Watch out Kona......Here we come!!!

It been almost 7 months when this journey first started.  I've trained over 85 miles in the water, 1325 miles on the bike, and over 350 miles in my running shoes.  All this training for one goal....  Finishing the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship. "There are only two type of people in this world.......those who say they CAN, and those who say they CAN'T".  Which one are you?

MONDAY: Travel Day to Hawaii

Well, the time had finally come.  I looked down at my hand as it was shaking with excitement as I packed my bag for our early morning flight on Monday.  The night before we left for Kona was pretty chaotic.  Traveling with a 9-week old and a 3-year old toddler is a lot of work.  Vanessa and I were not looking forward to the 9+ hour flight.  Luckily, my parents were coming along with us so we would have some extra ammo in case the kids decided to "party" all the way to Hawaii.  The first leg of the flight was from Dallas to Phoenix and it went very well.  Elle and Mia were perfect.  As we boarded the plane in Phoenix it really started to set in that the big day was approaching.  Our entire plane was filled with triathletes, media, vendors, etc. Everyone on the plane had something to do with Ironman and you could really feel the excitement.   The second leg of the flight was over 6 hour but went well.  Both Mia and Elle again were rock stars, sleeping for the majority of the flight.  Elle just watched her Justin Bieber videos on her iPad, so that kept her occupied for hours, lol!  I still do not know how a 3-year old already has a rush on this Bieber character?   Aloha!  We arrived safely and 2pm as we exited off the plane.  The humidity and heat that I read so much about was apparent seconds into me walking off the plane.  I glanced around at the terrain  as it actually looked more like Mars than a tropical island.  Lined with black lava as far as the eye can see.  This was it, we have arrived in Kona!  The family gathered the bags quickly and my dad and I went to pick up the rental cars.  Our body clocks thought it was 7PM so we were pretty wiped out from the 11+ hours of travel that day. We headed straight to our rental home 10 minutes from the airport.  Here is a quick video of the rental home we had right on Ali'i Drive.  This was taken right when we arrived.

TUESDAY:

Pre-Swim/Race Registration:

I woke up early to the sound of the waves crashing in the air.  That is something you do not get often in Dallas!  I was so excited to get a start on the day since it was our first full day in Kona and I go pick up my registration for the race.  I was also allowed to pick up my bike from TriBike Transport.  This was the company that shipped my bike for me to the Big Island.  I was excited to take it for a little spin since it had been two weeks since I had ridden it.  All my training the previous two weeks had been on my spin bike in my house and at LA Fitness. Vanessa and I grabbed a quick bite in the house and then Mia, Vanessa, and I headed down to Dig Me Beach at Kahlua Bay.  This is the signature location of Kona and the Ironman.  Also the swim start for the race.  Since it was only Tuesday the town was still somewhat quiet.  Most everyone arrived sometime Tuesday but I could still feel the excitement as we approached the swim area. Here are a few photos and a video of Vanessa and I at the swim site Tuesday morning.



Right before my swim at Dig Me Beach Tuesday Morning



Vanessa, Mia, and I after my swim practice

Later on that afternoon after we were settled, I headed back downtown the King Kamehameha Hotel to pick up my registration for the race.   This is the headquarters for Ironman and is located right off of Kahlua Bay.  As I waited in line at the registration table I looked around and saw hundreds of fit athletes throughout the conference room.  At first glance, it was very intimidating.  After all, I was getting ready to compete with arguably the best athletes in the world.  These guys and gals all looked like human hydration projects! Each and every one of them chiseled and lean.  As my number was called I was placed at a long table with probably 50 people sitting at it.  Right next to me sat  Lou Hollander, the 82-year old, who was attempting his 21st Ironman in a row.  All I could say was "WOW", as looked at him in amazement.  "Most 82-year old men cannot even drive 112 miles, let alone ride a bike that distance", I said to myself.  As most of us in the room had that feeling of the "first day of school" in kindergarten, Lou looked as calm as the ocean breeze.  Hell, this race to him was just another walk in the park!  After a brief wait, I was interviewed by one of the volunteers and we went through all my information to make sure it was accurate. I was amazed all the details they had about me.  Full medical, family, and employment records.  I felt like I was joining the military. I forget the girls name but she was from Sweden.  The volunteer next to here was from Germany. This was very common in Ironman.  It is such an international sport and the fact that this was the world championship brought athletes from over 59 different countries.  Registration took only a short time.  I received a ton of gadgets, shirts, coupons, magazines, and other cool stuff for competing in the race.  Heck, for the $700 entry fee, I should of gotten a free bike, right?   I loaded everything in my backpack and headed over to TriBike Transport to pick my bike up.  This was a simple process and I was off on my bike in less than 10 minutes headed home.  Here is a quick clip of me cruising home on Ali'i Drive.  One thing to notice is the amount of runners and cyclist on the streets.  This only grew drastically as the week progressed.  Many of the locals said to me that it is like that year around.  Everyday there are hundreds of runners and cyclist on the streets at all hours.

Parade of Nations:

Later that evening I was to meet back at the hotel to walk with the United States athletes in the Parade of Nations.  This was similar to the opening ceremonies you would see at the Olympics.  Not nearly as big or elaborate, but it still gave you that great feeling of pride representing your country.  Looking back at it, this was one of the most amazing experiences of the week.  I cannot explain the feeling of marching down a street filled with thousands of people watching, holding an American Flag, and everyone chanting....USA, USA, USA!  I will never forget the feeling and that moment.  I often took many moments during the parade to take it all in and look what was around me.  I look to my left and there is a middle-aged man with no legs competing as an athlete.  Then you look to my right and see a lady with one arm.  You think you have it tough, think again?  I said to myself, "this is it, I am here, I made it!".  It was a pretty emotional feeling.  By far one of the coolest experiences of my life that I will never forget it.  It's so hard to explain something when you have worked so hard to get there and you finally realize how big a deal it is.  For a short week in my life I felt like a world class athlete.  It was very surreal.  As I walked, I met many great athletes from the U.S.  Each one with a special story or reason why they are here competing.  This is what makes the sport of triathlon and Ironman such so amazing and why so many agree it is an addiction.   Here are few videos shot by me during the parade. The second video with Elle was one I'll never forget.  The look on her face was priceless as she though all of fans were cheering for her!

