(Huge thank you to blog reader Caroline for snapping some pictures of Ryan at the finish! So thoughtful!)
For those unfamiliar with a Half Ironman, it’s a triathlon and participants complete a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run. Ryan has been training for the race for several months and the boys and I wanted to be there to cheer for him and support him as he tackled such a big goal. Today’s blog post is a recap of the race from my perspective, but a few people expressed interest in a Q&A-style post from Ryan about the race, so if that is of interest, please let me know and leave any questions you might have for him in the comments section.
The Ironman Village
We attended the Ironman Village expo with Ryan the day before the race and that was very helpful for all of us from a logistical standpoint. Ryan picked up everything he needed for the race and I was able to connect with other spectators. I spoke with a handful of people about their game plan going into the race and took the tips I received to heart.
One of the most consistent tips I heard from supporters of previous races was to not try to see your athlete on the bike. Apparently it’s very challenging to spot your athlete when they’re riding so fast and they may not even see you for the very same reason. That helped me eliminate the desire to see Ryan on his bike ride and focus on getting our crew to spots where we could see him and he could see us and we could hopefully boost his morale.
For our family, this looked like the transitions and the finish. We saw Ryan at the end of every section and were able to cheer for him as he wrapped up the swim, began the bike, finished the bike, started the run and finished the race. I worried that the transitions would be packed and we’d miss him but since the race is so long and athletes finish hours apart, it never felt too congested. The finish line was definitely the most popular spot, but everyone was respectful of each other and if you told someone your athlete was about to finish, people had no problem letting you get a prime spot.
I very heavily relied on the Ironman tracker app which was fantastic and let me know when we could expect to see Ryan at each transition.
Ryan’s First Half Ironman
On the day of the race, Ryan was up at 4 a.m. to eat and stretch and I joined him around 5:30 a.m. Ryan booked our family a beach rental a little less than a mile from the start of the race which was extremely helpful because it allowed him to walk to the race start without the need for us to wake the boys and get everyone rockin’ super early before a busy day.
Swim
Soon after Ryan left, I got dressed and apparently Chase and Ryder sensed the race day energy because they were up a little before 6:30 a.m. and full of excitement. As they got dressed, I loaded up our double stroller with snacks, race signs and water bottles and then got Rhett up for the day.
We left our beach townhouse at 7 a.m. and walked to the swim transition which was about a mile away. It was so, so helpful to be able to walk to this location and not worry at all about parking, especially since a lot of roads were blocked off for the race.
It was a gorgeous morning and as we talked about the swimmers beginning the race in the ocean, Chase said, “Sharks really like to feed early in the morning.” We all agreed that so many people swimming at one time would make a lot of noise that wouldn’t interest any sharks.
About halfway into our walk, I got a notification on my phone that said Ryan began his race! I was so impressed with the tracker app because it showed his exact location in the water and sent me another notification when he got out of the water so we knew when to look for him running toward the transition area.
Something about watching an Ironman is very emotional and I surprised myself by crying when I saw the first woman come through the first transition. She was beaming and I am truly in awe of the dedication, motivation and determination of the Ironman athletes.
As I tracked Ryan’s swim, I kept double checking his time because he seemed to be really flying! Ryan spent a lot of time training for the swim early morning in the lake near our house because, at the beginning of his training, he said the swim made him the most nervous. (By the end of his training his nervousness switched to the bike mostly because most of his bike training took place on a stationary bike in our garage until he found a bike to borrow from a friend.) Seeing him rock such a competitive swim time was incredible!
Bike
The boys and I were stationed right around a curve and it was so fun to see Ryan break out into a big smile when he saw us. We stayed in our same spot so we could see him take off on his bike and then headed back to the townhouse for some food and playtime. We spent two hours at our home base and the boys played outside while I constantly checked in with Ryan’s pace on the bike.
By 10 a.m., it was time to head back out so we could catch Ryan at his bike transition. We parked in a parking garage near the transition area which worked well and didn’t feel too chaotic. We easily claimed a spot at the transition entrance and an unexpected bonus of lugging the double BOB stroller around all day is that it doubled as a stool of sorts for the big kids so they could stand on the end and see Ryan over the corral fencing.
