Ironman NYC
8/11/2012
I can talk about the day I signed up for this race. Why I signed up for it. The build up. The training. The injuries and all that encompasses getting to the starting line, but that’s not what made this day so special. What needs to be talked about are the people that supported me. Their ability to put up with me, accommodate me and be there fighting with me to the end.
This is not so much a race report as it is a Thank You note. Ill get to the race, but please do not read past the words about these people. Their love and support meant I could complete the Ironman. It is what life is about. Its rare in life to find people who support you without thought of self. People who truly unconditionally love and care for you. I have been honored and lucky to have found a few and to say I am grateful, would be an insult as it doesn’t begin to express how truly blessed of a person I am to have them.
RACE WEEK:
Prior to Tami and I leaving, I had several phone calls with Chris Rotelli. If you know Chris, you might not think of him as a calming factor or someone to put you at ease, but that is just what he did for me. Through several phone calls he took time to go over everything I would need for race day and how to go about doing the race. Everything was covered from things to pack as well as what to expect with volunteers, transition, special needs…the works! There was no question in my mind when we left- I had everything I needed. Tami and I arrived in NYC on Wednesday. We checked into the hotel, had an awesome NY dinner and set a plan for the rest of the weeks logistics. Thursday we went to the expo early to get checked in. They had the typical “WTC Penalty Tent” for spectators. You know, the area that separates you from your family when checking in. (Why is it that you can go to marathons that host 40,000 + athletes and they have no problem with you walking up to get race packets with your loved ones, but WTC finds it necessary to separate family and friends?) We obviously said “the hell with that” and Tami came with me through the line. My phone rang and it was Rotelli checking in on me. Tami picked it up and Chris was singing the Jaws theme! Awesome! I asked him about sight-seeing and what his opinion was on us taking in NYC. He said: “go enjoy your trip! Take it all in and have a blast!!” Great advice!!! My parents and sister Wendy flew in that afternoon. We met them and went to pay our respects at the World Trade Center Memorial and museums.
If you haven’t seen these, I urge you to go. The place moves you. The names listed on the borders of the pools speak to you. Obviously you can’t read them all at once, but I made sure to remember the ones I saw. All are heroes. All are missed. All of their families are in our thoughts. The plaque on the wall of the firehouse was beyond sobering. We walked forever that day. All over NY and finished with a trip to SOHO for pizza and beer with Erin. A long day! A fun day! A sobering day.
The logistics of this race were a nightmare! We knew that coming in but really couldn’t comprehend it until we started to set up for the race. You were really limited on how to get places and to do so with …yet again…your family and friends. Does the WTC have something against family and friends? Seriously! If the organizers need a hug, let us know J
Friday was bike check in and transition set up. Tami and I went back to Pier 92 to get Chicky from TBT and set her up for the race. The plan was to get a quick ride in and then head over to transition (across the river and north). When we arrived at the ferry dock (1.2 miles away from where we picked the bike up..yay logistics!!) we were told that Tami could not come with me to transition unless she purchased a pass for $50 and this needed to be purchased back at pier 92. This was to be a ferry pass that was good for race day. We both agreed there was no need for this prior to the race as I would see her out of transition but why was it needed now? Some talking with the volunteers and they let her come with me. (obviously not native to NY as they were nice…) 25 minutes later we arrived at transition and set up the bike, dropped the gear bags and jumped the ferry again to head back to NYC. (are you seeing the logistic problems yet??)
It was raining and we were tired from the day before so we decided to head back and take it easy the rest of the day. Lucky we only had to walk a couple miles to the subway station or I would have been mad.<sarcastic> The day was unsettling for me. I was anxious to get to the race but also there were questions to whether the swim would be a go or not as a sewage line broke upstream. The broken sewage line gave much needed attention to the event! The NYC public had no idea Ironman was even going on until the story broke about sewage. (You see where we were on the priority list. #1 Poop, #2 Ironman…shouldn’t that be reversed… get it, #2…) 4:00 p.m. and the announcement was made- the swim was a go!! Bored and anxious we decided to head to the deli next door and sit outside. The weather turned great and from that point until I went to sleep, my entire group of awesome supporters sat around talking and eating and having fun. Probably the best time of the trip
Race Day:
Sleep - didn’t get very much. I had to be up and at the ferry by 4:00 a.m. so they could take us to transition which meant out of bed before 3 a.m. Thank goodness Bergin came walking past the deli or I would’ve missed the boat…literally. Tami came with me but it was short lived as I had to leave her there. (did I mention logistical nightmare?) Groggy, tired and separated once again, I went to set up my bike. My tires were pumped from the night before and thank goodness. The line for the pumps in transition was that of the security line at the airport. Insane!! All that was needed to do was give my special needs bags to the people who would later steal them, add fuel to the T1 and T2 bags and get in line for the ferry to take us to the start. (did you think we were done with the logistic problems? Come on! Stay with me people!!!)
