Training

The Race

The Swim

The Bike

The Run

The Finish

The Post Race Report

I got to Clermont on Friday in time to register and drop off my bike. I saw a lot of people riding, running and generally getting set up. Then, I looked out into the lake. My God! those buoys seem to go out forever. For some reason, they seemed to go out farther than I had been training to swim and I wondered what I had gotten myself into. But, I knew my long swim had been for 2 hours on a tether, which is generally harder than real swimming. So, I swallowed hard and looked away. I would find out soon enough in the morning. Back to the hotel to get the race bags together. I had trained with Endurox and Powergels, so I packed them into each bag. Three Endurox bottles for each half of the bike and another 4 for the run. Add the camelbacks that I use on the bike and also for the run, and the bags were pretty hefty. I planned on wearing my wetsuit even if the water temp was above 78?. I was more interested in comfort than a medal, anyway. I also packed my hot dogs, my favorite food on the bike. I can hold hot dogs down and they provide sustained fuel.

The morning of the race, I was up at 4:00 AM to get some bacon and eggs and coffee on board before heading to the start. I admit that I didn’t sleep as well as I had hoped. It would be a long day. I got the bags to the start and placed them in the appropriate spots. That took some effort since that were so heavy. I thought I had done an ironman before it even started. I put the initial Endurox bottles on the bike and checked the tires. Of course, one tire was low and in the process of pumping it up, I broke off the valve stem. I had 2 tubes with me, plus patch kits, so I wasn’t too concerned. Changed the tire and luckily was able to borrow a floor pump from another early bird. Well, I was ready and it was only 5:30. Met a number of friendly competitors from various parts of the country and we nervously bantered to stay awake and to try to relax. Finally, it was getting closer to 7:00 and the official word came that wetsuits were legal. That made me happy.
 

The Swim:

I got way off to the side and in the back. My practice session included a couple of sprint triathons in Lake Minneola, so I know that I did not want to be in the middle of the frenzy. Beside, I don’t like to get in people’s way and I know I am not the fastest person on the Lake. The gun goes off and we start to get ourselves moving. We get deep enough to swim and I start. I guess my open water work was not enough, since I had trouble siting and spent a lot of time going back and forth rather than forward. I slowly watched the group pull away as I seemed to be heading no where. Somewhere close to the first turn, I had all those doubts start to creep in: “You aren’t good enough”...”You should have stayed home, cause you won’t even finish the swim”. That was when I decided that I could only do my best and if I didn’t make it, then I would enjoy what I did. I got into a rhythm, swim 10 strokes and site. It slowed me down; but, by checking more often, I was going much straighter. Well, I made the first lap in 45 minutes. I never even saw the early finishers go past, since I was so far outside. On the other hand, no one was in my way! Well, I knew now that I would finish I just had to make the next lap. The first demons were behind me and I had beat them. Well, I came out of the water at 1:38:41 under my 2 hour plan. I know the swim was short for most of you, but I definitely went the full 2.4 or more!

I took my time in T-1. I brought my own sun block. I live in Florida, you don’t leave home without it! I got everything changed out (including adding my hot dogs to my pockets). Well, a quick wee wee at the end of T-1 and I was ready. I was about the last bike on the racks! All would have been good, except for the fact that I forgot to put my championship chip back on. Drat! That was my second demon: when I hit 10 miles on the bike and looked down to see my that I didn’t have my chip, I did not know if any of my times would even be counted. So, on the bike, I decided I would go on and finish just for me. I later got the chip mid-way through the bike, so my times got picked up after T-2.
 

