RACE REPORT IRONMAN COZUMEL 2009

By Tim Ferrell

 

Prerace: met some great new friends in transition, one I had been in contact with on Facebook from very early on after signing up for the race ….Thanks so much “Officer” Daniher from Colorado! I was thrilled  and to finally meet you. Somehow, someway..we’ll eventually get to share that Guinness. “Nod, nod, wink, wink…know what I mean….eh?”
The race started with a grand celebration seaside alongside  the dazzling Caribbean Ocean. The temperature was just right and the water was calm and crystal clear.  Pre-race activities were highlighted by several acrobatically trained dolphins in the setting of a beautiful national treasure called Chankanab Park where some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world is located. Hearing the Mexican National Anthem was, I admit, a little odd, but hearing the enthusiasm from the natives gave me a feeling that the race was going to be memorable. They did not disappoint.
The  In-Water start came quicker than I realized. All of a sudden I noticed a lot of splashing arms ahead of me. I decided before hand to be near the middle of the starting pack. The only thought I had at that time was…Oh well…here goes it. No turning back now, just gotta do one stroke after another, swim faster than the sharks, and remember to breath relaxed. And off I went.
The swim actually was going by much faster than I expected and was by my estimations way ahead of the pace I had set for as a goal. Well……that was until the turn around with about 800 meters left. By that time the swells were becoming larger as the coast line was nearer at that point. One of the swells gave me a good taste of salty, briny seawater. If anyone ever asks…it is widely know that salt water can be used to induce…well…Let me just say in Harry Potter terms….. a spell was cast…expeliomitus projectilus oceanis.  This happened about four times within about two hundred meters. There went my well planned carbohydrate nutrition for the early part of the bike. Just a note for future reference…Chocolate Powerbars look about the same coming back up as they look going down. LOL…. This quickly turned my relaxed freestyle stroke into treading water for about 10 minutes. Came close to calling one of the lifeguards…but decided to “ride” it out. The tropical fish below must have been laughing at the fool above. Once this bewitching passed…I breast stroked for about 50 meters before being able to put my head down again and trying freestyle. Whew!…kissing the ground when I arrived  on land has never meant so much than after that experience 🙂  Don’t get me wrong however…I would do it again in a heartbeat.
ON LAND!!
Transition One:
The path to the transition area was a little long but lined by hundreds of spectators cheering everybody onward. Gave my first high five….the beginning of many to come! Decided to walk what I guessed was about 200 meters across the dock and shore to T1, so as to keep my heart rate down and soak in the overall experience. Once in transition, I took in some early “replacement” nutrition and fluids, applied some sunscreen. Then on went the helmet, shoes and the biking adventure began.
The Bike:
First…let me say this was an unbelievably beautiful course. Nearly two thirds lined by beautiful coast lines, with blue crystal jewels for waves and crushed white coral for beaches.  It was three laps of this amazing paradise. Pancake flat, but be warned……the cross winds on the eastern side of the island were easily  a constant 30 mph, causing huge crashing waves on the shoreline, which was not anymore than 30 to 40 meters from road at most times. What should have been a long stretch where bike speeds could have easily obtained 25+ mph was turned into a road that was truly humbling, with speeds much closer to the 12 to 14 mph range. I had to pull back the reins so often during this bike section  and heed some very important advice. “Go long but go Sloooooow”. If you ever do an Ironman…remember this advice at all costs. Your legs in the marathon will thank you. It was a constant struggle to keep my heart rate below 140. Oh how I so dearly wanted to let the horses run…as my legs felt very strong on the bike. I dialed back my average speed each lap to conserve energy. But my goal was to finish the entire race, not just the bike portion. However, I must admit I did uncork the horsepower on a few sections of the course where the most of the spectators were.  Couldn’t resist, after all I was there to have fun as well. 🙂 But I tempered it with slowing down many times so I could pull along side some of the cheering families and give them waves or high fives.
The island inhabitants on the bike course (and the run) were just truly what made this race worth every sacrifice. People with such little subsistence lined a great portion of the western bike loop and were cheering as if they were watching a soccer (futbol) match at the World Cup. The drums, guitars, Native Mayan and Latino Music,  whistles and chants of Si Si Puede will always be in my heart. Thanks so much to the people of Cozumel!
Bike transition: T2
This was the first time that I didn’t have to rack my own bike, instead giving my baby to a complete stranger, and running off to the T2 changing tent. With some more sunscreen applied, hat on head, sunglasses shading the sun, and my Vibram Five Fingers on my feet I started the Marathon. Yup you heard it right…Vibram Five Fingers. I seemed to be the only one in the Tri with ’em on. Got some definite odd looks on the run course. They however, were great conversational pieces. Met several people by them just coming up to me and asking me what was on my feet. Never fails…everybody’s eyes get real wide whenever I tell them I’m going to do the run section in them. Never going back to regular shoes again. Love ’em way too much. Ok…so much for the promotional commercial…back to the story.
The Run: Three laps (approx 8.7 miles each).
The course was flat as was most if not all of the island. It started downtown where we went North, along the Cozumel Pier and coastline, with a street lined by enthusiastic spectators, tourists from the huge ocean liners, and families of mainly Latino, Mayan, South American and North American Nationalities. Again, the gracious and joyful sounds of Si Si Puede, heavily accented “Good Jobs”, and Vamos Amigos y Amigas filled the cool Carribean air.
The run pace was about what I expected… most people shuffling along at about the 10 to 15 minute per mile pace, just wanting to survive, giving each other encouragement and companionship along the way.
Here’s a summary of my experience:
…WOW… I just finished 112 miles on a bike…gotta stay relaxed and establish a pace. Decided to walk every other aid station and take in nutrition and recuperate. Didn’t cramp (muscles) the entire race. This was amazing. I was positive I would have to fight the cramps at some point. Whew!… once again. I haven’t drank so much Coke in years. Albeit…Coke without any fizz…. but more delightful than I could ever remember.  Tasted better than even when accompanied by a good movie and popcorn. mmm…mmm….mmmm…  Oh yeah…almost forgot….the porta potties. Let’s just say that because of a pit stop on my initial lap, I’m convinced that I could run at least 2 minutes per mile faster afterwards. 🙂 You Ironmen who have come before me know what I mean….
Mile 4 or 5: all of a sudden the song ‘Ave Maria’ came into my head….stayed with me the rest of the race…convinced it was my family back home praying for me….really neat experience.
Mile 8+: first experience with the crowds at the finish line. The turn around point was exactly at the beginning of the finish chute. Crowds were in a frenzy…dance music blaring…constantly hearing such and such name and….”You’re now an Ironman”. Moving to say the least…but at that point all I could think was…this is torture….Good Lord I’ve still got over 18 miles and two laps left. But, back in my mind this motivated me to keep going. I, at that point knew that nothing was going to stop me.
Second Lap: Fatigue is certainly becoming a huge factor. Legs beginning to stiffen. Had to force down so many pieces of banana, gels, Gatorade. Honestly, I couldn’t tell a taste difference between the chocolate gels and tropical fruit flavors at that point. Just had to get them down to keep going. Such a fine balance exists at this point between just the right amount that provides the fuel needed to finish and too much which would anger the stomach Gods. The walks at the aid stations became longer as the race progressed. Once again, however, strength came out of nowhere, when I decided to forget about the fatigue and focus on the fans along the street.  Honestly I’ll remember the fans more than I’ll remember crossing the finish line.
Here’s why………..
Mile 14: there was a group of spectators playing music and dancing. The music so happened to be Michael Jackson’s song the ‘Thriller.’ Well…let’s just say…I couldn’t resist…my silliness took over. Hadn’t done it in more than 25 years…(this may date me) but found out I could still Moonwalk. Was going to try to break-dance, but thought it would be risking too much. Now with great laughs and high fives shared amongst new friends…I continued the run again.
Mile 17.5: second turn around…more energy from the masses at the finish line.
Mile 20: pain free steps no longer possible.
Mile 22: Saw a group of people waving the flags of several countries. I believe they were of Mexico, France, Canada, Spain, and the USA. Stopped at the Stars and Stripes and kissed it’s cloth. Power obtained for the rest of the race…..
Mile 25: downtown Cozumel along the pier, High fives becoming more numerous. Again families and friends grouped together…genuine smiles and well wishes abound. Until…..
yes…I got kissed by my first Mexican Lady… a truly muy bonita senorita. Oh Guys….she was a more than a charmer….eyes dark…a smile that would light up any room in the world.  Ok…guys…calm down…not what you think.
Here’s the real story……I was getting my second wind from all the energy the crowd had given me over the past 25 miles and had decided to run the last one mile with all I had available. Then all of a sudden that Mexican beauty caught my eye…stopped me in my tracks. I walked over to her…bent down…took her hand and placed my Ironman Cozumel Run Visor gently on her head.  She gave me the most joyful kiss on the cheek and a hug that a five year old could give. She apparently had Down’s syndrome but it was the most heart warming person I had seen all day. When I saw her, I knew that running as fast as I could to the finish, meant so little in the overall scheme of things of this world. I could have stopped there and been satisfied having never reached the finish. Her mom and dad took a picture of her and me together. I could tell they couldn’t speak a word of English but I knew in my heart that I had just found an adopted family, even though I will never know their names, their address, or perhaps ever see them again. For now I’ll give her the name…Maria…my little santa Maria. Thank you so very much…..
Ave Maria….
Gratia plena…
Dominus tecum…
Benedicta tu in mulieribus…

