The 25 Year Journey
You're 75, had 2
bouts with cancer, been through an aortic arch aneurysm and dealing with
some arthritis. What kind of goal do you set for yourself? If
you’re Al Lucas you sign up for an Ironman, and not just any will do. You
sign up for the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii. A legend even
among hardened triathletes. The
distance: 2.4 mile ocean swim, 112 mile bike ride through the lava fields, and
26.2 mile run finishing back at the beach where it all began.
As with any great story this
one begins long ago, and with a family that is deeply involved. Al’s son Greg started this with the first
entry into Ironman Hawaii in 1986. Not
long after, in 1988 Al’s daughter Julie also entered the race. Al began racing triathlons himself at age 43
with more of a background in traditional Indiana sports like basketball and
baseball.
With the Hawaii Ironman
embedded in family lore, Al made his initial attempt at the race in 1990. Making it through the swim and bike he
suffered a fate somewhat unique to Ironman competitions in a hot climate- Hyponatremia. Basically the body loses too much sodium in
the blood and can no longer move water across permeable membranes. Thus leaving you dehydrated even when you
continue to drink. The result was passing
out at mile 10 of the marathon and an emergency ride to the hospital.
To say he was extremely
disappointed at not finishing the triathlon would be an understatement. So much so that Al set up his own “Ironman”
course from his house in 1992. With a lap
pool in his back yard for the 2.4 mile swim, he then plotted out a 112 mile
bike course from Terre Haute to Paris, Illinois and surrounding area, then a
26.2 mile marathon course. There were no crowds, no aid stations…..only his
family at various points along his course. At around 11:30 that night Al
completed the entire triathlon course complete with a finish line, lights and
banner. Al’s perseverance and
determination had temporarily replaced the disappointment of his 1990 Ironman
problems in Hawaii.
Al continued to participate in
triathlons, but the idea of giving Ironman Hawaii another go was never too far
away. The challenge being to race in a
World Championship event. Qualifying
with very limited spots against the best athletes from all over the world is a
daunting affair. There were, however, a
few roadblocks in his quest between 1990 and 2015. In 2005 Al was diagnosed
with prostate cancer which required surgery. All was well until 2008 when he
was diagnosed with an aortic arch aneurysm that required immediate open heart
surgery to repair- his aortic valve was also replaced. Again all was going well with his health until
March 2014 when it was discovered that the cancer had come back. This time he
would have to undergo 38 radiation treatments.
This occurred in the midst of training for a race in Boulder Colorado. Ten days after completing these treatments he
completed the Boulder 70.3 Ironman.
Then in March 2015, Al
received a coveted Ironman lottery entry and began preparing for his journey
back to Kona. His son Greg had done this Ironman race twice [1986 and 1992], so
his encouragement and experience with Al’s training and nutritional programs was
very helpful. In July Al did the Muncie 70.3 Ironman and actually qualified for
the 70.3 World Championships-held in Austria- but passed to continue his
preparation for Hawaii. In October Al, his wife Judy and just about everyone
else in the family-including grandchildren -made the trip to Kailua-Kona
Hawaii.
Race morning October 10, 2015
– almost 25 years to the day since his first
attempt –he was standing on the beach at the break of dawn staring down a 2.4
mile swim course in the open ocean.
Emotions for everyone are fully charged.
The Pro men are sent off with
a cannon shot, then the Pro women, next all the amateur men [Al included] and finally
the amateur women starting just behind.
Swimming with 2,300 triathletes with one goal in mind, 1.2 miles
straight out into the ocean, make the turnaround at the big sailboat, and head
back for the beach. Al makes it out
around the sailboat in good spirits. Now
with each stroke being closer to shore his confidence was strong. One trick, he had to keep his eyes closed
every time he looked down to avoid sea sickness from the waves and
currents. The time cutoff for the swim:
2 hours 20 minutes. Al makes it back to
Kailua Pier swim finish in 1 hour 55 minutes with plenty of time to spare. The first out of the water this day was
German Pro Jan Frodeno, Olympic gold medalist who would go on to win the race,
and become the Ironman World Champion.
Al makes the run down the
pier, grabs his bike and starts the 112 mile ride. The time cutoff for the bike
is 10 hours and 30 minutes [including the swim]. The first 56 miles up Queen
Ka’ahumanu Highway goes really well, averaging 19 miles per hour. However the 18 mile climb and brutal trade
winds around Hawi combined with the radiant heat of 130 degrees coming off the
asphalt roads really started to take its toll.
Struggling with the heat, climbs and head winds through endless lava
fields, the ride back was an intense effort.
Dropping out is not an option. Al
makes it back to the pier in 8 hours 2 minutes. His total time is 10 hours 5
minutes. Hopping off the bike and making his way through
transition the legs feeling mostly like rubber.
Last order of events, is the
26.2 mile marathon run. At midnight the
clock will strike and the race will officially
end. Greeted by the heat and humidity he makes
his way up Palani Hill and back out the Queen K highway undeterred. Here the
push toward the finish line takes its full measure. Beginning with a walk- jogging where he can-
he averages 16 minute miles. Darkness
comes, the clock continues. Al spends
some miles with fellow triathlete Lew Hollander who is 85 and looking for his
24th Kona finish. Lew would
eventually drop out, Al kept going. The
toughest point of this race is around mile 16, the Energy Lab: dark, hot and
unforgiving. Coming out of the Energy Lab 6.2 miles remain and the glow of the
finish line can be seen in the distance.
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