Decent swim. Crashed on the bike. Pulled out of the race. Checked into medical tent and was rushed to Dorchester ER in Cambridge MD. Head and neck CT and X-ray were negative. Walked out disappointed with wounded pride and a concussion. I’ll be back. Sorry, no long winded race report this time around. Need to look ahead.

All that being said, and now that a week has passed, I can actually say that I still had a decent time in Cambridge. My family was there. And while it can be even more disappointing when things go wrong in front of loved ones, you realize how deep their love and support is in times like that.

It was also exciting to hang out with friend and first timer Laura Pyott as she realized her ironman dream. I love feeding off of the energy and nervousness of those newbies.

And I also went into the race with a clear(er) head now that I have landed a good job with JPMorgan Chase in Wilmington. Oh and the shower in my building is about 20 yards from my desk making for very accessible noon time runs!

So now I look ahead to the NYC marathon, the Philly half marathon, and a couple of other races I may try to squeeze in there. But first I am off to East Stroudsburg PA for the Pocono Mountain Ironman 70.3 where I will coach and cheer our Team in Training athletes in tomorrow’s race. I’ll try to post some things on the fly.

Have fun, race safe, and thank the volunteers.

For the last several weeks I have had this sad and recurring thought. I guess it’s more of a wish than anything else. I wish I could have a catch with him. I wish I was standing on our front lawn on Malvern Road in Ardmore Pennsylvania throwing a baseball with my dad.

It’s something we did all the time. It seems like we did it every night when I was a kid. In reality we probably did do it any night that I didn’t actually have a baseball game … that he coached. He was a good man, and was loved by many people…

I am recycling something I wrote shortly after he passed …

Up until recently, I had a pretty good understanding of what it meant to be an “Ironman”. I knew they came in all ages, shapes and sizes but after all was said and done, at the end of the day, I knew an ironman to be someone who crossed the finish line after 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, and 26.2 miles of running.  And whether you cross that line in 8:30, or 16:59:59, an ironman is an ironman. This definition changed for me in the summer of 2005.

My dad was 82 years old and never competed in a triathlon. My dad had only a very basic understanding of what a triathlon even is. But he knew that I loved the sport, and for that reason, it interested him. He probably hadn’t done any running since his days in WWII. He probably only biked as a kid for transportation and fun. And I’m sure he, like most people, believed that man was not born an amphibious creature and pools were meant for relaxing and cooling off – not for laps. Still, my dad was more of an ironman than I will ever be.

My dad had undergone surgery to remove a tumor in his chest cavity. Surgery itself was successful, but recovery had been a long, rough road. ICU became our base camp for two months.

With each visit to the hospital, I stared at him in amazement. He had his share of ups and downs. Additional procedures were required to handle multiple postoperative complications. Dad did not like hospitals and did not like to be dependent on anyone. So, you can imagine his frustration being in an intensive care unit for so long with all kinds of tubes running in, out, and all around him. He continued to press on. He continued to fight. Even in his times of frailty and weakness, his strength was apparent. He continued to press on even while he was resting. I could feel his determination to get the heck out of that hospital.

Dad fought an amazing fight. But all great fighters and superstars must reach the twilight of their career. It’s a part of the cycle.  Although dad’s will and determination remained as tough as nails until the end, the physical body knew that it was time.  And on Friday, August 5, with a room full of family by his side, dad was finally able to get his rest, and his peace, with the dignity that he deserved. He crossed the eternal finish line. He crossed a finish line with far greater rewards and a much bigger celebration than I’ve ever seen. And I know when it’s my turn to cross that same finish line, dad will be there to lead the cheers of the crowd and bring me home.

I learned more about my dad in those two months than I had in the 45 years that I’d known him. I have always known him to be strong, yet very caring and sensitive. But it wasn’t until recently that I began to fully understand the depths of his strength. I now have a better understanding of the man who earned a Purple Heart in the War, and the man who always remained loyal and committed to family.  I better understand the man who always did everything within his power to provide a safe and happy existence for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

I saw a man whose credo was the same as that of the ironman – “To fight…to finish”.

I, like many, was once practically enamored with the highly recognizable M-Dot ironman logo. There was a time when I thought that logo stood for something meaningful. There was a time when that logo stood hand-in-hand with words like strength, pride, and endurance. There was a time when that logo, and the organization behind it, was about the accomplishment itself, and not about the production of that accomplishment. And not about the corporate brand behind the accomplishment.

