KAHUNA!

You know that feeling you get when you take that first sip of a cold beer on a hot summer’s day? That, “Ahhhhh, let me take another sip of that” feeling? Well, if you understand that feeling, you can get a glimpse into the world of triathlon and the lives we all live, always wanting more.

I have been racing for 3 years now and I don’t know what really compelled me to do a half Ironman this year. Perhaps it was the mere challenge of pushing longer than I ever thought possible.  Perhaps it was simply for the bragging rights that I had officially done a legit long distance race, validating myself as one of the ‘almost’ Ironman triathletes in our sport. Or perhaps it was the anticipation of crossing the finish line and experiencing the rush of emotion I get at almost every race. I think somewhere deep inside, it was a combination of all three or these that made me sign up and register for what would be my first ever ½ Ironman race in Santa Cruz California.

Like an addicting drug, triathlon is a sport that makes you push longer and harder to get the same high at the finish. The Sprint distance triathlon is the gateway drug to the International distance race. When International no longer does it for you, let me get you hooked on Olympic distance. Or if you want, you can jump to the hard stuff- perhaps a ½ or full Ironman will give you what you need. You might laugh at this, but I am not too far off. Not unlike drugs, there is a true ‘high’ that comes from finishing a race. There is a subculture of ‘users’ to which we belong, and the harder the ‘drug’ the more respect you will gain. There are no limits to the number of ‘dealers’ AKA ‘race directors’ to offer up this drug. There is great pain and sometimes depression that follows a use. Medical assistance is often needed, as our ‘users’ overdose on pain, and push their tolerance too far. Family, friends, and social lives are compromised in the name of our ‘drug’, and relationships are strained as a result of our lifestyle. It is the hardcore world of triathlon, and once you get a little taste, you might be a user for life.

OK, so now that I’m a ‘user’, I figured it was time for my next dose of triathlon challenge. My ½ Ironman awaited me.  My first step was to establish a training plan. Everything officially began back in March when I started a program outlined in Gale Banarts book “Training Plans for Multisport Athletes”. This six month program outlined everything I would need to do to get ready for this race. You see, I am a person that needs a plan. I am not one of those people that can just run, bike, and swim at random, and think I will be ready for a race. I need a well thought out plan, and some drive to get me there. Perhaps I’m somewhat anal, but with a demanding full-time job, a terrific wife, and other ‘stuff’ going on, I needed a plan to balance it all and limit my need to ‘think’ about what to do next. This plan was outlined all the way until race day. I modified things a little to allow for some additional open water swims and masters classes. I also took Sundays off as a rest day. Once I spent a little time putting it together, I had a plan that outlined every day of activity for 6 months.

So I had my plan, some motivation and a little nervous energy. My wife Julie was the most amazing support for me through this venture. She was 110% behind me through countless hours of training. 10-16 hours a week does not seem like much, but combine that with a 50 hour/week job, and there is not a lot of time left over. I combined workouts with Julie and friends whenever possible to break things up. I also took rest days off if I needed to. I really listened to my body and I took time off if it was extra tired, or if I was just not feeling well. Most athletes will tell you that rest and recovery is just as important as hard training.

Six months later…..

So all the work had been done. The training that had kept me from attending happy hours, work events, and weekend trips was all complete. Race day was tomorrow, and upon arriving in Santa Cruz, all I had to do was build my bike, grab some dinner, and relax before the big day. I can’t say that I was very nervous. I had no idea what to expect, but I did know that I was well prepared for all three sports and distances.

I finished building my bike, and Julie and I walked down to the Wharf that I would be swimming around the next day. About as long as the OB pier, but three times as wide with a host of restaurants, bars and shops all on the pier. It was really pretty in Santa Cruz. The air was crisp like a fall day in Colorado. Thank God I bought a light jacket at the expo earlier. I was just perfect. Walking around the pier, I visualized the morning’s 1.2 Mile swim and just prepared myself for the 58 degree ocean dip. There was no surf which was really nice, and race day was supposed to be even flatter.

