Schuler Achieves Ironman Status

On August 14th, 2015, Kim Schuler, local teacher and administrator at Upper Dublin School District accomplished the top item on her bucket list – she successfully competed in the Ironman event in Lake Placid, NY.

For months she had trained on her own for the grueling “swim, bike, run” triathlon. She strengthened her swim stroke and leg kicks in pools, lakes, and along the coastline, out beyond the breakers. Kim cycled through parks and along country roads to build stamina. And she ran constantly. To keep sharp she also entered local races and half triathlon events.  Not bad for someone about to turn 50 in mid-December.

She felt ready to compete.  On Thursday the 13th, with several friends she traveled to New York with her bike, cycling garb and spare parts; a wet suit; running clothes and her power bars. (Weeks she spent perfecting a recipe for nutritious bars that were compact, heaped with calories and high energy ingredients.) An adequate supply of these were tucked in her luggage.

She checked into her motel room and then with her friends completed registration for the event.  Kim took her bike to the race corral and surveyed different aspects of the course for biking and running.  After a hearty dinner meal she hit the sack.

At 6:00 AM Friday morning, dressed in her wet suit, she and 2799 fellow competitors merged at the water’s edge of Mirror Lake.  At 6:30 AM officials opened access to the water via the “swim arch”.  It was a rolling start in which professionals moved into the lake first, followed by amateurs.  The competitors were encouraged to self-regulate their position, asking that slower individuals wait toward the rear.  Each participant wore a digital ankle bracelet that would record his/her time when passing over or through a timing mat or sensor.  As Kim passed through the arch her digital bracelet started recording her time.

A sea of bodies flooded the waterway.  Arms thrashed arms, legs kicked other legs as the masses sought position for the 2.4 mile swim.  Frustrated by the battering of bodies Kim moved off to the side and treaded water until the frenzy dissipated.  With a clearer path ahead, she settled into a steady rhythm, completing the circuit in 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 6 seconds.

Upon returning to land she hustled to the bike arena. Volunteers were already aware that she had completed the swim and was coming to change clothes and claim her bike.  She was helped out of her wet suit, slathered with sunscreen, and offered  a snack and drink as someone approached right on time with her bike. She refused the food and drink, opting to only use what she  brought from home. Her body was acclimated to her power bars and she did not want to change her practice.

Passing through the bike arch her ankle bracelet picked up her start time for the second leg of the triathlon.  The course consisted of two loops through the hills of the Adironack Mountains with an eleven mile climb at the end of each loop.  The total distance was 112 miles

On the second loop fatigue started to set in.  Her friends shouted words of encouragement as she cycled past.   Each rotation of wheels brought Kim closer to the ending arch.  At home in PA family and friends monitored her progress on mobile apps and knew she was on the move.  Finally, after 7 hours, 39 minutes and 55 seconds biking the hills surrounding the city she had completed the second leg of the Ironman event.

Leaving her bike with a volunteer, she changed into running clothes, was slathered once again with sunscreen, and on tired legs ran through the “run arch”.  Already nine hours into the race her body was beginning to show signs of exhaustion.  The running portion of the event was a full marathon, 26.2 miles, making four tours through Lake Placid where spectators lined the streets offering cheers and encouragement.

Kim played mental games in hopes of keeping her body less aware of the fatigue.  On the third loop her friends saw her distress and quickly calculated how much time she had to complete the course.  They discovered that she could walk the remaining distance and finish the race within the 16 hour 50 minute time frame allotted  to complete the triathlon. They shouted this fact to her as she passed by.

Reminding herself that this was probably her one and only shot at fulfilling her dream of attaining the title “Ironman”, she kept her legs pumping a steady rhythm and moved forward.  She heard shouting as she finally neared the “finish” arch.  With a renewed burst of energy she raised her arms in victory as she passed through the arch, listening to her name and being introduced as an Ironman.

Kim had completed the marathon in 5 hours, 20 minutes and 37 seconds.  She logged in 14 hours, 46 minutes and 30 seconds in completing the Ironman challenge which covered a combined distance of 140+ miles- the culmination of a cherished dream!  She finished 34th in her age group and 1488 overall in a field of 2799.  Quite a feat!!