I finished, kind of...

   This past weekend was my first Ironman triathlon event.  It was a 70.3 mile distance and was an amazing experience.  I did finish, kind of .  It depends on who you ask and how you look at it.

     In the athlete guide it states that you have one hour and fifteen minutes from the start of the last wave to complete the swim, five hours and thirty minutes to complete the bike, and eight hours and thirty minutes to complete the run.  I realized on Saturday that this is not logical.  Why would I be given an unfair advantage than those athletes whose start times are after mine.  I was in wave start nineteen and there were twenty three wave groupings.  This did not occur to me until after the race.  No matter what, I knew, for myself, the race was going to be close.

     I finished the swim in one hour and twelve minutes and forty-two seconds.  It was not easy for me by no means.  Many triathletes will finish the one point two mile swim well under one hour.  I am the back of the pack, but that doesn't bother me.  While in transition, getting out of swim gear and into bike gear, I heard the announcer announce the arrival of the final official swimmer.  Crap!  I've got to get moving.  I grab my bike and go.

     I finished the fifty-six mile bike in four hours and eighteen minutes and seven seconds.  At the dismount line I asked an official what was the time.  They answered, "one minute fourteen seconds."  I asked what that meant.  The official said that was the amount of time left for cutoff.  Holy crap!  I just made it.  There were many riders I passed on the last ten miles of the bike who would not be running today.  I felt bad for them, the effort they put in to get to today and the race.  However, I had to get out of my bike gear and into my run gear.  As I left transition I heard some officials talking about time left.  One say to the other there were three hours left.  As I ran to the "run out" banner, I asked an official if I had three hours left.  The official looked at the clock, looked at their watch and said yes.  I can do this!

     I finished the thirteen point one mile run (half marathon) in two hours and forty-five minutes and thirty-nine seconds.  I am not a speedy person, but running is my strongest of the three disciplines in triathlon.  My personal best for this distance is two hours and seven minutes.  I figured if I ran a two hour and thirty minute half marathon I would finish the race and celebrate.  The first lap of the two loop course was easier than the second.  I did walk on the second lap, took water and Gatorade, and ate orange wedges at every aid station.  I knew I had this in the bag.

     Coming down the finish chute first I heard my wife cheering me, then I saw her.  And my kids there with their hands out to give me a high five as I finish.  I fist pump my way across the finish line.  I am greeted by my good friend and his wife, Scott and Chantelle Perrine.  I am given my finisher medal and hat, and immediately get my picture taken.  It was a perfect ending to the race.  Official time DNF.

     DNF stands for Did Not Finish.  My total time for the race was eight hours and thirty two minutes and fifteen seconds, but I only had eight hours and thirty minutes to officially finish from the start of my wave while I floated in the Oceanside harbor waiting for the gun to sound for me.  The bitter cruelty of Ironman is this: once the race starts it becomes difficult to keep track of each competitor and what their individual time is at any given point.  So they set up arbitrary time cutoffs to ensure the end of the race by a certain time.  Looking back, when I asked the official if I had three hours to finish, I actually had two hours and forty minutes based on my wave start.  So, did I finish?  Depends on who you ask.

   

Dead Last

On Sunday August 16th I finished the Hanson Dam Triathlon, Olympic distance, but that's not to say it was awesome.  This was the worst race of my life.  An Olympic distance triathlon consists of a 1500 meter swim followed with a 22 mile bike ride and finished with a 10k (6.2 mile) run.  It was my first triathlon at this distance, my third triathlon overall and it was a challenge from the moment the air horn went off.

1500 meter swim, somehow I forgot all of my pool training: head down, breath every two strokes, relax.  I was a mess.  The sun was coming up and I couldn't spot where I wanted to swim to.  Half way into the first of three 500 meter laps the lifeguards started asking if I was in distress or needed help.  Are you kidding me?  I'm not drowning.  I'm struggling out here.  Finally, somewhere on the last lap I was able to swim as I had trained and I finished and got the hell out of the water.

22 mile bike ride.  This was the best part I felt good throughout the two 11 mile laps.  Somewhere along the first lap I realized I was riding with riders on their second lap.  But that didn't bother me.  I knew I had a second lap to go.

10k run.  On the bike ride I was feeling a pain at the top of my right calf.  After about 200 yards into the run, my right knee started to hurt.  I injured my knee long ago in college, tearing the meniscus.  This pain today wasn't sharp like that, it was more on the side and back of the knee.  Ligaments.  Really, now the ligaments in my right knee are hurting and I have 6 miles to go.  It is hot, aid stations are running short of water and electrolite drinks and I have to deal with a bum wheel.  The run portion became a walk/run.

