It must take something special to want to spend a day swimming 2.4 miles in open water, cycling 112 miles on hilly terrain and finishing off with a 26.2 mile run ñ all at racing speed.

For some people, it must indeed be madness that inspires them but for others, itís a love of athleticism, or the passion for soul searching by way of pushing the physical limitations of oneís body.

The Ironman is a challenge for all who attempt it. Not everyone finishes, not everyone survives. For all, it is an excruciating task but for those who love the multisport, itís one the greatest rewards their minds and bodies have ever and will ever know.

Carlos Aleman completed his first Ironman on June 22 in Coeur díAlene, Idaho after a full year of training. Aleman, a 42 year old Exeter resident, went from gym rat to tri-athlete to Ironman with ferocity and passion in a little less than two years.

Patrick Dickey, an Exeter native who now resides in San Diego, completed his third Ironman on Aug. 31 in Louisville, Ken. He is now preparing to qualify for World Championship in Kona at the upcoming Arizona race in November.

Dickey and Aleman each have their own reasons for competing in these grueling and time consuming races. But both agree that the effort, time and physical toll are worth the accomplishment of finishing a task that so few have even dared to attempt.

When the gym got boring

In 2006, Carlos Aleman held himself to a five-day workout regimen of weightlifting at the gym. When lifting weights became monotonous, he started spin classes. But he tired of spin as well and the once adamant gym rat took to the road for his athletic outlet.

Aleman signed up for his first 5K (3.1 mile) foot race in November of 2006. But three mile runs became boring for Aleman as well. By January of 2007, Aleman got involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Societyís Team in Training. He began training with the team for the Paso Robles Wildflower Triathlon and soon was training on his own and with coaches. This time, boredom never set in.

ìI immediately fell in love with the sport,î Aleman said. ìIt was something challenging and I appreciated the athletes competing.î

Aleman entered his second triathlon in June of 2007. After competing in the San Jose International Triathlon, Alemanís wife Christine registered him for the 2008 Ford Ironman USA Coeur díAlene in Idaho. With a goal set to complete the arduous course, Aleman set to training to be an ìIronman.î

Over the next year, he competed in half marathons, half iron mans, Olympic distance triathlons and a full marathon.

He called on the help of an Ironman training team in Fresno led by Faron Reed. His training, consumed his free time. He ran an average of 22 miles per week, swam two miles a week and biked between 80 and 150 miles.

Once a month Aleman began training on lakes in the Fresno area including Hunnington Lake to prepare for the cold water swim to come in Idaho.

ìYou have to have family support to do this,î Aleman said. ìI am blessed to have a supportive wife.î

On long bike rides, Christine followed him in the car, refilling his drinks and snacks. At every race, his three children Annie, Sam and Elena cheered him on at the finish line.

ìIt would be foolish to try to pull this off without their support,î Aleman said.

Aleman drove his family with him to Idaho for the big race. Once there, he worked out his plan for the course. He set out his personal goals for each event and by the starting canon, he stood on the beach in his wetsuit with 22,000 people about to race for the waves.

During the swimming portion, nausea overcame Aleman. He suffered from continuous vomiting which slowed him down. He made the cutoff but could only think of making up the lost time on the cycling course in order to achieve his goal finish time.

ìThe course had hills like Yokohl Valley,î Aleman said. ìI did very well. I had a blast on the bike ride.î

During the cycling portion, Aleman passed 80 people in his age division and made up the time lost in the water.

For the final stage, Aleman changed and started on the marathon ñ 26.2 miles on foot.

ìI had to 26.2 miles out of my head,î Aleman said. ìI put one mile in my head. I ran to each one mile drink station and started again.î

By the end of the race, it was dark and Aleman finished with a surge, he never gave in to exhaustion or felt it. He road in on endorphins and adrenaline.

ìIt was a huge elephant off my back.î

Solitude for Soul Searching

Patrick Dickey has always been athletic. He was sidelined by a back injury at one point, but exercising helped his back to stay healthy once he recovered.

Dickey went from a swimming background to paddle board racing to competing in team triathlons.

When a friend competed in Ironman successfully, Dickey decided to give it a go.

ìI had some things happen to me in my life,î Dickey said. When his friendís father and two-year old son passed away from cancer, Dickey felt he should compete in their honor. ìThose kind of things are my motivation.î

Dickey competed in his first long distance Triathlon in 2006. He competed in the Silverman which is labeled the toughest full distance triathlon in the world. He finished in 12 hours and 12 minutes.

ìI was pleasantly surprised,î Dickey said. ìIt felt good. It wasnít easy but I thought if I can do this one, I can do any Ironman.î

Dickey took first in his division of 600 people. Only 50% of the competitors finished the course.

So, in 2007 Dickey competed in an Ironman in Arizona and finished in 10 hours and 54 minutes. In April of this year, he returned to Arizona and finished in a personal best of 10 hours and 43 minutes. He competed in Louisville, Ken. on Aug. 31 and finished the race in 10 hours and 47 minutes.

Now he will return to Arizona to race the same Ironman course as he did in April. He is aiming for 10 hours and 30 minutes.

Dickey trains twice a day and only takes off one day a week. He begins his day with a 4 a.m. workout. After work, he gets out to train again.

His training takes up a huge amount of time and money and Dickey fervently admits that his ability to do Ironman is all owed to his wife Kimís support.

ìMy wife is incredibly supportive,î Dickey said. ìIt takes an incredible amount of time and financially it straps you. You have to have support from your wife. She doesnít miss anything [races].î

While Dickey has friends who also compete in Ironman, he does most of his training on his own. It gives him time to think which gives him the motivation to continue in his training.

ìI feel like I do this for people who canít,î Dickey said. ìI have friends that I know who physically canít do this. Theyíre overweight or arenít athletic. I also have friends who have gone through tragedy. My friend who lost his 2-year-old son to cancer, I have him for inspiration. No matter how much pain my body is in, itís nothing like what he went through. I find inspiration in that.î

Dickey has set a long term goal to complete all six Ironman races in North America. His short term goal is to qualify for the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii which is where the race originated.

His strength comes from a simple but profound mantra that can be found in Philippians 4:13, ìI can do all things through him who strengthens me.î

Family Fun

Through his year of training, Aleman has seen the byproduct of his efforts. His family is now a competitive group.

His 12-year-old son Sam is hoping to compete in his first Olympic distance triathlon in October.

His 9-year-old daughter Elena is has competed in the a kids triathlon in Fresno and his 14-year-old daughter Annie is training for a half marathon. Even his wife recently completed her first triathlon.

ìThe whole family is involved,î Aleman said.

Aleman is now hoping to get a group of local kids together to train for the next kids triathlon. The event is open to kids ages 6-16 and training will begin in January.

Simultaneously, Aleman wants to train a group of adults for the Wildflower Triathlon in Paso Robles in January as well. Interested people should contact Carlos Aleman at 259-2035 or at carlos@caleman.com.

Local Roots

Patrick Dickey was born and raised in Exeter. He graduated from Immanuel High School and his family still owns and operates Moonlight Maintenance Janitorial Company.

Carlos Aleman lives in Exeter with his wife and three kids. He is employed by J. Heaton and Associates in Exeter.

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