I Love Tattoos, Just Not on Me

Have you ever thought of getting a tattoo? Do you already have one?
While I don't have one, I've thought about getting one on multiple occasions.
No, I wouldn't get a tribal armband, or a Fred Flintstone, or anything like that (though I don't begrudge those who do get such symbols/characters, as long as it has some personal meaning).

Great detail and I imagine it has a deep, personal background story

I actually think this is really cool idea (after you're married, of course)

Many of my feelings for tattoos are similar to this person's, actually.
Pain is a deterrent, but I have a pretty good tolerance. Plus, it'd be temporary.
As cool as a tattoo would be, I don't know that I'm passionate enough about something to get one.
And maybe I'm already too old to start getting tattoos.

For years, there have been two tattoos that I've actually considered beyond the "that looks rad" stage.
I'd only get one, and the selected tattoo would have been located either on the upper arm or on my calf. Not sure how I'd decide the spot, but, in my mind and for me, those would be the only acceptable places.

1. Superman symbol: He stands for so many good things and is definitely my favorite superhero. Sadly, I don't think it'd be personal enough. Plus, I already have a Superman ring that my mom sent me for Easter during my mission. So if I want to rock his style, I can wear that.
2. Ironman logo: This would have more meaning for me. When I was 19, I set a goal to complete a full Ironman event before I was 30. It was tough, but I trained for and completed the St George Ironman in May 2010. So why didn't I get the tattoo? I don't know; I guess I just felt like so many people had this one, and I don't want triathlon and/or the Ironman to define me my whole life.

Potential tattoo #1

Potential tattoo #2

Pretty much, you don't need to worry, Mom. I don't plan on ever getting a tattoo.

And I know that line just allowed you to stop holding your breath and let out a big sigh of relief.

For those of you who are considering getting one (or another, as the case may be), or those who may just be curious in learning more about tattoos in general, here is a helpful graphic.

But I still think they look pretty awesome sometimes.

I Am Ironman

Note 1: prepare yourself for a novel of a blogpost. I'm not apologizing; just giving you forewarning. This was a long race, and it deserves a long post. Pictures have been liberally added to reduce reader boredom.

Note 2: a minor/major distinction. Iron Man = superhero crime fighter. Ironman = endurance triathlon.

The Beginning (2000)

I did my first triathlon in the year 2000. The Wild Bill Hickman Triathlon was held in Tooele, UT at a local rec center. It was a sprint, and I didn't really know what I was in for. For those that don't know, a triathlon is generally in swim-bike-run order. However, as the swim would be in a pool, the organizers reversed the order, making the Wild Bill Hickman a run-bike-swim. I believe the main reason was so the participants would be spread out a bit by the swim portion and the pool wouldn't be too crowded all at once.

The actual race is kinda hazy after 10 years and so many races since then. But here's what I remember: The 5k run went pretty smoothly. It was a little chilly, so I wore my red gloves. And I wore my Adidas running shorts because I was embarrassed to wear just my Speedo. Anyways, I'd been running a lot, so I felt strong getting on the bike. The bike is a blur, except I recall going over some train tracks and that my calves started majorly cramping up with a couple miles to go. So I gutted that out and then hopped in the pool... where my calves promptly cramped up twice as bad as on the bike. I swam with my feet flexed (try to bring your toes to your shins), causing my legs to be like anchors in the water. Let's just say it was a slow and painful swim. When I climbed out of the pool, the finish line was close by and I was stoked to be done.

Turns out that I won my division in that race. It was the novice division, but still. Some of my family had come to watch, and I was happy they could see me do well enough to get on the podium. Then I did something that might be considering foolish and telling of my youthful exuberance: I decided I loved triathlon and I was going to do the Ironman before I turned 30 years old.

Building a Foundation (2001-2009)

Flash forward almost 10 years. Except for a 2-year hiatus from the sport, I've been doing multiple triathlons and running races every year. In 2007, I took the leap from sprint and Olympic distance races to the Florida 1/2 Ironman. As a training lead-up to St George, I participated in the Longhorn 1/2 Ironman in Austin, TX in late 2009.

