Words Cannot Express

Suffering produces Perseverance. Perseverance, character. Character, Hope. Hope, Love.  Love, Joy…These are all the traits embodied in Kyle and Brent that I had the honor to see play out over 140.6 miles at Ironman Wisconsin.  To say that I am in awe of their physical and mental determination is an understatement!  Watching their joy as they came down the chute then stopping to share the final moments with Brent’s wife, Erica, all of us in the Sherpa crew and 40,000 fans screaming and ringing cow bells is a scene that will last with me forever (thanks Andrew Shanks for capturing that moment in the best sports footage…EVER!).

It is hard not to tear up knowing the years of effort and preparation that went into breaking down yet another barrier to show the world about what CAN be possible with hard work and grit. However, Ironman Wisconsin is so much more than witnessing the love and bonds of Brent and Kyle as they tackled this epic “suffer-fest” together as brothers.  As they have said many times to anyone who will listen, their ultimate focus is on serving and helping the needs of others through The Kyle Pease Foundation. Ultimately, that’s what their achievement is all about. Building the KPF team one child and adult at a time so that those with disabilities can compete on the same stage as those who are considered able bodied. 

Kyle and Brent have demonstrated that “CAN” do attitude with this race and I know their sites are set on creating additional opportunities for inclusion for other athletes as they build this team bigger and stronger.  My daughter Marin and I cannot wait to don the blue shirts and race again with Kyle, Brent and all the KPF team!  Greg Smith - friend, supporter and athlete

***

Sometimes there are not enough words to express the gratitude we feel for those that make the biggest difference. Ironman Wisconsin was a team effort.  It started a long time ago with our parents and the life they encouraged us to live; one with compassion for each other and for those around us. It continued with our friends, sponsors and everyone who cheered us on that day.  Sharing not only the race but specifically the finish line with Kyle is something that was truly special and I cannot thank everyone enough for making such a difference.

Race morning came early and as usually my alarm was just a back-up.  I was up at 3:30 and begin final preparations for race day.  I was more calm than normal and packed my bags to head down to the lobby. Once in the lobby we met Kyle, Sam, Curtis (Freedom Concepts), and our great friend, John David Johnson (photographer extraordinaire and gear junkie).  The drive over was calm and we had every detail worked out for our day.

Swim:

The swim was the easiest part of the day and with all of our planning we knew that we had everything ready. The boat had been blown up and stored the night before so all we had to do was joke around and prepare for the day.  Kyle wanted to get in early so we could have some quiet time about 30 minutes before the swim start. We loaded the boat, threw on the TYR Freak of Nature and with 15 minutes to spare we swam out and positioned ourselves behind the pro's as Wisconsin is an in water start.

I told Kyle no matter what happened the rest of the day I was proud to be out there with him and that today would be memorable.  He smiled, agreed and got the look on his face that all athletes get before the gun goes off.

The swim itself was trickier than expected thanks to a strong head wind for the majority of the swim. The Advanced Elements kayak was as trusty as ever and before I knew it we were closing in on the shore.  The scene after the swim is something that cannot be equaled. 

You must run up a four story Helix where the crowd had been lining up for prime positioning since 5:00 AM. The sound coming from the helix were unreal and to say we were running up it is an understatement...it was AWESOME.  We headed into transition to make our way onto the bike. 

Bike

We knew the bike would be tough.  The mathematical equation of:

 Me + Kyle + Bike = 330 lbs. of rolling weight. 

                              1

The boys at Freedom Concepts did a great job of getting this bike ready for 112 miles but we are two people and a bike weighing a total of 330 pounds so the stress of the weight was considerable. Ironman Wisconsin is one of the more challenging bike courses there is so before the race our coach Matthew Rose told us that this bike course would require that both of us prepare to dig deep into our souls, deep into our mind and to simply find a way to get it done.  Matthew has been a tremendous friend and supporter since day 1 and having him with us for this occasion made us appreciate his sacrifices even more.  

The bike is a 16 mile out section, two 40 mile loops and then 16 back to transition.  The first 16 miles we were flying down some nice rollers and with the aid of a little tail wind were making great time.  The course is rolling but around mile 40 it really turns up hill.

