IM St. George Race Report

Well folks, its been a long time since I've updated the blog, but considering the events of the last weekend, I figured it's time to let everyone know what I've been up to. This last Saturday I had the "pleasure" of competing in Ironman St. George, Utah. When I signed up for this race, I knew it would be difficult....I had no idea that it would turn out to be one of, if not the most difficult course on the IM circuit. This diabolical course featured over 5000 feet of climbing on the bike ride and about 1800 feet of climbing on the run....good times!

Swim - 59:13 - New PR
I knew going into this race that, even though this was only my second Ironman and I've improved a great deal since my first, chances were slim to none that I would be setting a new PR, as this course is much more difficult than Arizona. The one chance I had to set a new personal best was in the swim.
The swim, just like the rest of the course in St. George, takes place in a beautiful spot, Sand Hollow State Park. While the scenery was breathtaking, so, unfortunately, was the water. On the morning of the race, the temperature measured a balmy 57 degrees, brrrrrrrrr. Thankfully, adrenaline kept me from feeling too much of the cold, and aside from an initial chill as I entered the water, I was never bothered too much by the temperature. I knew that the day ahead of me was a long one, so I tried to keep my pace moderate and not push too hard. The only hiccup in my swim occurred about 3/4 of the way through when I lifted my head to find the next buoy and saw a father and daughter in their kayak headed straight towards me!! I had to stop completely and push the nose of the kayak away to keep from being completely run over. After a few choice words to the duo reminding them that a race was going on, I put my head down and finished my swim. With my moderate pace and kayak run-in, I was shocked when I got to shore and saw my time was still under an hour. I sprinted to the timing mat and recorded a new personal best time for 2.4 miles - two big races so far this year, and two swim pr's....thank you TYR for making such a sweet wetsuit!!

Bike - 6:14:06 - Ugh!
The bike was....in a word.... BRUTAL. The ride stars with about 20 miles of rolling hills and a couple big ups and downs before going into two 44 mile loops that really put any rider to the test.
These photos show the "Beauty and the Beast" character of the bike course, although the second does no justice to the "Veyo Wall" that you get to climb at about 3/4 of the way through each lap. From the start of the first lap, the wind was a major factor. I was immediately struggling with the head-on and crosswinds, and before too long, my back was cramping up in a major way. By the time I got to the top of the Veyo Wall on lap 1, I had serious doubts about whether I would even be able to finish the bike portion of the race, let alone the marathon. The voices in my head began telling me to just hang it up at the end of the first lap and spare myself the suffering that I knew would come with the second lap. As I rode the long descent back into St. George, however, I made a deal with myself. I was not going to quit just because I didn't WANT to go on. If something happened that made me physically unable to go on, that would be one thing, but I was NOT going to quit.... I had put too much into this race to give up because the going got rough. That is what Ironman racing is all about, reaching that point where you don't think you can continue, and pushing through to see what you're made of. I did carry on, and even though I had to stop a few times to stretch out the cramps in my back, I made it through the bike ride. I did it slowly....but I did it, and I even managed a smile at the end.
Run - 4:12:54 - Double Ugh!
Coming in from the bike ride, I was thrilled to have made it through, but I knew I was not out of the woods yet. St. George features probably the most difficult run course of any Ironman race out there. I don't think there was one flat section of road the entire way. It was all up and down, yet somehow there seemed to be much more up than down.
Here I am going out on the course....happy to be off my bike, but that smile would not be there the whole time.This shot reflects how a lot of us felt out there at many points of the run....or walk, as it was here. But thankfully for me, I had the best cheerleader a guy could ask for giving me constant support and positive feedback. A HUGE thank you to Kindra for supporting me so well. No matter how tired I was, no matter how bad I felt or how much pain I was feeling, she was always there to tell me how great I was doing and encourage me to just keep moving forward, one step at a time. THANK YOU KK!!! I don't know if I could have made it through without you!! I'm happy to say that I did make it through the run, and crossed the finish line with a total time of 11:32:50. While this race did not turn out the way I had imagined it would, it was still a huge victory for me in another sense. I have never had to dig so deep just to make it to the end of a race. I reached lows that I had never experienced before and still pushed through to the end. I'm glad I did not give in to the negative thoughts and doubts in my mind. I consider it a victory to just have made it to the finish line, and I will take that with me in all future races that I compete in.Mom and Dad once again made the trip to see me race, and as always, I was thrilled to have them there to share the experience with me. They continue to be two of my biggest fans and best supporters.Me and my KK at the finish...Thanks again Kindra, YOU'RE THE BEST!!
Well folks, thats about all I have to say about IM St. George. It was a long and brutal day, but I'm a stronger person for it. Thanks for taking the time to read about my race.... Now go out and find your next challenge!

CA 70.3 Race Report

The road to this years IM 70.3 California for me was .....well, let's just say it was bumpy. After an illness that lingered for the better part of a month and a sub-par race to start the season in Palm Desert, I finally felt like I was on my way to a strong day in Oceanside. As it turned out, I was sidetracked yet again by a car accident less than a week before the race. I spent Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on the table with Brad at b-project, trying to get my back to stop hurting so I could get out on the road and race. By Friday I felt reasonably good enough, and though I had spent far too much time "resting" during the last month, I figured I might as well give it a go.

