What is an Ironman Triathlon?
This is a question I have been asked frequently throughout the last year. This part is easy to answer. It’s the ultimate test of endurance—a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run—all to be completed within a 17 hour time frame for the right to call yourself an Ironman. Why would you try this???
Why? Why would one want to push their body past its limit and to a place we never thought it could go? Is it merely for the thrill of it? The challenge? Or simply to maintain fitness? Every person who has participated in an Ironman has their own reason. I invite you to read mine. Keep in mind, I'm just your average Joe who loves Dairy Queen for lunch every day. My hope in telling you this story is that this may be able to inspire someone else to take the next step in accomplishing a goal for themselves. This is not about physical fitness but about overcoming obstacles that may be in your life ... whatever those may be. Let's be an Overcomer for Him and through Him.
How it all Started
January, 2010: I weighed 230 pounds, was completely out of shape, and trying to figure out how I got in this condition and wondering if I could get out of it. I had been in great shape from 1996 - 2006 when I worked and drove for UPS Tyler, and did aerobics by default all day with no A/C. In 2006 I retired from UPS and opened up a used car dealership, but continued to eat as if I was still out running packages all day every day. I felt like I was at a crossroads and needed a change but wasn't sure how to get there and felt like I was way too out of shape to go join a gym ... nor did that appeal to me. I called a long time friend of mine, Seth Cooke, who was always working out at something and was the only person I knew at that time who had run a marathon - I thought he could advise me on a realistic plan for getting back in shape. He advised me to run 3 miles 3 times per week and mix in some sit ups on the days I didn't run. The next day I went out to go run 1 mile and only made it 1/2 mile before turning around to walk back to my house the other 1/2 mile. It was a real slap in the face and eye opener that day to realize where I "really" was. But ... I did not give up and kept going .... by the middle of summer (6 months later), I was running/jogging/walking 5 miles 3 times per week and the weight was beginning to roll off. Seth would check on me periodically and toward the end of summer he suggested a goal of my competing in a half marathon the end of the year, December 2010.
Let the Marathons Begin :-)
So I decided on a "practice" half marathon in October - which I completed. After which my friend, Seth Cooke, teasingly goaded me into changing my entry in December to a full marathon so I would not have my picture taken as a "half marathon" competitor .... yea I fell for that line. Fast forwarding from December 2010 to March 2014 I completed 10 marathons - 3 years and 5 months later. I felt great and had lost roughly 55 pounds but ... I was getting tired of "just running".
So here I am in March of 2014 feeling proud of my accomplishments and enjoying lunch with Seth Cooke and Clay Emge (both world class Ironman Triathletes), and Clay asks me "What are your goals going forward?" REALLY .... I had none ... hadn't I just ran 10 marathons in just over 3 years when I could not even jog 1/2 mile when I started this journey .... I thought my goals had been met.
Seth Cooke placed 81st in the 2013 Kona, Ironman World Championships in his age category .... 5 weeks after breaking his collar bone.
Clay Emge placed 1st in the same 2013 Kona, Ironman World Championships in his age category .... WOW
Both encouraged me to do some Triathlons that summer, which terrified me. I did not know how to swim and had not ridden a bike of any kind since I was 10 years old. Not that I could NOT swim at all .... I COULD make the 10 foot swim back to the jet ski, but nothing more. :-)
The Triathlon Trail
And so began my swim lessons with Seth's mom, Linda Cooke, who trains pre-competitive swimmers at Tyler Junior College and has worked with most local swim teams. Now keep in mind that Seth has only told his Mom that I'm in good shape and need to practice swim form for an upcoming Triathlon. April 1, 2014 is my first lesson. Linda casually says "swim a few laps while I wrap up what I'm doing and then I'll meet with you." I made it 1 .... yes ONE ... and Linda found me clinging to the pool wall in near hyperventilation. The following conversation transpired:
LINDA: "What's the problem, Paul?"
PAUL: "I'm out of breath ... gasp gasp"
LINDA: "Seth told me you were in shape!!"
PAUL: "Running shape, Linda, running shape"
LINDA: "Seth said you entered a Triathlon, when is it?" (obviously she needs to know how much time she has to WORK with me and RAISE THE DEAD in the pool.)
PAUL: "April 27th" (less than one month)
NOW .... IT WAS LINDA'S TURN TO GASP.
So began a wonderful relationship with a flat out awesome coach and human being full of wisdom and encouragement. If you have ANYONE in the greater Tyler area who needs swim coaching .... Linda Cook is your gal .... because she did in fact RAISE THE DEAD with me. Linda did her job and I completed my first Triathlon April 27, 2014.
My First Ironman Experience
May, 2014, I attended the Texas Ironman in Woodlands, TX to watch Jason Browning (my neighbor) and Kimberly Cooke (Seth's wife) each compete in their first full Ironman. This was amazing to me to go watch people who I would consider "real" or "regular" people, not super athletes, compete in something of this magnitude. This was incredibly encouraging to me because first they both finished and second, I had known both of them way before they ever attempted such a feat, much less showed interest in every doing so. MMMMM ..... If they can .... why can't I? When I left that finish line, I was drunk with Ironman Kool Aid!
