September
11, 2016
Madison
Wisconsin
Ten years ago, with the sponsorship and encouragement of GU
Energy, I entered into my first ever triathlon. I (barely) survived the half
mile swim, was middle of the pack on the 18 mile bike course, and ran the 4
mile run. Who would have thought that 10
years later I would have more than 50 races including 2 IRONMAN finishes on my
resume?!
Last September, I stood in line the morning after IRONMAN
Wisconsin with two friends/teammates to register for the 2016 event. For both Marc and Mike, it would be their
first IM. Both had completed their first
triathlons the year before. This was the
beginning of our journey together toward one huge personal challenge. Throughout the year, we followed similar training
plans each with our own goals for the big day.These guys always kept me in check!
As we pulled into Madison on Thursday afternoon, the
excitement started to hit. I felt ready for this. The training was done. It was
time to celebrate! We completed all of
then check-ins at the hotel and race. Let me tell you how much nicer it is to
check in to the race on Thursday! After dinner, it was back to the room to
start getting things organized.
On Friday, I woke up and was checking Facebook when a post
came from a friend (who was the registration captain). She was frustrated by
volunteers canceling at the last minute.
What was I doing on Friday morning? Weather wasn’t great outside, so a
bike ride was not a top priority. A few quick messages back and forth & I
was volunteering for the morning shift!
When I arrived, Kitty gave me my assignment. I was the first person people came to in the
check-in process. My “job” was to greet
athletes as they came in, verify their name & birthday off their license,
write their race number on a piece of paper, and send them to the next
station. I got to meet so many
athletes! From first timers to very
experienced, nervous to excited. The “Hey, I know you!” from people I have met
or trained with along the journey. I will have to say though, my favorite was
checking in Eric Duda. While I had never
met him before (and no, we are not related), it was great to talk to him for
the few moments I was able. That’s
right, there were two Duda’s in the same division! Glad I had the opportunity to meet him!
After my shift, lunch, the athlete briefing, and catching up
with a couple friends, it was time for a quick shake out ride….or at least that
was the plan! What would Ironman be
without a little mechanical excitement? Fortunately, Machinery Row Bicycles was
just a couple blocks from where I had issues, they had the part in stock, and
had me back up and riding in less than 30 minutes! Huge thank you to them for
keeping me in the game! Unfortunately,
due to this hiccup, we missed the athlete dinner, but we had a great dinner at
the Great Dane and met up with some our support crew that was in town.
Saturday is a lay low and rest type of day. After breakfast, it was off to the IronKids
race with my son. It was so much fun to
run with him and see him get a high five from Mike Reilly as he crossed the
finish line! The rest of the day was very low key! The biggest effort of the
day was taking a drive around the bike loop to introduce my family to it. Now they knew I was crazy!
Race day was an early morning, but I was ready. I was in my zone! Bag drop offs, check my
bike and put all my nutrition, etc on board, walk through my transitions, then
found a quiet area to “relax” and get ready. Mike, Marc, and I started to make
our way down to the water. As we hit the
water, I got in a quick warm up in, then headed to claim my start spot.
In the last 30 seconds before the start, my previous front
row seat was closed in on. I found
myself in the second row as the cannon shot off. In 2014, my swim was fairly “clean.” This
year, I started closer to the buoy line expecting a little rougher (and faster) swim, but I
got more than I bargained for! The
first part of the swim was a lot of bumping as the crowd spread out and settled
in. I was far enough forward that I was mostly clean around the first corner
through the Mooo! Then things started to get rough! At corner 2, I took a solid whip kick to the
jaw! On the back stretch, I was grabbed
and pulled more times than I could count!
I expected taps, slaps, bumps, and brushes. A few times I just sat up, looked for clear
water (or where the best place to get away from a couple of jerks). The last couple corners came and went and I was
pulling myself up on the mats and out of the swim. I finished in the top 10% of
the field with a swim with a few minutes faster swim than before.
Transition 1 was as advertised! I went to see the strippers
to pull off my wetsuit. The run up the helix was just as I remembered! The energy is phenomenal! I quickly grabbed my T1 bag, changed, and
ran out toward the bikes. This year, I
stopped to see the sun screen station on my way out. As I ran down the long rows of bikes, a
volunteer was getting mine off the rack and ready for me. A quick grab and keep running. Just before the mount line, a volunteer grabbed
my bike so I could put my bike shoes on.
Away I went.
The first loop of the bike was great! I held my own window and focused on staying
on my goals. As I turned onto the new
course at Barlow, I saw a pair of LAMS shorts ride by. It took me a second to recognize Nate Waech
and give a shout on the way by. Being on
the front end to the crowd, there were only a few people walking up the big
hill as I went through. I tried to pay
attention to as many of the costumes and signs as I could during the ride. As I came into Verona, I heard and saw our
LAMS Crew out cheering. After the aid station heading into town, I saw my Dad
and sister enjoying the party. I made a quick stop at
special needs to grab my second half nutrition and headed out on my way. The wind had definitely picked up for the
second loop! Loop 2, we didn’t get to do
the big climb up Barlow, but Emery’s Midtown Party did not disappoint! Looking
at my data afterward, I had my two best times on record up the Midtown hill on
race day! As I came back into Verona, the constant headwind/quartering wind was
taking its toll. The good news was it would be a tail wind the rest of the way
home! As I spun up the last hill at about mile 100, Kitty was giving me a swift
kick in the butt to get home. I came
into the helix in a crowd. The ride up
was not bad at all. As I approached the
line, the volunteers grabbed my bike and I ran inside.
