3.19.2013

PumpkinMan Pt. II

Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.
William Ellery Channing


I sprinted into the lake and dove to start my race.

recap: I had been talking to my dad at the top of the boat ramp, 100 meters from the beach, when the gun went off.  I hadn't heard any warnings or count downs and thought I had more time.  As if being sick wasn't enough, I started my race late and in a panic.

I doubt you remember, but when I first started training for my first triathlon (a mere 6 weeks before PumpkinMan) I could barely swim 50 meters in the pool without wanting to die.  Then my first 1/2 mile open water swim was less than pleasant.  This would be my first full mile open water swim.

The cool lake water felt crisp and refreshing as I pulled and kicked my way around the course.  My delayed start was somewhat advantageous; I was able to bypass the white-water frenzy of legs and arms that usually signifies the start of a triathlon and go straight to open water swimming.  In retrospect, this delay actually allowed me to gain more speed, rhythm, and momentum than usual.  I quickly caught up to the pack and was actually making good time.  Once I got with the pack, I had to start dealing with being kicked.  I took one particularly harsh kick to the hand but thought nothing of it.

If you've never swam with a cough, let me tell you what it's like.  Generally, I had no real issues while swimming with my illness.  However, sometimes a coughing fit would come on and it would happen while my face was buried in the lake.  Honestly, I prefer lake-coughing.  It somehow felt easier on my throat. So if you have a cough and are afraid to go swimming, don't be.  Disclaimer: I'm not encouraging swimming while sick and do not claim any liability should the reader nearly drown after taking a dip during an asthma attack.

About halfway through the swim I started to notice a strange pain in my right ring finger.  Every stroke was pretty painful and I couldn't figure out why.  I sucked it up and kept swimming, eventually finishing the mile about 2 times faster than my first 1/2 mile swim! It's amazing what can change in just 6 weeks.


As my feet hit solid ground and I started removing my wetsuit, I looked down at my right ring finger and saw that it had swollen to about twice its normal size and was a beautiful purple color! I had broken my finger...swimming.

*** 

Then it was up the ramp, running on sharp gravel in bare feet, watching closely so I didn't pass my bike.  I got to my transition area and hurried as fast as I could to make the switch to bike.  My mangled finger wasn't making things easier, but I eventually grabbed my bike and ran it up the mounting area (in triathlon it is illegal to sit on your bike until you have completely exited the transition area, so you have to run it off the ramp).

I hopped on and it was time to ride!  Even though my arms had been covered by my wetsuit, I hadn't forgotten Judd's name written on them.  As I pedaled out onto the bike course I gathered a lot of strength by looking down at the inside of my forearms to see "JUDD KEMP" written in black ink.  

The course was a tough one.  It was very hilly and there were some crosswinds which are Satan's way of making triathlons even more miserable.  In most triathlon races, it is illegal to draft (ride close behind another rider so they block the wind for you) so you have to either be passing someone or letting someone pass you.  I was able to pass a large amount of racers on the bike and once I got up to some similar-skilled riders, we spent the majority of the course doing the dance of passing and being passed with each other.  This lasted for a large part of the rollercoasteresque portion of the ride. 

I eventually pulled ahead and was making decent time.  There were times on the bike that I felt like coughing my lungs out, but I'd look down at the name on my arms, audibly yell "come on!" or "let's do this Judd!" and push forward.  It sounds cheesy but I really felt like Judd was right there with me.  We were enjoyed this beautiful race day together and he was giving me strength.



Eventually the course broke off the main road and onto a kind of parkway trail that led through the desert and away from the lake.  It's during these moments that you look around you and see amazing views and think, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now."  A photographer caught me during that part of the race.

Another great feeling during this triathlon was when I'd pass guys on the bike who were riding $5,000 tri bikes with all the bells and whistles, aero helmet, and carbon wheel sets.  I bought my roadie on ksl.com for $400.  As I'd pass them on a hill or on the flats it would put a big smile on my face.  When it comes down to it, the most important machine is the human body.  It's the same with guitar, having a $3,000 Taylor doesn't make you a better guitarist.  Granted, those tri bikes are fast and definitely necessary if you really want to fly and win the race, but my humble Specialized Allez, dubbed Samson was doing great.

After about 26 miles in the saddle, I was rolling by the park where T2 was.  I jumped off my bike and ran to put on my running stuff.

