2014 Season in Review

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2014 Season in Review

My quest began Thanksgiving 2013, when I decided I would take one shot to qualify for Kona by winning my age group at Eagleman 70.3. I was in the midst of my surgery rotation as a third year medical student and with residency fast approaching this would likely be my last chance to make the trip to the Big Island for an indefinite period of time. I signed-up for the race, but put training on hold for several more months of demanding rotations on the hospital wards.

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Ironman World Championships-Shoot for the Moon, Podium at Kona

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Ironman World Championships-Shoot for the Moon, Podium at Kona

After a decent night of sleep, I awoke 15 minutes before my alarm was set to go off race morning. I sat at the table with the lights dimmed and ate what would be my last meal of real food for the day. It was still pitch black outside, not even a hint of dawn, as I listened to the waves crashing against the lava wall through the darkness. I picked at my bowl of oatmeal and Nutella; my appetite dissipated as my nervousness swelled up deep inside me. I powered through and finished eating before my parents arrived to pick me up.

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Kona Race Week Highlights

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Kona Race Week Highlights

Monday October 6

We had an early flight that departed Philadelphia at 6am. I had set my alarm for 3:30am, but awoke almost an hour before and didn’t even bother going back to sleep, I was too excited! It was still a scramble to get out of the door given the fact that it is impossible to pack light for any race, let alone an Ironman. Checking the bikes was no easy feat given confusion over the fees and I ended up being the last person on the plane to SFO. Looking around I did not see any other triathlete, but that all changed on the second leg. Even from halfway down the terminal in SFO I could spot the compression socks and M-dot paraphernalia. I knew I was in the right place!

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2014 Ironman 70.3 World Championships-Racing for Myself

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2014 Ironman 70.3 World Championships-Racing for Myself

I was right on target, feeling great, and having the race of my life. Adrenaline was pumping through my body and I was excited to get off of the bike in T2 and throw down an awesome run. Then, with less than seven miles to go on the bike, I shifted down going up a short steep roller and felt my chain jump and kept pedaling, only to watch it fall off between my crank and my frame. I jump of off my bike and ran to the side of the road and tried to put my chain back on, but I could not get it out. The chain was stuck and I could not pull it out.

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