One Long Day

So as I sit at my desk eating another candy bar I decided to write about last weekend........

Last Tuesday morning came very early.  My wife and I were up and at the airport around 4:30am.  We checked on and they took our bags and my bike, then it was off to our gate.  We watched an episode of LOST on the way to Dallas where we met my brother and his wife at TGIFridays.  Had some brunch and it was off to our gate.  We made a few last minute phone calls and then we were off to Cozumel.  We landed and made it through customs and we were off to the hotel.  After checking in we were back in the lobby figuring out our next move.  Soon we were out by the pool relaxing in the sun.  That night we were introduced to chorizo and cheese.  It was awesome.  Melted cheese and Mexican sausage on tortillas. We went to bed early as it was a long day.

The next morning we were up early and decided to rent a jeep to tour the island.  We left town and ended up at the Bob Marley bar.  It then proceeded to pour, and pour it did.  After "waiting" out the rain we left for Coconuts, another must see.  We hung out there and ate a little.  Then we drove in the rain back to the hotel.  We hung out that afternoon and the next morning we got up and went back to Coconuts where all of us got some sun.  We even stopped by a beach and did some body surfing.  After that we hung out at the pool and back to sleep it was.

Friday morning I got up and planned to bike a little and meet Nacho and FGLB at the swim start for a practice.  I ended up ride 52 miles and the swim was closed.  SO upon arrival at our hotel I ran into Nacho and FGLB.  We planned to meet that night for our meeting.  After the meeting it was up early and out the door for another shot at a practice swim.  The swim went well and that night we had an awesome meal with my group at the hotel.

So now on to race day.  I woke at 4am and went downstairs for the athlete breakfast they had set up.  The nerves started to set in and I decided to ride to the start with two others. So after meeting up with Nacho and FGLB, we got set up for our day.  We walked down to the swim and met my group and a few others before the start.

The swim went very well for me.  I was HOPING to be done in 1:30 and ended up out of the water in 1:13. So then it was off to the bike, my strong suit.  I went out at a good pace and it was awesome coming into town with all of the people that we cheering us on.  On the third lap of the bike I was ready to be done.  I can only imagine what its like riding in a wind tunnel.  Cause the last lap was nothing but wind.

The run seemed to be conceivable for me to get to my 13hr goal.  It was another 3 loop course.  I walked the first mile only to have the winner go by me in the opposite direction as he was finishing.  Damn I was just getting started.  So the first lap I walked and ran each mile.  I saw Nacho and FGLB looking very string and it started to mentally wear on me. By the time I got to the 13.1 mile mark, my feet were fried.  I could feel blisters popping and it got to the point where I questioned myself. So with one lap left BojiHawk started to walk the last lap with me.  I truly needed the push to finish.  So with my goal time well out of reach we trudged on.  As we came back into town, I knew that I was going to finish.  With the last .1 miles to go I started to jog.  Everyone was there to root me on and suddenly my feet didn't hurt any more.  And when it was announced, "Scott Kauffman you are an Ironman", all the pain seemed to fade.  Then it was a few pics, two slices of pizza, and some pizza, it was off to the hotel.  It was an amazing experience.  All the support from my family and the crowd was amazing.

FGLB and Nacho came in just under 12 hrs.  I am very proud of them. I heard of the 2000 participants only 1300 finished in the alloted 17 hr cut off.  WE ARE IRONMEN!

The next two days were filled with recovery and my legs and feet swelling to the point they would not fit into my flip flops.  After a lay over in Dallas and they worst walking of my life we made it back to St Louis.  BUt in the end it was an awesome experience.

Again thank to all that were there and those cheering from home.  It helped more than you could ever imagine.  Thanks to everyone at the Cozumel Palace for making our stay perfect.  We would recommend you to any one going to Cozumel!