WEDNESDAY:

      Morning Chat with Baby Mia

   

Ride on the Queen K:

Wednesday morning I decided I would get the bike out on the road and take a little stroll on the bike course to see what it was all about.  Over the past six months I have watched hundreds of videos and read many articles all about the famous Queen K Highway and how the bike portion of the race is the signature of the Ford Ironman World Championship.  I was excited to get out on my bike and get my legs loose.  My plan was just to go out about 20 miles and turn around back to town.  I learned shortly that the first 20+ miles or so of the bike are the easiest part.  As I made the climb up Palani Hill and made the right turn on the Queen K Hwy, I had another one of those "I cannot believe I am here" moments. I looked around and had a huge smile on my face.  For triathletes, Kona is the "World Series" of the sport.  The birth of the sport.  I was so lucky to be one of the few that get to experience this race.  It only took a few minutes as I zoomed on the shoulder of the Queen K to find out that this part of the course was fast.  For the next 30 minutes I flew on the shoulder of the highway at over 25 mph.   I could not believe how fast the course was and how good I felt.  It was quite intimidating as many cyclist rode along with me (most blew past me).  All these super pro athletes with there $9,000 dollar bikes, are a bit overwhelming.  I stayed focused and knew that this race was about me and I did not need to worry about all the hype and what the others are doing.  If I did that, it could be a disaster for me on race day.  As I got further out of the city I began to experience those famous crosswinds that everyone talks about.  There were a few times I almost got knocked off the bike as the short gusts of 20-30 mph would swipe across the highway.  Even with the winds I felt good though.  I finally got out about 20 miles and decided to turn around.  I had broken a pretty solid sweat and did not want to push myself or fatigue my legs.  I took a moment to jump off the bike and film a few quick videos to show the terrain.  On my way back I finally experienced the treacherous headwinds as they picked up to about 35mph.  The videos do not do justice of the views or the wind. 

 About 20 Miles out on the Queen K Highway

Headed Back To Town-  Hello Wind!!!!

   

Lets Drive to Hawi:

When I got back to the house I decided it would probably be a good idea to go drive the rest of the bike course.  Especially since I have heard that from about mile 40-60 you begin the climb to Hawi (pronounced Havi), the turn around city for the bike course.  The climb to Hawi  is the toughest part of the bike.  Hawi is at the far north end of the island where the winds pick up drastically in the afternoon.  Once you turn off the Queen K at about mile 35, you begin a 18+ mile climb for the next hour plus.  I had heard about the tough climb a thousand times from others.  For someone that is an average cyclist at best, this scared the living heck out of me.   So Vanessa and I loaded up Elle and Mia and headed out on the Queen K, destination Hawi.  It was nap time for the kiddos so the 2 hour road trip would be perfect.  During the ride I pointed out to Vanessa the details of the course.  I was like a kid in a candy store.  IT seemed like forever but we finally got to the end of the Queen K Highway to make the turn to Hawi. Without getting in to much detail  (will detail later in race report), let me just say that when we got to Hawi my excitement of the bike had declined!  Better yet, for the first time, Vanessa showed her concern.  Looking back, I am glad we drove to Hawi even though it scare the heck out of me.  I will never forget Vanessa saying, "Tommy, I do not think this is even fair", LOL!  Here is a quick photo of some wind turbines as well as the trees right outside of Hawi.  Not the best photo but take a look at the trees and how they are bent.  At this point the wind was around 45 mph. 

The Wind in Hawi

                                  

THURSDAY:

Morning Swim Tragedy:

I had made it a routine to make it down to Dig Me Beach every morning for a swim.  After all, this was the heart of Kona, where each morning I could experience Ironman at its best.  By today the town was packed.  They began setting up the finish line area as well as all the large television towers.  You could really feel the energy and excitement in the town.  Unfortunately, that energy took a turn that morning.  As I was finishing up my swim and was approaching the shore (about 100 yards in the water).  I saw a bunch of commotion on the beach.  At first I thought people were just playing around so continued my leisurely pace back to shore.  Then I looked up again and did not believe what I saw.  People were carrying a man out the water that seemed to be unconscious.  My first thought was a shark attack since we were swimming in 40ft to 80ft deep water.  As I approached the shore I quickly got out of the water to see a swarm of spectators surrounding a small grassy area under a large tree.  There laid a man receiving CPR.  Word quickly spread that he had a heart attack out in the water.  The minute I heard that, all the excitement and jitters in my body went empty.  I had to turn my head as many watched.  Within minutes the ambulance came as they loaded the man up and into the ambulance.  Nothing was never confirmed but the ambulance never pulled away.  Word started to spread that he was never revived and passed away.  Everyone was shocked.  Many people gathered  in small circles saying short prayers for him and his family.  I found out later that his wife was an competitor and her husband was in town supporting her.  It was a very sad moment.

The Underpants Run:

I had seen many video clips on YouTube about the infamous "Underpants Run"  This might be the single most popular event all week.  The only rule to take part, you must wear for underpants!  It was estimated that over a thousand people took part Thursday morning  . The Underpants Run had been around for years and it is a charity fundraiser that takes place every week during the World Championship.   Luckily I was able to get a funny video of the event right before it started.  Don't worry folks, it is PG-rated!

