3 Fat Men and a Lady Blog - Chicago Triathlon 08: September 2008

Monday, September 15, 2008

More Photo's from Chicago

In an attempt to consolidate all the photo's from everyone's cameras, I set up a Gallery Site to allow the upload of photo's from our Chicago adventure. Picture's can be found here:

http://johnobrien.ie/photos/main.php?g2_itemId=597

Monday, September 8, 2008

You can get much farther...

"You can get much farther with a kind word and a ~~gun~~ wetsuit, bike and runners than you can with a kind word alone." Al Capone.

Date and Time: Sunrise, 24^th of August 2008

Location: The south western shores of Lake Michigan

Temperatures: 22 degrees Centigrade

Chicago Illinois, also known as the Windy City, is the tallest city in North America. It’s not just the buildings that reach towards the sky but the expectations of the city’s sporting public. The Chicagoan is a very proud sports fan. After all, this city was home to the Bears of 86, the Bulls of 1990 to 1998. The White Sox of 2005 and the beloved Cubs of 1908! Now, on the hundred year anniversary of the Cubs last World Series, this baseball team has the best record in the National and American Leagues and is on course to bridge the hundred year gap. Will the Cubs finally bring the World Series back to Wrigley Field? Only Lou Pinella and his team have the answers! On this particular day, it’s not the Cubs, the Sox, the Bears or the Bulls that have the sporting centre stage. Monroe Harbour, Lake Shore Drive, the Museum Campus, Grant Park and Columbus Avenue form the staging area for the 26^TH Accenture Chicago Triathlon.

Four days before, Team Crumlin departed Dublin Airport on route to compete in the biggest triathlon in the world. The journey, for most, commenced many months before with a commitment to raise funds and train to compete in an Olympic distance triathlon. Now, with four days to “D-Day” the expectation and excitement was starting to reach a climax. After a considerable amount of time spent in US customs we took off on route to O’Hare. Arriving in Chicago, there was immediately a sense of welcoming from everyone, especially the mad bus driver! The “locals” are a very hospitable people, especially towards the Irish. The Daly family has been running the city since before JFK was the most important Irish American. This is a city that always exceeds expectations and entices its visitors to come back again. The warmth of the welcome plays a huge part in the Chicago experience. For the duration of the Triathlon we’re based in the Chicago Hilton Hotel on South Michigan Avenue, which is also home to the Triathlon Expo. The first two and a half days in the city were spent acclimatising to our surroundings, the course and the wealth of advice available in the Expo... Now lets race...!

Date and Time: 7.45 am

Location: 15 metres off the west pier in Monroe Harbour

Water Temperature: 26 degrees centigrade

As there are over eight thousand athletes taking to the water between the hours of 6 am and 10 am, all start waves are packed to capacity with as little as four minutes between start times. The Chicago Triathlon swim is perfectly designed for spectators and very comforting for swimmers as the pier wall is never more than 20 metres away. Shane and I are both in the same start wave along with several other members of Team Crumlin. There is plenty of friendly banter and encouragement as we enter the water. The 90 seconds before the hooter sounds lasts a lifetime! Many thoughts cross my mind as I’m about to compete in my first Olympic distance Triathlon. Having played various team sports there is an unmistakable excitement and apprehension before the start of any match. When it comes to sport it’s the element of uncertainly and surprise which fuels the excitement. Maybe that’s why fans are so passionate about their perspective teams?!

On this particular morning, my heart is racing with adrenaline and excitement, but there is also a sense of accomplishment as we have already won! Reaching this stage of our adventure meant that we had completed our primary goal, to raise the money. Filled with apprehension of the unknown and a great sense of achievement, the swim start kick off is a flurry of splashing, boxing and kicking, while everyone jostles to break free from the group.

The first 350 meters of this swim is really all about trying to stay out of trouble and not loosing your goggles. Rounding the distance marker in front of the aquarium I finally get some space to get into a rhythm. For the rest of swim its all about the “little goals” (as discussed by myself and John in-depth in the war room!), reaching various markers, trying to keep a breathing routine, swimming in a straight line and still avoiding stray legs and arms. One of the reasons I particularly enjoy the swim is the “unknown” factor. For the most part, you’re at the finish line before you actually see it, especially, with goggles full of water! I have no shame in saying that I was never so relieved to be pulled out of the water at the end of swim by the girl! 450 metres to transition and part one is complete.

Date and Time: 8.12 am

Location: End the rail for Wave 22 at the top of the transition area

Temperature: It’s getting hotter!

Fully fledged tri-athlete status cannot be achieved without becoming excited by Shimano gear sets, carbon fibre frames, aero wheels, Look Keo pedals and most importantly tri bars. To say we have had an education in cycling is an understatement! Big thanks to Mark McGarry :). On Friday before the race, I called into Cycle Village in Old Town to meet my new best friend, my Trek Tri bike. This piece of equipment was guaranteed to half my cycle time while convincing me to sell the car! 40 km to go... plenty of time for us to bond.

