Race Report

mile swim, 10-mile bike, 3.1 mile run.

By #638 John M. Henry

Race day for the Captiva Tri at South Seas Island Resort Sunday September 16th started out with overcast skies and the Gulf of Mexico was as smooth as glass. I was excited to experience my first full triathlon. The first waves of swimmers started at 7:15 am. I went in the last but not least fifth wave at 7:27am. I started from the beach on the outside of the front row. I was hoping to avoid the crush of swimmers at the first turn buoy like the earlier waves. On the mark I started my Tissot chronometer and sprinted over the shells running for about 10 yards trying to not step on the sharp Florida fighting conch scattered everywhere along the sandy bottom.

I can only compare the open water start from a place wonder and fascination to fish. It reminds me of a school of fish going through a funnel. I wonder if schools of fish swim into each other using all kinds of different strokes in every direction like we do? It was only a 400-yard swim but before the halfway point there was a slalom course of panting

faces in pink and green caps on the surface with their vertical bodies dangling below treading water. I was dodging breaststroke kicks from the tired swimmers like Bruce Lee, while other racers torpedoed blindly on their back struggling to catch enough oxygen. An older lady from the third wave was hanging on the bright Orange buoy so I rolled hard to my right and asked her quickly Are you ok? She nodded just out of breath she smiled. I continued my freestyle sighting the final buoy dead ahead made me realized I had achieved the inside shot down the rail in the home stretch. As I came close enough into shore to touch sand with every stroke I took a couple more shallow breast stroke pulls. I could almost touch my chin on the sand before I jumped up at the shore and charge up the hill and into the first transition zone. I took a cup of water from the table outside the transition area, rinsed the salt from my tongue, and spit it out sideways on the grass, then high stepped through the kiddy pool at the entrance to get the sand off my feet before stepping across the timing pad at the entrance into transition. I was surprised to see Anastasija Pak-Galvin from my GCST team a gifted runner working as a volunteer at the T1 entrance. Anastasija Pak-Galvin quick yell of encouragement to keep moving quick as I entered my first and later the 2nd transition probably shaved minutes off my time. Quickly I dried myself on a hand towel. Buckling up my Giro bike helmet, then slipping on my Canonndale riding shorts. Plopping down to attack my wet grassy feet with the towel, glide stick, sock & shoes as quick as possible I popped up ready to ride.

Scott Chandler FCA Endurance teammate exited the water just 20 seconds behind me already had his Cervelo and was running to the bike course.

Once mounted and peddling down the street I heard a yell as Tina Sujana from the UK snapped a candid picture as I took off down the course.

John M. Henry Leaving Transition #1 to start 10-mile bike leg.

Zipping South five miles down the beach past multi million dollar beachfront estates to Blind Pass a between Sanibel and Captiva Islands the course U turned North back to South Seas resort. The first wave of swimmers the elite USA Triathlon guys were almost back before I was half was down the island. Along the race course it was great fun to cheer on my friends as they raced past Tasha, Lisa, Jill, who had gone in the second wave hammered past me on their return so I recognized them with my best cheer Go Go Go !!!

Pictured in pink GCST swimmer & Boston Marathoner Lisa Moss.

My GCST teammate Bill Sawyer an experienced triathlon veteran whose bike I had borrowed told me to keep my cadence up around 85-95. I stayed in the middle round ring and worked the gears spinning as fast as I could without burning up my legs. I was able to drink down a bike bottle full of Gatorade along with a GU and Hammer Strength gel to help prevent cramping along the route. In Florida if you climb on a milk crate here you can see all the way across the state to Miami, it is that flat. I noticed all if the roads that seem so flat all of a sudden seemed to have a 1 or 2 degree grade allowing a little more manipulation of the gears for speed, nothing at all like mountain my mountain biking experience in Colorado. I returning to the dismount zone and back on two legs trotting down the grass with my bike back in for my second and fastest transition. All it took was a quick rack of the bike, a change into my new Newtons running shoes, I grabbed my race belt tucked into my hat and I was away on the run. My pre-race strategy was to take it in short sections walk, jog, run, keep a 4-6 mph pace or if I could do a 14-15 minute mile I would match what I had achieved so far in my training. The reality was that I struggled from the get go. Jog a little and then walk fast a little had my left quad cramping up in the first half mile. Then I ran into another

volunteer my buddy Thomas A. Pear who came up with the idea of starting our local Fellowship of Christian Athletes Endurance huddle here in SW Florida. I was wearing the FCA Endurance team jersey for the first time. Thomas was encouraging and since he started snapping pictures I sucked it in smiled for the camera as I ran. My right quad started to cramp as my strategy faltered. The 5k course had tight corners and small golf course hills that didnt help my legs. Less than one and a half miles into the run I was stopped dead in my tracks bent over in pain with both legs totally locked up wondering what might work to stretch out my muscles that were now so tight and they felt like they could snap. I could hear my eight-grade football coach in my mind, his answer for any players injury was always the same walk it off! I could see the red IronMan visor on Scott Chandlers head not to far ahead I raised my arms and caught his eye. Scott had just finished his Tri sprint in 1:06 and change but was ready to cheer me on. I told him my legs were locked up and cramped so he jumped right in and said well hey your not alone and ran the next lap coaching me through the pain and fatigue while encouraging me to keep moving. I discovered it wasnt about the next tree or place it was about looking only at the next person in front of me.