***

It was here that I heard my dad's "go Ryyyyy!" that is my second wind.  I took off ton the 10k run, hoping to finish strong for Judd.  At about the 1/2 mile mark I already started to get shin splints.  I took a quick second and massaged my legs a little bit before starting to run again.  I thought, "come on Judd, we can do this."  One of my heroes, four-time Ironman World Champion Chris "MACCA" McCormack coined the motto, "embrace the suck."  I decided it was time to embrace the suck and push through my aching shins.  After another 1/2 mile or so the pain went away!  I was feeling good and picked up the pace.

One of my favorite things about triathlon is the general atmosphere among racers.  I've never competed in a sport where there is so much support and positive attitude towards your opponents.  Everyone's cheering each other on, shouting words of encouragement, giving high fives, it's just really positive.  I love it.  During the run I unintentionally gained a running buddy.  We ran shoulder to shoulder for about 3 or 4 miles.  I learned that he had competed in a few Ironman distance races and was about to do Ironman Tempe Arizona in a month.  It was great getting to know him while challenging each other with our pace. 

I try to make it a point at races to thank the volunteers along the way.  There are so many people who volunteer and pass out water, organize traffic cones, help with registration, etc.  It's important to keep thanking them for their hard work and willingness to be there.  It adds to the good vibes and that positive attitude helps immensely in your performance.  

One thing about competing in a three sport event is that the weather is gorgeous and perfect in the morning for the swim, and then gradually heats up as the day goes on.  By the time you're running, it can be pretty toasty.  Being in Vegas, the air jumped up to 88 degrees while I was on the run portion.  I could feel it.

I drenched my hat in cold water at the water stations and tried to keep a steady cadence.  Towards the turn around point it felt like we were running on Mars.  It was desert in every direction, the sun was merciless, and you could almost float on the heat rising off the asphalt.  For the last few miles I broke away from my new-found friend and worked my way back up the long hill we had come down on the first half.

After reaching the top of the hill I knew I was only about 2 miles away from the finish line.  I was exhausted but kept talking to myself and Judd.  Some of the team members from the University of Arizona's team were on the sidelines shouting their school's fight song and cheering on everyone that passed.  They made me feel like a rockstar when I ran by and it really helped me push harder for those last miles.  I finally came around the corner, with about 3/4 mile left, and decided to sprint.  

The sound of cowbells and crowds cheering never sounded so sweet.  I sprinted uphill to the finish area and gave my all to explode through the finish line.  I was greeted by some of my team members who had done the Sprint distance and we all enjoyed some bananas and gatorade together.


It was a hot but beautiful day.  I grabbed my free lunch and ate with my teammates on the  BYU team.  We all shared our war stories and enjoyed some shade and grass.  Another perk is the free massage.  When it was my turn, I was greeted by a tattooed man with a beard and red bandana around his head.  I was just grateful because I knew he wasn't going to be soft.  I wanted a recovery massage, not a swedish oil rub.  Needless to say, it felt great.  

I felt very accomplished after this race.  It wasn't my fastest time, but there was something special about it.  I had a lot of reasons to quit and not compete in this race, but I'm so glad I did it.  It just further confirms the fact that you never regret going the extra mile in something.  You never regret trying to do something despite the odds.  And most importantly, there was something about not racing for myself, but for someone else, that made this race possible for me.  I'm grateful I could dedicate this race to Judd Kemp, one of my heroes, and an amazing man.  Because of him, I felt great all day.  My sickness was not debilitating, and I was carried by his memory and inspiration.

Thank you Judd.


Take a second to answer this question! (For my class).


3.05.2013

PumpkinMan


"You get credit for what you finish, not what you start."

- Unknown


As mentioned in the previous post, my body decided to stop working with only a week before my race.  Now, usually I'm not a fan of pills and other pharmaceutical drugs.  Some things have happened in my life that have given me somewhat of a phobia of those types of medicine; however, at this point I was desperate.  I gathered up anything I could find; every ounce of vitamins C and D, Zinc, plutonium, just anything that would get me back to 100% come race day.

I was juicing every day, loading up on spinach and soup, and praying I'd start to recover.  In triathlon training you generally want to "taper" your workouts a week or two before your race; you tone it down a little bit to let your body recover so you aren't burnt out for the event.  So technically I would be tapering anyway, but I still felt like a slug not being able to work out like I had been.  I felt like I had taken several steps backward.  

Twenty four hours before the gun and I wasn't feeling any better.  I was coughing every other minute and my whole body felt weak.  I was starting to wonder if I was going to be able to do this race.  I kept reminding myself that I was doing it for Judd Kemp; if he could battle cancer for 18 months then I could suck it up for a couple hours and compete in an Olympic distance triathlon.

