Get that monkey off my....Ankle! 2008 Ironman Arizona Race Report

As a twist to the normal race report I thought I would take you through the day as it went on in my head. While I did not have the run that I was capable of, I did manage a breakthrough day. The Ironman Monkey is officially off my back, but he is still hanging on my ankle. I plan on squashing him on the next one leaving him for dead! Enjoy.

Pre-Race:

• Is that the alarm already? 3:30am. Time to make the eggs.


• Should I have a cup of coffee or just have the red bull…I need coffee.


• I love the smell of French toast and eggs…I should after all I have only been eating it the last 8 weeks straight.


• Do I have to use the bathroom already? SWEET!!!


• I think I will take a hot shower to loosen up.


• Should I put sunscreen on now? Nahhh…I will wait.


• Do I have to use the bathroom again? BONUS!!!


• I guess I should get dressed.


• Is anyone going to get up and wish me well?


• “Hey Carter, see you later. Wear your sneakers you are going across the finish line tonight pal!”


• Time to go…is my wife going to get up?


• “By honey, call me when you get down there.”


• On the bus…man it is already full. There’s a seat next to Jeff.


• “Good morning Jeff. Sleep well?”


• There is a lot of aggravating people here this morning.


• Come on lady, get on the bus. This day is not all about you.


• Dropped off right in front…nice!


• “Thanks for the lift!”


• Did I forget anything? I am sure I forgot something. I am way too relaxed. This is scary.


• Did I just put my fuel in the right bag? Better go back and check.


• That volunteer must think I am a fruit loop going through my bags for the 3rd time.


• Do I have to carry Scott’s frozen water bottles around all morning?


• Where the hell do you drop off special needs bags? I am definitely in need of something special!


• Phew, the tires held air all night. 105 PSI. Ready to rock.


• Oh great, I am about to become everyone’s best friend with the bike pump.


• Hey idiot, don’t forget to put your water bottles on. Damn I am way too relaxed.


• I should find everyone to make sure they are all set.


• “Sorry pal, I need to find 3 other people to pump their tires first.”


• I need to find the bathroom again. Now I am worried. No Imodium today.


• Damn that line is long.


• Where is my wife?


• “Jeff, what time is it?” 6:15am…oh boy it is getting close.


• Will this line move faster?


• Erin, where are you?


• Finally…WHAT? Is my phone ringing while I am on the john?


• “Hi honey, yes I am in the porto-potty.”


• Better get my wetsuit on.


• Shoot, sunscreen! Don’t panic now. I was relaxed and now I am rushing!


• Just deal and move on…ok wetsuit on, I feel better now.


• “Where do we get in the water?”


• Come on people jump in. It will be cold no matter what!


• Hey Heather Fuhr. She is such a class act. Ok, ok… I am jumping in! She can be pushy I guess.


• Well here it goes…

The Swim:

• Damn this water is cold.


• Jeez there are a lot of people here.


• To the right and up in front.


• There’s the clock…hey Mike Riley


• 45 seconds to go.


• Are they walking down the wall?


• Where do all of these people think they are going?


• Boom…damn that was loud.


• Go Go Go!


• Where did all these people come from?


• I am getting hammered! Don’t panic. Breathe, breathe, breathe.


• Is my hand dragging on cement?


• Get away from the wall!


• Hang on the Kayak and catch your breath.


• Ok, go get them.


• That feels better.


• Long strokes, strong pull. Save the legs.


• The turnaround already.


• Keep it under control. Long and strong.


• Ooooo…some feet. Hang on and glide.


• Come on dude swim straight.


• Can’t see anything in this water.


• Ahhhhh the Mill Street bridge.


• Start kicking…get some blood in the legs.


• Last turn, 100 strokes and you are home.


• Up the stairs…don’t trip.


• 1:05…not bad. Actually, that is freaking great!


• Did I even swim? I feel awesome!


• Where are the wetsuit strippers?


