Saturday (Preparation)

The morning started very early, as I did not sleep well at all. I prepped for my run quietly trying not to wake my roommate, but that did not work.

We both got ready and headed out for a couple mile run, chatting about the experience so far. We returned from the run and quickly grabbed our bikes and all our gear to go drop it off. We walked our bike the half mile to Monona Terrace and waited in line to stage our bikes in the racks. Once this was done, we walked down to the water, it was again very wavy, and the water was well up over the shore. There were sand bags in place to keep the water from flooding the bike path and many signs saying swim at your own risk.

I checked the website for the most current water test results and the E. coli counts were well below any action levels, so I dawned my wet suit and went for a swim with many other participants. Getting out of the water, I felt a sense of ease and was comfortable that if the water was going to be this rough on race day, I would be just fine.

Now I had the rest of the day to sit around and wait. My roommate and I walked the town for a bit just to burn time until dinner, then we had a good dinner and headed back to the hotel for an early night.

Little did I know, there was a surprise in store.  My roommate and I were chatting in the park before heading to the hotel when someone grabbed me around the neck.

I turned around and it was my wife and good friends that drove over that day from Michigan to surprise and support me. It was an instant morale booster and me. I spent some time with them chatting and then it was time for bed. I fell asleep quickly, but awoke before my alarm at 3 a.m.

 

Sunday (Race Day)

Race day started for me before 3 a.m. when I awoke and I could not believe the day was finally here, I was going to be an Ironman! I chocked down a half of a bagel and two bottles of water before we left the hotel. My roommate and I both were dressed and headed out of the hotel on the ½-mile walk to the bike staging area. We headed into the staging area to fill our water bottles, air up our tires (I heard many people exploding their tires that morning by over-inflating, which would have been tough mentally), and making sure everything was set for the 112-mile trek that would start in mere hours.

We had a team gathering at 6:30 a.m. where we had a team prayer, last minute pep talks, team pictures, and last minute instructions. I took a moment, went in, and checked my transition bags one last time (the 1,000 time I did this).

Before I knew it, my wetsuit was on and we were headed to the starting line. I got to the water and looked at it and it was calm as the sun was peaking over the horizon, everything was good in the world and I knew today was going to be a great day!

We were supposed to line up in perceived finish times, but the chute was too narrow and I could not make my way to my slot. I knew I was going to have to work my way through many swimmers once in the water to get into a good opening. I knew there was no way my wife and friend would be able to find me in the starting chute with the mass of neoprene, swim caps, and swim goggles, so I tried to focus on the race. I could hear the National Anthem being sung and Mike Riley (the voice of IronMan) announcing the start of the pro women and with the bang of the cannon they were off.

The countdown started for the age group athletes and the jockeying for position started with shuffling our feet forward towards the starting line as people were allowed to enter the water. Nerves were at an all-time high and my heart rate was elevated because of this, so I worked on my breathing to get calm.

Then out of nowhere I hear someone yelling my name and I knew who it was, some way, somehow my wife and friends fought to the front of the starting line and were there to see me off. I worked my way to them and got a hug and kiss from my wife, some pictures, and last words of encouragement before I got in the water. Tears came to my eyes as emotions of what I just experienced and what I was about to experience came full-force.

I gathered myself and prepared to start my Garmin.

Swimming (2.4 Miles)

Continuing to shuffle toward the water, I could hear Mike Riley announcing people’s names as they got in the water. I reached the water’s edge checked my goggles one last time and worked my way in to the people helping you into the water.

There was assistance needed because the water level was so far up the shore there was a steep drop off. I made it past them, start into my stroke, and quickly settled into my bi-lateral breathing pattern. I started to run into groups of swimmers because I could not get to my desired starting slot, so I started working my way through the masses of kicking feet, flailing arms, people stopped for a breather, and people off course because they weren’t sighting properly. I made it through the first group of people and kept sighting for the first turn, it is a tradition that all participant MOO when they make the first turn by the bridge.

I see the turn buoy and set my line to try to avoid as many people as possible, so I get to the outside and cut the turn wide to avoid the pinch right at the buoy. I could hear all participant MOOING as the make the turn, so I take a breath and let out the best MOO I could.

It was not very good at all.

I was then on a short straight swim that is full of people and I had to battle through the crowd again. This battle forced me to the inside and I knew I was going to be in a fight turning the fast approaching corner. The corner came and it was like a wrestling match trying to make that turn, but I eventually got through it. Now onto the LOOOOOOONG backstretch (over a mile) and I was weaving my way through more people. I happen to see a few participants swimming just on the inside of the buoys and they were completely out of the masses of people, so I made my way to that line. I got inside the buoys and this was a nice change to not have to fight the people, I could hear the music and Mike Riley on the shore making announcements, this gave me a charge of energy.

Before I knew it, the final turn was insight and I started to prepare for the fight at the turn. Making the turn, I finally got into a group of people swimming my pace and I was able to draft for a few hundred yards.

