IMKY 2010

So I just thought I would take a little space to tell about my IronMan (IM) journey.
Why would I want to do an IM?

Two years ago I was sitting on couch with my wife watching one of our favorite TV shows, Biggest Loser.  It was a special edition called "Where are They Now?"  In 2005 Matt Hoover won the show, then gained a bunch of weight back and then decided to an Ironman as part of the journey to loose all the weight for a second time.  As I was watching, I said to myself,  If that guy could do an IM, I could do it.

So as I was stuffing my fat  face at christmas dinner I announced to my wife that I was going to do an IM in the comming year (2010).  Of course I was overweight and out of shape so she just told me "sure thing dear, go for it (lol)"  but once I made a commitment to myself and actually purchased a gym membership, I was 10 toes in.

I did not know where to even start, so I started to search online.  Not so sure how it could help me, I started searching for online coaching, and that is when I found the mentoring program.  I asked Mike McDaniel to join the group so that I could not just back out.  With no-one to be accountable to but myself, I know I would have just quit within a couple of months.

With Mike as my mentor, I started training.  I listened to the advice of Mike who has done it himself, and I trusted him.  "I am not a coach" He told me more than once, but if I just stuck to the plan that I would make it.  Of course in the beginning I showered him with dumb questions, and he graciously and patiently answered ever single question.  Some questions he answered with questions of his own, but of course part of the journey to such a monumental task as IM is answering the question in your own mind, "Why do I want to do this".

I sort of figured out that it was a combination of things in my life.  I was 37 years old 6' tall and tipped the scales at 200 lbs.  I was fat, lazy and out of shape.  I never knew what a beer gut I had until recently I saw some photos of myself last summer (wow! I was turning into my dad).  I knew I wanted to get into better physical condition, and I also wanted to add something big and unique to my bucket list.  I figured this one time event would fit the bill.... little did I know how this journey would change the landscape of my life.

Funny thing about the human body, it craves what you give it.  Give it ice cream it just wants more ice cream.  Give it vegetables and excercise, befor long, twinkys make you sick, and you can't wait to get back on your bicycle after work.  This journey has change me not only physically, but mentally as well.

After 8 months of hard (and I do mean hard) traing ( as much as 24 hour per week) my beginning race weight was 180.  May seem a little large for a triathlete, but I am 6' tall and have pretty wide shoulders.  I have dropped 3 inches off my waist, and gained two inches around my arms.  My best friend just told me that the biggest change he can see is in my shoulders.  I have ripped muscles I did not know my body had.  I knew professional swimmers looked like this, but did not think it was possible for me to look like a real athlete.  I am no body builder, but let's just say that some guy in a bar might think twice about picking a fight with me now.

Contrary to my original plans, this journey did not end with IMKY at the end of August 2010.  Quite the opposite... it was just the beginning for me.  I have found a life long passion, and this year my wife had joined me.  So I just thought I would take a minute to publicly thank my family, my friends, and most of all  Mike McDaniell for all the time he has spent mentoring me as a beginning triathlete.  I could not have done it without you Mike, you have helped to change my life, and for that I remain eternally greatful.

Now on to Race Day 2010 !!!!!!!

The Swim (2.4 miles in the Ohio River)

I entered the 84 degree water at around 7:25 am in the time trial style start.  Swim upstream for 1200 yards then took a short break to clear my goggles.  Felt good, so I made the turn, took a look down river to the bridge about a mile ahead.  I put my head in the water and started pulling and did not stop until I hit the bridge.  At the bridge I took a second to look at my watch and saw I had been swimming fairly strong (at about 70%) for 55 minutes.  I knew I was not going to be able to post any really impressive times all day, so I wanted to make a show of my swimming strength.  With a little more than 1/2 mile left to swim, I decided to pour the coals to it.  Crancked those guns up to about 90% for the rest of the swim and was very happy with my 1:15 finish time.

The Bike (112 mile double loop from Louisville to Lagrange, KY)

The first 10 miles or so is very flat, so without really trying I easily made an average of close to 20mph to the first real set of hills. After making my way through about 40 miles it was getting pretty hot, but I felt good, and was drinking and eating pretty well.  Saw my family in Lagrange on the first pass through town, and kept on cranking.  On my second loop through Lagrange, I saw my dad and gave him the gun show (Muscle flex) as I road by him and growled like I was tough.

