The 27 Year Kona Dream

You are probably double checking your math skills, but the former Mathematics teacher at Grey High in Port Elizabeth assures David Smith that it was a 27 year goal and not a 7 year goal, so David decided to rewind and find out more about the the significance of this 27 year Dream.

In 1985 there was an Ultra Triathlon in Durban offering a trip to the Ironman in Hawaii for the winner. Riddle thought he could challenge for the trip of a lifetime to Hawaii, but finished 2nd to Manfred Fuchs in 1985 and 1986, before losing by a minute to the late Keith Anderson in 1987.

Alec Riddle & Manfred Fuchs

A brief flirtation with Ultra Distance running & the Comrades Marathon kept Riddle away from Triathlons until his return in 1990 coincided with a Durban Ultra win and the prize being a trip to the Ironman in Hawaii.

Riddle was denied the opportunity to line up alongside his heroes Dave Scott and Mark Allen due to a sporting ban on South Africans at the time, due to the Government’s Apartheid Regime. (Two years later Nelson Mandela was released from prison and all South Africans were welcome to compete Internationally)

Nobody saw or heard of Riddle at a Triathlon again, until he resurfaced at Ironman South Africa in 2005, considerably overweight

The early days (2004)

but he completed the race in memory of his teenage Stepson (who tragically passed away in 2004) in a shade under 13 hours. At the awards evening something stirred within and Riddle set himself a goal of qualifying for Kona, Hawaii in 2010 the year he would turn 50.

Riddle missed the 2006 edition (Achilles); finished sub 11 in 2007; was absent again in 2008 (Deep Vein Thrombosis); blew in 2009 (6hr 15 marathon) before eventually winning his Age Group (50-54) in 2010 with a 9h57.

So he travelled halfway across the world to Boulder, Colorado to prepare only to have a high speed bike accident two weeks before Kona. Riddle had shattered his clavicle in five and instead of flying to Hawaii he flew home and spent his 50th Birthday on an operating table.

Pictured with Dave Scott the day after shattering his clavicle in Boulder 2010

7 weeks later Plan B had been hatched and he was in America once more, on the start line of the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater, Florida. His goal was to get a finisher’s medal before visiting his Father who was dying of lung cancer. To everyone’s surprise Riddle not only finished, but he ended up 3rd in his Age Group in a time of 4hrs 31 minutes.

Unfortunately the medal came at a cost as the Titanium plate holding Riddle’s collar bone together had snapped, so after visiting his Dad he had to return home for yet another operation.

In 2011 Riddle’s Father lost his fight against the Big C just prior to Ironman South Africa, where Riddle failed to qualify for Kona with a 10hr04 Ironman. This seemingly spurred Riddle on to train harder and aim higher and 8 months later he was implementing Plan B once more, but this time climbed 2 steps higher on the podium, winning his Age Group at the 70.3 Worlds in Las Vegas.

For most this would have been the pinnacle and time to revert back to focussing on his career and family life, but Riddle had unfinished business as he hadn’t yet achieved his ultimate dream from 1985, which was participating in the Ironman proper in Kona, Hawaii.

In 2012 Riddle qualified for Hawaii for the 3rd time and he was hopeful that it would be 3rd time lucky in his quest to get all the way to the Big Island. To prepare and ensure he had the best possible chance of success, Riddle went to Boulder in July to prepare at altitude and in the Northern Hemisphere summer, staying with world renowned coaches Darren and Colleen De Reuck who he incidentally used to coach when they were students at University in Port Elizabeth some 30 years ago.

Amazingly both Darren (2012) and Colleen (2013), have been crowned Ironman 70.3 World Champions, just as their former coach was in 2011…. and they were all based at the same home in Boulder while preparing, which is quite an astonishing fact.

Riddle had trained alongside former Ironman great Raynard Tissink for two years and admits to being Tissink’s shadow on the bike for two Southern Hemisphere summers, while providing some guidance to Tissink on the running side, which was Riddle’s forte having coached more than half a dozen sub 29 minute 10km runners and a few 2hr10min marathoners. “Training on the bike with Raynard toughened me up and helped me to become super strong on the bike, enabling me to use my run as a weapon'” enthused Riddle. I also learnt a lot from Raynard on how to build towards an Ironman.

Riddle was also able to spend 3 Northern Hemisphere summers in Boulder, receiving expert guidance from Boulder Coaching’s Simon Lessing, a 5 time world champion and Darren De Reuck who invited Riddle to join his training group.

Alec with Boulder Coaching’s coaches Simon Lessing and Darren De Reuck

Swim training was at Flatirons AC under the watchful eye of Simon, as well as 6 time Kona winner Dave Scott.