Walking back to our hotel, which also had an ocean view, Julie and I talked about how nice it was just to be here in Santa Cruz. We took in the sights, smells, and felt the calm warmth of ‘vacation’ inside our veins. I love that feeling. Getting away from it all just to appreciate the stillness. I wish I took more time in my everyday life back home.

We changed up and we went on a light 30 minute run along Westcliff Drive. Not at all unlike Sunset Cliffs in San Diego, this path follows the cliffs as they drop into the ocean below. Surfers, pedestrians, roller bladers, and transients alike were all out to breath in the view.  Passing by the lighthouse surfer museum, Duke’s statue, and some of the best breaks I have ever seen, I knew that this run was going to be a great experience to end the race on Sunday.

Shower time. After our light run, we had to hurry back and get ready for dinner. We were meeting other SD tri clubbers for pasta dinner downtown. Jessica Motyl was cool enough to organize a dinner for everyone. I was so stoked she did. There were about 20 of us to grub down on some pasta before the race! The restaurant was called Kiantis and if you ever go to Santa Cruz, you should stop by this place. Good food, but some amazing entertainment! In the middle of the restaurant, all the lights went off, Brian Stezer come on full blast and all the staff came out for a 10 minute dance routine and pizza dough throwing show. It was something else.  I am always so amazed by how cool everyone in our sport is. No matter what level we compete at, we were all there laughing, sharing stories and having fun like friends that had known each other for years.

We said our goodbyes and I went to bed full that night. Still not too nervous which was pretty amazing, I slept OK. Of course the sleep I get the night before a race is never great, but all things considered, this was one of my better pre-race sleep nights. No dreams of drowning or flat tires. Just dreams of calm water, and cool breezes.

I work up pretty refreshed and groggily walked my bike the 300 yards from our hotel to the transition area. The scene down there was crazy. No pre-marked bike racks. It was a free-for-all down there with racks everywhere. I racked close to the bike-in/run-out and ran through my mental transitions a couple of times to make sure things were set.

After getting body marked, I walked back to the hotel for some breakfast and coffee. Breakfast was my standard Bonk Breaker bar and a glass of water. A little coffee to get me going, and I put my wetsuit on and got ready to walk to the beach.

Walking down to the water is where my nerves get shook up just about every time. I don’t know if it just the anticipation of the gun going off, or if it is just a fear of the unknown, but it happens every time. From a 5K race to a full blown triathlon, that feeling in the pit of my stomach is always the same. I should just call it quits right here. What was I thinking? That guy looks really fast. I don’t want to get kicked by the man in front of me. What if I do? Crap. Yeah, that’s pretty much what I go through every time. I am not one of those macho, testosterone filled guys that is all amped up and ready to kick some ass, yelling before the start. Nope. I am one of those quiet, shit I hope I don’t die out there guys. Not that I think I am going to die, but the pre-race jitters work me over pretty good.

So, here I am all suited up from head to toe to brave the cold waters of Santa Cruz. No I have not pissed myself yet, but if too much more time goes by and it might be an option. Too many people on the beach. I can’t breath. 60 seconds. OK Tim here goes. 30 seconds. Oh shit. 15 seconds, crap, crap, crap. 5-4-3-2-1---RUN!!!!!  Hitting the ocean with 100 other athletes is quite an experience. You need to find your place in the water, dive in without getting kicked, breathe through the initial shock of the cold, and hope you find a pair of feet to draft. There is a lot that goes through your head when you start swimming, but my biggest thoughts are “relax, find your position, and get into a rhythm”. In no time I was doing all of these. The water here was really dark which was sort of nice as I didn’t even think about what could be lurking underneath me.  I spent my time finding a good draft and sighting the buoys out there. The water was cold for a few minutes, but after a while, it was not bad at all. Thank God for my neoprene cap. It really helped. I pretty much drafted the same guy all the way through the swim. He was a little quicker than me, and pulled me along great. Thanks whoever you were!

