See you in 2011.

Race Report-Ironman Florida 2010

First, when it comes to Ironman, you're only as good as your support.
This was my first, but I cannot imagine making it through the
training, much less the race, without the priceless support of my
family, friends, coach, teammates, church, and coworkers. Eight men
travelled to Florida this week to get me through this race and I'm
incredibly grateful for that. From carrying bags to keeping me loose,
they came to make the week easier for me and to make sure I didn't
quit on race day. They were awesome and I couldn't have done it
without them.

Race day started early. I'd asked Ronnie to get me up at 4AM if he
hadn't seen me yet. I was up and dressed at 3:30. When I opened the
door he was there already, "let's get ready to roll, brother." After
getting breakfast down and a quick prayer with the guys, we headed to
transition. We didn't just head to transition though. We rolled up on
our rented Georgia Bulldogs 7-man golf cart! A classic entrance on an
epic day. And no, none of us went to UGA...regardless "Go Dawgs!"
became the boy's battle cry for the weekend. In Gator country, no
less.

After setting up, we headed to the swim start but staged inside the
hotel for a bit to stay warm. The morning temperature was about 40
degrees and I was cold! As start time approached, they escorted me
out. I felt like a prize fighter. The guys had me surrounded and I had
my iPod blasting as we parted the crowd. Once on the beach, we had a
few more moments together, another prayer, and I made my way into the
corral.

The atmosphere at this point is hard to put into words. Minutes away
from the goal you've been chasing for more than a year. My first tears
came here, on the beach with 2800 other crazy people, freezing cold,
feet numb, and at complete peace with what was about to happen. My
prayer request to everybody who would listen for the past few weeks
had been for peace and calm on race day. When peace came with 1:58
left on the countdown clock, I teared up. As always, God had shown up
right on time.

Just as I'd gotten my goggles cleared out (tears!), the cannon went
off. It seemed like slow motion, as we headed out. I took my time,
enjoyed the feel of the warm water, took one last deep breath, and
dove right into the pack . Auto pilot took over. Just like the
countless laps at the pool and the race rehearsals, this was water and
this was swimming. Sure there were a lot of others out there, but it
was just another swim. I managed to steer clear of bad traffic and
got comfortable after a few minutes. The water was a little choppy,
but manageable. The first loop flew by and as I exited to make the
turn, all I could think was, "Holy crap, you're doing an Ironman!" I
think it really sank in on the second loop though. At that point I
remember the first of many conversations with God. I began thanking
Him for the opportunity to be out there and for the ways in which He's
touched my life through this sport. At times it was stream of thought.
At times I was just repeating "Abba Father" in my head. I'd never done
that before, racing or otherwise, but out there in the Gulf of Mexico,
it just felt right. Like he was swimming right next to me. The second
loop was a bit more bumpy and the current had picked up some. At the
far turn the swells felt like they were 4-6 footers by the way I was
getting tossed around. But no panic at all, just kept on swimming.
Unbelievable because swimming is not my bag! The home stretch was
pretty surreal. It felt like I was the only one out there. I imagined
Papa Joe on one side, swimming in his silver cap, and Ronnie on the
other side, paddling the surf board. Just like the last race
rehearsal. They got me home.

T1 was a mad house. Space was limited in the changing tent and I had
to put on all of my cold weather gear. It felt like it took forever.
Got my first laugh when I tried to sit down. I knew something wasn't
quite right when I felt cold metal hit my bare back side. I looked
down to see somebody's prosthetic leg in my chair! That'll get your
attention.

The bike leg felt unusually routine. My speed, my cadence, my heart
rate, all did just what coach Boo said they would do. It was cold and
there was some wind, but I was comfortable throughout. My only scary
moment came at mile 6 or so. I dropped my chain going over a bridge.
Luckily, I got it back on without having to stop. The guy I was
passing looked down and said, "I think you're good man." Thank you
Jesus! The rest was smooth, with lots of time for reflection. The
guys caught up with me on the course, yelling from the side of the
road & pulling along side in the car, talking and shooting video. I
wasn't up for much chatting but it was comforting knowing they were
there.

