First off, I must thank everyone that helped get me to the start line. Most importantly, the love of my life who put up with my crazy training schedule. She is amazing and I owe this race to her love and support of me! This race would have never happened if I hadn’t decided to go for that run. It was 3 years ago Friday. I had eaten too much at Thanksgiving dinner the night before and decided I would go for a jog to burn off the calories…I made it less than ½ mile before I nearly collapsed. Here I was, a former elite level swimmer, 40 pounds overweight and unable to run half a mile. I decided then I would change my life. I slowly got into triathlon doing my first Olympic distance triathlon 7 months later.
Fast forward to Sunday morning: 5:55am Lake Tempe, AZ. Here I was in the bike transition area of Ironman Arizona getting body marked. I had spent the better part of the last 18 months preparing for this day. Last season I did my first half Iron and this season included a marathon in May. The rest of the summer had been spent building and preparing for the day that now was here. Surprisingly I was not nervous…I was ready. The volunteer writing my race number on me talked with me about the big Duck victory the night before (which of course I stayed up late to watch). I spent some time with Meghan and slowly put on my wetsuit. One final check of the watch…6:30, time to get ready to rock!! I made my way (slowly) to the lake.
I had 5 goals going into my first Ironman:
1)Finish
2)No medical tent
3)Break 11 hours and finish before it was dark (sunset was around 5:40 local time, but it didn’t really get dark until 6pm)
4)Smile as much as possible and enjoy the experience
5)Thank every volunteer I came across
Swim: 55:07
I sat there in the lake treading water watching the pros start…10 minutes to go until we (the age groupers) started. I am a good swimmer so I quickly got right to the front where the kayakers were holding a start line. We listened to the national anthem and I cried. I cried because I realized I was about to start the race I had been dreaming of completing for so long. I cried because I knew I was ready. I cried because of how far I had come in 3 years. And then…BOOM. The cannon went off to start Ironman Arizona!!
I sprinted out of my spot, instantly ditching most of those around me. The water was pretty murky so I had to sight to see anything happening in front of me. Luckily, there wasn’t much. One or two guys took right off, on a different day I would have gone with them, but this was my first Ironman and all I wanted to do was come in around 55 minutes for the swim portion. I easily made my way into a lead pack of 5 to 8. I sat near the back catching a nice draft, concentrating on my stroke. Before I knew it we were making the one turn at the half way mark. The sun was rising before me as I approached the turn buoy, it was awesome.
The way home on the swim went according to plan. The pace was easy and I thought about breaking away, but again, I knew it was a long day and I better pace myself. Plus, nobody was passing us, in fact we were passing some pros (who started 10 minutes before us) so I knew I was swimming well. Final turn at the end of the swim to make our way to the ladders to get out and before I knew it a very strong volunteer was lifting me out of the water.
T1: 3:41
I got my wetsuit stripped off quickly and ran towards my gear bag and the changing tent. The runway was filled with spectators, 3 to 4 deep at time. All going bananas and screaming wildly!! I had to purposely slow my run as to not get too excited. I sat in transition for a moment, put my race belt on, my sunglasses and was off to my bike.
Bike: 5:19:23
The bike at IMAZ is a 3 loop affair. Fairly flat with false front and minor elevation gain on the way out with a headwind was what everyone described. They were correct. Heading out on the first loop I was amazed at how windy it was out on BeeLine hwy despite being only 8:30am. At times I was slowed down to 14 mph. My main goal on the bike was to control my Heart Rate and hydrate. That first lap I let a lot of people go by that I would normally ride with, but my HR was right where I wanted it so no problem…have a great ride boys!
I made the turn to start the second loop and tried to spot my family. Instantly I spotted my dad out of the crowd. He had made me promise I would provide him with a hand signal to indicate how I was doing; thumbs down for terrible, flat hand for ok, thumbs up for good, and a fist pump for “I’m having a great day”. I gave him a fist pump. Despite the aero helmed I had on and the hundreds of spectators around me, I actually heard him yell, “All right!!” I started that second lap feeling great indeed.
The good feelings slowly left as the wind was still nasty. I was slowly making my way up to the turnaround when I got passed by a pace line. Yes you read that correct. A pace line is what you might see in the Tour de France, it is basically a line of people taking turns breaking the wind while those in back get a huge advantage by sitting in the draft zone. In Ironman (non draft triathlon events as a whole) this is illegal. I was so pissed. I couldn’t believe these people. What losers. They weren’t racing, they were cheating. Then I saw it, the motorcycle came up on my shoulder with the race official on it!! He slowly made his way up the pace line writing down the numbers of the cheaters! I saw about 15 of them in the penalty tent after I made my turn…I guess the world is fair after all. Of course, yours truly was completely legal and rode right by them laughing at how pathetic they are. Pathetic. You guys are a black eye on my beloved sport.
Ok, I digress, back to the race! The third lap was my strongest lap. Besides some back pain, I was feeling great and was well hydrated. My third lap was just a little slower than my first so I knew I was riding strong still. I started to pass people as they slowed. I knew I was going to come in around 5:20 for my bike split, right were I wanted it. I was so proud of myself for riding smart and not letting my HR creep up! Everything was coming together.
