Race Pics

Moments before the swim start. I think Brian had been eating powdered donuts.

The End of an Era?

After months of training and planning, we all took the starting line at Utah Lake in Provo, UT -- Monte Johnson, Brian, Geoff and Chris McCombs. I had been nervous all morning as my mind kept telling me to not start the race. When we got to Utah Lake State Park, Monte was looking strong and confident, and it made me feel much more confident about the race. We all setup in transition, got suited up in our wetsuits and walked down to the water. Brian and I swam to the starting line just minutes before the starting gun fired at 7 am. Right before the gun went off, Brian and I grabbed hands and wished each other a good race. Ahead of us was over 70 miles of unknown. How would our bodies respond to the rigors of this event? Would anyone have equipment problems? Would we all make it to the finish line? I think the unknown contributed to the fear and excitement. Here are the results from the day:

Swim:
Geoff McCombs - 38:41 Place: 57
Chris McCombs - 42:11 Place: 111
Brian McCombs - 44:47 Place: 147
Monte Johnson - 1:57:18 Place: 272

Bike:
Geoff McCombs - 2:35:46 Place: 57
Brian McCombs - 2:40:52 Place: 86
Chris McCombs - 2:47:47 Place: 127
Monte Johnson - no data

Run:
Geoff McCombs - 1:59:14 Place: 60
Brian McCombs - 2:03:43 Place: 80
Chris McCombs - 2:50:45 Place: 223
Monte Johnson - no data

Total Time:
Geoff McCombs - 5:16:48 Overall Place: 45
Brian McCombs - 5:32:19 Overall Place: 72
Chris McCombs - 6:25:00 Overall Place: 184
Monte Johnson - 8:38:02 Overall Place: 260

Brian had an impressive result for his first half ironman. He totally smoked the bike, passing Chris and was nipping at my heels by the end.

Chris struggled on the run due to foot injuries, but he still pulled through with a respectable time. He had an altercation on the bike when another rider accused him of drafting, to which Chris responded, "Hey, I have an idea - SHUTUP!"

I was 24th overall on the bike at the halfway point, but I flatted just after the turnaround and got knocked back 50 places.

But by far, the greatest story of the day was made by Monte. 340 people took the starting lane and 260 finished. Monte was the last one to cross the finish line. 80 people abandoned during the race, but Monte showed to have the strongest will of the day. He just would not quit. He got out of the water and had to convince the officials to not disqualify him. He headed out on the bike for a long lonely ride. The volunteers had all left and closed up the aid stations by the time Monte got on the course, but he did not give up. He finished the bike when most had already finished the entire race or were in the last few miles of the run and he did not quit. He headed out on the run with the very real possibility of finishing after the 3pm deadline. He kept going, and the volunteers kept the aid stations open for him. We awaited his arrival at the finish with great anticipation. When we saw him turn the corner and start down the last stretch, we all jumped to our feet and cheered him to the finish. His perseverence was inspiring to us all. Way to go Monte! You're a Half Ironman. Beat that, Johnson brothers!

While I was suffering on the run, I began to wonder if this race would mark the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. I start Grad School in 2 weeks, I'll be working full time, and there won't be much time to train. I'll run the Top of Utah Marathon next month, and then I'm going to hang it up for a while. While I'm looking to the future with optimism, I can't help but reflect on the past 6 years of racing. Here's my top 10 list:

10 - My first Half Ironman in Guerneville, CA

9 - Getting hit by a car on a training ride, flipping over the car and totaling my bike, yet not suffering any serious injuries.

8 - Blacking out on "corkscrew wall" in the World's Toughest Century

7 - Only 15 minutes away from qualifying for Kona at the 2003 Utah Half Ironman. My best result ever!

6 - Escape from the Rock Triathlon in which I swam from Alcatraz and had to pull out after the swim due to hypothermia. Thanks for rubbing the life back into me, Mom!

5 - April 2004: Ironman California, Driving a moving van to Nauvoo, World's Toughest Half Ironman, Salt Lake City Marathon...all in the same month!!

4 - Ironman California 2007 when my parents came to Oceanside, CA to support me and then attending Priesthood session of conference with my dad.

3 - Full Vineman Ironman, August 2003 with my best friend and mentor, Rick Bird

2 - Utah Half Ironman, August 2008 with Brian, Chris and Monte

1 - Hawaii Ironman World Championships, October 2007

Grad School Roller Coaster Ride

SO, I was accepted into the MBA program at the U a couple of months ago, but my acceptance was contingent upon my retaking the GMAT and scoring above a 50 percentile on the quantitative section. Evidently, quantitative is a fancy schmancy way of saying Math. Why don't they just say math? Anyway, I studied for a month, putting my Ironman training on hold to learn how to do algebra, geometry, fractions, and long division again. I didn't even touch the verbal material in my studies because all I cared about was getting a 50 percentile in math. I took the test on Saturday and scored 30 percentile on the math, 81 percentile on the verbal. I think I may have had a better result if I had studied the verbal and not touched the math. When I saw my results, I could literally see my hopes of getting my MBA go up in smoke. I wanted to cry, so I went out and killed my body for 2 hours on my bike to vent my frustrations. It made me feel much better, even though I threw up in my mouth twice and almost passed out from heat stroke, but I digress. After my ride, I emailed the admissions committee to tell them what an idiot I was for not doing better on the math and that I'd hope to see them before my 50th birthday. I also made sure to mention my high verbal score. :) Today, I got the best birthday present of all from the admissions committee when I received the following email:

Geoffrey,

The Admissions Committee has had an opportunity to review your circumstances and previous coursework. They feel you have much to offer the program and are willing to welcome you into the PMBA program on the condition you maintain a 3.25 GPA during your first semester. The GPA condition is in lieu of your quantitative results on the GMAT. I have attached a contract and ask you to return it by the end of the week. Please let me know if you have any questions.

