Here I have provided the story my Dad, Jeff Doerr, wrote in long hand (literally wrote, a concept we know very little of these days) after completing Ironman Hawaii in 1988. Imagine instead of a blog writing long hand (because this document includes memories starting back around Labor Day training), no delete, no copy and paste, no auto correct, no reformatting, just pure heart and soul poured onto a piece of paper as the thoughts rush out of you! Taking that into consideration please kindly excuse any "typos". My Aunt Cathy transcribed Dad's long hand onto what we would now consider an ancient computer, the printed version has the perferated strips with holes going down each side!
I would also like to add a quick note to put everything in persepective. During this time period there were really no nurtional supplements available beyond Gatorade, and if they did exist they sure didn't have them anywhere near our small farming village of approximately 400 people in Central Michigan This is not chornicled here, but you shoudl know, if you ask him what nutrition he took during Ironman, he will have a goody smirk and say "umm about 2.5 cookies and I sucked on some orange slices". Can you imagine? Do you even want to imagine? On the positive side he did have an amazing cook during his training, my Mom, Roberta! Beyond local lakes, which are great for training if you are not allergic to lake water (as is my Dad), he had my Grandparent's backyard in-ground 40 foot pool or a local indoor pool also 40 feet. Furthermore he had no bike trainer, he did inside bike training only when absolutely necessary and did so on a Schwinn Exercise Cycle. His actual bike (which to this day sits in our basement and acts as his indoor trainer bike or my mom's least favorite piece of furniture) weighed at least 26 pounds and the shifters were placed on the down-tube (how comical and impossible we spoiled triathletes would find this these days). Plus, there were no training groups, no tri clubs, no coaches and basically nobody within a 100 mile radius that was likely to know what a triathlon was, let alone an Ironman.
Here is true Ironman history provided verbatum from Jeff Doerr!
Ironman!
Labor Day weekend I guess is as good a time as any to begin writing about the trials and tribulations of training for the Ironman. For those of you who don't already know, the Ironman is the Bud Light Ironman World Triathlon Championship ran each October on the island of Hawaii in and around the town of Kona. It consists of a 2.4 mile open ocean swim followed by a 112 mile bike ride and a marathon (26.2 miles) consecutive, without rest. It also must be completed within a 17 hour time limit.
I've been training pretty hard all summer and just completed my first full 1/2 Ironman Triathlon in Muncie Indiana just last week. All I really wanted to do was come in under five hours. Well, even though it poured most of the day and my trusty bike had the audacity to slip out from under me on a wet corner, climbed back on - with a definate case of road rash, finished the last 15.3 miles on the bike leg and went on to run a pretty impressive 1/2 marathon, at least by my standards. Well, to my surprise I finished out at 4:40:01 - 62nd overall out of approximately 665. But wait a minute, was I that good or was my competition not the best. After all, there were two other large triathlons in the midwest that day, one in Chicago the other in Ohio. The latter also an Ironman qualifier like Muncie. But, what the heck, I was under my goal time by 20 minutes and felt good. I won the chance to put my body through hell.
Well, like I said, Labor Day weekend (9/3/88) I want to get a century (100 mile) bike ride in today but its raining so I run 8 miles, wait a while then do one hour on the exercise cycle. Boy, wished I had a real trainer for my bike instead of this but it'll do. I guess I might as well go to mom and dads pool. At least I can swim in the rain. So I do an hour swim, go home and eat. By afternoon it clears off a little so I get on the bike and do 30 miles. Should of went farther though because on Sunday 9/4 it rains all day. I still manage 20 in the rain plus exercise cycle and an 8 mile run.
9/5 Hey it's sunny out but also cold. I dress warm get on the bike and do 98 miles just in time to beat, you guessed it, more rain. But with an 8 mile run and 1/2 hour swim I get a 7 hour 8 minute day - the kind of day Ironman workouts are made of.
9/6 A little sore today but you learn to expect that after all, no pain no gain. I was doing my 8 miler tonight when a local high school girl met me on her bike and said good job Jeff. I nodded and said hi. Boy, I thought, if only she knew how good that really makes me feel to get support like that. It's been a lot of lonely miles and hours this summer and I get support from some of the people I least expect it from. I don't know what to say except it really makes me feel good to know that they care and it helps tremendously in keeping me motivated, which sometimes is hard.
