It was going to be my FIRST attempt at an IRONMAN which is a competition where you must first complete a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) swim. Then, bike 112 miles (180.2 kilometers). And finally, run 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers). Like me, you wonder why anyone would be interested in doing this?! Most would find a single discipline difficult enough to accomplish individually, much less combined, and just seems impossible.
How does one come to a point where they build enough confidence to make an attempt? Well, I’ve been living a fairly active lifestyle now for 6+ years with the majority of it being in the off-road world of adventure racing. However, I did start out with 5K’s and sprint triathlons and haven’t looked back since. I don’t exactly know when I imagined myself doing an IRONMAN but I’m sure it was one of the televised IRONMAN races in Hawaii. They always seem to masterfully show the effort that one endures in their quest to complete this race. If you don’t find any inspiration in any of the featured human interest stories, frankly, I don’t want to hang out with you. This is my draw to the sport or any other physical activity or competition. It IS a world of encouragement, positive energy, and self awareness to always push yourself to do your best. There are those who CAN and those who CANT…. And I will always prefer to be surrounded by those who CAN. The IRONMAN mantra is..... "Anything is Possible". So the dreaming began.!
So here I go… in regards to endurance events, I’ve got 6 half-IRONMAN’s, 3 marathons, many 12/24hr adventure races, and a few lengthy games of Marco Polo to my credit. I’m ready for an IRONMAN, right?!! Haha… very funny mr.Raymund.!! My first 4 HALF-ironmans resulted in heat exhaustion, cramping, and puking while riding the bike around the 40 mile mark… and still having to finish it with a 13.1 mile run. Also, the way you feel after completing a marathon and wonder, could I have done this after a little swim and a little bike? Each time I do a race it puts things in to perspective. However, every time I saw another episode of a televised IRONMAN competition, I would get all fired up and it just became something I had to do. I also realized I had to approach this challenge unlike any other.
2008 was my year..!! After experiencing 2 of the top 5 stressful (apparently) things in life, I figured it was a perfect time to sign up. Make sense, right…. perfect sense to me. The IRONMAN racing series are extremely popular races and requires registration a year in advance. To make the registration situation worse, it accepts entries to people on-site before it’s opened to the internet and often sells within hours. I really wanted entry so a buddy and I decided to avoid the chance of not getting a spot online and decided to drive to Panama City Beach, FL just to stand in line. We got there, paid our fee, and gained entry to IRONMAN Florida in Panama City Beach on November 7, 2009.
OH SHIT..! Now what… I’m a year out and now what do I do. I did know I wanted to give myself the best possible chance to succeed. I did this by hiring a coach to tell me what I needed to do and joined a master’s swim program to teach me how to swim. I could’ve used a book or two with additional research on the internet but I wanted to be able to exchange ideas and discuss progress with a human being. I had my nutrition analyzed, VO2/Anaerobic Threshold tested, Metabolic Rate Tested, and bike professionally fitted. I also joined the two area triathlon clubs to put myself in-the-know because I knew developing relationships with IRONMAN vets and hopefuls was going to be important to maintain the guidance and motivation throughout this quest.
Essentially, training for the IRONMAN started Jan. 2nd, 2009. I had intentionally planned my 2009 races to build upon with all efforts leading towards my day on Nov. 7th. I first joined a local triathlon training program with the Lonestar Half-IRONMAN in April as the end goal. I raced and turned in a personal record. Amazing what a little coaching and consistency in training will do for you..!! I then took the month of May off and IRONMAN training kicked off in June. The schedule was gradual at first but the distances quickly increased. Not to mention a social life nearly ceases to exist because every weekend was filled with a long run and ride on each day. Finding the time on the schedule to balance workouts set my swim training to 0530 twice a week which meant getting up at 0445 to get there. There were weekends that I just wasn’t able to manage to do that long ride or run, forcing that workout in to the week. So I would get off of work and be at the park by 6:30p to start that 4hr workout and finish up after 10:00p. You start with seeing thousands of runners to finish with less than maybe 20. At its peak, I was squeezing in 8 workouts in 6 days with Friday being my off day. I have to say…. that I have the utmost empathy for those athletes with families and other commitments that are able to make it happen and train for this. Hooray..!!! I finally get to the part on my training schedule where I’m two weeks out of the race and training volumes significantly drop to allow your body to recover. Talking about a ball of nerves..!! You run for cover every time somebody sneezes and also found myself washing my hands more than I’ve done before. I avoid any additional physical activity that would risk minor/any injury. Can you imagine training this long and hard only to miss the start caused by a cold or trivial injury.?!! BALL OF NERVES..!!