We were there for about 10 minutes before Ryan came through and I was so relieved to see him looking strong with a smile on his face as he high-fived the boys. Throughout Ryan’s training he always said, “If I can just make it to the run, I’ll be okay,” so it was nice to know he was about to enter the area of the race that felt the most comfortable to him.
Once we chatted after the race, Ryan said the bike was absolutely the area that was the most challenging for him, which he largely attributes to not spending enough time on a road bike in his training.
Run
After we cheered like crazy for Ryan as he entered the transition, the boys and I sprinted to the transition exit so we could catch him coming out of it as he began his run. His stride looked strong and his pace looked fluid which I took as a good sign because, pending no injuries, I knew he’d finish the race. His first Half Ironman — 70.3 miles — was within reach!
Since the run was an out-and-back course, it wasn’t the easiest for me to find a way to see Ryan and then have enough time to high-tail it back to the finish with all the boys in tow. (I think this would have been manageable if I was spectating alone and didn’t have three kids to corral everywhere with me.) Since I knew we likely had less than two hours to kill, we made our way to the finish and played in the lawn nearby.
All things considered, the boys did really well during the race but the most challenging part of the day with the boys occurred at the finish line. Rhett just wanted to wander all over the place whereas Chase and Ryder were really into cheering for the athletes. Keeping little ones who don’t want to be in the same place together was challenging at times but overall our day went surprisingly well and wasn’t too stressful.
As I mentioned above, Chase and Ryder had a blast cheering for the men and women completing the race and we ended up spending most of the time Ryan was out running cheering for the athletes as they finished. We even got to see the first man and woman finish which prompted Ryder to ask, “Why was that not Dad?” A conversation followed about how amazing it is to try our best and accomplish challenging goals we set for ourselves, regardless of whether or not we technically win.
My tears came out again when a man yelled out and clenched his fists above his head as he crossed the finish. Witnessing the emotion on the faces of the finishers who were clearly overcome by what they just accomplished was so inspiring and incredibly moving.
Chase got really into my tracker app by the end of the race and I told him it was his job to let us know when Ryan reached his final mile so we could start cheering as loud as we could. I spotted Ryan as he came over the hill and it was so, so amazing to see him running toward the finish line of such a huge race.
He high-fived the boys while I cheered and did my best to video his finish — 5 hours, 21 minutes and 30 seconds later. He did it!!!
I don’t know how to capture the experience of Ryan’s first Half Ironman because it was his race but from the outside looking in, it was unbelievable. The whole experience was wonderful, in large part, because of the community surrounding the race and the camaraderie between the athletes. Everyone was so helpful to me and the boys as spectators and the fellow athletes were always more than happy to answer Ryan’s questions and offer words of encouragement before his first 70.3.
Ryan was clearly exhausted after the race but still somehow had enough energy to join us on the beach and walk to dinner later that evening. I couldn’t get enough of hearing about his experience on the race course and was so glad he seemed to get a morale boost from seeing us cheer for him throughout the race. Being a part of something so special for Ryan felt incredibly special for our whole family.
Also, thank you so much to the blog readers out there who saw Ryan on the course and cheered for him! He said he heard from a few of you who called out to him and said you were PBF readers. Fist-bumping you guys definitely helped encourage him!
Ryan’s first Half Ironman was such a memorable experience for our whole family and we’re all so incredibly proud of our favorite guy!
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Big congratulations to Ryan!!!
I would love to see a Q&A from Ryan about the race.
I would be curious to know if he hit any mental blocks during the race and how he pushed through them?
Any plans to do another Ironman?
A second vote for this idea!
Third vote for this idea! And, I want to know what he ate afterwards 😉
Congratulations to Ryan! I am so impressed that you were able to move around so much with all three boys and see him so much on the race course. I have run several marathons and my mom and dad always joked that it’s just as hard to be a spectator at those races. After watching my husband do a full Ironman, I agree!
