Britt won’t let me drive so I’ll start this race report now.
I have no idea why she thinks me driving after a 70.3 race that totally kicked my ass is a bad idea???
After crushing this race last year, then having 3 pretty successful races this year, I went into this race thinking it was ass kicking time. Charlie and I have been doing some tough bricks getting him ready for Ironman Florida. I was hoping we would get the same cool weather as last year. The lie detector test determined that would not be the case. I decided that this was the race where I would not wear my heart rate monitor and just push myself. My watch catches the heart rate but I didn’t mess with the watch. I just went and played triathlon with reckless abandon! Ok, not that crazy. After just setting a time trial PR last Tuesday, I knew my cycling legs were strong. Michigan is a fast bike course with few hills. The run is flat. Excellent course to test the fitness.
I’ve said this before, but I really get energy from friendly faces. I was blessed to have my girls with me. I was lucky to have friends, Bart, Eileen, Tom, Colleen, Jamie, Stacey and Keith to hang out and see throughout the weekend. As usual, I met a few other athletes I got to talk to. One particular couple really stood out though. Andy Baker and his wife joined us and a few others on the lake viewing area at our cabin. Andy asks if he can sing us a song? It’s a triathlon song titled “Finish Line.” This guy has made albums and is on Spotify. He breaks out a guitar and sings this song that hits me right in the feels! It was amazing! Andy and his wife (I only know his name because he said we could find him on Spotify under Andy Baker) got into triathlon in 2007 and have done a ton of races all over the world. Super nice, down to earth people. I videotaped the song, tried to upload to Facebook but it failed (will try again at home).
The water temp was announced at 66.7 degrees. This is fantastic. Cool but easy to breathe in. Long sleeve wetsuit was great. Being this race was in mid September, the sun doesn’t come up until 7:45ish. So the pro men started at 7:50. Pro women started at 8. Age group athletes started at 8:10. This is a late start for us. The weather has been hot the past few days and the forecast was to get warm quick and be almost 80 by noon. I knew this factor did not bode well for my run. Did I adjust my bike intensity to save legs for my run? NOPE! Did I do this in the past and blow up? Yup! But you just don’t know your limits until you test them.
I dove into beautiful Betsie Bay and had no problems sticking my face in and finding my stroke. Through the timing arch and away we went. I followed the swimmers ahead of me and stayed tight on the buoys. I felt good. I swam well. I sang Love Shack as it had played in transition while I was setting up. Got bumped a few times. I caught a few people who started before me. No real craziness here. I saw some seaweed float under me that was in a star shape. “Was that a starfish?” “No Matt. It was seaweed. There’s no starfish in here.” You never know what thoughts you’ll have in a 70 mile race. But that made me smile. Smiling is helpful. Your brain doesn’t think you’re working if you’re smiling. You’re just having fun. Make it around to 2nd timing chute and toward the swim exit. I did have a little trouble sighting the exit but kept swimming till I figured it out and soon enough I’m out of the water. Volunteer unzipped my wetsuit and off to T1 I go. I’m not messing around in transition today. I get that suit off, shoes and helmet on and out I go.
