Andrew Cartwright’s First IRONMAN Triathlon
A Test of Physical and Mental Endurance
The Ironman Triathlon is considered one of the most challenging sporting events in the world. It is a test of your physical endurance but also your mental strength.
The triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.22-mile run all at once. Ironman could seem impossible for most.
Ironman allows you seventeen hours to complete all three portions. Many people have set a record within the Ironman race of completing it under eight hours but to finish is an accomplishment in itself.
The triathlon brings together 25,000 athletes from all over the world. These athletes have completely altered their lifestyles to be able to give themselves the IRONMAN title.
“IRONMAN is about persevering, enduring, and being a part of something larger than ourselves,” states IRONMAN.
Andrew Cartwright completed the IRONMAN 70.3 Vineman Triathlon and became an Ironman himself in the beautiful Sonoma County, California for the very first time.
“I’m not going to win the race; I’m not going to be close to the people that are winning but there’s something about not quitting and that you keep going,” said Andrew Cartwright.
IRONMAN does require a lot of time and resources before you can even complete the triathlon.
Athletes are required to bring their own bikes to the triathlon as well as provide a wet suit, running gear, and their nutrition to complete the seventeen hour-long race.
Andrew Cartwright knew the financial challenges that are required for this Vineman title but continued to persevere.
A good friend and athlete who had entered the triathlon before had let him borrow his wife’s mountain bike to use for the race. Not exactly Ironman Gear.
He also struggled to find a wet suit and had to settle for a wet suit that was two sizes too small that he was able to find the day of the meet from a spectator.
The location of the race could alter the training regime as it could cause unexpected weather changes that could alter the outcomes of the race.
Cartwright completed his first IRONMAN triathlon in his hometown of Sonoma County, California, also known for its beautiful winemaking areas.
For the Sonoma Country triathlon, the event began in Johnsons Beach in Guerneville and then athletes past hundreds of vineyards and dozens of wineries before it finishes up at Winsdor High School.
Johnsons Beach faced challenges for the athletes as the Russian river lacks the salt that helps swimmers stay afloat., creating a dangerous scenario for that two-hour swim.
The location is a pinnacle factor in the tense amount of training that was required before entering into the triathlon.
Running through vineyards and biking through rolling hills presented its own set of challenges.
It is expected that people entering should be training around eight to twelve hours per week with hours increasing as you get closer to the event.
Cartwright’s daily training regime consisted of a 5 am swim, followed by bike riding at 6 am. Then running for a few miles at 7 am.
During the early morning hours, there were many moments of doubt that Andrew faced that needed to be pushed down, and to develop good mental habits is a practice within itself.
The positive or negative outlook that you hold will alter the way your body reacts to the training.
“This step alone, the decision to overcome a weakness, maybe one of your most powerful psychological tools as you refuse to get stuck or paralyzed by unhelpful habits,” states Lance Watson.
The physical endurance that your body is put through daily needs to have the mental capacity to push through every day.
Andrew Cartwright also had to make nutritional changes to keep the body balanced with enough fuel to endure the physical workouts.
According to Jordan Blanco he states, “As a general rule of thumb, endurance athletes should aim to eat 60–90 grams of carbohydrate per hour during IRONMAN events, with athletes typically able to consume more calories and fluids during the bike leg and fewer calories during the run portion of the event.”
The number of calories that triathlon athletes lose within a day of training can be extreme. It is important to know how much nutrition your body needs as you complete the swim, bike, and run portion of the race without getting sick or dehydrated.
“I lost 5 points during the race,’ stated Andrew Cartwright.
During the race, the athletes were given three backpacks to fill with contents of their choice, that will be located at checkpoints marked within the race. Athletes used this opportunity to quickly refuel.
This was a life-changing special event that took months of commitment and sacrifices.
Athletes build a level of resilience to tolerate the physical and mental demands of the Ironman Triathlon.
For Andrew Cartwright, there were hardships, setbacks, and moments of self-doubt, but the ability to conquer this almost impossible goal is well worth the accomplishment to receive the title of IRONMAN.