Never Give Up.....my Ironman journey
Time 2021-10-25 18:06:24Web Name: Never Give Up.....my Ironman journey
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keywords: description:Dont be mistaken by the title.this isn't a story of inspiration or courage at all. Its not one of great comebacks either, there are far more people out there who are deserved of that space such as my youngest brother Rowan.Instead this is simple.this is about me, a husband to Shannon and a father to 3 awesome young boys Liam, Riley and Cooper with a great job and great mates who just wanted to have a crack.So, if you do decide to read on, maybe in some way this might just motivate you to do something that you are thinking maybe I could do that or you are teetering on the edge with, or maybe haven't even considered yet. Maybe you might ask yourself the same question I did, why not.
How I got here
Capturing my thoughts on my own IM journey is something I have wanted to do since my first IM, however, literally sitting down and putting the fingers to the keyboard just hasn't happened yet. By choice I am a busy person however as I start to put my thoughts down I am on a flight from Dubai to Frankfurt with no distractions at all and therefore, no excuses.
I have always been and hope that I always will be driven by personal challenge. I dont have a bucket list as such however the need to constantly test and push myself physically has always been there. I am very competitive and for those who know me are very aware that when I have my mind made up on something, I am like a bull at a gate whether it be family, work or sport. This itself has it own positives and challenges.
I have always done something in sport throughout my life, always been active. Always felt the need that it is important to stay healthy, stay motivated and stay involved and later in life to try and slow down the ageing cycle! I actually despise getting older. I have never been lean so it has always been important to keep moving so I could still enjoy a good lifestyle, good food and beers with family and mates.It was a few years ago when the lifestyle part started to take over and after looking at some video footage of me skulling down beers through a vuvuzela at the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa, it hit me. The fatty boom ba on the DVD was me, all 102.7kg! Now that trip was THE best work trip I have ever been on and the guys that I travelled with made that trip, but it also doubled as the eye opener for me and it was time to do something about it.
In 2011, I had a guy who joined my sales team based in Sydney that challenged me to enter his world. Trent did triathlons and had conquered several half iron mans, and the mother of them all, the full ironman. He challenged me to do a half ironman. A half ironman? Yes I run and ride and I can swim and done a number of sprint distance tris but it had never entered my mind to get to a half ironman distance. The training must be enormous? How would I fit this in? After I put down the brown paper bag I thought, I need this, its time for another challenge. I love Trents attitude, he is someone who is also constantly pushing himself which I respect a lot.Like most I have a busy life working for the worlds greatest sporting brand adidas and an awesome family of 5 so I needed to find a way.
My virgin 70.3 event was in Shepparton in 2011. Loved it, hurt like hell, but loved it. Trent was very convincing and then his influence took over again and since Shepp I have completed 5 half Ironman events and 1 of the big daddys of them all, Melbourne 2013 full Ironman..who would have thought??
Lets fast forward a bit..
Most people will tell you the week leading up to an Ironman is very enjoyable. The taper is a very important part of the training cycle and it must be balanced out to ensure you get to the start line of an ironman feeling the best you possibly can.In my 2 years of doing Ironman I have never felt great throughout the taper week and I have been told its your bodies response to getting off the big ks and the big hours that have been put in over the last 9 to 10 months.
After nailing my first IM in Melbourne in 2013, I can tell you it was the most AWESOME feeling. I had a great day, blowing away the time I thought possible and everything just seemed to click. It hurt like hell but the run up the finishing chute is a feeling of personal achievement I have never felt before and it all happened way to quick. To hit the line in 10hrs 59mins and 57 secs (by the way I have never rounded that up to 11 hrs) was epic, a true life experience, having not even contemplated doing an IM 18 months ago and yet here I am lining up for #2, Melbourne 2014.I was very fortunate to have done Melbourne 2013 with Trent, my then boss and good mate Greg (GK) and another great friend and training partner Sammy (Ned). My man Muzz was with us all through the build up and all the training. On race day his support was incredible and it was like he was running next to me. He is an inspirational guy, selfless, motivating competitive. Sammy, Muzz and I have formed an incredible team.As I was crawling to the car that night, Shannon asked is that it, are you done? and I told her that one was enough however I have always maintained I was under duress when I answered that question. As per usual I had her unwavering support to go around again. Shannon knows how I tick and that if I wanted to go around again it was going to take a massive effort from her again, It would be another summer with Liam, Riley and Coops that she would have to go solo a lot which is a big ask with 3 boys but as usual she was always by my side with unwavering support (however an incentive of a holiday to Europe did help).
