Inspirational Moments In Ironman
Published Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Ironman is a long-distance triathlon race in which athletes do the following activities: a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, and a marathon (26.2 mile) run. The ironman website publishes an ongoing series of inspirational moments in Ironman. For this entry we meet Roger Sanford as he ventured through his first Ironman and Arizona age group champion Linda Rapposelli as she ran her way to an inspiring win to qualify for the Ironman in Hawaii.
Roger Sanford – A First Ironman Race
After a few minor injuries kept Roger Sanford from completing his first triathlon, he decided he needed something to keep up his training momentum. Not expecting to get a start, he put his name on the wait-list for Ironman in Antwerp scheduled just 11 weeks later and resumed his usual training.
“I was pretty comfortable with my biking so I focused on swimming and running” says Sanford. “The half-marathon was a worry as I had never been a runner and had some knee history that could make running difficult. I would need to train very carefully.”
With just three weeks to go, Sanford got word he was in the race and would be competing shortly. Some quick preparations, a bit more training and he was on in way to Belgium for the start of the ironman.
“I met some great people at registration, but confess that I began to realize what I had taken on, and the doubts began to grow. I was nervous about the race.”
Race morning played out pretty much as he had planned. A slower swim put him out on the course behind many men in his division, but he was able to reclaim many of those spots on the cycling leg.
It all started to go wrong during the run, Sanford says.
“By now I was fairly well used up and starting a trip into the unknown. I had no prior experience of what to expect from a distance run even without the previous swim and biking part of the race.”
Four miles in and he was really starting to hurt. The thought of two and a bit more laps around the city was beginning to play games with his focus. “Towards the end of the second lap I was in a very unpleasant place both mentally and physically. I was exhausted and just wanted to give up and get back to my hotel,” he shared. “At the same time I felt it would be a waste of the trip and effort along with the encouragement I had received from many people back home. I had quite a mental battle going on at that point.”
Just as Sanford was about to step off of the course and retire from the race, the group of British athletes he met and hung out with during the race registration spotted him.
“I was plodding down the cobbled streets of Antwerp, not much faster than a walking pace, and I was shocked out of my self-pity state by the sight of them leaping around and waving like a bunch of lunatics! They were screaming and shouting my name and words of encouragement. It gave me a boost to push on through and start that final lap.”
As he made his way through the last several miles, Sanford says he was continually energized by the encouragement from the athletes who had finished their race, but took the time to urge him on to the finish line.
“The final surprise of the day was to be met at the finish line by Marc Herremans, a well-known ironman. A true inspiration, his enthusiasm put my woes of the day into perspective, a lump in my throat and a huge smile on my face.”
Now Roger is looking to future races and setting some loftier goals.
“As I train for 2009, and a respectable time, whilst dreaming of a trip to the Clearwater ironman, I think of those people who gave me the lift I needed to achieve my first triathlon finish! I can now say I have joined the Ironman family and I have to say it is a family I am immensely proud to be part of!”
Linda Rapposelli – Qualifying for the Big Dance
Linda Rapposelli arrived in Arizona informed, fit and ready to race. It was November in Tempe and she had chosen the Ford Ironman Arizona as her race to try to qualify for the “big dance,” the annual ironman race in Hawaii.
“In October, I went to Kona to watch the best triathletes in the world compete in the Hawaii Ironman. Swimming inthe crystal blue waters with turtles, dolphins and colorful fish, I wanted to be there. I felt it. I could taste it.”
Race day in Tempe was not going according to plan. Linda came out of the water 18 minutes behind the top women in her division.
“I moved fast through transition, jumped on my bike and headed out for what I hoped would be a fast and furious 112-miles. I was way out of my target heart rate, but knew I had a lot of ground to make up,” says Linda. “Closing the gap was essential to fulfilling my dream. I knew if I didn’t ride a bit out of my zone it would be difficult, if not impossible, to make up the time and catch the women ahead me.”
For Rapposelli, this day was about making the impossible … possible. Off the bike in fifth place and still eight minutes down, the gap seemed to be way too much.
“I reminded myself, a lot can happen over the course of a marathon.My dream and my future lay ahead of me. I was off, running strong and steady.”
As she made the pass for first place at mile 23, Linda spotted a woman in a bright pink running skirt just ahead of her.
“I dug a little deeper, caught up with the pink skirt, and gasped what division are you? '37, she huffed back without breaking stride.' I quickly explained I was now in first place and hoping (needing) to hold on to the Kona slot.She looked at me and said 'Let’s go, I’m taking you to Kona!'”
Together they managed to keep the faster pace all the way to finish line.
“Run, and run we did! It was enough for me to hold my lead and finish 1 minute and five seconds ahead of the age group I had chased for over 11 hours. I had done it! A dream come true, a goal realized.”