Achieving the Goal (2010)

After flying from DC to Salt Lake and getting a good night's rest at my parents' house, I left early on Thursday morning, picked up Brea in Provo, and we drove down to St George. Our first order of business was to head to the race expo to sign in and get body-marked.
Unlike my previous races, where they just use a marker to write your race number on your arm and your age on your calf, at full Ironman events they prefer to basically spray paint the numbers on. My number: 916. Yes, it's the same upside down as it is right side up. Double cool.Note: my age for the race was 30, because USA Triathlon recently made a rule that your age for sanctioned events is whatever you'll be as of December 31 of the race year. This is to simplify the age comparisons for racers. I'm only 29 until December. Don't make me feel older than I already do!After grabbing some dinner, we chilled at the hotel for a bit and Brea gave me a goody bag (a.k.a. survival kit) for the race, which included all the delicious post-race treats as well as practical in-race food/drinks pictured here:Friday's required morning tasks were to drop off my transition bags and bike at T1 (bike/run in downtown St George) and T2 (swim/bike at Sand Hollow Reservoir). While we were downtown, we stopped at the finish line, which was eerily quiet but kinda got me excited just to stand under.Race day! I was up at 3:30 AM in order to eat and catch the athlete buses to Sand Hollow Reservoir. Of course I was feeling some nerves, but I was mostly just excited to get the day going. My parents, Megan, and Brea made it to the start on time, and we chatted for a bit before the gun went off and Ironman St George had begun!The water was ~59 degrees on race day, so a lot of competitors were wearing full-sleeved wetsuits. I don't like feeling constricted, and being a Utah boy am fairly used to cold water triathlon swims, so I used my new sleeveless. So glad I did. I focused on staying relaxed, avoiding big clumps of swimmers, and spotting often so I wouldn't swim off course. No sense adding distance; 2.4 miles is plenty long enough! My hands and feet were pretty chilly when I came out of the water, but overall I felt good and didn't feel like I'd pushed myself too hard, which was exactly according to plan. Swim time: 1 hr, 28 mins.I usually pride myself on quick transitions, but that wasn't my concern during this race. So after an almost 20-minute T1, due to a full clothing change, eating and drinking a little, and not rushing, I was on my bike and starting the long journey to and around St George. Aside: meanwhile, my adoring/adorable fans were back on the buses and continuing with their day. For a spectator's viewpoint on the Ironman experience, check out my sister's great blogpost.After 21 miles of riding to the outskirts of St George, I was into my rhythm and taking it fairly easy. I knew I still had a lot of racing to do. 112 miles is no laughing matter. As a result, I just relaxed and tried to be efficient in my pedal stroke and cadence.
Having reached St George, I started the first of two 43 mile loops. I'd heard stories of it being a tough bike course. At the expo, Brea and I listened to some guys discussing their practice rides of the loop and how they were going to approach it during the race. Still, I didn't know quite what to expect. I gotta be honest; the longest ride of my life before this race was an 80-miler I did during training. Scenery like this helped me keep going and not even realize how long I'd been on the bike:Here's my description of each loop:

1. Loooong, mostly flat section with brutal headwind. Some kinda bumpy sections and a few cattle guards. Winding canyon ride and pretty scenic.
2. Hairpin turn going into a 0.5 mile climb. Not just any climb, mind you. It feels like it's straight up. First go around, it wasn't too too (intentional repeat) bad, but the second time had me down to 3 mph -- yes I looked at my speedometer -- and just trying to inch forward and not fall over.
3. Kind of gently rising rollers and beautiful road surface for a bit. This lasted a couple miles; just long enough to catch your breath and take in some nutrition.
4. Climb #2. Longer but not as steep. In fact, only my first lap, I didn't realize until later that it was the 0.7-mile climb everyone had been talking about. Fast forward to second loop. I definitely noticed it this time.
5. Aero descent practice. Yes, all the tough riding was rewarded with a 15-mile downhill. This is where you refuel on the flat parts and go for mad speed whenever possible. On both loops, I was pushing to see how fast I could get. 45 mph. Loved it. To quote Ricky Bobby: "I wanna go fast!"
6. Lather, rinse, repeat.