5:45 a.m. I was standing in line waiting to board. No hurry whatsoever to get on the first couple of ferries as I figured I had all day to get started and wanted to enjoy this. That was really the theme. A few days prior I received a message from one hell of an Ironman competitor and Pro- Chad Holderbaum. His advice was simple but poignant. “Make sure when you’re out there you reflect back on the journey because the race isn’t about just one single day. Its about the process.” Damn right I thought! Its time to enjoy this. I sat down on the grass and started to talk to a couple people who were in line with me. They were both from California and minutes flew by as we were all laughing and swapping stories.
The feeling in the air was so much different than any other race I had been to or done. Tension was gone. It was euphoric, all around good vibe. Maybe it was because I was at the back of the pack and we weren’t concerned about getting in the water first or maybe it was just the event itself but all nervousness and jitters went away then and there. I was having fun!!!!
We boarded the 3rd ferry and I wasn’t about to stop enjoying myself. They were playing music and the view of NY was awesome!! People were having a great time, chatting about the swim, the muddy water and just joking around. A familiar face popped up on the boat- Bergin was there!! I walked over and we talked and joked with others all the way to the start. Awesome!!! Before we knew it the pros went off, some girl did a really bad job at singing the national anthem, and we were pulling up to the barge. People were jumping off one after another in mass chaos. It looked like lemmings following off a cliff. When you hit the platform, your time started. So get in the water and try not to jump on anyone. Cool! Lets do this! I stepped on the barge, peed in my wetsuit and off I went!
The Swim:
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast! That was plan! Little did I know how fast slow and smooth were. The current didn’t feel stronger or faster than Augusta so I was surprised when I hit the 400meter mark and looked at my watch. WOW I thought! We were moving! The water was a good temp, dark and salty. There were people everywhere but I was able to swim my stroke with very little interference. By far the easiest and best swim I have ever had. By the 2nd red marker I remembered the advice from Chad and Chris and wanted to take everything in. I turned my head for a breath facing NYC and saw a view that I think few will ever experience. Above all the neon green and bright pink caps were tall buildings and I just smiled! This was Ironman!! (Just then Hoffa floated by but I figured he was DQ’d as his swim cap wasn’t on anymore…:P) The end of the swim came quickly and muddy. I swam all the way to the exit stairs but couldn’t see or breath. The water was black at this point and people were everywhere. Volunteers were helping us out and pointing us where to go! The wetsuit stripper had me out and into the tent before I knew it. Onto the bike!
The Bike:
Grabbing Chicky and off I went. The climb out of transition was big so easy spin and up I went. I swear everyone passed me and I was loving it! As soon as I exited the park and crested the hill my family was there. Orange shirts with my name and race number!! Holy, Moly, AWESOMENESS!!! They were cheering me on and I was on top of the world. Sticking to my zone and planning an easy first 56 I just kept spinning. After passing the initial crowd the rest of the bike course was relatively vacant. There were patches here and there of people but the crowd support was pretty much non-existent. The road was a highway and had many obstacles in it. Potholes, cracks and then it was getting littered with everyone’s gear and nutrition. I kept my HR about 5 beats lower than I should’ve just to save for the last half. Again, this being my first full, I wanted to make it to the end. Still being passed, I saw many hammering and really pushing. All I heard was Rotelli yelling at me to stay in my zone…so I did! There was a terrible crash about 10 miles out from special needs. People were there to help or I would’ve stopped. A girl looked up at me covered head to toe in blood and a guy was holding his arm as blood had now turned his kit to a bright red. I felt very bad for them and was thankful I was still right side up. Pulling into special needs they were yelling my name. A volunteer approached me with my bag and I exchanged bottles, filled my aero bottle and off I went. Coming to the turn-around I saw those orange shirts and my beautiful bride to be! Tami, Wendy, my Mom and Dad!! Can you say re-energized! It was on! I started to push a little more than the first lap and what do you know…starting passing all of those people who passed me. There were some great down hills but Chicky had some head shake the second I was up in speed. Not sure if it was the 808’s but I wasn’t taking chances so I used caution descending. (if anyone else experienced this let me know) At mile 70 I pulled my waffle from my kit and the rest of my waffles flew across the road. They were ran over and out of the package (I cut the tops off before the race) so it was no use stopping. The good thing was that the next 5 miles flew by as I was busy figuring out what the hell I was going to do. Because the road conditions were so bad in spots there was C02 cartridges, tubes, tires and nutrition everywhere. Basically if I needed something all I had to do was pull to the side of the road and grab it off the ground or ask someone who was there fixing a flat. I decided not to eat anymore and just rely on my Infinite and water from aid stations. The last 10 miles sucked! A strong head wind came in on top of the long climbs and it was starting to get hot. It really felt as if I wasn’t moving. All I wanted to do was get off the bike and start to run. Coming back into the park I saw my mom and dad again! Energy boost!!!!!!!!
