We couldn't be more proud of our local hero and former Army Ranger, Tim Smit, on his triumphant World Championship race in Clearwater last weekend. Way to go, Tim!! :) Here's his account of the whole experience:
This picture is from Tim's qualifying race at Lake Stevens. See pictures of Tim from the World Championship
here. Post a comment to this blog and congratulate him!!
Monday, 5 November
9:00pm – Heading off to airport
Tues – 6 Nov – 12:40am…liftoff to Tampa
I arrived to blue skies and brilliant sunrays. I looked out my hotel room to view the official start line of the 2007 World Championship Ironman 70.3. It was right there in front of me. 200meters from my hotel, Pier 60! WhaaHoo!! I am here!
I took a stroll along the beach around 1:00pm on Tues and found out it was as cool in Clearwater Beach as it was in Seattle. Oh yeah…did I mention the wind?! Wow…windy.
Took a relaxing run along the run course to get a stretched out, plus to recon the hills on the bridge.
Wed – 8am – went down to the waters edge to swim the course….now…did I mention the wind?? There were 4-5ft swells crashing into the shoreline and making the Ironman Buoys disappear as they went below each swell. Not exactly what I was hoping for. Now, I recall a great picture of the year in one of the earlier Triathlete Magazine editions in LA where the waves were crashing in as well. Well, this was not as bad, so I figure I was lucky.
I walk into the water (water temp was warmer then the air temp). Get the nerve up and finally dive into my first swell and start swimming (Here is where I identify I have homework over the off-season – bi-lateral breathing). I breathe the right side (and yes, that is the way the waves were coming into me) and every breath I was swallowing half of the damn Gulf of Mexico!
Got to the turn around point and was so glad that I could breathe again. As I make my way back towards the beach I get flipped over (summersault) due to one of the swells….talk about wetting yourself!
Got my bearings back and started swimming…then realized I was swimming in a 45 degree angle towards the beach due to the swells. Well, trying to stay on a straight line was hopeless…I ended up 100 meters to the right of the startline. The course is a rectangle with only right turns. The gap between the turn around points is 100meters. So, basically, I swam 200m off course.
But, I did finish. (Whew!) (Now I am concerned about the swim)
Walked up towards the shower and was a dizzy as I have ever been from any amusement park ride…Dramamine anyone??
Got back to my room, and put on my biking gear and headed out on the roads with my bike.
The course is beautiful and fast. Oh, did I mention that drivers in FL are not Seattle drivers (aka – not bike friendly). Thought I was going to die three times in the first 12 miles. Not a good ratio for the day. So, I turned around and headed back through the mine field towards friendly ground (the hotel’s beach!).
Thurs – 8 Nov – 8am – Headed back out into the Gulf to see if I could learn in a day how to bilateral breath…NOPE! Not this stubborn arss. So, swam a little consuming my salt tablets ratio for the next 3 years and made it to the turnaround point again and came back. This time, I stayed on a straight(er) line in. The best part of the swim was as I was about 150 meters from shore, I got to wet myself again!! To my right I was a LARGE dark object come up and then go back down…all I could see was a damn fin!!! Wet myself darn well (and drank my next 3 years worth of salt). Once I got myself vertical, I noticed everyone on the beach and around me watching the ‘fins’. Dolphins….damn dolphins…(I recall the song by Hootie and the Blowfish that states “the Dolphins make me cry”). Yep…about cried…not sure if it was relief or cuz I am stupid!
Went for a short run after and then relaxed the rest of the morning.
I went down to the shuttle around noon to head into town to register and pick-up my packet and shop for all those IM clothes I don’t need. Ironically, I get into the shuttle…and who do I sit by…Craig Alexander. Yep, the defending champ and the same one who just finished 2d in Kona three weeks earlier. So, I got to chat with him for 15 min. I, of course, tell him that I competed against him at the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon in Minneapolis, when he won and earned $250,000 plus a car. He then proceeded to tell me I must be his lucky charm. I told him if he repeats as the champion, then I will cash in on that ‘lucky charm’ status and enter every race that he does. He laughed and said he would pay my entry fees if that became the case. (Well, we all know now that I am not his lucky charm – shoot – wanted a sugar daddy!)
Got to the expo and the first person I recognize is Heather Gollnick. She says hi (we have a history together – She is from Wisconsin and I Minnesota.) We have crossed paths many times, to include at Lake Stevens’ this past summer. We chat and she states she is just watching this year. A number of her athletes were competing and she was just relaxing and recruiting for her team.