Athlete Welcome Banquet:

Later that evening was the Athlete Welcome Banquet.  This was a pretty cool event where all athletes and other guests get together for a dinner and welcome everyone to the event.  I attended by myself that night meeting up with two other lottery winners from the D/FW Metroplex, Brian and Stephen.  It was great to be able to meet some folks from my town as well as compare stories of how we all got into the sport and our expectations for the race.  It is pretty rare to have three lottery entries selected from the same area.  We all sat at a table together and chatted for quite a bit.  Sharing stories and getting each and everyone one of us pumped up for the race.  Stephen and I were the rookies.  It was going to be our first Ironman event.  Brian had done four previous races so he was a little more prepared for what was to come.  The first 45 minutes of the ceremony introduced us to a traditional Hawaiian Luau.  Shortly after "the voice of Ironman", Mike Reilly took the stage and introduced us to many people that made the race possible.  He also introduced the youngest and oldest competitors of the week.  Good ole Lou Hollander was up there going strong at 82-years of age.  I loved Lou's motto, "if you cant beat your competition, out live your competition!  Here is a quick video of Mike Reilly speaking.

FRIDAY:

Bike Check-In/ Final Preparation:
It was the day before the race.  Last night was the first night I had trouble sleeping.  The nerves and jitters were at full force.  That morning I planned to get in a short run but decided just to rest up all day and get ready for the bike check-in later that afternoon.  I cruised with Mike and Jeff around town and we did a little shopping as well as walking around the Ironman Village.  By now the finish line was almost constructed and the town of Kona was in full effect.  The town had started closing off the streets so it made it tough to get around by car. The streets were packed with people and the vibe of Ironman was alive and well!  Later that afternoon it was time to head downtown and check my bike into transition as well as my bike and run gear bags and pre-race swim bag.  You would of thought that I was going on a week trip with the amount of things you had to pack and turn in before the race.

Mike and Jeff In Town:

Back at the house I scrambled to get ready as I was heading to the airport to pick up my best buddy, Jeff Eidsvig.  I have mentioned Jeff numerous times in previous blogs as my chiropractor who volunteered his services to me over the past six months. He basically saved me from a torn Achilles tendon as well as treated me for numerous other injuries and adjustments.  It meant a whole lot for him to take the time to fly out to Kona from Dallas and be there with me on race day. I cannot thank him enough.  Not only was Jeff arriving, my brother Mike from Las Vegas was also making his way in town.  Having my big brother come in town to watch me complete one of the biggest accomplishments of my life was truly awesome.  I call Mike my "Public Relations" guy.  He was all over Twitter and Facebook all week hyping the event up.  I cannot explain how much it meant for him to be there.  The coolest thing was seeing him gain so much interest and respect for the sport. Triathlon is relatively new to the United States and many do not know what its all about. Weeks before the race Mike just thought I was crazy for doing this.  He had no idea why.  You could see while in Kona that it started to come to him though.  I think the vibe, the excitement, the energy of the town,  really pumped him up and gave him a new respect for the sport.  Mike often seemed more excited than I was throughout the week and his presence was appreciated.  Here is a photo of my gear bags along with a photo of my bike before I turned everything in on Friday.

            

Going into the bike check-in was a unforgettable experience.  I walked down to the transition entrance with my dad, brother, and Jeff.  They waited for me as I had to show my athlete wrist band to enter.  I entered a long narrow driveway about 6 feet wide lined with hundreds of people.  These people were a mix of media, bike reps, vendors, etc.  They were there to check out all the bike as they were checked in.  This way they could report the bike types, components, helmets, shoes, and every other thing you had to check.  Representatives from all the big bike and equipment companies were lining the walls with clipboards staring at every detail of equipment you had on you (Cervelo, Trek, Felt, K Swiss, TYR,  etc.)  This took place while television cameras shot live segments and cameras snapped photos of you.  It was the red carpet of triathlon and I was smack-dab in the middle of it!  Everyone has there eye on you and it was a very cool feeling.  Somewhat intimidating but for a brief moment I felt like a celebrity.  I had to keep reminding myself that I was racing with the big boys!  The best athletes in the sport from all over the world.  This was a big deal!

            SATURDAY:  Race Day!!!

          

              My girls and I at 4am on race morning ready to roll!

Race Day:

The alarm went off at 3:30AM early Friday morning but it did not matter.  I was wide awake and my mind had already felt like it was in the middle of the 140.6 mile race.  Fortunately Jeff had adjusted me the night before so I surprisingly got more sleep than the previous night.  I felt numb as I walked around the house getting my race gear and nutrition together.  It was the feeling of nerves, excitement, and all the build up to this race, in one feeling.  Jeff stretched me out for a good 15 minutes and we began to load the troops to head downtown.  The real race started at 4AM when we loaded up the two cars, lol!:  Car #1  (Myself, Vanessa, Mia, Elle, Carol (mother-in-law) Car #2 (Mike Mom, Dad, Jeff).  All week I had thought their was no way in hell we could round all the family up that early and get down the race site with no issues. I was proven wrong though as it took less than 10 minutes to get down the road and into the "secret" parking lot a local Hawaiian told us about earlier in the week. If you have never experience Kona on Ironman race day, it is something else.  Even though it is dark, the energy is like nothing I had ever experienced.  It seemed as if there was a "calm before the storm" feeling in the air.  The streets were filling up even at 5am and cameras were everywhere.I took a few pre-race photos outside of the transition that morning with the family and then I was off to get ready for the race.  I could tell that my family was just a nervous as I was.  I had told them for months about the energy and vibe downtown on race day but to this point I don't think they though much of it.   I could tell by there faces that they finally got what I meant as they all looked around in amazement.     The energy of Ironman was more alive now than it had been all week and it was inside of everyone.  I remember my stomach churning like butter.  Playing competitive sports all my life growing up I thought I could handle this type of feeling since it had been with me thousands of times before.  But this was a different feeling.  It was that feeling you only get a few times in your life.   You know, the one on the first day of school when you were headed to kindergarten. That feeling right before you walk down the aisle with your beautiful wife.  The feeling in the car on the way to the delivery room for the birth of your first child.  Yeah, you got it!  That feeling!

