TheREAL_SDLC.pdf

Round 1: 2011 Soma 70.3

If I had Mickey Goldmill in my corner for Soma2011 his famous quote from Rocky IV would have been apropos:

Because you can’t win, Jeley! This guy will kill you to death inside of three rounds!

Soma pummeled me and knocked me out at mile 2 of the run. It was ugly.

Round 2: 2012 Boise 70.3

At Boise 2012 I was far better prepared. I was fit. I had sparred my way into good fighting shape by completing a handful of tough races. On fight night, Boise changed fighters…the fight went on, but it didn’t count. Bets were called off, and the round was called a draw.

70.3 is still ahead by one round.

Round 3: 2012 Soma 70.3

That brings us to Soma 2012 – Round 3 of this epic battle. I came out swinging, I was determined to put Soma on the mat. In the swim I landed a lot of punches early, but most of them were glancing blows. I exited the water with a little less confidence but I knew on the bike that I would start to control the fight. I had Soma on the ropes a number of times on the bike, but on lap 3 the wind changed, making it MUCH tougher. On top of that, an abdominal hernia I had trained through started really acting up…I started to catch a few punches, right on the chin.

Onto the run; Soma can see that I don’t have the same steam and starts hitting me with repeated body blows. I realize at this point all I have to do is not get knocked out and I can win this fight on points. I start covering up and holding on…every time Soma comes at me, I just wrap him up and hang on. The ref splits us up time after time, but all I have to do is get to the bell….finally I get past the last aid station on the run and I know I can make it to the end.

After walking 75% of the 13.1 miles I come to the finishing shoot chute and cross the line…I have made it to the end of the fight without even being knocked down.

Round 3 goes to Jeley – but all 3 judges have me winning the round by only a couple of points…

After 3 rounds it’s Half-Iron 1 round, Jeley 1 round, and 1 round is a draw. Will this fight end in a draw? Hell no, I am going to win a split decision or knock Half-Iron on it’s ass…stayed tuned to the 2013 triathlon season. How do you think Jeley will do? Well I tell you what, I wouldn’t bet against Rocky Balboa, and I wouldn’t bet against Jeley.

Ironman Arizona, set in Tempe, Arizona, kicks off with a single-loop swim in Tempe Town Lake, followed by a challenging three-loop bike course through the Sonoran Desert and finishes with a spectator-friendly run around Tempe Town Lake and Papago Park.

Red Rock proudly announces the 9th year of the Soma Triathlon. This is our marquee event and we plan on making it yours too! Come out and race in the same location as Ironman AZ…swim in the same lake, ride bits and pieces of the same bike course, and finish in the same location. This event is a great tune up for Ironman or just a great way to get out and compete in a half in a phenomenal setting. Race this one and you will get a Head Sweats visor, a tech tee and one heck of a good time!

In just under 5 weeks I will be getting out of bed at about 3am…not that I will have had any sleep. The entire night will be spent laying in bed, and staring at the ceiling, just to make sure no alarms are missed. I will be laying there thinking about the following things:

• what is traffic going to be like down by the lake? will I have to wait in lines to park?
• did I remember to pack the tire pump?
• don’t let Christine forget her nutrition, it’s in the fridge.
• will my mother in law be up in time to get out of the house with plenty of time?
• I hope Christine is sleeping.
• Oh man, I am so nervous…my stomach is upset. Why am I nervous? I’m not the one about to spend 14 hours racing.
• Did I fill enough water bottles?
• I need to make sure Christine has ALL OF HER BAGS!
• Did I pack enough water and food to get through the day of cheering?
• Is Christine’s mom gonna be alright hanging around for so long?
• Should we go home and rest a bit during the bike?
• Can I drive out to the Beeline somewhere with the hopes of catching a glimpse of Christine as she zooms by?
• Will Christine even notice when I yell her name as she zooms by?

The thing that will keep me awake the most is;

I will be envisioning the scene over, and over, and over again…the one where I see Christine coming down the finishing shoot, perhaps running, maybe not, it doesn’t matter. Mike Reily is saying “Christine Eley, YOU are an Ironman”. My chest fills with IMMENSE pride. My eyes well up with tears and I am overjoyed more than any other time in my life. I know she is exhausted. I know all she wants to do is get the hell off her tired legs and feet. I know that she just wants a stupid damn piece of pizza that she is going to take 2 bites of and then throw away cause her stomach can’t take it. I know she is cold and just wants the mylar blanket to heat her up a bit. I know she doesn’t want me to keep hugging her so damn tight and repeating how she amazes me. But I can’t help it…#887 has been the biggest and best part of my life for more than 21 years. I need #887 to know how much I love being a part of everything she does.

#887 is going to do an amazing thing, but that is not unusual, #887 is ALWAYS doing amazing things.

The training is almost done. The final preparations are beginning. #887 is going to be ready. #887 is going to be an Ironman. #887 is a number I will never forget.