After a training session in 35 degree heat late January.
The morning of...
The night before your head is full of a lot of stuff. Have I done the training? What if its blows up like last year and they end up halving the swim again? Did i pack all the right gear in the right bags?Importantly, I keep reminding myself of the feeling of crossing the line last year as it seems to ease everything else on your mind and you start to get excited. However the day didn't go exactly to plan.
On the morning of the IM, pick up is at 5am. My 2 brothers, Sammy and Muzz pick me up and we head to Frankston. These boys are legends and life long mates to me and we have worked our butts off to get to the start line. The thing is with these boys we have built a relationship whereby we just know , we dont have to always say.We have trained our guts out, worked through the Melbourne winter, pushed and challenged each other and stuck together like mates do. We all have our own style and way of doing things and we all get through the training in our own way but importably we get through it together. The banter we have had leading up to training and events has been gold and has kept us motivated and enjoying what can only be described some days as a slog. I will always remember these guys for the support and the encouragement they have given me and the brotherhood we have formed. Today is the day that all the quad burning sprints down the Mordi straight, all the bloody hills and the ball busting brick sessions will pay off when we all cross that line at some stage tonight.After not doing 2013, today Muzz will an Ironman for the first time. I really want him to get the job done today and I know he will.
The boys are up and about and I start to fill them in on the back issue I had developed since Friday night which was far from ideal as I had no idea how it would react to 11 hours on the go. On Friday morning I felt a pain in my right lower part of my back like never before until it hit the left side as well. I tried 5 physiotherapists but could not get it until Saturday morning. I have gone for months and months and no injury and now if happens 48 hours out. what the? Anyone will tell you you have enough going on in your head before an IM let alone trying to comprehend if an injury will derail your day. I pack my gear late and have a problem with my bottle cages so I take a step back, take a deep breath and eventually get it done. I have always considered myself mentally tough enough to get through anything and I am starting to get into the right head space. You are heading to the start of an IM, suck it up and deal with it.
Unlike last year its a cracking morning. I rack my bike and talk with my neighbours and then I drop off my special needs bag for the ride. This was a key for me last year so I plan to stop and refuel the same way this year.I jump in the wetsuit early to stay warm and I start to feel anxious to get to the start line, I just need to get on with it now. The boys suit up and as usual Sammy is checking every seem and crease in his suit to make sure its in the right place, we take a happy snap and walk to the start line.
At the beach a few nerves kick in and I say to the boys shit that buoys out a bloody long way, do ya reckon its moved? The water is cold and I noticed Muzz who has about 1% body fat has the shakes. Sammy looks anxious to just get on with it. He is a guy on race day who can just put it all together and is a calming influence.We did a recon swim down here 2 weeks ago and it was like swimming in a pool but todays a slightly different story. I jump in for a very quick warm up and we are ready to roll. The guy on the microphone yells out today you will be an Ironman and everybody yells out and it feels like we are in a giant footy team about to go and dominate the opposition as one massive unit.
The washing machine swim
The swim to the first buoy is an absolute shit fight. I want to swim 1hr 5 min to get under the 11 hour target I have for the day and I start to get worried all the traffic will blow that time out. After the first buoy the swim starts to string out and I find a good rythym on the way back into the pier. I try to sit on someones feet however they are either too quick or swimming all over the joint so I tell myself to relax, find the rhythm again and swim my own race.Back to the pier for the first time and I feel good and then we start the long swim heading north parallel to the beach and away from the pier. I am still feeling good but start to wonder where the turnaround point is as it feels as though we are swimming up to Mordialloc its that long!Finally the turn around point to head back to the pier and the swim finish appears and this puts me a good mental space, I feel good, not kicking a lot and not spending a lot of energy. I spot the last buoy and take a path most dont, swimming to the right of it and allowing the tide to bring me back in. In the last few 100 metres I start to wonder where all the boys are especially Muzz who should have a lead on me but hopefully not to far away. I need a lead on Sammy as he will monster the bike leg, he is a machine on 2 wheels.Getting out of the water I feel a bit light headed but really good and the clock hits 1hr 5 min and this is gives me a big lift, smack bang on the time! Then when I run past GK who is doing Cairns this year instead of Melbourne, his encouragement was great, it was awesome to hear a friendly voice, and this gives me another lift. This will be important to me all day, the encouragement from friends and family is incredibly important to me.I head to transition on time, ready for a long haul on the bike.