Something has happened that has turned the once respected logo into a veiled symbol for status and greed. M-Dot branding has reduced the logo to be nothing more than a status symbol that says “I can afford to do triathlons”. Walk through any WTC expo and you will see product branding that practically requires a co-signer to purchase. The logo can now be found on some of the most bizarre household and personal products that speak very little about strength, pride, endurance, and accomplishment. But speak loud and clear to the fact that someone; several people, are getting quite fat on our love of what was once a pure sport.

The inaugural New York City Ironman opened for registration a couple of weeks ago. The general registration entry sold for $895. At first I was furious at the thought that the World Triathlon Corp would gouge that deep. But here is the sick part – the race sold out in less than 20 minutes. So, while I know for a fact that I am not alone in my beliefs, how can we control anything if we continue to feed the machine and agree to fight tooth and nail for the “opportunity” to spend $895 to race? If we keep spending, the prices will continue to skyrocket. This is about business, right?

The other piece of this that irks me is that fact that so many first time ironmen and women rush out to get that beautiful M-Dot tattooed on their body. I see many displayed on the lower leg or shoulder blade to make sure that they are visible to more people while people are out racing and training. It’s their own little sign that says “Hey, look at me!! I am really an amazing athletic specimen…. I did an ironman …. And you didn’t”.

Folks can’t wait to emblazon  that corporate logo on their bodies. Which is actually kind of comical since that logo is not public domain, it’s only a matter of time before WTC finds a way to tax or charge for its usage. But why not also get a tattoo of the Pepsi logo? Or Dominos Pizza? Or some of the other corporate monsters whose wealth you contribute to…. I do have to say this, I have MANY good friends with M-Dot tattoos who do “get it” and who do understand. I don’t want to lump everyone together in this rant. Only you know why you got that tattoo and what it means. I still wish you weren’t feeding the corporate monster with your advertising, but I mean no personal disrespect to many of you.

The fact of the matter is that you don’t need to hang a banner to tell everyone of your athletic accomplishments. Be proud, but for God’s sake, please be humble. I know my opinions are strong, and I know you are good people. But… come on…. At least try to create a tattoo that is personal and unique and can serve as a reminder to yourself without being a flashing neon sign.

In my mind, the solution(s) are simple. In a perfect world, the WTC would take a deep breath and attempt to get back to basics. But they will first have to realize that chasing the almighty dollar is not what this sport should be about. The WTC can still redeem themselves if they can find a way to reduce pricing and also find a way to de-saturate the brand and make it mean something again. They seem to be of the understanding that if M-Dot is good, then more M-Dot and higher priced M-Dot must be better; and that’s not true.

We can do our part as well by supporting our local race directors. The ones who pour their own dollars and sweat equity into events and do so for the athletes. There are plenty of independent ultra distance (a.k.a. “ironman”)  races out there as well that are fantastic events, and cost a fraction of the price.

Thanks for reading. I’ll echo my thoughts that I opened with… I am still loyal to the sport of triathlon and to ironman. And I am not bashing anyone personally or professionally here, but I am raising my hand and making a little noise with the hope that the powers that be might bring it down a few notches and return to the basics that made this sport and ironman so great.

I also have to say that WTC DOES put on one hell of a race. Their productions are big and memorable. There is no question in my mind that hearing Mike Reilly call your name as you cross the finish line is among the greatest moments you may ever experience. And when people ask me how I feel the branded events compare to the indies, I tell them they should experience both because each carries their own set of pros and cons. But if we don’t control this runaway freight train now, there won’t be anything left to appreciate and the M-Dot and all that it could stand for will fade away into oblivion.

Maybe I shouldn’t care so much, and perhaps tomorrow I won’t. But today, I do.

A decade ago it was easy to keep the motivation up to train for an ironman (or a marathon for that matter). But as time marches on, and the medals accumulate in a box, that well of motivation seems to become a little more finite than it once was. The races don’t become any easier, they sure as heck don’t get any shorter, and training motivation gets tougher; so that’s a potentially dangerous combination.

