2006 Ironman Wisconsin
“Supersonicity Returned to the Hangar”
Preamble
Typically, and as many of you can attest, Triathlon training for me over the past six years has been sporadic at best. But nonetheless, I always get’r’done at show-time no matter what and most of all ENJOY the experience! This year, however, my training was more consistent beginning in early ……April! With three great training camps (Lake Placid #1 w/Kim/Linnea/Dave/Chris/Robin/Loretta, Lake Placid #2 w/Rhyster/Kevin, Madison w/bunch of local Madison yahoos), and mostly weekend training with C3 and my other training pals, I felt somewhat more confident going into this Ironman…..this was to be the year of “Supersonicity Unleashed”!
The Race
Fortunately, my family (Mom, sister Kelly and nephew Todd) were able to attend my race this year and I certainly appreciated all their support. The Friday & Saturday prior to the race were beautifully sunny and warm. However, Race Day Sunday was the opposite. In 16C degree temps, the wind and rain showered down the ENTIRE day. Oh well get’r’done! After-all, Ironman consists of five sports not three: swim, bike, run, nutrition, and weather! Right?
The Swim (“The Piranha Pool!”) = 1:18h (974th/2439 Overall, 177/411 in Age Group)
The largest Ironman swim start in history with over 2400 competitors fighting, not swimming, to maintain their real estate on the two loop rectangular course! While I agree that a mass start is exciting for the cheering section, race organizers should give their head a shake when weighed against safety and performance. Who trains in conditions where every stroke is either an offensive struggle to hold-your-own or a defensive tactic to block elbows and feet from fracturing noses and ribs! It was ridiculous to the point of witnessing two fellas exiting the water, one with a broken nose and the other an eye gash. Lucky for me, my hockey years paid off and I remained unscathed!
T1 (“Um, do I really have to come back out and play?”) = 0:13h
The Transition Zone at IMW is quite unique atop the roof of a four story conference centre parking garage. There are two spiral driveways, one to run up and the other to ride down. A quick run out of the lake & up the parking garage spiral, into the Conference centre change rooms where the task of ‘dressing appropriately’ for the conditions began. Long sleeve shirt plus a cycling jersey & arm warmers should suffice, a long run to my bike, ride down the opposite parking garage spiral, and out onto the 180km bike course!
Bike (“Bring on the grey clouds and rain……….and maybe some WIND too just for giggles!”)
= 6:15h (571/2439 OVR, 132 / 411 AG)
The bike course is essentially two loops. On a nice sunny day, the rural county roads would be a beautiful variety of nicely paved rolling hills, technical but fast down-hills, and three moderate climbs that can take a toll in totality without proper pacing! Not today! …..Yawn! Normally, I would make-up for my aquatic deficiencies with a Supersonic bike ride, including some heroic acts of stupidity on the down-hills. But not today. Today, the fear of washing out on turns was to much to bear and I thought better of one piece collar bones than two. Slow and steady was the strategy on the bike. Though I passed over 400 fellow competitors, I remained 30 minutes off my goal time but all smiles nonetheless. My family and thousands of other spectators made the trek to the town of Verona to cheer us through the wind & rain and make sure our smiles were bigger than the our rear-wheel roosters-tails! Their spirit was amazing, especially on the three climbs where spectators encroached onto the course in L’Alp Duez style (sans idiots!).
T2 (Yawn again…..”the fun-factor on the bike was less than exhilarating but because we’re all so pleasant and joyful, lets give the ole marathon a shot and see how we fare!!!”) = 0:07h
Run (a veggie-sub and sneakers, and I’m good to go!”) = 4:36h (925/2439 OVR, 189/411 AG)
Fast out of the gate, I had images of the incomparable Rhyster Spencer at IMW 2004 smokin’ off the bike in 22nd position overall and out onto the run course with fire in his eyes! Alternatively, at the same pace I lasted 50 feet, just long enough to escape the view of transition where I pulled over my jet-sneakers in favour of wolfing back the fantastic Papa Johns veggie-sub they had handed me in transition. Papa Johns should be sued for the opportunistic Paparazzi photo taken of me and my sub! Damn! So off onto the rolling 42km, double loop run course where the end of the first loop brings you to within thirty feet of kissing the Finish Line……BUT OH NO, one more loop to do! So I started with the mind games that Jasper Blake taught me, which seemed to help the miles clip by while staving off the pain. The second loop was about as exciting as the first (sarcasm!) and I was elated to be within a kilometer of the finish-line and ending this beautiful day in favour of a HOT shower and warm, dry clothes! So with a kilometer to go, I lit’r’up ….which is when I knew I had way too much reserved in the tank. Hence, my ‘Supersonicity will be returned to the hangar’ and prep’d for flight next year!
Finishline: 12:30h (707/2439 OVR, 147/411 AG)
Reflection
With six years into this wonderful sport and its’ terrific community of friendships and support, I couldn’t imagine a better lifestyle. Thank you to my family and friends for making every mile count. Thank you to Fiona & Barrie for their incredible knowledge, insight and motivation to not only get’r’done but to enjoy the moments along the way. And every time I cross the finish-line, I see Dad, sitting on my bike, with a big ole proud grin, saying “knew you could”!
Thank you for taking the time ~ Paul “National Treasure” Clarke.