Those who know me would say that I’m slightly crazy about racing triathlons. When those who don’t know me hear about the distance of triathlon I like to race they think I’m just plain crazy. Out of line? Probably not. Actually they may be partially correct but it is something that I am passionate about and it has helped to enrich my life so I’m ok with being a little crazy.
Last Sunday was the 2007 installment of Ironman Wisconsin which of course means that it has been a full year since I completed my first Ironman on September 10, 2006. I watched some of this years race via webcast and had mixed emotions. It was exciting to see the familiar sights of race day in Madison but was sad at the same time because part of me wished I was there.
As a tribute to that great and challenging day I have re-posted the blog that I wrote just 3 days after finishing Ironman Wisconsin in 2006. Enjoy the “Iron Reminiscing”!
Ironman Wisconsin Re-Cap!
Total Time: 12:04:28, Place: 520 of 2173, Age Group: 62 of 201
Swim 2.4 Miles: 1:13:54, Pace: 1:57 per 100m
T1: 12:09
Bike 112 Miles: 6:17:21, Pace: 17.8 mph
T2: 7:26
Run 26.2 Miles: 4:13:39, Pace: 9:41
Wow! I don’t even really know what to say about this one! I am still taking it all in and it is already three days after the race! To sum it up in one word, the Ironman experience was completely surreal. Never have I been challenged so physically and mentally and rarely have I become so emotional, especially over a sporting event. There is something about the Ironman race that elevates it much beyond a race and turns it in to a life event that will not soon be forgotten.
Before I get too far I want to thank all of my friends and family who stuck it out in the rain, wind, and 50 degree weather to support me when I needed you most. Kristy, Mom, Dad, Mom Hart, Mom Gilly, Vince, Keith, Sarah, and Jen… you all rock!!! You are the best support crew I could have asked for! Also, thanks to everyone who tracked me online and sent me messages regarding the race. I truly appreciate your support!
So here’s how it went down. 3:30 am Beep, beep, beep, beep… I get my wake up call, then my alarm goes off, then my back-up alarm (not paranoid or anythingJ), this is it, Ironman day. The day that I have been training for since January 1st is finally here and I’m not about to over sleep and make all those pre-race nightmares come true. There are so many butterflies in my stomach that I can barely eat my 1500 calorie breakfast consisting of several mini bagels, fruit cups, a banana, gel, one bite of a Cliff Bar, and a sip of coffee (the caffeine made my stomach worse).
As 5am approaches I gather my special needs bags that I packed the night before and my bike pump and head downstairs. On a normal day the capitol square in Madison would be dead silent at 5am but today it was a frenzy of nervous athletes all with the same look in their eyes that says, “Holy crap, I’m doing an Ironman today!” After dropping my bags in the appropriate bins I head down to the Monona Terrace and get in line for body marking. Now the race DJ is piping Enya through the speakers, probably to help calm all the nervous triathletes scurrying about. It actually kind of worked. After waiting a couple of minutes I decide to pump my tires and come back when the lines are shorter. Good call. When I came back 10 minutes later I only had to wait for the Australian guy who made the typical joke about dropping his pants for the cute girl to write his race number on his legs. Not bad.
Once back in my room I thought my nerves would calm a little but they actually got worse. I tried to eat a little but not much would go down so I made one last bathroom run and off we went back to the Monona Terrace. This may sound weird but I was actually much more calm amidst the frenzy of triathletes doing their last minute pre-race routines than I was in the hotel room where I was away from it all. On the way to the Terrace we hooked up with Jen so she could watch the swim with Kristy. After visiting my bike one more time I headed up to the rooftop to put on my wetsuit and steal one last hug from Kristy before starting what would be a very long, cold, and wet day.
The scene near the water was like a slow moving river of people winding their way to the waters edge and then splash, they were off to the start line. Still feeling like my stomach was about to jump out of my body I needed a quick mental time out before jumping in. After several minutes of watching nervous athletes and family members, running through my game plan, and just quiet time with my eyes closed, my mindset shifted from “oh my God what the heck am I getting into” to “God willing, there isn’t a darn thing that is going to stop me from becoming an Ironman today!” Then I got in line, jumped in with the masses, and slowly made my way to the start.
