In order for anyone to be allowed to partake in the Ironman challenge as an invitee they have to first complete at least a half Ironman race.

These types of races are held all over the country and world.

Since I started so late in training Ed my trainer /coach / buddy wanted to wait until the very last race that was offered before the final deadline of September 1st.

Oscoda Michigan my home state as fate would have it was it.

The 1.2 mile swim 56 mile bike ride and the 13 mile run would prove to be a test
for all the hard work to date.

The evening before was filled with jitters and nervousness having never been in such a race would not only test me physically but mentally as well.

In the parking lot of the motel we stayed at I whipped us up a carob rich pasta
dinner with grilled turkey breast.

Come morning at an early 5:00 am I was downing bagels with peanut butter and as much water as the body could hold.

By the time I reached the waters edge of the inland lake directly across from a now deserted U.S. Air force base my adrenalin was really pumping, as were the other 250 participants I am sure.

The race started with an announcer counting down racers ready..10 9 8 3.2.1 and boom your off like a salmon in spawning season swimming amongst many others trying to reach the same location one before the other. Ed’s friend who was with us Ryan a 25 year old genetically gifted athlete was out of the water as number 16 I think Ed finished in 34 min a casual swim for him I’m sure me I hit shore in 44 min..my best time for that disatance.Then it was on to the bike . Only after Ed yelling at me to hurry up and get dressed while he stood waiting..it was all pretty funny watching his blood pressure rise but finally I got into gear and off we went.

The 56 miles with the only a few hills was long but not painful. On the front of my handle bars I kept a laminated picture of the three musketeers…Adam, Josh and Alicia. They could not be here for this race. When times got tough I talked to them to motivate me. Once we were done with this it was time for the 13 mile run….It started out ok but by the 6 or 7 mile my feet hurt so bad I couldn’t believe it. Coming across the finish line after 7 hours and 4 min all I cared about was taking the shoes off, and once I did it disclosed a black big toe on one foot and three scrunched damaged toes on the other….A lesson to be learned here although I wouldn’t find out until some days later after visiting my cousin the podiatrist. After draining my one toes nail of the blood caught under neath he said go ahead and let me see how those shoes fit…as I was putting them on he said what do you have in them. I told him I bought these special inserts to put in them to help because I was told that I pronate when I run. He laughed and said in an orderly cousin voice that Gary is known for you know the sarcastic one with a smirk…Uh you realize you have them in the wrong shoes…..Duh…hope you didn’t run to long with them …oh no I said only 13 miles…we both got a good laugh. He sent me off to get bigger shoes to compensate for the swelling when you run and put the inserts in the right shoes…..A lesson well learned.