I made it to T2 feeling good, shed my layers, and was out. It sounds
funny, but it felt good to finally be down to my Tri4Him gear. I
wanted everybody to know what I was out there for and just that little
sense of pride gave me a boost. The first 6 miles felt great. I mean
great! Like I was floating. The next 6 weren't quite as fast, but I
was still feeling good and our game plan was working. At this point I
remembered being told that you find out what Ironman is about in the
second 13.1 miles. Guess I got a head start, because as good as I was
feeling at mile 12, at mile 12.5, it was gone. The legs went heavy,
negative thoughts started creeping in, and my head started spinning.
Focusing was difficult so I don't remember exactly what I said, but me
and the man upstairs started a 2 1/2 hour conversation at that point.
I was asking for strength and courage. He was reminding me of all the
ways that he'd provided for me in the past 18 months. Out of nowhere,
"The Dawg" and the scooter pulled along side me. Eight guys, six of
which I had no connection with when this journey started. The other
two were dad and Chad, my brother. A sight to see, seven grown men
packed in a Georgia Bulldogs golf cart and one on a bright yellow
scooter (picture "Dumb & Dumber"). All going nuts, yelling, and lying
to me, telling me how great I looked. Their constant presence and a
steady intake of flat Coke and pretzels got me through the next 6
miles. Mile 18. Not just the traditional point at which you find out
what you're made of, but the farthest I'd ever run in training. It was
the edge for me and as it approached I remember thinking, "Ok, you're
about to find out, what you came to find out." Here's where I really
got emotional again (man-code for cried...a lot). I was close to the
beach, looked over and saw the most amazing sunset I've ever seen.
Beautiful reds and a pink you wouldn't believe. Setting over the same
beach I stood on at sun rise and the same ocean I battled with to
start my day. The God who dialed up that sunset, just when I needed
it, was the same God who lead me down this path. The same God who
steadied me when life got rough last year and the same God who'd
gotten me to this point. And I had no doubt that He was going to see
me through the rest of this race. The next 8.2 miles weren't run on my
own power. I had nothing left. I found out what I came for. What
happens when we get to the edge of what we can do on our own. In life
or in an Ironman. He's there waiting patiently. Hoping that we've got
the guts to depend fully on Him. To let Him bear the burden and finish
the race for us. He did just that for me on Saturday.

As I crossed the finish line and heard, "Tobey Stevens, you are an
Ironman," I was humbled. Such and incredible journey. Such an
incredible day. There were no tears or fist pumps, just a quiet
internal peace and sense of gratitude. Yes, I was an Ironman but
without His grace, none of it would've been possible. Many have told
me that Ironman Florida would be a fitting end to this chapter of my
life. My take, it's just the beginning and I can't wait to find out
what's next.

Thanks again to all of you who played a part. Your prayers and support
were palpable on race day.

Race Preview-Ironman Florida

Well, here we are. After 3,816 miles and 347 hours of preparation, and nearly $5000 raised for Wears Valley Ranch, It's time. My bike and gear are all checked in and we're just one more night's sleep away from the goal. It's hard to believe. Lots of thoughts are floating around in my head right now, but one has been dominating the brain waves. How blessed I have been throughout this whole process. Blessed in that I've been able to remain healthy. Blessed to have the strong support crew that God has provided. Blessed to race with Tri4Him, a team that lives out what it stands for. And blessed to be able to go out there an glorify Him on race day. Not just with effort or performance, but with all the little things too. Yesterday morning, while out on a swim, I took a moment to reflect. As I laid there, floating on my back, in the middle of The Gulf of Mexico, I was in awe of our God. The ways in which He's touched my life through this sport, it's people, and this unbelievable process of transformation have been countless. The past 18 months have been a little snap shot of what life is about and I'm hoping and praying that tomorrow will be a fitting and humble tribute to our Lord, who will never, ever, quit on us.

Here's how tomorrow will shake out.

Swim

At 7AM, the cannon will go off. Me and the 2000+ other competitors who are staged on the beach will take off. Pretty much a free-for-all getting to the water. It will be a 2-loop course (1.2 miles each), broken up by a short jog on the beach, before starting the second loop. Water temperature has been 72-75F, making it perfect for a wetsuit swim. My strategery won't change any for this one. Stay calm. Stay relaxed. Avoid as much traffic as possible and come out of the water in good shape for the bike.