I start the bike. We go like half a mile and make a right turn. Soon as I turn, I see a male athlete sprawled out on the road with his bike taking up the whole lane. I think “man that sucks! He didn’t even bike 1 mile and he already crashed!” Go right around that guy and off I go. I absolutely love this bike course! We go out about 5 miles, hit a U turn and come right back through all the crowds! We then turn right and ride the scenic highway that goes around Crystal Lake. Just gorgeous trees, smooth roads and a community of people who watch and cheer us on. My legs showed we’ve been crushing pedals the past few months. I passed a lot of people going up hills. I never even dropped to small ring the entire ride (probably should have but oh well). There was one rider who had a BLUE and white kit that said Purple Patch on the back. I had a real problem this. Purple is my favorite color. I can not accept a kit saying Purple Patch being BLUE. It’s just wrong. Should be banned. Wrong I tell you. There was another U turn way out, going up a hill.. slowed way down, navigated the turn and got right back on the pedals. I hit the aid stations. The last one, I called out black gel (non caffeinated Maurten) and reached and grabbed, the gel slipped and popped up. I caught it! I yelled, “I caught it!” And these high school boys erupted in cheers! They were great! I mainly kept my computer on the map screeen so I knew of upcoming turns. I didn’t watch speed. I didn’t want to know speed when we hit head wind, I wanted to focus ahead when we got to bomb down hills. I hit 39.3 mph down the biggest hill. I heart bombing downhills. My bike did great. My quads did let me know towards the end that I had pushed them. I stood to push up a hill and was like, “ewwww, those quads are sore!” So be it. Can’t go fast without pushing those quads. I did look towards the end of the ride and saw my average was over 21mph. I’ve never done that in a 70.3. Strava confirmed this was my fastest 90k averaging 21.6. Bike course crushed!!
Get to transition and one of my neighbors had decided to throw their wetsuit over the rail where I was supposed to rack my bike. Seriously?? I’m hoping they had brain freeze and didn’t realize what they did. I tossed the suit onto the ground and racked the bike. Wheels were still hot from burning up the course ;). Decided to change socks, throw on the run shoes and get out of there. No messing around!
I immediately feel the blazing ball of fire in the sky cooking us. Great. Clouds!! NOPE! Not a cloud in the sky. Ok, move your ass big boy. I see Brittney, Heidi and Sav! Lifts my spirits immediately! Told Britt I crushed the bike, she agreed and off I went. The run is like .70 miles out then back and farther out and around Betsie Bay. There is little shade. I got energy from the crowd. But the sun cooked me. The bike ride had taxed my legs. I stayed hydrated. I used my Base Salts. I did run the first couple of miles. Slow, but was running. Then out on the road, I walked. I quickly devised my plan. Run 2 cones, walk 1. The course had a ton of cones separating run and car traffic. I told myself run 2 cones but would run 4-5 cones before I’d walk to the next one. Then I get to the park we do a small loop around. I have to stop for a porta potty. Take care of business and out I go. Shortly after, my new running friend Keith catches me. Keith tells me he wants to run a mile with me. Totally picked me up! Super helpful! We talked and ran. Probably was my fastest mile. I never looked at mile splits. I knew they weren’t great. I knew I had to “eat the elephant “. Experience helped. I was in the suck but knew how to handle it. I saw my girls as I got back to the transition area.
I told them this would be a long day. Britt assured me it was hot and I just needed to stay steady. Her belief in me was calming. I then went through the big crowd of people and saw Jamie, Stacy and Colleen.
Got to turn around and back out I went. Lap 2 was full of leg twinges and short run games. Run to that tree. Walk to that shade. Run 2 cones. Hey! There’s Terry Gates! (Winner of the 70-74 age group!). There’s Tom! “Get it Tom!” Back around the park. Back on the road. I walk next to this guy in an all white kit. I ask if he wants to run to the shade up ahead. “Nope, I’m power walking the rest of this.” He replies. Ok, see ya soon. I’d jog some. He’d catch me. We’d talk a minute, I’d jog, he’d catch me. I almost couldn’t believe it. Then he passed me. Bro was walking FAST. His plan worked better than mine! I give the guy props! I actually found the guy after the race. He said after walking 6 miles, his last 2 miles he ran pretty quick! Interesting!!
I make it back to the crowd and I’m all walk now. Shins, hamstrings, quads, calves, and feet are all pissed. I’m spent. I finally see the red carpet.
I always have energy for this! The absolute best part! NOT Today friends. NOT today. I see my girls. I high five them. I’m exhausted. I do NOT want to cramp in front of all these people. There’s no celebration. I don’t even think I smiled. I just walked under the arch to finish.