So Riddle had clearly left no stone unturned in his quest to be competitive, taking a few months leave, training to what he felt was his maximum, focussing on his nutrition and core and being supported by both his family and by Isuzu, for whom he was a Brand Ambassador.

Riddle arrived in Kona almost 4 weeks ahead of race day, in an effort to acclimatize and familiarize himself with the course, spending weeks training with Kyle Buckingham, who a year later would set the Amateur world record at Kona. As race day neared, Riddle declared himself ready and not many would bet against the former World 70.3 Champion achieving his goal of a Podium placing in the 50-54 AG.

Alec’s Kona Ironman race report.

Brothers in Arms

Wow, sport is amazing! Read how 8 year old Conner does Triathlons with his 6 year old brother Cayden, who has cerebral palsy, in toe!

http://triathlon.competitor.com/2013/01/news/the-long-brothers-named-2012-sportskids-of-the-year_69251

My SA Ironman 70.3 RELAY race, inspired by Team Garwood and blind athlete Hein Wagner.

As adults sometimes we forget to dream and we settle into a comfort zone where time just breezes on by and waits for nobody. Yes, I was once a spectator of life and in no time at all I had lost a Decade just like that. Fortunately I awoke before I checked out of Mother Earth with the ‘dance’ still inside of me and I have once again become an active participant in Life, chasing my dreams.

This past Sunday I did the SA Ironman 70.3 in East London, an event which comprised a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycle and a 21km run. Having hit a wonderful high in winning my age category at the World Ironman 70.3 Championships in Las Vegas last September, I was probably expected to be at the forefront of my age category in East London.

However, things don’t always go according to plan and although I was better prepared than ever before for the East London event, the script had me facing challenges I had never anticipated or would even have dreamt about in my wildest nightmare. But, I am learning to roll with the punches and deal with the hands as they are dealt and amazingly enough, wonderful opportunities very often surface from beneath the obstacles, as long as you have an open mind.

Usually I do all of these events as a solo competitor, so doing this event as a Relay was a totally new experience for me, but it turned out to be quite pleasant in the end…..and if you are confused, then I suggest you read on, as it was quite an amazing experience.

Race day dawned ever so perfectly, with great weather and ocean conditions and I had enjoyed the perfect sleep, so awoke excited and keen to do battle with not only my fellow age groupers (50-54), but also with some of the promising youngsters in the race too. I am fortunate in that I tend to handle pressure fairly well, in fact I thrive on it, so I was fairly relaxed lining up on Orient Beach for the start of the swim leg, after saying a quick Good Bye to Michelle, Camryn and Jamie.

I had a great start (Wave 3) and was swimming really well until we caught the back of the ‘Wave 2’ group just before the second buoy and then I lost my way a little, but was still pleased to exit in 32 odd minutes, good enough for 6th in my age group. A reasonably neat transition and out onto the bike course for the hilly 90km bike leg in seemingly perfect conditions. I was ready to test what I thought was some really good bike fitness, which when combined with a lean body (5kg lighter than 2011) could lead to a really good time.

So the first leg of my Relay was going well, as I was flying (for me) through the field, even though I was trying not to push high Watts up the climbs. I was in my element, as I was doing what I love most, I was competing and testing my physical and mental abilities…. ….But then, things started to go pear shaped as I felt my rear wheel deflating at about the 22km mark. I remember saying to myself stay calm, this is not an issue and I pulled over to insert some slime and air from a special canister I had purchased in America. That worked like a charm, or so I thought and I was back on the road in no time and quite chuffed that I had only lost a minute.

Then, disaster struck as the tyre went flat within a kilometre…. Now you are faced with agonising decisions, do you try one of your precious bombs and hope the slimb will hold, or do you change the tube first to be sure? I opted for what I thought was more certainty and less risk, thinking I could get this changed and still be a contender, so I whipped out all my spares and probably did a world record change….. back onto the bike and in responding to the banter of some of the cyclists I was passing, I said well let’s hope that is the last puncture for the day….. only to hear BANG! It was an almighty burst and in the heat of the moment, in the midst of the race I roared my disapproval and I’m not proud of the word that left my mouth to express my utter frustration, so sincere apologies to all those in earshot.

On pulling over, somebody shouted that my valve had shot into the middle of the road…. we do strange things under pressure, so I ditched my bike and went searching for a valve I wouldn’t need (you brainless idiot I thought later), as I was going to change another tube. As I was carrying two tubes, this was literally and figuratively the last throw of the dice. I checked the inside of the Tyre and found nothing, so made the change and applied my final ‘bomb’ and all of a sudden another explosion….. well I think I joined the extreme Frisbee group, as my wheel got tossed deep into the bush and my race was well and truly done!

