“John Tate, You are an Ironman.” What a great thing to hear as you cross the
finish line of your first Ironman.
David and I got to Tempe on Thursday and after I dropped him
at the Hotel, I jetted out to meet Laurel and Bill at a little athlete’s get
together. It was great to see her and
finally meet Bill in person. They are
such great people and friends too.
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| Bill, Laurel and me. |
Friday morning found David and I heading out to the B-Line to
go for a practice ride so David could get a feel for part of the bike
course. It was a very nice ride. Thanks to Laurel, I was able to ride the
course back in May. It was a lot
different as I was now riding it on my TT bike and had a few months of
conditioning under my belt. The pace
David set felt good and I felt like I could keep my goal of maintaining an
average speed of 18mph on the course during the race and having enough left for
the run.
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| David getting ready for his first ride on the B-Line |
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| Where's the Beach? |
I can still remember riding with Laurel on my rented road
bike and her on her mountain bike training for Leadville. She killed me. We went down into Fountain Hill area for a
detour at the turnaround. What a
gorgeous community. On the way back into
town we came across what must have been a couple hundred CO2 cartridges spread out
on the side of the road. Laurel, being
the ecologically minded person, one of her many fine qualities, stopped and we picked
them all up. Filling up our water
bottles and our bike jerseys we headed back to the shop and put them in the recycling
bin. Found out they were spent cartridges’
the Arizona Department of Transportation discarded after use. Shame on you ADOT!!!!!
Friday afternoon David and I went for a short run to shake things out
and take a look at the turnaround point of the swim course. Then Saturday morning we headed down to the
water for a nice little practice swim. Felt
good getting in the water and getting a feel for the temperature, it took the
edge off the nerves a bit too.
Race Day
Swim
Pretty crazy!!! Got up
early and started my pre-race nutrition plan.
I was nervous as all get out. A
bit excited too. Just wanted to get in
the water and get going. We donned our
wetsuits and I gave Robin one last kiss and headed to the start of a very long
day. I had planned to stay to the right
and back of the swim group as I had done in previous open water
situations. However, somehow I found
myself right in the middle of the pack.
The cannon went off and the craziness began. Swimmers climbing over you, grabbing your
feet, hitting you as their hands entered the water trying to get the best
positioning for themselves. After a couple
hundred yards I found a pretty nice line and was able to get into my rhythm. Because of the craziness, I didn’t have to
spend too much time sighting. I did however
find myself staying right on course with the buoys. Not sure if it was the best plan, but I
managed a pretty good swim (1:39) for this non-swimmers body and my first real mass(ive) swim start. Out of the water and heading for T1 was a
great feeling. I was anxious to get on
the bike and get going.
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| Race Morning. The last smile of the day until we cross the finish line. |
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| And they're off! |
Bike
Seeing Robin as I was mounting my bike and heading out was
awesome! Her smile and encouragement is
always an inspiration for me during these events. I was on my way and feeling great. My goal for the ride was to get it done under
6:30. No crosswinds on race day made for
a nice fast ride. I had just gotten out
on the B-Line when David hollered at me as he was heading back into town to
start his 2nd loop. All I
kept thinking to myself, I wasn’t going to let him catch me. I stuck to my nutrition plan and rode through
every aid station taking in some fluids.
I kept looking at the horizon for
the different landmarks I stashed away in my head from my two rides on the
course and many sessions on the trainer and the Tempe Spinerval DVD, so I had
some idea as to how close I was getting to the turnaround. After the first turnaround I picked up speed as
we headed downhill and felt like I was flying with little effort. I got back into town for the start of my
second lap and once again, there was Robin.
Smiling and cheering me on.
As I approached the turnaround out on the course I really had
to use the restroom. However, there was
a line so I kept going and finally stopped at an aid station on the way back after
getting off of the B-Line, as there was no line. The folks took my bike, filled my water bottles
for me while I was doing my thing. I
took off and about a couple hundred yards from the station my rear wheel
flattened. Mile 65, flat tire, great!!!!
I quickly changed it and was back out on the road. It was a good thing that at the last minute before
we left Portland, I decided to buy another stem extender and set up a tube in case
I had a rear flat as I didn’t want to have to take the only one I had off and
put it on a new tube on the course. That little bit of planning really paid
off. It was the best $4.00 I have ever
spent.
As I came into the chute heading for T2, there was Robin,
again cheering me on. I managed to
finish the bike within my goal with a time of 6:14, which gave me an overall
pace of 17.9mph, with 2 bathroom breaks and 1 flat repair. And David didn’t lap me, I was very happy.
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| Coming back into town. |
Run
I was two-thirds done and ahead of my goal time. I headed out on the run and was still feeling
pretty good, tired, but good. I watched
my pace as I was going a bit too fast at first and needed to slow down. I was wearing my Hoka One One’s and in
training they always felt great after the bike.
Felt like I was running on pillows.
Felt the same on this day too, which was a pleasant feeling. David hollered at me again on the run
course. It was nice to see him
throughout the race. It always gave me a
boost, right when I needed it. Of
course, once again I couldn’t let him lap me, so that was my focus on the first
half of the run, keep going and don’t look back.
