Survival of the Shawangunks Triathlon

I have a list of 5 races that I've decided I must do at least once in my life. They are unique and challenging races like Escape from Alcatraz. The Survival of the Shawangunks (SOS) triathlon is one of those races and the first that I would attempt to cross off my list.

I've been racing tri's on and off since I was a teenager and calling SOS a triathlon is grossly understating it. The race starts with a 30mi bike where you climb from New Paltz, NY into the Shawangunk mountains. From there you alternate between trail running (a total of 18.7mi) and lake swimming (2.1mi in very cold water and with shoes but no wetsuit) until you get to the top of Skytop Tower in the Mohonk Preserve. This was THE most difficult race I have ever done, even harder than an Ironman. But it's definitely the most beautiful, unique and fun one I've ever done too.

The journey to SOS began almost a year ago when registration opened on October 31, 2009. They limit entry to 150 people and you must qualify by finishing a half or full Ironman under a specified time. Regardless, the race filled up in 15mins!! I remember waiting until registration opened at midnight to submit my online entry as soon as possible.

From there I ran into a few road blocks. Immediately in January, within a couple weeks of getting back into training, my left knee started hurting. No one was able to diagnose the issue so I went 7 months before being able to bike and run again. This left me with only 7 weeks to get ready for the longest race (by far!) since my Ironman in 2002! Next once I finally did get back to training at the end of July, I ramped up too quickly and my right ankle started bothering me after a trail run. Ofcourse this was my fault but too late to cry over spilled milk.

The beauty of triathlon though is that fitness from one sport carries over to the others. Since I had no other options I'd ramped up my swimming (as my only way of staying in shape) this year

with the hope of being able to race a tri before the end of the year. This definitely worked for me because getting back into training proved relatively easy. And SOS would be my first real race of the year and would prove to be an unbelievable test of whether this plan worked.

Come race morning I was all of excited, anxious, and scared. Excited to get to race such an amazing event. Anxious because I always get anxious before a big race (and see it as a sign of mental readiness). And scared because I wasn't sure which previous injury was going to rear it's head today to keep me from finishing this dream race.

Race day was cool (highs of just over 60) and overcast so good conditions for most long distances races but on the cold side for this one given the altitude and the cold lake swims that if anything beg for a warmer day (you'll see why in a moment).

As with any long race, you want to start controlled and build throughout. So my goal on the bike

was simply to keep it feeling easy including on the 5mi, 1200ft climb at the end while also taking in plenty of food and fluids before we had to head off into the woods for remainder of the day. Everything went according to plan here. I'm not strong on the bike so was content to let people go by and finish in the middle of the pack. I knew I'd catch many of them on the runs and swims.

Into the first transition I felt good and was excited to hit the trails. This was also another unique portion of this race. You need a crew member to be with you to take your bike and give you your supplies for the rest of the day. Kelly Bird was my crew for the weekend and met me at T1 to help take my bike and get me off and onto the run (in fact, these pictures are what she captured while in the middle of her own 30mi run that day). Off into the woods with a big smile on my face!

Even though the first run leg (4.5mi) was mostly uphill and not easy, the going didn't really get tough until the first swim. What I will say about the run (and really of all of the run legs) is that they were beautiful. Imagine running through the woods and reaching the top of the hill to find these amazing views of the valleys around you and the clean, crisp mountain lakes. Breath taking! I couldn't help but smile every time I caught a view like that.

The first swim was 1.1mi to cross Lake Awosting. Amazing, clear, blue/green waters, what's there to complain right? Well for starters they were around 65 degrees, and we had to get across with our shoes (which I stuffed into my shorts and tri top) and no wetsuit. Now at the pre-race athlete's meeting they warned about leg cramps as your blood shifts from your legs (after running) to your arms (while swimming) all while dealing with cold waters. I figured I was immune to that (for whatever reason). Boy was I wrong! About half way into the first swim, my core started to really cool down and my legs felt the twings of cramping. About a quarter mile from from shore, that's when it hit - my left hamstring seized and I had already started shivering. I couldn't swim and had to tread water. This is when I first contemplated dropping out. What was I thinking? I was freezing cold, in agony from a major muscle cramp, and treading water in the middle of a lake! "Ok, pause for a minute, relax. If I just keep moving, maybe the cramping will go away." That's what I told myself and luckily it did. I made it to shore shivering and barely able to put my shoes back on but at least I made it. Onto the next run.

The rest of the day was just plain grueling. For the next 5.5mi run, I kept my swim cap on for warmth and drank hot tea at the aid station (I was still shivering while running for at least a couple miles). At the same time, I really opened it up and let 'er rip on the last half of this run. A few people passed me in the early part of this leg and then I got my legs back and passed them all back and then some. I was smiling again!

Next swim was a half mile to cross Lake Minnewaska. Although this swim was shorter, it was colder and had a rocky exit. I had a great swim but again had a hell of time getting my shoes back on because of the leg cramping. This alternating between running and cold water swimming really messes with your body!

If I thought things had gotten difficult before, now I was into the mental stage of the race. I came out of the water around 25th overall but little did I know this was really the beginning of the end for my body. I was in pain, my legs wouldn't stop cramping and I had an 8mi trail run in front of me before getting to Lake Mohonk. Kelly was in the middle of her long run and snagged the picture above. You can tell I was cold and I'm telling you I was in a lot of pain. Seeing one of your best friends who's also exceptionally inspirational in their own right when you're in that state was a huge help. It wasn't long before I got my legs back and started pacing with someone who had just passed me. I pushed really hard through the pain in the middle stage of this leg and held my own. That didn't last though, the pain was screaming in my head - my hips, my adductors, my knees, my ankles all hurt like hell and it was still cold out. In the final 3mi, I was reduced to a limp-walk and that's when a barrage of people went by and there was

nothing I could do. Sadly I had no other excuses either, my stomach felt fine and I felt hydrated too.

Finally to Lake Mohonk where the only thing on the other side was a 0.7mi run up to Skytop Tower. Getting out of Mohonk was going to be difficult though. We had to scale a rock wall while dealing with the leg cramps. I somehow made it over with only a cut and it wasn't until then that I knew for sure I would finish. A quick hike up a very steep hill to Skytop Tower and then a sprint down the finishing chute. 5:34:20!!

What an amazing day and what an amazing experience. This was the 25th anniversary race and the organizers did a great job (and obviously have some experience doing so). You get a unique group of athletes showing up to something like this and it's a crowd that can't be beat. And ofcourse, what an absolutely beautiful part of the world to have the opportunity to race in. All of this adds to a great day!

I can't believe I finished and I can't believe I was close to 5:30. I feel like I deserved a massage at the end, but too bad for me the masseuse spent most of her time feeding me soup and trying to warm me up as I lay there shivering.

Will I race SOS again someday? Maybe. Would I recommend it to anyone, absolutely!!