by Eric » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:37 pm I want to thank so many people for putting getting back in the right state of mind to train hard within weeks after last year's race and for all the support given to me all the way to the line. I want to thank my parents, my brother, and Veronica for putting up with my ridiculous mood swings and for their whole hearted and unquestioned support that I return to Madison this year and redeem myself. Thanks to my best friends Paul and Rocco for flying in from Miami to support me. My numerous training partners and gym buddies that raced this year as well: Meggan K. (you are the toughest cookie I know, racing with a fractured scapula is simply amazing, you're amazing!) Zoe M, John L, Jaret J, Amy C, Amy G, and last but not least Jerod (not ony for training with me but for taking all of these awesome pics). I want to definitely thank Tom and all of the Bikesport Crew, you guys are the BEST! Tom i'm glad to know you and thought it was amazing to race with you. Thank you to the spectators and volunteers in Madison. Last but absolutely not least, thanks to all the ST'ers that I met there and have never met that supported me and gave me piece of mind throughout the year and days leading up to the race.
Pre-Race:
Neither Meg K Or I slept well, so we got up at 3:50am before the alarm went off and ate breakfast to Kanye West's new videos "Stronger" video. We did our final bag checks, talked a little bit and then headed down to drop off special needs and head into body marking. A sense of calm came over me as I was walking down to body marking that I hadn't felt in quite some time. I was acutally kind of spaced out and when the lady asked me what number, I fumbled and had to look at my wristband. Number 423.
Arriving on Monona Terrace to do final checks I ran into Tom D who looked over my bike for last minute things. I was good to go and we headed into the hallways to join everyone gathering themselves for the swim and the long day ahead of us. It was a beautiful morning.
The collective nervousness inside the terrace is not something that I particular like so i found my little spot in the corner, pulled my hat over my eyes and just listened to my ipod suffle to clear my mind (it worked, thank you Apple,lol.). At about 6:20 I stood up and took an accel gel and some water, pulled up my wetsuit to my waist and headed down to the start with Meg, Amy G, and Amy C. We said our goodbyes and parted ways. I can't say this enough, but the lake looked perfect. It was about halfway down the helix when I thought to myself, here I go again, but in a good way.
As we funneled our way though the swim finish, I looked around and a lot of people's had their emotions written all over faces. The spectrum of expressions was almost overwhelming.
I decided to work my way into the water soon rather than later, so I pushed my small frame through the crowd and swam out to seed myself in the soon to be melee.
As we were floating out there, you could here Mike Reily urging everyone to get into the water, I looked back and at 6:55am there were people still coming down the helix. Nothing I had to worry about, just get out into a good tempo stay in the bubbles and survive the swim.
At 7:00am the cannon went off and I was on way to finish what I had called my 2007 IMMOO campaign "Unfinished Business". It was a complete fight for the first 400m. I distinctly remember what I estimated to be a size 12 tattoo my right cheek or face...ouch. Afterwards, I settled in behind someone's bubbles, but sure enough we were at the turn and it was like sardines trapped in a net attempting to get around the buoy. Some punches to the head that didn't feel pleasant. First loop, I couldn't believe it 35:xx fastest 1.2M ever. The draft affect was amazing. Second loop was slightly better, but still crowded. I conserved a lot of energy and worked on lengthening my stroke, exiting in 1:18:14. What a great swim for me! I was all smiles as I jogged up the helix, running past my cheering family and friends.
Heading into T1, I'd made sure that I wanted to be comfortable for the rest of the day, so I took the time to dry off and headed out to the bike course. Those bumps on John Nolen are just stupid! After hitting one, my aerobottle flew right out of the bracket and luckily I caught it, the velcro didn't hold, I definitely think that the rubberbands need to be used with the bracket. I had to constantly re-adjust the bottle every two minutes...very annoying. At any rate, I took it really easy 130 bpm all the way out to Verona, it was a very relaxing ride out there. I caught up to Meg K out on the first climb outside of Verona on Valley Rd. We exchanged pleasantries and I trucked on. By Mt. Horrible, I mean Horeb I finished the climb and was fed up with the aero bottle so I tossed it into the goalie net, I saw Paul and Rocco run along side me cheering there heads off and forgetting to take pictures in there excitement!
THEN BOOM!!! Literally minutes after seeing my support crew, I found myself lying on the ground with blood all over myself, missing flesh on my palm, and surrounded by a group of spectators. I can't even explain how I got there and what happened, but my unbelievable deductive skills lead me to believe that I had crashed. I remember asking myself what the F just happened? But then this lady got in my face and said (I caveat this by saying that certain types of motivation work better for some then others)..."you're okay,you're just skinned up, bruised and bleeding, take a deep breath and don't panic." She continued by saying, "you crashed, so what...you worked too hard for this day, get back on your bike and use the adrenaline to get through to the run." Last, she said as I was riding away," don't forget to take some Ibuprofen at special needs, you're going to be sore very soon!" Too bad I didn't have any...next time I will. She was an amazing motivator. It felt like I was on the ground and collecting myself for hours, but I was only down for 10-15 minutes.
