Thoughts from CLPT athlete Maged Mounir Doss after becoming an Ironman at Santa Rosa.
Sick man racing , not Dead man walking.
That was me, racing my first Full distance while I’m in fever, and coughing !!
First time to Cali, didn’t pack any winter gear , living in Canada, 22 degree forecast is Summer for Canadian .. but weather was different, it was cold 12 and sadly caught a cold 😞
I rest the day before the race no medication ( I should take any, Airborne is recommended) , walk up race day full of adrenaline, no traces for any cold or flu .. wow its the IronMan day .. the long old dream coming to reality !!
Start the swim, water was cold, but I would warm up soon, no panic in the first few meters (as usual), started in the middle but got over it .. but near the end of the first loop the water became colder !! Went out and the air was warmer !! Continued the second loop and water was getting colder … I exceeded my turnover to warm my body but nothing got warmed !!
Finally out of the freezing water run to first transition, was shivering, couldn’t put my cycling gears my body was shaking… I had a fever and never knew .. all My thoughts was cold water!!
The bike was fun, just cold air while I was wet, and the urge to stop over for urine on each aid station!! It’s not me ..
My power slowly went down, and more stops , is this course has an end , hit by another cyclist cut my calf and knee,
90mile, 100, 110at last .. finally 8 hours plus bike , out of all my records ..
Well the run is my key training focal, I will catch up all delays ..
First steps into the run course, I’m coughing… badly .. what am I sick , I can’t breath !! What am gonna do ??
How can I finish it , first hour passed an only 7 k run, and the cough acting up…the fever is killing me.. it became darker, colder , 8 miles I put my jacket on …
It is a marathon to run and I am getting worse ..many times I thought of quitting , I wont finish , the cut off time won’t meet … I remember the motto of the race this year of Santa Rosa, “I will run till I can’t run, walk till I can’t walk, crawl till I cannot crawl …till I became an IronMan.”
Second lap is almost done , many encouraging racers, third one , I tried to push harder, less walking , but the cough kills, started to run short, power walk, run and so on , you look strong , people cheering, guys I cannot breath ..
It’s almost midnight, last lap , my legs want to fly , but my chest stopping it
Finally last turn, lights and music sound , I’m on the mat .. finishing the marathon, Maged Doss from Aurora Canada you are an Iron Man .. I couldn’t believe I made it .. first time kiss the medal .. was really valued one, for long long day ..
I sit down crying after, I can do better than that, I could beat that race …
I never knew how fit I am till I realized that I was a sick man racing .. fever, cold, bad dry cough, my body did not collapse.. usually on such conditions people go to bed, and rest, but I ran an IronMan !!!
Now I know how value my training was, thank you Cindy, many days I was shouting I cannot find time, or strength.. my new condition when I moved to a new city “new country “ no resources, no friends, locked all the weekends training, that paid back on the matt you are an IronMan……
Two days after met a guy , chit chat about the race in the Cable Car of loving City of San Francisco, he told me you are a real IronMan.. wonder why , I finished the race almost before the cutoff time, no proud of that, may be because I was sick and run it .. yeah Its an accomplishment, but I believe because I was challenging him to do his own ..
Race Director was saying next day of the race , share your achievement with others, inspire others, teach others to do stuff..
That is the real IronMan spirit, and I’m for it …Till next race , another challenge.. revenge time 🙂