It was my last day at work before leaving for Florida and I came in to my coworkers sporting “Team Codina” t-shirts, Black Sabbath’s Ironman playing in the background, and acting a fool. Maria had somehow covertly surprised me with t-shirts and throughout the week/end I was receiving pictures with friends and family wearing the shirts wishing me the best of luck. I was so very grateful.!!
T-2 days until race day. I wake up the following morning, shortly after 3:00a, to begin simulating my race morning. For me, predictability starts with consistency. I wake up, drink Folders coffee, eat a Sara Lee cinnamon and raisin bagel smothered with Jiffy peanut butter, and think the day’s logistics. As the sun rises, I walk out to the beach where it will be the site of the race start. The swim buoys are not out but I do see what appear to be anchors for them. Hmmm….sure looks like a long ways out.!! The course is a 1.2 mile loop that we will swim twice so the swim out is just over a half a mile. In Houston, we don’t have the opportunity to swim open water in an ocean much so it usually involves loops or laps so you don’t get that perspective. Let me tell ya…. a half of a mile straight out to sea looks intimidating..!! I walk around a little bit just observing other athletes doing swim workouts before I go back to my room for my wetsuit for a swim as well. Check-in was later in the morning but the line was extremely long so we walked around the expo and browsed at all of the IRONMAN logo items for sale but would NOT dare to buy anything. As a first-timer, it simply felt like a purchase would be a kiss of death and presumptuous to think you could guarantee yourself a finish so looking is all I did. 
We eventually get checked-in and this is where the real race planning takes place. You’re given 5 different bags for different reasons. Normally, previous triathlons I’ve competed in, all your gear is staged in one pile next to your bike and you take what you need. The IRONMAN is different with bags that are used to separate and stage gear between disciplines accordingly. In other words, you better have things separated and staged exactly how you’ll need it during the race. It could be disastrous if you don’t have the right piece of gear or nutrition when you expect to have it.
The evening ended with an athlete welcome dinner. This was especially cool to see a large banquet hall filled with athletes representing all 50 states and, at least, 30 other countries worldwide. They introduced the youngest (18) and oldest (72) athletes. They also had a short presentation/motivational video of past IRONMANs and had the music blaring. I got chills and was ecstatic …. I am here and a part of it.!!
T-1 day until race day. Team CODINA (Maria, kids, parents, sister and her family) arrived and for me it was especially comforting because I’ve heard happiness is only real when shared with others…. and I was one happy cat.
It was the eve of race day and the only thing important on the schedule was to check-in the bags and bikes. The race is really starting to come together as you see the bike racks filling and bags lining up in their proper places. At this point, Panama City Beach was a flurry of activity with athletes getting their last runs, rides, and checking in at the last second. I tried to stay off my feet as much as possible but had to show everyone around the area and let them know what to expect as a spectator. The evening ended with a pizza dinner from Mellow Mushroom which was where I happened to eat every day leading up till race day. The food was great the first night and I felt no urge to sample anything else in town.
T-Race Day.!! I woke up shortly after 3:00a to begin my morning rituals that does not progress any further until the coffee is made. I take a peek outside the window and what do i see..? The freak'n palm trees swaying in all directions. Oh great... all week long the water looks like glass and there's little/no wind. I thought to myself.... bring it.! Now I won't be able to give myself any excuses that the day will be perfect and easy. You always hear of past IRONMAN stories of adversities so there's no reason for my story to be any different now. I specifically booked my stay in Panama City Beach to be near the race transition and it was directly in front of transition. It made my multiple trips to the bike as convenient as it could get. The first trip was air up the tires and attach my Garmin. The second trip was to load hydration and food. And the last trip was to drop off special needs bags down the street at Alvin's Surf Shop. The multiple trips allows me to collect my thoughts and eliminates the stress of forgetting anything. Transition closes at 6:30a and there's a flurry of activity. Bodies being marked with numbers, last minute bag checks and bike repairs, and folks beginning to slip in to wetsuits and migrate to the beach.
I make my way down, take a few photos with the family, and shuffle across the mat in to the staging area for the athletes. The mat officially logs you in to race start and allows the race staff to make sure you check out as well. It was a bit un-nerving hearing the announcer thanking everyone including the divers. Yikes.! Maybe they were really down there to fend off any sharks because I sure in the hell wasn't planning on sinking that day. ;-)
So there I was standing amongst 2500 other IRONMAN athletes and hopefuls. It was an amazing feeling and I was overwhelmed with a really cool feeling of accomplishment. I took a step back and fast-forwarded my life from the past ten years and just wouldn't have thought I'd be standing here today. Blah.. all this mushiness feeling.. I wonder if it's because I'm just getting older and softer. Snap out of it Raymund..!!! You're about to fight for survival.
