14:44:10
EPIC
This journey started in June of 2010 with Matt Rodgers, Jonathon Turner, and Tracey Turner at Paige's Birthday party, when the phrase, "You have to do an Ironman before you're 40" was uttered. The challenge was laid down and Matt and I set out to find a race conducive to getting it done. We decided on Cozumel in 2011 and figured the family vacation would keep the family as focused on the prize as we set out to be. The year leading up to it and the event itself was an awesome experience however, I pulled out of IMCOZ officially at 14:37:42 that night due to severe hydration and cramping in my legs that could not be pushed through. See that report here: http://iceeimsanity.blogspot.com/2011/12/2011-ironman-cozumel-race-report.html
After that day, I swore that in 2 years I would get an Ironman done. When the WTC announced that they were hosting an IM in Lake Tahoe, I signed up within the first 7 minutes and then asked Skye. I wouldn't recommend that to any aspiring Ironman athletes or any existing athletes. A happy spouse makes for guilt free training and you need that leading up to a challenge like this. So again, I put my best sales hat on and explained how great this would be due to all the training we will have to do in Tahoe. Who wouldn't want a Summer spent in Tahoe for the family!! I began training in earnest at the beginning of the year, and put the Napa Valley marathon on the schedule to make sure I had the running legs ready for an Ironman. Brian Kiscoe came out to do the entire race with me, Matt ran the second half with me. I put down my fastest marathon time to date, but injured myself in the process and nearly derailed the whole thing. I have been dealing with Calf issues since stepping up to Marathons and Iron distance events. This year, I discovered, Hoka One One Shoes which have had an amazing impact on my running and more importantly, my recovery. By the end of July, I was injury free in my lower legs for the first time in 3 years. I'll fast forward through the summer of training but spending time in Tahoe was one of the fringe benefits to doing this race. September 22, 2013 was the goal.
Matt and I spent the week in Tahoe at JT and Tracey's house. to make sure we were as prepared for the altitude as we could be. Let me tell you, tapering for an Ironman event is a nerve wracking test of patience during a normal life, but when you are holed up in a Cabin with a buddy who's tapering too, it gets even more interesting. Luckily we had a lot of fellow athletes up there with us and we got to hang out with the EveryMan Jack crew and Ritch Viola. We grabbed dinner with their team a couple of nights, our families showed up late Friday night and the weekend was upon us.
Then it snowed...
We were at Dinner in Truckee with our 3 families and Ritch's family at the table next to us. The normal Pre race buzz was louder than normal. I was beyond anxious, and not so much about the daunting challenge but about the fact that this race may be compromised due to the snow! I wasn't concerned for my own safety or the cold or the potential for slippery roads on the bike, I wanted a FULL Ironman course. I have replayed Cozumel every day in my head since the race and I would be damned if they were going to shorten my shot at redemption. After dinner, we headed home to finish packing for the day ahead and tried not to worry myself silly over details beyond my control. Surprisingly, I was the calmest I'd been for any of my races. I knew I had prepared enough, I hit all of my major milestones this past year, I was injury free, and I had so much pent up energy that I wanted to race a week ago! All of the hay was in the barn and as far I was concerned, I was going to get this done!
3:57 am wake up, Bathroom stop #1 done! Breakfast of english muffin, almond butter, banana, and Osmo Pre-Race hydration. Shower up to wake up completely and progressed through my normal activities. This time though, put the wet suit on as I was getting ready due to the fact that when I walked out onto the deck it was iced over. 28 degrees out and as far as we knew, we were on for a full race. We packed into Matt's car with Molly, Paige, and Kristina and headed to the swim start to prepare our bikes and get ready for our swim. Having swam in Tahoe for the last 4 years without a wetsuit, I was more than comfortable swimming in the Lake and I was looking forward to swimming in my New ROKA wetsuit. On the way to the Swim Start, we got stopped in rush hour traffic. We finally made it to the 267 Turn off and Matt and I jumped out of the car to rush to T1. I barely had time to drop off my morning clothes, prep my bike and get ready to swim. As I rushed down to the Swim start after rushing through my Bike prep, I ran into Dave Norton. I was so excited and could not stop smiling. I have never felt this good before a race this big in my life. The energy, the music, the chill in the air. As I looked around and saw the sun rising over snow capped peaks, I couldn't believe this was all real. Dave looked at me and said, "mate, will you stop smiling!" I couldn't, I made it to my second IM start healthy and ready to race. I had my new ROKA wetsuit on and was ready to enjoy the swim in the warm (65 degree) water of Tahoe. Since the water was warm and the air was so cold, as the sun came up, a 6 foot layer of Steam and fog started to sit on the surface of the lake. 