9/9 Well, its time to prepare for my last tri before Ironman. It's Reeds Lake - a nice little Tri in East Grand Rapids. .5 swim; 22 mile bike and 5 mile run. I've been doing this one longer than any other. It'll be my fourth Reeds Lake, however, I've never done exceptionally well there. But, with two tri's left this year if I have to have a bad one it might as well be this one. I also had to spend most of the night in Foltz's bike shop getting my stem retapped, handlebars wrapped etc. Not a real relaxing way to spend the night before, especially when you have to get up at 4:45am.
9/10 A.M. Beautiful sunrise in East Grand Rapids over Reeds Lake as I prepare to do battle. I feel good. P.M. WOW! I took 5 full minutes off my best time here with a relaxing swim of 13:40 and a hard bike cruising at 24 miles per hour. I was cruising. So I have my best bike-to-run transition of the year and tear off into the five miler hoping to break 30 minutes. I get 150 yards out and suddenly remember that I forgot my paper number. PANIC I run back and get it and still run a sub 31. Good enough for 9th overall and 2nd in my age group. Never having gotten any hardware here before I was tickled to say the least. But I look at the final results and see I missed 1st by a scant 52 seconds. What if? Aw, what the hell, thats life.
9/11 Sunday and the celebration is over. It's time to get down to three tough weeks to get prepared for the real event I've been training for. Even after yesterdays Triathlon I still manage a quick 50 miler on the bike and an 8 mile run later on.
9/14 Amazing enough moms pool is still quite warm. The longer I can continue swimming here the easier it is for me however, if I bike very long the sun starts to set early and I'm finding that I'm running out of daylight.
9/15 With the morning brisk but sunny I listened to the weather forecast which said there was a good chance for rain on Friday right through the weekend. I decided to go into work and tell (ask) my boss for the afternoon off to do a century. Being September I have to make the best of good weather. I leave on my trusty Cannondale at 12:30 p.m. and arrive back home rather tired and sore at approximately 6:10 and 100+ miles later. After a brief break (5 minutes) I do an eight mile run in surprisingly good time. Well, moms (Roberta, my wife) off to home and school and I have to fend for myself. After eating a bowl of fresh peaches, a large tossed salad, hamburger, bowl and a half of chile followed by a bowl of fresh blueberries I get the kids ready for bed then relax. Ha, whats this - fresh brownies - might as well have dessert. Four brownies and a big glass of milk finish off supper. I'm tired, guess I'll get some sleep. Can't wait till tomorrow morning so I can eat again.
10/2 I've been neglecting the pen and pad lately, but a while back I said I had to get three tough weeks in and that's what I've been doing. After my century on 9/15 we were supposed to go camping that weekend however with the probability of nasty weather I postponed it much to the chagrin of the kids. Still the first of my three tough weeks was a good one with 65 miles running; 255 biking and over 3 hours swimming. The second week didn't start out so well. On Monday I was run-down and sick. Also it was windy and raining so I took my first real day off all summer. I got back into it on Tuesday with the fear I couldn't take two days off in a row, but had to use the exercise cycle because of continuing rain and cold. I also went to see Doc and after a thorough examine he prescribed me some antibiotics to help me from getting what everyone else seems to have. Well, by Friday we hadn't seen the sun in about five days. By afternoon it came out brightly and I asked Roberta if she would still like to go up north. It was set. Saturday morning I took off on the bike and left Roberta to fend off the kids and Libby (our chocolate lab). It was beautiful as I made my way north for a century. Roberta and the family catching up and offering food and drink. After the 100 on the bike at Mancelona I traded the bike for running shoes and took off for Boyne Falls. After ten miles I was out of it and gladly climbed in the truck and drove the rest of the way to our favorite campsite up by Cross Village. After arriving I took a brisk but short swim in the big lake. On Sunday I got the chance to take my longest lakeshore beach run - about 7.5 miles - with Libby. We both loved it. So did my knees which were sore from Saturdays century and run. After breakfast on the beach I got to take a repeat of a ride from long ago only in reverse, from Wilderness State Park to Cross Village on down to Harbor Springs. In my opinion the most beautiful ride or drive in Michigan. All in all, week number two was okay but not what I wanted. 53 miles running; 220 on the bike plus I started swimming one hour swims at C.M.U.'s pool.
