My Next Ironman: And the Emergence of "TurtleMan"

Mike Drak, at age 70, is actively training to complete an Ironman Race in August 2025. He shares his stories and experiences as he heads towards the start line.

A couple of weeks ago we did a test set at the pool. A test set involves swimming as fast as you can for one hundred meters taking a short break and repeating it seven more times. One thing about test sets – most swimmers hate them and more than a few people will bail on a test set night because they are hard. To be honest I would have bailed on it as well had I know about it.

This is how my night went.

Doing the first 100 I came in last.

Then I managed to come in last the next six 100’s as well.

I pushed as hard as I could during the last 100 giving it everything I had and managed to tie for last.

I guess I shouldn’t have been mad at myself for performing so poorly because at age 70 I was the oldest person by far in the pool that night.

Normally my 85 year old friend George would be last but he was smart enough to skip the test set.

At home while lying in bed that night I thought about quitting Masters and giving up on my Ironman dream because I’ve always been competitive and don’t like getting beat.

My logical mind starting telling me that I shouldn’t be surprised by what happened. That I was too old and that I should pack it up and retire from swimming before I embarrassed myself more and suffered a heart attack. I thought about doing something easier like playing golf again but then I got mad and told my mind to buzz off and leave me alone.

That is when I started to have a change in perspective.

No Need For Speed

I’ve reached that age where most everyone I work out and race with are younger and faster than me. That’s just reality and I accept that.

Ironman victory for me isn’t about winning or achieving a new PB (personal best) instead it’s about showing up and reaching the finish line before the 17 hour Ironman cut-off.

That is my singular focus my one and only goal.

There are a lot of crazy retirement rebels that think like me out there

I see them at the pool, weight room and riding/running in my neighborhood. They are people who race without the hope of winning. They are the ones still out on the Ironman run course when most people (the rabbits) have already left for home.

Retirement Rebels like us continue to live out our dreams rejoicing that we can still be heroes for just one day by getting the distance albeit at a much slower pace.

I really enjoy hanging out with a bunch of other crazy retirement rebels at the back of the pack sharing the pain along with a lot of laughs. It gives us a chance to play like kids again.

Do you remember how wonderful that feels? I do and so do my retirement rebel friends.

My secret Ironman weapon – TurtleMan!

Like the Hulk who is the alter ego to Peter Parker, TurtleMan emerges when I’m racing rabbits.

It’s something I can’t control. Even though I’m not fast I don’t like being passed especially near the end of the bike and that is when TurtleMan shows up.

TurtleMan won’t give up no matter how hard it gets.

He likes chasing after rabbits who are younger and faster than he is and he catches them once in a while which puts a big smile on his face.

While I not sure if I will make the Ironman finish line in August before the cut off I know TurtleMan can.

Also, as soon as it warms up I will be spending a lot of time riding in Richmond Hill, Ontario. If you see an old retirement rebel with a turtle logo on his shirt riding a white Cervelo that would be me.

Please say hi as you ride by. It would be nice to chat a little.