Dating the IronMan: A Reflection

Committing to an IronMan triathlon and seeing it through to the end is harder than anything I have ever experienced. It’s so all-consuming that it is like a serious relationship: You think about him all the time. You plan ahead so you have as much time with him as possible. You lose weight because you’re in love. At times you question your commitment to him. Other times you regret ever having met him. But, above all else, you love the way he makes you feel.  


I started flirting with my IronMan after a sprint triathlon in May 2010. With virtually no training under my belt, I swam, biked and ran a relaxed race and truly enjoyed the event. His timing was impeccable - I had just celebrated my 31^st birthday and was riding the high of weeklong festivities. I flirted on and off with him throughout the next few months. We spent time getting to know each other, seeing if it was going anywhere or if it was just a shot-lived fling. It became a serious monogamous relationship on 16 September when we said the equivalent of “I love you,” which, in our case, was “I commit to you above everything else.” We tried to ease into things, spending only one or two hours together daily, but soon it ramped up to 15-20 hours a week and I was consumed. By 2 November it was official: We were engaged! The big date was 10 July 2011, in Zurich, Switzerland.

The same way that most engagements last at least a year and most people who get engaged have spent years together, most people who sign up for an Ironman have been training for years- working their way up from sprint, to Olympic, to half-iron distances before stepping up to the start line of the longest triathlon event. Ours fell into the category of a whirlwind wedding, I suppose. Hot and heavy from the start, I gave myself over completely and never looked back. I finished all of my training sessions apart from when I was hospitalized. The most common reaction upon finding out about our engagement was disbelief. “How could you commit to something as epic and life altering as this without taking more time? You don’t even know each other!” But I had everything I needed – the knowledge that I could trust him to give back to me just as much as I gave to him.

Healthy relationships take effort. They shouldn’t be hard, but they are not without sacrifice and compromise. An IronMan takes more sacrifice and compromise than any relationship I have ever experienced, but it also has high returns. My IronMan never stood me up. He was there when I needed him and even when I didn’t. He never got jealous when I went out with friends or flirted with other men. He knew that he had me. Every day. He knew that he always came first. Even though I might stay out all night with a guy, in the morning I would still hit the pavement and put in all the hours. I never had trust issues because I knew if I put in the training the relationship would be successful. Other things might get in the way, but he would never let me down.

And he didn’t. As I stood at the starting line that day in Zurich, I felt a rush of nervous excitement mixed with confidence. I knew my wetsuit wasn’t the top-of-the-line, my bike was far from the most streamlined and efficient, my shoes already had hundreds of miles of wear and tear on them, and I wasn’t nearly as fit as most of the other competitors. Despite these apparent shortcomings, I also knew that I had done everything I could to be prepared for that day. I never doubted my ability to finish the race, and that’s what got me through the 15 hours it took me to finish. But I did finish. It all paid off.

In an IronMan, if you finish, you win. The same thing is true in relationships except there is no finish line. After dating the IronMan, I’m much less afraid of commitment - I just hope I can eventually find someone willing to go the distance for me the way I know I can for him.

IronDating Profile

Reading between the lines of my dating profile as an IronMan triathlete:

"I am an outdoors type of person." Really means: I train in any type of weather: if it's raining, snowing, 90 degrees with 100 percent humidity, or winds gusting at 30 mph. I don't want to hear any complaints because I will still train in it and you're just a big wuss for complaining about it.

"I enjoy riding my bike." Really means: with or without aero bars, alone or in a peloton, I don't care. If you can't do a spur of the moment 30 miler then you're not my type. I will let you draft, but if you can't hang and I drop you - I will see you later. IF you can’t handle being beaten by a girl I’m not interested. I am a capable mechanic, but don't expect me to change your flats or tune your bike. You need to learn that on your own.

"I enjoy jogging." Really means: Let's run hills until we puke. I have just as many shoes as any other girl only mine are better because they are functional.

