Ironman Wisconsin is in the books and can count myself among the finishers.  That was my goal and it feels great to have achieved it.  Additionally, but not secondarily, I proposed to Sue at the finish line and she accepted.  We left Michigan early Thursday morning and on the way I had my first drama.  The main button on the Polar watch I had been training with all year locked up on me.  I was planning on doing my pacing with the heart monitor and it would be a set back not to have that model watch to race with.  I expected that when we got to the expo I would bound off to the Polar booth and the reps would make the whole thing right.  When we got to the expo we couldn’t find Polar and realized that Timex is the “official Ironman” watch.  At that point I had some work to do to get things squared away.  We got into Madison in time to get a late lunch at the Great Dane Brewery.  Being that Sue has two Danes it was an appropriate start to the weekend.  I was making sure I kept to my diet with the race so close and had a Salmon Orzo salad that was very good.  The beer was hard to pass up but I knew it wouldn’t be long until I could partake.  I was a bit anxious to get registered not knowing what kind of ordeal that would be.  When we got there late afternoon there was no line and it went quite fast.  I had to get weighed and sign my life away.  There were as many disclaimers to sign as a freefall skydive.  The whole process was pretty efficient and we did our shopping and headed to the hotel. 

At the hotel I went out for a short ride/run brick and tried out my new racing top and shorts.  Everything felt fine and my decision regarding my race pace was still pretty ambitious.  In my mind I could ride the 20mph and still post a pretty good marathon.  After the workout we went to the mall where I got a guy at a watch place to pop the back off the watch and I was able to push the button back into place.  I was thinking the watch issue was solved although I was nervous about the button sticking again.  After the mall we went to Outback, had salads and planned day two in Madison. 

Friday:  In the morning we went to the swim start and Sue watched my gear while I swam, biked and ran a one hour workout.  I got out of the water and the watch was dead.  The back must not have been tight enough so I was back to square one (more like square minus one now).  I wasn’t going to the let the watch impact me more then it should so I made sure I didn’t let it get to me.  Physically I felt even better then the day before and was encouraged about the race.  I was able to get the watch dried out and decided not to use it for the swim and not buy a new one.  It turned out that was a bad call.  After lunch we headed out onto the bike course and I got to see what I had heard so much about.  The course was two loops of a 56 mile roller coaster.  It was ups and downs and turns.  No loops but I was almost expecting one.  It was sobering to think that this would be the hilliest course I had ridden all season and I was going race on it.  NOW I was rethinking my pace.  Sue and I were surprised how many people were out riding way out on the course two days before.  I am not sure what the strategy is there.  At the hotel I finished packing my transition bags and thought about the marriage proposal at the finish line.  I bought a small band that would travel with me the entire race attached to my leg on my ChampionChip.  I was planning to have someone right “Marry Me Sue” across the front of me and as I come in the announcer would see it (theory, of course).  When we got back we met up with Jenny and Chris for the pasta dinner and course talk.  It was real motivating experience and the speaker were great.  They feed thousands of people and the whole evening was pretty inspiring.  The weather report was chance of rain….

Saturday:  The next day was rest and prep for the race.  We met Jenny and Chris for lunch at the Dane and dropped of the bike and transition bags.  I walked the transitions and looked over the layout of the whole thing.  The Monona Terrace and the lake right there is quite a set up.  For the swim to bike transition you exit the water and run right up the parking deck helix to a conference room where your bag is, head to another room to change and out to the top level of the deck where the bikes are.  It looks like a long way but it works very well.  Because it was looking the weather could be an issue I purchased some sleeves (arm warmers) for the ride and no idea how important that would become.  We went back to the hotel and I laid low and tried to visualize the day ahead of me.  I realize now, in your first Ironman, you have no clue what to expect. Sue went shopping and I asked her to buy a Sharpy (for the “Marry Me Sue” tattoo).  I told her it was to write my body weight on my number for the medical people.  We set two alarms for 4:00 am and scheduled a wake up call. 

RACE DAY!!:  I slept fine and got about 6 hours of sleep which was all I expected.  It was dark and I grabbed my swim stuff, special needs bags and we headed to the venue.  We were early enough to get a good parking spot and he weather was cool and overcast.  The wind was up a bit but it wasn’t raining yet.  I visited my bike, peeled off the bags covering the seat and bars, topped off the water and thought about topping off the tires.  Then I heard a loud BOOM.  Someone topped off their tires a little too much.  I decided the tires were fine.  We met up with Jenny and Chris and the time came to head to the swim start.  It was nice to be in the wetsuit but it turned out that was the warmest I would be all day.  The rain was just starting and the wind was coming up.  We had to get in the water before the start and the wait was a bit nerve racking.  They had some music to add to the drama and it was amazing to see that many people in the water.  When the canon went off I tried to get into an easy rhythm.  As we headed toward the first turn you could tell the wind was a factor.  The outside of the course was a washing machine and people were bumping into each other all over the place.  The second loop was worse and both parts of the course were bad.  I had no idea what my time was but I knew everyone was having problems with that swim.  The swim finish was welcome site but when we exited the water we could see it was raining and blowing pretty steady now.  Up the helix, in the building, grab the bags and into the changing room with several hundred others.  I knew I would have to be careful on that course in the rain and wind.  I took extra time in transition because I had to put on the arm and leg warmers, the watch and all food I was going to carry.  I couldn’t find a race clock and I had no clue what my time was.  The time was beginning to be less and less of a concern.  The mantra for most was to have a good day and that was becoming mine as well. 