Week number three started off better than two and continued on with me gathering more time and miles. I was even interviewed by Ferris University's Press Box show and we did some filming of all three events plus weight lifting. The kids loved it. I hope to get a tape of it as it would be very interesting to me to analyze my style on film. My century on Friday was tough, but I expected that. I would only muster a five mile run afterwards. That left me worrying about the 20 miler I wanted to run yet this weekend.
Well, on Saturday October 1 I went bowhunting. A sport which I am almost fanatical about but will have to give up most of the first half of the season. I worked the rest of the morning then set out for my 20 miler. To my surprise it came off smoothly, at an even eight minute pace feeling strong enough to run faster the last 1.5 miles. After weights and a half hour swim at the Canadian Lakes Clubhouse pool I made a beeline for the woods and the evening hunt. I'll tell ya, it's tough trying to train and hunt too.
On Friday it was raining so I slept in till 8:00 then had blueberry waffles for breakfast. It was cloudy but dry at 10:30a.m. so I took off for a bike ride even after the 20 miler the day before. My legs felt good spinning the cranks. I cruised an easy 50 and felt great, then out for a quick 8 mile run and I couldn't believe how good I felt at the end of my tough three weeks. This one being my best with over 300 miles on the bike and 65+ on the run plus pretty good time in the pool, logging almost 28 hours actual training time less weights for the week - my longest week of the year. From now on out I will start to taper down gradually for the big day to come twenty days hence.
10/6 Well, one week and we leave for the Islands. I should be terribly excited, but instead I'm depressed. On Monday I had a good workout but when I came off the bike at 37 miles I couldn't get my foot out of my shimano clip-on pedals. I tried again, but no. Then I tried the other side but by this time it was too late and over I went onto some stones in the driveway bumping my right knee pretty good. Well, I swore and proceded to get up and go for the eight mile run but half way through the knee was throbbing. I finished anyway.
On Tuesday I decided to do the smart thing and stay off it except for swimming. This also gave me an excuse to go hunting. On Wednesday I took a 28 mile ride and felt pretty good but then I went for the run and the knee hurt all of the way but I did 10k anyway. Today the knee was sore all day so I knew I had to take another day off from running. This time no hunting but to the Canadian Lakes Club pool for a half hour swim followed by twenty minutes of whirlpool, home for a snack then off to C.M.U. pool and a swim your guts out hour. Well, at least it made me feel better and the knee feels a little better too. I now know I will have to wait for the bruise to go away before I test out running again. It goes to show you that you should never run on an injury if it hurts. I think I can recover and still get some good days in before the 22nd, but I'll be sure not to push it. It's beginning to get scary knowing that what I've sacrificed and have been shooting for all year long could be wiped out just that quick. Please, God, help me get through this, it means so much to me. One other note in case you're wondering, I've been on a steady diet of ice and aspirin since bruising the knee.
10/21/88 4:30p.m. Hours before the event takes place. I've neglected writing as of late because my knee injury depressed me so. Well I've been here eight days now and I think I've got the knee problem licked. However, in the last 17 days I've only ran approximately 37 miles and I did manage a 50 mile bike on the Queens highway the day after I got here. My bike arrived a day later to a very nervous me. I couldn't believe how hot it was out there. There's just no way that I was prepared for it. The swim wasn't bad. The very first morning I was down to the pier and swam to the turn around point 1.2 miles out. The salt water turned my stomach sour, but the beauty of it all was great. What, with clear goggles you could see the bottom of the ocean clearly and literally hundreds of different kinds of colorful fish. A first experience I won't soon forget.
I can't believe the number of triathletes that seem to be everywhere running, biking and swimming all hours of the day and night. I even get sick of it as do some of the locals because of the traffic tie-ups. This is a small community with few major roads.
Well, with three consecutive days of biking 32 to 40 miles with 45 minutes minimum swims first, followed last by increasing runs with ice and a whirlpool afterward I feel a little better but turthfully, as a rookie, the weather and the course scare the hell out of me.
The organization here is first class with individual attention for each and every tirathlete by caring real individuals. I even met a volunteer with my las name (DOERR).
As this day goes on and I checked my bike in I am beginning to feel more confident. I know from my training that I can do this thing. It's just a matter of time.
