Let’s rewind time about a year ago.
Ironman announced a new 70.3 location, Rockford, Illinois.
Date, June 22, 2025.
Rockford, I had never heard of it. Date, 23rd wedding anniversary. Brittney and I love going to places we’ve never heard of. 70.3 is my favorite triathlon distance. After Heidi’s graduation and kids awards, we needed a weekend getaway. After merciless begging, I’m kidding, Britt was all in for letting me wear myself out on our anniversary. I was excited for another down river swim and a run using a bike path along the river.
Then I get told some keyboard warriors from a way overpopulated Facebook group were being Debbie Downers on the location. Imagine that, people being negative about a location they have probably never been to let alone race a triathlon at. (I’m so glad I left that group years ago)
Charlie then gets on board to race Rockford. This works out great as we can train for same race at same time. Plus I have a friendly face who will be on course with me. Charlie celebrated 4 full years of running at least 13.1 miles a week on race day!! His streak challenged me 9 weeks ago. I ran Columbus and Flying Pig in back to back weeks, so my “streak within a streak” was born. This was a change to my training plan, but I hoped that keeping my legs used to running 13.1 would help on race day.
I was offered a chance at the Law Enforcement Torch Run to knock out my 13.1 on a Thursday, in the heat of the day, with some hills. I used this run as a chance to practice nutrition and pacing. I ended that run with 14.5 miles and sense of what I need to do in hot conditions. I had no idea how valuable that experience was.
About a week from race day, Charlie tells me river temp is 66 degrees. That’s just about perfect for me. I can wear my wetsuit and let the current shoot me right down the river. Then Brittney says, “Have you seen the forecast for Rockford?” I’ve known Brittney for 32 years. We’ve been married 23 years. I know when my beautiful wife asks questions in certain manners. She was using her “this looks bad” technique. Heat advisory for race weekend. Full sun. What has been IronDad’s kryptonite in the past? Heat. My legs melt then cramp. Calves, front of legs, hamstrings…cramps are the worst!! In triathlon, you gotta take what Mother Nature gives ya. Can’t control it.
After the Torch Run, I notice something new. Garmin is telling me my heart rate variability is off and my body is “strained”. In the past, I may not have given this much thought. But it was odd for me and I was going into taper week. I gave myself 2 rest days (yes I kept run streak alive). Heart rate variability took another day to get to balanced. The race in the heat was looming a few days away. It almost killed me, but I took another rest day Friday. As I type this, I believe taking 4 days, Wednesday-Saturday, was a huge help on Race day.
Friday- travel day. Brittney and I split up the driving. Outside of Chicago traffic, no real issues (Brittney endured the Chicago mess). We made it into Rockford about 4pm Central time. We went straight to IM village and I got my packet and wristband.
We also bought a few Ironman shirts and a water bottle for the same cost as Heidi’s Purdue tuition. The volunteers working the village were all welcoming and helpful. The city had put up lots of Ironman welcoming signs. We sat down at an athlete briefing, which may have been for first timers because the guy running this briefing was not a regular IM guy. He started this briefing off with what may be the most valuable thing I heard all weekend. “I know some of you are really going to hate to hear this, but this will NOT be the race to go for a PR.” “The expected heat will tax you in more ways than you will know until it’s too late, your heart rate will be higher, your body will get more tired with any pushing.” At that moment, I erased any pressure of trying to go “fast.” Fast is relative. I accepted the fact that this race was all about survival. Just make it to the finish line and preferably with no injuries. Then he tells us that the river current was there but due to lack of rain, it was not very fast. Water temp posted on Friday 75.5. Still wetsuit legal. I was really hoping for a better current but you gotta take what Mother Nature gives. Ironman has water jugs and cups out in the village. They are trying to help with hydration. I take advantage of that. After dinner at Sam’s Ristorante (as the kids say, it was mid”. We then found an arboretum to chill at.
