An Ironman’s Journey from Madison, Georgia to Mont-Tremblant.
Ironman. A title not bestowed lightly. By Hollywood or triathletes.
Swim 2.4 miles. Bike 112 miles. Run 26.2.
Don’t underestimate the .2.
Two triathlete friends and more importantly, two longtime personal friends, David Burbach and Joe Cardwell, embarked on that journey a year ago.
Yes, about a year ago, I stood in the late summer, warm twilight at a party. With the rolling green pastures of Morgan County as a backdrop, David told me in his casual, smiley Dabo way, “Jamie. I’ve signed up for an Ironman — in Quebec.”
It’s one of those moments I’ll remember forever.
You don’t just sign-up for an Ironman. You commit a full year of life to becoming an Ironman.
On the evening of August 17, 2014, in Mont-Tremblant, Canada, David and Joe crossed the Finish into that elite fraternity.
So here in their own words are their impressions of that quest. Joe was a little more free-form with his reply to my questions, so I pulled in all his thoughts where I thought they fit best.
Back story: Will Lewis, another racer that day, played baseball with Joe at the University of South Carolina. Will has done a few of these little endeavors before and lives in South Carolina. And I apologize if the photos are a little distorted from my contorting them to fit the blog.
On the beach, ready to start.
How and when did you decide to do this?
David: Will Lewis wanted to do one more Ironman. He signed up and talked Joe into it, then I got the email from
Joe to ask if I was in.
Joe: This has always been on my bucket list. You must have support at home and for the last five or more years I asked Kathryn “how about this year” and always got the easy (for me) “no” until last year. Kathryn and I knew that this journey was about priorities and that my training would have to be put in front of a lot of things. It definitely took a lot of support and understanding from the family.
There are closer Ironman races, why Mont-Tremblant?
David: Will wanted something more scenic than Panama City. He wanted to sign up for Lake Placid but it was closed out. The next e-mail was that we had signed up for Mont-Tremblant.
David and wife, Sarah.
What surprised you good/bad about the swim? The bike? The run?
David: The water temperature was great with the wet suit. And yes, wet suits really do help buoyancy and swim time.
My chain came off four or five times in the last 10 miles and my thighs were started cramping up. Then it rained the last four or five miles so the end of the bike ride was a little frustrating.
I loved the run being in kilometers with signs at each kilometer.
What did you think in transition coming off a 112 mile bike — about now heading out to run a marathon? Great question from Elise Faust’s inquiring mind . . .
David: I was happy to get into dry running clothes but was concerned having to run 26.2 miles since my thighs were cramping at the end of the bike ride.
Joe: After riding your bike for 112 miles you are so ready to get off that in some twisted way you are looking forward to starting the marathon.
Did you feel adequately trained? Would you do anything differently? Any advice to would be Ironmen.
David: Yes, I felt adequately trained and I don’t think I would have changed anything. My advice would be to commit, start training, and get in tune with and listen to your body.
Joe: I stuck as closely as possible to a training program that was developed by a successful coach, figuring who was I to second guess him? My advice would be to pick a plan from an experienced coach and trust it! I did have to make adjustment due to weather, calendar conflict, etc…
Who traveled to the race? Thoughts about family/loved ones and training for such an event.
David: Sarah (David’s wife), her sister and husband and my nephew. Sarah did a fantastic job planning, cooking and vacationing around my training schedule.
Joe: I was very happy to have what felt like an entourage: wife (Kathryn), kids (Mary Claire and John), sister and her boyfriend drove up from Boston with my niece. Not to mention the three other athletes and their crews. That also added a little pressure to finish. That is a long way for a lot of people to go for a DNF. (The dreaded Did Not Finish.) And it was kind of fun having my mom tell me every time we talked what a terrible idea this was. And how and I was crazy and would ruin my body.
Lowest point? Highest point? And this doesn’t mean race elevation. Mentally/physically.
David: I had two low points during training. A bike wreck in February that kept me from running or riding for a week and swimming for two weeks. The second low point was that I got a stomach bug in Honduras and didn’t train much the 3rd week of July and didn’t feel 100 % the week after we returned. Editor’s note: David has traveled on a church mission trip to Honduras the last decade of Julys.
The high was the Half Ironman in Macon, the end of May. My time was better than expected and recovery was very quick.
Race day high was at the beginning of the 2nd loop of the run when I told my nephew (Gene) that Sarah could go the the Ironman store, there was no doubt that I wouldn’t finish the last 13 miles.
Joe: The low point by far was finishing the first of two 13 miles loops on the run and approaching the sign that said ‘left to the finish line and go right to the second loop.’ All the while having to listen to crowd go wild as they minted new Ironmen. That was demoralizing.
The highlight was clearly the end of the marathon and running down the shoot. The crowd was incredible, hanging over the barricades, high fiving and cheering you on. Then finally standing at the finish line of something you were never certain you would be able to complete and hearing them say over the loud speaker “Joe Cardwell you are an Ironman” 15 hours and 10 mins after I started.
Three life-lessons you personally took away from this experience?
David:
* I love to eat! So when you are burning 30,000+ calories a month training you don’t have to be too disciplined in your eating habits.
* If you set a goal and develop a plan on how to achieve that goal! Discipline and time will get your there.
* Lofty goals are much easier to obtain when someone is striving for the same goal and working with you! Thanks Joe Cardwell.
Joe:
* Importance of setting big goals. If you set small goals you will only accomplish small things. Big things are not easy.
* Life is about priorities. Is this goal really that important to me? If so am I willing to prioritize it?
* The importance of planning. Fill in what needs to happen to get me from here to that big goal, and break it into smaller pieces.
First thought in your mind upon crossing the finish line?
David: I did it! I am an Ironman!
Joe: I just did that! I am an Ironman!
Editor’s note: They both really did write the same thing. Well, other than Joe adding a just.
Anything you’d like to add?
David: I was completely amazed by the number of friends that tracked Joe and me during the day.
Joe: Having David as a training partner was incredible. He is can do!
On a separate email Joe added, One thing I left out was that while I did this for my own reasons, it did make it a little extra special that I was on Rick’s bike.
Editor: Sadly, we lost our fearless Ironman Rick Spence to cancer –– and he was our little Cotton Patch Tri group’s only Ironman. Until now. I couldn’t help but think Rick enjoyed a front row seat watching David and Joe every step of the way.
What’s your next challenge — athletic endeavor or other?
David: That in itself is the challenge, determining the next great endeavor!
Joe was mum on his next challenge but said that he indeed was getting the Ironman tattoo on the back of his calf. Still waiting to hear David’s thoughts on the tattoo.
Love these men. So proud of them.
And an Ironman for me in a galaxy far, far away?
Never say never.
If there is anything you’d like to ask this newly-minted Men of Steel, please do so in the comments and I’ll be sure that they know to reply.
