I'll tell you a story from earlier this year. In July, I was in Lake Placid, New York for the 10th anniversary edition of the Ford Ironman Lake Placid. I am a back-of-the-pack guy at the longer distances, so I have gotten into the habit of carrying my BlackBerry device with me during these races (before the race, the mobile goes into my swim-to-bike bag; after the swim, I get my bag in T1 and from there it goes from the bag to a pocket on my shorts or jersey). This way, I can text my wife and let her know I am OK during the race, check the sports scores, etc. It's a long day, and since I'm just trying to finish, a few extra minutes in each transition to stay connected is worth it (to me anyway). This worked well enough in Arizona this April (although it is also bone dry there, which makes a difference as you will see in a minute).
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Well, you may have heard that they had near-legendary conditions at IMLP this year; three inches of rain on the day. It started at 7:30 am, during the swim. It rained hard, and it rained all day ... it didn't really stop until about almost 7:00 pm. For some slower folks (like me), it didn't stop there, either. After a short break, the rain came on again for another hour and a half, finally ending about 9:00 pm.
Coming into T1, our swim-to-bike bags were outside on the transition racks. Even though the bags (which have a drawstring that does not seal up completely at the top) had collected some water at that point, my BlackBerry was still working. From T1, I was able to email my wife and a couple of friends with the news that I had swum a slower-than-expected (but-its-OK-'cause-I'm-just-here-to-finish) 1:11.
T2 -- different story. Needless to say, my BlackBerry, even though it was double-wrapped inside plastic sandwich bags, did not survive the rain. When I got back to T2, it was basically DOA.
Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal. However, my oldest daughter had traveled with me to this race (she was there with me in Tempe earlier this year as well), and we both very much wanted things to work out so that we could cross the finish line together. The plan was for me to write a short email to my wife (who had stayed home with our other 3 girls) and she would relay to my brother-in-law, who was with me in Lake Placid. He and our host would bring Sarah down to the finish area at the time I approximated.
No phone. No chance of getting the word to Sarah ... maybe I could find a pay phone somewhere on the run course and call collect ... have to be in town, though ... do they even have pay phones anymore? This was my beginning thought process to formulate a "Plan B" for contacting Sarah.
Until I ran out of the changing tent and onto the run course. I went about 5 strides and heard "Hey, Stan!" Looked over, and there was a good friend, Scott Perschke, up from Pennsylvania with his dad to watch the race and then get in line for on-site registration the next morning for the 2009 race. I came over to the barrier, exchanged a high five and popped the question: "Brother, can you spare a cell phone?" Scott generously let me call my wife back in Virginia. I dialed, told her I'd finish between 11:15 pm and 11:45 pm, and she called her brother from there. Gave the phone back to Scott, said thanks and good-bye to him and his dad, and off to try and finish the run before midnight.
Several hours later ... I crossed the line with Sarah, who was waiting for me.
I mention all this because I know Scott from having attended each of the first three editions of the International Christian Triathlon Network annual camp and retreat in Arizona. If you are a believing endurance athlete (or even just an endurance athlete), this is a must-attend event. Each year, the workouts, coaching, speakers and fellowship have been incredible, and those lucky enough to be regular attendees all agree that coming back to Arizona in January for this event is like being at a family reunion. That connection certainly made my day a memorable one in Lake Placid. (Thanks, Scott.)
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I encourage you to consider attending, so that your 2009 will get off to a great start spiritually and athletically, and you can also get plugged into the same great group of people.
Finish strong (and see you in Tucson in January!),
Finish strong (and see you in Tucson in January!),
Stan