During my second loop, I was greeted with this sight at about mile 75. Every time that I got to see my fans, it gave me a huge boost. Seriously, how could you not be stoked to see these smiling faces? They were awesome and I'm glad they had a good time cheering for all of the race participants. I know it was a long day for them, too, and I appreciate so much that they all came to support me.I was pretty happy to get off the bike, just because that meant I was one event closer to the finish line. Bike time: 7 hrs, 24 mins.

Surprisingly, I actually felt pretty good overall at this point. I tried to restrain my pacing in the first 13.1 miles of the run, and completed the first of two hilly loops in about 2 hrs 30 mins. Not too shabby.Unfortunately, that pace and the full day of racing was taking its toll, and my stomach decided at mile 14 that it needed a rest from digesting the simple sugars of Clif Bloks and Powergels and Gatorade, mingled with the occasional Powerbar. The little Gatorade in my stomach found its way up my esophagus and onto the side of the road, and I shuffled along at a slower clip up the toughest hill, sipping on water when my stomach would allow. By mile 20, I'd regained some composure and ability to take in nutrients, and was able to move like this:Believe me, this is pretty fast compared to the speed I was moseying along at times. When thinking in miles became too much to bear, I resorted to focusing on the next cone ahead (generally 50 or so yards down the road) and telling myself to "just reach that one and then you can quit." Of course, when I got to that cone, I looked up at the next cone and determined to "just reach that one, and you can be done." This lasted about 10 miles. 50 yards at a time. Run time: 5 hrs, 27 mins.It was all worth it. Crossing the line and being able to put my hands in the air. Hearing the announcer yell, "Aaron Smyth (mis-pronounced Smith, as usual), YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!" My family and friends can attest to my getting emotional at this point, and I won't deny it. My 10-year goal had come to fruition, and my body was exhausted. Not particularly sore, and I wasn't actually too sore at any point after the race, but utterly and completely exhausted.
If you do the math, and add in transitions, my total time was:

Swim 01:28:24

T1 00:18:31

Bike 07:24:19

T2 00:08:35

Run 05:27:15

Total 14:47:04

While I just wanted to finish, and thus didn't really care what place I came in, that time put me in 1,133rd position overall, and 135th in my age group. I'm plenty happy with both of those.

Prologue a.k.a. Mushy Stuff

I want to thank everyone who helped me accomplish this monumental life goal and for supporting me all along. The grad student who taught the UofU triathlon class for the one semester that I was at the UofU before my mission (seriously, if that isn't fate, I don't know what is). A veritable plethora of running partners through the years. Roommates who gave me a hard time about being comfortable in spandex and nicknamed me "Lance Armstrong," followed by either real or feigned interest in my training and race results.

Friends that didn't disown me for not being able to stay out late because I had a big training day the next morning. Employers who provided financial incentives to employees to stay healthy, by helping with race fees. Fellow competitors for teaching me to push harder and faster, making me a better triathlete in the process. All the competent and considerate drivers on the roads of Utah, California, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, New Jersey, and Maryland, who avoided killing me during training and races in your states. The countless volunteers and race organizers at all the events I've competed in. Classmates and co-workers that listened to the minutiae of technique and details of individual races that they probably didn't even care about.

And most importantly, I want to thank my family. A loving family which always encouraged me and looked past my insanity to see the passion and drive underneath. My parents split the cost of my first bike and were supportive even when races took me away from family events, and wonderful siblings who came to see races and/or asked how those races went afterwards.

Thank you all so much!! I couldn't have done it without you!!

I AM IRONMAN.

The Stars at Night, Are Big and Bright...

For my big triathlons, I like to make it a completely different experience. I figure, if I'm going to do it, I might as well travel somewhere fun for the race, right? So for my second 1/2 Ironman (see my first here), I chose to race in a state that's famous for going big and being big. The great state of Texas.Thursday
The Longhorn 70.3 Austin 1/2 Ironman was on Sunday, so I flew into Austin on Thursday to have time to acclimate and see a little of the city. I didn't want to just fly in, race, and fly home. If I'm going to Texas, I want to see the place and have a well-rounded experience. After getting my rental car and heading to the hotel, I used the internet to find a small restaurant where I could get some brisket, which Texas is known to cook well.