We then drove to see the Guardian Rock Men. 4 big rock statues who were properly dressed for the weekend. Although none of them raced, they were very IM supportive!
Swim start was right next to Rock Men
Saturday morning started off with a 1.5 mile shake out streak saver run with Brittney and Charlie. Brittney and I then went to Anderson Japanese Garden. There was no getting around it, it was hot outside. The Japanese Garden was perfect because there was a ton of shade and places to just sit and be grateful for the experience. We got our steps in and loved the tranquility.
Then we went to Disco Chicken for lunch! Gluten free tenders and tater tots!!
Quite tasty and salty! Perfect for day before a race. Checked my bike in and did a quick recon of swim in and bike out then off to the movies. Charlie had a great idea to get off our feet and out of sun. Charlie’s daughter Megan had joined him for the weekend. We enjoyed Karate Kid Legends. I thought the post credit scene was the best part. Then we hit Lino’s for dinner. Unlike Sam’s, I highly recommend Lino’s. Make a reservation, trust me. The pizza was incredible. The menu tells you how they get the cheese from the Amish nearby and man is it delicious!
Water temp posted on Saturday 75.9..still wetsuit legal but it’s climbing and the sun is cooking Rockford. Weather forecast is also calling for big wind gusts. Like 40 mph wind gusts. We are about an hour outside Chicago, so wind should be expected. Wind can play a big part of a cyclists day. I will never forget pushing hard through a head wind in Ohio 70.3 and my legs making me pay for it on the run. No stress on speed plus wind made me be totally ok just keeping heart rate down and not pushing through the wind.
Race day!- Alarm was set for 3:45. I was awake and up before alarm went off. Charlie picked me up at 4:35. We were parked by 4:55. IM announced water temp at 79.3!! Jesus Christ! It went up 4 degrees in a day! Not even close to wet suit legal! Bummer. Charlie said one of his daughter’s teachers always said, “Everyday you make a choice, you decide if it’s a good day or bad day.” I’ve heard this plenty. Charlie said it was going to be a great day and we were going to have fun.
I was on the let’s just stay positive train but I knew we were about to be challenged!
The bus ride from transition to swim start took a little longer than expected and we joked our swim better not be that long! I used my Pedialyte bottle to keep drinking water while we waited for the start. Charlie and I stayed in the shade as long as possible.
A beautiful rendition of our National Anthem was sung and the canon went off. 3 swimmers at a time hopped off the lily pad and into the Rock River. Charlie and I hopped in line and got started. River is plenty wide and not much action happened for me. I definitely ran into some swimmers as expected. I was in my rhythm quick and feeling good. Then I noticed my swim cap seemed to be working its way off my head. It didn’t feel great and I wasn’t doing it on purpose, but when the cap popped off, my head felt cooled off by the water. I believe my Rockford swim cap will forever live at the bottom of the river.
We swam under 2 or 3 bridges. There were spectators yelling at us as we went under them. I was smiling. Just another body of water this guy who never was a swimmer before 2013, is swimming 1.2 miles in. I’m incredibly lucky.