Swim - 28:15
The swim was definitely the highpoint of my race. The Oceanside Harbor provides nice calm conditions for swimming and with my TYR Hurricane CAT 5 wetsuit helped me to my personal best swim time for the 70.3 distance. This is even better considering that after the turn around, while swimming directly into the rising sun, I nearly swam headlong into one of the fuel docks in the harbor! Thankfully one of the lifeguards caught my attention and got me back on course! The bike portion of the race was.......well, it was. I started off feeling pretty good, I wasn't too spent from the swim and I could tell the weather was getting warmer by the minute. The first half of the bike course in this race is pretty flat and very fast, and those initial 28 miles went by in no time. The second half of the course, however, is rather hilly and on raceday was extremely windy. I made through the first big climb and into the rolling hills still feeling ok, but once the wind really set in, it all came apart. I had to lean my bike into the wind and was still being blown all over the road. This is where the events of the last month really took a toll on me. My back was aching by mile 35 and my energy levels were dropping rapidly from my lack of solid training time. By the time I made it to where the wind was at my back, it was too late.... the damage had been done. During the last 10 miles of the ride, I was passed by more people than I care to mention and there was nothing I could do about it, just hang on till the run. Total time on the bike - 2:38:01.
Rolling in to T2 I knew that the run was going to really hurt, but hey, Ironman racing is supposed to hurt, right? I pulled on my shoes and was on my way.Kindra got this shot of me just heading out on the run course....don't let the smile fool you, I was NOT feeling very good. Thankfully, I had her and some other friends spread along the course cheering me on the whole way. I don't think I ever went more than a mile without seeing a friendly face.Here I am showing my appreciation for the support of my friends...even in the midst of a race, there's always time to spread a little love!! With the support of my cheerleaders, I trudged through the remainder of the run and got to the line in 1:41:52, well off of my personal best and about 10 minutes slower than I had hoped to run at this race. Total time with transitions - 4:53:28, which included taking a few seconds in the home stretch to give a little extra thanks to Kindra, my favorite cheerleader ;)
All things considered, I'm really happy with how the race went. While I know that if I had completed my training as planned with no setbacks I would have gone much quicker, that is one of the things that makes Ironman racing so special. There are so many things that can trip you up along the way and so many chances for things to go wrong that you always have to be thankful for even being able to start a race, let alone finish one. I am thankful for the opportunity to compete in this race and I remain even more aware of how lucky I am to be able to do the things that I love to do. Having great friends who love and support me make it even better, and it is because of all these things that I look forward to the next challenge that awaits me around the corner. As always, thanks for reading, now go out and do the impossible!!

WEEBLES WOBBLE BUT THEY DON'T FALL DOWN

Way back when I was a little kid (insert old guy and short jokes here) we had these cool little toys called Weebles. Weebles are little people shaped like eggs that you can throw, knock over, push, pull and attempt in any way to knock down, but they would just stand right up. No matter how hard you try, those little guys just refuse to let anything get them down. Lately I feel a little bit like a Weeble. First, the long-term substitute teaching job I was supposed to get was given to someone else. Then I spent weeks being sick with some sort of swine/avian/west nile/ebola flu. Just when I felt a little better, I raced in the frigid, rainy icebox that is Palm Desert, sending me into a new level of sickness. Not to be deterred, I took a few days off, saw the doctor and knocked that illness out with the help of some serious antibiotics. After recovering I actually got in a good week of training, and was feeling back on track - just like my old self. Everything seemed like it was once again going in my favor. I even had a great start to last weekend when Kindra surprised me with tickets to Cirque du Soleil, which was an amazing show and we had a great time. On Sunday, however, came the next attempt to knock me down. First, my dog Sugar, who I've had for 12 great years now, once again became very sick and I'm really worried about her. To add injury to insult, Sunday evening, Kindra and I were in a car accident (someone else's fault) which has left me with some new pain in my already mangled back, less than a week away from the Oceanside Ironman 70.3 (thankfully Kindra is ok). I am sore; I am angry; I am sad; I am worried, but as before, I am not deterred. I spent yesterday with Sugar at the vet and today I took myself to the doctor. Sugar is already looking to be on the mend, and the doctor says there is nothing majorly wrong with me - well, physically anyway - just some soft tissue injuries. I do have to take a couple extra days off of training, and Saturday's race is still in question, but its a long season and my eye is still firmly on the prize, IM St. George. So there you have it....the world has once again made its attempts at knocking me down, and thanks to some wonderful friends and encouragement from those who love me, I may wobble, but I intend to come out of this standing tall and smiling big, just like those little egg-shaped Weebles, and I also will not fall down.

Healthy, Happy and Ready to Race!!