I'm sure I won't sleep much tonight, but it doesn't matter. The homework is done, all that remains is the test.
Before I leave for the night I would like to say I think the rest of the family is having a very good time. We kept very busy the first few days with a submarine ride and a trip around the island, which is very long by the way, to see the volcano. It was a long day but I think Jesse (my son) appreciated it a lot as did I. I love my family very much and am thankful for them to be with me now. I just hope I can make them proud tomorrow.
10/22/88 8:00p.m. It's over 11:33:31 I'll write on this later.
10/23/88 I woke up feeling pretty good - a little stiff but o.k. About yesterday; before the start of the race I thought I knew what the drivers of the Indy 500 (which I've seen 18 times) feel like. I tried to relax but upon entering the water tears came to my eyes. With the gun however it was down to business. The swim wasn't as congested as I feared. Oh, it got close but I could always manage to find open water somewhere. I climbed up the boat ramp at 1:13:09. My transition was comfortable. Onto the bike I was pumped. After finding my family in the crowd and waving it was off to Havi (the turn around). The last seven miles to Havi are all uphill and into a good headwind, but coming back was better I was drinking plenty of water and excelled all the way, at least I thought I was. The last 30 miles on the bike got very tiring and I couldn't wait to get off. I pulled into the bike finish with a 5:45:00 split and another slow transition. I was on the run course 7:02:10. That's when it really got tough. I tried but could only run the first 3 miles of 26.2 before I had to walk. I started chugging ice water two glasses at a time and filling my hat with ice cubes, but I was in rough shape. I felt guilty walking and thought about the possibility of dropping out for a second before proceeding at a quick walk.
After I got out about six miles I decided to try drinking cold Coke. Evidently it was what I needed. I must have been low on sugar. After a few glasses I started running between aide stations approximately 1 mile apart. By this time I had plenty of company whenever I walked as most competitors end up doing so at least a little. When I hit the turn around at 16 miles I knew I could make it even though at times I would walk between a set of telephone poles then run the next two before walking again. It was hell, but it was also on everyone elses face around me. As I got closer to town it grew dark but I realized I could still make my main goal of under 12 hours. As I drew near the finish line the crowd wouldn't let you stop.
As I crossed my kids came running across with me. They deserved it too. I sinished the marathon in an unimpressive 4:31 (?) for a total time of 11:33:30 unofficially 554 overall. After the medal presentation and a massage by one of the very nice and capable people at the finish line massage area we went back to the condo and sat in the whirlpool with other tired but happy triathletes. I don't know if I'll ever do something like this again but I'm glad I did this one and am proud of the support I received from local groups, family and friends without whom it would not have been possible.
I believe that there are two kinds of greed - good greed and bad greed. Bad greed being you are willing to steal or cheat to get what you want, or covet thy neighbors goods or covet thy neighbors wife. By good greed, on the other hand, I mean you are willing to self-sacrafice and use inner resourcefullness, reach deep down inside and do what you have to to get what you want.
Upon my recent return from the big island of Hawaii where I was priviledged to compete in the Bud Lite Ironman Triathlon World Championships I've had some time to reflect upon the dedication and hard summers work that it took to get me there. However, there is another side of the coin, for without the moral and financial help and support of the people I love and the general community around me I would have been left alone in a very tough endeavor. So, with that in mind I would now like to take the time to thank those who were responsible for making it easier for me.
Thanks to Fabiano Brothers Distributing of Mt. Pleasant, Canadian Lakes Development Company, Gene Blackmer and the Bank of Lakeview, the employees of the U.S. Post Office: Mecosta Branch, Gary Lowey and the Chippewa Hills Sports Boosters for technical and financial support, Rod Foltz of Foltz's Bike Shop: Mt. Pleasant. Special thanks to my boss who put up with my excessive training schedule and leaving at a busy time - Thanks Mom and Dad. To the rest of my brothers and sisters who were behind me all the way. To all those who wished me luck and last but certainly not least the three people in my life whom without, this would never have been possible: my first born Jesse Lee, my special little inspiration Megan Ann and my best friend and wife Roberta.