Out of the water in a regular time for me. No wetsuit plus current cancels each other out I guess. Triathletes are competitive people. Count me in on that. I got passed by so many people running from the water to their bikes, it wasn’t funny. I knew that if I ran, heart rate would sky rocket and that would show up later. The swim is the quickest part. We had a hot long day ahead of us. I got my cycling shoes on and made sure nutrition was loaded into back pocket. I had a referee help me get that pocket open as I was struggling! Got to mount line and off I went. Immediately changed the screen on bike computer to show heart rate. I was hoping to cap at 120. I failed at that, although now I’m ok with it. It did help me keep the heart rate controlled and back off when I started to work. The course had hills. Almost constantly going up. There was a few flats, but IM told us there were hills. As we were sailing along on the way out, I was quite concerned about the wind on the way in. That concern was later validated. I don’t want to brag on myself, but my cycling is strong. These races are where I can see results, and the results show I can pedal a bike. I always thank the guys who have helped build my cycling legs. Charlie and Bart Girdwood are added to the list who is helping keep my cycling strong. I smiled as I passed a ton of people on the bike. I know some of these cyclists ran past me in transition or swam around me and I’m happy to return the favor on my trusted steed. This bike course was like an out, a triangle and back. Wouldn’t you know the long part of the triangle was straight into the headwind. We went from sailing to crawling. This was clearly the way my Dad went to school, up hill and into the wind in 90 degree heat. I could feel the warmth on my arms and legs. Cherry on top you ask?? Farm land and the fresh smell of manure! The perfect concoction of how to fry your energy! “Watch the heart rate Matt”. It’s almost boring, and tedious. I could go faster! But I’ve learned, we don’t go fast until mile 12 of the run. So I Stayed in control. Still passing cyclists, and yes other cyclists passed me. I’m also asking myself how I’m feeling. Stayed on nutrition, drank more fluids at aid stations and just kept pedaling. Never looked at overall time or average pace, just heart rate. Was thrilled when we had tailwind, stayed positive in headwind. Finished the bike and off to transition. Again walking the bike around and into the rack. I’m feeling good. It’s hot out but I’m feeling good. I make sure I have everything I need.
Insert my recommendation for Omius head band here. I believe 2 years ago this company came out called Omius. They sell a hat, headband or visor with what they promote as cooling pieces. The pieces feel like stones. The hat is like $200 with the pieces.
I spend enough money on this crazy sport. I switched to Team Zoot this year. Team Zoot has a partnership with Omius. I got a discount that brought cost under $200. My wonderful wife bought me the visor for Fathers Day. I would be reminded to not say this played a huge role in keeping me cool in brutally hot conditions. Real feel was reported around 104 degrees.
Off to the run. Heart rate is shown as bottom number on my watch. It was the only number I watched. The first few miles, the cap was 140. If it hit, 140, I walked. Sure I had 2 events down. I’m feeling good now, but I want to feel ok later. The only way to do that, control heart rate. I’d run some, I’d walk. The run starts out in full sun. This out and back with not much to look at. Just a bunch of sweaty triathletes trying to look strong. Then through a parking lot and another parking lot behind a building. Then we hit an area with spectators!! Lots of spectators! Also an elderly guy with a water hose!! He is living his best life watering triathletes! And we love him for doing it. My hat also works better with water applied to the cooling pieces. Fun signs, great energy, these people rock! There’s a very short decline from this area down to the bike path. Can’t say we had much shade on the path.
But we had a beautiful river and boats to watch while we ran..or walked. Then we’d hit another aid station. Rockford volunteers were amazing. Ice down the back, sure! You want 2 cups? Yes I do! I had ice down the back, in the front and oh yes, ice down the shorts. (I only asked volunteers for down the back, just to be clear). But it’s amazing how the body feels when you have a frozen package. Ironman has also provided cooling towels. Just to wipe off arms and legs with cold towels helped. I used Base Salts almost every mile. Maurten gels every other mile. Drank Mortal every aid station. Cooling strategy worked. Heart rate control worked. Staying positive worked. Then we got to a bridge where the wind was straight at us and felt amazing. What I didn’t know was we were about to enter a neighborhood of amazing people. These were nice houses with beautiful manicured lawns. Mostly shaded street. If it wasn’t every other house, it was every 3rd house had their sprinklers or water hoses out to water the triathletes. On my 2nd loop I had plenty of time to think on this. Why would these people spend the money on their water bill all day? I came to 2 conclusions.
1. They wanted to help and take care of us. Just the natural human instinct to help your fellow man.
2. What’s more fun than spraying people with water, who want to be sprayed with water?? As kids we love it. As adults we love it. How often do we get the chance?? Win win situation here.
On my 2nd loop through, I could not express enough my gratitude to these folks. They definitely saved some races and possibly saved a life by keeping us cool.
I believe I was around mile 6 when I see Brittney and Megan.