It's been a few days since my last update, and I lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of the bronchial/sinus infection that has plagued me for the better part of the last month. After suffering through the Desert International race in less-than-pleasant conditions, I went home feeling sicker than I have in years. I finally broke down, went to the doctor, and was prescribed some pretty potent antibiotics that finally got me feeling healthy again. By Wednesday of last week, I was feeling well enough to get back on the training horse and see what damage was done by my uninvited illness. I was pretty happy when I was able to get out on the road and ride/run without too much difficulty and with a decent amount of energy. When Friday rolled around I felt good enough to jump back in with both feet and go for my long ride/run brick that I had been fearing I would miss due to the sickness. Luckily for me, Friday turned out to be a beautiful Southern California day and I felt great...here's a few pictures from my ride.This stretch is southbound on the coast highway going through Encinitas and Cardiff by the Sea.Self-portrait while riding through Cardiff.This was the "high-point" of my ride, figuratively and literally. This is the view from the top of Torrey Pines State Reserve. This park is right next to one of the beaches I've worked at over the years as a lifeguard and home to one of the local cycling community's favorite locations for hill climb repeats...you can see why. It's beautiful, even when your heart is pounding out of your chest. The rest of my ride went much like the first half, although after Torrey Pines I was more focused on staying strong and making sure I kept myself nourished than taking pictures :-P All told, I rode 90 miles - many of them very hilly - and capped it off with a 7 mile run where I was able to maintain a 7:37/mile pace, which is far better than I had hoped when I first rolled out the door. By the time I was done.....I was done, and it felt great to be able to put in a solid 6-hour workout without coughing up a lung in the process.
Saturday consisted of a different kind of workout for me, as I was head cheerleader for my girlfriend Kindra and her BSK Racing Team as they took part in the San Marcos Fitness Roundup. For those who don't know, BSK is a local running team that has many of the fastest runners in San Diego as its members. They pretty much swept all of the podium positions in both the 5k and 11k events....Kindra was 4th female overall and 1st in her age group, I'm super proud of her and was stoked to be there to cheer her on.Here she is running strong to the finish - 19:13 for 5k.....let's just say I'm glad I wasn't in the race :) Me and my gal :)
Sunday was a great end to a great training weekend. In the morning I had my annual lifeguard requalification swim, which would provide some much-needed open water (cold open water) swimming practice. The ocean temperature was about 58 degrees and there was actually some pretty decent surf on tap for us to swim in. Once again, my new TYR Hurricane wetsuit worked flawlessly and I made it through my swim with plenty of time to spare - another year in the books and a great way to start the day. The final workout of the weekend was a 15 mile run with the last 3 miles to be run at tempo pace. Admittedly, I did NOT want to do this workout. I was tired and cranky and didn't want to strap on my shoes at all. True to form, though, Kindra came to the rescue and offered to run the first 10 miles with me. How lucky am I? Not many of my friends have a girlfriend who is willing OR ABLE to run 10 miles on a moments notice, but thankfully I do!! She convinced me that I would feel better once I got on the road, and....wait for it....SHE WAS RIGHT! She ended up running with me for 11 miles and really kept my mind off how tired I was. At mile 11 she turned off and went home, taking any extra supplies that I didn't want to carry the final 4 miles. I backed off the pace a bit for a mile before finishing my run with three miles at 7:07, 7:03, and 6:57 pace - a VERY good indication for my next race, the Oceanside 70.3. Speaking of my next race, I went for an easy ride today and this is what I saw:The road signs are up, the weather is turning warm, and the trucks are starting to pull into the Oceanside Harbor parking lot....that can only mean one thing - Race day is right around the corner!! Only 11 days until I jump in the frigid waters and get my IM racing season underway. I'm glad to be healthy again and I hope my health and the weather both hold up for race day. This is not my highest priority race for the season - IM St. George holds that title right now - but nonetheless I want to have a great race. I feel like I've done everything I can to get myself there, now I just need to hold on till raceday. Until my next post - thanks for reading - now go outside and play!!

