Ironman USA2003

 by Cliff Grossi:

I'd walk 11 miles for attention
This is long but so was my day , for those not interested...I start- bad weather- more bad weather and so on..I finish in Times Square
My second Ironman race is here and I am feeling pretty good...Less training than last year but more in control mentally...I have been riding with Sandy Hookers on weekends and have more miles in legs...new bike to use on climbs...been watching tour de Lance for inspiration...doing lots of stretching to help back and hamstrings...I am ready- so what that I haven't swum but 2x in month or run longer than 90 minutes, I know what to expect because I have done this before ..I have the pics to prove it...Ok maybe on a perfect day...
My family arrives in LP and I am determined to repeat all positives from last year. Thursday down to lake for Gatorade swim--no friends, maybe I will wait, no just swim by yourself sissyboy....1 loop (1.2 miles) and I am getting arm fatigue with 500 yards to go..uh hoh...As I slap the water towards the finish I see my friends getting ready for their swim, think about doing another loop but come to senses and go back to hotel.. It's time for check-in and all goes well with my family being present-weighin 200 with clothes and sneeks, I congratulate myself on being really 198..see Greg Drury who needs a couple of bucks for timing chip holder.."what do you mean $5 to buy ankle bracelet, haven't they charged us enough"" Decide that the cash outlay ends here and proceed to get chip and plastic holder, think to myself "I showed them"...more about this later.. Pre-race is progressing as usual except for fact that Cathy and I forgot what a struggle 2 years old is for Nicole..lots of parenting stress and Michael is being the greatest help..no way she is coming back until at least 5...goggles break and I get a free repalcement from Inside- Out sports..Meet Paula Newby Fraser and Cliff Rigby takes a pic of me with Lori Bowden-Do a bike prior to race with Rigby , McKinley and Santa Bartram...for those not enlightened..I have no business riding with these guys but I am ready..Rigby takes us on the usual house hunting expedition and somehow make a left in Belgium and end up in ALPS - climb a hill which I now call great, great papa bear..fast forward to race day
4:30AM--alarm goes off and I literally jump out of bed, unfortunately I don't jump far enough and hit ankle on bed frame-thank god we are not swimming with sharks because of blood...remember the ankle bracelet I wouldn't buy, well plastic strap given to us is digging into my new cut...shower and out door with swim gear, bike pump and special needs bags -could have called them special needs baggies...Eat a muffin and cup of coffee and off to meet John Blanos at 5:30....down to bodymarking- repeat my ritual of finding prettiest available woman to write on me...bike checks out OK..see friends feeling very good about day-overcast and a little cool....This day is gonna rock...into Mirror Lake corral and Gail beckons me to her, a hug, rub her pregnant belly for good luck and into the water...wade over to far side and see Greg and Bob -the Irish guy.. we are off and swimming ...once again I am in the wash cycle of this 1800 strong washing machine..every time I move towards pack I am met with either swimmers stopping or someone moving out of lane..I opt to stay free of melee by swimming far right...by doing this I lose the all important draft..ooops..water is more unsettled and murkier than usual..first loop- I think 38 minutes..back in and I can see lane ropes along buoy lines..wow a scuba diver, forgot about them....pack catches up and I am forced to outside--fatigue in arms again but I am confident that I will be OK--final swim 1:20-I think....running through crowd to change tent I am aware of a light mist of rain..Ironman crowds are the best..change for bike, take a salt tablet, drink some water and onto my trusty ride. Ride out of town is great, nice rhythm and I am going good-now the early climbs- man does this bike climb great..rain has stopped and I congratulate myself on all the good karma I have sent out-my forecast- overcast and 72..We hit the downhill and I am excited because the pavement is not wet at all...ready set go...52mph and I am passing people like they are standing still, at this rate I can win this thing ...4 miles in like a nanosecond...make left and we are riding along "the feed zone " I chow down on a pb&j sandwich-some Gatorade and a few drops of BEANO for heart burn,,what's this Greg Drury up a head of me .. we ride together for a few and he is looking great...start working gears to get ready for next climb...right hand turn and 1 mile at 7%- passing small homes along road- mental game to make it to mail box for Bushey family and imagine myself kicking it down..and we climb and we climb approx 3 miles of this work before hitting the famous Hazelton loop..What is this coming at me ?? Doug and Rigby screaming to me like they are at a rodeo- 7 miles to turnaround and some nice downhill but also some mean headwind--turnaround aid station is very energetic and you can't help yourself from getting a big push..I do not remember when, but it has begun to rain. The climb back from loop is a bitch and it along with wind start to take its toll on some...let's get to Whiteface big boy..the rain is now bordering on torrential- I later find out that we were hit with squalls of rain all day....the most beautiful part of course is along this climb of 9 miles or so except when it rains..It is at this point that I begin to contemplate my sanity and yes I laid out a small fortune for this FUN...hit the cherry climbs and prepare for the bear climbs...pretty good considering. I even muster a few smiles and thank you for the brave souls cheering us on...I am excited because I know Cathy and kids are waiting at the designated position...I see Mike holding a sign and all 3 of them are yelling and holding signs...I get all emotional, wave and scream I love you 's to all...wow this is great...what do you mean I have to ride the loop again......first loop under 3:30. OK let's go...riding out of town