• How long is this run out to transition?


• Could they make this run out any longer?


• Go figure, no seats.


• Oh, there is one.


• Take your time and put everything on.


• Haste makes waste…seconds here give back minutes later.


• Nice and relaxed…get going.


• Sunscreen…yes…sunscreen.


• It is cold…thank god for these gloves.


• There’s my bike…and lots of other bikes. I had a really good swim.


• Now the race begins.

The Bike:

• Watch yourself on the mount.


• This is where people wreck their day.


• Where is my family?


• I think that was Jeff’s family.


• Must have missed them.


• Oh hey there they are…”Heeeeyyyyyy”


• Alright, settle down and get to work.


• Get your cadence under control.


• Should I start fueling? I feel really good.


• Get aero. Low cadence. Nice and steady.


• Feels a bit breezy out here.


• There goes a pack of riders.


• There goes another pack of riders.


• “Come on guys…spread out!”


• I am sure I will see them later.


• Uphill and into the wind but I feel strong and fluid.


• Stay aero and focus on cadence.


• This road sucks. Watch out for the holes.


• Quit complaining dude, this is not windy!


• Keep drinking. Pace to fuel is the rule.


• Watch the turn and stay wide of the aid station.


• Time to pee, downhill, let it go.


• Full bladder this early!!! Perfect!


• Watch the rumble strips, get to the right, smooth pavement.


• Nice and steady.


• Got to pee again, ahhhhhhhh…”Hey Alex!”


• That was embarrassing…well not really.


• Lap 1 is in the books. Stay steady.


• There’s the family again. They are sure having fun. They must really love me to stand out there all day!


• “Heeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyy!”….thumb’s up.


• Smooth and steady out of town. Keep fueling.


• There is the wind again. A little stiffer this time but I feel good.


• Slight downhill, I should pee again. Ahhhhhhh. I am WELL fueled!


• Is that Scott? “Hey man! Nice and steady. Pace yourself!”


• There goes Alex…he is flying!!!!


• Watch the turn again. Grab some water. “WATER!!!!!”


• Downhill…time for a bio break…Ahhhhhhh. I am really WELL fueled!


• 1 bottle of Carbo pro down. Special needs? Don’t need it. Keep going.


• Nice and steady, when is the burn going to start.


• Back into town…Lap 2 is in the books. I feel unbelievable!!!!


• There is the family again…Thumbs up! They all look so happy!


• Back up the beeline…this feels easier! I am getting stronger as the day gets longer.


• Strong and long! That is my new mantra!


• Keep fueling. Don’t force this last lap. The race is at mile 20 of the run.


• Last turnaround…what? Head wind? No wonder that felt easy!


• All downhill from here. Time to pee. Ahhhhhhhhhhh….


• Is that Alex? “Hey man you ok?” Nice and easy from here on in.


• 110 miles! Boom baby. We are done!


• I feel like I just rode 50 miles.


• Watch the sidewalk…nice and easy.


• Feet out of the shoes…dismount. Watch that guy.


• Volunteers taking your bikes is sooooo cool. “Thanks!”


• Nice and easy. Grab your bag and into transition.


• Hey there is Alex. “Great ride man!”


• Relax. The race is only just beginning.


• Put on the compression socks. Take the dark sunglasses. You finished early!!!!


• “Have a good run Alex!”

The Run:

• Ok…let’s go. Nice and steady.


• “SUNSCREEN????!!!!!!”


• Hey Mike Ricci. “Nice to see you buddy!”


• Ok settle in. I really want to go. DON’T!!! Hold back.


• Short snappy strides. Let the shoes work.


• Nice pace…looking strong Keith. “Thanks!”


• Looking good Keith. Nice and relaxed. “Thank You!”


• Damn, I am running strong!


• A little fuel goes a long way. Less is more.


• Mile 1, Mile 2, Mile 3…they are flying by.


