Ironman Wisconsin - Jack Caucino

When I ran into Doug last week at the sprint, I asked him if he wanted something for the site, so here it is.

As in most races you cannot fly direct. The same is the case going to Madison, Wisconsin, so My wife Pam, 3 yr old daughter Tara and I, flew to Cleveland and connected to Madison, 2 hrs of flying and 5 hours of sitting around. We were meeting our friends who now live in Minnesota; they drove out and already checked us in.

We got up the next day, registered and drove the bike course which made it very clear to me that Wisconsin we not what I was expected. Besides being clean, friendly, and beautiful, it was extremely hilly. Two loops that I can best describe as doing bike courses like Wykoff, Skylands, or West Point 8 times. So I had to refocus and get ready.

Race day, we got up around 4:30 and the temp was about 58 and windy, but they predicted sunny and clear, which it did. The race directors really had their act together, I was extremely organized, and we all made our way through special need and dry clothes drop off, and I was in the water at 6:50 am.

The swim was a 2-loop box, with in water start. I hate to swim in a crowd, so I was about 100 yards from the Start buoy, the extra 100 yards tangent to the 1st turn seemed like it would be worth about 8 minutes of aggravation. 7:00 am the cannon went off and so was I, being a collegiate championship, there were a lot of swimmers who took off fast; I didn’t try to run with them, it’s a long swim. On the second loop, back half, I felt my right calf and hamstring knotting up. I couldn’t believe it, I wasn’t hammering I was keeping my head down; this was going to be a long day. At the end of a very nice, flat, clean watercourse, I finished the swim 56 minutes and change.

I stood up from the swim and my quads immediately cramped. This can’t be happening!

No big deal just a change of aspect I told myself. Run up the helix (those circular ramps like at giant stadium) and changed for the bike, and was off. I felt good, but I could also feel both hamstrings ready to cramp, I just tried to keep spinning out of the city and into the hills. When I got to the Meat of the ride, It was one of the most gorgeous bike courses I’ve ever been on, blue sky, mountains, farm land, magnificent homes, just spectacular. Tough to enjoy when you are constantly climbing hills and trying to avoid your legs cramping, at the same time, but I did. There were spectators everywhere, and the various towns on the bike course held festivals to support the race. This bailed me out with my wife, because she could keep our 3 yr. old busy. When you rode through the town of Verona, they set up an area after the aid station about a half-mile long, that was about 10 feet wide with spectators on both sides, that was cool. Got my special need bag and ate my sandwich and continued to take in Gatorade and bananas every chance I could. If I never see grape fierce Gatorade again, it would be fine by me. The second loop was the same, fighting cramps, but kept moving. The last 15 miles back to Madison was very windy and not much fun, the final kicker was you had to ride back up the helix to get to the transition area. Nice touch. 6:38 ride

When I went to get off the bike my hamstrings immediately cramped. The medical people were all over me. I told them I was OK and made my way to the changing area, but my legs were knotting by now. I sat down to change and an EMT sat next to me and was asking questions, the volunteers couldn’t have been nicer or more help. A massage therapist came over and asked me if I cared to give him 15 minutes to work on my legs, so I did. This lasted about a 1 1/2 miles before the cramps started coming again.. This run was going to be a nightmare.

I did what I could to keep moving but I was running (shuffling) 15 minute miles just to keep the cramps from coming. I took in as much nutrition as I could, and they had chicken broth at almost every stop, which I think started to help. The run course was nice, they show off the city and run you though Badger Stadium on the Astroturf, which was very nice on your feet. The run is 2 loops at the halfway they bring you within in 100 yards of the finish and then send you back out on the second loop, very cruel.

On about mile 14, I was able to start to run with some comfort, but it was too late. My quads were fried from not using my hamstrings and I didn’t have much left, but it was nice to pass some people for a change. I was able to work it in and start to enjoy the race for what it was. The finish takes you in front of the capital, which was lit up and it was spectacular, it made it all worth it. 6 hour run (ouch)

Being a 1st timer I am not familiar with other courses, but the scenery, organization and volunteers, made a nightmare day, one of the most enjoyable and memorable of my life.

13:57