ARRIVAL: I checked in last minute and was handed  #73.  Wow. That is a low number, seeing as it has well over 2,800 people this year.  I weigh in at a svelt 204. Thank God I had my keys, cell phone, wallet and skateboarder shoes on or I might've been kicked out of the clydesdale division.  I asked the guy weighing me in if I was the winner of the fattest-guy-weigh-in contest.  He said, "No, man. There was a guy like 280."
Now that is what I am talking about.  Good for him.

 

So, then I get my timing, chip, blah, blah, blah ...and people are like, "How did you get such a low number? You must be really good."  HAHAHAHAHAH.  I couldn't lie. "No maam, I guarantee I am a lot of things, but good doesn't come to mind." 
I take that back. I am the best at what I do - it's just that no one has to know I am the only one doing it.

 

Back to the hotel.  They make you get to an Ironman 2 days before the race. Crazy! That is not old School. To me, Old School would be show up and race that day. 

So, I actually got some sleep.  My daughter is back in Groveland, so it was nice and quiet. 

 

Up, bright and early the next day to hit the ocean.  HUUUGGGGEEE phoebia about open water.  I saw the movie JAWS and believed every second of it. So, I start swimming and the next thing I start seeing is jellyfish everywhere.  Started out cute little pink ones and then they started growing until I saw the full fledged "Man of War"  tentacle ones.  This SUCKS.  Man, at that point I wanted to rent a wetsuit. But, I gutted it out for a full lap and scampered onto the sand like a little girl.  Man, I am a wimp.  But Old School Ironman has an image to uphold.  So, I mentally just kept telling myself "Self, there are 2,799 plus more people that can get stung before you."  Hopefully the jelly fish will like black wetsuit color than overweight flesh color.

 

I went back to the hotel to pull out my Redline Flight model BMX bike out of the trunk. This thing is awesome.  I love it.  I meet up with a friend of mine who is a pro female.  I thought she might blow it off due to being embarassed riding with Old School, but she totally redeemed herself by showing up.  We rode for 25 miles and she was coasting at 17-18 mph while I was holding on for dear life.  I was just pretty psyched that she didn't just leave me in the dust, even though she could have easily. 
Now, I figure ... I am ready. 

Pounded another gallon of water, and waited until my wife and baby showed up.  Ate some dinner and went to bed.

 

RACE DAY: I slept OK.  5am rolled around quickly and the "what is wrong with me?!"  thought starts creeping in my head.  Oh well, down to the beach.
Wearing my 100% cotton Redline tee and my cargo shorts, I skip body marking in stealth mode once again.  Walk over to the timing mat and give a kiss to the wife and daughter and say "see you in 16 or so."  Hours that is. People look at me up and down as usual and I give them the big "Was'up?"  I tossed my Redline tee, with Old School B.O.  in to the crowd and get ready to rumble. 

The gun goes off.  Oh no, where are those jellyfish?!  I didn't see any Man of War's but was still freaking seeing the little pink buggers.  Lap #2,  I stroll in at around 1 hour and 48 minutes.  Slow, but typical for me.  As I walk up the beach I get the usual "You didn't just swim 2.4 miles in cargo shorts, did you?!" look from many in the crowd. "Haven't you ever heard of DRAG, man?  I hope you aren't wearing those on the bike." 
I give everyone the two thumbs up and get some applause.  It is going to be a long day.

 

I jump on my Redline bike, still dripping with ocean water from the soaked cargo shorts.  The crowd goes crazy chanting "Old School! Old School!" - reading my name from the Redline number plate that's zipped to my bars.  I start out cruising; a little nervous because I am going over 13 mph, which I need to maintain in order to not get kicked off the course. But I feel OK and the bike is running smooth as silk, thanks to South Lake Bicycles (props to Mark Marshall in Minneola, Florida.)

I cruise by some people, and a lot of people cruise by me. This year, the race officials and bike techs are the ones who seem to love the Redline bike I'm on.  They snapped photos, asked for info to get a hold of me after that race.  Too funny. 
The best comments I got were from some women though:  "Love your helmet'  I was like "HUH", but the Pryme design really got them going.  So, not only is the bike getting attention, but so is the halfshelel Pryme-8 helmet. Flat black. Seems that Old School and Redline are really taking off. 

 

Well, the bike portion of the Iron Man ends and I crash into a couple guys in front of me at the finish.  I take a digger.  Real smooth, but hey I just rode 112 miles on a Redline BMX!  The people loved it.  So, I gave them the Pee Wee Herman " I meant to do that." 

Gave my wife and daughter another kiss and headed off for the run.  5:30 minutes after or so, the finish line is in sight.  I cross the finish at 15:07 .. which is one hour and 30 minutes faster than Ironman Arizona in Tempe. 

 

This bike rocks.  Thank you Redline.  HERE WE COME IRONMAN LOUISVILLE AUGUST 2010 - raising funds for Kentucky Childrens Health and Fitness Fund. 

You can also check out the article on Old School Ironman coming out soon on ironmanlive.com

 

Time to decompress and get ready for Ironman #10. 
--Glen Jusczyk