I entered the body marking area and the line was not nearly as long as I had anticipated.  It was pretty cool when entering the body marking area where you are standing next to all the top pro contenders and hundreds of media from across the country.  It was still dark out so as you looked around you saw nothing but flashes from the large amount of cameras.  NBC was set up in transition shooting a piece on Craig Alexander right in front of me.  Seeing this is totally cool as I just shook my head once again thinking this was a dream.  After a brief wait in line I was off to the transition area. Right before you enter the transition area your weight is documented by doctors for record.    I got to my bike in transition and  took a minute to look around and take it all in.  Over 1800 athletes filled the transition area in a sea of expensive bikes and gear.  Again, hundreds of cameras from media outlets from all over the world were present.I just looked around in amazement.

      The Swim (2.4 miles): 

The race was opened with the national anthem and then the pro race kicked off.  After talking with a few people in transition to pass some nerves, it was time to line up and get in the water.  For those of you that know Ironman, the swim start in Kona is amazing. it k 10 minutes or so to enter the water as a long lined form. Once I entered the water I swam out about fifty yards and turned to  pan the sea wall for a few minutes searching for my family in the crowd of thousands. I spotted my brother and the rest of the family sitting right on the sea wall with a fantastic view of the swim start..  They waived and cheered as I floated in the water with the other athletes anxiously anticipating the start of the race.  I had read in previous blogs from others who have completed this race to make sure that you take a moment and look around as you first enter the water.  To really take this part in as this day would be one of the most amazing experiences in my life.  Make sure to at all the people, the swimmers, the cameras, and to really feel the energy and atmosphere. It was amazing! I floated in the water for about five minutes holding on to one of the paddle boats filled with volunteers.  Before you knew it, a large cannon  fired a fierce boom into the air and I was off!    For the most part, the start  went well.  Within the first few minutes I was in a smooth rhythm and out of the mass group of swimmers.  I settled in behind another athlete and swam most of the first half of the swim on him feet.  Just like in car racing you see on TV, drafting is key to swimming and conserving energy. You do this by getting right behind or just next to the swimmer in front of you.  I had worked on this numerous times during my open-water swims with the Dallas Athletes group at Lake Grapevine during my training.  The training paid off as I drafted off swimmers for probably 70% of the race.  I did get one good shot to my head from a foot, but that comes with the territory.  I was not going to let a kick to my head stop me.  The turn around boat seemed like it took hours to come up on.  Smaller boats lined the course with media snapping photos and one of the coolest things was the underwater divers taking photos from the bottom of the sea.  The cameras along with schools of fish and other sea life almost took your mind off the race.  Almost that is..... until I made the turn and looked up to see the shoreline so far away.  It looked more like I was 50 miles away as you could barely make out the shore line from the turn around point.  BY now I developed a slight headache.  Not sure if it was just the large swells out in the 60+ foot deep water or that I was taking in some of the salt water when breathing.  I decided to put the last half of the swim on cruise control since I know I was making decent time. By now most of the competitors were spread out in pack drafting off each other. I still remember the Royal Kona Resort on the right side of the swim. Every time I would come up to breath I was convinced the resort was on roller skates because I never seemed to catch up to it.  I knew mentally that I had to pass the resort even before I was within 1000 meters of the shoreline. Eventually I made it past the Royal Kona and was on my way to the swim exit. I came out of the water about 10 minutes slower than I projected but was just happy just to be done.  I cant tell you the great feeling when you take that last stroke and put your feel on the ocean shore to exit the water.  I stood still with my feet flat  for a few seconds to make sure I was not going to fall over from being too dizzy.  I exited the water up the large stair case to large crowds screaming and yelling for all the athletes.  The time clock heading into transition said 1:21 so I was happy. The swim was honestly harder than I thought.  It has always been my strongest of the three events so I think I underestimated the distance a bit.  That along with the swells out deep in the ocean I think is what developed my headache. By the time I got into transition I was fine. 

Transition 1:

I ran (maybe more like a light jog, lol) into the transition area and showered off under the fresh water hoses hanging from the designated area.  I quickly was handed my Bike Gear bag and headed into the changing tents.  Immediately two volunteers showed me a chair and help me gather my bike gear and get ready to head out.  It was amazing to see how many volunteers were there to assist.  I threw on my bike shoes, helmet, and sunglasses and was out of transition on my bike. I must had missed the sunscreen station and I would be paying for that later!

The Bike (112 miles):