Friday
Having seen some of Austin, I can say that I really like it. There is a lot going on, but it still maintains that small-town feel. First I went to the University of Texas at Austin to see the campus. I parked right by the football stadium, and it was an impressive sight. The rest of campus was also very nice, and students were helpful in giving me directions.The Texas State Capitol is an interesting yet beautiful building. Maybe my favorite feature is that it's made of "sunset red" granite, so it kind of has a pinkish hue. Not your typical government building, to be sure.I also wanted to see if all the hype about Texas high school football is legit, so I went to a nearby high school game that I found on the internet. Unfortunately, I picked a game between two private, Christian schools, so it was a small (though high scoring) affair. Maybe next time I come to Texas I'll see what I've been hearing about all these years.

Saturday
In order to race, you have to go to registration and attend a safety briefing. That was my main task on Saturday. Registration and sign-in were held at Luedecke Arena, which is where T2 (bike-to-run) and the finish line would be for the race, so it was good to be able to get my bearings and know how that portion would be.Sunday
Didn't get much sleep, but I was up super-early to drive down, park, and take the shuttle to Walter E. Long Park, which is where the swim in Decker Lake and T1 (swim-to-bike) were. The professionals started at 7:30, but my swim wave didn't start until 8:40. My swim went alright; nothing too eventful. Just settled in and churned through it.The bike course was challenging. Not because it was hilly or too hot or anything like that, but because the middle third of the course was pretty bumpy. That leaves the butt bones a bit raw. No bueno. However, I finished the bike on pace for my overall goal.The run was a different story. I was pacing myself alright early on, and lasted about 4 miles with a 10-min/mile (run 9, walk 1). Then the run course had its way with me. Both the fronts and backs of both legs cramped up with a vengeance. The next 9 miles were a battle of will.I jog-walked the whole way, making friends during the frequent walk breaks and taking in the scenery. Each time I'd jog again, I'd last maybe a 1/2 mile and then my legs would threaten to fully cramp and buckle under me, so I'd have to resume walking. I pushed the last mile in order to make my overall goal, and entered Luedecke Arena with just enough time to beat that goal by 10 seconds, for a total time of 6:29:48. And boy, was I happy to fire off my six-shooters in the air and be done!

Brief Summer Recap #1

So I realize that by starting this blog recently, I've completely left out the previous 26 years+ of my life. Rather than go all the way back, which would result in a ridiculously long post, I'm just going to give a brief recap of this summer and go from there. These may not be in chronological order, but I'll try to be close.

BYU Graduation:

My summer started with graduating from Brigham Young University with my MAcc degree (Masters in Accountancy). It was a great program and I met a lot of amazing friends and faculty during my time at BYU. Certainly, I owe so much to my family for helping to reach this accomplishment and I thank them for all their support!

Florida 1/2 Ironman:

As a precursor to one of my long-term life goals, I participated in the Florida 1/2 Ironman. The race (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run) was challenging--particularly the run-- but I'm so glad that I did it. I finished in 6 hours 24 minutes, and I was very happy with my time, especially since I wasn't feeling so well before the race started.

Jesse & Emily Wedding Reception:

My cousin Emily got married and I was excited to be able to attend their reception at Red Butte Garden near the University of Utah. The reception was beautiful. It was fairly traditional, though they threw in some personal touches. One of those touches was a song by some of Emily's friends. It was full of inside jokes and, from the look on her face, Emily clearly loved it.

Ethan & Michole Wedding Reception:

I don't have any pictures, but my cousin Ethan also got married this summer and they looked extremely happy. Ethan has become quite the motorcyclist and they've apparently taken some long roadtrips on their Harley. Fun, fun, fun!

Santa Cruz/Oakland Trip:

To temporarily abate the hazards of Utah fever (a sister disease to cabin fever), I flew to Oakland to visit some friends.

Though it was a whirlwind trip, and I essentially only spent one day in California, it was great to stay in Santa Cruz at my friend AmberJo's and then spend the morning wandering around Monterey. While AmberJo and her friend had their hair done at a swanky salon, looked in some shops, saw some marine life under the pier, and watched scuba divers enter the water where my dad and I dove a few years ago. It was the standard, beautiful California weather!

After having lunch in Santa Cruz, we met up with my buddy Bret Baker and his fiance Whitney in Emeryville (near Oakland) at an international food court. So cool! Next time I'll definitely take a bigger appetite so I can better enjoy the savory delights of foreign cultures.