I look to be aware of my positioning in reference to the buoys and to the left I can't see the end of the athletes standing, front 15 deep, right 20 deep, and behind me 10 deep. Then I look to to the buoy just over a half a mile out and chuckle thinking that's where we will ALL turn the corner. 
All other triathlons that I've participated in started in age-group waves. In the IRONMAN, its a mass start and considered one of the most recognizable spectacles in sports.
I barely hear the gun starting the race but you definitely hear the cheer of the crowd. The front rows are sprinting in to the water but everyone else slowly moves forward. I walk until it gets just over waist deep and begin my swim. It's definitely crowded but I just want to stay calm and stay out of trouble. I'm constantly bumping, kicking, and stroking in to other swimmers and find myself keeping at least one arm extended at all times to protect myself from getting kicked in the face. However, I do get punched (felt like it anyways) in the mouth but laugh it off and keep stroke'n. Then strangely I'm getting this nauseous feeling like I'm on the urge of throwing up. OH boy..!! This thing just started. I'm figuring it's the salt water and started to be extra careful with my breathing. 
I get out after my first lap and definitely take advantage of the aid stations rinsing and drinking plenty of water. I see Maria and Taylor, wave, and head out for my second lap.
All is good and survived the swim..!! I quickly exit the water, run up the beach, get my wetsuit stripped, grab my bag, and make my way in the the changing area to gear up for the bike. It was a little crazy in changing area but I managed to find a spot to do my thing. My transition was 11:13 which is a bit slow but I intentionally took my time to make sure I got things right before heading out for the 112 mile bike ride.
So now I'm on the bike. This is where the majority of your race is managed....too hard and you're walking the entire run or too slow losing considerable time with race goals. I ride for about an hour or so and get settled in to my heart rate and cadence. Everything feels great and you just fall in to a zone and pedal. There's not too much to notice on the race course but riders you pass and occasionally being passed. When you ride for 6 hours, this allows for randomness to occupy the majority of your thoughts. Besides, a few brief comments to fellow riders and familiar faces, you're pretty much on your own. As with the swim, I find myself simply smiling from just being there. I knew we had a 10-15mph wind blowing from the East and after making that turn on I-20, it was going to be the section of the course that had most of the headwind and a few rolling hills. It seemed like I made several turns and the wind never died down until heading directly West. There was also a section with brutal bumps in the road and was evident with the carnage of bottles, tubes, tires, tools, and co2 cartridges. I don't exactly remember how long this section was but i was definitely NOT smiling at this point. That last turn on the coast, heading East in to the wind, back to transition was tough. I wanted to be off the bike and on my feet bad even though I ONLY had a marathon to go.
IRONMAN transitions are the coolest.! I dismount and a volunteer is right there to rack my bike while I worry about getting my bag to change out for the run. T-2 was much quicker, as with everyone else, taking me 5:49. 
I quickly get in to a slow, slow jog knowing it was going to take awhile to get my legs under me from being on that saddle for so long. So now I'm feeling some cramping on the outer edges of my feet that I've experienced before but not quite as bad. Usually it only takes a couple of miles to work it out but that turned out to be 10 miles before both feet were good-to-go. I initially thought it was going to be a problem but the cramps eventually went away for the most part. The run course is definitely not the most scenic but there wasn't a shortage of aid. This comes at every mile or so and is stacked with volunteers. You also see spectators for the majority of the course that is continously cheering folks on. I round off my first lap (13.1 miles) at around a 10:40 pace which is slower than usual but i'm good with it because i felt pretty good and was still running. I see Team Codina right before rounding off for my second loop and was a great boost. Now my second lap was a bit tougher. The walk breaks increased and I just wasn't taking in the hydration like I should be. However, I was able to take in some pretzels and chicken broth which I haven't had to use before and it kept me going. The most notable part of this course for me was being an out-and-back format which allows you to see both the fast and not-so-fast athletes. It was so cool to see familiar faces throughout.!!
As you near and get back in to town, the noise levels increase ever so slightly. There's this transition you go through mentally and physically in the last 2 miles knowing you're almost done. The pain begins to numb and fade away the closer you get and louder you begin to hear the cheers at the finish line. There's a reality that begins to sink in that you've done this. You flash back in time and recall your path to get here. There's a flood of emotion that overcomes you and it's all kind of a blur. You turn that last corner and all you see are lights and noise from the cheering. I slow down to feel the moment and hear my kids yelling my name. I look up, smile and give them a fist pump. I slowly cross the line, and forget anything cool that I was thinking about doing at the finish but that's okay...!!!
Because the voice of IRONMAN said....
Raymund Codina from Houston TX, You are an IRONMAN.!!