The crowds there were UNREAL...it is as close as we will ever get

to a Tour like atmosphere.  My good buddy, Josh Salzman, had arranged for a core of drummers to literally follow Kyle and I up the hill.  It was amazing listening to the crowds pull us up the hill and we almost forgot we had to come back and do it again...When we finished the climbs we saw Matthew and my wife Erica and told them BE THERE FOR ROUND 2.

I could feel the fatigue in my legs and knew it would be a battle on lap 2.  We hit the turn back onto lap 2 and grabbed special needs.  I gave Kyle some Coke, a baked potato and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  We had been eating every hour, but after nearly 4.5 hours on the bike we wanted to load up before we got to the hills again.  The average bike in Wisconsin was around 6 hrs.  So when we turned off to lap 2 you can imagine the roads weren't nearly as crowded.

I have the utmost respect for people that race in the back because that race is all about YOU...you don't get the benefit of the crowds, there are less people, and well, being out there that long is hard. Well on lap 2 it was all about me and Kyle.  He pushed and pulled me around that course, screaming at me, checking the time and helping to keep our spirits up.  On the big hills Matthew, my wife, JD and Curtis were all there to help us get over those climbs.  It was some of the hardest work of our day.  Every fiber was burning in my legs and all I kept thinking about was everyone that was there for us, everyone that had made this day possible and I knew we had to… no WE WERE going to finish.

When we got to the top of the last hill I was absolutely spent.  I had to pedal slowly for a minute and that's when Matthew told us, “find something within you Brent. Dig deep into your soul and do whatever it takes to make this bike cutoff.”  He told Kyle to “fight like you have never fought before to push Brent harder than he’s gone” and to make sure we made the cutoff.  That motivated us and then we turned at mile 90 straight into a head wind. “Oh crap!” I thought. “How can we do this now?” but Kyle was there like he was all day to motivate and push me.  I've said it before but “he might borrow my legs but I borrow his spirit.”  Nothing would stop us now and we rolled into transition just under the bike cutoff to a bevy of volunteers all cheering for us.  It was such a relief to get off the bike. We took a moment in transition to relax and get some fluids.

The Run

The run started off through downtown to some of the loudest cheers I have ever heard.  It gave new life to my tired legs and fired us both up.  I knew that together we were going to do this and that no matter what we were getting to the finish.  We hit every aide station and loaded up on Gu, cookies, pretzels, chicken broth and fluids. We had a big spend on that bike and we needed all the energy we could get.  Around mile 8, I really started to struggle and so did Kyle.  We started to walk.  I did a quick check on the math and I knew we could walk and finish, but we both knew that wasn't what we set out to do.  We talked a bit, went to the bathroom, grabbed some more calories and with some encouraging words from our friend, Micki, we got moving again.  

From there adrenaline and emotions took over and I actually started running faster than the beginning.  This was HAPPENING.  One foot in front of the other.  Kyle pulling me...me pushing Kyle…together we wheel! Together we were going to be an Ironman (men).  On the last lap, after our friend Adam, who had been following us for about 10k, headed towards the finish, Kyle and I exchanged some words. I let him know how proud I was of him.  Kyle is hands down the toughest athlete I know and without him that day isn't possible.  As we rounded the corner with less than 10k to go someone got the best photo of us. It was one of those “we are doing awesome, how do we look moments”??? Well, as we neared the finish you could feel the crowd surge and when we turned with the Capitol Building at our backs all we could hear was screaming.  Kyle finally let go, I pumped my fists and allowed the accomplishment to set in.  We had done something so special and were able to show everyone (as Greg said) “how powerful the mind can be.”  We set out to finish the race and here we were.

We saw our mom first and gave her a BIG hug!! It starts with the parents! Then we saw our friends, my wife and it was crazy from that point on.  I could barely hear Kyle screaming.  As we hit the final stretch Mike Reilly called out those famous words.  Brent Pease and Kyle Pease, from ATLANTA...YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!

And we were there. Medals on dad, hugging and snapping photos, wife crying, coach crying...So proud.  So proud to be a brother, so proud to be an Ironman. So proud to share this day with so many.

There are almost to many to thank and so much to be thankful for.

