The day started with the congregation of what I like to call team K-Swiss/Vervloet around the coffee machine like a pack of wolves. Myself, Aaron Scheidies, Jacque McKenzie, Erik Vervloet, and Jen Vervloet all needed a little inspiration from the “Black Gold” this morning with the 4:30 alarm buzz. We all threw down some quick breakfast and I packed the Mini Van with the tandem and my Trek TTX.

For those of you that didn’t know I had the pleasure of guiding legally blind triathlete Aaron Scheidies at L.A. triathlon last week. It was a great experience and had more fun than I have had in a long time racing. Lucky me his original guide for Malibu Triathlon wasn’t able to make it, and I moved in on the opportunity to race alongside Aaron again. We arrived at the transition and once they let 2 guys with a tandem inside we set up our spot. The swim start is about a half mile from transition and we where walking down the beach already cutting it close. 7 minutes to go, and Aaron realizes somewhere in our journey he has lost our tether;( I am OFF. Running like a bat outta hell, scanning the ground for our bungee cord tether. I was not prepared to take a legally blind person into the ocean without a connection. Instead of spending time searching too hard I ran back to transition to get our running tether that is much shorter, but will have to do the trick for the day. Run, run, run, and run. I grab Aaron and we get to the start with about 1 minute to spare. On the start line and we line up with the relay division. With a little bit of lighthearted trash talk to Macca- we where off with the gun. This entry was much easier than the week before in LA and we where through the breaker quick and off swimming at a good pace. Aaron swam great and we where able to hit all the buoys pretty tight and even brought back some of the swimmers that had gone out too hard. Into the breakers and after one wave that ended with us on top of each other- we where into transition.

Quick transition this time, and off onto the bike course. I remember hearing something about speed bumps, but I was not prepared for these beasts in the middle of the parking lot section. We where passing people, so not able to ride around them and we hit 3 of these things at around 25 mph. Fricken scary, and on the last one we where actually able to bunny hop the tandem over it, not fun- DO NOT TRY AT HOME. Under a bridge, then over a narrow bridge constructed that morning due to flooding, and we where on the long haul down the Pacific Coast Highway. This course is pretty rolly and I thought was going to be a tough ride. I was right- these rollers where long and steady. With a tandem, once you get under 10 miles an hour it gets real tough to keep the momentum going.

Aaron and I where absolutely killing it. He was already passing everyone that started in our wave and was catching pro men and women that started in the previous wave. I was constantly giving Aaron encouragement and splits as to what our overall time was. Aaron is fast, and always wants to get faster, so I wanted to see if we could improve his PR and at the same time get the World Record for the fastest physically challenged Olympic Distance finishing time. He had to go under 1:59:30 and this was a tall order for this course. We where on it though- out to the turn around fast, and I told Aaron he was going to have to WORK- HARD, but he could do it. We continued to pass a good number of Pro women and men that had a 5-minute head start on us. At the turnaround we where good around the cones, and as we left off for our way back a race official yelled the obvious “ hey man, there is a guy right behind you”!! I responded with a “nice one man, first time we have ever heard that, way to go with the obvious joke”. I got a laugh outta Aaron and the others around, and back to business. We where absolutely cooking on the way back, and had people cheering for Aaron the whole time. Into transition we only had 3 Pro women still ahead of us, and I could tell we had a fast ride.

In transition we got our stuff together quick, and I gave Aaron the news. We where going well, and had a chance to break the record, but he was going to need to really, really focus on this run and dig it deep. Aaron is a good runner and I new we had a good chance, but our goal was to build into the run and finish STRONG. The run was actually pretty tough, no it wasn’t hilly, but there where a lot of hazards that a normal triathlete doesn’t notice. Ya, don’t forget this kid is legally blind. There where a lot of tight turnarounds, cones, hard turns, narrow track, and a sandy trail section, huge puddles covering the track, and lots of speed bumps. I had my work cut out for me, I have to describe everything to Aaron as we are running 6 minute pace, cause if I miss one speed bump or curb-up, we will both likely go down in one big triathlete mess. Aaron was running great and doing an amazing job following directions. It shocks me how trusting he is of his guides, I don’t think I would trust any of my buddies enough to do an all out 10k with my eyes closed!! Aaron was keeping on the pace, and it was going to be close. I knew he would be within a minute or so, but I wanted to make sure, so I started giving him some not-so truthful splits to keep the pace up. The last mile was great, I knew he was gonna make it, but was still trying to encourage him to go as fast as possible. One last hard turn into the finish shoot, and he had it!!

1:58:30, a new World Record, and one of the happiest guys you will ever see. He did it, he had a great swim, a rockin bike, and I think a P.R. run, and he had his World Record. He was now celebrating up a storm- deservedly so! It was great to be a part of this experience with Aaron, and hope that with him setting such a good example, that people with disabilities will continue to show that they can do what we can do, and in some cases do it better. Oh ya, Aaron won the Physically Challenged division, but also won the Overall Amateur title as well. Pretty darn impressive if you ask me;) So my time of guiding Aaron for this year has passed ;(. It was a great time but also a real learning experience. I have learned to not take for granted what I am healthy and lucky enough to do for a living, and have also been reminded what this sport is all about. Having fun, and sharing that joy with all that are around you.

For me back to reality and the day continued with another short run and 2 hour ride up the coast . After all I do have a big racing block next month. I am preparing for “The Triple”. What is the triple? Well its; Ironman World Championships in Kona, Xterra World Championships in Maui, and 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater. Sounded like a fun challenge to do 3 Champs in a month;) Wish me luck!