“Olay, olay olay olay, olay, olay!” ‘Do I actually hear the people about to suffer through a 140.6 mile race cheering the “olay” chant? Are they nuts?! Why the heck am I cheering with them!?! Dang this is awesome!’ I can see the clock from here, 6:59:20. ‘Okay only 40 more seconds. Last goggle check, they are on tight.’ 20 seconds, all I can hear is the DJ screaming like he is at the Superbowl. BANG!!!!!!!! The cannon fires and I start the 2.4 mile swim with more than 2,400 of my new Ironfriends.
Stroke, stroke, stroke, breathe… stroke, stroke, stroke, breath… ‘Wait a second, I thought this was a swim! I am moving like I am swimming but aren’t sure if I have actually touched the water yet! Oh wait, this is better’… stroke, stroke, stroke, breath… and so the swim went. Yes, for a full 2.4 miles, in very choppy (actually they were more like small swells) water, and I only got kicked in the face once!
‘Okay, two laps down and I can see the water exit. C’mon, you can do this! Almost there! I can see weeds! The water is getting shallower, there it is!’ Out of the water I run. Quick clock check… 1:13:58! Sweet! Right on track! As I’m peeling the top of my wetsuit off I spot the strippers. Yes that’s right, strippers. Wetsuit Strippers! I lay down, lifted my butt, they grabbed the wetsuit, and off it went! ‘Dang that was awesome!’ Off I go on the long run back up the parking helix and into T1.
After locating my bag, getting into my cycling jersey (which isn’t easy when you are wet, kind of like putting dry socks on wet feet, not easy), snapping on my helmet, and grabbing my shoes, I was off. Now get this, when I located my bike, there were actually people there to run and grab it for me. I guess they figure we are doing enough physical activity today. Not necessary, but I still gladly accept the aid and thank the volunteer on my way out. After mounting my bike, clipping my pedals in, and navigating down the helix, I am off.
Enter phase 2 of the race. How do I sum up this portion of the race. Let me think… rain, cold, strong wind, hills, more rain, more hills, did I mention it was cold? The first 15 miles I had bad stomach cramps from ingesting Lake Monona’s finest all morning. This is where I must give credit to the Triathlete Training Bible which smartly states that in an Ironman if you have any GI distress, take it easy and back off the pace. Thank goodness I read that part because after 15 miles of easy spinning my gut felt much better. ‘Okay that wasn’t too bad, I’m at the loop already, a little off my goal pace but I can make up the time’.
Before I go any further let me say that wearing my Wisconsin Badger cycling jersey was a brilliant decision! The 40 mile loop to Verona, Mt. Horeb, and Cross Plains was packed with rabid Badger fans! You know those clips of the Tour de France where Lance is climbing a mountain and the crowd is parting just in time to let him through? Well, it was sort of like that, except they were all cheering for me and my fellow triathletes, and did I mention there were hoards of Badger fans?!
After passing through the Verona festival and getting some much needed encouragement from my awesome family and friends I was off to start the second loop. This part was a bit rough since my knees were starting to ache, I was getting colder by the minute, and I still had to pee. Oh yes, I peed more on that day than I ever have on any single day in my life. To answer your question, yes I peed while riding my bike and it actually made my legs warm up a little, and yes I have since washed my bike thoroughly. I later read that the unusually high volume of peeing was possibly the early stages of hypothermia which makes sense since it was cold and wet all day long! And I thought I over hydrated.
After one more trip up the “big three” (three monster hills all back to back) and a long windy ride back into Madison I found myself heading back down John Nolan Drive about 30 minutes behind schedule. ‘Just get to the finish.’ I can see the Monona Terrace, the crowd is getting louder, ‘there’s the parking helix!’ Up I go and off of my bike I jump! Wow, my legs feel surprisingly fresh for having just biked 112 miles! As I run into transition I see my mom standing there cheering like crazyJ.
T2 felt much quicker than T1. The volunteers were awesome! After a shirt, sock, and shoe change I was off! ‘Is that my mom again? Dang she’s fast!’ I run up to give her a kiss on the cheek which made her (and almost me) shed some tears. ‘Ok, run, no wait, there is a long line of porta-johns, take advantage now!’ ‘Ahhhhhhhhh’, I’ve never felt so good, ‘ok seriously this is getting boring, will it ever end?!’ Finally I exit the porta-john (after adding about 3 minutes to my total time), wave to my cheering section, and off I go! Only 26.2 miles until I hear those famous words!