I then ran into a person that was not sighting and continued to run into me, so I had to keep changing course. I could see the finish of the swim and I was getting excited, until I got a forearm shiver in my swim goggles.

The people I had been battling for the past hundreds of yards finally got a hot in and hit me above the bridge of my nose, knocking my goggles half way off. The final few hundred yard were swam with my goggles half on and leaking very badly, so I could not see at all.

Finally, the weeds started to hit me in the face and I knew the shore was near, I lifted my head and there it was. I was able to put my feet on the bottom of the lake and run out of the water to the people helping you get out. Running up to the shore, I switched my watch to transition 1 and started removing my wet suit in preparation of the “wetsuit strippers.”

The grass was all mud now and very slippery and before I knew it my feet went out from under me and I fell into the mud, but the adrenaline was so high I did not notice. I made my way to the people ripping off the wetsuits and picked out a person that looked like they could get it off in one pull. I sat on the ground and they grabbed the legs of my wet suite and off it came in one pull (great job!), they reach down, pull me off the ground, and throw my wet suite to me. I see my wife and friends again as I run up the helix to the transition area. This was another boost as seeing them was great.

I run up the helix carrying my wet suit and ecstatic that I had completed for me the most mentally tough part of the race.  I get to the top of the helix and head into the building to get my T1 bag and over to the changing area.

 

Biking (112 Miles)

In the changing area it was like a full concierge service, they set your entire thing out for you, packed your wet suit away, got you nutrition and fluids, and made sure you were good.

I changed quickly into my tri-kit and grabbed something small to eat.

Running out of transition, I continued to eat the Cliff bar, don my bike helmet and put on my bike gloves and headed out the door. Directly out the door were several people yelling “sun screen” so I ran over and the globbed enough sun screen on my face, arms, neck, and legs for 20 people and I continued to run to my bike.

Making it to my bike there were people yelling out my number so my bike would be ready by time I got to it. Grabbing my bike, I hear my wife and friends again as they were standing on the bridge over the bike rack area, a few pictures later and a wave, I was off on my bike. Running in my bike shoes towards the mounting line, I was ready for the 112-mile ride to begin.

I crossed the bike mount line and made sure that I had switch my Garmin from transition 1 to the bike leg and jumped on my bike. Heading down the spiraling helix (a no passing zone), I was hard on the breaks to make sure I did not get a penalty right out of the box. The course headed out away from town on a small bike path, a section of the course called the “stick” and I was making sure to get my breathing right and get my legs warmed up.

Some people went out very fast and were passing everyone in sight, but I tried to stick with my plan and keep a consistent effort and pace throughout. The “stick” portion went quick for as many people were in the pack, until a train stopped us for a few minutes! Finishing the “stick” portion of the course, I knew that I was now in for all the hills I had been training so hard to tackle. This portion of the course is called the loop and you do the loop twice.

The crowd support on the bike course was amazing, from the people having parties in costumes screaming at you to get up the hills, to the little children holding signs of encouragement. The first loop went just as planned, although I was about 1.5 MPH faster than I wanted to average and I knew this could be a problem. I stopped many time to use the restroom and this was a good sign that I was hydrated and on my nutrition plan.

The second loop started and there was a major crash directly in front of me. Reacting quickly, I maneuvered around the crash and bike parts that went flying. As I came up the Mount Horab hill, I saw my wife and friends in the crowd cheering me on and this gave another great boost of emotion. The second loop was getting very difficult and I was concerned that I had burned too much energy on the first loop, not to mention the wind had increased to 15 MPH and was a head wind that never stopped. Chatting with the bikers around me, we all talked about how brutal the wind was and hoped that it would ease up, but it never did. After a few more restroom stops and a lot more hilly miles (The Three Sisters were the worst) and the second loop was done while I was on my way back on the stick.

I did not remember the stick being as hilly as it was, it took a lot of extra energy out of me, and the bumps in the road were taking a major toll on my butt. Knowing I only had other 12ish miles to go, I pressed on and tried to get more nutrition in me in preparation for the run. Thinking about the run was not fun, knowing I had 26.2 miles to run, but I was going to enjoy it. I turned the corner and could now see the lake in the distance and then the helix that I would have to ride up going into T2. Mentally preparing for the run, I made my way up the helix and jumped off my bike as I approached the bike dismount line. A volunteer grabbed my bike to place it back in the rack and I nearly fell over because my legs were so wobbly. I tried to shake off the feeling in my legs by jogging into the transition area and eventually this helped my legs feel a bit better. I made sure I switched my Garmin to T2 and headed in the building. The elevation gain for the bike was 5,417 feet.

Going into T2 I ran in, grabbed my gear bag, and headed to the changing area. A volunteer quickly grabbed my bag and set everything out, while asking me if I need any Gatorade or water and then getting them for me. I took of my bike shoes and put on a fresh pair of socks then put my running shoes on. I grabbed my visor, running belt, and bib out of the bag and the volunteer packed up my helmet, gloves, and shoes and put them away for me. Then another volunteer was walking around with a massive tub of Vaseline asking if I needed any, I said no, but he asked me to lift my arms and then proceeded to tell me I was chaffed badly. I smeared the Vaseline on my arms and ran out of T2. Coming out of the building toward the run start, I hit the port-a-john once more, good sign I was hydrated.

