Two years ago, Pearce Foundation member Matthew Lenius approached personal trainer and group exercise instructor Rob Ordaz to try to talk him into competing in the Xterra Illinois Wild Triathlon competition. This competition is a bit different than others. It's off road, meaning the biking and running were on trails, gravel, dirt, and grass paths. The swim was in a pond instead of a pool. And this event is a bit longer than most. Never having competed in a triathlon, Rob said yes.
It was tough, but Rob had a great time and competed again this year at the event at Wildlife Prairie Park that included an 800 meter swim, 15 mile bike, and four mile run. Why? "It's an endurance badge, a mental challenge," said Rob.
Triathlons begin with the swim to minimize risk. The competitors are at their strongest. In a pond, you can't touch the bottom and the water is murky. As the pack took off on the 800 meter portion of the competition, bumping and swimming into each other, Rob tried to avoid the crowd, which took him way off course. He swam back to the pack, used a back stroke, and got off course a second time. Even with two detours, he was pleased with his swim time.
As an avid cyclist, Rob enjoyed the 15-mile bike ride most. This triathlon is part of a world-wide circuit. People from all over come with $5,000 to $7,000 bikes. Rob showed up with a single speed mountain bike. "The bike felt awesome," said Rob. "People looked at me like I was crazy for using it. But you don't need a lot a gears because there are so many twists and turns. You can't get much speed. I did really well on the bike because I didn't have gears to worry about. I excelled in the obstacles and the climbs. That's where I could pass people." His chain did fall off three times, and one cost him five minutes. "Overall, the bike was excellent."
Rob's legs were starting to cramp as he went into the 4-mile run. "I didn't cut soda completely out of my diet," said Rob. "I think that, and not training enough, contributed significantly to the cramps." The run was on trails and service roads around the park with a mix of gravel, dirt, grass, broken asphalt, hiking trails, and one really steep decline. Which means, of course, an incline. "The run back up was horrible; quarter-mile steep incline on broken asphalt with slippery moss," said Rob. "Almost everyone walked."
The last few grueling miles included lots of self-talk, telling himself to just keep going, that he was almost done. "I had watched this little seven-year-old boy in the kids triathlon," explained Rob. "He talked to himself the entire time, saying 'determination,' 'determination,' 'determination,' and cheering himself on. That really stuck with me. Most of us look to famous athletes and celebrities for inspiration, but I kept picturing that kid in my head. If he could dig deep and find the will to keep going, so could I."
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