 As much as I remain committed and addicted to the sport of triathlon, I find myself searching for that slightly different flavor of the sport. Years ago, the ironman was considered THE quintessential brass ring of the sport of triathlon. Completing an ironman was the ultimate measure. I don’t believe that anymore. Ironman has become saturated, much the way the marathon became to the running community. And what happened to road racing when the marathon became a little old news and stale? The ultra marathon was born. Runners found a way to push beyond “normalcy” and create new and longer distances. And as the masses catch on to ultra marathoning, I’m sure that bar will again be raised.

Ironman just isn’t unique enough anymore. Everyone now has become an “expert” and you can practically pick up a training plan at any local convenience store. So with ironman becoming a little too common place, what’s next? What is the next drug of choice for endurance sports junkies? I can hear and feel the underground energy as athletes search for that next …. “thing”. Eventually, endurance athletes reach a point where they feel the need to either go faster or farther.

Adventure racing is gaining a stronger foothold but I still think there is something mystical in the swim/bike/run format that John Collins gave birth to in the late 1970s. I think we will see a surge in more off road triathlons such as the XTERRA series and I even suspect we’ll see more iron distance off road triathlons being offered. But for me personally, I have a difference answer to that “faster or farther” question. I see the double ironman and triple ironman becoming the next true measure of mettle. I have had many conversations with double and triple ironman triathletes and race directors and find myself in that same position of being drawn into something because I don’t understand it … and am afraid of it.

 Stay tuned.

President and CEO of Ironman, Ben Fertic comments, “My family has been in Florida for six generations and I am devastated by the BP oil spill and the ongoing destruction it is causing not only to the environment, but also to the families whose livelihoods are dependent upon the Gulf of Mexico.  As a company, we are always looking for unique ways to help preserve the natural resources in our host communities.  We believe our contribution to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans will offer direct support to the fishing and shrimping families in their time of need.  We look forward to providing additional aid to clean-up efforts around the Gulf Coast and hope these types of donations will have a meaningful impact.”

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans is an umbrella agency with 45 programs delivering health and human services to the poor and vulnerable in the 8 civil parishes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.  Just days after the spill, Archbishop Gregory Aymond, Catholic Charities co-president Gordon Wadge, Second Harvest CEO Natalie Jayroe and a CCANO disaster response team, met with government leaders in Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes.  By the first week of May, Catholic Charities was offering assistance in both St. Bernard and at two oil spill relief centers in Plaquemines Parish.  In just a few short weeks, the number of Catholic Charities’ centers around New Orleans now totals five.  To date, the organization has provided emergency assistance to more than 2,300 families, served 952 food boxes, given more than $140,000 in gift cards/food vouchers and counseled more than 700 individuals.

“One-hundred percent of this donation from The Ironman Foundation will go directly to assistance for the fishermen.  The fishermen of Southeast Louisiana are a strong, resilient and independent group who are accustomed to providing for themselves and their families. The threat of losing not only their livelihood, but also our culture and way of life has been a tremendous blow. We deeply appreciate the commitment from one strong group to another,” said Gordon Wadge, co-president of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans.

 The Ironman Foundation has raised more than $3,500,000 through various initiatives, including a charitable eBay auction, since its inception in 2003.  Throughout the last eight years, the Foundation has provided charitable assistance with donations and grants being received by a variety of local and worldwide organizations such as: The Pediatric Cancer Foundation, C Different, The American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America, among others.

For more information on Ironman and The Ironman Foundation, log on to www.ironman.com.  To learn about Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, please visit www.ccano.org.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. –  Do you wish your loved one would spend as much money on you as they do on their high-performance bike? You’re not alone. In her debut publication How to Date a Triathlete, Lauren McVey-Harsch offers a personal and humorous look inside her relationship with an Ironman triathlete.

Spanning the globe with her husband on “racations,” How to Date a Triathlete shares McVey-Harsch’s triathlon stories as a spectator, volunteer, travel companion and loving wife. While accepting the lifestyle of a triathlete can be challenging at times, she notes travel as just one of the many advantages of hooking up with one. Referring to body marking and sunscreen application as delicious volunteer opportunities, How to Date a Triathlete serves advice to those who are in love with an endurance athlete, but are not always in love with the endurance athlete lifestyle.