Training with Vision and Purpose
From June through October, 2014 I began to train in earnest, doing several Triathlons, two 100 mile bike rides, and lots and lots of swimming ... beginning the process of getting comfortable with swimming in open water, which takes some getting used to. This process of swimming in open water was very challenging and downright Terrifying for me. I'd like to thank those who took time out of their day, and sometimes DAYS, to do open water swims with me and encourage me and inspire me. Linda Cooke, Best Swim Coach ever; Ann Hulley, 2015 Ironman Finisher; John Schlaudt, Training Partner and Event Photographer for me; Graeme Wolf, Great Open Water Swimmer.
In September, 2014 I completed a 70.3 Half Ironman in 7:09, then a few weeks later, in October, did a 2 mile open water swim in 1:40. These were my final tests to see if I would enter the Ironman in 2015. Registration fills up by around the end of October.
Race Day has Arrived
Arrived at the Woodlands a few days early to check in, look around and feel the vibe. I felt both nervous and excited. Slept lightly the night before, getting up around 3:30 am. After thousands of hours of training and thousands of dollars .... the day of the ultimate physical test has arrived. By 6:30 am everyone was lined up at the swim start .... that is ALL 2800 of us. That swim is definitely ALL it's cracked up to be and had intimidated and scared the hello out of me in every way. I had spent hours and hours and hours preparing for THIS swim. Look close up at a few of the swim launch pictures .... not sure how one prepares for that until they have experienced it .... but look and imagine.
I entered the water at 7:03 am near the back of the pack. The way this works, the last step you make on dry land is a step across a tracking system, then you enter the water and take off. There is no time to stop or gather yourself because you are being pushed forward by the large group of people gathered behind you heading into the water as well. Within two to three steps you have to be swimming because the land drops off at our entry point. That start is crazy because some people are "ready to go" and take off fast while others need a moment to pause and get their bearings. There are people in every direction at every speed, and people are getting hit and kicked every where while water is splashing in every direction, as if there are too many children in the bathtub. It is a moment when time seems to stop, but you are trying to go!
Very quickly you realize that the only thing that matters is to get to the next buoy, so you block everything out ... the noise, getting hit ... and just sight the next buoy and work to get there.
As if the swim was not hard enough, the race director had us finish the last 6/10 of a mile coming up a narrow canal with concrete walls on both sides, continuing the bathtub effect of water splashing out of control in every direction. This canal was similar to the San Antonio River Walk, and it sure felt much tighter than it actually was. People are standing on both sides of the canal, yelling at the swimmers as they come in. Finished the swim in 1:32. As I climbed out onto land I was crying for joy and probably relief as well. I had just completed one of the toughest swims known to man and 13 1/2 months prior, I could barely make one lap in the pool. I want to take a moment to thank the Lord, Jesus Christ, for giving me the strength, energy and perseverance to overcome. Thanks again to Linda Cooke for spending many hours with me over the past year working on form and technique.
On to the Bike
Want to step back a minute to when I first got a bike. While I started swim lessons less than a month before my first Triathlon, I bought my first road bike 10 days before my first Triathlon, and again, had not been on a bike of ANY KIND since I was 10 years old, had NEVER ridden a 10 speed bike, and NOW I just bought a 20 speed LOL.
Seth Cooke advised me to go to Elite Bicycles in Tyler to get a good road bike. When I walked in, the owner "Sport" asked me what I needed. I told him I had entered a Triathlon and needed a road bike but had no experience on a road bike. He asked the same question as Linda:
SPORT: "When is this Triathlon?"
ME: "In 10 days."
SPORT: "Oh Wow!"
I rode that bike three times before taking off in my first Triathlon. Once again, if you are in the Tyler area and need a bike of any kind, please pay a visit to the great people over at Elite Bicycles - they are in the bike business because they truly love it and it shows. By the way ... I later found out while bike training with a friend, that I had ridden my first Triathlon in "20th Gear" the entire way due to not understanding how the gears worked .... talked about fast moving feet.
Back to Ironman. It had rained the 5 days prior to Ironman, but on that day there was no rain, just hot, steamy, sultry, full sun weather greeting us. I remember I was surprised that before I had completed my first mile on the bike, I had sweat pouring off my helmet.
The first 60 miles went well, I think I arrived at mile 60 around 1:00 pm and everything seemed to be going as planned. My, how things can change in a hurry. Once we made the turn at the halfway point, mile 56, we encountered a strong crosswinds the likes of which I had only ever seen once before at Wichita Falls "Hotter 'N Hell Hundred". This crosswind was so strong that at times it was pushing female riders around on the road who did not have the body weight to hold them in place .... they were being forced to literally DRIFT all over the road. From mile 70 to the end of the 112 mile bike ride, I began to dehydrate. I had been drinking water and Gatorade but obviously not enough for the temperature and conditions I was riding in. As I finished the bike ride in 8:14, I knew I was in trouble physically.
