For the past 11 months, Hicksville’s Marlo Signoracci has been training for IRONMAN, one of the most physically challenging athletic events out there. The triathlon includes a swim, bike and run portion. Signoracci recently traveled down to Florida to compete in IRONMAN Florida. Here’s a look at her experience.
Nov. 1, 2014 will be a day in my life I will never forget and will carry with me forever. It truly was the celebration of the last 11 months of training.
Looking at the forecasts in the days leading up to the 2014 IRONMAN Florida, I knew things were going to be challenging. Still, I cannot put into the words the disappointment I felt when the swim was cancelled. That was not what I trained for and not what I wanted. I was more than prepared for my 2.4-mile swim. However, I knew, even then, that it was the right call.
“Athletes, can I please have your attention?” began the announcement cancelling the IRONMAN Florida swim for the first time ever, due to dangerous rip tides and water conditions (waves). I joined the throng of first-timers, with tears in their eyes, making their way to T1 to prepare for the time-trial start for the bike.
I would end up waiting nearly two hours (having a low bib-number, I finally started at 8:41 a.m.), trying to stay warm, before starting a gruelling 112-mile bike ride in 20+ mph sustained winds with 30+ mph gusts. Little did I know then that Mother Nature had a plan for wearing out the muscles in my arms, shoulders, chest, and back more than any measely 2.4-mile swim ever would have. Just fighting to keep my bike on the road, off of other athletes, and from beneath the vehicles flying by would be the second hardest challenge of the day.
Eating wind. All day. Eating wind.
The hardest challenge was hearing and seeing athletes who did not have the same fortune. There were multiple wrecks involving multiple athletes.
I went on to survive the swirling crosswinds, mindless drivers and pedestrian traffic on Front Beach Road for the last few miles of the bike and was overjoyed to be finished! A huge burst of energy washed over me as I dismounted. My coach was right there at the finished line and was beaming with joy with my performance on the bike. I changed clothes for the marathon, stopped for a minute for a pep talk from my coach, quick bathroom stop, and I was out on the run course.
I managed my race to plan to the best of my ability. This being my first IRONMAN, I was afraid of hitting the wall, going to that “dark place” and having to walk the last half. While I performed to plan, I know I had a lot more I could have poured into the run. My nutrition started to get to me during the second loop and It was starting to take a toll on my performance. I know for next time and cannot wait to see what I can really do on a marathon at the end of an IRONMAN.
In the end, the real highlight of the day was not making time goals or even in becoming an IRONMAN, it was in successfully making the day an “event.” I feel like I did that part very right. I was not in such a hurry that I could not stop to hug friends. I thanked as many of the amazing volunteers as I could. I stopped to try the world-famous chicken broth that came out after dark. Yes, it was everything they say it is! I encouraged fellow triathletes every chance I could. It was my first IRONMAN!
I will not even begin to entertain arguments that what I did, or did not do, in Panama City Beach, Florida on Nov. 1, 2014 prevents me from calling myself an IRONMAN. Paraphrasing something I saw written on one of the Facebook groups I follow, the 2014 IRONMAN Florida was not the IRONMAN I wanted, but it was the IRONMAN I was given. The essence of an IRONMAN includes factors and circumstances that you cannot control, yet you are required to figure out how to work through them.
On that epic day, we worked through a cancelled swim, a delayed bike start, frigid windchill temperatures, sustained winds of 20+ mph, wind gusts of 30+ mph, smoke from wildfires and a cold, windy run. My body knows I did something amazing. And, most importantly, at the end of it all, Dave Ragsdale, the voice of IRONMAN Florida can be clearly heard saying, “Marlo Signoracci from Hicksville, NY you’re an IRONMAN!”