The heat from the sun was only just defused by the cool lake breeze blowing north to south along the lake front. Leaving the transition area on route up the north lake shore drive it hits me that I have never been so comfortable wearing green lycra! During the course of the cycle the green lycra suits are dotted all along the cycle track and are a welcoming and reassuring sign that we’re all in this together.

Having never cycled 40km before today, I’m not really sure how fast to cycle or how long this part of the adventure should take?! Rounding the 10 mark I catch a quick glimpse of Shane but despite all my shouting and abuse he is too focused to get distracted. After 20 km I have completed one loop of the circuit. On the second return journey up north I remember thinking how much I was enjoying this entire experience. Initially, the amount of training appeared somewhat daunting but looking back, I enjoyed every minute and so far all my expectations have been exceeded. Could this experience be recreated next year...?! Certainly at this stage I’m hoping so... but let’s see after the run! Back to transition and its time to test the jelly legs.

Date and Time: 9:30 am (John is about to enter the water, Shane is still having a duel with the elite cyclists!)

Location: Second pit stop in transition – Rail wave 22

Temperature: Too hot for the white Irish!

When John and I took part in our first “sprit distance” triathlon in Athlone, apart from the swim, our next biggest learning experience was the run. After getting off a bike the legs are just not cooperative. For me, the run is the most difficult part of any triathlon. It took me over two kilometres to feel like I was actually running. The full 10 km is a battle of endurance and will power. On the flip side the support along this running route is superb!

During the course of the weeks leading up to this event we had sought advise and tips from lots of experienced tri-athletes. Race preparation and energy replenishment are significant to race success. With this advice, I armed myself with the correct amounts of water, glucose drinks and energy gels... or so I thought! Now, one of the most important pieces of advice is never to try something new on the day of an event. “Make sure whatever you do on race day has been tried and tested in training”. During the bike section I took a couple of energy gels washed down with Gatorade. Once I started running, the over indulgence in sugar did not agree with my stomach. After 3 km a spectating family got a little more than they bargained for when I had to make my first emergency pit stop. If it were not for all the educational drinking sessions in college I would not have gotten back on the horse so quickly!

Less than a kilometre further into the run I had to make another emergency pity stop in the public toilets on the museum campus. Again, there were a few surprised spectators to see a green lycra suit leaving the running track. Two keys learning’s for next time, don’t eat and drink too much during the actual race. The first 5 km of the run were the most taxing, as I thought the 31^st Street beach turning point would never come. The heat, the exhaustion, the muscle pain and the pit stops are all contributing to a substantial amount of discomfort. Again, the sight of the fellow Team Crumlin members serves to keep the legs going forward.

At one point I start to question whether or not it was wise to go flat out on the bike and the swim? But then again, this being our first Olympic distance event, its all unknown! On the back half of the run the legs are on auto pilot as I get another burst of energy and a now I have the cool breeze in my face. For the last two 2 km of the run I’m having a psychological “duel to the death” with a fellow competitor, John from NYC. Despite my best efforts we did not speak for the duration of the last 2 km but keep “eyeballing” each other. Two hundred metres or so from the line I jokingly suggested we have a sprint finish, only to see John take off at lightening speed! The jury is still out as to who won the sprint finish. The video would suggest that I might have been piped! It’s defo a case for the TMO. The slow motion reply will definitely tell a different story ;-) In truth, the most satisfying part of this experience is that we had won long before ever taking on Lake Michigan.

Date and Time: 10:18 am

Location: Columbus Avenue – Accenture Chicago Triathlon 2008 Finish line

Temperature: The iced towels are the only reprieve from the 30 degree sun!

Crossing the finish line there is an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction and relief but also a slight regret that’s its all over in an instant! There is no time to feel exhausted as the trials and tribulations of the mornings adventures are shared by all. For the first time my sprinting partner, John from NYC offers a few words. Nothing profound but lets just say we have a mutual respect for each other!

Speaking of respect, I cannot finish without expressing my appreciation and admiration for both John O’Brien and Shane Galligan. When I first bullied the boys into accepting this challenge six months ago, they took a day or two to gather their thoughts. Since then, they have been unrelenting in their determination and dedication to fund raising and training. Their support for each other and willingness to jump into the unknown epitomises all the characteristics of true “Legends”! Lads – HUGE thanks for taking up this challenge and succeeding!

One of the beauties about any sport is that win, lose or draw it’s only a game. Its often remarked when a team loses or an individual fails to perform, that it’s not a matter of life and death. The most satisfying aspect of this entire experience is that we have helped to improve the lives of the patients and staff at Our lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin. This is one fat man signing off on our first adventure with the Lady ;-)

What your support means to Crumlin

Friday, September 5, 2008

This is not the end...

“This is not the end, It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” – Winston Churchill

On Thursday April 10 I blogged

I'm putting this blog up for all to witness:

I will raise this money.
I will finish this race.
Getting fit is just a bonus.

