How can i begin to describe the Ironman. It was long, and tough. I expected that but the pain and the mental games and conversations you have out there are so loud and vivid. (more on that later)
last supper Saturday at Tony’s, biked and ran by this place durring race excatly 8 times. thats my Mom and Dad Inlaw w/us
In front of Tony’s w/ a very familare part of race course behind me along lake.
My day started out 3:45 am wake. Begin to eat race day breakfast, drink 1 Ensure, eat 1 banana, 1 bagel w/pb, bowl of oatmeal, take vitamins, glucosamine and rhidiola, sip water, and Gatoraide. 5:10 drive to race site park. 5:20 get there first thing I realize is I forgot my timing chip at hotel. Try not to panic. Ask volunteer, told to go to information booth. can’t find information booth were they said it was. Go to changing tent ask again. Begin to get a vague answer from someone and then like an angel a guy with laminated credentials and walkie talkie says ”I know where to go, I’ll take you” takes me to the swim out timing pad and says the timing guys will be ther shortly and that this is not a problem, happens to alot, they will give me another one. Phew!! Now where did my family go? Uh Oh! they have 2 of my special needs bags. Look and 10 long minutes later find them also run into Luis who graciously offers to take my 2 special needs bags to the drop off spot for me so that i could prepaare my bike (which I had planned to do 20 min ago). 5:55 put bottles on bike, offset power meter, pump tires. Next get body marked, visit potty and now can relax. 6:15 find a nice tree at edge of park in the sun. Sit with family share, pray and get emotional together. Following my coaches lead, i write on my left arm w/sharpie pen “Patience” Rt arm “Discipline” I add “Humility” and “Glory”. I then have Erin and Jordan sign each arm. Talk about tatted up! i do this so that any time in the bike or run I can glance down at my arms and be reminded how to execute and why I’m out there.
6:35 walk slowly with crowd to the beach with my family for the 7am start. As we walk we hear announcement, “because of the rough water conditions, we will be offering a timed Duathlon option for anyone who does not want to swim” Now there is no way after all this I’m doing a duathlon, but that is not what my fragile nerves needed to hear at that point. The swim start was freeking me out for the last 2 days. Said to my self to just get thru the swim. Kissed and huged my family goodby, walked onto the beach. I seeded my self far right midway up beach (a very conservative and safe position). It was so great to see that out of 2,200 other racers Luis and Nicole pick the same spot to start. We group huged. It was cold and windy (~55). Water was choppy. they said there was up to 70 boats and kyacks out there. I looked down the beach and behind me. The setting of the mass start was just amazing. It was like a sports stadium, with the crowd all behind us 20 deep and wrapping aroung the concrete steped jetty that stuck out into the water. All the water craft lining the swim course completed the encircled look of the course. The helicopter flew over and hovered in position for the arial footage. It’s loud and windy, the crowd and swimers started to scream together and then…BOOOOM goes the cannon we’re off! I’m so glad i had a rough practice swim on Friday in simular conditions, because i was prepared for the choppy swells and made a point to just relax and stroke thru it all. The body contact was not that bad. Had goggles knocked off up to my forehead just once. I probably hit others more then being hit. Siteing was easier because I just made sure there were some swim caps and splashing nearby me enough. The swim in was easier because of going with the waves. feels like being on a Merry-go -round with the up and down action. Lap 2 more confident, i can do this. finished swim ran thur timing mat sat my self down and was quickly stripped of wet suit by volunteers.
In changing tent, put on tri top, tried to put gloves on wet hands could not, ditched them. Out on to Bike and off i go see family behind baricade cheering. I’m cold!! Its still only mid 50’s or so , cloudy and breezy, and all i have on is tri shorts and sleevless tri top. no socks, gloves or arm warmers. I’m litterally shaking as i ride lakeside on CDA Ave. See others not only in armwarmers, but long sleeve jerseys, wind vests, jackets. Out and back into town 15 miles in see family again on Government Way. first 90 min easy pace let people pass me, according to plan. Out in the Farm land I see Barry, Luis and then Nicole for the first time going the opposite direction. We cheer each other on. I have fun playing the watts power game with other riders around me. They bust themselves up the climbs, I shift down maintain race pace effort they pass me I crest maitaing effort, shift and pass them as they coast over the top and beyond. I smile, this is fun. At mile 35 on a long straight slight down hill thru farms i look back got a 100yd + gap I take my first (of 4) pee on the bike. Oh i feel faster now. (sorry to groose out you non-triathletes, mom). Back thru town see family again. at special needs turn around, mile 60, I get 1/2 PBJ sandwich, Gel, take extra Aero Bottle anti-splash sponge ( that cost me $7 at the Expo) but ditched my extra tube and Co2. Now on lap 2 thru the farms and hills again. My butt and I do not think this is pretty and fun anymore. The head winds on the now very ugly Government Way are disheartning because it is a slight downhill, and you have to work to go forward. Mabie one more pee? Nope too many people curbside cheering as i approach town. I stand stretch my calfs, arch my back.
