The beginning of this race was CRAZY! Watch the video above and know that Adam and I are somewhere
in the mosh pit! After a few minutes, the race spread out a little bit - here is an arial picture
of the chaos.
Adam and I drop off our "Special Needs Bag" on our way to the Starting Line. As you can tell,
the sun comes up very early up in Coeur d'Alene - this picture was taken at 5:45 AM!
At this point both of us are all carbed up and looking for a place to go to the bathroom
one last time before the starting gun goes off!
The worst is now over. With the swim in the books at 1:14, I make my way into the
first transition area feeling lucky to be alive. There were a few very tense moments
during the swim that made drowning a very real possibility in my mind. Who said triathlon
isn't a contact sport!?
That's me pealing off my Helix wetsuit as I run up the beach into T1.
After grabbing the wrong transition bag, I finally figure out what I'm doing, put on
my bike gear, and head out to find my ride in a sea of bikes.
Finally, my favorite part of the race: the bike! I'm so excited to go for a leisurely
112 mile ride around the area!
This is the view that most of the other triathletes see as I blow by them with
my new Zipp disc (back wheel) and 808 (front wheel)!
Feeling pretty good on the bike ride - conserving energy - taking in food and drink every 20
minutes or so. My mind was already 50 miles ahead ... on the HILLS!
Yup - I knew they would come. The hills were pretty BIG, and my gears got locked up
so I had to stay in my front chain ring the whole time - making the climbs BRUTAL!
Check out that scenery! I did - it was the only thing that helped me get my mind off of the
pain in my legs!
Man, when is this hill going to end!? Those Zipp wheels aren't so helpful up these big climbs!
Uh oh ... the bike is over. Time to get running! (Thanks to the volunteers who helped
me out with the fresh application of sun screen!
Feeling pretty good a few miles into the marathon. Those little sponge pads in my chest provided
a constant stream of ice cold water to help cool me off.
Mile 9 of the run - still feeling pretty good. Laying down 8:30 min/miles right now.
Mile 20 of the run - not feeling so good! But I'm almost an Iroman! Just 40 or so minutes to go!
Can you believe how many people are there cheering! Talk about adrenaline boost!
This is me coming down the final shoot - just a few yards from the finish line.
M-dot ... here we come! 11:24! Whohooooo!
A dream accomplished. I'm an Ironman.
A few hours later, my business partner and best friend Adam Edwards made it home.
What a rush!
An after-race picture of me and my "new" bike - it's the new bike I bought last year
with the brand new wheels I bought a few weeks before the race. Man were they fast!
Darien and Grace check out my super-fast Zipp disk wheels. Man, what a difference those new
wheels made. They helped shave off 30 minutes (at least) off the bike.
My "little" brother Spencer was a trooper, helping me haul equipment around, taking video of the
entire day, and coming all the way from California for the privilege! Don't feel too bad for him though,
he got 18 holes in at the CDA Country Club before the race! You'll see Spencer in
Ironman California 70.3 next year!
Man, I can't wait to take off this sweat-filled triathlon clothing! Can a brotha get
shower and an ice bath!?
Hurray for my family to braved the outdoors for 12 hours!!
Aren't DP and Gracie so cute!?
DP and Gracie give daddy a hug for being so brave (crazy)!
... and I've got the medal to prove it!
One last celebratory picture before we head back to Utah. Nice work Adam!!!
The wheel inspectors approve of the new equipment.
2008 Ironman Coeur d'Alene - (June 22, 2008)