"I enjoy dining out." Really means: I enjoy eating out, I enjoy eating in , and I enjoy eating almost anywhere else I can find food. Your wallet better be able to handle my caloric intake. Don't be shy because with the amount of food I eat, you can have that main entree and dessert and you will still look as though you eat like a rabbit in comparison. Don't expect a taste off my plate unless you can bring something to the party, namely: more food. Eventually if you’re not burning 4,000 calories a day you’re going to gain weight and have a terrible complex due to being outeaten by a girl while you’re getting a gut. Friends and family will make or order extra food when they dine with us due to my caloric intake. Oh, and don't ask me any questions during breakfast, Mid Morning Lunch, Lunch, Afternoon lunch, dinner or Recovery Dinner as it does not lend to efficient food intake.

"I enjoy quiet walks on the beach." Really means: Walks on the beach are a warm up into an 8 mile run and then I enjoy plunging myself in the ocean for a 2 miler. If you get in my way you're going to find out what mass start is and let me assure you that you don't want to find out.

"I find fulfillment in charitable work." Really means: If I am not racing, I am volunteering and I expect you to be there along side me as I stand out in 90 degree weather for 8 hours handing out sports drink to cyclists going 20 mph. Just stick your arm out there and hope it doesn't get taken off.

"I enjoy sharing quiet moments together." Really means: It's taper time. Just back off because I am strategizing and in a bad mood because I am worried about my "A" race and can't workout. 

"I am an active person." Really means: Aside from my 40-hour job, and the 8 mandatory hours of sleep a night. 10 hours a week are devoted to training during the off-season and 20 during race season leaving us 4 hours. 2 of which are spent inhaling food, so let's make the best of the 2 hours we will spend together on average each day. If you are a licensed massage therapist, sports trainer, or doctor this would make the most optimal use of our time together. Nutritionist is also acceptable, but I probably already know just as much as you. 

"I enjoy site seeing." Really means: Lets grab a mountain bike and get our heart rates up to 90%. There's plenty of time to look around on the descent as trees and bushes whiz by you at 40 mph.

"I enjoy relaxing soaks in the tub." Really means: I'm going to stop on the way home and buy two bags of ice, throw them in the tub with some water, and sit in this torture chamber for 30 minutes.

"I'm interested in photography." Really means: My camera is permanently perched on a tripod in front of my trainer. I obsess over taking photos of my bike position and analyzing them to get the perfect setup. I have also paid an obscene amount of money to analyse my running form.

"I'm into in technology." Really means: My heart rate monitor and bike computer are my best friends. Until you can give me some hard data that can improve my training, don't bother trying to buddy up to me. You could one day break into the top three if I find you as entertaining on long runs and rides as my mp3 player.

I am Ironman

You know that ending scene in the movie where Robert Downey Jr's character is in a press conference, he looks straight at the camera and says, "I am Ironman."

I feel like holding a press conference.

Recap of the race:

4:20am Wake up, get dressed, eat some breakfast, chat with Shay and a few others in the lobby, get gear together and get on the bus

5am Bus to start/transition area, the bus gets lost and drives in circles for a while which makes me (and everyone else on the bus) regret paying so much money for the prearranged bus service, arrive at the start/transition area around 5:45am, set up my transition area, organize and reorganize it until I am satisfied, chat with people in transition area, wait in line for the bathroom, get my wetsuit on, get in the water just to get wet and hear the announcement asking everyone to get out of the water for the professional start (at 6:55am).

7am Swim start

Over 2,000 competitors anxious to get in the water and start the epic race, bouncing up and down on the beach in wetsuits, consulting complex fitness watches... then the starting announcement comes and everyone moves toward the water.
Intense.

I am drowning! I think I am going to drown for the first three minutes - I feel trapped in a wetsuit, unable to breathe, panicking a bit, panicking a bit more, elbowing and being elbowed, kicking and being kicked, swimming over people and being swum over... no amount of preparing made me ready for this (I doubt anything aside from actually doing a mass start triathlon could prepare someone), I survive only the knowledge that if my mental toughness can get me through these first few minutes of panic the rest of my training will get me through the rest of the day. In the worst moment of panic when I am choking on water and feeling like can't breathe in my wetsuit, quitting and staying alive seems like a wise choice. I pull my head up and focus on breathing, trying to avoid hyperventilation. The panic subsides and I continue, making sure to pull my head up and breathe deeply when I feel the panic rising. After a few more minutes the panic disappears and I'm swimming instead of drowning.