The Bike:

I worked pretty hard on the swim and kicked most of the way. Luckily my tether work in the pool prepared me for that; but my thighs were sore at the start of the bike. That first hill was interesting. I was glad I had a triple gear on the front of my bike. After that, I was finally getting comfortable (biking has been my thing for a few years). I got into a tempo and just kept moving. I tried to hold the pace to 18-20 MPH. I did hit 46.5 on one of the down hills. Before you knew it, we turned the corner, and there it was....Sugarloaf. Back in the 3rd chain ring! It just kept going. Finally, I had enough...out of the seat and hammer...I yelled, “more stones, you mother”... and then it was over! The people knew. They were there to help us over the top. From Sugarloaf, it would be down hill. Of course I forgot that little hill just before the transition. Pesky little bugger! Then, it was the half way point and time for the special needs bag. Exchange the Endurox bottles, refill the Camelback and down a couple hot dogs. Boy, those were good. Then, back on the bike. The second half of the bike was just a constant peddle. I stopped at the 95 mile rest stop. I should have known we were in trouble when they said it was suppose to be 90 miles. My speedometer is pretty accurate and I had over 95. A quick potty break and back on the bike. Then, at 100 miles, the front tire blows. Good thing I had that second tube. Back on the bike and I notice my rear wheel is flat, too! Add air to see, but it goes down in 2 miles. Pull the tube, find the leak...and here come a Lou’s Bike Repair truck. He had one last long-stemmed tube. I took it!!! Back on the bike. Coming up on 112 miles and I knew we were still about 5 miles out. It was disappointing, but I figure it got more for my money.

Finally, back into T-2. I was glad to get off the bike. I have to admit, I liked my sheepskin seat cover. My rump was good. T-2 went faster. I heard one competitor DNF after the extra bike length. I was on schedule, even with the bike delays, ten hours down and time to run. My only problem was “hot feet” which I get after 85 miles on the bike. Usually, that goes away once I hit the run. More sun block, some bug repellent and I’m off.
 

The Run:

In spite of the extra distance on the bike, I was pretty fresh at the start of the run. At least, compared to the other bricks I had done in training. Of course, I didn’t do enough of them. I honestly felt that this was my weakest event; but, if I could make it onto the run course at about 10 hours, I also knew I could walk if I had too. I took the message from other ironvirgins from previous GFTs and walked the hills at the beginning, running the flats and the downhills. I wanted to save myself for the flatter part of the course around the lake and hammer at the end if I could. Well, that went well for the first lap. I ran most of the way and, since I carried my own running camelback with Endurox, Powerbars (Harvest Cherry Crisp, which go down well and don’t melt in the Florida summers) and Powergels (Banana-Strawberry with caffeine), I only grabbed water at the aid stations. The sun was setting as we came to the East side and the first view of the lake. It was incredible. I also couldn’t help but notice all the signs encouraging the guy named “Graham”. Boy did he have supporters. My wife had to work and couldn’t be there, so I had to do the race much like I trained, alone with my thoughts. I did have one of my students and his fiancee who came down to watch and cheer me on. That was special. Of course, Jay did have a reason, he said that, if I finished GFT ‘02, he would do an ironman with me in 2003. He’s sorry now!! I also came up on a fellow wearing a t-shirt with his family name on it. I knew that he might be there, but not if he was the only one with that name. So, I asked, “Are you Kyle?” It was him. A very nice fellow. We ran most of my first lap (and his last) together. It was finally getting dark. I had brought my LED light which brightened my way. When we came around the back side of the lake toward the transition area, I could hear some old fashioned rock ‘n roll music. I had heard about Mad Dog’s, but I really wasn’t prepared for what I found. They were amazing. Since I had on my stars ‘n stripes running shorts, they shouted out, “What does Captain America want?” To their disappointment, I headed straight for the porta-potty for a quick whizz. They did have one of the nicer potties I had seen all day! Well, that duty over, I asked for the chicken soup, that had come out at dark. Mad Dog’s was the first station to have it available. When I got to the soup table, the fellow serving was drinking and Icehouse beer. He asked if there was anything else I wanted and I said, “On the last lap, I want your beer!” He said, “No problem”. With that, off I went through Mad Dog’s wonderland of lights and sounds.