The Run:
Out of my shoes and coasting down the hill (thank God for the volunteer pointing out the large bump or I and probably others would have been on our faces) I pulled to the dismount. Grabbed my bag, into the tent, fuel belt, lathered in sunscreen and out I went! That bitch of a hill was the first part I needed to get out of the way. My legs felt better than ever before and I was looking for a very fast marathon. HR stayed where I wanted and I trekked up the hill. Unfortunately, the hills didn’t stop! SHEESH! One, after another, after another…I was afraid to run down the backside as I knew I would have to run up on the way back. I stopped to use the bathroom once and then I found a savior. Jimmy is his name and we started to run together. Our pace was perfect! We decided to walk aid stations and just talked the entire 15 miles left getting out of the park! Others joined us and some stayed and then dropped but we stayed together. The course was BRUTAL but fun because we were doing this together. Amazing how good you feel when suffering with someone else. Lol!! My right foot was hurting pretty good as the blisters started to multiply. Jimmy and I talked about changing socks at special needs but I was soaked and continued to poor water and ice on me. It would have been futile. Sharing salt tabs and swapping stories we pushed on. A half mile before the bridge was the last big climb. Two spectators were handing out water bottles on their own and it was a welcome. We were hot, beat and desperate. I started to feel very VERY bad and told Jimmy to go on. He declined and said “we will finish this together! Us to the end!” How awesome right?! I was touched but I couldn’t let his Ironman experience be affected by mine so I insisted he go. He did and that is when my darkness hit.
Darkness:
I have never experienced feeling the way I did approaching the bridge. When I tried to talk it didn’t seem to come out. Volunteers at the aid station were cheering but it was like I was in a tunnel. That’s all I remember. The rest of this is what was told to me- The other side of the bridge (don’t remember crossing it) my family was waiting for me. Tami said I took off my fuel belt and went into a porta potty. I threw up and had diarrhea. When I came out they said I was a zombie. Just walking aimlessly and not acknowledging anyone. A volunteer was walking with me giving me cups of water and ice but I had no response. I just walked. I remember thinking to just lie down and go to sleep. When I started to come around I was surrounded by medics, fire fighter and 2 doctors. I had a cuff on my on arm, a monitor on my other and I was sitting on a bench looking at the river. There were a bunch of empty cups next to me and puke between my legs. The stretcher was behind me and the ambulance had the doors open. The doctor yelled to a volunteer to get me more chicken broth and was asking me questions. He asked my name and I told him, Ryan. They all smiled and said welcome back. For the next 45 minutes they told me what had transpired. When they saw me walking I was stumbling out of a different porta potty in the grass next to a park. They asked me my name and my reply; “Im here for Ironman.” The doctor said, “no, what is your name?” My reply; “ Ironman!” I smiled as everyone was laughing a little but I was scared. None of this rang a bell and they wanted to take me to the hospital. My arm and hand were shaking and I didn’t know why and could not stop it no matter which way I bent or turned it. My foot was numb and my head hurt badly. We were at mile 20. Six more to go and I was an Ironman. My pleads were just to let me finish and I was starting to make deals. If I drink this and stay can I go then? Etc etc. They agreed and we sat and talked for some time. I must say the chicken broth tasted like shit but it along with the bowl of salt, Perform, water, ice, pretzels and anything else they stuck in front of me brought me back. The paramedic was about as nice as could be and they were all joking around with me making me feel great!