There’s definitely a lot to consider logistically but thankfully speaking with other people who spectated the same race before with little ones was so helpful for me!!
Would love to hear from Ryan! I am planning to do a 70.3 next fall and would love to know about his training schedule (specifically, how he juggled work, kids, and training). So glad to hear it was such an amazing experience!
I would love to hear from Ryan about his experience, particularly the biking part, as that’s the part of triathlons that make me the most nervous when I think about doing one. In terms of training, how many days did he devote to reach discipline and how many total hours did he train each week? Also, was this a one and done bucket list item or does he think he’ll do another half Ironman, or even a full? Thanks!
I’ll answer about the full bc I asked him the same thing! He said “a full has never felt farther away” haha!!
i have a few questions for you and Ryan!
-how come you didn’t bring someone else along to help you with the boys, like one of your parents? that heat is tough for toddlers!
-knowing he was going to be biking 13 miles, how come he didn’t buy a bike?
-does Ryan have plans to do a full ironman?
Hi! I’ll answer the questions that apply to me — we actually did invite my parents but my dad had his annual 100 mile bike ride that weekend (split up into two days) so they couldn’t join. Ryan’s dad could not join because of health issues and it’s a much farther journey for his mom to come! As for the heat, the weather was actually amazing! It was in the low 70s so not too hot for the kids at all!
Congratulations to Ryan! What a big accomplishment.
“Why was that not dad?” So beyond sweet. Your kids think he is the best dad in the whole world!! That was my fav part of the whole post! I would be curious what inspired Ryan to do this and what the toughest part was. My husband is a half marathoner and I know if can be a bit tough supporting their training with kids in the mix, so kudos to you as well Julie because this is a joint accomplishment!
Congrats to Ryan, and I’m so glad your whole family was able to join in on the experience! Spectating a race that long is almost as tiring as doing one, especially with 3 kids along.
Congratulations to Ryan! What an accomplishment. I was curious if he followed a training plan and how many months did he train for? What did a typical week of training look like?
Congrats to Ryan!! That’s an amazing accomplishment! Loved the signs your kiddos made, by the way 🙂
On the heels of your recent post about how your fitness goals have changed in your 30s, I’m curious about Ryan’s goals and where the inspiration came to do this race.
Amazing job to Ryan and so impressed by all his hard work, but also by you and the support you gave him – this is such an amazing accomplishment for all of you, congratulations!!
A Q&A sounds awesome and like most I’m curious about the training.
– I’ve always wanted to do a half iron but I’m not a hobby swimmer w/very little water access. How much of his training did he dedicate to bringing that skillset up?
– Did he focus on any cross-training that helped him? Or was it just run/bike/swim/stretch for months?
– Any chance you’re going to catch the iron man bug now, or get back into running? 😉
Congratulations to Ryan!! Would love to see a Q&A
Congratulations to Ryan! And props to you for holding things down at home – I can imagine it’s a heavy training schedule! Like others, I’d like to know more about his training schedule and how many hours a day/week he devoted to the varied training. I’ve done a few sprint triathlons (pre-kids!) and would love to try an Olympic distance one day but the time commitment as a working parent is daunting to me!
Congrats to Ryan! I could feel the emotion and excitement just from your post. I think it’s awesome that the kids got to be involved and I bet their cheering was a boost for other athletes too!
Like another comment, I would be interested in knowing more about Ryan’s fitness goals and mindset over time (much like your previous post) and if this is something he has always wanted to do or if it was a newer goal at this stage of his life.
Congrats Ry!! Way to go. And to you too Julie for having the boys alone in a big crowd. That’s kewel Chase and Ryder were into watching all of them.
Congrats to Ryan! And to you for finding ways to cheer him on with three active kids!
I, too, would love a Q&A! What baseline fitness did Ryan have prior to this race? How long did he spend training (each day and total months prior to the race?) How expensive was registration?
Thank you in advance!
Congratulations Ryan! And Julie – spectating with 3 children is amazing, and you always seem to handle things with such grace.