Desert International Triathlon - Bad Weather and Good Friends

Well folks, the first race of the season is in the books, and lets just say I'm glad its over. I've been battling the nasty cold that has been going around for the better part of the last month, and it has taken its toll on me. That being said, I'm pretty happy with my results and I had a great time with some really fun people, despite feeling horrible pretty much the entire race.
As race day approached I had been watching the weather reports and it became pretty clear by Thursday or Friday that it would probably be raining on raceday. I had already missed the San Dieguito Half Marathon 3 weeks prior due to being sick, so I figured I would just suck it up and go for it. After all, I had gotten through some pretty good workouts the last week and felt like I could give it a go. The first bright spot of the weekend came when my friend Ian extended an offer to have dinner and stay with him and some friends who were hosting him for the weekend. I had planned on camping out in my van, but the thought of sleeping at a cold, wet campground was not all that appealing so I jumped at the chance to stay in a nice, dry house. What I didn't know was what a fun group I would meet and what a great time I would have.
That's Tricia, the hostess with the mostess, and her husband Sean in the background....and yes, that's me and my bald spot behind her filling my plate. Tricia and Ryan hosted a dinner party for a group of friends that make up T3 Performance Multisports, a great group of talented and FAST triathletes. They welcomed me into a beautiful home with open arms - literally, I had never met Tricia or Ryan and she said hello with a big ol' hug - and immediately made me feel right at home. They served up a fantastic dinner of Pasta, complete with chicken-apple sausage, salad and fresh fruit for dessert...I couldn't think of a better pre-race meal!! After dinner, when everyone went their separate ways, they gave me a comfy warm couch to sleep on and I got a great night's rest. The great treatment didn't stop there, Tricia and Sean own a company called Kona Essence Coffee and they treated me to some of the absolute best coffee I have ever had. Do yourself a favor and get some!!
Anyhow, on to the matter at hand....the race. As I said before, I have been battling a nasty head/chest cold but I woke up in the morning actually not feeling too bad, so I was initially optimistic about the race ahead. I got to the race site, set up my gear and decided to go for a warmup jog to see how I felt. I ran around the lake where the swim would take place and it didn't take long before my lungs started to spasm, sending me into my first coughing fit of the day - not good. I made my way back to transition and put on my wetsuit so I could jump in the water for another attempted warmup with pretty similar results - a coughing fit that had other athletes looking at me with a wary eye - is this guy gonna drown himself out here or what??? I felt like hell, but I was all dressed up so there was nothing left to do but give it a go - I told myself if it got too bad I would just stop and call it a day, but if you know me at all....it would have to get pretty bad.
The swim went much as expected, I was able to keep the coughing under control, but I came out of the water in just over 18 minutes - not good at all for me - and was feeling WAY more tired than I should have. My new TYR Hurricane wetsuit fit like a glove and felt absolutely great in the water, but my body just did not want to show up to the party, it wanted to be back in bed with a big bowl of soup. I shuffled my feet up to the transition area, stripped off the wetsuit and took off with my bike. I got about 1 mile into the 40k bike course when the first raindrops fell...."great" I thought, "just what I need". It then proceeded to rain more and more for the entire duration of the bike ride. I managed to keep the bike on two wheels the whole time, but was freezing cold and coughing like a chain smoker the entire way. I had brought plenty of fluids and gels along to fuel myself, but only managed to drink about 1/3 of a bottle and didn't eat a thing during my ride. I knew I had blown it when I was about 5 miles from the end of the bike portion and my legs just gave up on me. All I could do was shift down, spin my legs and hold on till I arrived in transition as a shivering, wet, numb mess of a human being. I averaged just over 23mph on a very flat course, which was decent, but not as fast as I'm capable of going. I had wanted to stop since mile 3 of the bike ride, but I made it this far...how bad could a 10k run hurt? As it turns out....a lot!! Running out of T2 my quads immediately voiced their protest and started to quiver as the cramps started to creep in. I grabbed a couple cups of electrolyte drink from the first aid station and just focused on turning over my legs until they loosened up a bit. I managed to get a couple gels down on the run and that kept my legs from seizing up on me completely, although I never really got to feeling good. When all was said and done, I had finished 5th place in my age group and 27th overall, far better than I had thought when I crossed the line. My run split showed that I ran a little over 38 minutes, or about 6:13/mile, amazing considering how horrible I felt. All things considered, I am really happy with how things went. I was just over 4 minutes away from the winner of my age group, and had I been healthy I'm sure I could have been up in the top 3 for sure. I'm also glad that I just finished....Here's a group shot of the gang after the race....notice the sweet trashbag raincoats we all are sporting :) This was a rare non-coughing moment for me after the race, I think you can tell just about how good I felt. I've got some big, tough races coming up and it was some good mental toughness training to push myself to the end of this race. Even though my result was not what I had hoped for, I am extremely encouraged by my performance and I'm very optimistic about having a good race in Oceanside in 3 weeks. I'm going to the doctor today to get myself healthy, and come March 27th I hope to be tearing up the streets at 100% of my ability. Until then, thanks to all my friends, new and old, who made this weekend fun despite the pain. Special congrats to Ian and Charisa, who won the male and female elite titles. I look forward to seeing them both in their pro debuts in Oceanside!! Thanks again to all my new T3 friends, it was great hanging out with you all!

LLLLLET'S GET READY TO RRRUMBLLLLLLLLLE!!

So it's been almost four months since my last race in Clearwater and I am once again ready to put the gloves on get racing. It's been a great offseason - well if you can call it an offseason. I spent about three weeks recovering from last year's racing schedule before climbing back on the training horse in December. I decided last year that, with the way things were going, I was ready to jump in with both feet and really go after this season. In keeping with that decision, I made a commitment to myself to do three things: be more consistent with my swim workouts, start running track workouts to improve my speed, and return to the strength training that got me through my first ironman. I'm happy to say that I have done my best to fulfill these commitments and am seeing amazing results! This last week has been probably the best week of training I have ever had. The week started with me snatching the slideboard record (more on this in my next post) at b project from Sergio...an amazing runner who I have the utmost respect for, and ended with an epic training weekend that included a 2 hour, negative split run in the rain in which I was able to run sub-7 minute pace at the end and a 5hour ride/1hour run brick workout in which I put down 7 miles at sub-730 pace on absolutely THRASHED legs!!! That's not to say, however, that it has all been sunshine and roses. The pool is still freezing cold at 530 in the morning, track workouts still make my lungs beg for mercy and my legs cry out in pain, and strength training with Brad and Kristina at b project often leaves me lying on my back at the end of a workout, gasping for breath and clutching my burning muscles. Despite all that - I still come back for more.... as they say, the pain just lets you know you're alive, and for that reason, I welcome the pain - I am more alive now than ever! I have learned so much the last few months - about being a better, faster runner - about listening to your body when it tells you it's had enough - and about the benefits of having great friends and training partners who constantly challenge me to be the best that I can. Those of you who train with me and share the smiles....and pain, you know who you are, and I will always be grateful for the times we've shared on the road, in the pool and at the gym - and I promise, I will not let you down!!! So here I am, six days away from the first race of the year for me, the Desert International Triathlon. It's an olympic distance race (1500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run) and will serve as a launching point for March 27's Ironman California 70.3 and this year's first "A" race, Ironman St. George, Utah on May 1 - my first real attempt at seeing where I stack up against the competition in my efforts to get to Kona. After Oceanside, I will re-evaluate and look to sign up for some late season races as well....Rest assured, however, that I intend to race a World Championship race again this year, whether it be a return to Clearwater, or an inaugural trip to Kona. Sorry I don't have any training photos to share, but it's only because every workout that I brought my camera along, I was too tired to remember I had it :P That being said, I am now off to my next session in the pain cave that is b project, and I plan to show you all some of what Brad has come up with to make me stronger, physically AND mentally! Until next time, thanks again for reading - now go out and do the impossible!!!

