What an amazing experience.
I accomplished my goal before I even started the race. So the race was the cherry on top.
What follows is my race report for the California Ironman 70.3 in Oceanside.
I took the kids to school on Friday, went home to pack and leave. I planned on being on the road at 9, as things go for me I was not on the road till 10:30. I think perhaps I was a bit nervous, I packed and repacked my race bag 3 times...OK 4 times. I have heard stories of people forgetting their running shoes or some other vital piece of gear for the race. I am prone to such things since I wait till the last possible moment to pack. I did not forget anything, I actually brought way too much stuff. I got the truck loaded and took off, got to Oxnard and realized that I left the hotel information on the printer. I drove home searched the whole house to realize that I had the
information in the truck already. Oh well. Dont stress.
The drive down was great a bit of traffic but I was listening to Wild at Heart Bootcamp CD's so I was brought back to a great time I had a year ago. I arrived at Ocean side Harbor around 1:30, and was filled with excitement the entire place was race ready. Signs and banners lined the streets, there were people running, biking and you could feel the excitement. I finally found a place to park and headed over to sign in. The line was long, so I started chatting up the people around me. Oh wow how many have you done? The water is how cold? No me this is my first triathlon ever...really you just shot for the big goal huh. Yep. It took about 30 minutes I had to sign the wavier that I know I could die from participating, watched a short video about what to expect and what to look out for.
There was an Iron Prayer meeting at 4:30 that I wanted to
go to. Its a group of endurance Christian athletes that get together before races and pray. I had some time to kill and walked around the vendor show and sales area. Wanted to purchase a new "Stevens" bike but didn't have a spare 3 grand. I guess my Specialized will have to do. They wouldn't even give me one since my last name was Stevens...its my bike right has my name on it (thanks for the idea Alissa). Listened to the eventual winners talk about how they plan to race tomorrow.
I showed up at the Iron Prayer and there was about 8 people there. We sang some songs the first of them was "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord" Which was awesome, my friend Chris told me to use that song as motivation during the race. Warmed my heart. We sang a few more and then Richard gave a great testimony about giving the race to God. Met another Richard and Alex. It was nice to know that I could see some other men of God out on the course. I was feeling good, and hungry.
Found the hotel, brought all my gear up and went on the search for some carbs. I asked 2 people where I could find some good pasta. I got lost following both their directions. I just drove looking for a sign that said pasta. Found a place pizza pasta and salad. Ordered a salad and pasta. Checked in with Em and the kids and started to eat. A huge surprise walked in the door...my friend Darren showed up. I can not tell you how much it helped having someone there with me. He has done an IronMan before so he helped calm me down and gave me some great last minute pointers. We finished eating and went back to the hotel.
RACE DAY...
Woke up at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:30 and got out of bed at 4:45 to get ready. Why is it when you know you have to wake up early you wake up way early to make sure you dont miss the wake up.
Darren spent the night and drove me to the race site, well as close as we could get. I loaded up all my gear and took off for the transition area. It was still quite dark out. I was full of adrenaline now. There were close to 3000 athletes so the place was hopping. I kept thinking to my self calm down you are going to be spent before it starts.
I found my row with the other 45 -49 year olds and started
with the small talk. I set up my little area using my friend Belias advice on how to set it up. I went and had my numbering done, this is where they take a big Sharpie and put your number on your arm and your age on your left calf. Then went to find the porta potties. I think 2500 of the 3000 people were in the line for maybe 50 pots. If I dint have to go I would really have to by the time I got to the front. Started chatting up the people in line, it was a great way to pass the time...40 minutes went by quick. Now it was time to get the wetsuit on and line up in the wetsuit heard.
My mind was messing with me at this point...wear the booties or not? wear the rash guard or not? wear the extra pink swim cap under the race cap or not. Stop pray and relax. I did not wear the booties or the rash guard or the extra cap. Just my shorts, wetsuit, ear plugs, and goggles and race cap. I line up with others in my wave for what would be an hour wait for our start. At 6:30 the National Anthem plays and at 6:40 the professional men start the race. At 7:00 the first professional gets out of the water...20 minutes to swim 1.2 miles are you kidding me, 1 minutes later the 2nd man pops out and runs past us. At 7:18 the first professional women runs by...24 minutes 3 seconds behind her
the 2nd place woman. The women had a close race all day. Meanwhile back in the heard we moved 15 feet. By the time we got to the waters edge at 7:36 the pros were 1/2 way through the bike course.
