Those responsible for the news letter at the company where I work recently asked me to share my experience of competing in a IronMan triathlon. In June 2012 I completed an IronMan in Coeur d’Alene (CDA) Idaho which was an awesome place to do a triathlon. The community was very welcoming; the spectators were enthusiastic, the volunteers were outstanding and it was a first class event hosted in a very beautiful city.
I heard you recently completed an IronMan triathlon. What is an IronMan exactly?
IronMan is a full distance triathlon. There are many different distances of triathlon which all include swimming, cycling and running, in that order. A full length IronMan consists of a 3.8 km swim, followed by 180 kms of cycling, and then finishes off with a full distance marathon of 42 kms.
END OF A LONG DAY
Do you complete all three of those things in one day? How long does it usually take?
Yes. A person’s time will depend on many factors such as ability, fitness, nutrition, weather etc. There is a time limit of 17 hours and many people don’t complete the race for various reasons. I did a lot of training leading up to the race, so was able to complete my race in 11 hours and 58 minutes which placed me in the top 20% of competitors.
You mentioned that you did a lot of training. How many hours of training per week?
Training for IronMan was a long journey considering I began a structured training plan in back in November; I guess it took me about 7 months to prepare. Training consisted of an average of 9 workouts per week (3 swims, 3 bike rides, 3 runs). It started with about 10 hours per week back in November and eventually peaked to 17- 20 hours per week in April and May.
That’s a very big commitment Dan. Where do you find the time? As a triathlete you learn many skills other than the obvious ones of swimming, biking and running. I have had to learn how to manage my time and energy effectively. Also, I have a very supportive network of family and friends. My girlfriend is extremely supportive and has been awesome throughout the journey.
Why did you choose the gruelling sport of triathlon?
I believe that people should pursue the things that excite them, and for me the appeal goes back to when I was a kid. I loved to swim, bike and run so triathlon is perfect for me. I believe every person has unlimited potential and I’m interested to see what I can achieve when I set my mind to it. Also, there are the obvious benefits of improved health and fitness.
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What are some of the highlights of your experiences in competitions?
The IronMan in Idaho was unbelievable as I competed with about 2800 participants in front of huge crowds of supporters; the energy and atmosphere was amazing. The volunteers and spectators at CDA were outstanding. There were many funny signs such as one by a lady which read “you have endurance, call me anytime!” At many points along the run course there were acts of kindness and appreciation by participants, volunteers and spectators. I remember thinking how grateful I was for participating in such an event.
I also participated in an IronMan 70.3 (half-IronMan distance) event in Panama City, Panama last February, and Lance Armstrong was one of the professionals competing in that race. To have been part of the same event with professionals and someone with the status and accomplishments of Lance was a unique experience for sure.
Where the any tough times during the race where you wanted to quit?
I never thought about quiting but there were several times during the last half of the run which challenged my will. By mile 18 of the run portion things started to hurt and I could see my pace had slowed. I made the last climb over a steep hill and remembered thinking “less than 10 km to go. I’ve done this many times before so just take it home. Leave it all out here”. The last hour was painful but I knew it would soon be over so just kept it going. I reminded myself, “it’s IronMan, of course it’s going to be tough. Suck it up and get it done”.
You mentioned on several occasions that the spectators were amazing. Is there one story which stands out?
There were countless instances of encouragement throughout the day which were totally awesome. Seeing Tara a couple of times was the most uplifting for me. Also, there are a couple of other times which stand out such as when with about 2 miles left I passed a line of duplexes which had about 50 college students in front of it partying. They had AC/DC blaring and I stopped briefly for high fives but was worried that too long of a “beer break” could get in the way of my time goal.
The other most memorable moment was turning onto the main street of Coeur d’Alene for the final stretch. The streets were lined with hundreds of cheering spectators and it was a gradual downhill towards the finish. I remember thinking, “I got it, I did it”. All I had left to do was savour the moment. It was down to high fives to hundreds of spectators along the final hundred meters and through to the finish line. What an experience, what a journey!
What’s next, any plans on slowing down?
I will likely do some shorter distance triathlon races in Manitoba this summer and possibly some races in the USA this fall. No plans on slowing down! A triathlete is never fully satisfied with a race— there’s always somewhere to improve and I am hopeful my times will get better with age.
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