T2: 2:18
I was in and out of T2 so fast my family didn’t even have time to position themselves to see me run out. It just happened that my buddy Glen caught sight of me and yelled at me. I gave him the fist pump.
Run: 4:33:24
The run started well. I stopped at the first aid station to fill up two of my fuel belt bottles with water. I had decided that I would carry the two 8oz bottles with me and make sure I was hydrated. Actually, pops had insisted on it and you know…Dr’s orders and all. Despite stopping there and then again a mile later to use the bathroom (I was definitely doing a good job hydrating!) I was running right at 8 min miles. Just under actually. My secret goal going into the event was that I was going to run a sub 3:45 marathon. I was fit enough and was prepared.
About mile 4 my airway really tightened up on me. I’m a chronic asthmatic for those that aren’t aware and have had a bad history of my asthma reacting badly to endurance events (hence the goal to not end up in medical again). I used my inhaler for the umpteenth time of the day and tried to smile, “just 21 more miles to go Yates” I told myself. I saw Meg, Mom and Dad towards the end of that first loop and for the first time that day, I didn’t give a fist pump. Dad instantly ran with me and started talking to me.
“how you feeling?”
“airway is trashed”
“you going to be ok?”
“yes, it is just going to very painful”
He slapped me on the back and I took off. I was walking 2 miles later. The second lap was a blur. When I was running I was still holding 8:30s, but I was forced to walk a lot. My airway was a mess. I passed my family to enter the final loop (the run is 3 loops as well) and I guess I had “the look” on my face. “The look” is basically the total glazed over, expressionless, when will this fu*king race be over – look. And I had it. My family was worried.
I made it another .5 miles and then took to a walk. I was stumbling and had blurred vision. Damn, I hadn’t been drinking Gatorade or taking my gu’s to get calories in. Damn Yates, what are you doing? I couldn’t breathe. This was going downhill fast. And then suddenly, this guy I had met earlier on the run who had recognized the bike shop that sponsors me on my race top pulled up next to me and started walking with me. We walked together for probably a mile, maybe mile and a half. His name was Brian and he was from Eugene. He saved my race. We went through an aid station together and I hammered down some cookies and coke. Within 5 minutes I was feeling better. He was on his second loop and I was on my third and now itching to finish. I looked at Brian and told him I had made a promise to my fiancé that I would finish in daylight and so I better get to running again. I had 6.5 miles left. Brian, if you are reading this, you really did save my race and I hope to find you in Eugene to buy you lunch in the near future.
I was running again. The loop course is a figure eight and so I got to pass my family one more time before a final 5 miles or so. I was now feeling really strong. The calories had helped and my airway was slightly better. I swapped out my visor for my Duck hat with my mom (I had to wear a Duck hat across the finish line) and gave my Dad another fist pump. He ran with me and yelled in my ear, “Single Digits Bud, Single Digits!!!!!!!” We had discussed pre race that making it to single digits left to go in the run of the Ironman was so important mentally.
The next few miles were awesome. I knew I was going to make it. I knew I was going to be an Ironman shortly. I kept checking my watch. I knew I was also going to make it to the finish line in under 11 hours.
At mile 24 my friend Morgan came roaring by, running somewhere around 7 minute miles. He looked awesome!!! I made it over the final bridge I had to cross and descended. I now had the mile 25 marker in my sight. Glory was just over a mile away. I was running well and saw the turn for the finish line ahead. I made the turn left and took a peek behind me to see if I was going to have the finish chute to myself. No such luck, there were 5 to 6 people behind me. I picked up the pace and made the turn to the chute.
I started pumping my fist. Maybe both. I really don’t remember. I saw my family to the left of me. I gave them one last fist pump for good measure immediately before crossing the finish line…about the same time at which I heard the words I had been waiting so long to hear, “Trevor Yates, you are an Ironman!” I was having a tough time controlling the smile on my face as the volunteer “catcher” caught me after crossing the finish line.
I made it through the finish line area where they take your timing chip, your picture, give you your medal, hat and shirt and found my family. I gave Meghan the best hug in the world. Then my mom and then my Dad. I think in that order? My Dad kept asking me if I was ok, knowing that we had spent some quality time in medical tents together recently. I was crying (again, I know I’m such a weenie!) and looked at him. I gave him a huge smile and then a huge high five!! “Dad, I’m fine!!!” I had made a promise to him when I first told him that I was going to do Ironman that I would train and race smart, and would do it “right.” I had done this and he knew it.
Total Finish time: 10hr 53min
To recap the goals:
1)Finish - Done
2)No medical tent - Done
3)Break 11 hours and finish before it was dark (sunset was around 5:40 local time, but it didn’t really get dark until 6pm) - Done
4)Smile – Most of the race, besides “the look”
5)Thank every volunteer I came across - Done
I realize the race report is long and I apologize for it. There was much more I could have put in it, but the nuts and bolts are there. It was a very emotional day for me as well as for Meg and my family. I am thrilled and humbled to say I’m an Ironman. Over the next few weeks I will figure out how to address the asthma issues better (I already know a few mistakes I made a few weeks prior to the race that probably didn’t help) as well as start to formulate my schedule for next year. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy some time off from work and some much needed chill time with family and friends. It was a very long year, but was SO worth it. I will forever savior this day. Thank you to everyone that has been along for the ride. And as always…thanks for reading,
-T