Questions for Ryan would be:
1. What did his training schedule look like? Did he train more intuitively or follow a plan properly?
2. How did he balance his training in addition to working full time and being such a present father/husband? I am always inspired to enter something like this but the thought of having to take time away from family makes me reconsider.
3. How did you find Ryan’s training? Was it alot of extra work with additional responsibilities? I’m just curious if I ever wanted to do something like this, how much of an impact it would have on my partner.
A half-Ironman is a huge accomplishment–congratulations to Ryan! And what a great experience for your kids, too! I have great memories of watching my parents participate in races; it definitely encouraged me to set goals for myself and persevere.
Wow! It sounds like such an amazing experience! Congrats to Ryan! Would love a Q&A about the race. I’m curious to know if he followed any specific training program or had a coach to guide his training. Also like the reader said above I would love to know if he hit mental blocks or has plan to do another or even a full Ironman. Also, how is he physically feeling post race?
Congratulations Ryan! I teared up reading this post because it is just so sweet and something I hope to do myself and love that you brought the kids along to cheer! Many of my questions have been asked but would love some advice on the biking and transitions! And any tips for toys or games for the boys while you waited? This was such a thoughtful blog post and was so helpful! I hope he does more (or you! 😝) and you take us along again!
You are one brave mama for spectating with kiddos and without help! 🙂 I would love to see a Q&A from Ryan’s perspective. I would also really enjoy reading about how fitness and active lifestyles contribute to your marriage and family goals. (e.g. For our house, my husband working out motivates me and we are the better versions of ourselves when exercise is regular)
Congratulations, Ryan!
MAJOR CONGRATS TO RYAN. What an incredible accomplishment. Kudos to you too Julie for being there with all three little boys and toting them through the entire course the way you did. I am sure all of you were so very proud of Ryan. I loved this post!
Yes to a Q&A. Goodness this post made me tear up a lot. I am reading and crying – I would have been a mess at the event.
Congratulations to Ryan! The two do you are so inspirational to me!
Yayay congrats!! My husband did a half and it was definitely emotional! For my q&a:
– how did you all balance Ryan’s extensive training with family time!? That’s my hardest challenge with two little ones.
I wonder if its like childbirth….soon after you forget the pain and want to go again!
Something I really appreciate about races like this is the support the athletes dish out to one another. With the world the way it is right now, this gives me so much hope for the future.
I loved your IG story where you can hear you screaming “Dad!” And then you ask if he is doing okay. You can just hear the pride you have for him <3
Congrats on the first half Ironman!! It was fun reading how you recapped it it is such an emotional experience!! Has he been bit by the bug? Does he want to do a full now?
Congrats to Ryan and his cheer squad! I would love to hear what inspired Ryan to complete an 1/2 IM. I remember you guys running 1/2 marathons way back in the day, but had no idea he was still interested in endurance events. The title of this post implies that there will be more tri’s in his future, what does he want to do next, shorter or longer distance?
I just had to say that I laughed out loud at Chase’s shark comment – classic six year old facts 😂 aside from that, wow! Way to go Ryan! Your little cheering squad is adorable.
Congratulations to Ryan – what an accomplishment! And hats off to you as well for supporting his training and keeping your boys moving around the course. I’m a biker (have done a few 100 mile rides) and a runner (have done over 25 marathons), but I’m terrified of the swim which is keeping me from ever trying a tri, much less an Ironman. So I’d be interested to know how Ryan felt about being in the open water with so many other people. I’d also be interested in his tips for the transitions as well as his clothing selections and if there was anything he wished he had done differently with his selections.
this recap made me cry!!! such an accomplishment!!
A couple of curiousities (sorry if someone else already asked and I missed it):
–Why did he decide to do this ultra-marathon?
–How have post-race recovery been?
–If he could swap out swimming, biking, or running with another athletic feat, which one would he swap, what would he swap it with, and why?
Also, congratulations Ryan! I can only imagine the mental and physical amount of strength and resiliency it takes to complete this.