• Is that Alex? Is that Dan? “Hey Guys?”


• “How you feeling Alex?”


• Ok I can’t continue to talk or I will puke. “Can’t talk Alex, later!”


• Ok settle back down. Race your own race. Control!


• Mile 4, down the bridge, under the bridge.


• Is that my mom? There they all are.


• Thumbs up. “I feel good Dad!”


• Short and snappy. Good form. Focus.


• Mile 5, Mile 6, Mile 7


• These are just ticking off. Keep fueling.


• Mile 8, there is the bridge again.


• There’s the family, smiles and waves.


• Ok…lap 1 is done, stay in control here. It is getting warm.


• WOW, looking good Keith. “Thanks!”


• STRONG. Nice. “Thanks!”


• I must still be running good. My feet are starting to hurt.


• How much do I have left…forget that. Focus on now!


• Mile 10, Mile 11


• Ok these are getting harder now. Keep going. Walk the aid stations.


• Pace and Fuel. Short and snappy. Good form. Tap, tap, tap, tap.


• Mile 12, Mile 13,


• Down the bridge and under the bridge.


• Thumbs up to the family. Don’t let them see you suffering!


• High fives for everyone. This is what it is all about!


• Mile 14, Mile 15, Mile 16


• These are getting harder. Keep fueling. You are nice and strong.


• Mile 17…where is the bridge?


• Ok, feed off the energy of everyone! “Heeeeeyyyyy, YEAH!!!!!”


• Lap 2 is done. 1 to go. Keep it under control. Mile 20 is where is starts.


• Looking Good Keith! Can’t talk now. Just wave.


• This is getting hard! My feet are screaming!


• Mile 18, Mile 19. Time to switch to coke.


• I feel good…I wonder when the bottom is going to fall out?


• Mile 20…finally!!! Ohhhhh Crap!!!!! Don’t tell me!


• Sick! I can’t believe this. Ok… don’t panic.


• Walk. Settle. Just focus on each step.


• Run, Run, Run. Ok…running. Feel better.


• Mile 21…should I drink. “COKE! COKE!”


• That tastes good. Walk and run. Walk and run. Settle the stomach.


• Down the bridge…there’s Dad. How you feeling? “Not good. Sick.”


• Stop and talk to family. Get some energy.


• “Hey Carter, you ready to finish this one today?” Yes Dad. “I will see you in 5 miles and take you across that line pal!”


• Fist punch to the “C” man. That felt good…that felt right!


• It is all about him now. Don’t blow it. Focus.


• Special needs…don’t need it. 5 miles to go!


• Up the bridge and then run.


• Is that Jeff walking? “Hey man? You alright?”


• Freaking hip injury again. He will finish! That guy is tough as nails!


• Ok…this is hard. Why didn’t I just stop fueling.


• Mile 23…need to get sick again.


• Uggggghhhhhhhh!


• Ok…run, run, run.


• Mile 24, Mile 25. One to go! I did it!


• There is Jeff’s family. Feed off them. Almost there.


• “Yeaaaaaahhhhhhh!”


• Go, go, go.


• Just around the corner. How long is this street?


• I hear the finish. I see the lights but where is the turn?


• I want this done!!!!


• There’s Carter and Erin!


• “Hey Buddy, let’s do this!”


• Does the time say 10:59:XX??????


• Damn!!!! That was fast. Break 11?


• Just run and enjoy with Carter.


• “What do you think pal? Pretty cool huh?”


• He is digging it! He looks so happy!


• The finish. Hands up. SMILE!!!!!


• “We did it Carter!” “Give me a fist punch” “Yes.”

This was a race I will never forget. I want to thank my family for their incredible support on the day and over the years. Mom and Dad, you travel far and wide to see me compete. I am glad you got to witness the breakthrough performance I had been longing for! Erin, Cam and Carter, you put up with a lot and I could not do this without you. This smile shows how grateful I am to all of you for that.