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I'm constantly blown away by people who aim to achieve what many would call the impossible. For many gay men, sports are the world that picked them last when they were 12 and something they want no part of. Adam Sanderson was no different. He rejected sports when he was a kid, just as quickly as it had rejected him. It wasn't until a few years ago that he decided that had to change. Some people might dive into a gay softball league or go crazy and find a gay Front runners group to exercise and party with. Adam chose triathlons. For a man who had had surgery on his back for a herniated disc nine years ago, and is still haunted by bouts of sciatica, it was a gutty, unconventional, choice. Adam began training with a group of the same kind of guys who years before had evicted him from sports: they were straight, they were jocks, and his coach was as hardcore as they come; they were the perfect bunch. After he had surprised them all by tackling a few triathlons, and finishing better than expected, they prodded Adam to go after something bigger: an Ironman. An Ironman is probably the most grueling athletic endeavor anyone could undertake: this former anti-jock was going to tackle Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in the form of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle ride, and he would cap it off with a marathon. The best of the best aim for completing it all in nine hours; beginners with some speed hope for 13 hours, but shoot for 14. All the while, Adam's partner of 17 years, Rich Ross, was by his side. When I asked Adam how Rich handled the training for such an endeavor, he said he was amazing. While it was certainly one man who had to navigate the Ironman course, it was the team of Rich and Adam that got him there. A triathlon can be overcome by yourself; without the support of your partner, an Ironman under 13 hours highly unlikely. Rich went with Adam to Coeur d'Alene this past July to support Adam and his quest to become an Ironman. The journal he kept of race day, which he text messaged periodically to keep friends abreast of Adam's progress, impressed me because it showed not just Adam's incredible fortitude, but the bond the two men share and the passion that one of them had for the goal of the other. I hope you find as much inspiration in it as I did . . . - Cyd Zeigler jr.
By Rich Ross Friday
I am now on my way to meet up with the soon-to-be Ironman in Idaho. He is already there with his bike and about two tons of stuff. He is now amidst a throng of tightly wound and lean-as-hell triathletes, all busy readying for Sunday's competition. Right now he is riding the bike course to get a gist of the 112-mile course. For those who might be worried that Adam has flipped out in undertaking this Herculean effort, I can tell you that he has already rejected the first hotel room assigned to him and received a much better one. He will need your cheering on Sunday wherever you might be. The race starts at 7am. I will be there giving you all race reports (and reading a book and a newspaper and another book with my blackberry in hand - we are who we are, right?) Saturday Woke up to a lovely
day on the lake in Coeur d'Alene. Adam, after digesting a killer
muffin (lumpy muffin with apples and raisins) and great cup o' joe,
donned the wetsuit and went for a 30-minute prep swim in the lake.
He did wait 30 minutes before entering the water (my mom would be
proud). The lake is gorgeous and totally clear, but of course
chilly. The swim course, which is 2.4 miles, is actually two loops
with a short beach run between the laps. Adam simulated the run and
cramped his calf. Well, after applying the heating pad on and off
and then a massage with a tri-massage master, he is pretty much back
to normal and now off on a prep bike ride with a couple of his team
buddies. He has mostly packed his five bags for tomorrow which as
you might know is not Adam's favorite activity. There is a
color-coded bag for each transition and a "special needs" bag for
halfway through the 112-mile bike and 26-mile run. All are then
dropped off today and in put in a modified coat check along the
route at appropriate points. You shout the number and they bring you
your bag. No tips required. Oh yeah, I did a five-mile run around
the lake and, with a little sweat on my brow, somewhat fit into
tri-world. The town is cute.
It is somewhat famous for their fair share of white supremacists and
as the home of Mark Furman of O.J. fame. They don't exactly post
that on the welcome-to-Coeur-d'Alene sign. Keep you all
posted. So it is the eve of
Ironman Coeur d'Alene. Adam and I are sitting watching the sun set
over the lake. Had a dinner of suburban Italian food in downtown
Coeur d'Alene (three streets, no lights). Actually good pizza and a
garlic fest pasta for both of us and a good local red wine for me.
Adam has totally accepted the common Ironman wisdom: accept what the
day brings you. All you can do is laugh. It is for fun, after all.