Scott explained my legs werent used to jumping off a bike and running. It takes a lot of brick training (running then biking) for your legs to figure out how to deal with the stress of cross use. We practiced cutting the course following the straightest shortest line around the course. Were just goanna go over here and take a look at the

Pelicans, Scott suggested almost as if coaxing his 18-month-old son. On that second lap around the new Newton running shoes were working well the short step; lever, lift and I kept rolling my legs under my hips with short strides. The fatigue was real the pain was there but I knew giving up wasnt an option, Scott looked at me and said, I dont run an extra lap of a triathlon for just anyone you know. Right then I knew I was going to make it. I told Scott it was a good time to keep praying did he have a mantra when he ran? He replied its not time for praying now, now its time to be grateful. Come on John keep moving pick it up, if your still talking you can run faster, Scott said in a straight low tone. Theres a reflection of Jesus I see in others sometimes. My prayer going into this race was something like this: Lord I dont know how I am going to do this but I know that I am going to do it all for you and I have faith my strength will be renewed reflecting on the scripture printed on my back. The Team FCA Endurance jersey I was wearing, with the question Why do you race? It has a license plate on the back that says Powered by Christ, and this scripture: Isaiah 40:31 Those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength. Sometimes for my self things are clearer later after a rest and my mind clears away the clutter to see the insights of the day. I can only tell you I was truly humbled to have an answer to prayer. Scott was there to carry my spirit along those last two miles where mine had been near exhaustion and my legs were unresponsive. We continued along the cobblestone path with the Gulf breeze moving through the palm trees and the view of crystal blue water & white sugar sands on North Captiva Island across the pass.

FCA Endurance, Swim Around Key West Relay & GCST team mate Professor Thomas A. Pear.

I could hear Thomas A. Pear shouting encouragement from the NE corner of the resort where Red Fish Pass meets the backcountry of Pine Island Sound as we approached, he was stationed where the course deviated from the marina walk back onto the golf cart path, just passed the last water station. I could hear his cheers Come on John you can do it! anything to take my mind from my laboring legs. Thomas yelled, take one of the cups of water! Big bright yellow Igloo coolers full of ice water had been placed at tables along the route where the resort staff had been were now replaced at this point with kids. The childrens smiling faces with their out stretched little hands clutching clear Dixie cups with water. As I was running by them I could hear Professor Pear again, Take one of those cups of water and pour it over your head and down your back! I lifted my hat and spilled the ice-cold water down my neck soaking my back quenching my skin and muscles. I didnt even realize how hot I was until it seemed like the cold of the water instantly was absorbed and heated past the boiling point steaming away before it could make it to my waist. It was the honestly the best two seconds of the day.

Cold water down the back smile! Running past Thomas A. Pears post.

We passed a few ladies who were ready to drop, crying, dragging it in just like my self. A group of three sisters were talking the last one out of quitting in the last mile. I heard the gals telling Scott where they were from, but now I was past talking I was working. The end was in sight. Where the course split to the second lap or to the finish line came up and the race official in a yellow shirt yelled just one tenth of a mile left! It sounded like a pretty long way to and I wished she hadnt told me. I tried to pick it up and like a big semi tractor-trailer pulling a heavy load the gears grinding and then I could see the tall inflatable blue finish line tower and felt every bit of energy channel into my legs for the last run to the line. I took off determined to at least beat the girl behind me I didnt know what she looked like and I never turned my head, I just wanted to break away with a surprise burst of speed, and I did, I surprised me! Scott quickly caught up with me and yelled go! Ill meet you on the other side! With a jump up on the curb and through the gate with a big growl I was

Men 40-44 Place O'All No. Name Age St Time Rank Swim Tran 1 Rank Bike 58 624 638 John Henry 44 1:45:42 24 9:01 4:59 56 42:14 2:20

Tran 2 Rank Run 59 47:09

The wonderful little old ladies put a medal around my neck, and another was taking the timing chips off of my ankles seemed almost to be asking for a hug, as she reached up to grab my hand I realized she was actually steadying me. She asked me to stand still and I realized I was wobbling. I recognized the photographer in front of me as the lady who had organized the Zehr Center contest that I won with over 2,236 votes thanks to every ones help to enter the Captiva Triathlon. She had contacted me before the race with a request to stop by after the race for a picture at the sponsors tent, we were immediately ready to get a picture for their website. I was a still a sweaty mess fortunately Coach Jill Moreland my GCST teammate came over and I got a hug and she made sure I was ready for the camera ripping the plastic away from my new finishers medal around my neck. And suggesting I straighten my run belt so my number that was now hanging by one toggle was straight again. An Amazing sense of peace and accomplishment mixed with pride and it was fun to meet Doctor Zehr and his staff and take some pictures. The race lawn was filled with athletes chatting, beer tent at one end, and a Jason deli tent at the other.

I took pictures with friends and even local Triathlon ledged Doctor Larry Black a friend of my Doctor and his daughter was my Red Cross Lifeguard course instructor. I got the feeling that most of the athletes move as soon as possible after the awards and times are posted towards gathering up their gear from the transition zone and heading for a hot shower and a cool bed. I was able to get cleaned up, grabbed a bite, then packed up the car, and headed over to their elaborate pool complex complete with all kinds of pools and slides. The hot water was almost as good as the cold, it allowed every aching muscle to just let go and turn into jelly. A couple of days of rest and I am sure I will be ready to pour it on in preparation for the Tropical Splash 5k Open Water Swim at Siesta Key on October 6th. And now that I the triathlon bug has taken a big bite

out of my tush I know I want to gear up, prepare a plan, and train much better before I try my hand at Tri again. Thank you each and everyone who voted for me and helped make my wish come true!