I headed out on the bike and felt pretty good.  I knew that the real race was about to start for me since the biking portion of the Ironman has always been my nemesis.  Over the past 16-weeks I had improved drastically on my bike but it I was still pretty intimidated from what I saw on Wednesday driving to course and the fact that I had never actually ridden a full 112 miles.  The first few miles of the course takes you out and around the town of Kona where the streets are lined with spectators.  I knew to keep my cool and not let the adrenaline take over from all the energy on the streets.  It was a pretty cool site to see all these people cheering for you as you flew by on your bike.  Since I was familiar with the first 20+ miles of the bike I decided to settle in to a nice rhythm.  I had taken the advice of many and I planned to break the bike course up into sections.  The first 30 miles or so I planned to take it easy and treat it like a warm-up not pushing myself.  I got out on to the Queen K Highway and was feeling great.  I made sure to look around and really take in the race.  Since I was a decent swimmer I knew once I got out on the bike many people would zoom past me since I came out of the water in the middle of the pack and there were still hundreds of athletes in the water..  Most of these triathletes were fantastic cyclist and they planned to make up their time on the bike.  For me, my plan was to make it through the bike with no nutritional, mechanical, or any other issues that would keep me from finishing the race.  I knew if I kept a steady pace I would be off the bike in plenty of time to finish the marathon portion even if I had to walk.  Out on the Queen K Hwy it was very surreal for me.  I have said this earlier in my posts but for those who are not familiar with the sport, the Queen K is the most famous road in triathlon.  I made sure I took in every bit of it during the bike.  I got to the first aid station at mile-15 feeling great. i probably was going a little slower than I could have but  I wanted to make sure I did not underestimate the bike course.  Since I had forgot one of my EFS Endurance bottles that morning I was in a little bit of a panic.  I knew I would have to rely on the aid stations for the majority of my nutrition for the first 56-miles until I got to my "special needs bag at the turn around..  Each aid station seemed to be about 100 yards long, full of volunteers handing out everything from Water, Cola, Ironman Perform (Gatorade), Bananas, Power Bars and Gels.  I was pleasantly surprised how organized and how frequent the aid stations were on the bike course.  Not 20 miles into the race I had dumped my original nutrition plan and decided to just work off the aid stations.  For most triathletes this was suicide in a race of this caliber, but since I had trained with the Ironman Perform drink before, I knew my stomach could handle it. It was a big risk to just scratch your nutrition plan that you had worked on for the past six weeks but I was confident it would all workout.  About two hours into the ride I was approaching the end of the Queen K Hwy where I was to begin my climb to Hawi.  One of the coolest things I remember from the race was seeing the leaders head back on the Queen K the opposite way.  I could see in the distance a helicopter flying about 100 feet from the ground and I knew they were coming.  As the leaders approached I made sure to check it out. A motorcade of about five motorcycles leading a small pack of 3-4 riders zoomed by.  In the lead as expected was Chris Lieto, the top U.S. contender.  I yelled to him as he passed by saying, "Go Get'em Chris".  Going into the race, myself along with many of the American competitors were hoping that Chris Lieto could find a way to take the crown this year.  He is a phenomenal cyclist but tends to fall apart on the run since there are so many great runners chasing him.  His best finish was 2nd in 2009 and being 39 year-old, Chris knew this may be his last shot.  Seeing the lead pack gave me a bit of energy so I decided to pick the pace up for the next few miles.   I was making great time and started to think that I could possibly get off this bike a lot quicker than expected.  That thought process was all about to change as I turned off the Queen K and saw that famous sign pointing to Hawi..

     The Queen K Hwy

Climb to Hawi:

Mentally I knew the race was just starting for me.  The next 18+ miles were going to be a long gradual climb with treacherous winds.  It only took about five minutes for me to realize that this was no joke.  The crosswinds picked up and I had trouble staying on my bike.  As I got further into the climb the winds picked up more and began to swirl.  I really have never experienced anything like it.  Being from Texas and training in heavy winds all summer, I did not really think much of the Hawi winds going into the race.  Boy was I wrong!   It is really hard to explain.  One minute your riding with not an ounce of wind, then the next minute, here comes a 40mph gust that pushes you to the other side of the highway.  By the time I got about 10 miles into the climb it became almost comical.  I looked down at my speedometer and it read 7 mph.  That same 7 mph stayed glued on my speedometer for the next hour.  I actually laughed with other riders as we stood out of our saddles climbing these hills that seemed to never stop.  I can tell you it is pretty defeating when you are in the lowest gear possible on your bike, standing out of the saddle and you feel like you are pedaling through air not moving. Luckily I drove this portion of the course so I had an idea of where I was was.  IF not I probably would of had a mental breakdown thinking the hills would never end.  On the flip side, the faster riders who were already on there decent were flying down the hill across the way.  I was really looking forward to that.  Finally, I reached the 60 miles turn around and the town of Hawi almost 4 hours into my ride.  The winds were consistently blowing at 30+ mph by now.  Hawi is where I was handed my "special needs" bag.  This bag is pre-packed by me and placed at the turn around so I can restock my nutrition and put any other type of d that I want.  I put a large Snickers bar along with a Muscle Milk drink in the sack. Unlike the majority of the other riders, I decided to get off my bike for a few minutes and stretch.  During that time I gulped down the Muscle Milk I had packed.  I saved the Snickers to eat for the decent from Hawi.  Both these items were packed with calories, sodium, carbs, and all  other other things to keep me energized and to hopefully combat any cramping in the legs.  I sat and chatted with the aid station volunteers for a few minutes.  One lady even offered up some sunscreen.  I think she saved my race since I mentioned I forgot to put sunscreen on before heading out on the bike.   By now the temperature was in the 90's and it was humid.  I was frying like bacon.  After a quick stretch I headed back out on the bike and on my way for the long decent down from Hawi.

Headed Back to Town:

The decent from Hawi was something else.  I had read in the past that you would fly down the hills but I had never thought it would be like it was.  I honestly rode the brake for the next 30 minutes of the race getting up to about 45 miles per hour numerous times.  The fastest I had ever been prior on my bike was a bout 35mph,  I made sure to be careful as the crosswinds would stab at my sides cutting through my bike .  I was honestly scared to death as I looked down at my hands an saw my white knuckles.  I was clinching the handlebars so tight and I did not even realize it.  Instead of ending up in a hospital, I decided to slow it down a bit and enjoy the fact that I was not standing up pedaling up a hill and into a 40 mph wind.  I  remember  looking on the the other side of the road and seeing the athletes who had yet to start the climb to Hawi yet.  I said to myself, "man, they do not know what they are in for".  It was a site seeing 70+ year old men and women climbing and battling the hills and wind.  Truly amazing!  Before I knew it I was back on the Queen K Hwy.  I was extremely wiped out by now as I made the right turn back out on the highway. I knew I only had about 35 miles to go though.  As the ride went on the highway became less crowded.  All the spectators that were on the shoulders cheering on my way out were mostly gone.  Thank goodness the aid stations were only about 7 miles apart.  These volunteers kept all the athletes motivated with lots of enthusiasm. Toward the end I often thought about the finish line to keep me going on the bike.  I was running out of positive energy so I was trying everything to keep me pedaling.  By now I was hot, sunburned, tired, and my legs felt like jello.  I knew it was important that I kept taking in fluids as well as sodium to keep the cramping away so I decided to try to take in as many fluids at each aid station I could.  Now I made sure to take a new bottle of Perform and also dump an ice cold bottle of water on my head.  I took bananas, pretzels, gels, and what ever else they had to offer to keep me going.  My biggest motivation was the picture of my girls (see below) I had taped to the down tube on my bike.

