Few Ironman days are perfect, and yesterday, at Ironman Florida, Lionel Sanders did not have the perfect day. Regardless, he learned a lot an I am sure if you check his blog in the next few days he will have a lot of very unique, interesting and honest information to share. The first oddity of the day, was waking up to 40-50km winds and my honest realization that the organizers were going to shorten or cut the swim. After seeing how hard it was for the life-guards to even get off the beach, the proper safety decision to cut the swim was made. It was a very cool morning and by the time I saw Lionel getting out of the water from his pre-race swim warmup, he was shivering. Organizers did a great job, communicating the changed format with no swim and a new 8am time trial bike start. Before the race had started, Lionel’s back wheel went flat and we had to find a new tubular for his bike (not easy at 7am). Local organizer were ultimately kind enough to get us a tube, and he got his nerves controlled as 2500 people had to get mentally ready for a different day, with big-winds blowing the sand and temperatures just over 40 degrees at race start time. Lionel and I chatted about whether he should just ride very controlled and look to try to win on the run, or to keep to the philosophy of learning as much as he can for Kona next year, and pushing the bike and seeing what it would do to his legs. Within 10km he passed Ben Hoffman who went off 60 seconds ahead of him on the bike time trial and led the Ironman bike ride for 170 of the 180km. At supper last night he told me, that he realizes he was just a bit short on total bike fitness. He did the first 90km of the bike in roughly 317 watts and hoped he would see an easier 2nd half of the bike as he turned back towards home on the flat bike course. Unfortunately the wind just kept swirling and while he finished the bike averaging 313 watts for the entire ride, and did it in 4hrs 12 minutes (43km/hr avg), he knew the very windy conditions had hurt him (as an aside many of last years riders were 15-20min slower yesterday due to the huge winds & cold conditions). Off the bike with a 13 min lead on the great Tom Lowe, Lionel did what we wanted to try. See how fast he could run off a very hard, windy, Ironman bike. He looked good for the first 21km (and ran roughly 1hr 17ish and put another 4-5 minutes into Tom and the other lead men). It was about mile 15, that Lionel knew his Ironman learning curve was about to kick in. I saw him dig deep the last 10km, knowing he pretty much had the win in the bag (with a nearly 20 min lead) but he pushed on running hard, not to secure the win, but to learn as much as he could in his pro Ironman debut. Its clear, as good a day as he had, he still has a lot of improving to do and his gutsy 2hr 44min marathon (while the day’s fastest) still was not where he and I would like it to be. Great for a first time Ironman run, and likely fantastic after his 4hr 12 minute bike, but still a lot of improvement will be needed for Lionel to be the complete athlete he wants to be. His highlight of yesterday, after the actual win, was being at the finishing line to put the medal around his mother’s (Becky) neck as she finished her first ever Ironman. I am not sure that any parent, finishing their first Ironman, has had the unique opportunity of having the medal be presented by their child (and race winner). Lionel spoke very well immediately after finishing and was very happy to get a warm, and classy response from Tom Lowe after Tom finished. It was a very tough day, and while the conditions were not ideal (as we had hoped for), the reality is no two Ironman races are the same and thats what makes each day unique and special. My wife and I were out for supper with Lionel and his mom/sister and girlfriend around 8pm last night and has a great post-race meal & time to celebrate. It was very funny, when the restaurant staff recognized him as the day’s race winner and asked for his autograph and a picture. Lionel left supper, headed to the finishing line to do the honorary handing out of finishers medals to the last finishers of the race. Today will be his first Awards Speech & then time for him to chill on the beach with his family and start the regeneration towards 2015. As Lionel’s coach & mentor, I want to thank the many SLOWTWITCH followers who have been very gracious and interested in his year. From being smashed down in Utah in May and wondering if he was fooling himself about trying to be a pro triathlete, to his three 70.3 wins, his 4th place in 70.3 Mt Tremblant Worlds, his trip to Kona to see the big race in action as a spectator and finally his unique hard fought win in yesterday’s Ironman Florida. My honest observations yesterday, was with a swim, Lionel would have been just under 8hrs for his pro debut (putting him with just a handful of men who have broke 8hrs on their first Ironman). Regardless it was a great learning day & season and hopefully he will be able to apply many of those learnings to 2015. Congratulations to the nearly 3000 people who raced yesterday and the 1000+ incredible volunteers who were out to 12:30am this morning when sister Madonna got across the finishing line in the wind & cool breeze. Finally, I know Lionel would like to thank Louis Garneau, Saucony, Nineteen Wetsuits, Computrainer, Cycle Culture Bike Shop, Dr. Kniaiziew and his home club C3 for their complete & 100% support of his dream of being one of the best triathletes in the world. For those who are interested, hear is what a man says, after he crosses the line to win his first Ironman after a very unique 4 year journey from depression & drugs to a great day on the Ironman course. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=371475883014656
Sincerely
Barrie Shepley
Voice of ITU Triathlon
Hall of Fame Triathlon Coach
& Lover of all things triathlon