How to Date a Triathlete includes a forward by Virginia Tinley, wife of two-time Ironman World Champion Scott Tinley and Executive Director of the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and a triathlon glossary that will help make any triathlon novice sound like a pro. 

How to Date a Triathlete is available now at www.howtodateatriathlete.com. Visit the How to Date an Endurance Athlete Facebook Page for a taste of what this must-read has to offer.

About the Author

Lauren McVey-Harsch is the owner of Team Together and is married to endurance athlete Peter Harsch. Residing in San Diego, California, the triathlon capital of the world, McVey-Harsch did not take easily to being the wife of a committed endurance athlete. After finding a pleasant life balance, she crafted How to Date a Triathlete to provide a humorous approach to dealing with serious issues. McVey-Harsch is not a triathlete, she just happened to have married one.

Media and Speaking Opportunities

Lauren McVey-Harsch is available for in-person and remote interviews, speaking engagements, book signings and race expos. Please contact Erin Merz at erin@erinmerz.com for scheduling.

People chase the ironman dream for any number of reasons. Many reasons are quite personal and private, while some are as simple as just wanting to be able to say they did it. Ironman is a crazy beast which can often attract slightly crazy beings. The first question that I always ask people is why in the world would they want to put themselves through that. I ask the question rhetorically because I more than anyone know most of the reasons why. Although the reasons may be different from person to person, the underlying allure is not all that complicated to figure out.

But here are my words of both caution and advice….  whatever you choose to do, be humble about it. When you complete an ironman, you will want to talk and scream about it from the highest mountain. Be careful how you do that. Relish and reflect appropriately on your accomplishment. Talk about it to your friends, family, and loved ones, but don’t misrepresent that elated feeling of accomplishment and self worth into an attitude of “I, Me, Mine”.

I have seen a number of people get so sucked into the sport and in particular the ironman that their outward display of pride in their accomplishment can easily be taken as arrogance. A triathlete, check that – ANY athlete -  who is true to themselves is extremely humble about their abilities and their accomplishments. They talk about them when asked but they talk about them graciously. I have seen a number of people become ousted from the real triathlon community because they suddenly started talking about themselves as having attained  a greater level of existence or importance because they raced an ironman. Guess what? They didn’t. I often see guys raving about their results or broadcasting their workout distances, and that posture turns off more people than it impresses.

I don’t want to under value the enormity and the significance of crossing the finish line of an ironman triathlon, or tarnish the brass ring of the sport. This is huge and you should be very proud of the fact that you even had the courage to attempt the distance. And the redeeming point here is that if you carry yourself right, people know. They just know. You don’t have to promote yourself. You can passively wear your accomplishments and achievements like a merit badge and never say a word about yourself. And I don’t mean because you show up on race day with a lot of high end race gear, or go out and get one of those M-Dot tattoos strategically placed so everyone and their Aunt Martha can see it. I’m talking about transcending your accomplishment into actions and by who you are and how you live your life. Particularly how your treat the beginners to the sport, and those race volunteers who work endless hours to make your dreams come true.

Ironman, and the triathlon community have enriched my life. The camaraderie and respect among the athletes are like nothing I have ever seen before. The total triathlete is greater than the sum of his or her parts. The triathlete heart, spirit and the bond that connects us is deeper than that which you will find among swimmers, cyclists, or runners.

So I say, if you really want to race an ironman, make sure you know why you want to do it. Don’t race for the medal. Don’t race for the finisher photo. Don’t race for praise from someone else. Race because you want to dig deep and challenge what’s inside. Race because you want to see what you are made of. Race because you have an ounce of doubt that perhaps you can’t do it – and want to prove yourself wrong. Race to expand your personal comfort zone. Race to raise money for charity. Race for the right reasons. Be a gentle giant in the triathlon community. And use your talents and accomplishments to make a difference … not to make a statement about yourself.

At the end of the day, it’s just a race. It’s a big race. It’s a long race. It’s an incredibly rewarding race. But it’s just a race. Merely finishing an ironman won’t make you a better person. Hell, winning an ironman won’t even make you a better person. But if you make the right choices in how you handle yourself and your accomplishments, if you make honorable and meaningful decisions regarding what you do with what you’ve earned, you can make yourself and those around you better.

And the next time you want to tell someone what your finishing time was, be sure to also tell them how much money you raised for a favorite charity.