University of Utah Admissions


Did you notice the part about me "having much to offer the program"? I wonder if they're referring to my fantastic leg shaving abilities.... Now if I can just figure out how I'm going to pay for this, I'll be in business. Anyone know how to count cards?

10 days and counting...

The Utah Half Ironman is just 10 days away. Here's what's been going on...

Brian is ready to go. We ran 11 miles last week in 1:20. A couple weeks ago we did a 1.2 mile open water swim at Lake Tahoe. About 2 months ago, Brian and Chris did a 135 mile ride and finished strong. It was a major confidence booster for Brian. A 56 mile ride is just an afterthought compared to a 135 mile monster from Reno to the shoe tree on Highway 50. Unlike the rest of us, Brian has actually gained weight! Don't ask me why. He currently weighs in at 180 lbs. Unfortunately, Jami isn't going to make it to the race to watch Brian compete. She's in the final month of her pregnancy, so she needs to stay close to the home base in case there's any news from the front.

Chris is ready to go. He's been following a training plan that Chanika put him on a couple months ago. He's lost 8 lbs and is looking lean and mean. He's been struggling with some ankle pain lately, so there may be some walking out on the run course.

Monte took a couple weeks off when Megan was born and was able to get some good hard training in. Like Chris, he's lost about 10 lbs, and feels confident about the bike and run. The swim is another story. While he has shown major improvements in the water, he's still not able to do the distance. I'm a little concerned that he may not be ready for the swim. 1.2 miles in open water with a few hundred other athletes can really make a person feel vulnerable, especially after being kicked in the face. When they get to Provo, I'd like to see them do a practice swim on the course at the Utah Lake Marina just so Monte can feel comfortable with the course.

Cody isn't going to make it to the race this year. He and Jen are moving to Vegas the following week, and they realized that there was just way too much to do, and the Ironman had to be cut out of the schedule. We'll really miss having Cody at the race.

I've been training hard all summer. Recently, however, I've been studying for the GMAT, so I haven't been able to get the necessary last minute training in. I feel weak in the water and on the bike. I'm feeling strong in my run training, though. Additionally, I'm going to be out of town on business a week and a half leading up to the race. I won't be able to get the necessary training in, but I'm still planning to attempt this race. As long as I can avoid my frequent abdominal pains and throwing up on the bike or run, I think I'll be ok.

Half Ironmans are HARD. Though I've done more of these races than I can even count or remember, it's always a mental and physical struggle to push myself beyond the limits of pain. This race won't be any different. Race morning will be full of excitement and fear and anticipation as usual, but it will be particularly sweet to have my family there, not as spectators, but as fellow participants. I've been inspired by them and their desire to take on such a daunting challenge, and I am honored to race with them. It will be a great day.....oh yeah, and I'll see you at the finish line, boys!

VIVE LE TOUR!

There are few things on this earth more beautiful than bicycle racing. The perfect combination of man and machine - the crashes, the humanity, the drama, the sportsmanship, the suffering. It's like NASCAR without all the explosions. I am passionate about this sport. SCREW THE DOPERS.

Beautiful Doctrines of the Gospel

On April 3, 1836, 3 heavenly beings appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland temple and restored sacred keys pertaining to the everlasting priesthood.

...the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north. After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come— To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

D&C 110

"Elias" appeared in the Kirtland temple on this occasion and "committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham". What is the gospel of Abraham? Why was this key restored to the earth? What does it mean that "in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. "

This quote from Russell M. Nelson is amazing.

Whenever I look at stars in the sky, I am reminded that about 4,000 years ago Jesus the Christ (then speaking as Jehovah—God of the Old Testament) made a covenant with Father Abraham. Included was the promise that the Savior of the world would come through Abraham’s lineage and that his seed would be multiplied “as the stars of the heaven.” In addition, Abraham was told that through his seed, “all the nations of the earth [shall] be blessed” (Gen. 22:17–18). This covenant was to be everlasting—even through “a thousand generations” (1 Chr. 16:15). Abraham was promised “that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee … even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal” (Abr. 2:11).
From scriptures we learn that this covenant “should be fulfilled in the latter days” (1 Ne. 15:18). Then the fulness of His gospel would be preached and many would truly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
In 1836, keys of “the gospel of Abraham” were conferred (D&C 110:12). In 1843 the Lord declared to the Prophet Joseph Smith that “Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins—from whose loins ye are. … This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham” (D&C 132:30–31).
Brothers and sisters, you may also claim the supernal blessings promised to the faithful lineage of Abraham. The Lord explained that blessings and responsibilities of His priesthood are yours because of your faith, works, and lineage—the lineage declared in your patriarchal blessings. You “are lawful heirs,” He said. “Your life and the priesthood have remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage” (D&C 86:9–10).
The ultimate blessings of the Abrahamic covenant are conferred in holy temples. These blessings allow us to come forth in the First Resurrection and inherit thrones, kingdoms, powers, principalities, and dominions, to our “exaltation and glory in all things” (D&C 132:19). The fulfillment of the ancient Abrahamic covenant is feasible only because of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He who has made it possible for us to dwell with God, with Him, and with our families eternally.

Swim Training

My training partner, Natalie, and I filmed each other swimming yesterday so we could find ways to improve our form. It's really hard to improve on your swimming technique without a coach or training partner. Natalie has really helped me improve over the past few months. She's improved as well. It's been really satisfying to watch her evolve into a great swimmer.