I had spent the past 10-15 minutes trying to remain in contention, but now I was frustrated, disappointed, depressed and agitated. I managed to retrieve my wheel from the bushes and thankfully most of those who came past (and it felt like thousands) shouted some encouragement and some even offered their spares. At this stage I was starting to accept my fate and was thinking only of finishing, the problem was that most normal tubes don’t fit my race wheels, so I was stranded and awaiting the back-up vehicle. I saw the ever smiling Paddy Cloete cycle past and I joked about a Chapter (“I will always Paddle back out”) from Shaun Thomson’s book, although I wasn’t sure I saw the humour in it at the time.

A lift was offered and it was so tempting and I recall thinking I could go and support my mates from the comfort of the side lines and fortunately I had the presence of mind to say not yet. Then, all of a sudden, my race, my whole day changed…… whilst awaiting the back-up vehicle, Team Garwood, comprising Father Kevin and his ever so brave son Nicholas*, came cycling past and in a moment my outlook changed. I started reflecting on how fortunate I am to be able to do these events, both in South Africa and abroad and in an instant I knew I was going to finish and finish with a smile on my face.

(*Nicholas was born in May 1998, six weeks premature. The umbilical cord was wrapped twice around his neck and he suffered from a condition known as Microphthalmia, where one of his eyes had not developed. It was not until he was six months old, however, that doctors discovered he had a severe and debilitating brain injury that would prevent him from ever being able to walk or talk.)

After what seemed like an eternity the back-up vehicle arrived and I was given more spares and after one more failed attempt to get back on the road, I received an adaptor and a foot pump and eventually got my rear wheel functioning again. You may be asking about the RELAY Team, well you see my first leg was as a determined competitor, perhaps a little too consumed in his goals, maybe forgetting to appreciate what life is really all about. As a competitor I had completed a 1.9km swim and a quarter of the cycle route before the ‘Team Garwood’ transformation and I took the Baton from the competitive Riddle, to complete the second leg as a fully-fledged participant.

I was going to attempt to do the final three quarters of the bike and the 21km run as a participant, with no hope of winning, no podium, no slots…. I was going to do what thousands of people do, people who make our sport what it is and I was going to encourage them, I was going to embrace the spectators and appreciate the volunteers.

It was a new experience for me, it was foreign and initially uncomfortable as I was no longer in my comfort zone. You see most competitors only know one world and that is to compete, to be singularly focussed, to cut out most of what happens in a race. So here I was seeing a race through new eyes, from a very different perspective and I loved every minute of it and I want to salute all those who tested themselves, congratulate all those who finished, in particular the 1,000 plus novices.

Very often we all get too consumed with the pressing or urgent issues, rather than the important issues. We get caught up chasing material things and measuring ourselves in terms of worldly standards and I am guilty of that too. Perhaps we need to stay in our lane and not aspire to be in somebody else’s lane, so sometimes we need to pause, we need to reflect, we need to appreciate the challenges that Nicholas Garwood and his lion hearted Dad, Kevin and supportive Mother, Cheryl, face each and every day of their lives. Unfortunately they didn’t make the finish line, as they missed the cycle cut off by about a minute and I hope they will return, I hope they will persevere, as when I caught up with Team Garwood on the bike, I rode next to them for a while, offering some encouragement and I saw the fire, the light in young Nicholas’ eyes. He so badly wants to cross that finish line and claim his medal, something many of us take for granted. Believe me if I could and if necessary, one day, I would gladly swop my competitive ticket, to guide Nicholas around the course, in the hope that he can fulfil one of his Dreams.

Then whilst running you witness a remarkable man like Hein Wagner, who is blind, taking on the Ironman 70.3 and you realise just how much we have to be grateful for. I was fortunate to accompany Hein to the Korean Ironman in 2006, not as his guide, but as a friend and fellow competitor. And when you spend time in his company, you get a new appreciation for the gift of sight. Perhaps Hein can’t see the way we can, but he has a clearer Vision of Life. He doesn’t have blinkers like we do, he can’t see the course, or the path he elects to follow, but he does so boldly and he hasn’t given up on his dreams, he does not dwell in a comfort zone, he does not let time or life just breeze on by and neither should we.

With Ironman anything is Possible! It’s time to start Dreaming and Appreciating the gift of Life.

God Bless these Ironman Warriors!!!

Thanks to all of my sponsors for their support, in particular Isuzu…. I chose the longer road this time and it was well worth the ride!!