At the time, I didn't think much of it, but as we started swimming, I quickly realized I could not sight as I normally would. The swim was 2 loops and the turn around for the second loop was in shallow water, so there were plenty of people walking. Since my goggles were starting to leak in one eye, I decided to put my feet down quickly to assess the issue and see if it was just a sealing issue as I may have been smiling too much during my swim. quick check of the watch showed just under 35 mins and I knew I was on pace and within my own limits of taking it easy but don't lose too much time in the swim. I would be happy with anything around the 1:15 mark as I swam 1:07 in Cozumel and may have used up too much of my day in the water. Fixed the goggles and headed back out for the second lap which was going to be easy. Found a partner to swim with for a bit and swam the first leg together, but then the bottle-kneck started happening. Turn buoy 1 was crowded again as was turn buoy 2 and the last leg of the swim was spent picking swimmers off who were slowing down. As I passed the last buoy and kept swimming into shore, I was surprised to see people already with feet down.I swam till I started pulling sand with my hands and got up and out of the water at my goal mark. Official swim time was 1:17 and I was happy and feeling great. Now time to get warmed up, dry, and head out on the bike...
T1 was a shit show! The tent, which normally is fine for the quick change, was packed with dudes trying to warm up and get dry. I looked to go in, then made the decision to do my complete change in the doorway. Full clothes change, rip off everything wet, baby powder my feet and legs and put full Bike kit (jersey, bib shorts, and undershirt) on with arm warmers, Vest, and full gloves. The dude next to me was already hypothermic and shivering uncontrollably, I offered him my bike jacket but he said no thanks. I moved as fast as I could, but there was no room to move let alone get all of my gear on. I remembered to take in my hydration, I used a full bottle of 1st Endurance Ultragen and 15 minutes later, after a quick pee stop, I was finally on my bike. The crowds and spectators were awesome! Got out to the road and mounted the bike, still in full smile, the ride to Tahoe city was great. It was a cold ride but honestly I didn't feel it for a while and before we hit Tahoe City, Dave Norton rolled up on me again. We rode together through the first family checkpoint and words can not explain the emotions I was feeling then. To see the girls, Skye, and our friends so excited to see us was extremely uplifting and exciting. The next 10 minutes were spent going fast until I finally talked myself into scaling it back again as was my plan. The ride from Kings Beach to Truckee is Fast. Got to Truckee and was excited to roll through town as all week there was a massive party planned. The main drag was fenced off and there was music playing but 9:30 in the morning on Sunday in 30 degree weather was not encouraging a large spectator base. Oh well, time for the first of 3 climbs that would rock everyone's world for the day. This was a short climb out of Truckee to a bike trail where no passing was allowed and until 3 days before the race, there had been a giant boulder blocking the path.
This had been the topic of several freak out sessions on the Facebook IMLT page, amongst such other riveting topics such as the Tahoe Rim Fire, the American Fire, Gearing for the climbs, water temperature, racing at altitude, and the daily Smoke check. Boulder was removed and this little section was probably more of a nuisance to guys like Ritch than it was a time of respite for guys like me. We biked Up through some neighborhoods and past a church where there was a stopped line of traffic and then on to Martis Camp for the first of our 2 massive climbs on the day. I had planned to take it ultra easy on the climbs and make sure that I was not burning my legs beyond saving. I had switched my gearing to 32 tooth back ring and boy was I glad that I did, even with the extra gearing I found myself nearing the top of Martis looking for another gear.