I know I’m gross so no hug. There’s a pretty good number of spectators at this spot. I holler out, “ Hey everyone! Please tell that beautiful lady in the pink shirt Happy Anniversary! Today is our 23rd wedding anniversary!” I think everyone took me up on it! I love getting the crowd involved! Megan would later tell me there was quite a few women impressed I could remember that while competing in these conditions. Brittney and Megan moved to another spot and I got to see them again. Again I had strangers congratulations for our anniversary. I told them I was super lucky to have the best wife. Brittney mentioned that Charlie was about a half mile in front of me. I was surprised.
Charlie has improved his swim way better than I have. Charlie is also a faster runner . The competitive brain thought, “let’s go catch him!” The smarter brain said, “Hell no you are NOT putting in a surge before mile 12!” I wasn’t racing Charlie. I was racing the course and the weather. I was testing my fitness.
The best spectator sign I saw read, “My first sign melted!” Super appropriate and funny!! I keep it moving through the bike path and cross the windy bridge. I’ve gotten a few compliments on my smile. I’m truly having fun! I’m shocked I haven’t crashed or cramped. I look forward to the amazing neighbors. They are still out being awesome. I ask one lady to spray the front of my legs to try and keep them cool. No problem! Then she hits my calves when I pass her! Angel!!😇 Can’t say enough about these wonderful people!
I’m almost out of the neighborhood and just off to my right I see Charlie walking. He turns around and smiles at me. He admits his glute isn’t working as it should (in a more colorful way) but Charlie doesn’t stop just because a glute is angry. We work together to run a little then walk a little. We make a mark to get to then run just a little farther. We agree if one of us feels better, to just go finish. Charlie pulls ahead and then stops to walk. I walk. There’s a big group of spectators we come upon. On my first loop I tried to get them to get loud. On the 2nd loop I holler out to them, “ Have you been practicing?!” They go into an uproar! Loud cheers!! It’s amazing!! I thank them for their energy! I take off from the energy they’ve given!! 2 left turns and I’m in the finish chute! I walked about 10 steps before entering the chute and jog it in the rest of the way!
I see Brittney and Megan to my left right before I finish. I get my medal and finishers hat and I just can’t believe how well that went. I crushed 70.3 miles with no wetsuit, wind, hills, heat and humidity with no cramping or psychological issues. Got to the finish line with minimal chafing and no injuries!! SUCCESS!!! Then I got to give a big hug to Charlie who crushed his 70.3!!
What a great day in a great place!!
The look of a man who gave everything
Brittney and I finished our anniversary at Longhorn Steakhouse. Our server hooked us up with desserts for our anniversary and 70.3 finish!
A huge thank you to everyone from volunteers to spectators to Ironman staff for making race day the best day!! Megan came all the way to support Charlie and kept Brittney company during the race.
Ive told Brittney in person how much I appreciate her and her support in this crazy lifestyle. I’m so thankful you’ve given us this weekend and I’m super proud of the life we’ve created.
Charlie, you always inspire me to work a little harder, run a little faster. No excuses, no complaints, just do the work. I know you will always carry the boats!
To tie this up, never listen to the keyboard warriors, the Debbie Downers. Let them bitch and moan while you become stronger. Rockford, Illinois showed up and showed out! They should be very proud of their town!! Go see somewhere you’ve never heard of. Visit a Japanese Garden. Eat at the local restaurant. Dare I say, DO EPIC SHIT!
A BONUS STOP on the way home!! Brittney took us to the URANUS FUDGE FACTORY!! When you go, bring your 3rd grade humor with you!! It's on 70 right at Indiana/Ohio border!! You may hear things like, "Thank you for letting me pack your fudge today!" or "There's only one way out of URANUS!" "To sign this credit card screen just your fingers, we use fingers here in URANUS." I giggled the entire time. Don't skip the special way out of Uranus. Amazing place to take a break from a road trip!
IRONDAD out…
