Sunday, April 08, 2007

Ironman Arizona 2007

140.6 miles
226.3 km
That's about the distance from Glasgow to Aberdeen. Somehow Amanda and I plan on doing that distance, under our own steam, next Sunday. We start off with a 2.4 mile swim - about the distance across the Clyde, from Cardross to Greenock, then we hop on our bikes and ride for 112 miles - from Glasgow, that would get you to Fort William. Then, after that brisk 7 hour warm up, we do a quick 26.2 mile marathon on foot to round out the race. In one day. Without getting any sleep. Us and 2,400 other people. But we are ready.
This all started about a year ago - I got an email from Amanda: Topic: ironman AZ Date: 05/02/2006 From: "McGregor Amanda-A14120" To: "Gordon McGregor" registration is up!!!!!! April 15th 2007... Let's do it!!!!!!!
My first response was to tell her she was mad. So was my second and third responses. But after a couple of days, she wore me down (or actually, just signed me up anyway!) So we started on this crazy journey to finish one of the hardest races around. We joined a training group in Austin, called T3 and made a load of new friends. There will be 30 of us traveling out to Arizona to race together, which adds to the shared insanity. I took about 6 months just trying to get fit enough to start the training, dropped 25lbs and mentally got myself to a point where it didn't seem such a ridiculous goal. Then we started the training. 20+ mile long runs in the cold and wet. 6 hours freezing on a bike. Swimming in the dark and cold. Amanda kept better track than I did, but we've swam over 50 miles, rode over 2000 miles and ran 450 miles training since September. Oh, we are ready.
So we fly out to Tempe on Wednesday evening to start the final stages of this long journey. This is the time to really enjoy : the race. The training was hard, the race is going to be hard, but nothing is going to stop us finishing. Someone will need to drag me off the course. Plenty can go wrong, but I'm not stopping. 7am next Sunday morning, the canon fires and we take off in the mass swim start in Tempe town lake. 2000+ bodies swimming along side each other, punching, kicking, pushing and jostling for position. I can't wait. We are ready!
The race starts at 7am. Swim should be a little over an hour, maybe 1:15, so we should be on our bikes some time around 8:30am, then spending 6 or more hours riding around Tempe. If things go well, we should be starting the run somewhere before 3pm, right when things will be getting hot! Then the marathon. My best time ever was over 5 hours, but that was a horrible experience! I'm hoping for a slightly better marathon this time around, but all things considered, I think we should be finishing close to 8pm around the 13 hour mark. We have 17 hours to finish, before they close the course and tell us to go home, so I think I have a good chance of getting there. I'm ready. Just to give some frame of reference for friends & family around the world, here's the times. I'm not claiming to be hitting any of these marks though! This is just a rough guide. My race number is 694. Amanda is 2114. You can track us through the day at www.ironmanlive.com and see how we are doing. Though, if we don't appear, don't panic - it has been somewhat flaky in the past! There's more race details at www.ironmanarizona.com. Wish us luck! For Amanda's view on all this, check her blog.
p.s., Sorry for the lack of photo related blogging recently, maybe this explains in some small way, why.

15 comments:

John M. Setzler, Jr. said...

Good luck to both of you. I'm too fat to run to the bathroom. I have to plan that trip in advance so I can get there before accidents happen ;)

Dave said...

good luck Gordo. I get the impression that you are ready. Well done with all the training effort, its very impressive - you're mad but at least your channeling it in constructive ways! Have a good race.

Anonymous said...

You could always try doing it from Glasgow to Aberdeen - bound t obe more scenic!
Good luck to you both

Anonymous said...

Good luck to you both & have a great time!

Cheers,

Paul.

Unknown said...

Gordon is that a picture of you during your first Danskin? Ha ha.

Best of luck and as I posted on Amanda's blog, may you have a good draft in the swim, a flat free bike and a cramp free run! :)

Anonymous said...

Best Wishes and good luck to the Ironman and Ironwoman. I am impressed.

kurt

Erin said...

Good luck!! I'll be checking for updates on Sunday, and sending you positive thoughts of fresh legs.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I love that photo of the virgin triathlete -- nice handlebars!

Have a wonderful time on Sunday!!! I told Amanda, we want to hear all the details over a glass of wine or two when you get back...

cheers,
Jan

Kavey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kavey said...

I'm with John - I'm so unfit I couldn't run up and down a flight of stairs though at least I'm making my own very small steps - losing weight (slowly) and getting my neck and back sorted out. Today I managed a measly 14 minutes on a cross trainer and that was, for me an achievement! I'm in absolute AWE - honest-to-goodness AWE - of the race you're both about to complete! GOOD LUCK to the both of you!

Anonymous said...

Good luck to both of you... that is an incredible task you're taking on! Can't wait to hear the details after it's all over. :)

Anonymous said...

Keep going Gordon you are doing GREAT.
I know you will not see this until you finish but just want to let you know that even though we can't be there we are still are still barracking for you as if we were there.

Love Mum and Dad
it is 10.00 am Adelaide time

Anonymous said...

Well done Gordon
Saw you cross the line
Great stuff

Bob Richter

Jeff said...

Good luck with your race. I've been getting back in shape since the first of the year: alternating 1 hr. jogging and weight training on alternate days. Lost 25 lbs so far. I ran 10k races 20 yrs ago when in my mid-30s. I couldn't do the iron man...the tin man, maybe...but not the iron man. Good luck.

MW said...

Well done Gordon.
Well well done!