Into T-2 give bike to bike handlers, grab t-2 bag, awkward trot into chaging tent, ahh so good to sit down in wide bottomed chair. volunteer dumps bag in front of me and starts helping me change. Wipe down ,put socks, running shoes, visor on ask where nearest porta-potty is. He points to urinals set up right there in the tent in the open! Just like the pee troughs at Doger Staduim but in plastic. This was great! Run out see family again. start to run feel great. no calf tightness i usually get. first 4 miles sub 10min each. I am happy, smiling. get to turn around mile 8 see Rich and Patrick there get encouragement from them. frist 13.1 miles i consume G-aide and water a few salty pretzel sticks only pass on other goodies. I save my self for the chocolate chip cookie and M&M’s, 1/2PBJ i have in run special needs bag at mile 14 as incentive to go on. I run the first 13.1 miles in 2:11, exactly 10min pace. See Luis, Nicole, Barry and Amy on course several times all day, that was nice. See family at mile 15 in town. This is huge lift for me because now starts the real race, surviving the last 10 miles. lots of people start to walk all around me in both directions. I stick to plan only walk back half of each aide station at each mile to drink. I start to alternate btw coke and the warm salty soup sensation, chicken brooth. I declare outloud that the infamous mile 18 wall will not happen to me. Well It doesn’t in a dramatic way but slowly it does. At mile 17 as i take my 30 second walk thru the aide station i think “Oh this walking feels soo good” NO! i start to run but now slower then before. Splits start to drop 10:20, 10:40, 10:55 the slowest being a 12:00 @ mile 20. Everything hurts, feet, knees, calfs, behind the knees, hips, much to my surprise my whole core area and chest is sore. My body screems “that’s it stop now” My mind says “no keep going your’re almost there.” I hit mile 23 at 4:04 into marathon and say to my self if i want to hit anywhere close to my 4 1/2 hour goal for the marathon I have to put in 3 sub 10’s right now. I pick it up and do mile 24 in 9:58 (dn hill) then between mile 24-25 I walk the aide station as I’ve been doing all day and do a 11:00 mile so I decide to skip the last aide station and run it out. Rounding the last turn down onto Sherman Way the crowd lined on both sides cheering, you can hear the PA announcer calling out each racer as they cross the line. I can see the bleachers narrow to the blue carpet raise my arms and hear “Marvin Fong from Monrovia, Ca. you are an Ironman!” Last 1.2 miles 10:13 (8:30pace). Had planned to meet Erin and Jordan before finish shoot and run across finish line w/them but it did not work out. Family guessed my finish time 10 min too late and did not make it. Erin was upset the most, it’s alright with me nothing can get in the way of my joy of finishing. Saw everyone after I got out of massage tent. Hugs all around.
Final time 12:49:13, 913th of ~2,200 overall, 177/322 Male40-44, Swim 1:30:53 100yd run + T-1 2:24+7:22, Bike 6:30:41 17.2 mph ave, T-2 5:17 Run 4:35:02 10:30/ mi ave pace.
Luis and I at awards brunch on Monday
Celebrating Monday at Cedars Floating restaurant. That’s rack of lamb baby!
Wine and desert tray!
We did it! I finished because of dear people in my life coming around to support and encourage me the past 6-7 months, Coach Rich, Training buddies from Pasadena Tri Club, Friends and Family, Lisa Erin and Jordan who never complained that I had to be out early every mouning and for every sat long ride, all of the many emails, phone calls and text messages i’ve got this past week from so many of you, people who have read and responded to this Blog, and God who was with me every stroke, peddal and stride. “Any thing is possible thru Christ who strengthens me.” I kept saying over and over on the run. So will i do another Ironman next year I’ve been asked? No. The racing is the best part in spite of the pain. It’s the 6-7 months of training that is too much of a sacrifice for me and my family to endure again. I have more important things in my life that need proper attention. I’ll continue to train (less intense) and play triathlon, mabie do a 1/2 Ironman next year definately some olympic and sprint distance racing, love the life style, fitness and health benefits. Ironman was a great experience and acomplishment that is very special to me and that I will never forget every detail of. thankyou all so much for sharing this w/me.
God Bless, Marvin
Check back in 4-5 days for more pics and a finishing video i just purchsed that I’ll try to post and any additional thoughts I may have after a week removed.