On the second lap, I found that I walked more between the aid stations and it took more to get me running again. Probably ran only about 60% of the time. As I was getting back toward Mad Dog’s, my feet suddenly felt like the bottom layer had just dropped out. The pain was intense over the entire balls of my feet. I knew that they were now blisters and I still had another lap to go. I checked my watch and I was 5 hours into the run. I knew what happened. My healing touch I had set up on the bike and re-enforced at the start of the run had gone off, since I was suppose to be finished by then. I know, you are wondering what that is all about. Beside my convention practice of veterinary neurology, I am also trained in acupuncture and other complementary medicine practices for animals. I wear magnets at acupuncture points in long races, since they help diminish fatigue. For the GFT, it took everything I knew. Well, I set up some more healing time (distant intentionality) for my feet. I don’t know if it helped, but I did keep going. In fact, another runner out there was complaining about his feet, too. I don’t know if I helped him, but I gave him my best wishes for happy feet. He did take off in a bit faster and I never saw him again. I hope his feet were better. Well, I made it back to Mad Dog’s and some more chicken soup. I reminded the fellow that I wanted my beer on the next lap and was off again.

The final lap was the toughest. I knew I could make it and I knew I would finish before the cut off, but I was reduced to walking. My feet still hurt badly, but I could still keep moving. I decided that, if I was going to walk, I would be the best walker out there. I did walk past a number of people on the back stretch. My hands were beginning to swell and I could tell that I was getting edema in my lower extremities. It was unpleasant, but I was holding my own. I could not tolerate any more Powerbars or Powergels and was left taking water, Gatorade and chicken soup along with pretzels (I could still handle them). At about mile 23, I was overhydrated and needed a porta-potty at each stop. I cut back fluids except for a little Endurox. At last, I came in sight of Mad Dog’s. Again they asked, “What can we get Captain America?” I said, “I want my beer!” Well, when I got to the soup station, a different fellow was there and asked, “You want chicken soup?” I said, “NO! I want my beer!” He yelled, “Who has some beer?” Out of the truck came my original soup man carrying 2 six-packs of Coronas. He said, “I got his beer...the good stuff!” Well, 2 ounces of beer later, I was on my way to the finish. Thanks Mad Dog, you got me to the finish. I still had to walk up the hill to the finish, but I bit my tongue, put on another stone and ran the last 2 blocks. I may be the only ironman to be fueled with hotdogs and beer, but I made it. I didn’t make it in the 15 hours I thought I could, but I stayed within myself and I finished. That was what it was about, getting through the day in one piece and sticking with it to the end. The people were right, it is mental. It was a tremendous physical challenge, but it was overcoming the negative thoughts and going forward that was the real difficulty. We all trained hard. We finished because we believed we could do it even when we were battered and sore and tired. We accepted the challenges, defeated our demons and finished, men and women of iron, not ironvirgins anymore.
 

Nutrition:

    Water: 200 ounces

    Endurox: 195 ounces

    Gatorade: 16 ounces

    Chicken Soup: 30 ounces

    Harvest Cherry Crisp Powerbars: 8

    Strawberry/Banana Powergels: 9

    Pretzels: 4 ounces

    Hotdogs (in bread): 5

    Beer: 2 ounces

That works out to about 3.5 gallons of fluids and 9500 calories. Needless to say, I wasn’t hungry at the end! Considering I used up around 12,000 calories, I guess I should have eaten more.
 

Post-Race:

I did not want to decide whether I would do another ironman until a month had past, but 2 weeks after the race, I am already signed up for my next race. It took 10 days for my feet to stop hurting and for me to walk somewhat normally. The rest of me healed quicker. I am back to my training, although abbreviated for the winter. I start in earnest again in January. I think I have learned that I will never be in the winner’s circle getting a prize, but I will always be a winner. I guess I could have gone faster, but I did not puke and finished in pretty decent shape. I guess that is good. Many people were truly impressed by the accomplishment. Most of them would never think of trying to do an ironman. That is their loss. I learned a lot about myself out there in the dark. It was an experience that only those of us who have competed have felt. Even those of us who finished last have proven we have something that most people don’t, iron wills, iron muscles and iron hearts (even if our feet were tin!).

I want to thank all the many volunteers and staff who made the GFT ‘02 such a success for us athletes. We owe them, our friends and our families a debt that we can not repay. We may have trained alone and, certainly, no one went the distance for us; but these people let us train and supported us every step of the way. Thanks to you all. You made us strong. Mad Dog, that beer was the best!

Roger Clemmons
GFT ‘02