So, I gently rolled out of Mt. Horeb out on to Garfoot Rd and checked myself out, yep...I was pretty bloodied up. Legs and arms were rashed up, my hip was rashed up and a little bruised, my wrist was getting stiff, but I was intact. I really didn't feel any pain...........yet. I was moving pretty good and was in a focus or zone, I don't even remember Rocco running next to me up the hill between County RT PD and Nine Mound Rd (I think that's where the 3rd hill is?)
(Support Crew Part I: Kevin, Paul, and Rocco)
The second loop was pretty much a blur until the hills again, my hip began to hurt quite a bit, but the support on the hills was so much fun. Not to mention I was climbing directly behind a girl named, Krista #2122, and let me tell you it was not difficult to stay behind and follow her up that entire hill and too bad the climb didn't last longer...jk. (I love Tri-girls, you gals are just plain sexy!)
Riding back from Verona to the Terrace was just grueling and boring, I couldn't wait to get off my beloved bike, but we needed some space. So despite starting to feel more and more sore when I rolled into T2 I had the biggest smile on my face. All in all, not a bad ride after the crash...6:39:26. About 20-30 minutes behind schedule, but I had completed the bike again and had waited a full year to get out on that run after ending my race inside T2 last year with an 88 degree body temp. Again, I calmly worked my way through transition. As I was sitting there putting on my shoes, I thought, just run like you know you can, 4 hour marathon...no problem...i'll be in around 12hours race time!
The first three miles, I was in a smooth rhythm, all was well, soreness was there but I could take it. My stride was strong and my heart rate was fine. At mile 5, gargle, bubble, gargle...burp...stomach, uh oh...need to get to mile 6's porta-johns. Let's just say I had some serious GI issues! The next 3 miles my mind fell apart...no, no...please let me run...nope...gotta stop at another blue plastic hut! My marathon became survival between porta-johns...I was thinking to myself, what happened my nutrition was spot on all year...?
Step after step was a struggle not to mess myself...what a horrible feeling, my legs were there but my stomach was holding me back. All I can say is that without the amazing support from the volunteers and crowd I would have walked the remaining 16 miles. The energy that everyone transfers to you on State Street is simly undeniable.
Coming back to the finish to begin the start of the second loop took a tremendous toll on me, my friend Chris ran by me on his way to the finish at 10:30ish...telling me to keep moving. I thought just one more time, just one more time. By now the pain in my hip was all there and then I heard my friend Veronica yell out "I'll see you in two hours!" Man, I wish it was going to be 2 hours I thought to myself. I knew that I was in a bad place in my mind and that I needed to fight through it...Coming back down out of the capitol building Paul ran up next to me and said stay strong, "we know you're hurting, i'm so proud of you man!" At that point he told me that he saw and talked to Meg K and found out that she had what she thought was a dislocated shoulder. He then said, "if she's running then you have no excuses." So I sucked it up and kept shuffling along. I could hear my stomach swishing around with liquid as nothing was absorbing anymore and it was just coming out in the little blue plastic huts!
Mile after mile, step after step, porta-john after porta-john, I thought to myself what have I gotten myself into and why did I go ahead and sign up for IMLP! THIS SUCKS!!! Coming back on the second loop I saw my support crew and state street was still buzzing...I was tearing up underneath my sunglasses, but when I saw my mom I stopped and got a hug from her. She said, "I love you and i'll see you at the finishline." So I got moving again and shuffled my way along the lake as the sun was setting. Running in the dark is lonely and miserable.
(Support Crew Part 2: It was a long day for all involved...they're such troopers)
I must have walked 3 of the remaining 5 miles, but when I reached the 25th mile marker, I could hear the crowd cheering with each step it got louder and louder and I ran faster and faster. At that moment I realized I was going to make it. I ran in strong and seeing the crowd and them welcoming me home was an out of body experience...it happened so quickly. All of a sudden this lady grabs on to my arm...its my mom running in with me. I crossed the line after 5 hours of shuffling along at snails pace, but it was over. My mom was crying and telling me how proud she was...and then in the back ground I hear it. "You're an IRONMAN!" Finally...after 13:19:33 it was over.
Hugs from the family and friends were so warm and I felt like just dropping into their arms. What a feeling of relief. It took me several days later to fully reflect on the race, but despite taking much longer than expected and the things that happened along the way...I am happy with simply finishing. Now I can't wait to heal up and start training for IMLP! I just need to modify my nutrition and see what's causing the GI distress.
Thank you all for your support and thanks for reading this long ass RR. BTW, FRANK IS AMAZING!!!