• Matthew Rose -you are an incredible spirit and you make so much possible to so many.  Thank you for pushing us to new heights.  
• Betty Janelle- you told Kyle he could do it and here we are.  Your passion is infectious and we cannot thank you enough.
• Curtis Henry- the bike is spot on and your compassion even more so.
• Greg Smith - thank you for believing in us before anyone else did and helping make the Kyle Pease Foundation real.  
• Josh Salzman -since 2 years old, buddy..Since 2. 
• Kiddo you are going to make a great father.  Thanks for sharing our day.
• Micki - those 12 miles were awesome.  The years leading up to it better!
• Bryan - please save us a gin and tonic. Till then thank you for being there for us since day 1.  
• Andrew Shanks and John David Johnson- 32 hours in a car so we could race.  Is thank you even enough?? 
• To all of our friends -we simply say thank you.
• Evan- the word brother says it all.  We might fight, push, pull and yell but we are brothers and we are blood.  We all stand together and thank you for being in our corner by our side.
• Mom and Dad - thank you for showing us that nothing on the outside matters. It's what we do with what's inside that counts.
• To my wife - who took care of our home, took care of me and
  
  pushed me towards my dreams thank you for believing in the dream and thank you for being by my side forever.
• Kyle - you are a rock. You inspire all those who cross your path and I am so glad to have made the journey with you that day.  Let me say that this is  only the beginning, sport.  We have many more to share this with and Wisconsin was just the start. Proud of you. bud. 

Thank You to Our Fans and Sponsors for the Greatest Week of Our Lives

Brent and I would be over exaggerating if we told you that last week was the greatest week of our lives. Wait a second, no we wouldn't. Last week was the greatest week of our lives. Bar none. Hand down. Not even close. 

If the feelings that Brent and I experienced in the days leading up to Ironman Wisconsin, followed by the incredible love and support we experienced during the 15:09:24 we competed through the hills of Madison Wisconsin and coupled with the feelings of utter jubilation we felt during our incredible surprise meeting at the Atlanta airport, could ever be bottled and sold, then Brent and I would be the richest guys in America. 

And in many ways we are. The love and support we received, not only during our quest to become Ironmen, but each and every day of our lives before and after is worth far more than all the money in Fort Knox. Hearing our names shouted and the non-stop sound of ear-deafening cheers for each and every mile of the 140.6 we covered is a gift that Warren Buffett, Oprah and Sam Walton would not be able to afford even if they pooled resources. The infinite number of posts on Facebook and "atta-boys" we've received since is quite simply beyond anything we ever imagined. 

So while we soak our weary bones and rest up just a day or two longer we want to thank not only our incredible fans, but also our equally incredible sponsors, neither of which we could ever last a day without. In truth our fans and our sponsors are worthy of Ironman status as you were with us for each and every stroke, pedal and step of our Ironman journey. 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to newton running, all3Sports.com, DYNAMO multisport,  Advanced Elements, Albopads, Freedom Concepts Inc., Gu, Tyr, Bell, and LocumTenens. And thank you to the thousands of fans who support the Kyle Pease Foundation (too many to show pictures of each of you). 

Without you we are just Brent and Kyle. With you, we are Ironmen. 

  

Pease Brothers Clock Ticks Towards Ironman

Tick tock…tick tock…That’s the sound I’ve been hearing as the Ironman is now less than a week away. As I mentioned in my previous post, can you imagine what it feels like to be approaching something so incredible; something that you’ve dreamed about for so long? This must be how every little girl feels envisioning her wedding day and then realizing her big day is on the horizon. My fingers are pins and needles not from nerves but from sheer anticipation as another hour crawls by.

Last weekend Brent and I did a nine hour training ride on the bike and covered about 80 miles traveling the roads of Smyrna Georgia, a suburb to the north of Atlanta. Though the Ironman itself is a 112 mile road, Brent and I are confident that we have put in enough miles so that ramping up the other 32 miles will not be a problem. We topped that off with a 2 hour training run and have since been tapering off leading up to the race. The key is to feel strong and confident in the days leading up to the race as over training can be just as harmful as under training.

We anticipate that our swim time will be about an hour and fifteen minutes to complete the 2.4 mile course and nine to ten hours to complete 112 miles on the bike. That would leave us 5 ½ hours to complete the marathon, a time that is well within our abilities in order to crack the 17 hour barrier and be forever known as Ironmen.

Someone recently asked me if running a 5k will become less exciting and a bit anti-climactic after becoming an Ironman. I can say without hesitation that I approach every race the same; whether it is a 5k or a marathon. The key is getting your mindset in the right frame to motivate you and find the drive within you to reach the finish line and give it your best race. It's the same way that each of us should approach life. 