"You only lose if you quit" is my motto for this event and I am not going to lose this one.

So there I stood 4 months 14 days since this first blog entry, staring into the blue water of lake Michigan at the starting line of the 2008 Chicago Triathlon. Initially the Swim is identical to my much maligned Athlone Adventure. It was 375m south along the peer to the Aquarium before turning 375m north back to the starting line. Unlike Athlone however there was a further 750m straight swim from this point to the finish line.

“Small goals” that is the order of the day. Don’t look to your left, don’t glance northbound, stare straight ahead and get to the first 375m marker. The hooter went off at 9:33am on Sunday morning 24^th August and I was underway. Only 51.5Km to the finish line.

The young one’s (Barry and Shane) started at 7:30ish that morning in wave 22. I was in Wave 49 out of 50 (joys of being old I thought). I was apprehensive about this as my goal was to take my time and finish when I finished. Now that I was one of the last to start, it meant I had to finish my race before the finish line was dismantled and before everyone went home.

One huge advantage of starting at the end was that I got the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere. The scenes around the starting line were amazing. I saw a few things that filled me with awe and gave me great belief in my ability to finish.

Getting into the water in the few waves before my 30-40 age groups was an 80 year old man, a large number (4/5) blind individuals, and a huge contingent of physically disabled athletes. One man in particular was head and shoulder above everyone for me. He was a double amputee just below the knees. He was lifted into the water and led the way in the swim when once his wave started. I later discovered that he had a specially designed tricycle type bike where the pedals come across his lap which moves using your arms. Subsequently he had specially designed prosthetic limbs to attach to his legs that allowed him to run the 10k. My dad once remarked to me that “adversity strikes everyone in life it’s how you deal with it is what makes you a man”. Here in front of me stood a real life definition of hope and overcoming adversity.

Once my race began I quickly discovered that my 4 weeks of essentially living in the Westin Hotel’s pool had greatly improved my swimming. I may have been going slowly, but I was moving in the right direction and wasn't swallowing half of lake Michigan.

After about 20m or so I came up on a guy who was really struggling. If memory serves his name was Fabian and he was a Chicago local. After my experience in Athlone when I was helped along by my fellow competitors, I felt it only fair to “pay it forward”. I stayed beside him and encouraged him from boat to boat (little goal to little goal) until suddenly we were half way through. At this point he said to me to continue on ahead without him. He said that he was "fine", was going to "rest here for a while" and he’d see me at the finish line. Reluctantly, I moved on ahead and finished the last 750m of the swim.

The cycle was the most enjoyable part of the entire triathlon. 10Km out of the city on Lake Shore Drive, 10Km back to Chicago and then “rinse and repeat”. Now I’m no writer and no words I can put down here can describe how incredible the Chicago skyline is, so I won’t even try. After a slow swim, I blitzed the cycle and posted a fairly respectable time IMHO. Towards the end however as the Chicago Sun reached its high point and the mid day heat kicked in (80+F), I slowly began to wane. My arms and legs were burning and I was unsure if it was the Sun or the lactic acid that hurt more.

2h 54Mins into the triathlon and I was two thirds there. Now with the swim and bike completed, came the hard part. All that was left now was a leisurely 10K run in the Chicago heat to the finish line. The run itself was 5K south along the lake front and then back the same way to the finish line. This to be honest, was the longest part of the entire event for me. Three things stood out for me in this section that will stay with me for a long time.

1^st was the Chicago people. I cannot in any way explain how it feels to be cheered from start to finish along this 10K route. One group in particular amazed me. About 2K into the run while I was getting water a family of 5 stopped me and asked what Team Crumlin was (it was written on the front of our tri-suits)? I explained that there was a team us out here doing the event and that we had all raised money for a children’s hospital in Ireland.

50mins later as I reached the same point on my return to the finish line, all 5 of them were still there waiting to cheer me as I passed. As I turned the corner a little up ahead, I looked back and saw that they were leaving the area. I couldn’t believe that someone would wait nearly an hour, with kids, in that heat, just to cheer a complete stranger.

2^nd was when I passed Fabian on the return leg of the run. I was delighted that he had made it through the swim and was about 20mins or so behind me. He waved and shouted see you at the finish line.

3^rd and finally was the run to the finish line. 2 fellow Crumlin team members Janet and Stephan ran out the course to meet me and ran with me that last few meters before my sprint/dash/stumble over the line where the majority of the team were waiting to celebrate as the last member of the team finished the race.

And yes thankfully the finish line hadn't been dismantled yet...

So here I am at the end of the 1st leg of my journey. 4 months 25 days later I stand proudly in front of you all as a fully fledged Tri-athlete.

I posted a personal best time of 4hours 30mins, but more importantly:

We raised over €15,000 for Crumlin Children's Hospital

I completed the Race

I got fitter :)

Roll on Chicago 2009…..