Bike

The bike course here is flat and fast. There are a few rollers and one bridge to manage, but for the most part, flat and on excellent surface for the duration. The big variable for this one is weather. Morning lows will be in the 40's so the first 56 miles will be a bit more chilly that your typical Houston weather. It'll warm up into the 60's, but on a bike, going 19-20 M.P.H., it can get pretty cold. I'm planning on taking my time in transition and getting layered up. It may take a little longer and I may have to shed some clothing on the course, but it beats being uncomfortable from the get go. I'm planning on being fairly conservative on the bike leg. The energy you burn trying to be hero for that 112 miles is gone. You don't get it back for the marathon, which is when it really counts.

Run

Again flat and the cool temperatures should make for a good run. The course meanders through several neighborhoods, making for lots of folks out to support. I plan on maintaining a comfortable pace through the first 13 miles. If the legs are feeling good and I've got some mojo left, this is when I'll try to kick it up a notch. If not, it'll be gut check time. I'm told that the last half of the ironman marathon is where memories are made. I wanted to find out what was over the edge of self-imposed limitations. Tomorrow I will.


As always, thank you for following along and offering up prayers and support in so many ways. Tomorrow, between 7AM and 7PMish, I'll be out there grinding away. Pray for strength, courage, patience, peace, and that I might be a blessing to someone else out there on the course. I'm excited to be here, feeling good, and anxious to find out what's in store.

Now let's go do this thing.

17 days to go!

Had an interesting experience this weekend. I travelled with some of the local Tri4Him crew up to Austin for the Ironman Texas 70.3. I wasn't racing, but many from our team were, several of them competing in and finishing their first half-ironman. Quite a change of perspective watching from the sidelines as close friends and teammates push themselves to their limits. The Austin race was my first long event and last year many new friends were there to support and encourage me in the same way. I can remember being so grateful and encouraged to have them there and wondered why in the world these people I'd just met would travel 3hrs to watch me compete and struggle through such an event. This year, there I was, doing the same thing. Trying my best to get them through the day. Things have come full circle.

The experience was a good reminder of what's most important. It drew my focus away from Ironman Florida, 11/6/2010, and redirected it to the real payoff. The journey and the transformation that has shaped life for the last year. The preparations and the volume of training put in over the past several weeks have made it difficult to think about much besides the big race. Travel plans, am I ready, do I have all the stuff I need, equipment checks, rest, nutrition, blah, blah, blah. There's lots there to think about, but when I'm able to take a step back and consider all that's transpired over the past year, I can't help but be amazed at what God's done in my life. Sure, this race is a big deal to me, I'm excited, and it will be the exclamation point. But the real payoff has been the journey.

This weekend I'll have my final race rehearsals. Friday afternoon I'm headed down to Galveston to do the swim and Saturday I'll have another long ride followed by a run. For the most part, the hard work has already been put in. I won't see any major gains in fitness over the next two weeks, just fine tuning and troubleshooting to avoid surprises on race day. After this weekend, I'll have a two week "taper" period leading up to the race. During this time the number of workouts won't change much, but their duration will be much less and the intensity will be dialed down a notch. I won't lie, I'm really looking forward to the extra rest!

As always, thanks for your encouraging words and for all of the support. We're almost there. I only ask for two things. That you'd keep me in your thoughts and prayers as the big day approaches and that you'd consider contributing to our fundraising efforts. Thus far, thanks to your generous giving, we've raised nearly $4000 for Wears Valley Ranch. Awesome. I would love nothing more than to see that number keep climbing right up until I cross that finish line. Just click the "firstgiving" link on your right and you'll be directed to a secure website where you can enter your information.

Dress Rehearsals

Just wanted to give a little update on what life's been looking like lately. Things are going well and I'm still in one piece, thankfully. The past few weeks have been big in terms of mileage and hours, but soon the training will shift to focus more on rest, recovery, and maintenance of the gains that have been made. This week I'll have my first of two "race rehearsals." Friday I'll swim 2.4 miles in the pool. Saturday I'll ride 117 miles and follow it up with a one hour run. The goal is to match everything as close to race-day conditions as possible. Down to what I'll be eating this week. The primary focus will be on pacing and my nutrition during the race so that when I get to Florida there won't be any surprises. I'm looking forward to these dress rehearsals, but honestly, a little nervous too.

Others warned me about the mental side of this. I was told to be ready for the battle that begins as ironman nears. Although I hoped that I'd be different...turns out I'm not! My biggest challenges, at this point, are not the physical demands but the demands centered above the neck. Doubt, mental fatigue, even fear at times. All natural, I think, when we take risks or overreach. But you can't let it paralyze you. So I'll walk the tight rope. Recognizing the risk and knowing where I'm vulnerable but also trusting. My training, my support, and most of all, my God, who got me here and continues to amaze me with His plan.

