The Longhorn 70.3

I have Trent Nix to thank for putting me up to this challenge.  It happened after the MS 150 bike ride in May imploded into a one day event due to inclement weather.  I was left with a Sunday to half enjoy what I had accomplished (83 miles in a single day) and half pine for what I expected to be two grueling days of road cycling and camping out.  I thought to myself, “Now what?”  Four months of consistent training on the bike including long rides on the weekend all with that goal ahead of me were over.  I knew I would do more but had to find out what.  One thing I knew for sure was that it would involve the bike; especially after all I’d invested in the equipment and gear.

In the following weeks I began looking for another cycling event.  I ended up getting into the sport of triathlon with the Cleburne Ironhorse Sprint.  At the same time, Trent was training for his first Ironman event, Coeur d’Alene in June.  I ventured to ask him the question, “What do I do next?”  That’s what happens when you set goals and reach them.  You begin the process of always looking for the next thing that will take you some place you’ve never been whether it be a location, an activity, or a personal record.  When Trent spoke the words, “Do the Longhorn 70.3!” the bug was in my ear.  I was challenged and I had to respond.

It was daunting at first.  I mean it’s 70.3 miles under human power!  (I would eventually hear that phrase several times in the aftermath of the event.)  Swim 1.2 miles, bike 56, and then run a half marathon (13.1 miles)!  I didn’t feel like I had the ability.  But more importantly, I didn’t feel like I belonged.  The word “Ironman” brings with it great weight and importance.  Only the best go out for that.  I’d be the fat kid in junior high playing basketball on a team of guys who’ve got game playing against a team of guys who’ve got even more game!  I’ve been there and it wasn’t pretty.

I have to thank Philip DeYoung for helping me get past the size of Ironman 70.3 Austin.  He gave me some good general training advice and encouraged me to sign up for event.  All I needed was a little nudge to get me to commit.  Still, I’d never run further than a 15K (9.3 miles) and I’d never swam in a wetsuit.  I had a few obstacles to overcome in the months ahead.

Fast forward through 5 months of training and races including my first Olympic distance tri, my first half marathon, and my first 100 mile bike ride.  I got some open water swim experience with a brief dip in Benbrook Lake southwest of Fort Worth.  I even endured a minor sabotage to my training with the advent of a 6 week working engagement in Mississippi that ended the week before the event.  My swim training was the first to fall.  But I did venture out into the Ross Barnett Reservoir near Ridgeland for one brief swim session.  I’m really grateful to the folks at Indian Cycle in Ridgeland, MS for loaning me a Specialized Roubaix test bike to get a few rides in during the week.  They were a Godsend.

Saturday, October 24th – I packed up my things, loaded my bike on the rack, and headed to Richardson Bike Mart to pick up my Zoot Fusion wetsuit rental.  I’d been by the weekend before to try it on, so I just had to grab it and I was off to Austin.  Just east of Austin is the Travis County Exposition Center.  This would be the venue of Ironman 70.3 Austin.  The Leudecke Arena was my destination.  When I arrived, a portentous wind was blowing…

The schedule for Saturday was fairly packed and complicated for a beginner like me.  We had to pick up our race packets within a certain timeframe and drop off our bikes at the 1st transition area by Walter E. Long Lake.  We also had to attend a mandatory race briefing at a certain time.  Amidst all of that I relaxed by spending a crapload of money at the Ironman shop.  I wanted to have plenty of memorabilia for the event.  As you can see from the photo, I got it.  I even got my first real tri top with a matching pair of tri shorts.

With my bike and transition bags prepped and dropped off, I headed off to the Austin Airport Hilton to get checked in and start resting up.  The sun was getting low when I got to my room.  Autumn was in full swing and the days were getting shorter.  I called my parents and then set my alarm and laid down for a nap.  My girlfriend, Kathryn, was flying in from Dallas after taking part in a friend’s wedding ceremony.  I had to go pick her up around 9:30.  It was good to see her.  I was so glad she would be there to support me.  We enjoyed the quiet of the huge interior of the hotel as I escorted her to her room.  We said goodnight and then went off to dreamland.  Tomorrow would be a huge day for both of us.

