This was the first race that our original 5 TOMs all competed and completed. Our support crew was at full strength and kicked off the gathering with a BBQ outside on the Schulte’s lawn. The weather did not cooperate but couldn’t “dampen” the spirits of our athletes and supporters. We commenced eating and passing out the first official support team uniform which we all donned on race day. It is amazing when traveling to different triathlons how many people you actually know. It was during our dinner gathering that
we met up with some friends that are now new Team IRONTOM members. Chuck and Carla from Plainfield, NH and Phil and Erica from Manchester, England were inducted into our ever-growing group. Another lesson learned: now that we are International, do we need a team catalog?
The weekend dawned bright and warm for the bike drop-off. Important lesson learned at this stage: READ ALL OF THE OFFICIAL PAPERWORK! Which was followed up by another lesson: where are those special needs bags supposed to go anyway? After the several hours it took for the team to drop off their bikes and have them tuned up, we all met for another BBQ to welcome the TOMb Clan to Camp Schulte (the fire pit is for everyone, right?). Next, we posted our Team Banner proudly in front of the compound and learned this lesson: next time ask if we can plaster the banner over the motel sign first.Sunday at 4am, Team IRONTOM and support crew started moving. TOMasz and Kasia went in first to plant the getaway vehicle on photo duty. The rest of the team along with Chuck and Carla squeezed into the Saab proving that yet again I caould fit an unusual amount in that little car. We drove to a drop off point with Rush blasting on the
radio for some early morning encouragement.The morning was clear and crisp Britta and I walked down to Mirror Lake while Kasia and the TOMb’s family spectated along the sands. TOMb was out of the water first followed closely by TOM-a-lot, TOMasz, T2, and TOMahawk. Everyone was smiling and on track as they made their way to the transition.
As our Ironmen took off on the bike course, the support team took up places outside Camp Schulte with bells, loud yelling and clapping, cameras, and a big pink blowup hand! The sun was getting hotter and the bikes getting faster. At that time, there were two additional lessons learned: don’t always believe what the speedometer says, even superman can’t ride 77 mph, and when you crash, make sure the bike is okay first.
We cheered on our men throughout the afternoon and evening and everyone met at the Olympic Speedskating Oval to watch all of our TOMs cross that line and hear those words we waited 15 hours to hear, “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!” The end to a truly remarkable day when Team Irontom gathered after our last Tom crossed the finish and found their way back to the compound proving the team motto true and our last lesson learned: that there was No Tom Left Behind!
Where am I?