The swim portion of the race is divided into two unequal loops.

That first leg out to the first pontoon took an eternity to swim or at least it felt like it. After the second turn I settle in to my normal "race pace." Forty-two minutes in, I reach the turnaround island.

7:42am I stumble out of the water. My legs refuse to work properly since all the blood has been tasked to swimming muscles and not running muscles. The wetsuit doesn't help. The volunteers do. I cross the island and get back into the water for the second loop. So far I've covered 1.8 km (1.12 miles) in 42 min, which is ahead of my projected time (worst case scenario) so I'm feeling good.

Back in the water I quickly get in the zone and the time passes quite quickly. I veer slightly off course a few times because I am not spotting often enough. I once again stumble out of the water and head to the transition area. Second lap of 2 km (1.24 miles) covered in 49 min. Finished the entire 3.8km swim in 01:29:56. Faster than I gave myself, so I feel pretty good about starting the bike ahead of schedule so to speak. 

8:30am I struggle out of my wetsuit, dry off a little, slather on some sunscreen, throw on my bib number, compression leggings, bike top, bike shoes and helmet, eat a banana, drink some isostar (like gatorade), and head out on the bike course.

The bike course is set up as two laps of 90km (55.9 miles). The first 30km is mostly flat which is good because my legs take a little time to get the blood going. After not taking in any liquids or nutrition during the swim, re-hydrating was my main goal for the first hour or so. There are a number of port-a-potties along the route but I found it hard to spot them and stop before passing by them. I managed to stop in time for one before reaching the first aid station. I had looked at the course before the race but for some reason I didn't prepare for the fact that the first aid station is almost at the 30 km mark. Perhaps I knew that fact but I didn't comprehend the reality of it being so far! I feel like the energy levels on the video-game-me are flashing yellow and nearing red. I am slowing down but not from fatigue. The route so far is mostly flat and follows the main road next to the lake. It still feels suburban and there are still many cars on the streets. Fortunately the course is well marshaled. Feels much safer than my training in Beirut.

I am so ready when I finally see the first aid station. I grab bars, gels, bananas and water from the volunteers, stashing most of them in my pockets to be consumed later at regular intervals. As the video-game-me eats the banana and a gel the energy levels immediately return to green and I receive an immediate boost of energy. I feel great! The course then heads into the countryside, away from the lake. Here the views are mostly hilly farmland with the occasional house or small village. Residents sit at the edge of their driveways cheering us on with cow bells and chants of "Happ! Happ! Happ!" I fall in love with the bells. I time my water intake and food consumption carefully so my energy levels don't drop the way they did before that first aid station. I feel like I am keeping a steady pace. I intentionally don't pay attention to the time and focus on shorter intervals and keeping my average speed as consistent as possible. It starts to get hot. I am certain my shoulders are getting sunburned but I can't do anything about it. I shift my saddle position every 30 minutes hoping to stave off some soreness later on.

The biggest climbs are in forested areas which feel quite rural and dredge up feelings of home. This is the most enjoyable part of the ride. Around kilometer 65 things start to go downhill. I mean, the course- I still feel fine. The course drops most of the altitude gained thus far in one or two short kilometers. Since I don't know the course I descend cautiously trying to remember as much as I can about this section for the second time around. A hairpin turn and the course levels out back at the lake and into the city.

After about twelve km of flat riding on my aerobars, I approach heartbreak hill.