Have fun
Train safely
Thank the volunteers

We went through a training exercise at work not too long ago called “Aligning Systems”. This exercise basically discussed the importance of having all of the various integrated components and moving parts of a larger “system” properly aligned and in sync with one another to be able to operate as smoothly, efficiently, and effectively as possible.  This was an exercise intended to maximize results in the corporate workplace but there are huge parallels to be drawn in how we align each of our own personal systems in order to maximize our everyday results as we strive towards our real life goals. As I look at the races that I have on my calendar between now and the end of November, I find myself in full system alignment mode. I am at that point where I am taking a lot of inventories and trying to determine what I have done right, what mistakes I may have made, and what I need to do to try to tie all of the pieces together.

The best way to describe this process is that it dissects all of the things that are required to reach your goal. First, you need to know your goal – and that is a big problem for many people. But once you have defined what your mission is, you need to determine what all of the things, people, or “systems” are that will assist you in attaining your goal. Once you have the systems identified you need to examine them and try to determine if each one is operating as efficiently as possible to get the job done.

Picture this analogy… most people have entertainment centers of some kind at home and they may have a number of wires, cables, extension cords, or power strips all plugged in BEHIND the furniture. When you turn on your electronic devices, they all power up so what’s the big deal right? Well, I would be willing to bet if you took the time and pulled the furniture away from the wall and examined each cable, wire, and plug and made sure it was connected in the most direct way possible, that you could probably eliminate some unnecessary something and make things a little more efficient. You would also eliminate some clutter.

The Chesapeakeman Ultra Distance Triathlon is less than two weeks away. It is another iron distance race consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run. Am I ready? I’ll answer that after I cross the finish line. From a physical perspective I think I will be fine. But of course “fine” is a relative term and I could always be more fine or less fine. I have crossed the ironman finish 10 other times and I am not too concerned about finishing. I’m sure I am in a good enough place physically to complete the race and smile after the fact. Of course there is nothing I can do at this point to get more fit before the race. What’s done is done, and the hay is in the barn, and whatever other cliché is appropriate in this situation. I do need to walk through some things mentally to completely dial into this thing. A couple more easy relaxing swims this week will help and a good head clearing run next weekend should do the trick. That will at least align the mental and physical systems for the most part. But this IS ironman; a distance that needs to constantly be treated with respect no matter how ready one might feel. It’s a distance that could chew you up and spit you out if mistakes are made. (and even if they aren’t).

All in all, I feel really good. I feel confident, at peace, and in a pretty good place. That was not the case a week ago so something must have happened to lift a little of the fog and point me back in the right direction. It could have been the bike ride this past Saturday, the run on Sunday, or the news of Ethan’s Zohn’s relapse. But something gave me my focus back. I usually do a pretty detailed race recap after events of this enormity so keep an eye out for that. And it looks like we have quite an entourage traveling to Cambridge Maryland for Chesapeakeman. That should make for a fun time.

Also keep in mind that “Chessyman” is not the end of my season. The NYC Marathon looms in the shadows and November 1st will be here before you know it. But aside from training and fundraising for this effort as part of Ethan’s team, I can’t really think about NYC. And I can’t even think about the fact that I am also doing the Philly Marathon three weeks after NYC …. Someone just might commit me. Anyway, my focus needs to be on Chesapeakeman for now.

Plenty more to follow. Thanks for everyone’s continued support.

By Rhonda Cohen

The 10th annual Ford Ironman was held in Panama City, Fla., on Nov. 1, 2008.  More than 2200 athletes competed. This event is so popular that it sold out in minutes. It was described as a perfect day, with calm water, sunny skies and little wind. But for me it turned out to be not quite so perfect.

I signed up for this race a year prior with my finger on the computer trigger anxiously trying to enter online. As most of the official Ironman events sell out at the site of the race, those of us who try to enter via computer are at the mercy of a very fast Internet connection or very good luck. I sat myself down in front of my computer 30 minutes before registration opened, refreshed, and finally got into the website. When I ok’d the $500 entry fee and clicked the submit button, I was as excited as I was panic-stricken. “What did I just do?” I wondered. I’m almost 54 years old and a heavy athlete. I’ve participated in triathlons for several years but this was going to be the biggest. So what was the next step? Meet a friend at a bar in Manayunk and drink a toast to my upcoming dream.

