What goes into the planning process when you decide to compete in an Ironman event?  

Being that this is my first attempt, I am far from an expert on preparing for an Ironman. Quite frankly, I bought my first used tri bike late this winter with the intention of easing into triathlon. I had made what was for me the first big step needed to enter into triathlon, and I was excited! My plan was to save up for a bike fit, enter a couple sprint triathlons over the summer of 2022, and maybe even dabble with an Olympic distance tri at the tail end of the season. But a couple short weeks later (I hadn’t even ridden my new bike yet!) I went from dreaming of the day I’d tackle an Ironman, to signing up on a whim. 

Upon registering I had an opportunity in place to tie a fundraiser to my Ironman journey. I didn’t know when I would have an opportunity like this again, so with the support of my family, I went for it. We were not ignorant of the challenges and sacrifices it would require, but we were so driven by the challenge of learning, growing, and having an impact on something bigger than ourselves. 

I chose to approach this event as a learning process from start to finish. That meant I needed to find a way to surround myself with people that understood the sport and had experience I could learn from. For me, the planning process was centered around finding those people that could help me as quickly and effectively as possible. Fortuitously, I struck gold on my first attempt at finding a coach. Shyanne McGregor was the first person I reached out to, and she dove right in head first alongside me without hesitation. Her energy and excitement for my journey, as well as her willingness to dive right in instilled a new level of confidence in me. I truly believed that this was actually achievable. Shyanne showed me that what we are doing really is a unique thing, and it showed me just how engaging and supportive the triathlon community is.  

How has Now Bikes been a part of that preparation process for you?  

After I found my coach I prioritized getting a bike fit and figuring out how to begin training ASAP. I didn’t have any prior relationship with Now Bikes, but the seasoned athlete that I had bought my bike from directed me to Now. Jeff, the store manager at the Arden Hills location, was approachable and knowledgeable, and helped to guide me through figuring out the essentials that I’d need to get the ball rolling. It was a great first impression.

Later, I came to meet Mike Bieber at Arden Hills for my bike fit. He was a straight shooter from the start, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without his expertise. Admittedly, I expected my bike fitting to be transactional. I thought he would get me into position, I’d thank him, and I’d be set to tackle an Ironman. I couldn’t have been further off the mark. Drawing on his years of experience, Mike helped me understand that I was actually only at about the halfway point of having a bike that would work with me (and not against me). Fortunately, the guts of the bike suited me, but it took a lot of replacing/updating components to get to a position that would be healthy, efficient, and powerful for my body. He sensed that I had a desire to learn and understand, and he methodically walked me through the “why” to each of his fit recommendations. 

Ryan, Dave, and the rest of the bike mechanics could also see that this was all new to me. They matched the high level of care and attention that Mike and Jeff had already provided me with. I’ve found that regardless of who I meet with when I go to Now Bikes, the experience is top-notch and predictable because the entire staff’s values are clearly aligned. I have visited them at least ten times this summer, usually with a new curveball. Their patience with my novice questions/mistakes, creativity/knowledge to resolve unique issues, and willingness to satiate my curiosity keeps me coming back.  I’ve developed genuine friendships and grown so much as a triathlete through not only the support they’ve provided me, but the knowledge they’ve taught me along the way.

What fears and obstacles come up (in training, racing, etc), and how do you overcome them?  

Luckily because I was so green and naïve to triathlon, my fears were not exposed until I was already committed to Ironman Wisconsin. I say I’m lucky because if I knew the intricacies of what laid ahead of me, I would have been overwhelmed and opted out! There are so many questions that pop into your head as you prepare. What if I’m just not a runner? How am I supposed to swim 4400 yards if 1900 yards was that hard? Is this a serious injury, or something that we can work around? How do I fix a flat tire? What about nutrition? When you start compiling a list of reasons to not go for it, intuition screams that it’s a bad idea. 

I found success from having the pieces in place BEFORE the obstacles presented themselves. I trust the process my coach has designed. I keep her in the loop on injuries, let her athletic and physical therapy experience shine, and trust her recommendations. When something goes wrong mechanically, I know the bike mechanics will have the solution I need. When I don’t know an answer, chances are someone around me has already experienced the issue for themselves. At first, it was discouraging when things were constantly not what I expected them to be. But it is truly a matter of embracing each moment when it’s in front of you, trusting the process, and remembering what you learned for next time. At this point, I look forward to the next obstacle because it is just one more notch in my belt when it comes to being prepared on the big day.

Sometimes the most intimidating part of a challenge like this is the unknown. What’s going through your head at the start and finish of an event like this?

To answer this I’ll draw on my experience from the 70.3 I completed at the end of July, as I don’t know what the real deal is like yet! As the race approached I still had countless worries running through my head, despite having completed a few months of training by that point. But when I woke up to my 3:15 a.m. alarm on race day, it felt like Christmas morning! I knew I had put in all the hard effort to prepare me for the day ahead. I didn’t leave myself room for regret. 

Starting that race felt like a celebration. Things stayed pretty consistent as I stuck to my race day plan. After riding my bike I discovered that I hadn’t found my running legs yet, but I trusted my training and found them eventually! I don’t even recall paying attention to the time when I crossed the finish line. What I remember was my 3 year old son running the final steps with me, and meeting my wife and daughter on the other side of the finish line. The only feelings at that time were pride and joy, and everything else faded away. Their smiles and support showed me that the sacrifices we made as a family were as fulfilling for them as it was for me.

Tell us about MN Period Kits and the fundraiser you’re doing for them. What about this cause drives you? 

My family has teamed up with a registered local nonprofit called Period Kits MN in an effort to raise $5,000+ on their behalf. Period products are often overlooked at food and clothing drives, and as such there is a shortage of donated supplies for the people in need. 

Period Kits MN believes no one should have to choose between food and tampons. They provide kits that have at least a 30 day supply of period products to those experiencing homelessness, unstable housing, and extreme poverty. Once Period Kits MN does the leg work of packaging up these kits, they actively seek out local distribution organizations that accept their donations and provide easy access for anybody who needs them. Their reach has grown from the Twin Cities to the entire state, and now even extends into Wisconsin. School systems, libraries, shelters, etc. gratefully accept these donations and are continually calling back for replenishments.  

The reality is that there should be no place in this world where any person should have to sacrifice basic comforts because it doesn't fit their budget. Imagining the loss of dignity, feeling of hopelessness, and overall discomfort of coping with living below poverty is what drives me to push this cause. The “pain and struggle” I’m putting myself through with training is all fabricated. I get the choice to be done whenever things feel too hard. But so many folks do not have that luxury, especially with little things we take for granted. My hope is that this mission will resonate with people so that the message can continue to be spread about Period Kits MN, and we can flood them with the monetary requirements it takes to run an operation like this.

Anything else we missed that you want to talk about?

Just a shameless plug! Here is the link to my donation page: https://ironmanfoundation.donordrive.com/participant/2871 

I would love it if the folks reading this felt compelled to donate to this charity. It’s a great cause and your donation can be as small or as big as you want. Every little bit helps. I would also like to include my Instagram page in case anyone wants to follow along, or is interested in learning more! @derekloewen50