Little did I know, that was the last time all day I was gonna feel tough.  At about mile 68 in the hills of Kentucky the 97 degree heat started to catch up with me, and I quickly found myself in real trouble.  With tingling hands and feet, I started to get a little dizzy.  That is when I decided that any notions of making good time was out the window, and I would be lucky to finish the race.  I pulled over and sat down in the grass for about 10 minutes.  That helped until the next hill when I almost passed out half way up.  The aid station was out of water, just befor that, so on this hill, I just quit.  Pulled over and sat for almost 15 minutes.  Finally the tingles started to go away, and I knew I needed to get to the next aid station for water.  When I got there, I spend another 25 minutes on the ground trying get healthy.  Drank some aminos, electrolytes and ate some food.

Finally felt good, and started making way back to transition to start running a marathon.  I made great time for the last 10 miles as it was very flat. (Still I did not realize what kind of trouble I was really in)  Finished the bike split in about 8 hours and 20 minutes.

The Marathon Run (26.2 mile in downtown Louisville, KY)

I took plenty of time to change socks and shoes befor drinking some coke, gator aid, and ate some pretzles and cookies.  Thinking I felt good, I took off running.  Befor long I found myself with out energy to run, so I would run 1 mile then walk a hundred yards, and so on for a couple hours.  At about mile 6 reality hit me that I had something really wrong with me.  I could not urinate, and I started having sever muscle craps (the kind that make you fall flat on your back and cry like a 2 year old).

Once I spoke with another athlete, I realized that I was completely flushed.  Out of salt, and electrolytes I had no solutions.  I was in full on survival mode.  Not knowing if it was even possible to finish the race, I bummbed a couple of salt tablets from another athlete.  After about 4 miles I started to feel a little better, but there was very little left in my tank, and half a marathon left to run.  At mile 13 I had already spent 3 1/2 hours on the race course.

Unwilling to concede defete, I pushed on cramps and all.  I knew I was going to have to pick up the pace to make it by midnight (the cut off time).  at mile 20 I knew I had 1 hour 15 minutes to make the remaining 6.2 miles (doesn't sound too hard, but my legs did not want to cooperate).  Have you ever seen cramps that make your legs look deformed?  I have.  With 3.2 miles left to go, I knew I had 38 minutes (12 minutes per mile to make the cut off time).

At mile number 25  I just made the timing mat befor they shut it down, the guy told me I only had 9 minutes to make the finish line (1.2 miles in 9 minutes is like a 7 minute mile).  At this point, I really did not think I was gonna make it, then these three guys came up and started yelling at me to pick up the pace...  " you can do it!" they screamed.  I was like, the cramps are killing me, the guys tells me "it's only pain, nothing is broken...  DONT YOU STOP!!!"  so I am on a dead sprint for like 1/ 2 mile coming up to the finish like and I am thinking, I cannot keep this up for another 1/2 mile.

This is my Rocky Balboa moment, the guys is sreaming in my face while we are running and he say to me "This is the moment you will look back on for the rest of your life, and you are gonna always remember that THIS is when you decided that YOU - ARE - AN - IRONMAN!!!!!!"  Still gives me goosebumps to remember that little pep talk.

2 blocks to go, the leg cramped so bad I fell down, as those guys went on without me, this lady on the side of the road helped me stretch out my calf so I could start walking again.  In a quiet voice she says to me, "are you o-k?  Good... start running... you can make it".   I round the corner 2 blocks from the finish and a guys is cheering me on tells me the are all waiting on me, and holding the finish line open for me.

As I make the corner heading into the shoots, no exageration, I am the only athlete left, the very last guy to cross the finish line and there are at leaste 1,000 people screaming and banging on the shoots, ringing cowbells (all just for me - the last place guy), and the announcer says on the loud speaker, "Joshua Kugler from Pleasant Lake, Indiana... YOU - ARE - AN - IRONMAN!!!"  I truely believe the most it was the most emotional, and exhillarating moment of my entire life.  That feeling is not able to be described in words.

After 1,990 miles and 8 months of training, the road to Iroman came down to that last 1.2 miles.  It is 20% physical and 80% mental.  Only a winner can dig down deep enough to pull one out like that.  I have learned a lot about myself on this journey.  Most of all I know that I am no quitter. Finshed the entire 140.6 mile race  in a little over 16 1/2 hours.  To date, the proudest moment of my life.

You know the difference between Chuck Norris and Josh Kugler?  Chuck Norris never did an Ironman...  Josh did :/