The long haul on the bike
A few k into the into the bike and I start to fuel up and remember that I need to stick to the plan with nutrition and eat and drink on time regardless how I am feeling. I got it right last year so gotta do this again.The first 45km to the turnaround point was very enjoyable. Wind at our backs and the surface on Eastlink is like riding on glass. At around the 35km mark I see the pros heading back and I see one of my heroes Crowie sitting in 5th or 6th hoping he can make his last IM to the top of the podium. They look to be doing it tough back into the wind though.The hill through the tunnel is a great opportunity to get the bum off the saddle and I get to the turnaround point in a cracking time but where is Muzz? Has he swam out of his skin and got a big lead? I am no chance if he hits the run first, he runs like a leopard. The bike is my primary leg to improve my time on this year. Last year I rode 5hr 52 min and have set my sights on a 5hr 30 to max 5hr 40 window. At this time I am on 5hr 10 pace but don't et carried away as I have to head back into the slight head wind.Yep, the next 45km isn't as enjoyable as the first and as I scoff down more food and drink and a bit of isolation starts to set in. I started to remember the training and the long hard rides which helps me relax and not over race, but where is Muss? The last 15km back into Frankston is always tough regardless of the conditions and and right now I am searching for the turnaround point. The crowds are amazing and as I turn and I get a mention from the announcer theres Dale Bowles from Parkdale and this gives me a lift. I see Vee, Muzzs wife who is always great for some morale support, she did it last year for me and he she is again! Awesome.At that point I also wonder how Bruce (Allen) is tracking. I saw him once before the start and hope that he is travelling well. Bruce is the kinda guy who just finds a way.every time. As a father of four, he trains at all different times and has invented new ways of getting yourself injured at the wrong time. How he has got through events in the past is frankly staggering but he always gets there. This guy is a fighter of epic proportions and I salute him on every level for that.
Heading back out I see Sammy and we both yell out. I only have a few minutes on him but regardless I need to stop quickly and refuel at the special needs station. The two guys who assisted me were awesome, they replaced my bottles, unwrapped my jam roll and tucked my banana in my top. I know this will cost me some time but it will pay off so I tell myself to just relax. A good mate Chris Mutimer goes past me and yells out and its great to see a familiar face and actually converse with someone for a few secs.Heading out to the tunnel for the last time I feel really good and are making the most of a tail wind and I am pushing hard. Still no sign of Muzz and where is Sammy? He had me by this point last year. The pros fly past and look slower than last time which means the wind is picking upbugger! I see Crowie in roughly the same spot as the first lap and just hope he can pull it off today.Its starting to get lonely out here and the quads are starting to burn and then in the distance I see a Mercury Performance Training outfitand its Muzz. Its taken me 120km to track him down so clearly he is going ok. We have a quick chat and he tells me he is going through a flat patch and we encourage each other to get the job done no matter what and off we go. I am conscious we cant spend any longer than a few secs together or we will get nailed for drafting. At the turn around point I grab more food and gatorade and see Muzz and Chris coming the other way. Muzz is a bit close for comfort. At a quick count I have consumed 3.5 litres of fluid and are drinking a bit quickly so I need to monitor this on the way back. The time is still looking good, with a push I can make 5hr 30 which would be awesome.After the hill I really need to take a pee. I have been hanging on for so long and was hoping I could make it back but down on the aero bars is really starting to hurt down below! As most IM will know, its not a quick process to go the toilet after being in that position for so long.Chris grows past again and asks me if Im ok and just tell him it was a nature break.I few ks down the road and its becoming a slog now. The wind is up and it really is a feeling of isolation but again I tell myself to relax. I know I need to dig deep and have a particular ride stored in the back of the memory banks that I need to reflect on. I did a 160km ride to Sorrento by myself one Sunday morning and the whole way back it was a howling gale and just about busted me. This couldn't be as bad as that and I have very compelling reason to finish this one today.The drafting is out of control and leading to some agro in the groups. Some of them, if not all of them should get pinged for drafting but 2 officials ride past watch and do nothing. What the? We get warned about how they will crack down on this and nothing. Right now I am spending energy pushing ahead of the packs so its not me that gets done. Patterns start to appear, I pass the same 5 to 6 guys, they pass me and so on. This goes on for a long way.Finally the buildings on Eastlink near Frankston start to appear. The surface may be great but its bloody boring and mentally can send you around the bend and seeing a concrete building is surprising positive.The last 15km becomes really tough. I am passing a few big bunches and the officials are back. This time this guy isn't mucking around and holds up 5 yellow cards in the space of 3 minutes I reckon. I drop back and let the carnage unfold, keeping my distance until it clears out.As I was doing this I was expecting Sammy to motor past any second.I get into transition ready to give my bike away to anyone who wants it. I see (and hear) Vee again, she is gold! I get off in 5hr 28min and think that although that hurt, I got the job done in very good time and thats got me in a good head space.
