Taper Time
During the last week of June and heavy training month of July I was having a terrible time sleeping. Man, when I can't sleep everything and everyone around me suffers. My mind was everywhere. From trying to gear up for the Half in Bend, to my new bike frame cracking and going through the replacement process, to making sure I had all my ducks in the row for when my brother arrived, to making sure my responsibilities w/ work were on track. All of these things were causing some sleep issues and I just needed to relax. Once the sleep sucks so does the training, mainly the long runs for me. Without good sleep it was really hard to push through the long 2+hr runs up in the foothills so I tended to come home feeling like a failure. What a mind-job! After the Emmett Olympic race, the sleep started to come around and I was actually stringing big hours each night. It was fantastic and couldn't have come at a better time now that I was in taper mode. Every workout once again had purpose, focus, and confidence. I felt everything was coming together and I was ready to take my mind to a new level. Pretty kickass!
Wednesday, 4-Days Out
Early on when figuring out my flight schedule to Wisconsin I wanted to get there a little earlier than I would typically arrive for a race. Doing what I can to make sure the travel was completely out of the system before the race was key along with being able to relax and enjoy myself. So that ended up being the plan, which worked out great. My other travel situation was I had a sponsorship with Bike Sherpa, which is a company that will ship your bike to these Ironman events without ever disassembling your bike. I got accepted on the team last January so I figured the crazy bike expense portion of my budget was handled. Once the gas prices skyrocketed there was no longer a justification for the company to handle a few bikes in the PAC North West so that plan fell through. Rather than shipping my bike I decided to take a chance and bring the bike case. The case itself weighs 30lbs so to get it under the required 50lbs meant I had to only pack the bike and nothing else. I used to pack everything in it back when there was only one fee. To keep'er low, the chain, pedals, bike bag, and anything else that could be easily detached got thrown in the other bag. When it was said and done the bike case weighed 49lbs and my other bag weighed 48lbs. I even managed to somehow talk/confuse/eyebrow-wiggle the check-in lady to not charge me the $50.00 for the bike case/oversize fee so the bike went through for free. How friggin cool is that considering she could have charged me $200 for the whole thing? OK, so enough about prices, I might end up jinxing myself.
The flight to Milwaukee was easy/uneventful and my brother and his oldest daughter, Andrea, was there to greet me. Ahhh...with family again! And not to mention Andrea's fiance', Mike, who just returned from a year-long stint in Iraq was in town.
He came to hang with family as well, but also to get inspired so he could stand in line on Monday and sign up for next year. Which, of course, he did so I'll be back as a spectator next year to scream his ass to the finish line. Kate and I sent him a little care-package while he was in Iraq, which of course included a box of Crank Sports Gels! He sent me a slew a pics that are totally cool and funny. Strapping a bunch a gels to the barrel of an M-16 like one would to a bike frame is pretty friggin funny!With a quick drive over to Madison and a quick run to the grocery store we were finally settled in and ready to begin the waiting.
Thursday or Rainday, 3-Days Out
Yeah, it flippin rained all day on Thursday. There was hardly any wind so the clouds just sat there and dumped. Bla! The plan was to get down to the lake for a swim then head out on the bike course for a quick bike and run. The plan totally fell through so we just pushed the workouts to Friday and did plenty of relaxing.
We still managed to get a little 20-min run in the rain on Thursday, which was fun considering I hadn't seen rain since early June. Anyway, we got all checked in to the event, got our cattle wristband attached, then spent a couple bucks at the merchanise tent before all the crazies bought everything out. Seeing that half the field (1000+ people) were doing an Ironman for their first time, stuff just sells out quick.Thursday night we met up with friends for a good dinner. My buddy, Keith aka Kona Dog, got me a replacement GFOQ (Get fast or Quit) bracelet for the black HTFU bracelet we got over the winter. HTFU (Harden the fck up) got so overused thanks to SlowTwitch (or Pantytwitch as I like to call it because everyone in that forum seems to have their panties in a bunch) that it lost its luster. By May, every time I'd hear or see an HTFU I wanted to say STFU (Shut the ## up). Just one of those things. Anyway, the new wristband has that LiveStrong look, but with GFOQ on one side and "Don't Suck" on the other. A perfect progression in motivational wristbands, I must say. It stayed on me for the race and I looked at it several times for a small pump.
