Ironman US Campionship 8:04:46

By the time I started running, the winner was less than a mile away from the finish. It was a long race and this is a long blog entry. Thanks for sticking with it.

I dumped the warm water in my bottle and refilled it with ice water at the suggestion of a volunteer.  I started out at an easy pace and immediately spotted Ed and Kait.  Hamsi was also in the crowd and called out my name.  Lots of familiar faces and voices were around and about.  I was psyched.  Psyched to be off the bike, psyched to be running, and psyched to see my friends and family.  Dude, totally psyched.

Kait caught me leaving the transition area.  Did I mention I was psyched?

I turned my watch back on.  I knew it wouldn't last the whole race, but I was most concerned with my heart rate on the hills.  I was going to be excited and I needed to stay disciplined and conservative.  My legs felt good, but that's always how it starts.  Then the bomb drops and I'm cramping.  Stay conservative. Just had to stay conservative.

This course was tough- no lie.  The first 14 miles consisted of two out-and-backs on in the Palisades Park.  Most TNTers know how hilly these roads are.  My Ironteam knew, too.  We trained out here.  That is one of the benefits of living in the host city (even though we were in NJ, technically)  I stayed relaxed as I climbed out of Ross Dock for the last time and saw Coach Scott perched upon a rock.  I gave him a thumbs up. He had a big smile on his face.

Some people hate out and backs.  It's true, I do enjoy destination runs and races, but out an backs allow me to see my teammates as we passed each other.  And that was really great.  I found myself wondering what lap they were on.  But it really didn't matter.  We exchanged high fives and encouragement.  It was a reminder that we weren't doing this alone and that we were doing this for more than just ourselves.  I saw other familiar faces out there.  Ramon and Kara were out supporting their teammates and cheered me on.  Peter was out on the course as well.

Coach Scott had recommended that we walk through the aid stations, essentially doing a run/walk strategy.  I seemed to have forgotten this for the first couple stations, but started to do it.  The aid stations were a bit overwhelming.  The volunteers were sooo enthusiastic.  I volunteered for the Lake Placid Ironman in 2009 and remember being the same.  There were so many options.  Besides water and the Ironman Perform Gatorade-like drink, there was ice, Coke, a variety of Gu, pretzels, chicken broth, wet sponges, and more, I'm sure.

I was pretty much only interested in water and Perform. The volunteers would yell out what they were offering.  All I needed to do was take it or yell out what I wanted.  In most cases, I'd say "Water!" and two volunteers would help pour water into my bottle.

"Would you like some ice?"

"Sure!  Thanks!"

I wasn't stopping at each aid station, because I had that trusty water bottle.  I learned the hard way that I can't really survive racing a marathon cramp-free without it. 

I stopped to pee again at mile 7 and as I left the porta potty I heard Coach Scott yell out to me.  "Joel!  How many fingers?"

"What?"

This had something to do with his how are you feeling rating system.  I eventually just yelled out that "I'm feeling awesome!" and continued on my way.  I was feeling damn good. Except for one thing. Do I need to poop?  I thought about that as I covered the next few miles.  In that time, my watch died, I saw more teammates, completed the last turn around, and made up my mind. Yup, I had to poop.

I was carrying a gps device that friends and family were tracking me with.  When I was moving, apparently a little arrow icon would appear and move along the course.  When I stopped, it became a dot.  My brother later told me he watched as the arrow became a dot and stayed a dot for awhile. He wondered, Is he ok? Yup.  You were just watching me poop.

Climbing those hills was challenging and each hill felt harder, but I kept pushing.  My legs ached. I was just tired, that's all. I could keep going.  No need to slow down.  I passed mile 14, which meant I was finally on my way out of the park.  A lot of people were walking at this point.  I was the only one running out of the park and up the hill toward the George Washington Bridge. 

To cross the bridge, I had to climb stairs- about 75 of them- then descend about 75 on the other side.  I took it easy with the stairs, walking them, but I darted over the bridge.  That felt liberating.  It was a nice mile long flat stretch where I felt I could open things up a bit and test my legs.  Yup, tired.  Yup, still plenty in the tank.

Crossing the GW, squinting from the wind.