This is only a 0.7 km climb, but it’s steep. Spectators line the climb, spilling into the road at times and forcing the racers to ascend single file down the middle of the road. The crowd cheers, makes all kinds of noise, ringing cowbells, running along side of you, the loud speakers blasting music. They make you feel like you are riding in the Tour de France, except you are not nearly as fast. But it feels great! I  stood up and pounded up the hill, passing a bunch of people. At the top of the hill an announcer calls out your name and country and then you are flying down the hill on your way toward the second time around. I'm not in this video, but it gives you a good idea of the level of support provided at this point in the race. Amazing.

12:21pm Finish the first lap of the bike course in 3h50m.

I'm feeling pretty good. I've kept my energy level and hydration up and that long flat stretch without an aid station is much easier to do with fuel in my pockets. I am definitely sunburned but still can't do anything about it. I really hope I don't get skin cancer from this. Aside from my ass being sore, things feel pretty good the second time around. The weather starts to turn. My sunburn welcomes the cloud cover. Soon after I get to the hills it starts to rain. I can see lightning in the distance and thunder quietly rumbles in the distance. The longer I ride, the harder it rains. During the longest climb the rain comes down so hard it feels like hail. It's nasty. It lightens up as I reach the downhill segment, but the road is still super wet so I am just as cautious as before and take the turns even slower.

The second time up heartbreak hill slows most racers up more than the first time, as seen in this video. The weather is still rainy and the road wet. I felt fine and hammered past a bunch of people, thinking, "This hill isn't THAT hard, is it? Or am I going to die in the marathon?"

4:16pm Finish the bike segment.

The transition to run doesn't take very long. I take off my bike top, throw on my running shoes (I heart bungee laces) make a quick stop at the loo and then I'm off. Aside from the first five minutes of the swim, not once have I doubted my ability to finish the race. Knowing that I have 7 hours before the course closes makes me feel fantabulous! Barring injury, no WAY I don't finish.

The run course is set up as 4 loops, but the course is in the city and doubles back on itself countless times so there is PLENTY of support the entire time.

I keep a great pace and feel pretty good throughout the first lap (about 11.5k). At each aid station I walk though, take a few sips of liquid, eat a few bites of something and occasionally stop at the loo.

5:33pm Finish first lap in 1h17m.

I'm still feeling pretty good after 12km. And 13km. And then I'm not feeling so good. My digestive system is revolting. It didn't mind biking and eating, but the combination of running and refueling seems to be an enemy. I slow down and stop at the next port-a-potty. It doesn't help. I feel like this lady looks.

But I keep running, albeit slightly slower than before. The sun is back out and has dried things up pretty well. Chaffing is now an issue on a few spots around my arms. At the aid stations I only drink a little fluids. My stomach can't handle anything more. I feel like I have cramps throughout my intestines and everything else in my abdomen. I can't take a deep breath without discomfort. After another kilometer or two I start feeling a little better so I pick up the pace again. Feeling alright. Tired, but alright. The rest of the second lap is alright.

6:56pm Finish second lap of the marathon (around 12k) in 1h23.

A few minutes into the third lap I stop feeling alright. I slow to a brisk walk. I end up staying at that pace for around 25 minutes before kicking it back up to a jog. It's a struggle, but I'm back on pace for the rest of the third lap and finish it in 1h32m.

8:28pm Finish third lap of the marathon. 12-13km more to go!

I celebrate by taking a walk break for 5 minutes. Such a reward! Kick it back up to a run for another 30 minutes. Now I'm starting to feel everything. I walk for a bit, stop at the port-a-potty, and walk a bit more - probably a total of 25 minutes. Then I'm feeling slightly stronger, at least mentally, and resume jogging.

One of the best things about the marathon is the supporters cheering you on by name. This was made possible thanks to the wonderful race bibs with our first names printed in large letters. All along the course everyone cheering in a variety of languages but always using my name. AWESOME! It really helps to keep me going at this point, when I'm running solely on mental toughness and determination.

10:02pm I enter the finish line chute. Very happy to see the finish line.

