Most of you know the race doesn't really begin the morning you enter the water with 2,000+ other athletes. That is the beginning of the final chapter in the journey to Ironman. I won't bore you with all the details leading up to the final day of the Ironman Florida journey, but I will share some details leading into the race.

This race was my second Ironman. I did Canada last year with a time of 13:14. My race was good through mile 6 of that race when my legs started cramping and I had some GI issues which reduced my efforts to a walk most of the last 20 miles. My objective for Florida was to go at an even pace and effort from start to finish, no walking. If I managed that, I felt I could finish in under 11 hours.

I was nursing some injuries going into this race. My sciatica had bothered me through training and had only grown worse as the weeks prior to the race arrived. Being cheap and stubborn I felt I could just gut it out and didn't seek out any help with my injury. I used the foam roller and stretching and was hoping for the best. The weekend before the race it was getting pretty bad. My last ride that Saturday was very frustrating as 2 hours in it basically gave out on me and pedaling home was extremely difficult and painful. The pain is like a knife stabbing into your ass, and my ability to apply pressure to the pedal on the downstroke becomes significantly diminished. Matt kept telling me I need to get a massage and get it worked out. I've had one massage in my life and am not the type of person who enjoys people putting their hands all over me... well most of the time. As well, massage is expensive. Thankfully my birthday was this week so my mom offered to pay for the massage as a gift. We called Tim Monaco, a local therapist and triathlete, and he was happy to see me. This was Sunday night, Monday morning I was to be on a plane to Texas, then Florida. Few can kill a man with just their thumb, Tim can make men cry! My session with him was one of the more painful things I can remember. It was an eye opener to just how important massage and therapy can be. Years of training takes quite a toll on the body.

After an hour of torture I went home, drank tons of water and hoped for the best. My trip began Monday at 4:30. I flew out to Texas to hook up with my father. He was going to be attempting his first Ironman at the ripe age of 64. I had a lay over at his home in Texas on Monday night and the following afternoon we both boarded another plane to Panama City, Florida.

Most of the week I did as little as possible. Took advil, stretched, and just kept off my feet. My sciatica was still hurting and I was growing ever more concerned. I saw an Active Release Therapist on Thursday who did a few things to help work on it, then I just made my game plan for the race. I knew sitting up when riding didn't hurt so the worst case scenario would be that. My goal was basically to ride easy and still try to be off the bike and starting the run seven hours into the race. That would give me 9 minute miles to finish in under 11 hours. Stick to my race, don't get caught up with those around me, let women and older men ride by, leave my ego on the shore, and focus primarily on getting to the finish line.

Race morning. My dad and I awoke, ate breakfast, headed down to the race site in the blackness of night. We dropped off our bags, walked to the transition area and got set up. I wished him luck and he I and we went our separate ways to make final preparations on our bikes. I looked for him on the beach but there were too many people wearing black. ;)

The swim. The swim is a beach start. I decided to start toward the middle and front because the group went too deep off the beach to start in the back. I'm not a great swimmer but didn't want to waste minutes wading in and through hundreds of athletes. I picked my line and just started swimming. I had no problems at all. It went smoothly. No one hit me, I hit no one, I didn't run into anyone. It got a little congested at points, mostly the turns, but the momentum of thousands swimming carries you around and through the turns. It's a two lap swim. Coming back to shore you run out through the inflated banner and back into the water. The second lap was easier as it thinned out quite a bit. I got a rash from my wetsuit that started to irritate the last 500 meters or so, but other than that the swim was great and I was a little under my target: 1:06:46.

