Getting Things Done

Saturday, August 11, 2007
Getting Things Done

I looked everywhere for it. I didn’t care what shape or colour it was, as long it was there and in the right position. After searching for it for hours through pain, mental anguish and exhaustion, I finally saw it there, at the side of the road near the guard rail, somewhere between Wilmington Notch and High Falls Gorge.

My eyes widened as I saw the glint of the sun bounce off it. “There it is!” I thought. The perfect piece of glass—jagged and dangerous—just waiting for me.

I had found my way out.

All I needed to do was turn my handlebars to the right a few degrees. Simply run over it, and that would be the end of it. My tires would be shredded to bits, and I’d be stranded. The support crew would have to pick me up and drive me back into town, and I could get off that damn bike.

“Ohhh, what if I fell on the glass! That’d be better!”

But I kept on riding. I wasn’t going to let it happen again; there would be no repeat performance from the grade 3 cross country running escapade where—after about 15 minutes of the race—I found some acorns on the trail on which I could “trip” to end my race and get me a ride to the finish.

“C’mon you bastard! Not this time,” I said to myself, and, inadvertantly, to the other riders around me. I pushed and pulled on the pedals a little harder, a little smoother, and with a bit more determination, but still wondering if I was going to make it.

My family joined me at the finish line – they had been waiting all day; Kathryn had finished her race an hour and a half earlier. While carrying one sleeping daughter, holding hands with the other (who was still wide awake), and Kathryn following while carrying our son (also sleeping), I crossed the finish line in 16 hours 35 minutes and 48 seconds.

Derek Featherstone
Derek Featherstone
Web Designer/Developer, Speaker, Trainer, Author, IronMan Lake Placid 2007
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Comments

  • Susan MacGillivray
  • Susan MacGillivray
  • August 14, 2007
  • 9:06 a.m.

I am lost for words. Awesome is about the only one that springs to mind.

  • jay.west
  • jay.west
  • August 14, 2007
  • 11:57 a.m.

A fantastically inspirational story, Derek. As a spectator I can only begin to imagine the physical determination required for a challenge like this, but your anecdote perfectly captures the nagging mental games that you would need to overcome in order to make it to the finish. In the same situation I begin to see how fatigue could make my head my single point of failure as it constantly looks for a way to valiantly excuse my body from continuing.

  • Nick
  • Nick
  • August 14, 2007
  • 2:14 p.m.

Love it! Way to get things done Derek, the pic is priceless.

  • Kathryn Featherstone
  • Kathryn Featherstone
  • August 14, 2007
  • 10:07 p.m.

priceless honey – as usual, you have managed to make me laugh and bring me to tears all in the same paragraph – obviously my heart fills with pride over your accomplishment as I too can appreciate the mental games that day took on us – granted, the thought of falling on glass never occurred to me – finishing just one loop of every discipline certainly was satisfying enough – I didn’t really need to do another loop of anything, but alas – it was required – Some day I will take the time to write down my thoughts etc., hopefully before they are all gone – and now we look forward – to just one loop of each discipline – next September 2008 in Muskoka – I can’t wait – oh yes, Poppa Bear is still a bastard of a hill – or is it a son-of-a-bitch?
love you always xoxoxoxo Kathryn

Congrats Derek! Awesome photo, and way to overcome those gremlins that haunt you on the course…

I wish I’d known about this site sooner!

Mate, what an effort – you are an inspiration :)

  • Donn
  • Donn
  • August 29, 2007
  • 4:15 p.m.

Fantastic story Derek. And an amazing photo. What a great way to include everyone in the effort.

I’m contemplating getting into tris and wondering how you manage your schedules (family, work and training) with 3 little ones?

Congrats on an amazing accomplishment!

Congratulations Derek. Your story and photo are truly inspiring. Thanks for sharing it.

Thanks, all… your thoughts and congratulations are much appreciated!

Donn – one quick reply:

I’m contemplating getting into tris and wondering how you manage your schedules (family, work and training) with 3 little ones?

That is a really good question. It isn’t easy, by any stretch of the imagination. Swimming turned out to be the easy part because it was early morning, before the kids wake up. Runs we often did together while family watched the kids for an hour or up to 3 hours. Bike rides were a bit more tricky as we ended up training in Lake Placid quite a few times. If we had them with us, we took turns going for long training rides. If we didn’t have the kids with us, then they were with family for the weekend.

It was definitely hard, and I certainly don’t think we trained enough. I think if we had been training for shorter distance triathlons it would have been much easier to co-ordinate and manage in terms of taking care of the kids.

In terms of work commitments, it wasn’t as tricky for me because I have some flexibility in my schedule working for myself. Kathryn had much less flexibility in her schedule, but she still managed to turn in a great performance for IronMan.

It was very tough to balance it all. In retrospect, I’m not even sure I know how we did it!

  • Brian Claytor
  • Brian Claytor
  • September 6, 2007
  • 5:29 p.m.

Congrats Derek & Kathryn!—very inspiring.

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