As I rode down the bike path, onto the roads and out of town I was comfortable and I thought I was a little under dressed but it wouldn’t be an issue.  As I got out to Verona the wind was gusting a bit and I knew it was going to be quite a ride.  As I got into the hills my back was tight and I was realizing that my training had prepared me to hammer this type of course.  I was going to be happy with 19mph.  I did the first loop in close to that.  On the second loop my back was really tight and I was a bit cold.  I wasn’t able to stay aero for more then a couple minutes at a time and wind was taking its toll as much as the hills.   Now I was realizing if I didn’t slow down I was putting my run in jeopardy.  I backed it down to what felt reasonable although I didn’t have my heart rate monitor.  The only way I could find out what my time was would be ask people the time of day.  You should have seen the funny looks I got from people when I asked them “can you tell me the time of day?”.  There were a three hills coming into Verona where you had people lined up on both sides like Alpe d’Huez.  It was an intense, standing on the pedals, one bike wide, gauntlet.  It was out on the second loop when the wind was blowing and the rain was pounding me that I knew the cold was becoming a factor for me.  I made sure I ate a lot early know my appetite would go away late in the ride.  I only ate about 6 of the 12 energy bars I had with me.  I did take a lot of bananas and hit the Gatorade quite a bit.  I looked for Sue in Verona and didn’t see her.  I was just hoping she was having a good day.  The only issue I was having with fatigue was my back.  The flats I would pass people and for the most part I was advancing through the pack.  The weather brought out some interesting sights.  There was a guy in parkas who was wearing a time trial aero helmet.  The hood on the parka was like a parachute all filled up with wind.  There were about 40 flats that I saw.  I saw about three people go in the ditch from sliding around corners.  I saw two people being loaded into ambulances.  I saw people who had no leggings and sleeves whose skin was beet red from cold.  I wondered if they would last.  My ride would be over 6 hours so there was a lot to see.  I don’t remember there being a time on the ride when I didn’t rain.  It didn’t matter because your wheels would spray you the whole way even if it had stopped.  I was feeling the impact of the ride as I came into Madison and I made sure I focused on finishing the ride and not thinking about the run ahead.  My attitude was good and I knew I could run just how far would be the question.  I rode down the bike path up the helix with a thousand people screaming as we came in.  It was awesome.  As I came into transition I was doing a function check and I noticed my foot was pretty sore across the outside of it.  I was hoping it would walk off.  When I got off the bike I had a perceptible limp and I just ignored it and focused on transition.  My transition was slow.  I am sure I was one of the people who were not in a hurry to go back out in the rain.    

As I headed out on the run course I was limping and praying I could walk off the issue.  Up until that point I was not having a bad day but I knew that the most important part was finishing and proposing to Sue at the finish line.  By the time I got to the first mile my foot was fine.  That really helped my attitude as I got to the first aid station and ate some cookies and hit the Gatorade.  I planned to walk the aid stations to ensure I got food and drink.  We ran through Camp Randall Stadium and I thought of all the battles that had been fought there between my Michigan Wolverines and the Badgers.  As we got into the campus area I was very impressed with how nice it was.  The lakeside trail was a great touch although the mud was a bit deflating.  There was music playing all over the place and it is always interesting to me how song can be either very motivating or irritating depending on the selection.  Things can get to you that you don’t expect to because your weakened state.  As we left the campus area and headed into town toward the capital we get to run by the finish and go back out again.  Some thought it was cruel but I thought it was a great motivator.  I got back to Camp Randall (this time we just go by) and I saw Chris.  He was running, looked fine and he was not doing bad at all.   Our special needs bags were at the mid point of the marathon and just down the street from the turn.  I got to the bags and asked one of the volunteers to apply the “Marry Me Sue” tattoo.  I turned out I was just too wet for it to work and I headed to the turn.  Right before the turn I saw Sue and Jenny and I said to Sue, “Be RIGHT there when I get back”.  Jenny knew what was coming but I don’t think she detected the inflection in my voice.  I glanced at the finish line and I could hear the announcer but I could make out what he was saying over the people that were at the turn.  As I headed out for the second loop I was realizing that I was going to finish and I would be forever an Ironman.  Having run many marathons I was being completely naive but having come so far I was convinced nothing could stop me.  My thoughts of posting a particular time were gone.  Surviving the conditions was an achievement that many would not attain this day.  The carnage on the second loop was evidence.  The thousand yard stares from the folks that were walking was motivation not to become one of them.  I was doing great until I hit mile 21.  Something just made me start walking.  I think I was just pushing and pushing and ran out of push.  I tried to walk a little between the aid stations get my pretzels and drink and push for a little more.  This went on until I left the campus and started heading into town.  I decided to forget about the whole 137.6 miles that I had just completed and focus on a measly 3 miles to the finish.  At mile 23 I started to run again and didn’t stop until I got to the finish.  As I came up the hill into town I was renewed and thinking about seeing Sue and hearing those famous words.  As I ran by the special needs bags I stopped and peeled off the ring.  My dexterity was gone so I was trying not to drop it.  I could see the place where Sue was supposed to be.  I got to the corner and I was yelling, “Sue, Sue!!!” with the ring held high in the air.  I didn’t see her so I knew she was at the finish.  It didn’t matter if that the announcer was in on it at this point, the drama was already there.  I saw the stretch and there was no one around me so I held my hands over my head (the ring in my fist) and heard “PAUL ZIESKE OF FENTON MICHIGAN…YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!  I was pretty blown away.  I moved through the finish and there was Sue right by the gate, up against the fence.  I slipped the ring off my medal and held it out as I walked toward the fence.  I wasn’t sure if I dropped to one knee I would get back up so I just yelled it, “SUE WILL YOU MARRY ME!!”  She kissed me and said yes.  It was a perfect day.