Back to the race:
One mile left….no more pain…legs were lighter than I could ever remember. The realization that a lifetime of dreams were finally coming real was setting in and giving me peace. All of the people along the bike path, and run course, and..yes…my little santa Maria…were now carrying me on their backs  It was their strength, not my own, that was going to propel me to the finish line.  The last 20 yards was lit up with flood lights, towering stands on both sides with clapping, chanting, and smiling fans, large video screens focused on each racer as they had their name followed by Ironman called out, many for the first time. As I lifted my hands up in victory, closed my eyes in Thanks to God…”Tim Ferrell……you are now IronMan”… was heard.
Again, Thanks be to my IronFriend Christy! It meant a great deal to have a familiar face on the course as we would occasionally pass in opposite directions, exchanging greetings, much needed smiles and “good jobs.”  I was truly happy for you on as you approached the finish line for your third Ironman. Memories to be cherished forever. Can I be arrested now…Please!…. 😉
A secret, I will give to all reading this report. The true ability to complete an Ironman comes not from the, years of training, multiple century rides, endless hours in the pool or at Finger Lakes, 20 mile trail runs, Gatorade, PowerGels, Bananas, nor De-fizzed Coca-Cola, located at strategic aid stations…no, the ability to finish come directly from the fans lining the streets…..find your little santa Maria….
Thanks to all my friends, training partners, Easley Hill, The HOM, MKT trail, Rock Bridge and that one >*&%))**ing  hill (Jeff’s Hill),  CMC, and last but not least ….Guinness Draught,  for getting me to this point. Thank you Ironfriends. Til next time….

Truly,
Tim Ferrell IM 2009.

P.S. I’ll give an update if I decide to get that tatoo. 🙂  And I did meet one person on the run course from the LA Tri Club. Shook his hand and gave some encouragement to him…invited him and LA tri to Myrtle Beach next year…just thought I would show some CMC pride and sportsmanship.