I cannot thank those people enough. For the life of me I cant remember their names but if anyone knows how to get a hold of them, I would like to send them a personal, very sincere, thank you. Without them, this story stops here.
Time to finish:
I hugged everyone and invited them all to Atlanta. Hope Tami doesn’t mind some house guests as Im sure I offered a free place to stay J They made me walk through the aid station and get more cups of everything to take with me and advised me to walk the next few miles and keep fueling. I had my orders and I was listening. By mile 22 when I entered the park I was feeling much better. The corner of the park I saw my dad. I stopped and told him what happened. He told me to just keep going and he would see me at the finish. I was doing great he said with a smile. I smiled. No stopping me now!! There was a short hill so I continue to walk it and the rest of the way to the next aid station. There I would take in more of the same and try to run the rest of the way to the finish. Nothing was going to stop me now! Id crawl to that bitch if I needed to and I had the time. The goal I wanted was way gone and all that mattered was finishing and getting to my family. All of the sudden a guy on a bike in the grass yells, “Hey Ryan! How are you doing?” I panicked as I thought, who the heck is this and oh shit, now I’m freaking hallucinating?!?! Turns out, Tami’s good friends from college came to watch and her husband, Dennis, who I never met, grabbed a bike to come find me as I had been missing for a bit. Phew! I reached out to shake his hand but he declined as the race people scared everyone from touching an athlete. They said they would be DQ’d. Thanks Irondouches !! I heard this happened a lot and it disappointed me. But it was great to see him and get some encouragement. Although I never met him before it was a comfort and feeling of a friend. I walked to the next aid station and said Ill be at the finish soon. Grabbed all of the necessary food I was told and downed two cups of nastiness they called chicken broth, but Im not complaining because it worked, and off I went. Not a mile later and I saw one of my best friends!! Chris Webb was in the park and cheering me on!! Damn was I glad to see him!! He was smiling carrying red bull and jogged along side of me. We talked, and it kept me jogging. It was on! He told me to go to it and would see me at the finish! Oh I was ready to rock and roll now!!
One more aid station before another damn climb and I started to actually run. People were cheering me through the park. Everyone was yelling, “Go Newton!!” as I passed in my bright kit. “You look strong!!” “Way to push!!” I was flying. From the mile marker 25 I looked at my watch and decided no matter what, this would be my fastest mile of the day. Stupid decision perhaps but I was here to finish and finish strong I would. I came down the shoot and saw my parents, my sister and then Tami! I heard my name announced and crossed the line. A volunteer guided me through to get my medal, shirt and hat. Then I sat down and started to shake and feel like shit again. Dr. Salinas came over to help me. He recognized me as we met on Thursday at the expo. Super nice guy and got me to the medical tent.
After a brief stay with the docs I walked out to meet everyone. Glad to hug and kiss Tami!! Hug my sister Wendy!! Hug Chris Webb!! And Julie Hogg!! They were all just as beat as me and I felt bad but so happy to see them and be with them. Tami went to get my clothes bag and I was told to go get food. When I entered the “area” there was a table with chocolate milk, water and coke to drink. As for food- grapes, pretzels and that was it! There was no place to sit. No tents. No party. Nothing. I grabbed a bunch of waters and walked out to meet my crew! We would leave and go have an awesome dinner elsewhere.
Outside of finishing my biggest want was to go to the party at the finish line and cheer in the later people. I heard stories from friends. Seen pictures of the parties and was told countless times how awesome and inspiring it was. I was also told that there is nothing like coming down the end of the Ironman. They said it is “the Ironman moment.” I didn’t get any of this. My finish at half Ironman events was much better. Much more heart felt and much stronger. I didn’t get choked up, excited or nothing. All I wanted to do was see my family.
As for NYC- I don’t have a lot of nice things to say. The people were very rude. Everything was expensive and outside of the pizza and deli’s, the place smelled like piss. I could care less if I ever return. The following day we went to pick up bikes, gear and everything else only to find many were missing. Apparently the security guards decided to steal a lot of items and well…that’s New York. Funny, but when we arrived in Atlanta, the mayor was on the news talking about how we are not like NYC. We treat others with hospitality. I invite you all to come to Georgia! Have a peach and a smile and relax!
As for Ironman, I will be hard pressed to ever do another full. The course was tough and that was a good thing, the volunteers were great and the people I met like Jimmy were awesome!! But the satisfaction and fun of crossing that line didn’t exist. There was no more gratitude, in fact less, than crossing the line at a half.
