The city of Madison and it’s people were so wonderful I signed-up for IM Moo 2006 without hesitation this morning.
The Michigan State University Triathlon Team sent two if its finest to the race yesterday, Josh McCallum and Andris Roze. These two guys are firebreathing athletes that make Secretariat’s training look like playtime at the petting zoo. And they proved it yesterday in the brutal heat and wind of lower Wisconsin.
The support crew consisted of 9 team members (the two most important being Josh’s girlfriend Lauren and Andris’ girlfriend Nicci), 2 family friends, 3 parents, a sister, and the friend of a friend. We were loud and all over the place.
The swim start was awesome under a rising “red wafer pasted in the sky.” We had spots lefthand side next to the swim exit and had a clear view of the course and exit chute. I was most impressed by those people that exited the water and immediately began to run for T1. Most folks, even Pros, lost their footing and had the wobbly legs of a newborn fawn. Josh was out of the water in 54min and Andris was close behind at 1hr. The stage was set for a great day for these guys.
Our group took the advice of many STers and waited for the swim cutoff. There was only one swimmer that had a shot at making the swim cutoff as the other 5 were very far back on the course. Rudell Christian hit the last turn with 7min to exit the water. The crowd on the beach is going crazy cheering, trying desperately to make each of his strokes clean and powerful. 5min left to 2:20:00 and he’s 200m from the shore. The kayaks and boats are gathered around him cheering him along, the swim exit is teeming with spectators waving their arms, hollering, whistling, doing anything they can to break the water with their noise. Everyone is checking their watches, looking at the official clock, the announcer is imploring us to get louder, to bring home this last swimmer. “His day does not end here!” 100m and he has 2:15 to go. “All he has to do is stand-up and he’s continuing on today!” the announcer declares. 50m, 1min; 25m, 20sec; he’s at the padded exit at 2:20:00 and through the exit gate at 2:20:10. The crowd is going crazy! The noise is like that of a football game, anyone sleeping within 10 blocks of the swim is awake now. Rudell charges through the gate, smile ear to ear, this is why he came to Madison. He is clearly not a swimmer, but he’s got plenty of energy and good legs, the day ends well fo Rudell with a 16:40:48 finish.
That was the most amazing sports moment I have witnessed or expereienced. Not a single person at the swim exit was dry-eyed. Ironman is clearly the best sporting event on the planet aside from the Para or Special Olympics.
Our gang heads off to T1 for a while, eats, drinks, and then off to Old Sauk Pass. Some of us did repeats on the hills around Old Sauk and Cleveland Rds the previous day, so we know how hard the climbs are, especially after 45 and 87mi. We’ve got plenty of Spartan energy to give the athletes. It is very hot when we arrive at the big hill on Old Sauk Rd. The leaders are headed for us on their 2nd loop while most AGers are still pounding away on loop one. We take up positions 1/2 way down the hill so when Andris and Josh coming by we can run with them like at the Giro or TdF and give them a shot of adrenaline. Bjorn comes motoring by us in full aero position up this monster hill. The guy is a plank on a set of pistons. The chase group is 14min behind! Some Pros don’t get to us until 40min after Bjorn has gone by!!!
Then we see Josh at the bottom of the hill. He is fresh and hammering away. The 1st place person in his AG 40min ahead, but 2nd place is only 2:50 ahead of him. We run right next to him up the hill screaming, “Allez, allez, allez!” He’s smiling, powering up the hill, and off in a flash. Then 8min later Andris hits the hill. He’s a big cycling fan and was at the TdF two years ago. A moment we reproduce for him with waving flags, shirts, water flying through the air. The crowd at Old Sauk is exilarted by our energy and gets louder as he nears the top. He’s hitting the pedals so hard we can barely keep up, it’s almost a sprint up the hill. Up over and gone!
Back in the cars and off to T2 in a hurry to see the guys off onto the run course. The medical doctor in our group sees to a spectator with a bee sting in the eyebrow and this typifies the kind of day we’re having. The commarodere among the spectators, all the positive energy, and the overwhelming good spirit of the race is inspiring.
We eat and down some Ben and Jerry’s along State St. The bike has taken a serious toll on everyone and there is no hope for any sub 3hr marathons today. 8min/mi is blistering fast in this heat and spectators are encouraging athletes to “hydrate”, “pace yourself”, and “get into a rhthym.” Andris is the first one to make the turn towards the Capital for lap two and that means he is having a great race while Josh has probably been slowed by the heat. Andris is machine-like, every stride is the same as the last, focused on the horizon, and breathing steady. The “Latvian Powerhouse” is running 2nd in his age group now. Josh is some distance behind Andris and the other top AGers, but he is still on pace for a 12hr finish despite being on the verge of a bonk and fighting a stress fracture in his foot that has reered its head.
The city is crawling with gawking locals. They love this race and don’t mind the closed streets or hoardes of out-of-towners.
We hang out at the finish line to watch the first athletes cross. The race winner hugs the Ford Explorer on his way down the finishing chute and comes in at just over 9hrs. Finishers tick by more frequently as the Sun mercifully sets behind the buildings and trees. We mingle with other spectators around the jumbotron, waiting for our athletes to finish. Andris crosses the line first at 11:00:20. He puts the exclamation point on a great day with a soccer-esque celebration. He is happy, talkative, and clear headed. Josh charges home with a 12:13:35 finishing time. He’s clearly dehydrated and sapped of energy. The heat got him on this day. Andris takes 2nd in his AG 75th overall, Josh is 13th in his AG.
Andris gets a spot to Kona this morning and gladly accepts.
A stellar day for the MSU Tri Team.
I left out a great deal for the sake of space. But spending all day at the race was unparalleled by any other sports event. I’m excited to be back in Madison next year to race and am counting on the hospitality and good energy of the crowds to get me home.