When I finished, I was greeted by my family and I went immediately to the medical tent.  The race coordinators were already handing out the podium medals.  Do they give one for dead last?

Post Script
The victory does not go to those on the sideline, the critic or naysayer who never try but are quick to comment and advise against.  It is those in the arena who with their effort, sweat, and heart tho beaten and last will rise again and again.  For it is far better to try and fail then to live like poor souls who know neither victory or defeat.

Inspiring and Insprational

Yesterday was the Special Olympics Unified Experience Triathlon.  It was a sprint distance triathlon made up of 750m swim, 11 mile bike, and 5k run.  My unofficial time was 1:50.  I'm ok with it because it was my first open water swim in competition, the bike wasn't my best effort, but once I started running I felt great.  

Seeing the Olymipans from 5 countries competing for pride (this was a non medal event) was amazing.  They had at least a 30 minute head start on me and the other participants.  By the time I was out of the water and back to the transition area, the lead Olympian was leaving for the run.  He did the swim in 11 - 12 minutes where it took me about 23:30  to complete the swim.  Then we had to run up the beach about a tenth of a mile to the bike path and run another tenth of a mile to the transition area.  It was crazy.  

I passed two Olympians on the bike; shouting words of encouragement to them as I went by.  On the run (an out and back course so I could see participants coming back in as I went out to the turn around) I saw a Costa Rican Olympian.  She had a couple of participants with her.  She was grabbing, rubbing one thigh, and I could tell the participants were helping her, encouraging her.  She was hurting.

I get to the turn around and start back, and I start to think I might catch the Costa Rican Olympian.  I see her before the last aid station on the course.  It's about half a mile to the finish line.  She still has the two participants at her side.  The three of them stop at the aid station.  I am approaching, watching.  The first aid attendants and the Olympian speak about her leg.  She waives them off and continues down the run course with her two participant helpers.  

As I catch up to them I hear her name, Anne.  It's Anne of Costa Rica, the Olympian.  I pass the trio and tell Anne she is doing great.  As I continue on I tell everyone I pass that Anne is coming, cheer for Anne.  I am finishing my race, but leaving a trail of support for the real finishers this day, the intellectually challenged young people who make up the Special Olympics. 

This event was a billed as a Unified Experience, non Olympic event.  I bought my way in, but these athletes earned their entry.  This wasn't just another event for me and never was.  I didn't know what to expect for myself other than a personal check to see how I am progressing with triathlon training.  As I walked my bike back to my car, carrying my gear: I couldn't help my feelings of pride and inspiration.  Proud to have competed along side such deserving athletes.  Inspired by the human spirit, will, and determination.

I am looking forward to Saturday when I return to the Special Olympics Unified Experience where I will again compete along side Special Olympics athletes from around the world in a half marathon.

P.S.  Anne of Costa Rica finished a few minutes after me to a throng of cheering fans, supporters, and me.

Not Bragging, Just Saying

I post a lot of my work out and race results on social networks and I get a lot of positive feedback.  I truly appreciate it.  The "likes" and positive comments are a social wave of support  helping to carry me forward.    No matter my individual goal for an event, a cheering crowd can carry me to the finish line.  This social component is enjoyable and reassuring.  I'm never bragging about my accomplishments as there are plenty of people better than me at any sport or activity.  However, as I reach a personal goal I like to say something about the accomplishment.  The countless workouts running, biking, and now swimming, my pre race selfies, post race results, and medal photos tell my story.  

I am a firm believer that sports and competition are one of the best ways to build self esteem, confidence, and personal courage.  There are things I won't do, like throw myself out of a perfectly good airplane.  But there are plenty of other things that I didn't think I could do, and am doing them.  I hope my story will inspire someone to try a race of any distance or discipline.  What you learn about yourself is more than you will find in any book.  I'm not bragging, just saying.

Past, Present, Future...

PAST

I hated running as a child.  I can remember in third grade begging to participate in a one mile race for school.  After two laps, I got a running cramp, didn't finish, and received a healthy dose of grade school humiliation.  For me running was a chore, something you did to to escape responsibility or the police.

Then in my mid twenties, tried of the gym, I was looking for something to do for exercise.  Something that can be done anywhere, anytime with minimal investment.  I came up with running.  So I opened the door and put one foot in front of the other.  Again, I was incapable of running one mile.  So I asked some friends...

They all said the same thing, "slow down."  So I did.  And I started to put together a three point five mile run around the local golf course.  Also, I started to sign up for local 5k and 10k races.  The races were motivation to keep running.  I gotta admit, I love my medals and bib numbers.

