Ironman AZ (II) 2008

The last race of our season. I'm glad and sad at the same time. Glad because it has been a long year with so much traveling and long hours when we are traveling. Sad because I'll miss all my Ironman friends and all the traveling. I really like traveling. The only thing I don't like about traveling is that I don't often get to take my toys with me.
Ironman AZ 2008 had great weather, at least for me. Warm and sunny. There was a little fear for some that it would be too hot, but it cooled about 10 degrees more by race day. On set up day the whole crew was ready rock after the team meeting held by Cid.

Unloading the truck went fairly smooth. The trucks are able to get nice and close at this race which helps immensely.

Once unloaded and rolling we were really busy. Les, Lawrence, Bill, B.O.B. and myself as mechanics. We got Bill to come to the race at the last minute which was a good thing. We had the CEO challenge people showing up with their bikes to be assembled. This is over and above the normal amount of bikes we usually deal with.

On the sales side we had Cid, Lena, Wayne, Melissa, and Dennis (who was working mostly for us writing service tickets.




Edde was out in the Cervelo tent selling bikes.

Leia from Saris was also on hand. I put her to work one day.


finally the bikes had to be in transition.


Time to relax for a few hours and build some new bikes for Edde. He sold a bunch on this trip.
I really like the 2009 P2C.

Bill is in charge of getting that big sign up for First Endurance. We got a kick out of those people taking their pic in front of it.

One night we went out to eat at a sushi place. At the end evening there was a large glob of guacamole left on Edde's plate. He bet Les that he wouldn't eat it. Edde lost.

And Ice cream after.






This same night we ate out Lawrence and B.O.B. found a new bar. Seems like they find one of these in every town.


Another night we hung out after work while Melissa did a trainer ride after work. Edde was coaching her through the workout.


Yet another night some of the gang went to the VIP dinner/party. They got there late or something and there was no food. Just beer. Long story short...Les paid the price when trying to just a barrier on the edge of the street.

The morning runs were beautiful. The air was warmish.

Now race day came. We were happy to not get up on race day for a change. It's been a long season and getting up at 4am after you've been working long hours all week ain't easy. The racers do have to get up early of course. Mike Beaman, the bike manager, from Inside-Out Sports was racing at this race. His mission was to fight the DNF demons. Here is his bike.

We got to the race site in time to see him come in off the bike. He was going way fast. He blew up on the run. He didn't quit though. He finally made it in to the finish. The words of his daughter who just had an awesome day in gymnastics the day before. Way to not let the monsters beat you!
Also on race day, Les, Edde and I took the tandem that I was giving to Edde (although it was not finished being put together yet) down to the race site. There was no chain and no brakes on the bike so Edde and I were the engine and the brakes for Les, who was on the tandem.

We, the mechanics, or a least some of us, worked during the race building bikes that Edde was continuing to sell. Sales worked some too. There were quite a few people milling around because of the way this race was routed with multiple laps in each event. Later, when the rest of the guys came into work to start packing bikes I cut out. I went up to the finish line to watch the rest of the race. Edde went with me, and Dennis showed up for a while as well. We were there a long time. Dennis cought Edde dozing off. He's not used to being on his feet so many hours in one week!

We stayed to the end. Til midnight. There were not near as many people in the stands as there were at other races. For the last half hour we got up and hung on the rail to cheer for the real Ironman finishers. The ones that had been out there the full amount of time and were struggling to get in before the cut off. I saw people we helped with their bikes and that felt good seeing them finish. I could see those people coming across the line and the image in my head would see me coming across for the first time in Cozumel in 2009 with Edde and Lawrence (maybe) already done and my friends and family there waiting for me as I was waiting on these strangers now.

So everything was over and the truck was loaded for the last time this season. Everyone was a little giddy wait for dinner to start. The last dinner of the season.



So the dinner happened, but one of us didn't make it though dinner.

This was my first Iron season. I had a great time, met a lot of great people. I was impressed, inspired and in awe of some of the people I saw this year. I know I will miss my Iron friends this winter.

70.3 Ironman Championships - Clearwater, FL

Yep, the water IS really clear in Clearwater, FL. White sand and blue, blue water. Awesome.
Okay, let me back up a tad. This trip started with us coming straight down from IM FL in Panama City Beach, FL. This was the race that Les starting felling bad at. Les and Lawrence the normal drivers of the truck, and Bill and myself, hitchhikers all rode down in the big truck to Clearwater. By this time Les was very sick. He spent the day in the lower bunk of the sleeper with fever and chills. Bill and I taded off from the top bunk to shotgun.



So when we got to Clearwater a little on the late side the rest of the crew was waiting there to unload the truck. It wasn't a great place to do so. We had to block a lane of traffic to unload and got it done in about 2 hrs and 20 mins. Les was still in the truck sleeping thru a fever. Cid was happy with the unloading job and rewarded us with dinner at Crabby Bill's across the street.
The next day we set up and got started on the full service bikes while sales set up the store. I ended up searching out a dr to take Les to since he seemed to just be getting worse. They determined he had a strain of virus but had to wait for blood tests to come back to be sure exactly what. They sent him home with a shot of steroids and antibiotics.





Everyone was setting up on this day. The Ford truck and trailer got into a little trouble. Stuck in the sand.

The clothing sales over in the Zorrel tent was a little slow at first. Meahgan, Lawrence's Gal, dressed up in a lion outfit to help promote a race in KS that is coming up in June.it's a 70.3. She also got our gang free entry into that race. I'm in!

Les was resting in the hotel room. The decision was made on our second day in CLearwater to fly him home to get some solid rest and to try to keep the rest of healthy. The ones of us that rode down in the truck with him were all feeling a little off. We need Les at the next race which in just a few weeks in AZ. So we were a mechanic short for the entire Clearwater race. This meant some late nights of working to get it all done, including one night til mid night.

Then finally race day. At this race we did not have to do on the road support but we did do transition on race morning.
Bill was using Bernard's air tank. The rest of us were using traditional pumps.
Bernard took Les' spot as transition tech for last minute flats and repairs.
This race had 1500 of the world's fastest half Ironman racers. Everyone here had won a race elsewhere in the world to get here. Championships. The transition tools.
There are many two wheel vehicles at the race to work. Anyone that knows me knows how much I love the motorized kind as well as bicycles.



Gary and I went down to the waters edge to watch the swim start once transition closed to the athletes.
The pros were long gone before the age groupers started coming in. They do get about a 15 min head start though.We saw a lot of inspiring sights at this race. This is a Dad and his son that do every race like this. The son is in his 30's and very bright. He was disables at birth.
This is Mark Cook--A Dentist from my neck of the woods, Carbondale CO.

Mark on his way out.An 18 yr old x motocrosser.

This guy, Scott, was not doing the race but had a very interesting story. He was the first double amputee to complete the Kona Ironman.

So we got a short break at this race by not having to do on the road support. I spent my hour or so on the beach.


Then it was time to get back to work and pack up.
The bikes have to be put back in boxes to be shipped out.

Then below here is some more of the aftermath of the Ironman.

Finally all the bikes are packed. Time to enjoy the tips.


The next morning was pack up day. The trucks are staged out by the street.

Loaded and ready to go.

Loaded up and ready to go on the road again. Mehgan and I drove a truck back to Kansas for Zorrel. This was a 25 hr trip. We saw Lawrence on the road.



That's Black Betty and Rental Ronnie.