 4:00 a.m. – race day
is here. After getting ready I make my way to the race site to set up for the
day. I love race mornings, the pre-dawn quiet as the athletes start to gather;
even the volunteers are caught up in the anticipation and hopefulness of the
day that has finally arrived. As I walk toward the site I can see the lake,
yesterday's concerns about water temperatures are replaced with how rough the
water is looking. I set about preparing my transition zone, chatting with
fellow athletes as we stand in line for one last visit to the port-potty’s
before heading to the swim start.
I do a warm up, jump in the water for a brief swim and
suddenly it is time for my group to line up. I am calm and focused as we wait
for the horn to go off and then it’s begun. It’s a run in start through the
crashing waves, some are dolphin diving but it’s an awkward depth so I choose
to run as far as I can. Normally the chaos of a mass start doesn’t rattle me
but today swimming against the waves combined with all the arms and legs
thrashing I find it difficult to find a rhythm and feel the anxiety building. I
end up using a water polo stroke with my head above water. Once around the
first buoy you are no longer swimming into the waves but are now parallel to
the shore and I’m finally able to find my stroke but the waves still make for a
challenging swim but I feel like I am making good progress. I spot a change in
the color of the buoys and wonder if the turn is ahead meaning I’m near the
end. It turns out it was just a change in color and probably only marked the
halfway point. I settle in and focus on long steady strokes. Eventually I see
the turn and am so happy to see the exit on the shore.
On exiting the water I’m happy that I was able to keep my
wits about me and persevere through the adversity of the swim. Running up the
beach through the sand toward the transition I trip and jam my toe, and it
hurts, but I pick myself up and press forward. Running up the chute there are
volunteers there to help you strip off your wetsuits. I haven’t done this
before, it’s not something they do in short course races, but I decide to give
it a go and exuberantly thank the volunteers who help me with mine – totally
worth it. I make my way to the bike and it looks like I made the swim in less
than 45 minutes and am pleasantly surprised given the conditions.
It feels good to be on the bike, the course feels flat
and fast and BUMPY. Freeze cracks give a constant thump-thump; thump-thump that
toward the end start to wear on you. The weather is perfect for riding – a
little windy in places – but nothing bad. The 56 miles seem to go by quickly
and err on the side of saving my legs for the run but still manage a 2:47.
Back to transition and out the gate for the run. I focus
on a quick cadence to get my legs to make the transition from bike to run. The
run portion of the triathlon in a challenge for me, both physically and
mentally. Running is something that I consider to be my strength but after the
swim and the bike it becomes something else altogether. It’s unfamiliar
territory; even at the end of a marathon do my legs feel quite like this. I
engage all my mental training to focus on keeping form and not spiral into
negative thinking. And it’s hot, not as hot as it might have been but plenty
hot. I douse myself with water and at each aid station and pour ice cubes down
my tri top.
The run is a two loop course and I get to see others;
Coach Angela calls out my name as we pass and I’m spurred on, Larissa shouts my
name from the sidelines, I see Gene and A.J as we pass each other. On my second
loop I am coming up on a runner with a Sargento branded kit, the day before
while waiting in line I get into a conversation with a young man who is from
Sheboygan, both our first 70.3 race, and sure enough it is him on his first
lap. I come up beside him and say hello, he decides to match my pace. We run
side by side, talking some, but mostly encouraging each other to press forward,
a little bit of grace to goad me on those last four miles and for him to run at
a faster pace. At the turn around I thank him and he tells me he will cheer for
me in Madison as that is where is he going to school. And there in front of me
is the chute for the finish line; I’ve done it, I high five the spectators and
the announcer calls out my name as I cross the line.
Some people wonder why we do these things, why we put our
bodies through these arduous endurance events. For me it so many things; there
is the camaraderie and community that develops, the friendships that are
forged, the satisfaction of becoming physically fit, the discipline and
training towards a goal, discovering what your capabilities are and how you
respond to adversity. All of these things bleed into every aspect of your life
and make it better. While it is very individual it is also a shared experience,
the fellow athletes, the volunteers, the spectators all coming together, so
many opportunities for grace and kindness.
And there is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment
when you cross that finish line.
-Kevin P.