Motivation and Inspiration

Whenever I tell my non-triathlete friends what I've been up to for training, one question inevitably comes up every time...."where do you get the motivation?". For me, that's an easy question to answer. Whenever I don't feel like crawling out of bed at 4:30 to go freeze my ass off in the pool; when I don't think I have the energy to go run; when the thought of riding my bike for 5 or 6 hours makes me cringe - I go back to 2007, laying in bed at my parents house, and remember how I wished I could wake up from the nightmare I was in and go outside to ride my bike, run...do ANYTHING but lay in the same spot hour after hour, day after day. I made a promise to myself then that I would never again take for granted my ability to do the things I love. I remember how quickly things can be taken away from you and that I need to appreciate what I have, while I have it. It's the same now. Sure, I'm healed and able to do most everything I want without limitations. But at the same time, I know deep down that I'm NOT 100%, there's still some occasional - yet nonetheless painful - reminders of the damage that was done. My doctor told me when it happened that there were no guarantees how things would play out over the years and that I should actively pursue the things that I love to do while I still have the ability to do them. I know it sounds crazy...but I consider myself incredibly lucky in so many ways and I would not change one thing about my past, because everything that has happened - good and bad - has led me to where I am now, and I'm pretty darn content with the way things are going! There are no guarantees in life, and it seems like the worst things that happen to people happen in an instant, while the best things take years to achieve. Look at Lance Armstrong....all those years of training, hard work and dedication, stripped away that fateful day in October years ago when he learned he had Cancer. Or Saul Raisin, a former professional cyclist who suffered a traumatic brain injury while racing in Europe that ended his very promising professional career and nearly ended his life. I have had the pleasure of speaking with Saul, who is an amazing person, and I am amazed at his ability to remain a positive and enthusiastic person who, like me, will never give up. I often think of Ricky James, a young, up and coming motocross racer who became paralyzed from the chest down after a racing crash in which he broke his back - don't think for a second that that fact doesn't send chills down my spine every time I think about it. I've mentioned Rudy Garcia-Tolson before, a young man who recently became the first double above the knee amputee to complete an Ironman when he finished Ironman Arizona last November. His story is one of unmatched courage and strength - if you have not read it yet, do yourself a favor. Grab a box of tissues (you're going to need them) and learn all about one of the most inspirational people out there. These are only a small sampling of the people who inspire me on a daily basis. Anyone who has lived through a tragedy and has come out on the other side still smiling and moving forward is an inspiration to me. I consider it a great honor when people tell me that I inspire them, because it means I am, in some way, succeeding at trying to be just a little bit like the people who inspire me. There is a common theme among the people I've mentioned here. Lance Armstrong went on after recovering to win 7 straight Tours de France, something that will most likely never be matched by even the most talented of cyclists, let alone one whose life was nearly ended by Cancer, all while launching LiveStrong, a global campaign to find a cure for Cancer. Saul Raisin is still riding his bike, competing in triathlons, and inspiring others while looking for new and effective treatments for traumatic brain injuries through his foundation, Raisin Hope. Ricky James went on after his injury to complete both the Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Fl and the Ironman World Championsips in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. He has also raced again in both cars and back on the motorcycle in specially modified equipment....truly amazing. Rudy Garcia-Tolson, as I already told you, became the first bilateral above-knee amputee to finish an Ironman last November. What I didn't mention that he did it just over a month after trying to complete the Hawaii Ironman, where he missed the bike time cutoff by mere minutes. I cannot imagine the courage it took to work so hard at something and fail, only to rebound and try again in just weeks....he may have no legs, but his heart and courage are absolutely something to be admired by us all. Leading up to the Hawaii race, I heard Rudy say something in an interview that really touched me. Essentially he said "I have no legs and I'm out here doing this, so what's your handicap?". So I ask you, when you think something is too hard to do; when you look at a task that seems impossible and decide to not even try; what's your handicap? Don't wait until you have something taken away from you or you suffer a great tragedy to find out what life is worth to you. Go out now, get up off the couch, stop reading this blog and go do something that you never thought you could. The hardest part is getting out the door, but once you do, you'll never want to go back....I know I don't.

TYR - Always in Front

I am absolutely STOKED to say that for the 2010 racing season I will be sporting the brand new Hurricane wetsuit and Sayonara full body swimskin!!! This is the same gear being used by Ironman 70.3 World Champion Andy Potts and 3-time Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington!! A very special thanks to Ryan Dolan at TYR for giving me such an amazing opportunity. Named after the mythical Norse god of warriors and deity among all athletes, the TYR brand embodies the competitive spirit of sports and is a symbol of courage and victory. Founded in 1985, TYR has passionately dedicated itself to redefining the next generation of performance and recreational swimwear and accessories, while continuing to be the model of leading edge innovation and style.

A FEW LONG OVERDUE THANK YOUS

After finishing my lengthy first blog it occured to me that there are many people who deserve some words of thanks for helping me to get back on my feet:

Eric Williams - A good friend who was also my landlord at the time of my accident. Eric immediately recognized the gravity of my situation and knew that I had a lot to worry about during my recovery. He knew I would be out of work for a long time and that on top of the physical and mental burdens, I would also be facing some serious financial difficulties. From the beginning he told me I could continue living there rent free until I was back on my feet and able to pay him back. This was a huge weight off of my shoulders and I'll never forget his generosity. He is truly a man who will not turn his back on a friend in need and for that I will always be grateful.