I love you all
Thanks so much
Jeff Doerr
I would also like to add a quick note to put everything in persepective. During this time period there were really no nurtional supplements available beyond Gatorade, and if they did exist they sure didn't have them anywhere near our small farming village of approximately 400 people in Central Michigan This is not chornicled here, but you shoudl know, if you ask him what nutrition he took during Ironman, he will have a goody smirk and say "umm about 2.5 cookies and I sucked on some orange slices". Can you imagine? Do you even want to imagine? On the positive side he did have an amazing cook during his training, my Mom, Roberta! Beyond local lakes, which are great for training if you are not allergic to lake water (as is my Dad), he had my Grandparent's backyard in-ground 40 foot pool or a local indoor pool also 40 feet. Furthermore he had no bike trainer, he did inside bike training only when absolutely necessary and did so on a Schwinn Exercise Cycle. His actual bike (which to this day sits in our basement and acts as his indoor trainer bike or my mom's least favorite piece of furniture) weighed at least 26 pounds and the shifters were placed on the down-tube (how comical and impossible we spoiled triathletes would find this these days). Plus, there were no training groups, no tri clubs, no coaches and basically nobody within a 100 mile radius that was likely to know what a triathlon was, let alone an Ironman.
Here is true Ironman history provided verbatum from Jeff Doerr!
Ironman!
Labor Day weekend I guess is as good a time as any to begin writing about the trials and tribulations of training for the Ironman. For those of you who don't already know, the Ironman is the Bud Light Ironman World Triathlon Championship ran each October on the island of Hawaii in and around the town of Kona. It consists of a 2.4 mile open ocean swim followed by a 112 mile bike ride and a marathon (26.2 miles) consecutive, without rest. It also must be completed within a 17 hour time limit.
I've been training pretty hard all summer and just completed my first full 1/2 Ironman Triathlon in Muncie Indiana just last week. All I really wanted to do was come in under five hours. Well, even though it poured most of the day and my trusty bike had the audacity to slip out from under me on a wet corner, climbed back on - with a definate case of road rash, finished the last 15.3 miles on the bike leg and went on to run a pretty impressive 1/2 marathon, at least by my standards. Well, to my surprise I finished out at 4:40:01 - 62nd overall out of approximately 665. But wait a minute, was I that good or was my competition not the best. After all, there were two other large triathlons in the midwest that day, one in Chicago the other in Ohio. The latter also an Ironman qualifier like Muncie. But, what the heck, I was under my goal time by 20 minutes and felt good. I won the chance to put my body through hell.
Well, like I said, Labor Day weekend (9/3/88) I want to get a century (100 mile) bike ride in today but its raining so I run 8 miles, wait a while then do one hour on the exercise cycle. Boy, wished I had a real trainer for my bike instead of this but it'll do. I guess I might as well go to mom and dads pool. At least I can swim in the rain. So I do an hour swim, go home and eat. By afternoon it clears off a little so I get on the bike and do 30 miles. Should of went farther though because on Sunday 9/4 it rains all day. I still manage 20 in the rain plus exercise cycle and an 8 mile run.
9/5 Hey it's sunny out but also cold. I dress warm get on the bike and do 98 miles just in time to beat, you guessed it, more rain. But with an 8 mile run and 1/2 hour swim I get a 7 hour 8 minute day - the kind of day Ironman workouts are made of.
9/6 A little sore today but you learn to expect that after all, no pain no gain. I was doing my 8 miler tonight when a local high school girl met me on her bike and said good job Jeff. I nodded and said hi. Boy, I thought, if only she knew how good that really makes me feel to get support like that. It's been a lot of lonely miles and hours this summer and I get support from some of the people I least expect it from. I don't know what to say except it really makes me feel good to know that they care and it helps tremendously in keeping me motivated, which sometimes is hard.
9/9 Well, its time to prepare for my last tri before Ironman. It's Reeds Lake - a nice little Tri in East Grand Rapids. .5 swim; 22 mile bike and 5 mile run. I've been doing this one longer than any other. It'll be my fourth Reeds Lake, however, I've never done exceptionally well there. But, with two tri's left this year if I have to have a bad one it might as well be this one. I also had to spend most of the night in Foltz's bike shop getting my stem retapped, handlebars wrapped etc. Not a real relaxing way to spend the night before, especially when you have to get up at 4:45am.
