Just returned form Ironman Arizona where I was proud to watch three more Mile High Multisport athletes cross the Ironman Finish line. I’ve lost count of the number of athletes I’ve coached to Ironman finishes, but I can guarantee you that every time I watch an athlete complete the Ironman I get all warm and fuzzy inside. The Ironman takes tremendous dedication, perseverance and sacrifice from both athlete and their support system.

Race day turned out to be absolutely phenomenal in terms of weather conditions. The water was a little balmy at 63 degrees but the temperatures were high 70’s most of the day and very little wind. This was the day which we all dream of.

Brian lead the MHM assault out of the water with a 1:17 swim, followed by Cody in 1:27 and Courtney in 2:03. Of all the MHM athletes I coach, this threesome loathes the water more than anyone else. Kudos to Brian for a great swim despite all the bitching and moaning over the year. His 1:17 swim was much faster than I expected and was a direct result of the time he put in the water. I can still remember him struggling to finish 100 yards earlier in the year. I missed Cody coming out of transition but Courtney let me know how much she loved the water on her way out of town.
Thanks to MHM athlete, Daunae Newton we had posh digs in which to watch the race. Big D hooked up with some fellow bloggers at the bike turn and we were treated to a luxury motor home complete with A/C, T.V. to watch football, beer, water, chips, burgers, brats and the works. The road side crew didn’t match the enthusiasm of the Gentine family from Ironman Wisconsin but I must admit, have the motor home versus the corn fields to relieve myself was welcomed.
With the lack of wind the flat bike course lead to some very fast bike splits. Brian and Courtney experienced flat tires but still had great bike splits. Cody was consistent all afternoon long and every time I saw him he had a big smile on his face. As I watched the tail end of the bikers approach the bike cut off deadline I couldn’t help but notice that there are a lot of people who race with $6,000 bikes, $150 tear drop helmets and $80 compression socks who are slow. The night before the race, Brian Henden asked me why everyone walking around Ironman Village looked like they were 10 hour Ironman finishers. My response “well they’re not”. It never seems to amaze me that so many people spend some much money looking fast and riding slow. NOTHING beats putting the time into training.
I set up on top the bridge for the run. Thiswas the 3/12/21 mile mark and I was able to see everyone on each lap as they came by. Being a spectator veteran I am able to gauge the overall satisfaction of the athletes by the expressions on their faces as they go by and how many of them are running/walking. I saw very few people walking on this race day and most athletes on the first two laps were enjoying the day to the fullest. As I sat out on the bridge around the 13:30 mark the throng of fans had dwindled. In fat there were about 5 of us and eventually I was up there by myself. I was getting tired and my enthusiasm had waned to the point where I wasn’t acknowledging everyone with the same enthusiasm I had earlier in the day. As one gentlemen ran by I acknowledged him with a head dip but didn’t clap or offer encouragement. He was running fairly well and I opted to save my energy for the folks who looked like they were in trouble and needed encouragement. As he ran by he slowed a bit, pointed and me and yelled “FIRST TIME FINISHER MAN, COME ON MAN GIVE ME SOMETHING!!” Out on a bridge, in the dark, by himself and he captured the true essence of what this event is all about. It’s not about what time you finish, it’s about crossing the line and being happy with he fact that you crossed the line.

As I sat and watch everyone go by I couldn’t help but think of all the different walks of life which enter Ironman races. Different races, gender, age, height, weight, disabled..you name it. But on this particular day they all had the same goal.

Brian was the first MHM athlete across the line just over the 11 hour mark. He was met in the finishers shoot by his father Arnie. Back in 1987 I went on my first group bike ride with a some co workers back in Chicago. I was a young punk who showed up with a Schwin World bike, no bike helmet, 12 ounces of water, reflectors, kick stand and no food for a 50 mile ride. At the end of the day I was told to ditch the kick stand, get a helmet and to show up next week with more water and food. Arnie was part of the group who got me involved in this sport. I couldn’t help but get a little choked up after having just coached his son to his first Ironman finish.

Next up was Cody, and as is typical with Cody, the smile on his face could be matched by no other. This was Cody’s third attempt at an Ironman. He never made it to the start line of his first race due to a broken collar bone. race number two resulted in a DNF when he was pulled off the bike course for failing to meet the Silverman bike cut off at mile 85. They say the third time is the charm and I’m proud Cody perserved and finally fulfilled his dream.

Just past the 15 hour mark, Courtney came running down the shoot with the youngest of her three children. A mother of three, a top sales representative with her company, a very supportive husband and now a two time Ironman. If you don’t know Courtney she completes Ironman for different reasons than the rest of us. Most people who race Ironman are trying to prove something to themselves or are running away from something in their lives. Courtney completes Ironmans because everything else in her life runs smoothly and she needs a challenge to make life complete. Post race she promptly fired me and told me “no more” but my money is she will return one day.

Ironman reflects who we are as people and how we deal with life. Training and racing mimic life. When life throws us curves do we quit or move forward?

This race marked the end of a long year of racing for MHM athletes. It seems like yesterday when Jonathan Nixon finsihed Ironman South Africa. In between that time we have had athletes race all of the US and over seas. It’s been a great year and as we approach 2009 I can’t wait to be sitting on a bridge, by myself, in the dark waiting for a lone figure to come out of the shadows. The smile I get when they see me, the determination in their face and the end result of many months of sacrifice which resulted in the only goal we should all strive for on any race day.. JUST CROSS THE LINE.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL THE COACHES AT MILEHIGH MULTISPORT.