The run course was absolutely gorgeous as it was along the
riverbank on both sides. Throughout my
training the past year, I spent numerous hours and miles running around the
waterfront in downtown Portland where we live.
So I kept associating my run in Arizona with different spots back home. I kept telling myself, I was just out for
another long Sunday morning training run.
It really helped.
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| First half of the run along the riverbank. |
I had planned
on running through the aid stations my first few miles. I stuck to the plan but also knew I needed to
slow down a bit or I would blow up later.
I didn’t slow down to my preplanned race pace until somewhere around
mile 9. Later, this would end up being a
big mistake. I did see Bill, Laurels boyfriend, and said Hi as I went through one of the aid stations. He yelled out my name over the loudspeaker as
I went by. It was really nice seeing a
familiar face at that point.
I
made it to the halfway point and no David, so I was happy and proceeded on my
second lap as it was starting to get dark. About mile 18 I started to
fall apart and I wasn't sure
why. I made sure I was taking in my nutrition as planned, walked
through a few aid stations, and didn’t go all out on the swim and run. I
just felt spent. Then it hit me; I should have slowed down much sooner in
the beginning of the run. Told myself so many times I would not go out
too fast on the run, but I did. That is lack of experience for you.
Too late now, for the first time in the event I was in fear of the possibility
of not finishing.
I
almost got into a panic and overwhelming sense of failure. A solid year
of Ironman preparation and training to get here and then to fail on a stupid
avoidable mistake, I felt a bit of depression coming on. Then all of a
sudden, there was my angel in disguise, Robin. I handed her my sunglasses
and she walked with me for about a half mile. Giving me the encouragement
I needed. My energy was renewed and off I went, running to the next aid
station as I smiled and told her I would meet her at the finish line. I
was not about to give up at this point!
I ran to each aid station then walked through them and ran to the next. The last 4 however, my adrenaline kicked in
and I ran through the rest, and skipping the last two, running all the way to the finish line. I rounded the corner and headed down the finishers
chute, I was about to finish my first Ironman.
I was so overwhelmed with joy hearing Mike Reilly say those coveted words, “John Tate, You are an
Ironman.” and better yet, to see Robin (and David) at the finish just made one
of the toughest and longest days of my life perfect and complete. My goal was to finish my first Ironman in less
than 14 hours, and finish strong.
Mission accomplished; 13:51 and with a big smile on my face.
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| What a very long day! |
Will I ever do another Ironman? Absolutely!!!!
Acknowledgements
5 years ago, after a heart attack, the doctor told me I had
3-5 years left on this planet if I didn't change something in my life. What a wakeup call and dose of reality. I had to change as I did not want to leave my
true love alone.
5 years later, filled with a lot of change and training, hearing those ever coveted words over the loudspeaker, "John Tate, you are an
Ironman." They were the second best words I
have ever heard. Robin saying "I do", still number one.
The journey to IMAZ 2013 was filled with so many wonderful
experiences. I met and shared time with
some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. Was it easy, No! But then again, nothing
worth anything is ever easy.
David Hopper has been such a positive and great influence in
my life. Getting me to do my first marathon
(Eugene 2013) all the way to finishing my first Ironman, he was there all the
way with undying support and a fountain of knowledge.
I could not have accomplished all I did this past year in getting to
Arizona without him. He was (and is) such an inspiration and
mentor. Thank you David for everything,
I could not have done it all without you.
All the training in the freezing cold, rain and heat of the summer
was a lot of fun and at times a bit painful, but well worth it. You are a true friend and I am so glad our
paths have crossed. I look forward to
our next adventure, whatever that might be.
Thanks to Laurel Darren, Ertan, Ami B., Will Cortez, Athlete’s
Lounge, Vernier Software and Technology, and a host of others, for all your
help and support in fulfilling a dream.
A Big Thanks also goes out to my mother and family for
believing in me and not writing me off.
And
of course, Thanks has to go out to my strongest supporter, my lovely wife,
Robin. We did it sweetheart! We turned it all around, from a
hospital bed and downward spiral 5 years ago to finishing an Ironman. You
stuck with me, had faith in me, always encouraged me when I thought I couldn’t,
took care of the household when I needed to train long, took the dog out in the
rain, gave me dry shirts on my 6 hour indoor trainer rides, carting my bike,
running and swimming gear around on every vacation, you made so many
sacrifices, so that I could complete a dream. I bow down to you and
your immense patience with me during this journey. Thank
You my love!
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| Athlete's dinner with my true Love, Robin. |
The journey to IMAZ 2013 has come to an end. But as one chapter ends, another begins. What next?
Stay tuned and remember, no matter the situation, and no matter what
people tell you, it’s still up to you and only you to determine the outcome and
your future. You can accomplish anything
you want. You just have to believe in
yourself, have patience and don’t let go of your dream. It also takes a lot of support from those
around you who really care and truly love you.
Morgan Freeman, in the Shawshank Redemption said it best, “Get
busy livin, or get busy dyin.” I chose
to get busy livin(g) and I haven’t looked back since. Until the next adventure, I wish everyone the
best in fulfilling your dreams and aspirations.
John “Ironman” Tate