Going through the Eastlink tunnel at approx the 130km mark.
The run to St Kilda
I dont plan to spend to long in transition. I knew that my brothers were doing complete ensemble changes and Sammy is meticulous and every minute I get is a bonus as they are quicker on the run than me.I head from the tent and distinctly remember how good I felt at exactly the same spot last year.so why didn't it feel like that this time? I run out to the boardwalk and a few things are running through my mind. Have I gone to hard? Have I eaten enough? I clear the mind relax and tick the legs over and say it will be what it will be, just finish the bloody thing.
Although I don't feel like it, the first few ks are surprisingly quick. I have a target of 5min 30 for the first 21 km and I am quicker than that but despite the plan, I just decide to roll with it. I would like to finish the run in 4hr 10, which would knock 14 minutes off last year.Getting closer to Seaford I am hoping Shan and the boys Liam, Riley and Cooper and my folks would not be far away. I need a lift and seeing them is everything to me. Liam made his U12 cricket final which finished as I was on the ride so I missed it which I am shattered about and so was he but he put on a brave face through the week. Gotta keep the emotions in check but I need to see them all to get a fix and get my head back in the game. Liams final wasn't looking winnable on the Friday night but as his Pop kept on telling him funny things happen in finals so I was hoping something very funny had happened. I finally see them at a drinks station and I notice Liam has a medal on, the question is which one? I got half way through asking him and he yells at we won dad! How awesome is that, I couldn't believe it and talk about a lift, I got one right there!
Up until Mordi the family jumped in and out of the car, yelled out the windows at every stage they could and this was gold. Mum and Dad were here again to support me which means the world. They have always, always been supportive and as a son you couldn't ask for more supportive parents.
Just before Mordi I wasn't feeling super, the legs were feeling it and running on the camber of the Nepean Hwy wasn't helping. I start to talk to people on the side of the road to take my mind off things for a bit. Despite not feeling flash I get to Mordi in very good time and have a huge bunch of friends to cheer me on. The time explains why I feeling it, I am running out of my skin! I see a few people including Sue and MJ and MJs boys Josh and Sam chased me for a few hundred metres. A quick calculation suggests at this pace I could hit my overall time but there was a long way to go.The run between Mordi and South Rd near Brighton was my home track. It was a tough run and the brothers and I had done some solid ks through here. I remember one night when Sammy smoked us both, Muzz broke down and I thought his IM was over and I felt crap near the end. But as Muzz does, he finds a way to get it done and I was stoked for him that he make the start line with us today.One night I had run through here at 10pm by myself in pissing rain and just wanted it to be over. I got back and Shan reckons she heard me heaving from 100 meters away and she was in the house! I was not good after that one, it really hurt and became very unenjoyable a long way from home.Speaking of the brothers, where are they? I see Vee at Rickets Point and ask where they are and the reply was a couple of minutes behind.The nice little tail breeze up until this point has been great but now was a cross breeze and cold in places. At the top of Rickets Points I start on the coke and water. I had planned to start on the coke at 12 km but held out for a bit longer.Shan, the boys and mum and dad are always there, just when I need them. I see my brother Buzz, Holly and James near Black Rock which was fantastic.Up until now I had been breaking the run into 5km blocks, now the legs are starting to feel it but I am keen to get Black Rock and focus on the run home. I get a massive boost at Black Rock with GK, James and Dougie there. GK is really yelling and ran with me for a bit full of encouragement which was great as the climb our of Black Rock is tough.The aid stations cant come quick enough now and I am shoving just about anything down my throat in the one go as I go through the rolling smorgasboards. Lollies, gatorade, coke, vegemite on a stick to keep the cramps at bay, watermelon. Normally you wouldn't contemplate this combo at one time but I need the fuel.I go past the Bayside station and although I dont feel like it, I just keep eating as well as drinking. I take the eyes off the watch for a few kms but I know the pace is good.Past Sandy I see Drew who rocks up to just about every event I am in and is a great supporter, always puts others first. He rides the scooter among the path behind me for a few hundred meters. I needed that, thanks mate.Approaching the 33km mark I am starting to find my rhythm again and feeling quite good about to get to the South Rd intersection when a voice calls out behind me your a hard man to track down! It was Muzz and he