Run (Race report: Final)

So this was it, the time to redeem myself from last year!!! I've waited for this moment for 365 days.

Did I pace myself properly on the bike?

Would I lose my composure like last year?

I ran out of T2 and saw blogger IronJenny as one of the lotion greasers and went directly to her and got greased up. Another mini stop in the porta-poddies and with my ultra-hat on my head and my IM spiderman jersey still on my back, I was off. The first couples of miles I knew would tell me how the marathon would go for me. I planned to take it easy the first mile or two to get my running legs under me again and flush out some of the cramping I usually feel right after the bike. Wow, NO cramps at the start, I was actually shocked and surprised. So baby, "GAME ON¨. The silent-running was now in effect again as well. No talking to anybody, No looking at any walkers. Eyes only on one place, 5 feet in front of me. That was the race plan.

So as the miles clicked off, I tried to stay in Zone 2 most of the time. Then on one of the out and back portions, I saw kickstandpam running hard and fast, a determined look on her face, she yelled out "YOU ROCK¨, I just waived as she passed on by. Okay, I have at least a 4 mile lead on her. I should be okay, unless I totally bonk out there.

So around mile 16, I did feel a little bit of cramping coming on, downed some salt tablets I had with me and kept plugging away at the miles. Then I saw a familiar bike jersey, to my shock it was Scott from the TRI club. I knew I might have a chance to find him on the run, but was surprised I actually did. So I actually tried to just go pass him, as part of my "silent-running.¨ But he saw me and said "I was running to fast¨. So for a couple of miles we ran together. Most of the time right behind stride for stride (at least tried to). So around mile 18 or 19, I surged and tried not to look back, but was amazed on one of the out and back portions I had put some distance between me and him.. WHooWeee, could I out run him this day.

But the cramping did start to creep up on me on these last miles. I tried to put in check by stopping at all the aid stations these last miles and taking in some more salt tablets. Then who do I see, the machine, Frank Farrar (the 75 yr old IronMan Legend). He was just plugging away at it, knee badged up, breathing heavily, but there was NO stopping him. It was an honor to share that moment with him: Truly Inspirational. So with last 10k in sight, the IM race actually starts now, that's the theory anyway. I tried to keep focused, but still worried about the 3 TRI teammates running not to far behind me. "EYES in front¨, "No Looking Back¨, "Do the best you can¨, I kept telling myself. So with less than 2 miles to go, I phoned my wife telling her I would be there soon, around 8:00 pm I said. Those last 2 miles were pretty long, but get there I did, walking a little bit. Then I see blogger Pharmie on the turnaround, telling me to "Finish Strong¨. I didn't want to, but those words were all I needed.

THE HOME STRETCH

I zipped up my jersey for the pictures, flapped my arms like a crazy chicken so the crowd could give me some IronMan love, and "YES" they did. Looked for my wife and child and headed for the finish. It was truly all about this moment, running with my child and wife, arms in the air, I heard those words "YOU ARE AN IRONMAN."

I Finished in 13 hours 7 minutes and 00 seconds. TriThomps gave me my finisher's medal, two catchers walked with a me a little bit, I did need them. Got my finisher's t-shirt and hat. Then waited for the rest of my Tri teammates to become an "IronMan¨ as well.

Epilogue:

IronMan Wisconsin is a great race, the crowd support was totally incredible out there. I saw blogger Laurie wearing her now famous COW outfit, that put a huge smile on my face during the run. XT4 volunteering on the back half of the run cheering me on and giving me a huge slap on my ass to wake me up. People calling out my name for support, "GO SpiderMan¨ throughout the entire day. The Tri Teammates who traveled to cheer us all on. The bloggers who I met for the 1st time and the ones who I got to say hello to again.

That is what an IronMan race will always be about for me. Not the finishing time, but all the people I took this journey with. Without them it would have been just a "Long Ass Race¨.

IRonMan Wisconsin 2007 is now done. To everybody, I "THANK-YOU, in following me along this crazy journey. Out of the nine of us from the TRIclub, I was the slowest swimmer and ended up with the fastest marathon time in the bunch. So this day the tortoise did catch up to some of the rabbits in the group. But we all became an "IRONMAN" this day and that is the most important thing of all.

As you know also, this is not the end for me, but just the beginning of something else? What? Only time will truly tell. But I did get this magazine in my mailbox the day after I got back from IRONMAN. Is this some kind of sign or what?