    

 I knew it would come in handy at some point on the bike and that was all the motivation I needed to carry me through.  It was a photo of my 3-year old daughter Elle and 10-week old daughter Mia. I also forgot to mention at the bike turn around in Hawi, my wife had snuck a little note in my special needs back telling me she loved me how pround she was of me.  I kept this note in my jersey for the remainder of the race as tivation.   I began to really fatigue at mile 85, I pulled out the note and then looked at the photo onf my girls on the down tube of my bike.  This right here gave me more energy than any drink or powerbar could ever give me.  I knew I was close to the end and could taste it.  I reached mile 100 and was beginiing to be in familiar territory.  I passed the famous Energy Labs where I could see many athletes already on the run course.  It was scorching hot out in the lava fields at this point of the day and they did not look happy.  I just smiled and said, "What the hell did I sign up for"?  As I approached town I was fortunate to ride by many of the pro triathletes who were oniles from finshing there race.  I did see Chrs Lieto and he seemed to be running with a slight limp at a very average pace.  At this point of the bike course the streets were jammed packed with spectators.  I overheard many of them saying Craig Alexander won the race. This was his 3rd Iroman World Championship title. Craig was a excellent runner and seeing that Chris Lieto was only at the mile 23 marker, I knew he must had fell apart on the run.  I yelled to him, "Keep it up Chris", finish strong".  I could tell he was disappointed by the look on his face.  These pros make the sport of triathlon one of a kind. There are so many pieces of the puzzle that have to go right in order to win a race.  It is not necessarily who is the fastest at each event.  It is more stategy and knowing when to push yourself and when to hold off.  That is the reason why the majority of the top athletes are in their mid to late 30's.  Other sports like basketball, baseball, and football rely on young age and athletic ability to stay on top of the game.  In triathlon, these pros are the most fit athletes in the world but the mental game plays a much larger role.  All these guys can swim, bike, and run as fast as the others.  It's what goes through there heads and decisions they make during the race that seperates the average guys from the champions.  I guess that is what attracts me so much to the sport.  (Sorry, I got off on a sports moment there, lol!)

 I finally reached the city limit signs for Kona and made the decent back into town.  I cannot tell you the joy I felt knowing that one, I felt okay, and two, I had made it back to town about 10 minutes faster than I projected before the race.  As I approached the transition area, thousands of fans were all around.  I slowed and jumped off my bike to be greeted by an older lady who was volunteering in the bike area.  I noticed the NBC camera filming so I decided to ham it up a little bit.  I jumped off the bike, handed her my bike, and grabbed her by the face to plant a big wet kiss on her.  I said, "Wow, it is damn good to see you"!  The people around all laughed as the look on her face was priceless.  I told her I never wanted to see the that damn bike again and laughed.  As I started my trot into transition I could feel the impact the 6hr- 53min on the bike had on my legs.  At this point my entire upper leg muscles were numb. I slowly trotted into transition thinking, "how the hell am I going to run a marathon now?"

Summary of Bike:

To sum up the bike course, it was like nothing I ever imagined.  Being on a bike that long and dealing with all the emotions; going from feeling good, feeling bad, feeling even worse, are all unexplainable.  The pain and suffering not only wears you down physically but mentally even more. The winds, the lava, the heat, all were brutal. Your mind is racing and always thinking; should I go, should I slow down, should I drink, should I eat?   I will never forge tthe experiences that I faced on the bike in Kona.  Truly an unbelievable experience and feat.

Transition #2:

I quickly was handed my run gear bag from the great volunteers and escorted in the changing tents.  I immediately was greeted my two doctors who sat with my and helped me get my running gear together.  They put an ice cold towel over my head since I was on fire and dripping in sweat.  These guys were awesome, asking me if  I was okay and treating me as if I was a big-time pro athlete.  A lady came by and slabbed sunscreen all over my arms and shoulders as I tied my shoes and put on my hat.  Before I knew it, I was headed out of the tranisition area down the large exit shoot lined with spectators cheeering me on.  One group caught my eye as they all were drinking beers cheeering.  I made sure to tell them, "Save one of those beers for me, I 'll be back after I get this "short" run out of the way".  They laughed and gave me a high five as I exited onto Ali'i Drive.

The Run (26.2 miles):

The run!  What more can I say?  While training over the previous 18-weeks for the Ironman, so many things go through your mind during those long training days.  The one that most everyone thinks about often is getting to the run portion in one piece.  I must have imagined it over and over a thousand times.  I had always read that as a novice triathlete who really is not looking to "race" the event, getting to the run portion in one piece and knowing you have plenty of time to finish is a HUGE motivational boost.  I took a glance at my Garmin watch and did the math in my head.  I smiled when I realized I had almost 9 full hours to complete the run and become an Ironman.  The entire day for the most part had went well so far.  The fears of cramping, flat tires, mechanical issues, and hundereds of other nervous thoughts had all come and gone.  All I had to do was run a marathon!  Unfortunately once again, I had never done a full marathon before, lol!  You guys must think I am nuts by now, huh?  My longest run in training was only about 22 miles but I knew that I was not going to let that hold me back.

                         

Support Team!!!

      

        Running down Ali'i Drive

Both Jeff and Mike hung with me through the turn around at mile 5.  It was nice to actually have a conversation with someone since basically I had been in a zone by myself for the past 9+ hours since the race start.  Jeff kept me focused as he has since day one and I appreciated that!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

         My favorite video of Elle!