The race officials let us in the water to swim out to the starting buoy. I am completely freaked out. I cant do this I need to leave NOW. What the hell was I thinking? I am out. Calm down, you at least have to get to the starting line Craig, that was your goal. I swim slowly to the start and hang back and to the right of everyone. My heart is literally pounding through the wetsuit. BANG the gun sounds and I start swimming slowly, I realize that I have my rings on and that the water is cold and my fingers will shrink and I am going to lose my wedding ring. Ah Em, I finished the race...but lost my ring...not good. So I am swimming with my left hand in a fist and freaking out. My buddy Darren somehow sees me in the water and shouts out some good encouragement. so I swim I can not get into a grove though, I keep drinking salt water are get bumped by someone or kicked in the head. I look up and the 1/2 way point is within 100 yards. OK, so now I need to get back. I feel cramps in my calves this is not good. The turn was a washing machine of arms and legs everyone trying to get close to the buoy. I am praising God for getting me to the 1/2 way point and I start thinking of everyone who has been supporting me in this and I start naming you all off. Each stroke was for someone
I knew. I had written Phil. 4:13 and Heb 12:1 and on the other hand I wrote I CAN. Every stroke I saw these. and kept swimming, just like Dore in Nemo. I look up and I am back by the docks. I scream out to the people on the dock is that the end? I swim just a little faster and I am being helped out of the water, I praise God and shout I am out of the water! I am out of the water! in 45:47 are you kidding me? I did it! I could end the race now and be satisfied. I swam better then I thought I would. I thought I would be the only one in transition I was happy to see many bikes still racked up. Whoo hoo I was not last out of the water and not close to the cut off time. I still have my wedding ring!
T1 (transition one) I get out of the wetsuit and get my bike stuff together, still a bit shocked that I am out of the water. I spent 6:57 in transition, I run trough to the bike mount area and get on the bike. There was Darren giving me some encouragement. I felt good really good thanks God. I eat a power bar and start peddling I am cruising quite fast and think to my self slow down. I was not out of breath and the legs felt great. I look up and see I am at mile 20 I look at my watch 1 hour. Oh boy too fast. I suck down a gel, an start to slow down a bit I know at mile 30 is where the big hills start. I see the first hill and man its big, I start to down shift and start the grind. 100 yards up people are dismounting and walking up the hill. I feel good. This is how I trained and I thanked God for the Cross in Ventura.
Along the way as I would pass some one or they would pass me I would shout out a word of encouragement to them. It was great because our names were on our numbers. So I would say great job "Bill" keep it up, were out here doing it "Jill" On the hill I was saying how great it was that God made this hill for us to climb today in this awesome area with this great weather. I kept going back and forth with a guy named "Nob" his name was much longer and much harder to say so he said call me Nob. I would pass him, he would pass me. At the first aide station I dropped my water bottle and had to pull over to grab it. Bummer lost some time.
Ate a Balance Bar and readied myself for the second climb A bit bigger then the first same thing people off the bikes and walking I just kept a slow and steady pace. I was so grateful to have a road bike with extra gears, the people on their $5000 bikes with areo helmets and fewer gears where pushing hard. One guy even said he would pay money right now to have his road bike. Made it to the top and this descent was the gnarly one with no passing and a 25 MPH limit. My breaks squeaked a lot.
Along the way someone had put up hand made signs at different points and I would catch some of them and they were the perfect boost I needed. Thanks to whomever took the time to do that. "pain is temporary...pride is forever" Triathlons are 90% mental and 10% physical, get you mind right" "you can dream it you can do it" and a few more. On my bike I painted EAC for Emily Annie and Cameron. I also painted a cross on the stem, if Jesus can bear the cross I can ride 56 miles. An "F" for all my friends, a KN for my friend Kevin and a MD for my neighbor Mark both of them I rode for since they cant. I knew a lot of people were praying for me and I have to tell you I felt the prayers. A name would pop into my mind and I knew they were praying for me. It worked, it helped.
Hill number 3 the biggest and longest heading my way. I power down a gel and some water, start the climb and know this is the last big hill...its all down hill after this. I had some great quick conversations with people as we searched for extra breath on the way up. Mile marker 40 almost there, we wind out of the mountains and back towards the beach. BAM big cold head wind. Really. Yep. Bear down and peddle. Last aide station take on a banana and some power bar electrolytes. Mile 50 feeling good way ahead of the time I thought I would be at this point, eat a Balance Bar and finish drinking the electrolytes to ready my self for the run. Drop the bottle and have to pull over to pick it up. Oh well I kicked the rides butt.