Sunday, October 25th - I woke up early the next morning and stuck to my plan.  I got dressed and had some whole grain mini bagels with peanut butter and honey.  I packed everything up and loaded up the car then went to collect Kathryn and check out.  We were on our way to the race site in the darkness that is 5 in the morning jamming to Joe Satriani.  The weather was a bit on the cool side; just enough to keep you shivering and your body active.  A perfect triathlon morning!

They bussed us from the arena parking lot to the park at the lake where we would start the swim and transition to the bike.  After body marking, I went to find my bike.  T1 was packed to the gills and flooded with light.  I drop off my bike gear and topped of my tires with some air.  Kathryn was waiting for me by the fence surrounding T1.  My Sherpa held my gear and snapped a few photos while I doused myself with Bullfrog’s Marathon Mist.  Then we grabbed a pair of foam longhorn ears and a ubiquitous cowbell for her to use.  We can always use MORE COWBELL!

The sky was just beginning to get light in the east.  The time was approaching.  I wanted to get a short warm up in before the race.  I began the time consuming process of putting on my wetsuit.  It was not as difficult this time as it was the week before when I tried it on.  You get use to how it feels and better at the technique of getting into it.  Unfortunately, I ran out of time and didn’t get my warm up.  It was okay, though.  I’d survive.  Just stick to the plan and relax during the swim.  I dropped of my morning gear bag and then Kathryn and I watched skydivers float to the ground as the National Anthem was sung.  And then it was time.

Now just wait a minute.  It’s not time to start the race.  I had one last thing to do before I could start.  You see, just as I was beginning my triathlon journey, I met the woman I want to marry.  I can’t say it any better than that.  So I concocted a plan to propose to her after crossing the finish line at this race.  However, an engagement ring is too precious a thing to leave in a bike or run transition bag or carry with me in my tri suit during the swim.  I ABSOLUTELY did not want to lose or damage this thing which represents my love for Kathryn.  And so I left it in her care.  In the cool grass on the shore of Walter E. Long Lake, I got down on one knee in my wetsuit and asked Kathryn to be my wife.

It was SO COOL!  She said “YES!”  I rose and put the ring on her finger.  We embraced.  My fellow triathletes nearby cheered and cried.  They offered to take pictures.  Dogs and cats were living together…scratch that.

Now Kathryn had plenty to do for the next 6 hours.  And now it was time to start.  I joined the others in my wave wearing dark green swim caps and watched the pros start the race.  To ease the tension I struck up a conversation with some folks nearby while we waited for the race organizers to give us the go ahead to move into the water.  Excitement was in the air.  Spectators were cheering and yelling.  It was our turn.  We got in the water and it was a little cold.  Surprisingly, I turned around and saw one David Barnes, a fellow age grouper, whom I done some open water swimming with in Benbrook Lake back in May.  We both raced the Cleburne Ironhorse Sprint but I hadn’t seen him since.  It was good to see him and it really helped to break the tension even more.  I was ready for this party to start!

The horn blew and we were off!  I took it easy and tried not to get pummeled.  I really didn’t have any problems.  I actually swam OVER a few people during the course, which is a really interesting experience.  I get the feeling that I wasn’t swimming straight at all.  I kept moving away from the buoys and redirecting back toward them and moving away again.  I guess I need more open water sighting practice.  The water felt fine except for the coldness on my arms when they reached the bottom of my stroke.  I also had to fight a mental battle as my brain kept interpreting the tightness of my wetsuit across my chest as being unable to breathe.  I kept my cool though and less than 40 minutes later I was out of the water.

The wetsuit strippers were a hoot!  They threw me down and yanked my suit right off me!  I ran to my bike, high-fiving my new fiancé on the way.  I cleaned my feet, put on my shoes, helmet, and glasses, and grabbed my bike and I was out of there!  T1 time was just under 5 minutes.