Many years ago, on a plane ride, I watched the coverage of the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. This very overweight couch potato couldn’t believe my eyes. The idea that anyone could withstand this grueling sport of a 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike race followed by a 26.2 mile run was beyond my comprehension. The sight of Dick and Rick Hoyt made my eyes well with tears. I watched as pros and challenged athletes alike crossed the finish line, many of them looking like deer in headlights. Some fell to their knees with exhaustion and some had the look of elation unmatched in any sport.

I started out just wanting to pursue physical fitness and now I was fascinated by the idea of Ironman events. I began my journey after winning a one month trial at Platoon Fitness at a charity auction five years ago. Getting in shape was ridiculously hard, but the Platoon people pushed me because I certainly could not have motivated myself. I met wonderful, supportive people there who also enveloped me in their social events. My new friends convinced me to run my first 5k on my 50th birthday. They arranged to have a piano player, perched on a flatbed with his dog, play happy birthday to me when I crossed the finish line.

Entrants who had walked finished ahead of me running, but run I did and I was elated. I became more involved in this fitness world when I bought a hybrid bike at a Sam’s Club for about $100. I also enjoyed swimming, so someone told me about a sprint triathlon. I had only seen the full Ironman before and I had no idea there were shorter versions, but now I entered one. I plodded through the swim, bike and the run and managed to hear my name being called at the awards ceremony. I received the honor of being second in my age group because there were only two people entered. Nonetheless, it was my first award in my life, I was ecstatic and hooked.

Triathlon is one of the fastest growing sports in America. USAT membership numbers have risen steadily. A lot of runners whose knees or backs are starting to revolt have switched over to “the dark side” and everyday exercisers are finding triathlons the new challenge. Last year, I organized a first-timers group called Rhonda’s Rookies for women who had never previously competed in a triathlon or duathlon. Because I am older and larger than most competitors, I am a recognizable figure and the group attracted a large number of women. We chose the Philadelphia Women’s Triathlon because it is sprint distance and a very supportive race. If you are interested for next year, Rhonda’s Rookies is on Facebook.

After increasing my triathlon distance through the help of Cadence Cycling and Multisport and getting a coach, I tried Olympic (.9 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 6.2 mile run) and half iron distance triathlons (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run). It didn’t shock me when I finished last. I came prepared for that and actually handed the race director a disposable camera because I knew the official photographer would be long gone when I crossed the finish line and I wanted to capture the moment.

Injuries came and injuries went, as arthritis and tendonitis reared their ugly heads. I still kept up with the triathlon training and racing because it’s an addiction. You start to see many of the same people at the races and it’s a great and friendly group. Let’s face it, not many people are exceptional at swimming, biking AND running, so most of the competitors feel somewhat vulnerable and self-doubting in one, two or three of the sports. Racing is very focused and introverted, but when a race is over, you’ve never heard so much talking and sharing in the eating areas. People are tired of being in their own heads for the whole race and are dying to talk to others.

I participated in the New York City Marathon, several half marathons, many triathlons of varied distances. I wasn’t getting any younger so in 2007 I thought, “What the heck, it’s now or never. I’ll sign up for an Ironman.” I developed an Internet friendship with a gal on beginnertriathlete.com, and we decided that Ironman Florida was our best bet. There are not many official Ironman races in North America and they all have their limiting factors. I felt I was too heavy for the myriad hills of Ironman Lake Placid although I’m superb on the down hills, and Arizona Ironman was then held in April (now it is in November) and sitting on an indoor trainer for six or seven hours would be like a root canal without Novocain.

Because I grew up in New Mexico, swimming in an ocean or gulf was very foreign territory. My online friend convinced me that I could learn to swim in the ocean and the bike course was flat. I was very excited after I signed up and couldn’t wait to contact my friend. Well, she had chickened out at the last minute and I was on my own. Yikes! I am sure that many people who heard that I had signed up for Ironman Florida had that little cartoon bubble in their head saying, “What, is she kidding? She certainly doesn’t look like an Ironman.” The challenge was on. To prepare for the big one, I signed up for Eagleman, an Ironman with a distance of “only” 70.3 miles in Cambridge, Maryland, in June. The heat index was 115 degrees and some people racing looked like Gumby. Talk about digging deep to finish!

