Let’s skip the long drawn out race story and cut right to the chase.  I’ll tell you the same thing I told myself repeatedly as I rounded the Capital Building towards the finish line… “I DID IT, I DID IT!”  Except for my ‘dream goal’, I reached all of my goals for this race.  And in the end came less than 8 minutes away from achieving that ‘dream goal’.  Just 12 hours, 7 minutes, and 26 seconds after I started in Lake Monona with over 2200 other fun lovin freaks, I was crossing the finish line with unbelievable excitement.

Thank you to everyone who came to Madison to cheer me, and all the other Tri-Sharks on.  It was unbelievable hearing family and friends screaming my name all day.  You have no idea how much that helps the body get through such a tough day.  And of course, congrats to everyone who battled through what is regarded as one of the tougher Ironman’s on the circuit.  Back up and I also thank the many of you who trained countless hours with me.  Good times.

It was an interesting day.  It pretty much came down to this: My mind wanted it more, much more, than my body would want it.  From mile 60 of the bike through the rest of the day, I would end up suffering.  Oddly enough, it would be my nutrition that would fail me --something that’s only ever happened once before in any race – and something I had rehearsed with precision all summer.  But the stomach issues I battled from mile 60 to the finish line, made the finish that much sweeter given everything I had overcome.

2.4 Mile Swim 58:53

Uneventful.  The best kind.  Happy to come out and see the clock starting with ’58.’  That sleeveless wetsuit was the best thing I could have done.  No shoulder stiffness, tightness, nothing.  Anyone wanna buy a QR Superfull!?  Wasted plenty of time in T1, but whatever.  Ran through the bikes and heard, “GO Chris Sweet!”.  I slowed my jog so that we could run through together and chat.  I wished Chris luck and we were on our way.

112 Mile Bike 6:20:14

First half went super fast.  Felt good, as I should, and finished a hair under 3 hours.  Best part, gotta say, seeing a few of you nuts wearing shirts that read “Oooooo E!”  Inside joke.  I laughed for a couple miles, thanks!

Shortly into the second half I hear, “Dude, I chipped my tooth! [smile]”  K-Dog passes me and we share a chuckle as he shares his unfortunate run-in with a deadly Gatorade bottle. 

Second half sucked.  Stomach started bothering me and I was hurtin’.  I felt like hell and even got off the bike for ninety seconds at an aid station to try to regroup.  But how can you not love these awesome crowds on the hills!?  Coming back into Madison was such a relief.  My running had been going so well this year, I couldn’t wait to see what was in the tank.  Getting off the bike I wasn’t too disappointed in the final time and knew I still had plenty of day left.

26.2 Mile Run 4:36:20

With my stomach still on the fritz I set out on a mission.  Finish in the daylight!  By mile 1 I’m already in the porto.  I’ll save ya the details so that you keep reading.  But this would become a recurring theme every mile or two until 6 or so when my stomach finally broke free.  By this time I ditched my Infinit and I’m already onto the Coke to try to settle my stomach and give me a Caffeine boost.  From mile 6 to about 15, I felt fairly good, getting some quality running miles in.

Hit the halfway point at 2:10 and was very happy with that.  Pre-race, thought I was capable of 2 hours, but wasn’t disappointed in the least.  After yet another brief stop, I came out and heard Brent approach and yell for me to slow up so that we could run together.  Having passed him earlier I was glad to hear he was back at it and feeling better.  We ran 13-15 together which was absolutely great for both of us.

Made it to mile 19, and cruised down State St.  But I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff, about to topple over.  My stomach was about to be at it’s worst.  By mile 20 I’m in awful stomach pain and just want to curl up.  But the next two miles, I kept repeating, “The finish line is not going to come to me” as I battled with my stomach.  By mile 22 my stomach decided it would cut me some slack for the final 4 miles and I was able to run most of them.  In the end, I would reach what was my favorite goal: Finishing in the daylight!

I accomplished everything I set out to do and then some.  Like I said, I missed that dream goal -- the one you achieve if all goes absolutely perfect -- by less than 8 minutes.  But I didn't care.  I left it all out on the course, and gave er er all I had.  But what a year, I PR’d every distance along the way: sprint (Tri-Shark), Olympic (Evergreen), Half-Iron (5:08 at Effingham), and of course this bad boy.  Which oh yeah, was over an hour and a half faster than two years ago :)

Deep down inside me there’s more Ironman in me.  Key word being deep!  I’ll be back out there again some day, I’m sure of it.  When?  Well, it could be awhile.  On to shorter tris and other shtuff.

 

Have fun, thanks for reading.  Don’t ask why I do this stuff.  Try it, you’ll know right away.  GFOQ.