Friday, 2-Days Out
Two days out is always my big rest day. It's the day I warn family about ahead of time so they realize that I'll be a log pretty much all day with the feet usually pointing up. Sort of like a Vegas showgirl without the feathers, and heels, and flexibility, and well ok, nothing like a Vegas showgirl, but I try to keep those feet up. Just maintaining my Dork Card there is all. Flipper and I were able to get down to the lake for a good swim then get back to the condo and relax for a bit...well a lot. So much, it drove us crazy since we did plenty of relaxing during our rain day. We eventually made it back downtown for the Ironman pasta meal and to meet up with the Bloomington gang. Seeing everyone again was great. The food really sucked and I seldom complain about stand-in-line food; however, this time, wow, not good, which sucks for the athletes paying for the extra tickets to get in there. I do have to say that the food for the awards ceremony hit the spot. Redemption meal! With all that said though, most meals can be graded based on the company you're with. In that case, the meal was perfect. Hanging w/ close friends is always a beautiful thing.
Saturday, 24 hours Out
Flip and I headed down with Britney to the swim a little earlier today so we could meet up with the gang. Britney wanted to get a good run in so that worked out well since the path along Lake Menona is right there. The big crew from Bloomington was there who's doing the race along with a close buddy of mine, CD, who was there to train. He came here last year, had the race of his life, and now is gearing up for Kona this year. Seeing this is the only year Kate and I couldn't go to Kona to spectate it's a bit of a bummer. We have three friends from Bloomington racing Kona this year. It would have been amazing to go, but we'll just head back to the big island another time. I doubt any of those guys are done going and I'm not exactly giving up on the dream myself anytime soon.
After the swim we threw the bikes in Flip's truck and headed out to the bike course for a quick test and make sure all is good with the legs. We went out to the section where two of the bigger climbs are at, which tend take a little out of you by the 2nd loop of the race. I hadn't been on the hills of Madison since way before moving out to Boise so I wanted to see how they felt after training around here. I have to say, when you get to the base of climb and can clearly see the top it's not too bad. The bike was feeling comfortable and my legs were feeling phenomenal. As long as the sleep holds up and I nail everything else (nutrition/hydration/etc) I think I'm going to have a good day. Flipper and I got the bikes checked in and got our
gear dropped off in typical fashion. The rest of the day and night was spent with family and I managed to sneak downtown in the evening to get one traditional beer w/ my friends from Bloomington. It's tradition in Madison that if you're not racing you head to the German restaurant, Essen Haus, for beers and some good German food. Seeing not even the Germans eat German food the night before an Ironman you can almost guarantee you'll get a seat fairly quickly! I got my pre-race meal in me prior so I was there for the beer and company. It was so great to see everyone together again and I was able to hang there for a good chunk of time before returning back to the condo. I got myself settled into bed and had a great night sleep. It's time to get this thing going.RACE DAY
The race morning alarm goes off at 3:45am and the entire family is up and ready to go. The nerves are totally in check and I can see my brother is ready to get this thing going as well. After nine of these bee-otches I think I've become a little more calm or have at least learned to keep the nerves at bay a little better than back in the early days. We head down to the transition area and start getting the bikes prepped and ready to go.
As I'm getting things ready I realize the very first thing I always do was never done. Strap my damn chip to my ankle. Stupid thing is sitting on my dresser back at the condo. No chip, no problem. I'll get another one, but it could have added to the drama if I wasn't so happy to be there. My mood was great and a lot of it had to do with the environment and the presents of family and friends. No other race of this size could there be so many people I know. Once again, kickass!!!
We all head down to the lake and I head over to the chip timer dude. He assigns a new chip to me and says, "You're #18". Whatever that means, but I asked if it would get assigned to my bib and he said no problem. Flip kind of disappears after that so I imagine he was strapping his game-face on.
I run into Dr. Dennis and Dr. Mark and we chat a little before the start of this thing and get the "good luck" hugs in. I think these guys are all going to rock this course today. The weather turned perfect and winds were nice for the swim. The winds will get a little crazier later in the race, but nothing to worry about now. It's time to get wet.Swim 2.4 Miles
Swimming out on the course to bob around was an indicator that I was feeling good. Sometimes you just know it, other times that powerful feeling comes later. Today, it jumped out at me. Tonto says, "Hmmm Kemosabi..taper good!" The canon finally goes off and it is time to go. I'm out a little wider so I take my sweet time to eventually get aligned w/ the course buoys. In fact, it takes me almost the entire first stretch before I was directly on course. The line getting there was perfect 
so I don't think I lost any time w/ that approach. When I hit the last corner buoy to start the 2nd loop the watch read 29mins and change so I knew I was having a good swim. But in typical fashion something during that 2nd loop slowed me down. When I finally popped out of the water the clock read 1:02 something with a final time of 1:03 and I was quite pleased with that. The approach I took towards swimming this year had me in the pool three times a week w/ 75% focused on nothing but drills. I swam roughly 5000 yards a week and had nearly the same swim I did back in Germany when the coach I was using (some De Boom guy) had me swimming 12-15000 yards a week. Obviously there was nothing wrong with my endurance and much more to correct w/ my form. So like the flippin Republicans like to chant these days, "Drill baby drill!!!"Bike 112 Miles
My transition went pretty smoothly and I was off on the bike. Seeing I got out a little earlier this time I didn't have nearly the draft packs I've had in the past. In fact, I can't recall a single instance where I was upset/concerned/frustrated by the typical draft packs I normally see. The Moo course is so rolling though that perhaps that had something to do with it. Other than that bitch-stretch from Verona to Mt. Horeb I think it's hard for draft mongers to get their peloton on.