T2 was uneventful for
me. A quick change and I was on my
way. Again, I stopped for sunscreen. As
a note to everyone, spray sunscreen and sunglasses are not a good combination!
After trying to clean my glasses off, having a volunteer try to clean them on
his shirt, and a couple other attempts, I found out after a few aid stations that the sponges worked really
well at cleaning the grease off!
My run started with a quick stop with my wife and son, then
I was on my way. Around the first mile,
a stabbing sensation started in my lower abdomen. I kept going.
As I hit State Street, I saw my family
and got a slight boost. As I came
to the end of the street, My Ironfriends Michelle and Sara were there pushing me
on! I can’t wait to watch them in Kona (wish I could be there)! As I was hitting the end of the bike trail,
the pain became unbearable! I cut back
to mostly a walk. I saw Mike at about his mile 5/my mile 8 and he was looking
great! As I kept adjusting my intake at aid stations, I was playing a balancing
act, but headed in the right direction. I found Marc around my Mile 11/ his
Mile 2. He too was having GI issues, but still looking strong!
As I came back on Dayton around mile 12, I
found the LAMS crew. Jan, Sherry, Mark, and Jacqueline were out pushing us
along! As I hit the 13.1 mile turn, I still wasn’t feeling great, but felt
better than I did in 2014. Only 13 miles to go! As I was coming back on Dayton, I again came
up to the cheers from the LAMS crew. I
was able to grab Michelle’s ear for a little advice and encouragement. What
would I do without such great friends? I had been leapfrogging with my friend
Ben since Mile 3 and continued to do so the entire second loop. Push and pull! Each time we switched spots, words of
encouragement were exchanged.
After my
last turn on State Street, my family let me know that Dell was just
about 2 blocks ahead. He was way ahead of his previous paces! I finally caught up near the marina. I gave a few words of encouragement on my way
by. Just in front of him was Eric. We talked a little as I came by. Eric’s
actions that day truly embody the spirit that I love in the triathlon and
IRONMAN Family. Eric is one of the admins
of a Facebook group that has helped bring together many in the IMWI
family. I had the privilege to ride with
him on the WIBA training weekend in July.
He is a really cool and humble guy.
On this day, he was pacing, pushing, encouraging (sometimes a little
tough love), and guiding Dell to the finish line. Dell had two previous DNF’s in this race and
Eric was keeping him in line to make the finish line!
As I came into about mile 21 (about his 17), I saw Mike
headed the other way. Just hundred yards
later, Marc was at about mile 9 with his family. I was feeling much better by this point. I
had figured out the issues and had (mostly) corrected them. I was about a mile behind Marc on the
loop. If I could push it, I could run
with him into his 13.1 turn as I ran for the finish. How awesome would that be? I pushed
forward. I had constant calculations in
my head. I had to keep pushing! The aide
stations kept clicking by. The run up
Dayton was much more crowded with both athletes and spectators than it had been
in previous years. On that stretch I got
my final LAMS shout out to the finish. I
started floating up State Street. As I
finished my last shot of nutrition from the Capitol aide station, I saw Marc
headed out on his last loop. He was
looking strong. It was the final push I
needed. I started to stride out a little
to give myself room from the group I was in.
As we were going through the special needs station it started to hit
home. The final turn to the finish was
no less spectacular than it was in 2014.
The crowd is amazing!
“Josh Duda, You are an IRONMAN!”
What an amazing sound! As I crossed under the arch, I hear my name
to my left. Shawn is outstretched for a
huge “high 10.” Under my arms I had Kitty on my left and Ilissa on my right there to “catch” me. In 2014, I said it was great to have a friend
catch you at the finish line. Well, two is pretty amazing! Learning from
experience, I kept moving this time. No
Medical Tent for me! I was able to
celebrate with my family as I exited the chute.
We headed back to the hotel.
After a quick shower and change of clothes, it was back to the finish
line. I still had work to do!
As I waited, I cheered my friend Susan in to her second
finish. A few minutes later, Mike made
his way in! We celebrated his finish,
then Mike’s wife Dayle, my Dad, and I went to collect all of our stuff. With our bikes and transition bags in hand,
we all headed back to the hotel. My
family had been great and had done an Ian’s Pizza run and had it waiting for us
in the room! (My son’s new favorite pizza is Ian’s Mac & Cheese!)
A quick check of my tracker showed Marc approaching State
Street. As I was sprinting downstairs
and down the street, I fired off a quick text to Mike to let him know. I was able to slide into a spot just before
the chute narrows down. It was not very
long before Marc rounded the corner. All
three of us had started this journey a year ago, and all three had made it to
the finish line! I'm so proud of these two!
Rather than head back to the hotel, Mike, Dayle, and I stayed
at the finish. The emotions of the last
hour were incredible. We saw the Team
Triumph crews cross. We saw the soldier
carrying his ruck and an American Flag cross.
We saw Eric and Dell round that final corner and Eric sprint ahead. This was Dell’s moment. I have not heard the finish line crowd that
loud! The last hour is something I am glad I stuck around for!
Thank you to all of my family and friends that made this day
possible! I am truly blessed to have such an amazing group of support.
I love that this event is less than 2 miles from my sister's front door! When I got up and was ready, I just hopped on my bike for a short warm up ride to transition. I arrived in time to secure a premium spot.