I decide to be civil and use a portapotty...I pee for like a week....back on the bike and some woman (1787)notices my clever placement of pb&j/ candy and snacks..Little do I know that we will jockey positions for 50 miles.....As we get out of town the traffic is stopped and many are out of cars in rain cheeering us on- very cool..At top of hill water stop -guy with megaphone gives me water and runs alongside for 100 yards- very funny...on to downhill and the rain is consistent so I am not as aggressive - it is during the downhill that my back begins to hurt, I mean throb..how could that be, I am in aero, relaxed but it hurts...feed zone and 1787 catches up to me, no talking just a glance of recognition. After a few miles I offer her 1/2 a sandwich for good Karma..next thing I know she gets a sugar rush and is gone..Thank God I am not a single guy with an ego...OK I am a married guy with an ego--bitch....the climbs are the usual miserable work and I determine that miles 25 through 28 are most challenging for me because I can not get to 1/2 way point of loop and I am getting tired and cranky--yes it starts to rain again...As if on cue I turn for climb along Whiteface and the skies open and the wind smacks me relentlessly--how can I climb at 4 mph...I am almost beaten at top of Whiteface but keep going, mentally I make deals to get me over the rollers and am now pissed off enough to attack the final climbs- yeah right...I make it to top of papa bear and make hard right to cheers and Springsteen's No Surrender--very good selection..one more incline and I am homefree--a couple of fans have a sign with "Nice Buns" on it...I stand and they cheer, I am smiling again-yes, it is still raining..Into transition-7:03--not bad considering elements, as a matter of fact, I am still on schedule for a personal goal...Mr... Smarty-pants didn't tie his change bag tightly (I actually thought the string would slow me down) and he is forced to put on extremely wet running gear....Feeling better than last year as I head out of tent..Lo and behold, waiting for me as I exit are Cathy and my kids, soaked and shivering, kisses and I tell Cathy to come back just for finish in between 4:15 to 4:45 ....Love those downhills, my plan is to run to each water stop and fuel up quickly, just keep running between stops, no watch so no worries about speed....everything going according to plan past ski jumps and left turn towards gold medal water stop...I see Rigby coming towards me and we meet in middle..." I am in survival mode-me too" "If I didn't want to show my kids that you finish what you start I'd be gone-me too" Enough chit chat back to work..rain has stopped and I thing I can do this now...continue along looking for friends and Moira calls my name, she is on a bike and has been on course looking for us all day- how terrific..she tells me I am running relaxed and good- funny I don't feel that way...I meander towards turn around and see Miss 1787- ha so big deal you have gained 20 minutes on me... begin the work back to town--see many friends during this time (no, I am not in front, they are on second loop) .. It is at about this time that I start to lose focus..I struggle towards turn around and get my special needs bag- PB & choco crackers- candy and some 8 hour Tylenol (I have taken about 500 of these already and will be pain free for about a month according to label)---See Doug and Rigby- both have been walking - I am still moving and am aware of leg cramps, stomach cramps and slight disorientation--make left towards gold medal water STOP. My body listens and shuts down, OK I can walk a little to begin recovering so I can begin again. Great idea because I have been at this place and I know my body.....The skies decide to open again and it is raining so hard my shoulders are hurting..now I am shivering on top of other issues...mile 15 and I realize I will probably be walking for remainder of day...luckily I find a water stop giving out thermal wraps - without this I am sure I would have ended up being pulled from course....My physical and mental states are deteriorating quickly, I find myself being passed as if standing still by people walking-I consciously try to walk tall and briskly- no way .. I am yawning and could sleep if it weren't a downpour-mile 15.25...I take a seat and John B comes by to offer some help, we walk for a moment or maybe an hour and he has to start running again- not me ...I am aware of rain, cold and darkness settling in- reminds me something from Apocalypse -all I can see are people walking through rain with silver thermal wraps--very eerie. I continue for the rest of course -my body never recovers enough to allow me to run even at those easy run spots..I try but it shuts down...fans are still cheering and it is still raining..turn for walk along mirror lake - 2 miles to go--guy at Brew Pub beckons us to come back in 20 minutes, I take 30...He forces me to run down final 30 yards before turn into oval (thanks)..as I enter Doug is there running with me, I look for Cathy amongst the many fans- yes it is raining.. Michael is waiting and cheering, Cathy too, Nicole has fallen asleep. Doug stays with me until I reach them..."Wake her up because I am never coming back" and this is her last chance for a picture..Nicole in arms and we are off .. Michael is 20 yards ahead and Doug has to catch him..Whoa big boy, Daddy can barely shuffle let alone sprint...the crowd is cheering, I hear my name and we cross as a family--medal for Nicole, finishers shirt for Mike and a massage for me....15:22:32 and I felt every second of it...Pics with family, a shower and asleep by 11...phone rings at 12:15AM..Rigby and Doug are in lobby with UBU..get a cup and sit with friends reliving day and drinking the best beer in Lake Placid......Breakfast Monday morning I seriously consider volunteering next year...Tuesday mid day- I register for next year's race- I love this sport.....Tuesday and Wednesday I stay in NY to watch finishers on HSBC jumbotron in Times Square-Yes, the jumbotron in Times Square...The best finish to a very challenging race..wow my kids are on screen in Times Square