I stop my watch and see 6:09. No where even close to last years 5:43. But it was a harder fight this year. The heat was for real. I struggled. I had to fight. I pushed. I persevered.I get my medal and hat. I meet my girls just passed photo place. Every layer stripped from me.
I start bawling my eyes out. I’m exhausted. I’m disappointed. I’m proud. Legs hurt I’m over heated. I finished another 70.3!! All the emotions pour out for like 2 minutes. Then I pour a bottle of water over my head and on my legs.
I go get another bottle of water. I smile. I’m good. I’m blessed to have such a great family!
Bart Girdwood then finishes right behind me. He crushed the course in 5:50! He’s been having knee troubles and wasn’t sure how his day would go. He’s a beast!
I start walking out and see a very short line to the Orca Cold Plunge tub. It looks like heaven to my very sore legs. The guy working it said the water is at 42 degrees. They let us go for 2 minutes so everyone can have a go one guy stepped in and said, “nope! Too cold!” And got right back out. A female athlete right in front of me stayed in for full 2 minutes. I had no idea how this would go but I had to try it. I got in and sat right down.
It was COLD but felt amazing. Britt has a picture of me in it. Little ice cubes formed on my arms. Guy asked me after 1 minute how I was. I said great, how are you?! Easy breathing and enjoyed that! After 2 minutes, right hip spasm as I stood up. Took an extra second to step out. Bart was a few people behind me in the cOld plunge and he lasted 2 minutes also!
To sum it up, it’s good to challenge yourself. It’s good to push over your limits and show yourself what you’re made of when things get difficult. You can have a plan, try to prepare and then fight through whatever obstacles stand in Your way. I didn’t necessarily set this up to show Heidi and Savannah we can fight through hard times, but they saw it. They saw me decide to not quit. They saw me cry. They saw me freeze in the cold plunge. They are exposed to triathlon. Maybe one day they get into it, maybe not? At least they are exposed. Savannah did tell me how impressed she was when she watched the pro women dismount their bikes, rack the bike then throw in their run shoes in less than a minute. She was watching, intently. Taking it in. I love when my girls get to see strong women doing hard things! They won’t grow up thinking they need anyone to do everything for them. They also have a great example in their own Momma!! When Britt wants something done, stay outta her way!
Can’t say enough good things about Frankfort, Michigan. Just a beautiful town with great people. I felt triathletes were welcomed to their town.
My friends who were there, whether you raced, spectated, cheered …I am blessed to know you. I thank you for making my daughters feel welcomed in our group. I thank you for the support during the race. And after the race!
2024 triathlon season is done for IRONDAD! 4 70.3 races done and dusted.
2025 sees a busy time with Heidi graduating high school, having a graduation party and a college move in. Good timing as I’ve worn myself out!
11:17pm and Britt is still driving. She’s the real MVP! After driving me to the race , cheering me on course, then she drives 7 hours to get us home (I offered to drive some, she wouldn’t let me). I have the most amazing wife!
After getting to sleep in my own bed, I woke up today to a message from my friend Shawn. Today is his 5 year “streakaversary”. Which means tomorrow is my 8 year “streakaversary “! To run at least a mile everyday for years takes dedication, discipline and perseverance. Kind of goes hand in hand with triathlon. I haven’t run today’s clunky mile yet but I will. Today will be run streak day 2917. My legs are already questioning me about running today but they need to just suck it up buttercup. The streak must live. I did have to side step down the stairs this morning. Legs, shins, feet are sore! Back and neck, also sore! Spirit is way better today. After talking with some people, and digesting what I accomplished yesterday…I feel much better. Did my run suck, yes. Did I quit, nope! I completed 4 70.3 races this year, after doing 4 last year. That’s a lot of racing. My body has responded well and I walked into car dealership today with a pretty normal gait. I’m considering this a win. Really blessed to have friends who earned a podium spot, friends who were there for me, friends who I helped, and a triathlon community who all wants everyone to succeed!
