In the Beginning - 400 Days to go

Twelve months of planning. Nine months of training and it was going to come down to one question: Was it enough? Had I done enough work to be ready for a Half Ironman? Swim 1.2 miles. Then bike 56 miles and finally run 13.1 miles. All of that had to be completed in under 8 hours. After that, it doesn't matter because you are disqualified. I had come out to the race course once a week, for four weeks before the race and rode the bike course. I estimated that I needed to finish the bike in less that four hours, fifteen minutes to still have time for the run. Each time I came out, I got closer and closer, but would it be enough? The bike wasn't my only worry. I had run well all summer, but my knees were beginning to hurt when I ran more than 3 miles. Now I was planning to run 13.1 miles, so I had taken time off from running. Once again, would that be enough? I arrived at 7 a.m. as the sun was coming up over the water. I finished a banana and half a cliff bar. and I felt ready. (This will come back to haunt me later) I parked and got my stuff set up.
15 minutes to transition closes, so I have time to pray. I decided long time ago that if non Jews are comfortable with crucifixes around their necks, then I was not going to be embarrassed to wear my "stuff" in public either. Besides, pre-race triathlete are so self absorbed, no one would notice me if my hair was on fire.
My wife and I decided that it was best for her to stay home with our son. Asking a 4 year old to wait around for 7 + hours while his Daddy does a race is too much to ask. I finish talking to Gd and I grab my wetsuit. Transition is closed, but the race does not start for 30 more minutes. I walk over to the volunteer table and finagle a cup of coffee. So glad that Coach Josh told me that coffee is not a bad thing. (Mind you I drink a pot a day at work and I have been consuming it non-stop for the last 72 hours. I am PUMPED!). Last bathroom break and then it head down to the water. Suit up, swim out and everyone takes off. I've learned to let people pass me. I find my rhythm and swim. Eventually I catch up to those people and pass them as they are losing their momentum. Except, I cannot find my rhythm. I'm swimming, but it is not smooth. DUH, I'm breathing on the wrong side.

(Wrong side?) I'm use to breathing on my right. I can breath on my left, but it confuses me. I've got my rhythm back and I reach the half way marker. Except it is not the half way point! Turn left and swim. At the next orange buoy, turn left and swim for the beach. I reach the

beach after 40 minutes and I am happy.

I hear someone yell out, "Today is racing day."

(Oh No, not the Backyardagins song. Now I have "Racing Day is Racing Day" on my brain. I have to ride for the next four hours with kiddie music on my brain?)

I have been so worried that I would take too long on the bike and not have enough time for the run. (The race has to be finished in under 8 hours or they roll up the road on you as you run)

It wasn't the easiest swim I had ever done and it wasn't the hardest, just the longest. Out of the water and onto the bike. The first 15 miles of the bike section was typical: People passing me. At 17 miles, we enter a 20 mile loop. Here I was jocking back and forth with other riders of my speed.So for the past month, I have been coming up once a week and riding the race path. My goal is to finish the bike in under 4 hours, because I fear that I

will need 3+ hours for the run. The bike course is 15 miles of hills, 5 miles of flat followed by 5 more of hills and then a 31 mile loop around the reservoir. (I took this picture during a practice ride) For the first 3 hours, people pass me, I pass people. Some times it is the same people, other times it is new people. At 37 miles I stop at the bottle exchange and squirt bottled

water into my water bottle. The whole stop takes under 30 seconds. I make it back to the last 15 miles of hills and two things pop into my mind: There are no riders in front of me and there are no riders behind me. Very eerie.

I still have another hour of riding to go, so stop thinking and keep peddling.

I finish the bike in 3 hours and 50 minutes. I am ecstatic. I am so happy that at transition I forget to grab my cliff bar. As I leave for my run, A volunteer offers me a banana.

"No thanks" I tell her. I will regret this later.

I have never run 13 miles before, so I walk a little, run a little. I run more than I walk, but I fear that if I try to run the whole knee pain thing might become a torn patella tendon.

(I learn later that the pain in my knee is caused by the leg muscles not tracking correctly. So the only danger was muscle fatigue.)

The miles pass quickly. I am feeling strong. I am feeling confidant. I am feeling hungry. I suck down a gel and I am still hungry. At mile 5, I pass the reservoir. Notice the red dot on the bridge. (Look closely at the photo, the dot is there)

At mile 6, I get a cup of Coca Cola (Yes they serve soda here). Ok, hunger subsides a little.

Mile 7 and now I am passing the red dot on the bridge. As I pass the miles 8, 9 & 10, people call out from the side lines and I respond to them: "Looking good" They tell me

"Not smelling to good." I reply

"Almost there" (A typical lie)

"Almost where?"

"It's all down hill form here." (A new lie, but still a lie)

"Really? Too bad my toes ain't wheels."

As I pass mile 11 & 12, I get compliments on my Tri Kippah.

(Funny, no compliments for the tri-tzitiz this race.)

I enter the park, one mile to go and I sprint. I wanted to finish under 7 & 1/2 hours and now it comes down to this last stretch. I can see people cheering for me, but all I can hear is the sound of my heart beating in my chest.

7 hours, 29 minutes and 38 seconds and I am a TIM MAN (Half an Ironman)

I start to think about entering an IRONMAN race in 2010...

http://www.backprint.com/view_user_event.asp?PID=bp%18%7CD&EVENTID=48241&PWD=&LAST=roher&DIVISION=&BIB=149