was flying. He tells me to dig deep and we will finish under 4 hours and I couldn't believe it. We shout some positive banter and encouragement and I try and stick with him for a couple of km but he is motoring so I watch him run into the distance.Just up the road I see Clint from Bayside and he tells me to push as Muzz is up the road. I didn't have the energy to tell him he just gave me windburn going past me!Right now the knees are aching and I pop a couple of Nurofen (that makes 6 so far) to get me home. I am running ok, much faster than I thought or I would so no surprise I am hurting.As I go past the 37 km and I think this must be one of Satans sick jokes to have to run this far, but then I see Shan, the boys and mum and dad for the last time together, from here they need to get to the finish line.That marker was a game changer for me. Although hurting I hadn't stopped running for almost 4 hours now and certainly don't plan to stop now, I want to finish strong. The crowds start to build up and the emotion again kicks in, in my head this time is my younger bro Rowan. He is a large part of my inspiration. He has been through something that puts my pain into insignificance. After a motor bike accident confined him to a wheel chair I have seen him do incredible things, complete in hand cycling and win medals domestically and internationally. His will to live and get on with life is incredible and contagious and all of sudden my pain is just about gone and I sail through the next few km.s, enjoying every high five from every hand that is held out to me. This people have no idea who I am but they are hear yelling my name. I run through Elwood and St Kilda and go past the Great Provider with the THE BEST crowd along the whole journey. Now I know Im close.Going past 41km I see mum and dad again who have separated from Shan and the boys and the emotions kick in again as I know I am close after 10 hours of an fantastic journey. My parents have always been there for me, never pushed me instead always encouraging me to always do the best I can and this means the world to me. You dont appreciate this as a kid but as time goes on it becomes very real.
On Beach Rd going through Mordialloc, at around the half way mark.
The end of a great journey
Now its time for the run up the chute. The crowds have been sensational, they dont care who you are, they just see your race number, yell your name and cheer you on.The run up the chute happens way too quickly by the time you have high 5d people you are across the line and the announcer yells out Dale Bowles, you are an Ironman. I jump across the finish line, collect the medal and then get held up by 2 strong volunteers who want to plonk me in a seat. Before I do that I see Shan and the boys through the fence and I just want to get to them. Shan and dad are holding them over the fence so I can grab them and then a hundred emotions come out. Shan is a rock for me, always there, always supportive, always. The boys mean everything to me and I hope me doing this means they they realise that they can do anything they want in life. It is really important for me that they realise whatever situation they are in that you never give up, never.Then comes the massive sense of relief, accomplishment and satisfaction all at once. I did this to challenge myself and I have well and truly ticked that box, crossing the line in 10hrs 41 mins, which is simply AWESOME.My Brother Muzz crossed the line 3 mins ahead of me, smashing the run, what a legend!My Brother Sammy crossed in 10 hrs 57 mins, smashing a 5hr 15min bike leg, what a legend. Who would have thought we would finish within 18 mins of each other!
Boys, we did it, we started and finished this thing as we said we would, together. Lifes always teaching you new things but some things don't change like hard work, commitment and believing in yourself that you can challenge your mind and body and come out the other side in front. A bit of planning and preparation never goes astray either.All the hard yards and all the punishment of the body has been worth it and they key has been getting to the start line knowing you have done enough work to get through it.There are times through the training you will think you are over your head but you find a way to get through it and take those tough moments and you store them away for whenever you need them. So much of getting through these events is above your shoulders, you have to be tough between the ears.
No better feeling than this!
The legends themselves.... Muzz, me, Sammy.
A few years ago I was on the sidelines, watching people smash themselves and enjoy their own moment in the sun of becoming an Ironman, now, with the help of an insatiable appetite to get it done and fantastic support and love from my family, I have now completed 2 of my own.
Dont make excuses, don't tell yourself you dont have the time and watch lifes great opportunities and moments go to everyone else but you.
The best picture of the lot!
Get out there, have a crack and importantly..never give up.
Dale Bowles
October, 2014
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