In retrospect, I started out too fast on the bike.  I was keeping a good pace for the first half.  Then I realized I had another 28 miles to ride and decided I needed to slow down.  I started feeling a twinge in my hamstrings and glutes, which urged me to pull back even more.  Oh yeah, and there was quite a bit of nasty wind.  But thankfully, it wasn’t the worst I’d ever ridden in.

All went until mile 55.  With the arena in sight, we were doubling back up a nasty hill.  I popped my front gear down and the chain fell off.  Much worse things could have happened, but it was humorous to me that it waited until that moment.  After recovering I continued making my way to the bike finish.  We rode past the racers already on the run course and I cheered them on.  Not long after that, still on the bike, I swallowed a bug.  Once again, it could have been worse and definitely took my mind off how I was feeling.  In the end, I finished the bike leg in 3:07 with a pace not far under 18 mph.

I trotted over to my T2 rack spot and found run bag and Kathryn waiting for me.  It was so nice to see her.  I told her I was really tired.  But I changed into my running shoes and grabbed my hydration belt and trucked out of there.  As I passed Kathryn, I told her that ring looked good on her.  T2 time was under 4 minutes.

Coming out of T2 we ran into the arena.  The spectators were screaming and I was pumped!  I gave a good show and they responded.  It was awesome!  And then I exited and reality hit me.  My legs were so tired!  I had so down to what felt like a crawl.  I had a three loop run course ahead of me.  This is where it got hard and I had to dig deep.  I ran jogged as much as I could, but had to walk the hills.  And I felt my hydration belt weighing me down.  I didn’t need ANY unnecessary weight.  Towards the end of the first loop I saw Kathryn again.  She was cheering and I was tired.  I dropped off my hydration belt near her and ask her to take care of it for me.  That’s one lesson I learned.  It’s not always a guarantee, but you can depend on the hydration provided at the aid stations and don’t need to carry your own on the run.

I wasn’t feeling well.  I needed proper hydration and nutrition.  Into the second loop, I started grabbing water and Gatorade at each stop.  The thing that really turned it around for me though was the frozen strawberries.  I distinctly remember starting to feel better after having some.  My strength was returning.  I was recovering.  I was still walking the hills, but I was running stronger.  I grabbed some chocolate candy bars at another aid station.  They were good.  They had cooling sponges and wash rags on the course.  I am so thankful for them.  I passed Kathryn a second time and told her I was feeling better.  One more loop to go.  “I’ll see you in the arena!” I yelled.

The final loop was the best.  I felt stronger.  I ran the hills.  I walked the water stops.  I drew strength from the thought that every step along the course was one I wouldn’t have to repeat.  I was running up one last hill with a few others.  As we passed a walker he said, “Way to guys!  Run up that hill!”  I cried out, “This is last time I have to do it!” and continued on.  I began running inspirational music through my head and humming it out as the distance to the finish grew shorter.  I crested the hill.  There was the arena.  There was the crowd.  I could go straight in instead of turning around to go back for another loop!  I picked up the pace and entered the arena.

There was Kathryn!  She and a crowd of others lined the long finishers’ chute curving along the side of the arena floor.  I high-fived her and anyone else that stuck their hand out.  I was mindful to give the other runners their moment of finishing and held back a bit as I curved around toward the arch over the finish line.  And then I heard the voice of Ironman announce my name.  “John Burns from Addison!”

It was over!  I made it!  I received my medal and finisher goodies and then received the most welcome gift of all:  A kiss and a hug from my sweet Kathryn!  I felt the waves of emotion come over me and cried.  I had finished a half Ironman triathlon in 6 hours and 23 minutes AND Kathryn and I were getting married!

At the time, I thought to myself, “I’m not sure how soon I want to repeat that experience!”  But as time passes and I train for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in April, I know I’ll be back.

jb