Ray and Tiffany Ochoa - My first racing sponsors. Tiffany had been in a car accident and injured her back a few years before my accident (she referred me to my orthopedic doctor). One of the hardest things for her was the fact that she was not able to take her kids (Aubreanna, Brooke and Jack) to the beach while she recovered and that has always been a favorite place for the Ochoa family. They had always been such good friends to me that I never even thought twice about helping out. Any time they wanted to go the beach and hang out I'd come spend the day with Tiff and help out with the kids, not because I had to...I wanted to. They are great kids and I love them like family. After Tiff recovered, and just days before my first half ironman in oceanside, they gave me one of the most generous gifts I have ever received...my first triathlon bike. I never expected anything in return for helping, I really did it just because I enjoyed spending time with them. I was speechless, I still don't really even know how to thank them, I figure that the best thing for me to do is continue racing as hard as I can as a show of thanks and respect to the Ochoa family.
Isn't she pretty? It's still the bike I race on and even though we don't see each other as often as I'd like, I think of them every time I ride it.

Dava, Phil and Scott - My tried and true riding pals. You already know about Scott, but Phil and Dava are two friends who will always ride with me if I need company. These three guys were there from the moment of my accident (Scott was literally, he lives around the corner from the accident site and saw me on the ground on his way home. He stayed with me until the ambulance came and called my family to let them know what was happening. His help was appreciated more than he'll ever know). They never once tried to tell me I couldn't or shouldn't do the things I was attempting and were always there to encourage me when I needed it. We still ride on a regular basis and I will always count on them to keep me grounded.

Brad and Kristina at b Project - After my physical therapy, Brad was the strength and conditioning coach I went to to keep my back strong enough to race the ironman. He and Kristina have always encouraged me to keep going and never give up, despite my injury. I have spent more hours than I can count grunting, sweating, and sometimes crying from the pain that are Brad's workout sessions. These two never treated me like I was broken, much the opposite. The things that I've gone through under their guidance have given me a confidence that I will never lose. I'm happy to say that I'm currently training with Brad and Kristina again, and their training will no doubt help carry me to Kona some day, I just hope they make the trip to see me race. Stay tuned for some photos of me training at b Project.

Amanda Benedict - My lawyer throughout this whole ordeal. Much as Eric allowed me to recover without the worry of becoming homeless in the process, Amanda took care of all the legal issues so I could spend my time and energy recovering. She is honest and extremely hard working and did her best to make sure I was taken care of properly. I never once had to talk to the insurance companies, and every concern of mine was treated like it was the most important part of her day, even though I know she had a full plate on her table. She is a cyclist and triathlete herself (ironman finisher....go Amanda!!) so she understood that just recovering was not enough for me. She made sure that I had everything I needed to get where I am now, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Amanda!

My family - I absolutely, positively would not be where I am now without the love and support of my family. My brother Andrew was one of the first people by my side in the hospital and was there for me whenever I needed him. When I couldn't even sit up on my own, he was there to lift me up and get me whatever I needed. The two of us have a special bond, and even though we still bicker and fight as brothers often do, I know he will always have my back and I will always have his. My sisters, while they weren't living close by at the time, were still present in spirit and that is always a comfort. Last, and most certainly not least...my mom and dad are the best. There was never a moment's doubt about where I was going to spend my recovery time. They canceled a pre-planned vacation and set up the spare bedroom with everything I needed to be comfortable. I had three meals a day brought to me in bed and I was never without someone to keep me company. I would never be where I am without them and I love them for it.

I know there are people I have left out, because there are more people than I can count who helped me, whether directly or simply with thoughts and prayers that I recover quickly. To all those who sent me wishes of strength and encouragement, who came and hung out when I couldn't get out of bed, who never told me I couldn't do what I had set out to do and who challenged me to achieve where others thought it was impossible - THANK YOU - it is because of you that I get up early to go to the pool, it's your encouragement that gets me out the door when I don't want to run, and its your support that gets me through the loooooooong, painful hours on the bike. I would never be where I am if I had to do it alone - you all share a part of what I have achieved and I only hope you will be there for the great things to come!!!

The Beginning

Ok folks....here we go. My first attempt at a racing blog where friends, family, or anyone bored out of their mind can come and read about my crazy quest to race in the Ironman World Championships. For those who don't know where this all started - a little background (ok...a lot of background):