On the other side, a nice size crowd was gathered to welcome the runners  Daniel was among them.  He called out to me and I waived back. It was a great welcome to New York City and it was a taste of what was to come.  Yeah, Manhattan.  The home stretch. 

As I passed the first aid station on this side of the bridge, a volunteer called out to me.

"You're gonna catch a lot of people at that pace!"

Did somebody day kills?  My mouth started salivating.  Other volunteers called out asking if I wanted water or ice or sponges.  I didn't want anything, except kills.  Instead of slowing at this aid station, I sped up and made my way through Washington Heights to the bike path.


There was a lot of wind up in that first part of the bike path that I wasn't expecting.  I was hoping for a nice smooth run to Riverside, but this wind was kind of beating me up.  It swirled, pushing me back and side to side.  I let myself slow a bit and looked around.  Families were out having barbecues, playing music and  spending a Saturday by the river.  They seemed oblivious to the fact that an Ironman was passing through their picnic ground.  At one point a group of kids were sitting right on the course playing a card game.  I kind of loved this.  It was so New York.  On any given evening, there are thousands of things going on in the city.

Suddenly, I realized I was cruising at a nice pace.  The wind stopped, or perhaps became a tail wind.  This run was feeling great.  No cramping.  Feeling strong. No bomb dropped. Retrospectively, I can say this stretch, if not the whole marathon, was a victory lap for me.

Another kill.  I had net 603 of them during the marathon.

Syed! Amanda!  I was surprised by their familiar faces and stopped to give and get some hugs.  Amanda told me how popular the "Go Complete Stranger" sign she made was.  I told them I was feeling great.  Yes, the celebration had begun.  I was so happy to see them.

I moved quickly toward Riverside Park, anticipating seeing more friends near the TNT aid station.  I tried not to let it occupy my thoughts.  I tried to stay in the moment.  I have miles left.  I have a few turns to go.  Pass this walker.  Don't knock anyone over at that aid station... Look out for the random cyclists...

And then they were there.

The roar of cheers was just amazing. The welcome was overwhelming.  Louis was the first person I saw.  Then everyone else. Michelle, Rachel, Travis, Brian, Sarah, Kristin, Casey... too many to name and to be honest, I was dazed by the group's presence and definitely didn't spot everyone. I stopped and gave and got lots of hugs.  They were so excited for me and I was so excited to see them all. I felt awesome.

This made the race- my friends and family and all the support and love they gave me.  It was just amazing.  I have thanked them.  I've thanked you all. And I am doing so again here in this blog.  You all need to understand how special this day was for me and it was so special because of you all.  Accomplishing an Ironman is pretty cool.  Having you all in my life is just balls-out amazing.

Brooklyn Love.

 

Hugs.

 I turned the corner and was blown away by the TNT aid station.  Jeanette handed me water and Perform.  Maureen cheered me on. I got hugs from Jim and Amy.  Some guy sponged my back, which I wasn't a fan of, but still appreciated his enthusiasm and support.  (Sorry I freaked- I'm paranoid about chafing.  Especially in my butt crack. I was fine.)

I entered Riverside Park, in which the course snaked along for a couple miles.  Cary and his crew were there, as were Sarah and Lawrence, Carla and Anjali, Angela, Lisa, Pam and Christie.... so many hugs and high fives were doled out and received and I'm sure I'm forgetting some.  Still, I love you.

I turned out of the park and got more TNT love on my way to the finish.  More people were running at this point.  They could taste the finish as could I.  Soon I could hear Mike Reilly, the voice of Ironman, announce finishers.  A couple of turns later I could see it.

I spot Ed and Kait.

I slowed, scanning the crowds, looking for my parents.  There they were.

I gave them more hugs, then went off to find Ed and Kait.  Ah, there they were.  More hugs.

How one crosses the finishline is often a choriographed move.  Many raise their hands in triumph. Some fist pump. I've seen one guy "airplane" to the end.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do.  And yes, I thought about it.  Also to consider was the official declaration by Mike Reilly that were were Ironmen. I slowed even more, trying to create space between me and the runners before and after me.  Man, they were going slow.

Finally, I just walked through the finish line, big smile on my face.  Yeah, I'm happy with that. 

Run > 4:20:36

Finish > 12:25:22

Done.

Happy.