I made it a point to thank as many of the volunteers as I could as I passed them. Many were from the base and serving our Country so I thanked them for serving. Its the least I could do. They spent their day so I could live out a goal/dream. I was also a bit bummed at how many wrappers and gels were left out on the course. Its not that hard to put it back into your pocket.
Mile 55 the first angry rider passed me, shouting about getting out of his way, and how sick of it he was. Sorry dude, God bless have a better run.
I ride around the corner and can see the end, the streets lined with banners people cheering what a feeling. I finish the ride 3:37:23 almost an hour and a half faster they I thought. I praise God how awesome is he.
T2 Transition two
I get off the bike and feel great took 3:11 to change shoes and get the bike stuff off. Grab a gel and start running. The crowd and all the excitement makes me run faster then I should be. I had way to much stuff in my pockets, but am too cheap to just toss them. I thought perhaps someone might need a gel and I would have extras. I am running a good pace and look up mile one, wow dude slow down. Out on the course there were people just starting and people on the second lap. I felt good just kept running all of a sudden I am at the turn around. Are you freaking kidding me. I am thinking to my self just keep the pace If you have to walk you have the time. All the while I am encouraging people that are walking or that I pass. I say "you got this...its all in there...dig deep" Many people thanked me and many tried to run along with me. I had some great talks. One guy was running with me on his last lap I was at mile 5 and we come up to the next guy and I say "you got this" He says to me you say that to everyone, I thought I was special, I said you are special to God, and you my friend are almost done. He hung for a little while and said thats all I got for now.
The turn around is back near the finish which is kind of cruel. But I make the turn and go I am still at a good pace and figure I will just keep it up till I cant. Same thing I am running and encouraging people having a blast. This is it. My last lap I am going to finish this thing. I am overwhelmed with emotion. Its the 3rd time I cry a little out there. I am so filled with gratitude, God gave me this day and has lifted me up with wings like eagles. I ran with a lot of people this time around they were all impressed that I was being me and praising God. One person said my Fatah would get them to the finish line. Another told me how she was healed the night before when she didn't think she could even start the race...on mile 10. I passed the guys I met at Iron Prayer a few times. God is good we would say. All the time.
The turn around again this is it, mile 9! WOW. Pain has now found me my hip flexers are hurting. Only 3 miles dont slow down dont stop, dont walk just keep it up..."pain is temporary...pride is forever" I can do this. The "I CAN" and the scriptures have just about faded away on my hands but I look down and know they are there. I think of Kevin and Mark I see the challenged athletes out on the course, I think of Jesus. I keep running slower in some pain but running. Mile 12. Oh man, I am almost there, I feel the crowds I see the banners, I pick up the pace. I start to freak out...I told Emily not to show up till 3:30 or 4:00 I am 1 1/2 hours ahead of schedule they wont be there. I get sad, crap...
Oh well I'll meet them later Less then 1/2 mile to go all the pain is gone, I swell with gratitude, I am in the finish shoot, I start praising God. God is good, God is good, 100 yards to go the crown is loud I am spent 50 yards, are you kidding me 7 months and here I am...25 yards God is good, God is so good....10 yards I give praise to the Lord, I run across the finish line whoo hoooing like a kid in in candy store. Emily shouts out Craig Craig...I see her and the kids and I just cry. The best moment of the whole race. A sight for sore eyes...sore everything. I get my hat and finisher medals I get the timing chip removed. I go to Emily and the kids cry I did it! I did it.
I did the 13.1 miles in 2:02:20. A total race time of 6:35:38. I was going to be stoked with an 8 hour time. I finished in 1585 place out of 2857, and in my age group 164th out of 307. In my mind I finished first.
It was better then I thought, I was alive, I was present for the moment, I raced for God and it felt good.
I was going to cry if I finished or not, I was going to praise God if I finished or not, in any case I was transformed. I am not the same as I was when I signed up for this race. I am thinner, closer to God, I know I can set large goals and accomplish them.
I am an Ironman 70.3 finisher. I am a child of an amazing God that gave me this opportunity to push myself beyond what I thought I could do.
Will there be another? I dont know. I did what I set out to do and did way better then I thought.
Thanks God.