Running on Ali'i for the first 7+ miles was great.  The crowd and the energy really pushed me along and really gave me a lot of confidence as I made the climb up Palani Hill to turn out onto the Queen K.  At this point I was feeling pretty good.  My legs were starting to fatigue a bit from the climb up Palani so I decided to walk for a few minutes as I started out on the Queen K toward the Energy Labs.  I had just over 16 miles to go and could not have been happier.  It wasnt too long from then that my body began to slowly start to hurt.  My legs felt good for the most part but my lower back began to really tighten up along with my hip flexors.  I glanced at my watch and realized that I had made awesome time so far and had a pretty good chance to break the 13 hour mark if I could maintain a 10 min per mile pace for the remaining 16 miles.  So as I came out of the aid station I decided to try to pick it up a bit.  Ha Ha! That lasted about 5 minutes and I began to really hurt.  My solid pace turned into a slow jog, then a fast walk, then just a plain old "damn this hurts" walk.  I met an older gentleman around mile 14 and we chatted for about 15 minutes while walking.  He was from England and this was his 24th Ironman event.  Wow, truly amazing!  He talked with me about his experience in the sport and all the places he has traveled around the world to race in these events.  He was a very nice man and I really enjoyed his stories about how Ironman has changed his life.  That is another great thing about this sport.  You meet so many people from all areas of the world that all have different stories to shares about there journey. How they qualified, how they got here, what races they like, what races they hate, etc.  But the one thing we all have in common is our determination and fight to get to the finish line.  I almost felt rude telling him goodbye as he continued to walk.  By this time I had a slight chance on still getting to the finish line under 13 hours so I tried my best to get a decent pace going.  I wish I had a camera on me at this point because I am sure my running pace and form looked like an 85 year-old lady.  I was wobbling back and forth while my back was in bad shape slightly hunched over.  One good thing was that the sun was starting to set as it was around 6PM and it was beginning to cool down a bit.  Each aid station I took in at least a half cup of cola, a cup of water, and a cup of chicken broth if it was available.  In the endurance sport world, chicken broth is king I learned.  It is loaded with sodium and there is nothing better tasting at that point in the day when all you have had was sweet, sugar filled electrolyte drinks, gels, and bars.  I really thing the chicken broth kept me on my game and was a huge contributor to getting me to the finish.  I finally reached the Energy Labs and the sun was setting.  It seemed like I was on the Queen K Hwy for hours before I finally got to the labs.  For me mentally, that was a huge boost as I was starting to break down both physically and mentally in a bad way.  All I kept in mind was the thought of the finish line all the hours I put in to make it this far.  The Energy Lab was very dark and quiet.  The volunteers had passed out glow sticks for all the athletes to wear so others can see them.  There were no lights down the narrow blacktop road and it was almost impossible to even see your feet.  It was a very surreal moment for me as it was one of the few times that I was totally by myself.  Pitch black, quiet and all I could hear were my foot steps.  I do not know why I rememeber this so much or why it impacted me, but it was very cool.  It gave me a chance to reflect back and think about the past 6+ months and everything I had worked toward to get to Kona. Even as a lottery winner and not your typical "elite" athlete like most people racing today, we all felt the same great feeling that this race fills you up with.   All the things I read about and watched on TV about this race were all true and I was experiencing each and every one of them.  I know it's probably hard to get what I am saying, but those who have done Kona know what I mean.  At mile-18, I reached the aid station and I was handed my "special needs" bag.  By now my stomach was pretty much done with any type of food after all it had been through so far.   I walked at a fast pace with my bag  hand. I took one look at it and then dropped it in the trash can, laughing.  Nothing sounded good to me at this point.  I was just ready to finish this damn race.  I looked at my watch and realized that my pace had slowed significantly.  The idea of getting to the finish under 13 hours was long gone so I said to myself to just relax and enjoy the last few miles.  Last thing I wanted to do was push too hard and injury myself not having the chance to cross the finish line at all.  After a quick shot of chicken broth and water I came out of the Energy Lab and  got a quick burst of momentum when I came up on the 20-mile marker.  "6 short miles to go", I said over and over again.  During training it seemed as if I had run 6-miles hundres of times and could do it in my sleep.  I thought about all those 6 miles sprints on the treadmill during my lunch break at the gym.  Even though my body was in agony, I could taste that I was getting close to the finish.   After a brief mile or so of extra energy, the next 4-miles were painful.  You begin to think you are so close but it seems like your body has had enough and cannot go further.  At this point you could of stuck a knife in my lower back and I would not of felt as much as a pinch..  I ran up on another competitor while back on the Queen K Hwy and we chatted for a bit. He was from Mexico City.  Believe it or not, this guy was in his mid to late 40's at the most.  This was his 79th Ironman!  Yes, I said 79th!  "Good God", I said as he talked about all the races he has done..  He really floored me when he said that he was racing in two weeks again in another Ironman.  Now you have to understand how I was feeling at that time.  My body was in agony,  I was hungry, I was thirsty, my mind was shot from all mental aspects of the race.  The thought of turning around in two weeks and doing another race was mind blowing!  By now the Queen K was pitch black.  The aid station volunteers were still pushing us forward but the mood had begun to settle.  It was painful for me to see other athletes making their way down the Queen K Hwy in the opposite direction knowing that they had 15+ miles still to go.  So many things about this sport make you say "WOW", when you are training or competing. Seeing a 70+ year old man or women hunched over moving at a snails pace down the Queen K headed to the Energy Lab, knowing they have been at it since 7AM is quite unreal to think about.  You want to feel bad for them at first glance but then you realize that these people are as tough as nails.  Entirely tougher than I was or ever will be.  I made sure to try to cheer as many people on that seemed to be struggling and that were going to be close to the cut off time just halfway through the run.  As we continued to run side by side we decided that at mile 24 it was time to pick up the pace.  I actually was able to use his cell phone to call my brother and let everyone know I was alomst to the finish.  I talked to Mike and I could hear the crowd in the background  I told him I was only 2 or so miles out and to be ready for me.  You could hear the loud music and excitement through the phone of the finis.  Once I hung up I knew it was time to get going and finish this thing!  I made sure my hat was on straight and my jersey was zipped since it is known through the Ironman community to make sure and look good fo your finish line photo, lol!  I said thanks to my new buddy from Mexico City and then took off making a right off the Queen K Hwy down Palani Hill.  I am not sure what came over me at that moment but I got a huge rush of energy as for the first time I could see the lights in the sky to the finish line.  All the aches and pains of the 13+ hour day seemed to dissapear when I ran past the Mile-25 marker.