It was 2002 and after a few years of working in the medical sales industry and realizing it wasn't for me, I found myself practically broke, depressed and out of shape. I came back to San Diego from a short stint in Portland, Oregon and figured I'd go back to what I loved the most, working at the beach as a lifeguard. One big problem, though....the whole out of shape thing. I had gained a bunch of weight and felt like a walking jelly roll. There was only one thing to do, I started running....a lot. I had never enjoyed running, I was known for phrases like "I only run when I'm being chased" and "only crazy people would run a marathon". People who did triathlons were complete weirdos...swimming, biking and running - that just couldn't be good for you, right? But there I was, running on my break every day. At first I didn't even have proper running shoes, just bare feet, a pair of shorts and my iPod. I'd run one or two miles on the beach and be totally spent. After a while, though, the runs got longer, my lungs weren't screaming for me to stop, and I actually began to ENJOY this whole running thing. Before long I was in a running store, shopping for my first pair of real running shoes so I could enter a local 5k.
After a few months of running more and more, a coworker said the line that really got everything started...."you know, with as much as you run and with your swimming background, you should get a bike and do a triathlon". That was it, I bought a bike for $250 and the rest, as they say, is history. This is where things started to get crazy. Within 6 months I had sold that bike to someone else and was in the bike shop, throwing down $1500 on a brand spanking new, carbon fiber bike that I still have now and will probably keep until it turns to dust (we have history, me and that bike....but more on that later). First came the sprint races (usually 750meter swim, 12-15mile bike, and 5k run), then olympic distance (1500m, 25mile, 10k) and then in March of 2007 my first half ironman (1.2mile, 56mile, 13.1 mile), which I finished in just over 5 hours. Crossing the finish line at that race instantly changed me, it was the most difficult thing I had ever done (and I had just run my first marathon 2 months prior - 3:28 for those who were wondering) and at the same time, the best feeling in the world. I was hooked, I wanted more. I felt like I was unstoppable, I was in the best shape of my life, I had conquered events that I never thought possible, even finishing 4th in my age group at a very competitive local race in one of the toughest age groups. I was on a roll and nothing could stop me. Then came August 23, 2007 - I was still riding high from my 4th place the weekend before and hadn't done much to work out since. I was feeling a bit lazy and decided to go for a nice little bike ride to stretch my legs, I never saw it coming. Less than 10 minutes out my door, while going about 25 mph down a hill, the unthinkable happened, a car coming up the hill turned left in front of me and in my attempt to avoid being hit by the car, I hit the ground.....HARD. As soon as I came to rest I sat up, and instantly knew that something was horribly wrong. It felt as if someone put a hinge in the middle of my back and my entire upper body was like a teeter-totter balancing on that pivot. Then came the pain...the most horrible, excruciating pain I could possibly imagine. Being an EMT for years, I knew this was bad, REALLY bad. I could feel a tingling down my legs that meant only one thing - my back was broken. I've never had such an instantaneous realization that my entire life had just changed. Was I going to be paralyzed? Would I ever ride my bike again? Would I ever WALK again? All I could do was lay there, face down in the dirt, and wait for help to come.....A bystander got my phone out for me and called my dad. I'll never forget that conversation. I cried harder than I ever have, not only out of pain, but because I was scared, I was scared shitless and there was nothing he could say to make me feel better. When we got to the hospital I got the diagnosis, I had a fractured my T12 vertebrae. But, true to my style....I don't do things halfway, if I'm gonna do it...I REALLY do it. The force of the accident literally ripped the bone in half and at the same time crushed it down to about 30% of its original size on the front portion (great....as if I wasn't short enough, right?). I also had what is known as a chance fracture. Picture an ice cube with a crack running all the way through, that's what happened to my back. The entire bone surrounding the spinal cord was shattered and was held in place by pure luck (or chance.....hence the name). It had shifted enough that it was pressing on the spinal cord slightly. Another millimeter or two and I'd be in a wheelchair right now, and that is something I think about EVERY DAY.
There it is...my broken back...you can tell its me, check out the telltale Umlor ass-bone.
So there I was, broken and beaten down, but not defeated. I had come so far, I had worked so hard, was this really it? Was all the training and all the hard work just going to crumble like the mangled bone in my back? Was I done doing the things I had grown to love over the last few years? My answer was no....and to me, that was the only opinion that mattered. I had done what I thought was impossible before, I was going to do it again.
With the help of an awesome doctor and wonderful physical therapy staff at Core Orthopedics (Huge hugs and thanks to Dr. Westerlund and Pam Cloud, my physical therapist) I was determined to get back to where I was. After months of PT twice a week I was slowly, but surely getting back to my old self.......then came the phone call. My good friend and training partner Scott (2x IM World Championship competitor) called me up to tell me about Ironman Arizona being moved to November starting in 2008 and asked if I wanted to sign up. What? Was he crazy? Didn't he know what I was going through? I hadn't even sat on a bike since my accident and walking on a treadmill wore me out in 15 minutes. But still, something in my mind said "why not?". What better way to get better than to set a goal that would truly put my body, my mind and my soul to the test. I talked it over with my parents at great length and (despite my dad's insistence that it was too much too soon) I did it....I jumped in with both feet and signed up for my first Ironman while I was still wrapped from waist to neck in a plastic shell. Not only that, but I also signed up for the Wildflower half Ironman as a "comeback race"....for those who know, Wildflower is one of the most difficult races out there. But hey, why do things halfway, right? Go big or go home, as a good friend of mine likes to say.
So that was it...I was in, for better or for worse, I was going to go for it. I was going to pour everything I had into that one race and either finish it or be carried off the course, there was no other option.
Fast forward to May of 2008, Lake San Antonio California, site of the Wildflower triathlon. As the name implies, its a beautiful place. Pristine lakes and rolling hills covered with green grass and flowers of every color are the setting for one of the hardest races I've done. If you're a triathlete and haven't done Wildflower, don't wait. Sign up and do it, you won't regret it! The night before that race Scott called me and gave me some of the best advice I have gotten so far when it comes to racing. He told me not to forget how far I had come and all the things that I had gone through to get where I was. He said "at some point in the race, you need to stop and soak it all in and be thankful that you can be out there racing". And I did. Just a few miles into the bike ride I pulled my bike over, got off and did a full 360 degree turn, soaking in every bit of the scenery that I could, giving a moment of thanks to all the family, friends, doctors, therapists and anyone who encouraged me to do the impossible. That being said....the only way I'm stopping my bike in another race is if something breaks or goes flat. After that, I climbed back on and got to work making my way through what was the toughest race for me....until November.