I’m not nervous about competing in this race because from a mental standpoint I do this every day. It’s really just another day in the life of KPeasey. From a physical standpoint there are certainly a couple obstacles in front of us that need to be conquered but as a team it is nothing that Brent and I can’t overcome. I sit in my wheel chair for 14 -18 hours every single day. My life is a bit more challenging than others and that is not to take away from anyone else’s struggles, but if you face challenges from the moment you wake up until the time your head hits the pillow, somehow completing an Ironman seems a bit less daunting. We all have our hardships but mine can at times be a little harder. I have to focus more on making my life a success. In some ways maybe that gives Brent and I an advantage over those who aren’t faced with such daily challenges.  

Before I wrap up and get ready to lace up my running shoes I wish I could thank each and every one personally for all the love and support they show to Brent, to me and to The Kyle Pease foundation. To me, I’m just Kyle, I do my thing and often have to sit back and embrace what is going on because I am a bit overwhelmed by the support we get on a daily basis. I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to help people which is why I started foundation. Never in my wildest imagination did I expect the love, the support and the admiration that we receive back on a daily basis and I just want to say that I am humbled by the outpouring. Grateful that all of you having chosen to Walk with Kpeasey.

On To Madison!!  ~ By Kyle

Walking with KPeasey is a campaign affiliated with The Kyle Pease Foundation, Inc (KPF). Walking with KPeasey works to create awareness and raise funds in support of KPF. 

The Kyle Pease Foundation, in turn, promotes success for young persons with disabilities by providing assistance to meet their individual needs through sports and competition. Programs include scholarship opportunities, purchasing adaptive sports equipment, and participating in educational campaigns around Cerebral Palsy.

That's What Brothers are For

As the time draws even closer to Brent and my long awaited attempt to become Ironmen on September 8th in Madison, Wisconsin, I get more and more excited. Imagine the thought of looking forward to something that has been on your mind, night and day for years and that day is now just beyond your finger tips and getting closer by the minute. I feel like a little boy on about December 1st knowing that on Christmas or Hanukkah morning he is finally going to get the chance to unwrap his dream gift. Can’t eat, can’t sleep, and can’t think of much anything else. Well that’s about where I am right now.

 Brent and I are currently increasing our time spent on the bike and our training will probably peak at about a 40 mile ride. That portion of the race will be 112 miles but we will never bring our training up as high as that as it would likely leave us on empty come the actual race. We just continue to get stronger as we  increase our mileage and then enter the race with the confidence that we’ve put in enough miles during our training to be able to take it up a notch and conquer the course.

Some things that people probably don’t realize is that Brent will give me water about every ten minutes so that I stay hydrated. I can't take water myself so I am positioned in front of Brent on the bike and I turn slightly to my left to take in fluids. Brent leans forward while biking and pours the water into my mouth. We will also take nourishment during the race as it is important to keep the engine running. Though I wish it was a burrito from Moe's or a Carvel Ice Cream cake, I will likely exist for 16 hours on bananas and peanut butter sandwiches while Brent will eat just about everything in site to keep his energy level high. Like a finely tuned machine if you don't keep it properly fueled it won't run as it was designed. 

And though it may or may not be something anyone wants to think about, I will be wearing a condom catheter during the race so that we don’t have to stop every ten minutes for me to void. I normally don’t need to wear such a contraption because I am blessed enough to be able to void on my own but with this long a race, where every second counts, there is no time for pit stops. A guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do. Brent on the other will do what many Ironman do if nature calls and that will be to use the water or the bike if necessary. It’s the part of the Ironman that many don’t consider but 140.6 is a long way to ignore something like that.

Another question people have asked recently is what I will wear during the event. Some think a bathing suit or a wet suit but Brent is a strong enough swimmer that I don’t even get splashed very much so I’ll be wearing running tights and a KPeasey t-shirt and then transition right to the bike and running chair in the same attire. Brent of course will do the swim in a wet suit and bathing cap and then he’ll have a change of clothes as he exits the water. We will have three helpers along the course, one is responsible for me, one is responsible Brent and one is a spare helper. Brent’s helper will hold up a towel and Brent will change following the swim.

