Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Half Ironman, Graft Versus Stent, Graft Won!

Name  Country  Div Rank  Gender Rank  Overall Rank  Swim  Bike  Run  Points     FitOldDog and Pauline had a great race, and the graft (Pauline’s) beat my stent (Rupert) by a lot. Photo by Bob.

Kurt Kahl (left) and Bob Scott, both great athletes, even older than FitOldDog, providing him with much needed inspiration to keep going with this great sport. Photo by FitOldDog with permission.

Pauline and I had a very enjoyable, though hot, race at the 2015 Eagleman Half Ironman event, in Cambridge, Maryland, last weekend. Pauline left me far behind, but we both finished unhurt, unlike a number of people carried away in ambulances with heat stress or dehydration.

Rupert (my Cook Zenith Stent Graft) and I were really looking forward to this race, not expecting a fast time, and not really competing with Pauline and her abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) graft. To win is to be uninjured at the start line, and do ones best – that’s it.

I had planned a very, run recovery, slow race, especially for the 1.2-mile swim (which was very pleasant) and the 56-mile bike ride (during which I stopped to rescue a young and clearly terrified, or at least confused, turtle, around which hundreds of bikes were whipping by).

Upon arrival at the race registration, I once again encountered two of my favorite, inspiring characters, Kurt Kahl and Bob Scott, both great athletes. We all need such role models, they help a lot, so thanks guys.

Pauline and FitOldDog, with their support crew, Pauline’s husband, Bob, and Rick with his delightful dog, Silver. Thanks, guys!

It was good to feel that my run is finally coming back. It’s time to hire a coach for Ironman Australia, as I’ve surely got to pick up my pace, now that pesky sub-luxated pelvis is fixed. I walk-ran the race, but whilst running I really ran, picking objects along the way to set switch points. I went pretty easy, because of the heat, hearing ambulance sirens in the distance, frequently. We saw one person collapse as they came over the finish line, having to be carried off on a stretcher  – I think this is a big mistake. Better a DNF (did not finish) than a DOA (dead on arrival). I hope they are OK!

I much appreciate the encouragement of Rick Fee and Silver, who drove up from Carrboro, NC, to support us, and the patience of Pauline’s husband Bob, waiting around in the blazing sun.

Another great benefit of competing in triathlons, is that you get to visit fascinating places, where I camp if I can. In this case, I erected my tent once again at the Tailors Island Family Campgrounds, where I was treated well, as always. It is wonderful to cook your supper on the Chesapeake Bay, watching wildlife, including Bald Eagles, swooping down to pull fish from the sea.

View of the Chesapeake Bay from FitOldDog’s cooking spot at the Tailors Island Family Campground. Photo by FitOldDog.