Q. Where to start! First off, we are so very happy for you and many congratulations on your IRONMAN World Championship finish! So many of us have worked out with you here at Precision Multisport, watched your journey through the years, raced with you, ran with you, biked with you, swam with you. So perhaps not so simply put, what got you to toeing the start line at the IRONMAN World Championship-Kona this October/what did it take for you to qualify for Kona?
A. In order to qualify for Kona, everyone needs to earn a slot in one of the 45 Ironman races worldwide. In my age group there is only one slot awarded at each race. This means that I have to win my age group at an Ironman race. I’ve come close in other races (second, fourth), but it wasn’t until last August 18 in Mont-Tremblant that I was able to win my age group and qualify for Kona.
Q. While many miles were put in, but I suspect there are also other elements to your training, such as strength training, massage therapy, physiotherapy, and even rest. What do these other important elements look like for you and your comprehensive training regime?
A. EDITOR’S NOTE: such things such as planned rest, massage therapy once a month, strength training 3 days a week, physiotherapy once a month, etc…….
Coach JP is a big advocate of strength and stability training. He feels that those help all three disciplines of triathlon, and that they help prevent injury. So, I have been doing strength and stability training 3 days a week. I’ve also had massage and chiropractic adjustments on a less regular basis. I always take one day a week off from training.
Q. Physical training aside, what sort of tried-and-true mental tricks propelled you toward finishing line at Kona?
A. In a long-distance endurance event, many have a tendency to look at the entire length of the race and be overwhelmed. It’s not a good idea to look at the swim start, where you can’t even see the turnaround in the distance, and think about the whole distance you need to cover. So instead I try to concentrate on getting to the next buoy, or to the next aid station on the bike or run.
Q. It has been said that Kona is unique in that the course on paper isn’t particularly daunting, but the elements – the rough water, crosswinds, baking sun – will find your physical (if not mental) weaknesses, even ones you didn’t know you had. What may have hit you during your race?
A. The swim! I went for three practice swims in the week leading up to the race, and thought that the swim would be no problem. But on race day when standing in the start corral and watching the waves crash over the seawall, I knew it was going to be a challenge. The swells caused me to get seasick and at one point to hold on to a kayak. I was even concerned that I might not make the swim time cutoff. But I continued on and finished within the time. The crosswinds on the bike were also very difficult for me. I was holding on for dear life to my handlebars to keep from being blown over, and after about an hour of that, my shoulders and neck were quite tense. I’m very happy to say that I made it without crashing!
Q. Tell us about the infamous Energy Lab. For your race that day, was it as bad as they commentators and racers always claim it can be?
A. When you hear commentators talk about running through the Energy Lab, they are usually describing the race leaders. When the pros are running their marathons, it is around noon or 1:00pm, when the heat is at its peak. I didn’t start my marathon until 5:15pm. The sun set shortly thereafter, so even though it was still hot, the sun wasn’t baking down on me. I guess there is an advantage to being slower!
Q. What many may also find interesting about you is that you are a vegan athlete. Yes, I am going there with the question about protein and calories to fuel. How do you make this work for you during training and even on the course?
A. Actually I am vegetarian, not vegan, so it is easier for me to get protein from sources like eggs & cheese, where vegans do not. It is a challenge for me to get enough protein, but my wife Laurie is a great cook, and we subscribe to Rich Roll’s PlantPower Meal Planner where we get recipes for well-balanced and tasty vegetarian meals. I also supplement my diet with protein shakes. As for on the course, I mostly take in carbohydrates, along with an occasional peanut butter sandwich and protein bar.
Q. What is some sage advice you would give someone who wants to qualify for Kona?
A. Enjoy the process and don’t get too hung up on the results! In the younger age groups, there is so much competition that it is very difficult to qualify. So, I would say don’t get discouraged, keep trying, and be sure to enjoy the process. It’s also easiest to qualify when you have just aged up to the next 5-year age group, so target that year more than any other for your biggest push.
Q. You crossed that Kona finishing line and hear the words bellowed by Mike Reilly: Bill McCarthy you are an IRONMAN. What was your first reaction and emotion summed up in three to five sentences?
A. I remember walking into Precision some six or seven years ago when it was on Simpson and telling Coach JP that I wanted to race an Ironman triathlon (not having done anything longer than a Super Sprint), and telling him I don’t know why I couldn’t qualify on my first try. When I crossed the finish line, I thought of how far I’ve come since then. I thought of all of the time and energy it took to get here, and of all of the support from my friends, from Laurie, and from Coach JP who encouraged me along the way. I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity to do this. It may not mean anything in the grand scheme of life, but I feel that I’ve grown, learned a lot about myself, met some wonderful people, traveled to some really interesting places…and for that I am most grateful!
Q. What’s next for you, Bill?
A. I want to continue to train with the goal of someday reaching my athletic potential. I’m not sure what that is, but I’m looking forward to trying. So, look out Ironman Vichy (France, August 23, 2020), here I come!