Tue, 11 September 2007
The day started like most other race days. I try to get in some calories with the nerves running high. I make sure everything is packed and I check my list that I put by my car keys. The list was short for Ironman as most of my gear was checked the day before. I grabbed my water, food and phone.
![]() I was out the door at 4:15am to pick up a future Kona winner - Tyler Stewert. She flew in from San Francisco to be with our team in Madison for the week with Scott from BMC. She is so amazing. You need to check out the results from the Lake Placid Ironman to see what Tyler can do. WOW. Anyway, with Tyler in the car, I made my way to pick up Michelle. She seemed as nervous as me, so it was great to have all the nerves all in one van. We chatted on the way to the race, until we saw the Monona Terrace. I turned to Tyler and Michelle and said "this is why this race is so great." It was still dark, but the terrace was lit up. I have not seen all the Ironman sites, but this has to be one of the top. ![]()
In Verona I stopped and was filling my bottles with NUUN and Carbopro. I was literally standing and I heard the sound you hate to hear. BLAST! Oh no. A flat. NO. Please NO. Just for kicks I had looked at my time. I was averaging 16.7 mph. I had NEVER done that on this route on a 112 mile day. I was rested, trained well and now a flat. I took my time changing the tire. I thought it is better to take the time to change it right. I was in the middle of a very busy transition area so I had plenty of company while I changed the tire. I even got a huge applause after the change. I started to ride when I noticed that I forgot my tubes. I thought about it for a few minutes and decided to turn around to get them. When I arrived back at the location they were gone. They had tossed them in the trash so I had to get them back. I put them in my back pocket and was finally on my way again after a 15 min delay. ![]()
Category:Ironman Wisconsin
-- posted at: 9:22pm EDT
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Mon, 10 September 2007
It was a good day!!! I will post the details soon.
Category:Ironman Wisconsin
-- posted at: 7:35am EDT
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Tue, 4 September 2007
(Track race day with Stu here!) We have a team going to the race that will be taking pictures, reporting and just having fun. Check it out now, during the week for updates and on race day!
Category:Ironman Wisconsin
-- posted at: 10:20am EDT
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Tue, 4 September 2007
It was my day off. Nothing to do. Just relax, eat and think about the upcoming holiday weekend. I decided to walk to State Street. For those that are coming to Madison, I'm sure State Steet will become your favorite spot. I'm so excited about Ironman that I decided to walk to the run turnaround. As I walked closer to the spot, I saw 2 kids run to the middle of the street and jump on the "dot." The one little girl looked at her dad and said "Hey dad, what's the dot for?" I'm not sure what the dad said, but all during my lunch I asked myself that same question. "What does the dot stand for?" 1) It's a journey for sure. No question about it. 2) It's about spending time with family, friends, and all those people I have not yet met during the week. 3) It's about the cannon that starts the day. 4) It's about the necklaces that my kids bought at the 2005 Ironman. I didn't finish. They gave them to me. I plan to give them back at the finish of 2007. 5) It's about Cancer. Yep. I would NEVER have started triathlons if my daughter didn't get sick. 6) It's about friends. Close friends. 7) It's about State Street. 8) It's about training alone. 9) It's about training in a group. 10) It's about training with a newbie. 11) It's about road rash. 12) It's about eating dirt (or being willing to do so). 13) It's about the crowds. 14) It's about the feelings you get at mile 20. 15) It's about the guts you have at mile 21. 16) It's about telling people you've done an Ironman. 19) It's about the fantasy of eating a BigMac the week after the race. 20) It's about a Coach that believes in you more than you do at the start of the season. 21) It's about a Coach that holds you up on "One of those days". 22) It's about the people that think what you are doing is just crazy. 23) It's about the thought of seeing your family scream on race day. 24) It's about doing this list again, and coming up with 24 completely different entries (#25 never changes). 25) It's about seeing your children and wife at the finish line. This one doesn't change!
If someone you loves runs and jumps on that dot..... what will you say?
Category:Ironman Wisconsin
-- posted at: 9:55am EDT
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Tue, 28 August 2007
On the surface the children didn't catch what was going on. They didn't know what just happened. The teacher in the room did. The boys mother had cancer and was almost certain to die. I bring up this story not to preach or teach. I bring up this story as September 9th, 2007 is important for so many reasons. I have had a hard time bringing this up, but maybe, just maybe I should? It has been 10 years since my daughter completed treatment at the University of Wisconsin Hospital. It is the very same hospital that we will run past on the Ironman route. I will be able to see that hospital so many times. I will first see it about mile 5 and will last see the hospital about mile 21. I run past it in training almost daily. On Ironman day, I'm sure it will be different. If all goes well, I will see Abby at the finish line. I will see her for the FIRST time at the finish line. She has been to races with me in San Diego where I had it all planned out. I had it set. I was to run up to her, grab her out of the crowd and run to the finish line. That never happened. Might this year be different? I'm not sure. Either way, the last few miles of any race are emotional. For me, time is not all the important. I can honestly sit here today and say that I have given all I have to my team. I have given all I have to my Coach. My family is far different. Yes, I have given all I have, but they have given far more to me. Once Ironman is over, it's time for me to repay them. I have given 500+ hours to training that I could have spent with them. I have given almost the same amount of time just thinking about the race. When the cannon goes off on Sunday, I will focus on the swim. I will get on my bike and work hard keeping consistent power, eating, and drinking to stay in the race. Once I get on the run I will start to dream about the finish line. At times I don't want this journey to end. At other times, I can hardly wait. Come Sunday about mile 23 I will focus on family. I will smile and dream about that finish line. Will I get to carry Abby and Austin across that line? Only time will tell. All I can tell you is the UW Hospital will be the cornerstone of that day. Our family lived in that hospital 8 months. After 10 years, its time for me to finally let it go and celebrate. Its time for me to take a cue from that boy playing the game. What did I win? Joy. The joy of seeing Abby at the finish line 10 years later.
Category:Ironman Wisconsin
-- posted at: 9:54am EDT
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Mon, 27 August 2007
Times: Friday 11am Friday 4pm Saturday 11am Location: Corner of Wilson St and MLK Blvd. See map!
Category:Ironman Wisconsin
-- posted at: 11:23am EDT
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Thu, 17 May 2007
I got an E-Mail yesterday from a young lady in San Diego. The first line said it all! "STU - I'm desperate. I have heard so much about the Ironman Wisconsin bike course and I'm so afraid of what I will see. I also heard that you do a Swim, Bike, and Run preview. Can you point me in the right direction." For those of you that are doing Wisconsin or just want to see the course, you can check out the course via iTunes at: Check out the video series here! These are to be viewed in iTunes. If you can't view them and want me to create a DVD, just drop me an E-Mail. I will also let you in on a little secret. I have teamed up with and awesome Team that will also show you courses like Vineman and Alcatraz. Check back soon for the 1st installment of the Vineman Swim Course.
Category:Ironman Wisconsin
-- posted at: 11:02am EDT
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