T1. Well my transitions suck! I changed everything as I wanted to side on being comfortable for 112 miles of riding over being fast out of the tent. I changed into cycling shorts and stopped at the porta-potty on the way to my bike. 8:12 | Running Time: 1:14:58

The bike. My left hamstring was very tight starting out the ride. I was a little concerned and really just cruised along the first few miles trying to work it out. Once I warmed up it was fine and I started riding in the bars. My goal was to ride in the bars as much as I could but sit up every hour to keep my sciatica from tightening up and stand up often to keep it stretched. I stood on the bridge and many of the little rollers and sat up whenever I felt a little strain on my butt and lower back. It was a test of patience as I was passed quite a bit. I felt really good in some sections and really got into a groove and moved along fairly quickly, my Trek TTX is awesome. I know I'll be able to put in some really good rides on this thing when I'm 100%. My ride was all about staying really comfortable with the heart rate and taking cautionary measures to assure my sciatica didn't give out on me. I ate often, drank enough (I thought), and my efforts were very controlled and even throughout the race. I had to stop at the outhouse about 80 miles in which took a little time off my split but I felt I rode the whole 112 at a very consistent pace and had plenty of energy in reserves coming into T2. And I came in on target: 5:41:15 | Running Time: 6:56:14

T2. Did I mention my transitions suck! I changed again as I didn't want to wear cycling shorts on the run. I also picked the seat with a puddle under it, so I soaked my socks running into the tent. I did place a dry pair in my transition bag in case I needed them so thankfully I didn't have to run in wet socks. Then another trip to the porta-potty and I was off. A little behind now but still on goal. 7:09 | Running Time: 7:03:23

The run. The legs were heavy and tight but loosening up, until... Around mile one my hamstrings on both legs locked up and I did the straight leg waddle to the side of the road. My first thought was that was it, I tried and it's not in the cards, F%&*! But I stretched them out, took a couple salt tablets, and started running again. By mile 2 they were feeling better and I felt my stride was finally coming along. I didn't feel as good as I would like, as good as I have during my Bricks in training, but I felt I could still pull off my target if I maintained my current pace. A lot was running through my head at this point...

"Was I going to make it?"
"Did I not take enough salt?"
"I thought I put a bag of salt tablets in my bike special needs, what happen to those? I must have missed them."
"Do I have some in my run special needs? Hopefully."
"Why can't a put my run together."
"Stop. You'll make it, focus."

I was now basically competing with the course, fighting my body, and fighting back the doubts and negativity creeping in. I was doing well and still on target but those initial cramps at the beginning and the tenderness I was feeling in my quads had me hoping I'd be able to hang on, rather than confidently moving forward. At mile 11 the quads started cramping followed by repeated cramping in the hamstrings. I hit the turn around and end of the first lap in 2:00:38. Still within range to hit my goal, but I knew it was going to take a miracle. Coming around that second lap my legs were cramping on both sides, the walking began, and the frustration of being beat by another Ironman was setting in. I saw my Dad on the course this second lap and was stoked to see he had made it this far. I was afraid he had psyched himself out over the bike distance, his longest ride to date was 65-70 miles and his longest run 13.1. Seeing him encouraged me to keep running but the legs kept saying no. The second lap took nearly an hour longer than first and got me to the finish line at just under the 12 hour mark. 4:53:57 | Final: 11:57:19

I'm disappointed with my run but overall satisfied with the day. I have another long day deposited in the bank and learned a few things, I hope... I also have a few things to take back and research. Some tweaks to my nutrition, some tweaks to my training, take physical and massage therapy seriously.

I waited in pain at the finish line for my father. I knew it would take him longer the second time around but was confident he'd made it through the toughest part and he'd complete the race. He finished his first Ironman at age 64 in a time of 14 hours and 34 minutes. He stopped for a picnic at his bike special needs and had a sandwich, walked around and took his time. Being patient and sticking to his game plan allowed him to complete what many only dream. Believe me, if he can do this with no athletic background, aside from golf, for his first 58 years of life then any one of you reading this can hear those words... "YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!"

I want to thank my coaches Matt and Matt for helping me prepare and giving me a good plan. My Bend/Montana/Aussie training partners for making me push myself on those training rides, and Memphis for her second to none Lamb roast and feeding me well. Tim for his last minute attempt to making my body work properly. Trek for an awesome ride, FSA for awesome components, and Bend Bike N Sport for putting it all together. And, of course, all my friends and Trifuelers who support and encourage me along the way, you guys Rock!