Andrew Mullenix

I’m back in Seattle, and have had a little time to reflect on my race at the Ironman World Championship a week ago. I would like to share a little bit about my journey to this point.

After an exceptional year in 2005, qualifying for the Ironman World Championship in my first attempt, I set lofty goals for myself. Following two failed attempts in 2006 and 2007 to qualify again, I found myself feeling quite depressed. My state of imbalance led Chandra to strongly encourage me to forgo racing in 2008, as I was no longer enjoying the sport. I had also neglected many of my relationships, including with Jesus Christ and with my wife. The manner in which I pursued this dream had left a path of destruction in my life that I spent the next year repairing.

After the painful work of being humbled, reprioritizing my life, and learning to love triathlon again, I was blessed to have 2009 and 2010 to pursue the dream again.

I arrived in Hawai’i on Sunday. My training during this phase is referred to as taper. Primarily, taper allows your body to fully recover and store fuel for the race and the only mistake I could make is to do too much. My workouts were short and included some “race pace” intervals to keep my body sharp without tiring out. I spent time with friends and family who had traveled to Hawai’i to cheer me on. The night before, I had a special dinner with everyone and went to bed early. (Thanks, Bill & Joan and Ben & Laura for hosting!)

Saturday, I woke up at 0200 and ate four eggs, two waffles, and a yogurt. I also drank an Ensure. Eating this early allows me to fuel up for the day and still have time for digestion to occur. Everything I consumed after this time, until the race was over, was liquid. I laid back down and tried to sleep, but mainly I was trying to clear my mind of distractions. My final wake up call came at 0400, and I consumed another Ensure and began sipping sports drink mixed with BASE amino acid.

From the condo, we drove with my parents and good friends, Nathan & Michelle, to a parking lot near the race start and finish. Chandra and I walked to body marking and transition, while the rest of the “Kona Crew” reserved a prime spot on the sea wall to watch the start. I inflated my tires, and loaded my bike with nutrition, which included more sports drink mixed with BASE amino acid and a bottle full of Hammer Perpetuem & Gel mixed thickly for enough calories to get me to 60 miles on the bike. I consumed approximately 450 calories/hour during the cycling portion. I also used NUUN, an electrolyte tablet I mix with water in a bottle that hangs on my bars in front of my bike.

I sat with Chandra until just before the professional start at 0630 and I made my way down to the water. I was nervous but calm knowing that I had prepared well. The water in Hawai’i is so clear and warm; it felt good to enter the water and finally begin the race. I swam along the sea wall and found the “Kona Crew” for one final smile before I started the race. I had decided to start far to the outside to avoid the chaos near the inside and middle. The name-of-the-game during a mass swim start is efficiency and energy conservation, and fighting with other swimmers is neither of those.

The cannon finally fired, and the race began. I had lots of open water and got into a good group of swimmers. I had hoped for a faster swim time, but felt really good when I exited the water. Swiftly, I moved through the transition ready to get on my bike and make up some time.

I settled in and when my heart rate came down, I switched from sports drink and NUUN to Perpetuem, then started consuming calories to replace what I had used during the swim.

Most of the bike portion is on the “Queen K” highway. It cuts through the lava fields making it extra hot from the radiant heat, and windy as its wide open and exposed to the trade winds that blow off the ocean. After mile 30, I came up on a large group of athletes and decided to try to pass them to avoid a drafting penalty. It took a while to make my way through the group and some of them were drafting, but there wasn’t a race marshal near us at that point. I made it to the front, but the group sped up and they began passing me back. The rules state that the overtaken athlete has to drop back when passed and pretty soon I was riding easy because everyone was passing me back, one after another. Finally, a race marshal saw what was going on, and a few athletes received a 4-minute penalty. The group broke up one the climb to Hawi and the wind really started blowing. It was gusting from each side at different points and I never knew from which side to expect it. At one point it blew me from the white line to the center line, and I felt like my front wheel was coming off the ground!

Coming down from Hawi was even scarier with the same winds and higher speeds. I reached 45 mph at one point and was holding on for dear life. I was feeling really good, and decided to push a little coming back into town. My only concern was the leg cramps I was fighting. I wasn’t able to pee until the final mile of the bike and it turned out to be the only time I peed during the race. I stored NUUN tablets broken into ¼ pieces that I would place under my tongue to aid in electrolyte replacement and combat cramping.

Again, I moved quickly through the transition to the run. Before 1 mile, my right hamstring and left quad cramped up on me. I had to stop and stretch them out, and I knew I was in trouble if I didn’t do something fast. Bill, one of the “Kona Crew”, saw it happen and reported to the rest of the group and they were all praying for me! I stepped up the NUUN tablets and took in lots of fluids at the aid stations. I also got encouragement from some awesome signs made by fellow-triathlete Chris and his sister Anne while I was climbing up Palani Hill. Pretty soon I was feeling okay again. This being the World Championship, there were dozens of athletes near me and I knew it was going to be a fight to the finish. I ran with Cd’A pro champion and fellow BASE athlete, Linsey Corbin, for most of the run portion, which was kind of cool.

When I entered the Energy Lab, a famous 2-mile out-and-back stretch that moves off of the highway and is known for less wind and stifling hot temperatures, I was feeling quite good. When I exited the Energy Lab, I was not feeling so good, and had 6 more miles left to run. I knew there were people on my heels. I dug in and ran as well as I could, trying not to think about the pain. I counted my footsteps, barely making it from aid-station to aid-station. I was barely surviving, grasping at Coca-Cola, sports drinks, sponges, and filling my hat with ice. I would be re-energized for about ¾ of a mile and barely make the last ¼ mile to the next aid station.

I was cramping up again and had to stop several more times in the final two miles, including on Ali’i Drive, less than ¼ of a mile from the finish. I could see my sub 9-hour Ironman escaping me as the seconds ticked, while I stretched my locked up hamstring with hundreds of people cheering me on.

I did make it! 9:00:21 and even stopped to kiss Chandra in the stands. I was 50th overall in the world at the Ironman distance, 8th amateur to finish, 3rd in my age-group, and my best time on the most difficult course on the biggest stage! I am blessed!

I’m so thankful to have had this opportunity, to travel to one of the most beautiful places in the world and do what I love. To the Kona Crew… Thanks to Chandra for making the sacrifices you have. You lifted me up when I was down, and helped me come back to center when I needed it. Thanks to my mom and dad; you guys have supported me since I was a kid doing these races! Dad, it’s been great to race alongside of you. Ben and Laura, you believed in me even when things went bad and celebrated the great successes, too. You know me so well, and know how to encourage me. Chris, I’m so glad you introduced yourself on the Cd’A stage in ’05. I admire your accomplishments and love for the sport. Anne, I’m so fortunate to have had your cheers on the sidelines at Chris’ races. Loved the Kona signs! Nathan, it was special to have you at this race because of the history we have together. Thanks for being so interested in what’s important to me. Michelle, it was great to have you along for the ride. Bill and Joan, it’s so cool to know our adult friends’ parents! And, I’m happy to call you my friends and share this experience with you. Caroline and family, I didn’t see you while I was racing, but I know you were there. Thanks for organizing the Nutrias Seattle swimmers!

A special thank you to Speedy Reedy Multisport for your friendship, support, and expertise. BASE Performance Nutrition, your products have helped me perform at my best; thank you!