Thank you again, for all of the support, interest, and well-wishes. It means a great deal to me and often fuels me when I'm having "one of those days." And don't forget, there's still plenty of time to donate to this year's cause. Just click the "firstgiving" link on your right. We've already raised over $3000, but are a loooong way from the goal. Surprise me!

Have a great week.

Thoughts on Ironman

I hope that you've all had a great Labor Day weekend. Just a little update and some thoughts on the big day that is rapidly approaching. I'm nursing a few minor injuries but that's to be expected at this point. Thankfully, things have been going pretty well as of late though. In fact, this weekend we hit a few milestones. Saturday I had my first ride of more than 100 miles and this morning Joe and I ventured down to the beach for my first Gulf swim (Note to self: Check weather next time). I grew up 10 minutes from that water and it's only taken me 34 years to muster up enough courage to brave it. Mother nature made it a humbling and challenging workout (see pic) but certainly a valuable experience.

As November 6th gets closer, so does the number of times I hear the question, "Are you ready?" Funny, that's what I keep asking myself. My answer..."I don't know." Can you be? I do know that I'll be prepared. I have incredible support, a coach that I trust, priceless mentors, and a solid game plan . If I do my part I will be prepared but "ready" is a whole different thing. At some point everyone reaches that moment where their body is ready to shut down. The point at which quitting sounds more appealing than continuing. In an Ironman, that's usually the last third or so of the marathon. Maybe it's a lot sooner than that for me, maybe a little later. Who knows? But whenever that moment arrives, late or early, the trick is to have your brain convince the rest of you that "we're ok!" Easier said than done, I'm sure. I've never had to do it but I'll have to in Florida. That's the part that I'm not quite convinced that you can be "ready" for. The good news is that I'm racing for more than just the finish line and that this process has been as much about spiritual endurance and growth as it has been about athletic benchmarks. So while I don't know if I can really be ready for what's to come, I know that the one who got me here is. The one who strengthens me will be racing right along side of me that day, just like every other day, and when my "moment" presents itself, I will lean fully on Him. I don't think I can go wrong with that game plan.

Sometimes we find ourselves in uncharted waters and sometimes God asks us to do things that aren't exactly comfortable for us. While you may not be ready for it, He is and He wouldn't have put you there if He wasn't planning on providing a way for you to get through it. So lets continue to prepare ourselves as best we can knowing that when we reach the edge of what we thought possible, He'll be there to blaze the trail ahead.

Have a great week.

The Final Push

It's hard to believe that we're less than twelve weeks away from Ironman Florida. Many hours of training, many miles logged, many dollars raised for a great cause. What a journey it's been. Life changing to say the least, but it's been so much more.

This sort of thing doesn't just happen without an incredible amount of support. I thank all of you who've played a role at some point along the way. Several times a day I'm asked, "how's the training coming along?" or "how many miles did you ride Saturday?" So many interested folks offering encouragement. Not to mention the donations that many have made to Wears Valley Ranch. I'm humbled by your generosity. With three months to go we've raised $3000!

I don't do much sitting around on weekends anymore, but I look forward to them more than ever. When the sun comes up on Saturday morning, I know there will be an army of Tri4Him teammates ready to saddle up and and spend the day riding, enjoying the fellowship, pushing one another, and encouraging one another. Many who aren't gearing up for an Ironman ride extra, just because they know I have to. Tri4Him and the Houston chapter, specifically, are doing such great things. I'm proud to be a part of it and very thankful for all of them.

My Wednesday long-runs have gone from "just another work out" to a valuable time of prayer and personal reflection. Hard to explain really, but two or three hours alone out enjoying God's creation is a great time to clear your head and focus on what's really important.

We've come a long way since early 2009. My life, my spirit, and my body were taken down to the foundation and have now been rebuilt. Stronger, better. It was difficult at the start, but I wouldn't give those days back. Were it not for them, I might have missed what was happening. These good times wouldn't mean nearly as much without the struggles early on.

So here we are. The final push. I'm more motivated than ever and honored to be able to go out and race for the one who made all of this possible. I hope you come along to see what happens. We're almost home. Don't quit on me now.

www.firstgiving.com/teamstevenstri