10:02:18pm Cross finish line. I am an Ironwoman. A volunteer places a medal around my neck. Another volunteer smiles, congratulations me, and wraps a towel around my shoulders. She is probably worried about me because I haven't said anything and I am not acting overly-elated. Probably because it feels very surreal. Plus I burned about 8,500 calories and haven't stopped since 7am. I smile at her and gush about how great it feels to have finished.

I don't stop. If I stop I fear I won't be able to move again. So I don't stop. I wander around the finisher's area, grab a plate of food and eat it while walking around and shaking my muscles out. I get a massage. I get my medal engraved with my name and times. I chat with a few other people. I take a shower and collect my bike and the rest of my gear.

I wait for the bus back to the hotel. And I wait. And wait. And wait. I'm waiting with a couple other guys and finally we find the bus just in time to catch the last one back to the hotels. I chat with my sister online for a few minutes and smile at the wonderfully supportive emails from friends, then I ride the endorphin high and exhaustion hits leaving me dead to the world.

Surprisingly, I'm not as sore today (the day after) as I thought I’d be. I'll share reflections later – for now I’m on holiday in Switzerland!

To follow the entire course route on googlemaps click here.
For a succinct video highlighting Zurich and the Ironman click here.

Survival

I survived! I'll update with details tomorrow.

Thanks to those people who followed online - I appreciated your support!!!

These shoes are going in the trash!!!

Avoiding the Hype is Hard

My money magically returned from cyberspace today sparing me from a heart attack and from taking drastic measures. I got a quick bike ride and run in before turning up at the race area to deposit my bike for the race tomorrow.

My goal today was to avoid the hype and rest up. After dropping my bike off and getting my photo taken, I met up with Shay and a few other new friends for a pre-race meal of meat and pasta. I headed back to the hotel in hopes of staying off my feet. On the train home I had my headphones on, but the guy behind me leaned forward and started a conversation regardless. Turns out he was a local doing the race tomorrow as well. He asked me out to dinner, but having just eaten (and trying to avoid the hype and stay off my feet) I asked for a rain check. He got my info and hopped off a stop before me. Maybe I'll see him post-race tomorrow. Perhaps running after hot, fit men will be motivational and improve my performance tomorrow.

I'm not nervous but I am super excited. It is difficult to sleep. I have gone over my equipment umpteen times. I have gone over the race details and mentally walked (well, swam, biked and ran) through the race and transitions. I have done all that I can do.

All the preparation and work of the past 8+ months culminates tomorrow.

A Few Minor Differences

I never got up last night. I meant to get up and go get some dinner or something, but I just was out cold. When I did wake up I was more than ready for some food. I went down to the lounge area of the hotel with my computer to enjoy breakfast and wifi. Unfortunately I couldn't get the wifi to work, so the hot triathlete I had been sitting/talking with offered to let me use his computer and he would try to get mine to work. It took Shay a few minutes but he did get it to work. Turns out he was in the room directly across the hall from me (and he's from Israel while I live in Lebanon). Made for some interesting conversation. I walked around the neighborhood a bit and got my bike all set up then I met Shay and his buddy to ride down to the starting area for the race debriefing. 

We rolled up a little late, but didn't miss much. There were so many people there! So many fit (crazy) people. Friendly people. It was great to be surrounded by people who "get" what triathlon training is (and are as crazy as I am). From all over the world. 

I knew I would feel like a newbie. And I did. Fortunately there were a bunch of other first-time-Ironmaners in this race as well. Shay was one of them. I definitely felt like the country-bumpkin rolling up to the big city fashion show. Pretty much every single person in this race is a part of a triathlon club and trains with a team or at least a partner or two. I researched and mashed up a number of training programs to create my own, workout out my own nutrition plan, and trained by myself. It was so nice not to be alone anymore.

I walked around the expo area and was amazed by all the gear being peddled. I was just a window shopper. I would have registered except in an epic fail the thousands of dollars in my bank account were not available electronically. I was able to convince the people at registration to give me the wristband that would get me in to the welcome dinner tonight. I really hope the bank sorts itself out and my money is available. If not I am not sure how I'm going to register but I will make a way. I didn't get this far just to let something get in the way.