My dad took this picture of me running down the chute to finish in 5hours and 25minutes....not too shabby for someone who was laying in a hospital bed 8 months earlier, wondering if I could even ride a bike again. My parents have traveled pretty far to see me race and I love them for it. I don't know if they will ever understand how much it means to me to have them there supporting me and cheering me on, they are my biggest fans. I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD!! If you look close you can see I'm covered in goosebumps....think I was a little emotional? You're right. This was my first hurdle leading up to Ironman Arizona, and I jumped right over that bad boy.....bring on the ironman!!!!
Ok, for those who have been patient (or bored) enough to read this far - this is what it all led up to. November 23, 2008. Tempe, Arizona and my date with the biggest challenge of my life.
This is me and Scott the day before IM AZ, my favorite riding partner and bar by which I measure myself as a triathlete. He has beaten me into submission on the bike more times than I care to remember, and I will always thank him for that :) He never doubted that I could do the Ironman and he was always the one to restore my confidence in moments of weakness. I'd have to say he's right behind mom and dad on the fan list and I will always be grateful for his constant support and encouragement. THANK YOU SCOTTY, YOU ARE THE MAN!!
It must also be mentioned that Scott went 9:21 in Arizona, finishing 3rd in his age group and qualifying for Kona, amazing considering he works full time as a teacher and is a married father of 3 adorable kids - Wyatt, Ava and Aubrey.
It was a beautiful day in Arizona. The swim went by in no time. I came out of the water in 1 hour on the nose, but it felt like about 15 minutes, I wasn't even the least bit tired!! It was a little chilly, so I geared up with some warm clothes and set out for a nice little 112 mile bike ride through the desert. The longest ride I had done to that point was just over 100 miles and I had stopped several times to stretch out my back...I had no idea how this ride was going to go, but it didn't matter, I was going to get through it one way or another, and I did....in 5hours and 37 minutes I covered 112 miles without stopping. Only one thing left to do.....run a marathon.
The marathon portion of the Ironman is where you usually see people start to really fall apart. In all the old ironman videos it's on the run course where you see the spectacular collapses and painful-to-watch physical and mental breakdown of so many people. I ran out of the transition area to start my marathon with one thought in my mind...."ok, when are the wheels going to start falling off the wagon?". As the miles ticked by I was amazed at how good I felt. Sure, I got tired and had to walk here and there, but my mind was strong, and I knew that was what I was going to need when my body decided it didn't want to go any further. What I didn't know, however, is that my mind and body must have worked it out beforehand, and that they were determined to work together to get me through this. One urgent stop in a porta-potty aside, the marathon went by without a hitch.
Another great photo by my dad....the light was bad, but I think this shot really captures the way I felt. The run course in Arizona is three laps, and at the end of the third you make a turn to the finish chute. You go from the bright lights and loudness of screaming supporters and clanging bells to a 200 yard "alley" with no lights and no spectators. It was in that alley that it hit me. The entire day I had forced myself to keep my emotions in check and focus on the moment and the task at hand. Any emotion you let out on the course is energy that you might need later and that just couldn't be risked, there were so many unknowns for me. But in the final few hundred yards, when all doubt had been removed as to whether or not I would finish, out came the emotions. There was no holding back any more, I had used up every last bit of energy, power and passion on the course and the only thing left was emotion. I had never felt such a sense of physical and mental exhaustion in my life and I could never have understood what that feels like until I was there. Yet despite the pain and fatigue, I was smiling. After months of training and making sacrifices; countless hours in the pool, on the road and in the gym, I had done it...just over a year before I was lying on the ground, crying in pain, wondering if I would even be able to walk again, and now I was about to cross the finish line to become an Ironman, and no would ever be able to take that away from me. Being an Ironman would be something that could NEVER BE BROKEN. As I made the turn out of the alley into the final chute I was shaking with emotion...all I could do was take what little energy was left, ball my shaking hands into fists and raise them above my head in victory. At that moment I could only think one thing....anything is possible.

After I crossed the line and heard those famous words "Jonathan Umlor YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!" I looked up and who was there waiting for me?? Mom, Dad and Scott, who had finished over an hour before me, yet stuck around to wait for me. There were no words to say, nothing left to do but walk over, hug my mom and cry like a baby...like I said, I was reduced to pure emotion at that point, I had left everything on the course.

So there it is, the story of my love affair with Ironman racing, one that is still burning strong. If you are still reading this, thank you for taking the time. I don't know why I waited so long to put it in writing, but it feels really good to do it. Doing my first Ironman proved to me that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and never give up. My journey began for purely selfish reasons, to prove to myself that I am not broken, that only I can define what my limits are, not images on an xray or other peoples' ideas of what is possible. But it has become so much more than that. I've had people tell me that I've inspired them to be more active and to be thankful for the health that they have, and that has not been lost on me. I've been given a great gift and I intend to make the most of it. I'm going to burn this candle to the end, until I've taken myself as far as I can and achieved all the things I never thought I could. I feel a obligation to those who aren't as fortunate as me to keep doing this for them, to show people that with hard work and belief in yourself, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. I find inspiration every day in people who overcome challenges and don't listen to those who tell them they should quit. People like Rudy Garcia-Tolson, a 21 year old double leg amputee who completed IM Arizona this last November, and people like Sara Reinertsen, Scott Rigsby, and Ricky James motivate me to continue being the best person I can in all things I do. So I invite you to come back and visit and see what crazy things I'm up to. I hope this blog will help to inspire other people to achieve beyond what they believe, and have some fun while doing it. Thanks for reading, until next time....My name is Jon, and I'm a triathaholic :)