My dad agreed to drive down to Vegas with me.  Originally the whole family was going to come down, but things changed because of Judd's passing.  It was a very emotional week for our family.  For most people, driving 6-7 hours with their dad sounds like a form of torture.  I honestly love long drives with my dad.  I know that these moments with him are precious so I try to cherish them and make the most of the experience.  He is truly my hero and if I end up half as good as he is I will have succeeded at life.  I told myself I was going to take advantage of the long drive and sleep; that never happens.  My dad and I ended up talking and laughing non stop for the entire drive.  I don't mean to create this idealistic image of some perfect relationship with my father, I just want to express my gratitude that he and I can be friends and talk.
Vegas here we come!

We eventually arrived in Nevada and went to packet pickup.  I got all my race bibs and info, and started looking at the maps and details of the race course.  My dad started to worry.  He thought it wasn't smart of me to do the Olympic distance, being as sick as I was.  He agreed that I shouldn't quit, but maybe that I should switch to the Sprint.  He thought it might be dangerous to attempt the Oly.

I seriously considered his opinion and was getting a little anxious and unsure of what my body was capable of.  I decided I'd get a good night's rest and see how I felt in the morning.
I loved the race packet for this one.  The bibs were cool, and we got this awesome shirt!  It's great that such a competitive and challenging race can still be fun and creative.

That night we stayed in a small motel in Boulder City.  We went and set up T2 (bike to run transition) because it was a long distance from T1.  After that we stopped by a little restaurant and had dinner.  After that, we stopped by a grocery store to pick up some orange juice and other stuff.  My mom's brother and his family live in Henderson, NV and we were hoping to stop by and see them but ran out of time.  Well, as we were leaving the grocery store, we went to grab some cash from the ATM and found that someone had left their credit card.  It was late so there weren't many people in the store, so my dad and I took the card to the closest worker we could find.  The closer we got to this woman that was working, I recognized her as my aunt!  She didn't recognize us at first and then we all realized what was happening.  We ended up chatting for quite a while, it was so good to see her and catch up.  My mom's side of the family is small and her siblings both live far away from us so I'm always grateful when I see them.  I thought, "had we decided to just leave the card there and not do anything about it, we would never have seen my aunt and been able to catch up with her!"

That night as I was sleeping, I woke up in the middle of the night to my dad's laughter.  I looked over and saw him giggling as he watched YouTube videos on his iPad (that sentence would have been nonsense 10 years ago haha).   He was just watching old SNL videos and trying not to laugh too loud.  I love my dad haha.

***

Race Day
I woke up feeling really strong.  It was like my sickness was completely gone!  Okay, I'm lying.  To my dismay, I was still weak and sick and coughing.  I wanted to wait as long as I could before deciding whether I'd do Sprint or Olympic.  I ate a small breakfast as we drove to Lake Mead.  Once we got there I realized I had forgotten my bike tag (with the race number) back at the motel.  I started to panic a little, but my dad drove back as fast as he could to get it.
I checked in and started setting up T1.  This one was different.  The exit from the swim came up a steep, narrow ramp that stretched pretty far.  The transition area was unique in that the bikes lined the ramp on each side as you went up the hill.  It was a long run on gravel in my bare feet to my bike from the water.  As I was setting up, I started to see more and more of my BYU Tri Team buddies, one of which was set up right next to me.  I got everything ready to go, got inked up, put on a breathe-right to open up my nose as much as possible, and started suiting up in my wetsuit.  


The most popular place before a race.

Another gorgeous race morning!

I was getting more anxious every second my dad wasn't showing up with my race tag.  Time is basically gold when it comes to triathlon.  Every second -- before, during, or after the race -- is precious.  Finally my dad came running to give me the tag and I got everything ready. 

I took a Sharpie and wrote "JUDD KEMP" on my arms.  I decided I was going to do the Olympic, despite feeling 50% of my normal health.  I wrote his name on my arms so I could look down at any point in the race and remember why I was doing it, and who I was doing it for.  I had a feeling this was going to be a very challenging but important race for me.

Trying to breathe through my nose haha



I put on my wetsuit, stretched, and started walking down to the swim start.  I was talking to my dad at the top of the ramp.  The racers were gathering down to the right on the beach.  I looked at my watch and realized I had a good 5 minutes.  My wave was all yellow swim caps.  I hadn't even put my cap and goggles on when I heard the gun go off and saw hundreds of yellow heads running into the lake.  I heard no count down, and I was a good 100 meters from the beach.  There was the sudden bang and while saying some less-than-rated-G words under my breath, I started sprinting to the water.


to be continued...