 The Finish:
I could see the streets starting to fill with spectators as I got closer to the finish.  Numerous folks giving my high-fives and cheering me on was an unbelievable feeling.  I knew that I only had a mile left so I just waved and thanked the volunteers at the final aid station not needing any fluid or food.  A quick left on the Kuikalani Hwy and then a right on the Ali'i.  At this point the streets were mobbed with people.  I wish I would of had a camera on me at the time because I could only imagine that the smile on my face was ear to ear.  I had  read that when you make that right onto Ali'i Drive for the 1/4 mile run to the finish, it is the most amazing feeling in the world.  My emotions had hit a total high at this point and I began to think about everything that took place for me to get here.  All the weekday lunch workouts.  All those late nights upstairs on my bike trainer after Vanessa and the kids had gone to bed.  The weekend swims at Lake Grapevine along with the early morning runs on Saturday morning in the dark.  All the both myself and my family had made to get me here was now all worth it!   About 200 yards from the finish line you are directed through a narrow finisher shoot probably no wider than 6 feet.  Both sides of the shoot are lined with thousands of fans high-fiving and cheering you on. That momentwas one of the coolest experiences of my life.  I felt like I was on top of the world. I smiled and as I got within 30 yards or so of the finish I spotted my daughter Elle on the right side right cheering me on with my mother-in-law Carol.  With tears in my eyes I ran up to Elle and gave her a big kiss and told her that I loved her.  I wanted badly to run with Elle in my arms across the finish line but the rules of the race would have disqualified me.(If I had to do it again though, I would of said screw the rules!)   I looked up at the finish and could see the large 50ft high defenition screen with my ugly mug plastered on it so all the fans could see.  As you know, it was a pretty long day for me.  Numerous times during the raceI tried to think of a cool thing to do at the finish, lol.  After all, this was my time to shine in front of the world.  All I could do though was throw my hands up in the air as I cross the finish line and Mike Reilly (Ironman announcer) spoke the famous words I dreamt about hearing...... Tommy Pistana, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!  Here is a short clip of a video filmed from Jeff as I crossed the finish line.

         
                               

I quickly ran over to my family as they were all gathered just left of the finish line.    Two volunteers approached me and  put a large finisher medal around my neck. Then I was escorted me to the back of the finishing area.  It all happened so fast that today it is really a blur to me.  I know one thing...  I will never forget the energy that I was sourrounded by at the finish line.  It was like nothing I have ever experienced.  For those who aspire to compete in Kona some day, all the hype and talk you will hear regarding the finish is true.  It could not have been better!  It only took a few minutes for my adrenaline to calm.  Along with the the calming  returned the lower back pain as well as stiffness all throughout my body.  I was escorted by the two very nice volunteers to the back area where I recieved a finisher bag as well as treatment by one of the volunteering doctors.  By now my body was a mess.  I did get a chance to take a few pictures with the family at the finisher podium.




My Awesome Wife and Kids on the Podium!



Elle and I At the Finish Line!

My brother Mike and I

   I an not sure what else to say..... I did it!   A year ago if you would have said I was going to race and finish the Ford Ironman World Championship, I would of thought you were crazy. The Ironman motto is, "Anything is Possible". Before I started this journey, this motto meant nothing to me.  I have learned from my experience that it is more than just a saying, it is so very true.  It is amazing what a person can accomplish if they just put there mind to it. Whether it is at home, at work, or competing in a race.  This motto can be applied in all areas of your life for the better.  Seeing these athletes with no legs or no arms finish the race, or how about good Ole Lou Hollander at 82-years young sprinting across the finish line in just over 16.5 hours. It is these stories that really show the true meaning of this Ironman motto. This experience in Kona has changed my life forever.  Many who are in this small fraternity of finishers often say finishing an Ironman the biggest accomplishment of your life. I do agree and I also feel that this accomplish also sets you up to succeed more and more in future goals set in your life.  In the month after the race it has taken me to write this last journal entry, I personally see how Ironman has put a positive approach on my life.  I know find myself often taking that extra step; whether it is in the office trying to close a deal, or at home spending time with my wonderful family.  There are times in my past when I would given up on something that I was trying to achieve. Now that is not in my vocabulary.  Point being, Ironman is more than just a sport. It becomes a part of you and this expereince will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Conclusion:
In closing, I appreciate you all who have read my blog entries over the past 7 months.  Like I stated from the first entry, I am not much of a writer so I apologize for the gramatical errors and the numerous areas of rambling in my stories. If you made your way through all the blogs I shared, I hope at least you can take something positive out of one of them and apply it to something you are working toward.  I appreciate everyone who helped me in every little way with this journey.  There are so many of you, it would take days for me to list each and every one. You know who you are! I truly appreciate and thank you. 
 Lastly, I want to thank my wonderful wife Vanessa for putting up with me during this experience.  This race became our life for over 7+ months and you stuck by me when you could of easily, with reason, threw in the towel. All the 6+ hour training days and time away from you while you were pregnant with Mia. It takes a special person to put aside more important family times to allow me to accomplish such a huge goal.  Despite many tough times you stuck by me knowing what it truly meant to me. These unselfish acts in my eyes makes you the true IRONMAN.  I am blessed to have you in my life.  You are truly amazing and I love you!


Here is a short video/slideshow put together by my sister-in-law summarizing our week in Kona!

Slideshow of Week in Kona!