Gulf Coast Triathlon 2008

It has been one very long year since my humbling experience at the Gulf Coast Triathlon in May of 2007; one year since I felt invincible as a triathlete; one year since I thought nothing could take me down. Then, it all came crashing down around me and cast a pall over my confidence and over my feelings of immortality.

It started off with a great 1.2 mile swim in the Gulf of Mexico. The water conditions were near perfect, almost glass like in appearance. I hammered that swim and came out feeling great, loving every minute of family and friend support as I ran up the beach. Out onto the bike course and more of the same perfect conditions with little wind to speak of. I was absolutely crushing the course, paying relatively little attention to the mounting heat that would end up causing my demise. I came off the bike about 10 minutes ahead of schedule and well on my way to a 4 hour 40 minute half ironman. I slapped Anne's (girlfriend) hand as I headed out on the run, confident that I had 7:15/mile in my legs. The first mile split was 7:11; second mile was 7:13. Then, I started to feel the heat. Unfortunately, I also noticed too late that I was not really sweating anymore. The second half mile of mile three is really a blur. I started to hear my pulse in my ears and everything went hazy. Right at the third mile aid station, I passed out. The next thing I knew, they had me in a chair under the tent with ice bags all over me. They rushed me to the med tent where I stayed for the next hour. It was a scary experience.

So, that has been hanging over my head now for one year. I made it my mission to come back to the Gulf Coast in 2008 and prove to myself that I had what it takes to finish strong on this course. Through the winter workouts, I envisioned reaching that finish line triumphantly and feeling good the whole way. Time was no longer my main goal; finishing was number one. The biggest hurdle I would have to overcome, however, was my own fear of having another experience take me out of a race. I tried to come back last year at the Cancun 70.3 (half ironman) distance, but I succumbed to bad weather and fear, and ended up walking for the majority of the run leg.

That brings us to this past Saturday. Gulf Coast Triathlon 2008. Race morning was cloudy, foggy, and humid. The Gulf of Mexico was pretty rough, causing the normal chatter of nervousness amongst the triathletes on the beach. When it came time for my wave to go off, I decided that today was about having fun, not about time. I did not even use a stop watch.

The gun went off and we churned into the Gulf, greeted by 3-4 foot waves. I actually enjoyed the swim, gliding over the tops of the rolling waves and keeping my breathing regulated. I came out of the water 45 seconds faster than last year (did not know it at the time, but felt great). I set out on the bike and used my heart rate monitor as my guide for the day. We had a tail wind for the majority of the out leg of the bike. Which, of course, meant a head wind coming home. I felt great throughout the ride and encouraged others around me as I passed them or was passed by them.

I came into the transition and headed out onto the run. I set a very easy pace just to see how everything felt. I admit that I was very nervous as I waited for the awful feelings to return. They never really came though and I was able to have a decent run, despite the oppressive heat that hit around mile 6. I slowed down considerably in the final miles as my heart rate responded to the rising heat. I could have buried myself and ended up in the med tent, but the 5-10 minutes it would have taken off would not have made it worth the pain. I came into the finish line pumping my fist. The demons of the Gulf Coast have been laid to rest.

So, now it is time to rest and begin preparations for Ironman Florida in November. I will regularly update this blog with training progress, etc. I cannot complete this race without everyone's support. It will take the collective energy of all of my family, friends, and loved ones to get me to that finish line.

This blog is dedicated to Anne Prusak, my loving girlfriend and and best friend. Without her support, I would not be able to do what I do.