9/10 A.M. Beautiful sunrise in East Grand Rapids over Reeds Lake as I prepare to do battle. I feel good. P.M. WOW! I took 5 full minutes off my best time here with a relaxing swim of 13:40 and a hard bike cruising at 24 miles per hour. I was cruising. So I have my best bike-to-run transition of the year and tear off into the five miler hoping to break 30 minutes. I get 150 yards out and suddenly remember that I forgot my paper number. PANIC I run back and get it and still run a sub 31. Good enough for 9th overall and 2nd in my age group. Never having gotten any hardware here before I was tickled to say the least. But I look at the final results and see I missed 1st by a scant 52 seconds. What if? Aw, what the hell, thats life.
9/11 Sunday and the celebration is over. It's time to get down to three tough weeks to get prepared for the real event I've been training for. Even after yesterdays Triathlon I still manage a quick 50 miler on the bike and an 8 mile run later on.
9/14 Amazing enough moms pool is still quite warm. The longer I can continue swimming here the easier it is for me however, if I bike very long the sun starts to set early and I'm finding that I'm running out of daylight.
9/15 With the morning brisk but sunny I listened to the weather forecast which said there was a good chance for rain on Friday right through the weekend. I decided to go into work and tell (ask) my boss for the afternoon off to do a century. Being September I have to make the best of good weather. I leave on my trusty Cannondale at 12:30 p.m. and arrive back home rather tired and sore at approximately 6:10 and 100+ miles later. After a brief break (5 minutes) I do an eight mile run in surprisingly good time. Well, moms (Roberta, my wife) off to home and school and I have to fend for myself. After eating a bowl of fresh peaches, a large tossed salad, hamburger, bowl and a half of chile followed by a bowl of fresh blueberries I get the kids ready for bed then relax. Ha, whats this - fresh brownies - might as well have dessert. Four brownies and a big glass of milk finish off supper. I'm tired, guess I'll get some sleep. Can't wait till tomorrow morning so I can eat again.
10/2 I've been neglecting the pen and pad lately, but a while back I said I had to get three tough weeks in and that's what I've been doing. After my century on 9/15 we were supposed to go camping that weekend however with the probability of nasty weather I postponed it much to the chagrin of the kids. Still the first of my three tough weeks was a good one with 65 miles running; 255 biking and over 3 hours swimming. The second week didn't start out so well. On Monday I was run-down and sick. Also it was windy and raining so I took my first real day off all summer. I got back into it on Tuesday with the fear I couldn't take two days off in a row, but had to use the exercise cycle because of continuing rain and cold. I also went to see Doc and after a thorough examine he prescribed me some antibiotics to help me from getting what everyone else seems to have. Well, by Friday we hadn't seen the sun in about five days. By afternoon it came out brightly and I asked Roberta if she would still like to go up north. It was set. Saturday morning I took off on the bike and left Roberta to fend off the kids and Libby (our chocolate lab). It was beautiful as I made my way north for a century. Roberta and the family catching up and offering food and drink. After the 100 on the bike at Mancelona I traded the bike for running shoes and took off for Boyne Falls. After ten miles I was out of it and gladly climbed in the truck and drove the rest of the way to our favorite campsite up by Cross Village. After arriving I took a brisk but short swim in the big lake. On Sunday I got the chance to take my longest lakeshore beach run - about 7.5 miles - with Libby. We both loved it. So did my knees which were sore from Saturdays century and run. After breakfast on the beach I got to take a repeat of a ride from long ago only in reverse, from Wilderness State Park to Cross Village on down to Harbor Springs. In my opinion the most beautiful ride or drive in Michigan. All in all, week number two was okay but not what I wanted. 53 miles running; 220 on the bike plus I started swimming one hour swims at C.M.U.'s pool.
Week number three started off better than two and continued on with me gathering more time and miles. I was even interviewed by Ferris University's Press Box show and we did some filming of all three events plus weight lifting. The kids loved it. I hope to get a tape of it as it would be very interesting to me to analyze my style on film. My century on Friday was tough, but I expected that. I would only muster a five mile run afterwards. That left me worrying about the 20 miler I wanted to run yet this weekend.