If you look closely at the photo of me pushing by bike to the transfer person, you can see the salt lines down the outside of my left leg and right thigh. What you don't see is my shorts covered in dry salt. However, I was determined to continue, and about to start my 13th marathon.
The first 60 miles went well, I think I arrived at mile 60 around 1:00 pm and everything seemed to be going as planned. My, how things can change in a hurry. Once we made the turn at the halfway point, mile 56, we encountered a strong crosswinds the likes of which I had only ever seen once before at Wichita Falls "Hotter 'N Hell Hundred". This crosswind was so strong that at times it was pushing female riders around on the road who did not have the body weight to hold them in place .... they were being forced to literally DRIFT all over the road. From mile 70 to the end of the 112 mile bike ride, I began to dehydrate. I had been drinking water and Gatorade but obviously not enough for the temperature and conditions I was riding in. As I finished the bike ride in 8:14, I knew I was in trouble physically.
If you look closely at the photo of me pushing by bike to the transfer person, you can see the salt lines down the outside of my left leg and right thigh. What you don't see is my shorts covered in dry salt. However, I was determined to continue, and about to start my 13th marathon.
Let's Run a Marathon, it's Only 87 Degrees
As I finished up the bike, mentally I thought if I just STARTED the run I would be able to finish it. I had already completed 12 marathons and 71 half marathons - so I know how to grind out a run, even when it's not fun. However, you can tell by the photos that I'm pretty well shot. My original strategy was to walk 4 miles per hour and try to re-hydrate myself, but I could not even maintain that pace. It took me 1.5 hours to walk 6 miles. At miles 2, 4 and 5 I tried to throw up and didn't have a drop to throw up. As I came up to mile 6 there was a medical tent on the right and I stopped on the sidewalk and did a mental calculation and realized that at the pace I was going, I was not going to finish the race by midnight. Up to this point I had not peed since 6:45 am, right before swim launch and did not end up peeing until 10:45 pm that night. Mentally I was telling my body to keep going, but it was not responding and felt different than it ever has before, so I knew I had no choice but to check in to the medical tent. As I walked into the medical tent seeking an I.V., I was told they were completely out over the entire course .... none were left anywhere .... this extreme heat and humidity was taking its toll on many of us today.
This is where my day was done .... mile 120 total, - at mile 6 of the run, and just under 12 hours total on the course. This is the first event that I was unable to finish and I was hot, tired and frustrated. This was roughly 54 weeks from the day of my first Triathlon. I want to take a moment to thank my sister, Joy Perryman, for picking me up at the medical tent and John Schlaudt for letting me stay at his home in Houston that night and taking care of me the next day. Interesting tidbit .... the nurse who treated me called my sister the day after the Ironman to let her know that her husband had competed in 4 Ironmen and only finished 1 - this was a kind act of encouragement.
What Next ???
This is where my day was done .... mile 120 total, - at mile 6 of the run, and just under 12 hours total on the course. This is the first event that I was unable to finish and I was hot, tired and frustrated. This was roughly 54 weeks from the day of my first Triathlon. I want to take a moment to thank my sister, Joy Perryman, for picking me up at the medical tent and John Schlaudt for letting me stay at his home in Houston that night and taking care of me the next day. Interesting tidbit .... the nurse who treated me called my sister the day after the Ironman to let her know that her husband had competed in 4 Ironmen and only finished 1 - this was a kind act of encouragement.
What Next ???
I'll be back!!! Next year - same place, same time - different result. You almost always do better at anything you try the second time around. What was accomplished? A LOT! I went 50 miles further in a Triathlon than I had ever gone previously, have obtained a level of mental and physical fitness I once thought was impossible, have gained many friends throughout this experience. People, in general, learn more from their defeats than their victories ... after all, without defeat, how would we know what victory was .... it is not a failure if we learn from it.
The goal is to work on biking and learning how to hydrate properly with the same effort and intensity that went in to learning how to swim in open water, or swim at all for that matter. If I can get my bike time down to around 7 hours, my end result will be different. All of you reading this, are invited to come to the after party.
Lets Be Inspired
The goal is to work on biking and learning how to hydrate properly with the same effort and intensity that went in to learning how to swim in open water, or swim at all for that matter. If I can get my bike time down to around 7 hours, my end result will be different. All of you reading this, are invited to come to the after party.
Lets Be Inspired
I was inspired to do this event by seeing what I considered "regular people" finish it such as Jason Browning and Kimberly Cooke last year. Ann Hulley was also a huge inspiration having trained, practiced and finished this event as a widow with 9 children .... she's a better man than me .... she is not one to go to with excuses :-)
Let's Overcome Through Him
At the time I paid the entry fee for each Triathlon I have ever done, I could not swim the required distance!!! This forced me to deal with my fear of swimming in open water, and while this journey is still a progress in the works, I am thrilled to have conquered that. As you read this, if there is something you think of in your life that you would like to overcome, my challenge to you is to engage and face your fears. DON'T let the obstacles and challenges in your life dictate WHO YOU ARE ... let's be a prevailer and OVERCOME THROUGH AND FOR HIM!
