IRONMAN 2022 SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA – OCT 23, 2022
Each one (Ironman triathlon events) is special in many unique ways. Hearing that glorious phrase —
Shane Livingston, Logan Utah. Shane – You are and Ironman!
— Mike Reilly
after a long tough day – I earned the phrase! Below I turned this post into a multiple section Vlog where I talk through the training journey, the pre event pre race and then swim, bike, and run. Enjoy if you tune in!
Journey to the event
Overall we travelled well. A lot of adaptations along the way to be family first as husband and father. With 4 neurodivergent kiddos, we made it! No small feat!
Morning Pre- event
Morning swim bus line – while waiting a few people got rowdy and weren’t representing what this is about, so I said something and met Brian and Chase – each connected to close personal friends of mine.
Swim – Bike – Run — Reflections and thoughts
Swim
- Chasing down the runaway buoy
- Feeling my recent late friend Steve in the water with me. I kept seeing a big blonde next to me for a good 10 – 15 minutes, no one was there, I miss ya Steve, thanks for sharing a few virtual strokes with me.
- Finding out my out of water time was approx 1 hour…transition time was nearly 30 mins tho.
Bike
- Mechanical started at mile 30, I didn’t know a tech could help, fixed at mile 94 I think it was by house radio named Cory for CdA. Thanks man, slipped in with 4 seconds to spare. Long long day on the bike a lot of suffering and introspection.
- Yes – it is worth it.
- Understand what rules and course specifics truly mean
Run
- About 18 miles in I lost my watch (powered off) completed by feel.
- Family support – having my nuclear family at bike to run transition and not giving up on me and the nearly dozen others that came out too.
- Aid stations got leaner thru the event, but finding hot broth, Maurten gels and the demeanor of those volunteers manning the aid stations – World class!
Takeaways
I didn’t give up, I held on and squeezed every last penny out of this event. Sure, I was hoping to be much faster, but grateful for the resiliency that triathlon has helped me pursue and the discipline I have achieved. More stories to tell later through out my blog.
Finisherpix stuff
Click here to be routed to the Finisher pix files.