Well, on Saturday October 1 I went bowhunting. A sport which I am almost fanatical about but will have to give up most of the first half of the season. I worked the rest of the morning then set out for my 20 miler. To my surprise it came off smoothly, at an even eight minute pace feeling strong enough to run faster the last 1.5 miles. After weights and a half hour swim at the Canadian Lakes Clubhouse pool I made a beeline for the woods and the evening hunt. I'll tell ya, it's tough trying to train and hunt too.
On Friday it was raining so I slept in till 8:00 then had blueberry waffles for breakfast. It was cloudy but dry at 10:30a.m. so I took off for a bike ride even after the 20 miler the day before. My legs felt good spinning the cranks. I cruised an easy 50 and felt great, then out for a quick 8 mile run and I couldn't believe how good I felt at the end of my tough three weeks. This one being my best with over 300 miles on the bike and 65+ on the run plus pretty good time in the pool, logging almost 28 hours actual training time less weights for the week - my longest week of the year. From now on out I will start to taper down gradually for the big day to come twenty days hence.
10/6 Well, one week and we leave for the Islands. I should be terribly excited, but instead I'm depressed. On Monday I had a good workout but when I came off the bike at 37 miles I couldn't get my foot out of my shimano clip-on pedals. I tried again, but no. Then I tried the other side but by this time it was too late and over I went onto some stones in the driveway bumping my right knee pretty good. Well, I swore and proceded to get up and go for the eight mile run but half way through the knee was throbbing. I finished anyway.
On Tuesday I decided to do the smart thing and stay off it except for swimming. This also gave me an excuse to go hunting. On Wednesday I took a 28 mile ride and felt pretty good but then I went for the run and the knee hurt all of the way but I did 10k anyway. Today the knee was sore all day so I knew I had to take another day off from running. This time no hunting but to the Canadian Lakes Club pool for a half hour swim followed by twenty minutes of whirlpool, home for a snack then off to C.M.U. pool and a swim your guts out hour. Well, at least it made me feel better and the knee feels a little better too. I now know I will have to wait for the bruise to go away before I test out running again. It goes to show you that you should never run on an injury if it hurts. I think I can recover and still get some good days in before the 22nd, but I'll be sure not to push it. It's beginning to get scary knowing that what I've sacrificed and have been shooting for all year long could be wiped out just that quick. Please, God, help me get through this, it means so much to me. One other note in case you're wondering, I've been on a steady diet of ice and aspirin since bruising the knee.
10/21/88 4:30p.m. Hours before the event takes place. I've neglected writing as of late because my knee injury depressed me so. Well I've been here eight days now and I think I've got the knee problem licked. However, in the last 17 days I've only ran approximately 37 miles and I did manage a 50 mile bike on the Queens highway the day after I got here. My bike arrived a day later to a very nervous me. I couldn't believe how hot it was out there. There's just no way that I was prepared for it. The swim wasn't bad. The very first morning I was down to the pier and swam to the turn around point 1.2 miles out. The salt water turned my stomach sour, but the beauty of it all was great. What, with clear goggles you could see the bottom of the ocean clearly and literally hundreds of different kinds of colorful fish. A first experience I won't soon forget.
I can't believe the number of triathletes that seem to be everywhere running, biking and swimming all hours of the day and night. I even get sick of it as do some of the locals because of the traffic tie-ups. This is a small community with few major roads.
Well, with three consecutive days of biking 32 to 40 miles with 45 minutes minimum swims first, followed last by increasing runs with ice and a whirlpool afterward I feel a little better but turthfully, as a rookie, the weather and the course scare the hell out of me.
The organization here is first class with individual attention for each and every tirathlete by caring real individuals. I even met a volunteer with my las name (DOERR).
As this day goes on and I checked my bike in I am beginning to feel more confident. I know from my training that I can do this thing. It's just a matter of time.
I'm sure I won't sleep much tonight, but it doesn't matter. The homework is done, all that remains is the test.
Before I leave for the night I would like to say I think the rest of the family is having a very good time. We kept very busy the first few days with a submarine ride and a trip around the island, which is very long by the way, to see the volcano. It was a long day but I think Jesse (my son) appreciated it a lot as did I. I love my family very much and am thankful for them to be with me now. I just hope I can make them proud tomorrow.
10/22/88 8:00p.m. It's over 11:33:31 I'll write on this later.
