#59: Sherpa IM Austria Experience By Steve Keller

Being a Sherpa is an enormous responsibility and when your athlete is your wife, there is no room for error.  Your athlete needs your logistical support and more importantly, your emotional support. The role as a sherpa is filled with plenty of excitement as well as monotonous down time, but the rewarding feeling you get when your athlete crosses the finish line, makes every minute worth it.

With this trip being overseas, there was the unique stressor of having to transport the athletes’ bike via commercial air. What could go wrong? No bike, no Ironman.  Throughout all three plane connections, it was my responsibility to comfort my athlete and assure her everything would be okay, even though I knew the baggage handlers didn’t share my concern. In the end, the bike made it safely and all was good, or so I thought…

Once we arrived in Klagenfurt, we settled in our room, but that’s when I noticed my athlete was beginning to show dreadful signs of hanger.  This means nothing will be enjoyable until her hunger is satisfied. Her eyes go from blue to red and small little horns begin to sprout from each side of her temples.  We found a hole-in-the-wall Doner place, and we dined like starving animals. We left and suddenly my athlete was appreciating everything about the town of Klagenfurt.

We spent the next day touring and had an amazing time in this beautiful town. 
Then it was the highly anticipated and eventful day we had been waiting for, race day.  We got to the start, and I know my athlete struggles with the open water swim so, I kissed her and watched her leave for the water. I was following her progress on the Ironman app tracker. After 45 minutes of tracking, she appeared to be progressing well, so I took the opportunity to grab some breakfast back at the hotel. As I was eating my breakfast, I noticed the tracker froze at the finishing point of the swim 40 minutes sooner than she has ever finished in past. In that moment, I knew something was off and I needed to ditch my breakfast to run 1.5 miles back to the race to check on my athlete. As I ran back and arrived at the race, my athlete was still in the same location on the app tracker, but nowhere in sight. As a reminder, this race is in a foreign country and nearly nobody spoke English. As I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off, panic begins to rise as worse case scenarios begin to run through my head. I continued the search for my missing wife. Next thing I knew, I saw an ambulance coming from the swim out and had no doubt it was carrying my wife. This was hands down one of the most helpless moments of my life. Tears welling, I thought my wife drowned.  Watching the riders come on to the course and fearing the worst, I hear “STEVEN I’M COLD!” as my athlete rode past me on her bike. WTH! It was the best sound I have ever heard! Turns out, there was just a glitch in the tracking app and my athlete was alive and well. Lesson learned: DO NOT trust the Ironman tracking app.

I went back to the hotel and decided to go for a run and get my head together.  Just a short run to break a sweat and then get back to the IM. Or so I thought.  At about mile 3 I realized I was totally lost with no water, no phone and no one to ask for help.  Trying to retrace my route back to the hotel, I realized I was hopelessly lost.  It was heating up and I knew this could get ugly.  Every house and street looked the same and realized I’m screwed.  At mile 7, I happened to see a city bus about a mile away. This could be my saving grace.  I ran to where the bus drove by and looked to my right and there was my hotel! Praise Jesus! 

Headed back to the IM venue to see my athlete begin her run.  I found a bench to sit and eat dinner while waiting for my athlete to begin the run. Enjoying my brat and beer I began to relax.  My athlete came out and I gave her a kiss and yelled “RUN ALTER FRAU!”  (Run Old Woman!) I cracked myself up and the locals laughed also.  Probably thinking stupid American.  My athlete was safely on the running course, so I returned to my cold beer and brat.  Several minutes later I hear some commotion and look to my left to see an athlete full on laid out on his back.  I observed serval people come up to him and ask in German what I think is “are you ok?”  I saw him nod.  Pretty soon everyone leaves, and I see him alone.  I have been to many IM’s and have done some myself.  I knew an athlete on his back is not a good thing.   I left my bench and went over and asked him if he was ok.  He was bilingual, thank God.  He indicated he was fine, but I knew he wasn’t.  He had a rapid heart rate, and was cold, clammy and confused.  I knew he was done for and needed medical attention.  Volunteers showed up but were not equipped to help except for providing some cups of ice. 45 minutes later, the medics showed up and transported the athlete.  He thanked me and I returned to my now warm beer and cold brat. I then began a plan to video my athlete coming across the finish line and the post-race nutrition options. 
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She finished and I was able to get a decent video of her 9th full IM.  At the athletes tent she came out complaining about the food.  Knowing my athlete, I had an amazing dinner planned.  I told her “I got you.”  We made our way to the brats and beer.  She loved it!  After she dined on some real food, we had some time to talk.  She discussed her race for several minutes and then I shared my day with her.  While I described my experience that I thought she had drowned, it hit me.  I could tell she was shocked by my tears, and I couldn’t explain it. I love her so much and my emotions just took over. She hugged me and it felt good.
Our trip was amazing, and I love my athlete.