The beauty and the specter of this course was on full display as we rose up to the Ritz on top of Northstar. I remember looking back at one point and seeing the valley floor and realizing the enormity of the event again. There were at least a dozen times on the day that I became overwhelmed with emotion due to the beauty, the pride, the sense of accomplishment for even making it to the start line and the amazing support of the thousands of volunteers and the folks there to watch. Having the cowbells and people at the top of Martis was motivating as the hill never seemed to stop. Once we got up to the Ritz, the decent was harrowing at times and exhilarating at others, but the entire time I was grateful to be off the pedals and coasting. Then we exit Northstar back to 267 and up Brockway... I was prepared for 24 mins of pedaling up hill again, I had done this climb 4 or 5 times already this summer and knew what I was in for. Again, the plan was, sit up, get the chain on the big ring in the back and just do the work. Up and over and another decent awaited me. 
Second lap was under way and I was feeling great. I was on my plan of a bottle of Osmo Active Hydration every hour and was actually a little ahead of that plan. I had also been following my plan of eating a Picky Bar every hour as well and supplementing caffeine gels where needed. I had on my bike packed 3 bottles of Osmo, 3 picky bars, Cliff Blocks, and 2 Gel packs of Caffeine laced Gel, I also had Endurolytes and Tums. As I rounded the entrance to Squaw and saw the Family the second time, I was extremely Pumped! Still feeling great and knew that the best part of the ride was ahead of me. Squaw to Truckee was fast both times and despite a bit of a sprinkle the second time, it was warmer than the first lap. Once to Truckee though, the thoughts of the climbs started creeping into my head. I was still feeling good through town, and to the start of Martis Camp. The start of the climbing back up to the Ritz was upon me and the carnage was already in full effect. Guys pulling out, people walking their bikes and the aid stations had more of a "relaxed supported ride" feel than an all out race to death! Brockway was more of the same, carnage everyone, people were hurting, I stayed true to my plan but at this point I had just hit the 90 mile mark and still had some climbing to do, the first thought of, "what the hell am I doing here? I'm not even done riding my bike and I still have to go run a marathon!" Mile 100 had a different kind of feeling, I had recovered and was on the ride from King's Beach to Tahoe City, Getting off the bike was in sight. Into the Squaw entrance and saw the family again, the ride up to T2 was nice and easy, stretched a bit and kept myself from hammering it home. T2!!!
So glad to be off that bike! Nearly a full change, sat down for 10 minutes, and took my time as well as took in half of my next bottle of 1st Endurance Ultragen. Off on the run, no matter how much you train for it, running after riding 112 miles is tough. I really wanted to take it easy out of the gates but the crowds got me going, and I was running close to an 8:00 mile for the first mile and a half. I slowed it down after the first aid station and shortly after saw Ritch Viola coming in, I gave him a High Five and he was flying. In hindsight, the dude was winning the Amateur race, and as we passed, he yelled, "Have a great run!" 3 miles later, I made it to the family and again, I don't know who was more excited, but the energy bump I got from seeing them was amazing.
As you can see, I'm still moving and still smiling. This is just about the distance I called it a night in Cozumel 2 years prior and I knew that tonight I was making it back to this line. I picked up Kristina out there around mile 19 and she ran with me for a bit and let me know that everyone was waiting for me at the Finish line and that I was going to do this. The best part of the race was at Turn around 3, so short, and back up the hill, past the "Banging Pan Guy" and 2 miles left to get done. As I mentioned earlier, I had many moments of reflection and overwhelming emotions throughout the day but as I ran back to Squaw, past the Rave House Party and saw the lights in the near distance, I could not keep from crying and smiling. It was pitch black so no one saw me. The Last Aid station was upon me which meant less than a mile to go... I could hear the music and the crowds and could not wait to see the family. I ran through the village and my pace kept getting quicker and quicker. I made it to the chute, saw Skye to my right but did not see the girls, I kept running under control of the lights ahead of me, I hear Mike Reilly Say, Jason Hann...You are an IRONMAN!!!!
Thank you Skye, Bella, and Sadie for being the best support crew ever. Your love, admiration, and pride drove me all day long. I am so happy to share this with you. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in supporting me over the last 3 years in this quest...Mom, Dad, Carrissa, and Jenna for pushing me beyond my boundaries and for those who came before me, thank you for the opportunity to achieve this!
Must respect to all who toed the line on this day and regardless of the outcome I am eternally grateful for sharing such an epic day with you all!
