Dec 09 2009
Frank Cardia Does The Impossible
Frank Cardia has successfully completed a Marathon ( 26.2 miles ) an Ironman ( 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run ) and then another Marathon ( 26.2 miles ) all in 3 days !!!!!
On Saturday Nov 21st at 7am, Phoenix Arizona time, I set out on my first marathon. The marathon course that I was following was the exact same course for the PF Chang Rock and Jock Marathon in Arizona. My brother in law and I had done this course 2 yrs prior in 5hrs and 1 minute. My plan was to come in somewhere around that same time ( 5 hrs ). I didn’t want to waste too much energy knowing that I had 2 HUGE days ahead of me still. I paced myself perfect and made sure to hydrate and eat as I been training. There was a little more traffic then I expected and there was alot of time wasted running in and out of 7 11′s & gas stations to get Gatorade, etc…. But it all went well and it was great marathon – It took me 5 hrs 14 minutes.
As soon as I got back to my hotel, I jumped in an ice bath for about 15 minutes. I could feel a little tightness starting in my right thigh and around both my knees. I then had to rush down to the race site to drop off my race bags and my bike. I was finally done around 4pm in the afternoon. I went to get some Sushi up by my hotel and then just laid around and relaxed the rest of the day.
Sunday, Nov22nd – I got up around 4am and just kinda laid there for a bit thinking about the day ahead of me and also the next day to come. I remember saying out loud – Frank Cardia, what are you doing ?? You must be crazy !!! At about 4:30am I started getting my stuff ready. I went to grab a quick buttered roll and a Gatorade at the gas station and then off to the race site. Got down there about 5am and got all my gear situated – By 6am I was all ready to go.
The worst thing about Ironman race morning is the nervous energy you get just waiting around for the race to start. At about 6:55am I jumped in the water and just waited there, along with 2500 other triathletes. 7am SHARP – The canon fired…. and we were off.
It took me about 6-8 minutes to finally get my breathing right. And all of a sudden, my right calf cramped up like it has never done before. I couldn’t move it that’s how painful it was. I was at first a little worried cause I never had this happen to me before. It lasted for a few minutes and of course people behind me are smashing into me and that makes you more and more nervous… And then just as it came…it disappeared. All of a sudden it was gone and it was smooth sailing.
Got out of the water and had a ton of energy left in the tank — I just kept saying ” its gonna be a long day and an even longer day tomorrow “. My plan was to conserve as much energy as I possible could. The worst thing in the world would be to Bonk and have to get off the course.
Jumped on the bike feeling great. The first 60 miles were cake. Then out of nowhere, I start gushing blood from my nose. It wasn’t just trickling out – It was pouring out. So I let it bleed for a few minutes and then decided I needed to hit an aid station. I sat there in a chair dripping blood all over the place for about 10-15 minutes. I finally realized it wasn’t stopping and all I was doing was wasting time, so I jumped back on the bike and just bled all over myself and the bike.
Finished the bike with dry blood all over me – NASTY !!! Onto the run. The first few miles I couldn’t get my legs under me. Finally I met up with a few people running my pace and stayed with them for last 15 miles or so. And then it happened again. At mile 19 I started gushing blood again. This time it was really pouring out. There was no way to avoid it getting all over me. I got extremely light headed and hand to sit down for 20 minutes or so before I felt capable to start running. I again, just kept thinking– Frank Cardia you must be crazy – Are you nuts ?
Finished in 15hrs and 53 minutes – My worst Ironman time yet ( I have done 5 ) – I wanted to come in around 15hrs, but with all the bleeding and stopping – I was still happy that I finished. I was actually happier that I knew I had gas left in the tank. And I knew tomorrow’s marathon was gonna be a real test of my will. I finally got back to my hotel at Midnight and didn’t get to bet until 2am.
Got up the next morning at 7am and I couldn’t feel my legs or my feet– They were basically numb with pain. At 8am, I went over to Denny’s and had a nice big breakfast and I was miserable thinking I had to do another 26.2 miles today. I headed out to the race start and set off at about 9:30am for my final marathon
Everything was going great and then at about mile 17….. It all started over again. Blood Blood and more Blood !!! I was like a garden hose left running. Blood dripping all over me again. At this point I started seeing the newspaper headings…. Frank Cardia left dead on the side of a road in Scottsdale Arizona. I began to get very very light headed and had to go into a fast food restaurant to clean up and get some real food in me. I was probably in there for 20 minutes but it seemed like an hour. I finished my final marathon in 7hrs and 04 minutes. My 2 toenails fell off, and I bled all over my socks…..I had blisters the size of quarters all over my feet.
It was Nasty !!!!!
But I am alive to talk about it and I live to race another day.
Frank Cardia
Frank Cardia Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/frank-cardia-does-the-impossible-1556698.html