As I said in my last post, I will be envisioning the shoot during the race as that will be my motivation and inspiration. The thought of completing this amazing event with my brother is motivation enough but being in the zone and thinking of the finish will drive me and keep me going throughout the 14-16 hours the race will take. Brent and I also have a bit of an advantage over those who are competing solo in that we can communicate with each other and spur each other on throughout the Ironman in the event we tire or lose our focus. So much of this is mental and to have each other to pick the other up will be a positive advantage.

So in some ways, Brent will be carrying me during the race, but I’ll also be there to carry him. 

And after all, isn’t that what brothers are for?

Walking with KPeasey is a campaign affiliated with The Kyle Pease Foundation, Inc (KPF). Walking with KPeasey works to create awareness and raise funds in support of KPF. 

The Kyle Pease Foundation, in turn, promotes success for young persons with disabilities by providing assistance to meet their individual needs through sports and competition. Programs include scholarship opportunities, purchasing adaptive sports equipment, and participating in educational campaigns around Cerebral Palsy.

Training With KPeasey

I’ve been finding it getting awfully difficult to fall asleep at night knowing that everything that Brent and I have been working towards is just around the corner. Up until this point the greatest moment of our running career occurred just last month at the Peachtree 10K where we became the first assisted pair in the long history of the race to compete. It doesn’t get any better than the local crowds cheering our names as we travel 6.2 miles through the familiar streets of our home town Atlanta…Or does it? 

Now just two months later, Brent and I will make Pease history as we try to have the words Ironman etched next to our names. 140.6 miles through the water and roadways of rural Madison Wisconsin…2.4 miles of swimming, followed by 112 miles on the bike and finished up with 26.2 miles of marathon. Our goal is to break the 17 hour mark which of course would make us forever IRONMEN and though Brent and I are hoping for a time between 14 and 16 hours, I’ll be honest…anything this side of 16:59:59 is good enough. 

That one second is the second that differentiates an Ironmen from a couple of guys who competed to become Ironmen. 

So for now, as strange as some people find it, I have been training harder than I ever have in my life. Many people think that I have the easy part and though Brent may agree with them while he’s paddling, pedaling and pushing me for 140.6 miles but it is important for me to be prepared for this too. I have never sat on a bike for nearly nine hours and the average human body is not likely to fare too well without proper preparation. 

Brent and I go out and train far longer and more often than we normally do in order to get both of our bodies used to that many miles out on the course. I’ve been eating better than I normally do and have been trying to increase my liquid intake. I’m struggling a bit there as I don’t really enjoy drinking water but unfortunately it’s a very important part to stay hydrated and I need to get better at it. It would be a shame if Brent was up to the task but I wasn’t so it is important not to let my brother and my teammate down.

My trainer, Matthew Rose, (yes I have a trainer) tells me to visualize the shoot. The thought of 45,000 screaming fans lining the shoot at the end of the race is something I just can’t imagine despite his efforts to help me mentally imagine what it will be like. That is the golden carrot hanging just in front of me that will motivate and inspire me and subsequently inspire Brent to the finish line. 

There’s one very important thing for my readers and our fans to remember though. Becoming an Ironman is not and never will be for or about me and Brent. It’s about our Foundation and the people who we are hoping to inspire. People who see what we are about to accomplish and believe that anything is possible through our efforts. 

We are very proud of the Kyle Pease Foundation and take great pleasure in seeing the looks on the faces of the athletes who compete with us. It is exciting to know that through the efforts of a few we have impacted the lives of many. So though Brent and I will be thrilled to wear the Ironman medal around our necks on the evening of September 8th, we really know that the medal symbolically hangs from the necks of all those friends, fans, athletes and sponsors of the Kyle Pease Foundation. 

We know that through their continued inspiration and efforts that the only thing that will not be humanly possible is finishing in a second more than 16:59:59.  Off to Wisconsin!

Walking with KPeasey is a campaign affiliated with The Kyle Pease Foundation, Inc (KPF). Walking with KPeasey works to create awareness and raise funds in support of KPF. 

The Kyle Pease Foundation, in turn, promotes success for young persons with disabilities by providing assistance to meet their individual needs through sports and competition. Programs include scholarship opportunities, purchasing adaptive sports equipment, and participating in educational campaigns around Cerebral Palsy.