I'm feeling pretty good on the bike and I'm also keeping a very positive attitude. I must have said "thank you" a thousand times to the volunteers and got some great laughs seeing some of the characters out on the course (e.g, pirates, Eric the Devil, etc). Around mile-45 we begin the series of climbs that help define this bike course as challenging. As I'm heading up the first climb, which is around a half-mile long I see my family just getting ready to begin their cheering section. I probably surprised them a bit though. The times I gave them for when I'd be coming through was way off so I'm early. My bad! They see me and give out some good cheers and then I'm off to the top. At the next climb I see a lot of the Bloomington gang and get a great boost from them. I couldn't wait to get back around to see everyone again. On the last big climb a dude out of nowhere pops out and it's the Devil. Except I know this Devil who happens to be none other than Eric the Eeeeeeel who's chanting, "HEY DREWBIE, HOW YOU DO'N MAN????" and all the other positive stuff. Eric and his wife, Naomi, are like the Super Fans of Ironman. You can always count on them to help you get to the finish line. And now they've created a little addition to the family so I'm sure the little guy will be raised in the ways of Kung Fu Ironman Super Fan-dome! Eric runs with me the entire climb and before you know it the climb is done. Man, I hope he's around for the 2nd loop when I'll need it even more! Thanks dude!
Somewhere near the end of the first loop the wind changed direction and got a little stronger. We had wind to our back on the bigger climbs, but the next loop those climbs would feel a bit steeper with the wind in our face. However, they were still very manageable for me. All that saddle time in the foothills and mountains paid off for me this year. Getting up the first climb on the 2nd loop and seeing the family again was great. I even had Mr. McCarthy run me up a bit. He asked me if I blew a tire, which was news to me. Apparently that happened to Dr. Dennis so there was some confusion. All is good with my ride (knock on wood). The 2nd steep climb didn't have anyone I knew so I figured I'd see them on the run. It's a quick steep burst that's there just to piss your legs off until you get to the last big climb. On the last dandy the Bloomington gang appears, which was a totally cool surprise and awakening. They cheer for me and then out pops the Devil again. Ahhhh, awesome! I don't recall saying much to Eric just because I was keeping my quads at bay, but he talked to me the whole way up again and before I knew it the climb was once again done. Once again, Beelzebub, thanks!Riding from Verona back to Madison was friggin sweet. We had a tail and crosswind the entire way home so it was easy to spin out the legs and get them ready for the marathon. When it was all said and done, I got back to T2 in 5hr 20mins w/ a 21mph average. Given how good my legs felt off the bike, I'm pretty stoked about how the ride went. Now it's just a matter of seeing what kind of guts I've got to make a run for a Kona slot since almost all slots are earned on the run.
Run 26.2 Miles
T2 went through smoothly as well, which consisted of a quick change,
a quick stretch, and quick unloading of the liquids I consumed. Everything was in check. Hydration was good and the legs felt very good. Time to run. In true Quentin Tarantino style, lets go back to Wednesday when I arrived at the airport. When you fly with those large bike cases they usually get unloaded last since everything gets piled on top of them. While waiting I noticed a couple other guys waiting who appeared to be in for the Ironman. I started talking to them and found they're from Portland. Every day up to the race I would bump into these two guys. I'm thinking I'm starting to creep these guys out since it just seemed like everywhere I went I'd run into those two. We'd get a good laugh then I'd top it with a more sadistic, over-the-top laugh. Well, OK, in my head anyways.
Fast-foward back to the marathon. A couple miles into the run a guy gets next to me and we start running together. We're chatting a bit and he's keeping splits for us. Around mile-4 he says we ran that last mile in 6:53. What the hell? I'm going to blow at mile 10 at this pace so I'm slowing'er down. I guess you just lose yourself in those early miles while being a chatty Kathy. After a bit I ask him where he's from and he says Portland so I finally look over to see this guys (I've been looking straight ahead the whole time). Shit, same guy from Portland! I say to him, "You're kidding me, man, I'm the guy from the airport." We both start laughing and shake our heads. What are the freakin odds???? Anyways, later in the run he dropped back and finished about 10-mins behind me. This was his first Ironman so he's off to a good start in this crazy sport.