‘Did I seriously just ride 112 miles a few minutes ago because my legs feel pretty darn fresh.’ Pace check, just under 9 minute mile pace, perfect. All I have to do is keep moving forward and I’ll soon be an Ironman. One by one the miles pass by. Before I know it I am making my first loop through Camp Randall! ‘This is awesome! Wait a second, am I actually choking up? I’m so lame’, well I do tend to get a bit emotional during long endurance events. ‘Hold it in chump, you aren’t an Ironman quite yet.’
Several miles of cold wind and colder rain later I arrive at Observatory hill. Yes the hills have names around here. Up I walk, down I run, smart move, no sense trashing my legs to prove that I can run up a hill. Enter State Street, screaming spectators, loud band playing awesome music, and the turnaround point! One quarter of the way done and I feel great! Time to make the return trip so I can do it all over again.
The way back was uneventful just as I had hoped. Once I hit State St. again I saw Kristy and Sarah yelling like crazy which provided a huge lift. No matter how good I felt, it always made me feel better to see Kristy and the support crew. Less than 1 mile later I run past the capitol building and hit the halfway point. ‘Do I really need to turn around? But I can see the finish line from here! Oh well, guess I have to run a full marathon after all. I wouldn’t have it any other way!’
“Go Jason!!!!!” High fives all around. Wow I have the best support crew that a guy could ask for. What an emotional lift to start the second loop of the marathon. ‘Ok, only 13 miles to go, only 6.5 miles until I’m halfway done with the second loop.’ This is how the entire second loop went. ‘Only 12 miles to go, 6 until halfway through.’ One by one the miles ticked by, my pace slowed a little but I didn’t mind, I’m about to become a freaking Ironman! Just the thought causes me to choke up a little. ‘Wait a second, get a grip, a lot could happen between now and the finish line, just keep moving forward, there will be time to celebrate once I am done’.
With about 4 miles to go I see the electronic message that Kristy left for me at the Ford Zone. “Run baby! I Love You!” What would I do without this girl? ‘Ok, 4 miles left, only 2 until I’m halfway through that.’ Somehow thinking of the miles in that manner always made them seem a little shorter.
‘Wait a second, did I already pass Camp Randall? My watch says I’ve gone more than 23 miles, I must have passed it.’ Those last few miles all I could think about were the beautiful words I’ve been waiting to hear all year long. “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!” I just kept repeating those words over and over and the miles flew by.
‘Ok… just under 2 miles left.’ I can hear the roar of people cheering on State Street. ‘Lets see if I can pick up the pace a little, finish this thing in style. 1 mile to go! I’m really going to finish this thing!’ ‘Ok, keep the pace, this is the last hill, almost there!’ The capitol square was jammed with thousands of spectators yelling like crazy. Here comes the final stretch, I ditch my Fuel Belt by the special needs area and feel like I am in a dead sprint!
‘Lap two, thanks!!!’ I mutter with a big grin to the turnaround ladies. I’ve been waiting a long time to say that. There’s the finish line! ‘This is weird, I thought it’d be much louder than this’ I can see the crowd yelling but don’t hear anything. There’s the gang! Now I am smiling from ear to ear! “Jason Hart from Ballston Spa, NY, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!” I never actually heard him say those words but have since been told by friends that they were said. Actually I didn’t hear anything while I was running down the final stretch. It was the most surreal moment of my life. All I could see was Kristy and my family and the coveted finish line and nothing at that point was going to stop me from finishing.
In the family reunion area I was overcome by the emotion of the day. Hugs all around (I was actually surprised they all wanted to hug me since I probably didn’t smell too good), tears shed by all, I can’t believe it, I just finished Ironman Wisconsin!!!!! 12 hours 4 minutes and 28 seconds. A little slower than expected but completely acceptable given the conditions!
Overall, 2,439 people entered the water that morning all with intentions of becoming an Ironman, only 2,172 actually heard the words “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN”. According to the final numbers about 11% of the field dropped out or didn’t make their time cut-offs and were forced to quit. This was better than last year but still a staggering number. At the finishers banquet the next day some of the pros even said that it was the toughest race they’d ever done because of the conditions. I am very proud to say that despite the wind, cold, rain, and early stages of hypothermia I was fortunate enough to finish with a smile on my face and the memories of a day I will never forget.
For those interested, I will be competing in my second Ironman race on July 20, 2008 in Lake Placid. While the race seems like it is a long way off my training starts this November. Yikes!