I participated in several more races this summer, but then the time to ramp it up began. My family didn’t get to see me much once the summer started. Hundred mile bike ride days, two hour swims and 13 mile runs were all on menu for the weekends, some of it by myself to get used to the solitude and loneliness of the Ironman course. I even speed-walked the entire O’Hare Airport for hours while changing planes to get extra training. I went to a training camp in September at the Florida race site. There I rode and ran the course but Hurricane Ike prevented us from swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. Some weeks were 18 to 25 hours of training and from what I read on others’ blogs, they did far more than I did. I took yet another training camp which was swim-focused to make sure I could swim in open water for the distance and get used to waves and salt water.

Then it was time to fly to Florida the Thursday before the race. I suffered moments of fear of the unknown in the weeks prior. Would I make it? Could I cross the finish line in 17 hours? I knew I’d be cutting it close because I’m not fast at all; quite the contrary. I’m normally a “BOP’er” (back of the pack). The game plan was to have a nice, easy swim so as not to expend too much energy, yet make the 2:20 minute time cut-off, get a decent time on the bike and leave as much time to slog through the marathon.

It’s pretty amazing being a part of the whole experience. I couldn’t believe I was really there. The fact that I even trained for an Ironman triathlon would not have entered my mind a few years ago, yet there I was. The atmosphere was carnival-like with family members making signs for their athletes, vendors selling the latest tri-geek gadgets and the athlete “village” buzzing with nervousness. I registered and they weighed me (argh) and gave me my official wrist band. Strangers came up to me to say hi. They knew of me because I had been posting on websites and told them they couldn’t miss me since I was far from the sveltest athlete at the event. Then I attended the athletes dinner where the oldest (76) and youngest (18) competitors were introduced, as well as the individual who had competed in the most Ironman races and the biggest loser of weight (120 something pounds in one year.)

Friday was bike and bag check-in and then came Saturday, the big day. The atmosphere was quiet and focused. What would this day bring? Would it be spectacular? Would I have stomach issues? What would the weather be like? Would I get a flat tire? More than one? Did I train enough? All of these questions swirled around in my head. The long, arduous task of putting on the wetsuit was next and then finally I walked on to the beach.

Ironman starts are notorious and anyone who has ever done one cannot explain it well enough to those who haven’t. Some call it the washing machine, but some have other names for it. It’s every man and woman for themselves. Great fun! I made it out of the water in my predicted time and was thrilled. My first section done, I now jumped on the bike. Since I had ridden much of the bike course during training camp, I was prepared for headwinds for a lot of the ride. For me, headwinds are not fun. I stayed on my plan and was just praying for a tailwind at some point. The long, not very inspiring, landscape flew by and finally, finally, I got that tailwind. I ran with it to keep with the goal times. I passed lots of people during this part, which was great fun. Ironman triathlons are unlike any other triathlons because they have a men and women’s changing tent. You call out your number and your bag with any items you have packed for the transitions are waiting for you, as well as great assistance. I changed into my socks and running shoes and off I went.

To train for a triathlon, you have to do what is called a brick workout. This is where after you get off the bike you do a run. Your legs either feel like bricks or like jelly and it takes a while to get used to that. I started the run feeling tired and passed some of the med-aid stations, which was a diversion. I had a nice amount of time allocated to shuffle and walk through the marathon, so I wasn’t too worried, although there was not enough time for lolly-gagging. It started to get dark, which I expected because they give you until midnight to finish and I expected to take 16:59:59 to get to the finish line. I drank at the aid stations, which included chicken broth and cola. Yum.

People know me as a very happy go-lucky person and I normally am mentally and physically tough. But now I began to feel awful and stopped smiling and talking with those who addressed me. I have even done an Olympic-distance triathlon that turned into a duathlon in an air cast boot. I have ridden in torrential rains, snow and 10 degree weather, but something was happening that no amount of pulling me up by my bootstraps could help. I was becoming irrational as I poured cola over my head and threw away my jacket wrapped around my waist even though I knew the temperature was going down to the 50s. I even screamed at a volunteer (very sorry), which is so unlike my normal self. I was starting to weave and felt very dizzy. My brain was going a mile a minute. After finishing the first 13.1 miles, I decided not to cross over the timing mat. This was irrational because all my buddies were watching me around the world to check my times before they went to sleep. My day was done. There was something terribly wrong. I summoned a volunteer and clung to her as she took me to the medical tent. The folks in that tent weighed me, took my blood pressure and temperature. I was shocked that it was 80 over 60 and my temperature was 90. The medical tent was very close to the finish line so I could hear all the names of the people crossing the finish line. If I wasn’t dehydrated before I got to the medical tent, I sure became so from crying so hard. So close, so darn close! All of that training and I ended just 13.1 miles from the Promised Land. It took a while for my blood pressure and temperature to come back to normal. A wonderful volunteer walked me back to the condo where my roommate helped get me into a warm tub and made sure I continued to drink.