The miles continue to click away, but I'm constantly keeping my quads at bay. It appears I'm slightly dehydrated, but it's slowly getting better. When I finally hit State Street the crowds got huge and that was a big pump. It's such a crazy-cool section for spectators, but it always goes by too fast. Next thing I know I'm out of the crowds and running along the lake. On the back part of the course I see the entire Sweet gang cheering people on. That was a cool surprise since I figured I wouldn't see anyone for awhile. With a couple miles left in the first loop I once again run into The Eeeel. He's cheering me on and checks to see if Kate was being updated. I had no idea so he took care of it. The guy has like teleporation powers! Near the end of the first 13-mile loop I see my brother and he's looking good. No matter how focused I get on a race I still look for the people I know, especially when my bro is there. It's good to know they're off the bike and now it's just a matter of will that'll get them home.
So I got through the first loop in 1:48, which isn't too bad, but I really need to pickup the pace. A few more miles click by and I'm starting to slow down some. Crap! The mood is still great, I'm still seeing family, friends, the big crowds, life is good, but the pace is beginning to drop. Then the paranoia starts to creep in. I started thinking about the chip I had replaced this morning with the #18. Was that a Pro chip? Are my splits off by 10-mins? Watch I miss I Hawaii slot by 10-mins because of the chip and can't prove my case. All of this crap started to bug me because of stories of blown tires and people telling me times that just didn't seem right. OK, I'm just shutting it out and get back to task at hand. Man, I can be a headcase sometimes!
Once again I'm back through the State Street section, which is around mile-19 and see the family. The girls are wearing Boise State shirts their Dad got for them when he was out here. They were quite easy to spot. It looks like they're having a great time! I can't really say much to them at this point because frankly, I was starting to want to get this thing done and get a beer. I managed to catch up to my brother who was on his first loop and he was doing just fine. I knew he'd be right behind me and finish his second Ironman. He gives me some encouragement to get this thing done and I'm off for the final stretch. 
With about 2-miles left I'm looking at the watch I'm not exactly pleased w/ my splits. I've slowed down miserably, but that's how it goes. I dig a bit deeper and suck it up to get to the crowds. The crowds could then get me home. Once again, Eric flies out of the crowds to cheer me up the last oooph to the capital. He says, "Mark's just up there. Go get him." I see Dr. Temple and give him a healthy spank. He gives me a good cheer and finally...FINALLY...there's the finish line. I take a quick glance back to see if anyone was trying to run me down. The coast is clear to have a great time before I hit the tape. Reily is calling out my name and naming out all the Ironman races I've done. I'M SOOOO HAPPY!!! I see CD and Sloan in the bleachers and CD comes down to give me a high-five. I literally leap through the finish line in pure joy. I'm so pleased with today and feeling...well...reborn. 
When I finally got my finishers stuff, confirmed that my chip was OK (and it was), and got through the finish chute, there's my niece, Britney. It was a total surprise since I thought I'd be alone during this time. She snuck away from the aid-station to see me finish and that was so cool. Having her there brought out all of those emotions that buildup throughout the day that I would have otherwise sucked up, which would have come out at some random (most likely embarrassing) time later. Thanks Chica! Brit hands me her phone and I give Kate a call. Kate is screaming over the phone she's so happy. We talk a bit more, Brit helps me gather up some stuff so I can get out of these nasties and into something a bit more comfortable. Now it's time to start cheering everyone in.
Britney heads back to the aid-station to get the rest of the family so they can all get back to see Flip finish. I hang with the gang as they come in and its just great to see everyone having great races. As people are coming in so are the friends who were out there cheering me on all day. I couldn't have thanked them enough. After a little bit, my brother finds the finish line as well and he's so happy with himself. Wisconsin is such a hard course and he kicked some butt. Way to go dude!!!!!
As you can tell I'm pretty happy with how this race went. I didn't get the Kona slot I was going for, but that's OK. I'm getting closer and this was by far my strongest race. I was a couple minutes quicker at Ironman Florida back in 2006, but Kona slots are based on how you place, not by some time. I moved up nearly 20-slots so there will be a day when I get my Kona day and when it happens you can guarantee you're all invited to the party!Now it's time for some well deserved rest.
Train Smart,
Drew.
The Gang