And the adventure begins... at 3am

3am flights, how I loathe thee. As I was going through customs/security the agent totally hit on me. He was forward enough I gave him my number. Oh Lebanon. Arrived in Zurich and hopped a train to my hotel. I was too early for check-in so I dropped my stuff off and wandered around the city in a sleepless haze for a few hours. I got back to the hotel, moved in to my room and barely started unpacking... now it's time to sleep! It's not even 3:00 yet but I just can't keep my eyes open any longer.

Wetsuit Shopping

I leave tomorrow! How did that happen? Today was a whirlwind of a day. Hit up the banks in the morning, put in the training time (:50 run, :30 bike), was supposed to meet a friend for coffee but ended up solo, went wetsuit shopping, had dinner with one friend and dessert with another. Whew!
Wetsuit shopping can be quite awkward. The first one I tried on was a perfect fit if you are a Beiruti woman who doesn't want to move or breathe. I couldn't move my shoulders for a full swim stroke so there was no way. Getting that thing back off was a major hassle. The shop didn't have ac so I was super sweaty, which made getting the second one on even more difficult. At least it was a better fit so I didn't have to try anymore on.

Now I'm all geared out. Early flight out to Zurich tomorrow!

The Start of The End

It's really starting to sink in that I'm leaving. I got in some baby time today in addition to a 45 min pool session and 50min bike ride. Baby time was better. 

 

American Holidays Overseas

Extended breakfast this morning at Paul with a bunch of friends. I squeezed in a short but hard 30 min run before girls night. I followed girls night up by burning the midnight oil with an American boy. Happy 4th of July!

God Bless America

Up early to squeeze in 1:00 run and :45 bike before meeting a friend for lunch, quick nap and then party at the US Embassy. WooHoo! 

After the party I caught a ride home with John and Evan. John invited me to join them as they continued out on the town. I politely declined. John didn't believe me. Evan assured him that I needed to go home. Thanks for having my back Evan! 

7 more days...

Race day is in 7 more days, and I still had a pretty long gym session today. 2:20 bike and 1:15 run. So excited!!!

Still working the social scene too

overload

Moved house (that counts as lifting weights, right?), Run 1:00, Bike 1:05, Swim :45. I'm feeling overwhelmed about leaving. This is my Friday night. 

rest up

Today was spent packing. All day. Packing and getting everything ready to move house tomorrow. Shouldn't have skipped my workouts but life happens.

bike dilemma

I've been trying to sort out what to do for a bike at the race. The bike that I own is at least a size too big and is very heavy. But I am used to it. But it'll be quite expensive and a hassle to bring it with me on the plane. I went to my friends at Bike Generation and got some advise from Karim. I think I'll rent a bike in Zurich even though I won't be used to the bike. I'll have a few days to get some short rides in on the course. Swim :45 Bike 1:15

Taper Weeks and Packing

Just a hard fast pool session today. Taper week is great. Too bad I have to pack. Not just for Switzerland, but for leaving the country for good. Bleh!

Take a day

Today I was supposed to swim :45 and bike 1:00 to make up for missed bits last week. But I didn't. Sometimes you just need to take a day.

Two Weeks from today!!!

Ironman is two weeks from today so this is the last long hard day. I rode Metn with the guys, tacked on another 2 hours on the stationary bike, a 45 min run and 30 min pool session. WHEW! The good news is: I felt great the whole time. 

Beach Day

I got up early again to get in a 1:40 run and :45 bike session at the gym before heading to the beach with friends. This is beach food in Lebanon:

Bad Romance

Pool session went well then I went to watch Jane Eyre with friends. I hated her character when we read it in Mrs. Reynold's 11th grade literature class. Turns out I still hate her character.

The end is near, in so many ways

I'll be in Switzerland in less than 2 weeks. I'll be leaving Beirut in less than a month. I hate goodbyes. Swim 1:00 and Run 1:05

No More Students!

It felt very empty in the classroom today without the students. Run 1:15, Bike 1:40. Sigh.