It was very difficult the next morning seeing everyone with their finisher’s T-shirts and medals. Although I made the sane decision to stop the race, it was a difficult pill to swallow not accomplishing what I had set out to do – cross the finish line. That said, I heard wonderful remarks and good wishes from everyone who had followed my journey to get to the starting line. I was lucky to even compete in that race. Of course there’s a lot of shoulda, coulda, wouldas, that will be floating around in my mind for awhile, but I know that I can pat myself on the back for having the courage to try. Most importantly, in the grand scheme of things, my health had to come first. I have a lot of people counting on me, including my husband and teenage son, so I know it was the right decision. But there’s always the thought that I missed the elusive brass ring.

Some people are urging me to go back and try again as I have unfinished business. Maybe so, but training sure took a toll on my body and my family time so I’m not certain I can do it again. Maybe there are other challenges in the world that I have yet to explore. In any event, I still can’t believe I participated in an event that, so many years ago, I had watched on TV on a plane flight. It was one amazing journey.

When I saw the story on the news, I was hit hard. McNamara, was 43 at the time, grew up in Greater Philadelphia, had two children and was an avid fitness enthusiast and runner who spoke often about wanting to someday run a marathon. I saw many similarities between Dennis McNamara and myself and I felt the need to help. I decided to do something that I thought Dennis might have appreciated while helping out the family. I immediately reached out to a couple of buddies in the police department and to McNamara’s family and pitched my plan. It was my goal to race Ironman USA Lake Placid in July of 2002 and use my participation in the event to raise awareness of the tragic McNamara shooting, and raise funds for the family. (Ironman = 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run).

I contacted the race management team at Ironman USA to request that I be assigned a specific bib number: Officer McNamara’s badge number 121. The race officials were very open and receptive to the idea, as was the entire Upper Darby Police force who provided me with UDPD workout clothes, and an open invitation to train in their gym facility at the station. The project gathered a lot of steam and publicity and I received well wishes from police officers, and even the widows of officers from all around the country and as far away as Canada.

The race itself proved to be very challenging, as ironman usually does. Harsh rains and flooding made this one particularly tough. But Dennis McNamara was tough, and I hoped to be too that day. It poured rain off and on most of the race. At times my running shoes felt like 20 pound sand bags strapped to my feet. It was a long and tiring day, but I got through it. And all of the pain and rained soaked discomfort disappeared as I crossed the street and approached the Olympic speed skating oval which serves as the race’s finish line. Standing there in the pouring rain, awaiting my arrival, were two Lake Placid police officers. These men were total strangers to me. I glanced up and through the rain saw them huddled together and talking. As I drew closer I heard one say, “Yes, that’s him …. Number 121 …. That’s the guy for McNamara from Philly”. With that, both men stood at attention, saluted me, and thanked me for what I had done. The emotion of the race, the cause, and the site of the Lake Placid cops took me over and I completely lost it.

As if that wasn’t enough, as I entered the Oval, there stood my own two daughters ready to grab my hand and run me home across the finish line as they had in races past and in races yet to come. It was a good day.

Shorty after the race, that need to do something still wasn’t completely satisfied. Given the fact that Dennis McNamara was a musician, I wrote a song from the perspective of a 10 year old that lost her dad. I recruited my buddy Scott McClatchy and told him that I wanted to do something with the song and he took it from there. Scott made a couple of calls and booked one of the best studios in NYC and the talented producer M. Hans Liebert who, just finishing up a project with James Taylor, graciously donated his time, musicians, and resources. When we recorded the song, we did nothing with it other than present it to Diane McNamara in honor and respect for her fallen hero.