10/23/88 I woke up feeling pretty good - a little stiff but o.k. About yesterday; before the start of the race I thought I knew what the drivers of the Indy 500 (which I've seen 18 times) feel like. I tried to relax but upon entering the water tears came to my eyes. With the gun however it was down to business. The swim wasn't as congested as I feared. Oh, it got close but I could always manage to find open water somewhere. I climbed up the boat ramp at 1:13:09. My transition was comfortable. Onto the bike I was pumped. After finding my family in the crowd and waving it was off to Havi (the turn around). The last seven miles to Havi are all uphill and into a good headwind, but coming back was better I was drinking plenty of water and excelled all the way, at least I thought I was. The last 30 miles on the bike got very tiring and I couldn't wait to get off. I pulled into the bike finish with a 5:45:00 split and another slow transition. I was on the run course 7:02:10. That's when it really got tough. I tried but could only run the first 3 miles of 26.2 before I had to walk. I started chugging ice water two glasses at a time and filling my hat with ice cubes, but I was in rough shape. I felt guilty walking and thought about the possibility of dropping out for a second before proceeding at a quick walk.
After I got out about six miles I decided to try drinking cold Coke. Evidently it was what I needed. I must have been low on sugar. After a few glasses I started running between aide stations approximately 1 mile apart. By this time I had plenty of company whenever I walked as most competitors end up doing so at least a little. When I hit the turn around at 16 miles I knew I could make it even though at times I would walk between a set of telephone poles then run the next two before walking again. It was hell, but it was also on everyone elses face around me. As I got closer to town it grew dark but I realized I could still make my main goal of under 12 hours. As I drew near the finish line the crowd wouldn't let you stop.
As I crossed my kids came running across with me. They deserved it too. I sinished the marathon in an unimpressive 4:31 (?) for a total time of 11:33:30 unofficially 554 overall. After the medal presentation and a massage by one of the very nice and capable people at the finish line massage area we went back to the condo and sat in the whirlpool with other tired but happy triathletes. I don't know if I'll ever do something like this again but I'm glad I did this one and am proud of the support I received from local groups, family and friends without whom it would not have been possible.
I believe that there are two kinds of greed - good greed and bad greed. Bad greed being you are willing to steal or cheat to get what you want, or covet thy neighbors goods or covet thy neighbors wife. By good greed, on the other hand, I mean you are willing to self-sacrafice and use inner resourcefullness, reach deep down inside and do what you have to to get what you want.
Upon my recent return from the big island of Hawaii where I was priviledged to compete in the Bud Lite Ironman Triathlon World Championships I've had some time to reflect upon the dedication and hard summers work that it took to get me there. However, there is another side of the coin, for without the moral and financial help and support of the people I love and the general community around me I would have been left alone in a very tough endeavor. So, with that in mind I would now like to take the time to thank those who were responsible for making it easier for me.
Thanks to Fabiano Brothers Distributing of Mt. Pleasant, Canadian Lakes Development Company, Gene Blackmer and the Bank of Lakeview, the employees of the U.S. Post Office: Mecosta Branch, Gary Lowey and the Chippewa Hills Sports Boosters for technical and financial support, Rod Foltz of Foltz's Bike Shop: Mt. Pleasant. Special thanks to my boss who put up with my excessive training schedule and leaving at a busy time - Thanks Mom and Dad. To the rest of my brothers and sisters who were behind me all the way. To all those who wished me luck and last but certainly not least the three people in my life whom without, this would never have been possible: my first born Jesse Lee, my special little inspiration Megan Ann and my best friend and wife Roberta.
I love you all
Thanks so much
Jeff Doerr
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| Jeff Doerr, Jesse Doerr, Megan Doerr, and Roberta Doerr's (mom's) favorite drink, Bud Light! |
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| I have always wondered who the guy is totally photo bombing us! |
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| 2.4 mile swim, CHECK. No timing chips so he is reaching for his card to turn in. |
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| 112 mile bike on the Queen Kona Highway, He thought silver bike shorts vs black would help eliminate the heat! Also, notice the purely styrofoam helmet with a net over it! |
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| Morning of the Race |
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| Mile 1 of the grueling 26.2 mile run |
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| The Ironman Himself! Taken on the balcony of the condo where we stayed. |
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| Training on Queen's Highway - No helmet....WHAT! |
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