I hit the beach at 36:11 which was almost 4 minutes faster than my goal of 40:00. A 1:44/100 pace!  I still felt fresh and ready to go. Sweet Tim. So far so good…

I ripped off my wetsuit on the boardwalk and made the ¼ mile run to transition. The concrete felt like ice as my feet were totally frozen from the swim. We were all laughing about it. My transition was really quick at 4 Minutes. No sooner did I reach my bike than I was out on the course for the bike.

Oh, my bike. How I freakin’ love you. I love this part. Getting up to speed was no problem as I raced through town to Hwy 1. I felt pretty good, but I was fighting a tight hamstring since the day before. Things were a little tight, but I was going at a good clip. Or was I? I looked down, and my computer read 14MPH. Well, I must be on a slight hill with the headwind I thought. Just keep going, you are still passing people. So on I went, at a huge average of 16.7 mph. I knew I was much faster that that, but the rolling hills on this “flat” course were nothing to be scoffed at. The course was nowhere near flat, with over 1000 feet of climbing each direction. About when I looked down to realize I had only gone 16 miles, I hit the 28 mile turn around. Huh? Either this course was short, or my computer was way off. I didn’t know what was right, but the bonus of riding 12 more miles than I had thought was nothing to complain about! I found out the next day, the course was right on the money. It was my computer that crapped out.

It was pretty steady the entire bike. I continued to pass people. The only riders passing me had aero wheels and helmets. A proof that aerodynamics make a world of difference in a race like this. Um, yeah I need race wheels Julie :)  I trucked along and eventually made it back to transition in 2:34:54. Once again 5 minutes faster than my 2:40:00 goal time. I averaged 21.69 MPH over the 56 Mile course.

Now this was the moment of truth. I left the final transition at 3:15:00. My goal time to finish was 5:30:00. I had 2:15:00 to run my ½ marathon.  This was good news since I knew I could run a sub 2 hour ½ marathon.

I started out steady on the run. My legs were really tight from the ride, but I knew this brick feeling all too well. Give it time and they will be loose. Give it time. Gotta stretch this hammy….cramp!!! I don’t know how many people out there reading this have had a hammy cramp in a race, but I tell you what, it is really unpleasant. It hurts like a knife in the back of your leg twisting around. Painful. Fortunately, the twinge went away as soon as I let go of the stretch. Well, I figured I was going to have to run this thing out.

It was a long slow run for me. My legs were shot, and my energy levels were dwindling despite my nutrition efforts. I walked at a couple of aid stations to get some water, salt and bananas. 2 more miles to the turn around. No problem.

I stopped again at the mile 9 aid station to get fuel. Taking down some shot blocks, water and some more salt, I started jogging again. “Find those legs Tim”. I started feeling winded, and instead of stopping, I slowed down. That feels better…. I realized that once I started running, I kept increasing my pace to the point I was running too fast. Slowing down made it easier to keep a rhythm and keep going.  And so I ran. Slow and steady. I can see the beach! I am going to finish this!  Don’t cry yet! 

The last two miles were really easy for me. I found my legs finally. All the while this guy in my age group was loosing his. He would stumble, let me go by, run to catch up, stumble and stretch, let me go by etc. This happened all the way to the finish line.

With about ½ mile to go, the course drops down to the beach and you run through the sand to the finish. Punishment enough?! I could hear the music. I could hear the cheers and see the balloons. The end was near. Running down the beach, my buddy Patrick yelled at me “Great Time!” Holy crap I did it! I did it! Julie yells “Go Tim!” the announcer says my name, and I stepped on the finishing mat in 5:23:44. Tears…um yeah. As I said earlier, I’m a pretty emotional guy. I was so stoked. Who cares if my ½ marathon time was 2:06:34 a 9:40/mile pace.

Julie came and gave my sweaty mug a hug. She is so amazing.

So there you have it. Tim’s first ½ Ironman. Yes, I am an addict. Like Lays Potato Chips, no one can eat just one, Triathlon will keep you eating all day long. Next stop Ironman?

So lessons learned?
- Keep working on the run
- Never trust a computer
- Always have faith the finish line will be there.