Ironman Chattanooga – Race Report – Bike

   Out of the Water and On to the Bike

I jogged across the waterfront and up the little hill to the bike bag pickup area.  I saw Maria in the crowd and waved.  Grinning from ear to ear!  I was happy to be on to the next thing.  I grabbed my bag and headed into the sauna that was the men’s transition tent.  There must have been at least 100 hot, sweaty, wet, semi and fully naked men in there.  It was almost stifling.  I headed for the back outside wall where I saw a little gap under the tent side.  I figured if there was any clean air to breath, it would be there.  I sat down and stared through my things.  Taking things off, putting things on, filling my race top with my Tailwind nutrition packets and various items I might need.  Next came a generous hand full of Chamois Buttr.  I was NOT going to get chaffed!  Little did I know!  Socks and bike shoes on last and ready to go.  I stopped for some sunscreen.  It was kinda cool having the volunteers in their blue gloves covered in Bullfrog slathering my arms.  I jogged for my bike and a volunteer grabbed it of the rack and handed it to me.  The other volunteer said, “By the way, I let all the air out of your tires.”  I stopped and started to look down.  He chuckled and said “Just kidding.  Have a great ride.”  How warped was that?!

The bike course at IMCHOO is setup with an 11 mile ride out to a 47 mile loop that you ride twice, followed by the 11 mile return to the transition area.  If you do the math, you will see that it adds up to 116 miles, NOT the traditional 112 for Ironman.  So if you decide to do this race be prepared, those extra 4 miles make a difference.  It’s the longest Ironman brand race.   The 11 miles out has several railroad crossings and a lot of people lost bottles and gear on them.  I had planned ahead and everything stayed where it should.  I felt really good.  Passing the St. Elmo Cemetery where I would go in the spring to look at dogwoods and azaleas was exciting.  Aid stops are setup about every 15 miles and were really well manned and stocked with essentials.  Water, Gatorade, various things to eat and porta potties.  I mastered a skill that I didn’t think I could.  The one handed water grab.  The Volunteer holds the water bottle in the palm of their hand.  I reach out.  Grab the bottle.  And keep pedaling.   Sweet!  And the volunteers would cheer my skill.  Small victories!!!  But then, I would stop and refill all my bottles.  So I guess my next skill is to learn to fill my bottles on the go.
The course is VERY hilly for a Texan.  Everyone described it as “Rolling Hills”.  Their rolling hills and my rolling hills have different meanings.  Being a 265lbs, 6’4” athlete, makes hills a lot of work.  My speed is amazing going downhill, but slows to a crawl up hill.  So it was slow, fast, slow, fast, etc almost all day.  I had read about and anticipated a notorious hill on the back end of the loop.  Sure enough,  it was a long slow climb.  My legs were burning, but the reward was a number of very fast miles on the back side as I zoomed fast enough on the downhills to keep momentum on the uphills.  Somewhere in here was where the Pro Athletes went zooming past me.  Everything was going well.  So far I had stopped and gotten water at every aid station.  But somewhere around mile 50 there was a station and I knew the Special Needs bag was coming up in about 5-7 miles, so I motored on past.

Chickamauga was amazing!   It was full of people lining the streets and cheering.  I pulled  into the special needs area and was handed my bag of goodies.  I immediately dove for one of my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.   I ate it as quickly as I could, which is tough with peanut butter.  It was the best I’d ever eaten.  Thanks Maria!!  I grabbed my fuel packets for the rest of the bike ride.  I stuffed my bag of Bottle Cap candies in one of my pockets and went for my much needed Chamois Buttr.  However, this is where I had to pause.   I realize I’m standing in front of a 16-18 yr old girl who is helping with the bags.  How am I going to reach in and slather my soar regions with this cream?  I opted to put the packet in my pocket and stop later to put it on.  At this point I asked her if I would be able to stop for more from my bag on the second loop.  She said yes, so I made my second mistake of the day.  I left my second peanut butter and jelly sandwich and my Aleve in the bag.

As I headed out again on my bike, I found some friendly faces in the crowd.  Maria, Adam, and my sister Evonne were behind the fence cheering.  I stopped for some quick hugs, kisses, pictures, and encouragement and off I went.  However, by this time I was hurting in the regions covered by my bike shorts.  Some places I didn’t know could hurt.   So just out of town I stopped in someone’s driveway and applied the much needed Chamois Buttr.  Only, I experienced something I’d never felt before.  Apparently if it is applied to already damaged skin, it burns like fire.  So with a fire in my groin, I got back on the bike and hoped it would die down.  It did.  It was right out of town that I met a hill that I don’t remember anyone talking about in their blogs.  And to this day, I still don’t read anyone who talks about it.  It was a monstrously long climb that eventually kicked up and took everything I had to crest.  How was I going to do this on the second loop?  But the ride down was astounding.  I’ve probably never gone faster.  It’s what riding a bike is all about.  It’s that feeling of just barely being in control and everything seeming to go into Star Trek like Warp Speed.  The shapes elongate because you must be going 50000 miles an hour.

At the next rest stop I attempted to pee.  I knew it was an important sign that I was drinking enough.  Apparently I wasn’t.  So I got back on the bike and headed out for loop 2.  This one dragged on and on.  But I did have a successful potty stop 2 stops later.  Victory!  The hill to Hog Jowl road at the far end was tough.  I thought I would have to walk, but I pushed the cranks hard and bore through the pain that began to grow in my Quads and Hamstrings.  Over the other side and I was flying again.  Up and down hills.  Up and down and Up… oh wait.  I don’t remember this hill being so tough and suddenly I had to unclip before I cramped up and fell down.  The Quads decided to cramp up.  So I walked to the top and paused for a minute.  Many concerned riders passed me.  I’d been passing them on the downhills, so it was only fair that they passed me when I stopped.  I got back on and headed out.

I was getting excited about my PB & J waiting for me in Chickamauga, but alas, it was not to be.  Everything was gone.  Cleaned up!  My beautiful sandwich that I really needed was gone.  And so were my Aleve.  There was nothing to do but keep pedaling.  Only now, I had to go up that nasty hill.  I stopped in that same driveway, put on more fire cream and head up the hill.  On the last kick up I pulled off and walked.  No sense killing my legs now.  Down the massive speed demon hill and I was on my way back to town.

Somehow the fact I was going back to town gave me fresh legs.  I cranked past more people than I had passed all day.  I was flying and it looked to be uphill.  I’m sure it was false, but still, it was amazing.  Next thing you know, I’m in town and handing off my bike.  And there is my family again.  Waving and cheering.  I’m smiling again.  I grab my bag and head for the changing tent.