I crossed the run start line feeling good and I made sure to switch my Garmin to the run leg. Heading out on the course, I see my wife, friends, and I pull over to chat for a second, get a picture and a hug and kiss before I take off.

Running (26.22 Miles)

Feeling good knowing that I had completed two of the three disciplines already, I tried to keep myself on pace for the third and final leg before I could become an Ironman.

Running is my strongest discipline and I was ahead of my goal time, so I knew that I would have to literally die in order to not finish this race.

The run course is a double loop (your run the same 13.1 miles twice) so as I headed out of down town Madison, past the capital I was soaking in all the sight and start to get into my pace. I knew I wanted to start at a slower pace and then settle into a faster pace the second half of the marathon, so I was constantly keeping track of my pace to do this.

Heading past the crowds of people, I was constantly getting a jolt of energy from them. I headed out of town towards Camp Randal stadium where I knew I would have to run in the stadium, make a loop on the field, and head back out of the stadium.

So, I headed down the ramp and prepared to get on the turf and this is where one step would lead to a big change in my plans for the rest of the race. As I step on the turf, I twist my knee on the curb and it did not seem like much at the time, it was only just noticeable, but this would eventually turn into a bad pain.

I was starting to favor my knee as I continued on the run and this slowed my pace considerably. I fought through the pain and made it to mile 12, where I saw my wife and friend again sitting at a restaurant outside waiting for me to pass by.

I waved as they cheered me on, but they could tell I was in pain. The run course is very deflating and this is because it takes you within a couple hundred feet of the finish line (where the professionals were finishing right in front of my eyes), I make the turn to head back out for another 13.1 miles.

But, I was still within my goal time and I knew I was going to finish this race.

By this point, my run had turned into a lot of alternating of walking and running as the pain continued to increase. I see my wife and friends again and run over to where they were at; I told my wife what happened and how much pain I was in. She told me I was still on track to finish on my goal and to not damage my knee for the future. This made my decision that much easier and I told her I was going to walk most of the second half of the run.

I continued running for a few minutes and then would walk for a few minutes, just until my knee felt good enough to go again. Hitting every aid station also gave me a chance to rest, but all the Gatorade, water, oranges, cliff bars, and gels were starting to make me nauseous, so I had to give up on the aid for a while.

As I got ready to head up observatory hill,  I saw my coach and we talked about how I can finish the race in the condition I was in. We decided to continue the run/walk method and to save what I had left for the last two miles of the race.

This was now my plan and I knew the team cheer station was around the corner and this would be another mental boost that I needed. I pass the team cheer station, got a pick-me-up from them, and headed in to get my prize!

The last five miles of the race were enjoyable, perhaps it was because I knew I was going to be an Ironman and had completed what was once impossible in my mind.

The sun started to go down and this was just a reminder that I had been at this race for over 12 hours now, I got in the water at 7:05 a.m. I could now see the capital and with a few more turns I will have done it, I could hear the crowds cheering and Mike Riley announcing names of the finishers.

This is the one thing I told my wife to record and that was Mike Riley saying, “Eric Sielaff You Are an Ironman!”

All the nervousness and pain went away while I pushed my knee to run this last bit. It was only a few more turns and I would see the red carpet that would lead me to my goal. I saw the clock and finish line ahead and all of the people cheering, giving everyone a high five that I could as I passed by, not knowing until later the agony of pain on my face captured by photos. A few hundred feet more and I was there, two people blow by me at the line, as I raise my arms in victory.

I was an Ironman!

An Ironman Finisher

As soon as you cross the line, they have people that are called catchers and these people quickly evaluate you medically by checking your pulse, talking with you, asking questions, and seeing if you can stand on your own.

My legs were wobbly and my blood sugar was low, as I was very dizzy, but I told them I was alright. They got my finisher shirt, hat, and then I got my Ironman medal. I walked over and got a few finishers pictures taken and then I was off to find my wife and friends. I was freezing now, so I grab a Mylar blanket to keep warm and exited the finishing area.

My wife was there to hug and help me and we headed to the team tent where I sat for a few minutes, just trying to gather myself. My friends brought me a couple slices of pizza and a water and this helped me feel better, I was now able to have a good conversation and stand back up to let my muscles rest.

I now gathered my bike and gear from the transition area, as this is a requirement to have it out that night. I walked in and grab all my bags and then my bike and headed back to the tent. I met my roommate there and we soon after made the half-mile trek back to the hotel where we cleaned up and headed out for a quick bite and to go watch the last few hours of the race at the finish line. The finish line is electric as the hour strikes midnight and the final finisher cross the line, an amazing experience. We stayed out till well after midnight and then headed in for some well-deserved rest.

We had done it.

We were now part of the club.

We were Ironmen!