His cramp is better but not forgotten. Hoping a night of sleep will
help. Or at least until he gets the 2am wakeup call for his first
nutrition of the day. The real wakeup call is 4:30am. His stuff is
all laid out and many of the items look like he is going up in the
space shuttle rather than a grueling day on earth. He is ready. He
is a little introspective. He just passed on eating an oatmeal
cookie. Maybe he is a little apprehensive. Sleep with your fingers
crossed. Tomorrow is soon. But our friend is making a dream come
true. Sunday - Race Day Well it is five
minutes before the cannon goes off to start the race. Adam is amid a
sea of 2,000 men and women lined up on the beach, including a number
of blind and other unbelievable competitors. The weather is
extraordinary. The sun came up at 4am and the morning was easy. Adam
and his team all gathered. His special-needs bags were dropped off.
His Starbucks was imbibed. He jumped into the wetsuit. The crowd is
huge and I have already cried three times as I now know the meaning
of bursting with pride. I await the cannon. They are in the
water... He just finished
his first lap and is running down the beach for his second lap. A
38-minute lap (he expected about 45 minutes). 1,200 athletes now out
of the water. I screamed and he waved. He looks absolutely great.
Just for reference, the leader was out in 22 minutes. Can't help but
think of Darwin. All you see is a huge column of black clad bipeds
standing up at the water's edge and running towards the beach. You
can follow Adam's progress on
www.ironmanlive.com. Adam is 1168. One leg down. He is
out the water in about an hour-20ish. He looks strong and great. He
has his bag and changing in the tent. His friend Jon calls the
outfit the electric blue Barbarella, and I can say he would do Jane
Fonda proud.
He is off to
Washington state. He passed the internal 13-mile loop and is on his
way. I, in the meantime, have secured his post race muffin -- I was
told it was the last one in town. One of his coaches, Rich, is
racing and another, Brandon, is monitoring. Adam kept on telling me
to call Brandon for race updates as he was closely monitoring the
action. So I picked up the phone just now to see what I could find
out. Brandon had little more info than I as he was on his cell
literally across the street from me. Off to secure my New York
Times. Expect an update at 11:30ish pst. Keep cheering. Adam is about to pass at mile 79. He has 33 miles to go and then he is off to the marathon. The weather is spectacular, about 75 degrees and totally sunny and dry. Two years ago here it spiked at 102 degrees -- yikes. Just cheered on one of the five blind competitors who is riding a tandem bike. Standing next to a nice lady whose husband has qualified for Kona 12 years in a row and just started competing in tris at 40. She is psyched as her hubby just turned 55 and now is in the 55-59 age group. That is a man who knows how to age gracefully. Off for lunch. The leaders left for the run 10 minutes ago, four guys within two minutes of each other.
Just came through.
He jumped in the air with his arms pumping above his head. Now all
he has to do is run a marathon. He just passed
after running his first small two-mile loop on his way out for the
first 11-mile loop. He came by and give me a giant kiss. I think he
is feeling good. A woman turned to me and said, "you've been waiting
for that". I smiled. Think we brought a little insta-diversity to
the proceedings. He really needs your cheers now. Go Adam. Go Adam.
Go Adam. Okay our boy is about to pass me at the halfway point of the run. The winner came in at 8:23. Our winner is close behind. I just finished the New York Times Sunday crossword, which I always feel is a good luck charm for the week to come. Today's was sort of mandatory, if you know what I mean. Sun is still high in the sky as are our spirits.
"What are you doing here?" The coach asked. Even his coach didn't expect him for another half hour at least. Finishing the race at all was an incredible accomplishment, but Adam's time of 12:38:34 was a true feat in his first-ever Ironman. I asked him if he was going to tackle another Ironman. "Right after the race, I thought to myself, why the hell did I do this?" He said. "And about a few days later, I thought, when's the next one?" While it won't be an Ironman, Adam's next race is this Sunday, September 11, in the Los Angeles Triathlon. He'll be racing with the Human Rights Campaign team, hoping to raise money for the gay-rights group. You can find information about donating to Adam's team and HRC here. You can email Adam and Rich and encourage them in their next endeavor, ask them how they have come through 17 years together, or just to say hi.
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Off
on the bike: 8:32am. A giant smile on his face. He is waving to you
all. And blew me a kiss. He is on his game.
Waiting
for Adam at the finish line. Should be soon. Nice and cool out now.
The runners look wiped but 12 straight hours of exercise could do
that. All I hear is the echo of each finisher's name called out and
the refrain of "you are an Ironman". I can taste it.