PRESENT

I have come to enjoy running.  It allows me to clear my thoughts, provides me with energy, and challenge myself.  I started with a 5k and moved up to a 10k, 12k, half marathon, and marathon.  I find myself committed to longer distances.  I won't get out of bed unless I am planning to run five miles or more.  It is a great feeling to know that I have this kind of endurance, power, and strength.

Running isn't just about physical strength; it's mental and emotional too.  Any distance will test you, ask more of you than you think you can give, try to break you.  The days that I don't want to run are the days when I know I have to.  Because if  I don't, the third grader who couldn't finish one mile will win.

FUTURE

Tomorrow I will participate in my first triathlon.  It's a sprint triathlon.  Much like a 5k race; it's a first step into a great unknown.  I am excited with what this represents; a larger challenge, dedication to training, balancing life, family, and work.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I am ready.

EPILOGUE
The triathlon was amazing.  I was strong in the run and bike, and totally gassed in the swim.  I finished around one hour and twenty minutes (unofficially) and am waiting for the official results to post.  Now I am researching local gyms with pools, triathlon bikes, USA Triathlon and Ironman International memberships.  I think a triathlete was born.

Last night almost wasn't

So last night ranks in my top 5 for worst birthdays.  

I don't care for my birthday too much.  I have emotional scars from childhood when no one came to my birthday party two years in a row.  I share my birthday with a friend, so when it was celebrated it was never only about me.  One year even my adult sister forgot my birthday.  And I spent my 21st birthday stranded in Baker, California waiting for my friend's father to come pick us up because my friend's car broke down.  He had twenty dollars on him and I had to pay for the hotel room, breakfast, lunch, a deck of cards, pitchers of beer, and a t-shirt.

So last night...

I bought tickets from a friend of my cousin with my cousin as middle man.  I don't know who this guy is other than what I have been told that he has multiple season seats in the field level, section 2 and 14, and the seats are awesome.  So I bought two tickets each to three games for $100 per seat and that included parking.  I went to one game way back in April and the seats were amazing.  I sold the Mother's day game because Erfan didn't want to go and this guy forced me to buy that game.  

Now the Giants and dodgers always play each other in the end of Sept and that is my birthday present to myself; to watch a game, invite a friend, and enjoy the night out.  

I get to the ballpark and the parking pass doesn't work.  I have to pay $15 but they will let me park in the section I have the pass for and I will be issued a refund at the ticket office.  When I get to the Right Field Pavillion ticket office, they say they can't issue a refund and that refunds are only issued at the ticket office in Section D.  It's seven o'clock, Hammad isn't there yet, but I don't feel like walk around trying to get this refund.

Hammad is stuck in traffic.  1st inning, 2nd inning, 3rd inning; finally I decide to go in and get something to eat and drink.  Hammad will text me when he is there and I will walk over to give him his ticket.  

I go to the entrance and place my ticket under the scanner.  RED.  no admittance.  I get a very bad feeling.  I place the second ticket under the scanner.  RED.  No admittance again.  I am told to walk over to the ticket office and they will be able to resolve the issue.

When I present the new situation to the same ticket box employee I explained my parking issue to; he says he needs to call the main office.  I start to realize that I am not going to get in.  I call my cousin.  Voice mail and the mail box is full.  I text her.  After a few minutes I text her daughter.  The ticket box employee is still on the phone.  I get a call, it's Lindsay, my cousin's daughter.  She asks where the seats are located.  Field level section 2, row S, seat 5 and 6, I tell her.  I can hear her relay the information to her mom.  They are saying they don't know what could have happened.  Meanwhile the ticket box employee finally hangs up the phone and comes over to tell me what he has been told.  

The tickets were used to enter the ballpark at 5:45pm.

This a*hole friend of my cousin printed two sets of tickets and sold both!  I am furious and hang up with Lindsay.  The game is sold out and I am not going to get to go.  

I walk over to lean on a planter or something and my phone rings.  It's my cousin calling to express all her mia culpa but she doesn't get it.  This is my birthday present to myself and I am screwed.  The game is sold out and there is nothing that can be done.  I tell her we will talk later, say goodbye, and hang up.  That's when this happened...

I felt a tap on my shoulder.  Turing I expected to see Hammad standing there, but instead I see two young women.  They explain that they have overheard my situation and they are selling three seats in the Pavilions for face value $40, includes all you can eat hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, and soda.  I decide to take the offer but I don't have that much cash.  I offer all that I have $58.  Generously, they only take forty dollars and hand me the two tickets.  

In the end I get to see the game, Hammad arrives (late as always), and the Giants win in 13 innings.  I had left and arrived home by then.  It is not the worst birthday present to myself, but it does rank in the top 5.

No. 40

Asking for help and accepting help are two different things.