I then see the ‘Blazeman’ shrine. That draws me right in. As I get close…I see the two familiar faces. They are the faces of the parents of Jon Blais. I introduce myself and thank them for Jon. Bob shakes my hand and I ask if I can hug Jon’s mom. She accepts. I hug her like I only hug my boys! She has tears in her eyes and we talk about ALS and Jon for a few minutes. After I have all of my information and have absorbed their power and inspiration, I look at the time…that few minutes was an hour and twelve minutes. We talked about Jon, them, me, my boys, ALS and what I can do for ALS. I accepted the challenge and the honor.
I will be carrying the ALS Blazeman banner next summer at Ironman Switzerland.
I went on to by a few shirts, hats, and vests and headed back to the hotel.
I met so many more great Ironman people and families. Just love the people who are associated with Ironman events.
Friday – 9 Nov. My parents and youngest son, Gabe, arrive in town. Go to see my inspirational lil’ man! We hang out and relax. We watch Ratatouille and fall asleep. I wake up and we head down to the bike and bag drop off.
I then meet Major David Rozelle (amputee from Iraq). I greet him with a Ranger’s Lead the Way, SIR! He smiles and returns a salute to me and then we chat Army. I told him he was an honorary Ranger by leading the way for all of the CAF members and future CAF members, while not forgetting all of the fallen soldiers he represents! A true Ironman!
Now, it is time to head to bed (6pm) and relax until morning!
Sat – 10 Nov – Race morning!!
I wake up around 3:50am. I got up and headed out on a 8 min jog and then came back up to the room…stretched, ate breakfast and showered.
Headed down to the transition area and was just living life large and looking like a rock star! The greatest triathlon event that I have participated in. Just great!
Found my parents and Gabe about 1/2hr before the swim started. Got my high fives and hugs from all of them. Then headed out to the swim gate.
‘Boom’ – here we go…whaaahoo…..just getting into the water and the professional women are already in T1.
Not nearly as much wind and much easier to swim. Whew!
Got on the bike and got going! The course was fairly flat, excluding all of the bridges we crossed. Other then that, it was great. I crossed paths with all of the pros’ as they were heading back as we were heading out…Just cool to see them flying by.
Mile 21 I pass Maj. Rozelle and tell him Ranger’s Lead the Way again! He smiled and gave me a low five.
Mile 44 a horrific bike accident….a car cut in front of a biker who hit them square on. There was so much blood and skin and other ‘matter’ on the road….the car door looked like it had hit a telephone pole. The window was smashed and completely caved in. (I don’t know the status of the biker). All I know is that the ambulances and police were on their way to be all over this intersection – too bad it was after this!
I came into T2 feeling very good about the bike, while also feeling a tad pooped from the bike. Oh well…13.1 miles to go and then I am done! Took off running and felt good for the first couple of miles and then realized my good was not good enough. I needed to go faster. I start pushing myself up the bridge and stride out down the backside of the bridge. Now I feel good. I know I can do this and keep picking up the pace. I make my first right-hand turn onto the running path and into that damn wind! Even though it was only for a few miles…I must admit…the wind was winning this time. Not good.
Even though the run wasn’t going as planned, I was smiling. So many reasons to be smiling and living in the moment versus being mad or upset with my run. I am healthy and competing in the World Championship Ironman 70.3. I keep pushing and my body starts pushing back. Not a mental thing now…now it is just a personal challenge not to slow down (too much!).
I eventually got to the finish shoot and am looking for my lil’ man!!! I find him smiling and just cheering…so I pick him up and head to the finish line with him….everyone starts clapping louder, which scares Gabe and he digs into my shoulder and neck to try to hide from everyone! We finish what we started last Feb. A great season full of new team members, support crews, and scenery. This is my first year I won my age group in an event, qualified for both the USAT National Age Group Championship and the World Championship Ironman 70.3. Very pleased with my year.
Now, 244 days until Switzerland. Oh, yeah….90 days until day 1 of training!
Gabe and I were playing on the beach on Sunday, soaking in those brilliant sun rays and he looks up at me and tells me that he will be an Ironman when he gets bigger. No asking to be one or stating he wants to be one, but stated he WILL BE an Ironman. He is 4. He is my Ironman!
Thank you, We Raise the Bar for a great year! Proud to be associated with the team and each of the members I met this year! When I saw RTB last Jan, I knew this was the team for me. RTB in the Army is the Ranger Training Brigade. So, when I yell “Go, Go, Go RTB” it has dual meanings for me!
Watch out 2008! Here we come.
