The One Breath From Death – Look What God Can Do

Ironman Arizona 2007

Report

4/12/07: Here we are, just two years out from the one breath from death experience in Denver. I am so thankful to God for the recovery that has been made in my body over the past couple of years. My body is only about 80 percent back since it has been racked with disease, the effects of the lung collapse, along with all the procedures and medicines with their side effects. My previous 14 Ironman finishes have taught me to persevere through rough conditions and by the strength and grace of God I am about to begin my15th Ironman.

4/13/07: The Iron Prayer service was a great blessing. It was an opportunity to meet with other Christian triathletes, friends, and spouses and focus on what is really important, to use the race as occasion to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, then have prayer together. Since I had been a leader of Iron Prayer services in the past and been blessed to be part of the National Christian Triathlon Network Endurance Sports Camp in 2006 in Peoria, AZ, I was among many friends from Arizona and other places, particularly at the Iron Prayer service. What a blessing to be among people who were praying for me at the 2005 Iron Prayer service when I was scheduled to race Ironman Arizona but was in I.C.U. in Denver instead.

The "one breath from death – look what God can do" story was on the top of our talking points list whenever we met with people during the week leading up to Ironman, and I elected to wear the uniform we had printed with our One Breath logo, to spark interest on the course.

Race day is quite unique at an Ironman Triathlon. The athletes arrive well before the sun rises, pumping tires, arranging transition bags, stretching, and of course thinking and planning. Finally comes the time to don the wetsuit, jump in the water, swim to the starting area, and await the start of the race.

Noted professional Paula Newby-Fraser has said that an Ironman is like life in the many difficulties that are thrown your way on race day that you just have to work through and that’s exactly how my day went on Sunday, April 15, 2007.

The swim began in the Tempe Town Lake with a bang as 2200 swimmers began to swim to the first turn buoy a mile away. For some reason as we began, I had a flashback to the Ironman Utah swim where everyone almost drown in the 10 foot swells and I went into a panic attack. After a flash thought of my race being over before it began, I kept pressing forward trying to get into a stroke rhythm and leave the panic behind. Finally, I got into a good stroke pattern and swam through the 2.4 miles unscathed but was quite thankful to get to the finish, although I lost nearly 20 minutes through the panic attack. I thanked the Lord for getting me back into the race and for helping me out of the water.

The first transition was a great time to thank God and reflect on the fact that I was racing again in an Ironman. I made the change from wetsuit and goggles to bike shoes and helmet and headed to my bike. Thankfully, a volunteer had unracked my bike and was waiting for me at the end of the row with my trusty steed. I made it to the mounting area and began to ride. It’s amazing how fast the pace becomes on the first stretch of road as everyone tries to make up time lost in the swim or transition, despite the fact the ride is 112 miles. One mile into the bike course I felt the road under my rear tire and sure enough it was flat. I pulled off the road at a place that looked like a good place to change a tire. I have changed my tire, actually the tube within the tire hundreds of time but for some reason I couldn’t get the clincher tire off my rear solid disk wheel. Perhaps it was the new replacement tires or the fact that I was in a big hurry, or that I was still dripping wet from the swim, or the fact that a spectator kept offering advice about changing the tire but I couldn’t get the tire off my wheel to save my life. So I prayed. Thankfully, technical support had been summoned and arrived and did in five minutes what I couldn’t do in 20 minutes. So I went on my way on the bike, feeling a bit of tailwind so I picked up the pace thinking that I might be able to make up the distance which was a very bad approach. I overspent my energy riding at a very high heart rate which meant I paid the price when I made the turn around on the first lap and headed into the wind. I caught my senses and tried to ride the rest of the way in the heart rate zone which I knew I should be doing to save something for the marathon at the end.

After the toll of the wind, the flat, and some ignorant riding, I finally made it to the bike finish thankful to God for His help and the encouragement of so many people on the bike course, including my supportive wife that I looked forward to seeing on each of the three laps.

The second transition was a great time to reflect on past Ironman races, albeit quickly, and to use that reflection to encourage others who were thinking of dropping out. With my time goals out of reach, my objective as I left the second transition was to just finish the race.

Bob and Linc at the swim site before a practice swim.

What an encouragement as I ran out of transition to feel like my legs could do this and what a positive jolt to come to the first aid station on the course where my friend, Lincoln Murdoch and friends from the Phoenix area were handing out water, Gatorade and other refreshments to athletes. I was so pumped up as I left the aid station that I ran almost the entire way to the next one, then the next one. I was feeling pretty good, although my knee was extremely sore. All the medications I have taken over the past couple of years have diffused my muscle strength and allowed my lack of meniscus in my right knee to really give me pain. I struggled more and more as the day wore on, and as I struggled the muscles in my back began to tighten. I made it through lap one, then two, and as I started lap three I was doubtful if I could make the cutoff time of midnight. Lincoln assured me that I could do it if I would just keep moving. I kept moving as I made it through the first loop of the third lap and as I entered the last three and a half mile loop on the backside of the third lap, Lincoln assured me that I was going to finish on time and took time to pray with me. I thought I could and although I knew my back was sore, I didn’t realize how tight the muscle spasms were getting. At 1.5 miles from the finish line, I could no longer stand upright. I had to run and walk in a bent over position with the only relief found was by placing both arms behind my back and squeezing as tight as possible as I moved forward. I kept trying to stretch upright but would fall immediately back into the bent over position. I kept praying that Jesus would somehow take me in His arms to the finish for this race was not about me but about Him - and He did. As I crossed the bridge with less than a mile to go, Lincoln came out to meet me and encourage me. I tried to run but it hurt so much. I tried to stand up but went right back to the bent over position. Finally it looked like I was going to make the midnight cut off with several minutes to spare but as I drew near the finish line the thousand spectators, announcer Mike Riley, my friend Lincoln Murdoch, along with my patient and precious wife all were cheering for me as I in extreme pain and bent over crossed the finish line. It was a fitting end to the one breath from death chapter. None of the journey has been easy but it’s been filled with "God moments" from the beginning.

Although I have roughly sketched my race, there were many times I found myself thanking God for one thing or another that I recognized His hand on my life in allowing me to race and helping me through the race.

Mike Riley said to me as I finished, as I have heard so many times before, "Bob Brubaker, you are an Ironman." This one was different from the 14 earlier. This was Bob Brubaker at 80 percent or less. This was Bob Brubaker setting out to show that I was one breath from death just two years earlier when it looked like I would never race again, like I would be on oxygen the rest of my life, and maybe not have long to live – but LOOK WHAT GOD CAN DO. If He can do this for me, think of what He can do for you.

Godspeed,

Bob Brubaker

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.