It's always a shock to the system once the gun goes off. Running, biking, swimming-- this was no different. You get the go signal and you plunge in. There's an eerie moment of calm before it sinks in and then you're all adrenaline...
...we woke at 4:30 AM to still dark skies, prepared our breakfasts, ourselves, made last minute checks to our gear and our bikes and then met downstairs at the hotel to head together as a group to the check in area. After we were numbered and had unpacked our bags and set up our bikes for transition, the sun was just rising as we began our warm-ups. It was crowded. People were rushing to and fro. Race officials shouted last minute instructions. We met thirty minutes before the start at the finish line to take our group photo and then gathered by the water for a last minute speech and a mental walk through of the course from coach. It killed my swim warm up time, but it was worth it, those last minutes of calm before the storm...
...and then there we were, splashing away, hundreds of kicking feet in front of me, clawing hands behind me and pushing bodies to my left and right. The swim start of a triathlon is no place for the claustrophobic. I was ready though and the water was warm and, while I can't say all that much for my swimming ability, I'll say this: I was satisfied. I came out of the water where I wanted to be and ran to the transition area to gear up for the ride. That's when it all fell apart.
I don't know if it was nerves, or my bad swimming habit of swallowing air when I breathe, but I was a belching, gagging wreck all through the ride. I pushed as hard as I could and was humbled by the strong cyclists who passed me. All through the road to the highway, down the highway to the turn-around and back to the resort I struggled on aching legs, bubbling stomach and lungs that just couldn't get enough air. I threw up in my mouth a little. It was not fun. At least, it shouldn't have been, yet there I was doing it and, as much as I wanted it to be over and done, I was having a grand old time.
For all the hoots and hollers that come with a ride headlong into tropical winds, I was glad to be back in the transition area and back in my element for the run. I trotted out gingerly, taking the first mile or so slow, as I promised myself, so my legs wouldn't cramp up. The weather was heating up, so I grabbed water at the first station. It was so icy cold that I nearly choked on the first sip. I threw the rest over my head, almost regretting it as I shivered, but knowing that I needed to keep my core temperature cool. I kept it together all through the first half mile, up the first small hill and then, as I came down the other side, I picked it up. I passed my first few runners and was, in turn, passed by one. I kept picking it up. When I hit the second hill-- the longest one on the course-- I was struggling a bit, but still I pushed. As I passed John-- the first teammate who was ahead of me, he shouted encouragement.
"Yeah Dave!", and then, seeing the back of my shirt, he added, "Do it for Brenden."
So I did.
No one else passed me on the run. I overtook the only other teammate ahead of me within a mile and then steadily picked it up from mile three to four. I pushed through four and five-- I was heating up like crazy now, my heels burning, my legs starting to ache, but still I pushed. Through the resort, over the goat path, along the lagoon, then back down to the lava trail on the shore I kept the pace. I struggled on the rocks a bit, but I was nearly there, I knew. By the time I hit the sand, I'd less than a quarter mile to go. I could see the finish, hear the music, and I was ready to be done. Across the foot bridge and over the soft sand I fled. Just a little ways more and the sand firms up. I told myself, as each step slipped back behind me and my form wavered in all directions. With about two-hundred meters to go, the sand did become firmer and that's when I sprinted out whatever I had left.
At the finish line, I collapsed. I sat for a good minute or two, collected some water and some Gatorade and the threw myself back into the bay to cool off-- best dip in the ocean ever.
and then I was done.
Thank you to everyone who donated to my fundraising page. Thank you to everyone who supported me. Thank you to Team In Training-- to my coaches, mentors, and teammates. Thank you to Brenden Foster for the inspiration to finish without leaving anything behind.
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Race Day
Olympic distance triathlon: 2:35:47
