So, I’m an Ironman.  I know it because Paul Kaye said it.  He’s the voice of Ironman here in South Africa.  As you run down the red carpet to the finish line of an Ironman race, it’s announced “Geoffrey Smith, You ARE an IRONMAN”.  Every age group athlete has fantasized that Ironman moment and hears those words in their head while imagining it over and over.  On many long runs, bike rides, or pool workouts I played out the red carpet moment, crossing the finish, hearing those words.  That moment would be an ultimate moment of this journey

“You ARE an IRONMAN”

.  “You ARE an IRONMAN”!  I also know it because I have a photo of myself crossing the finish line!

I’ve had my eye on Ironman events in South Africa since we arrived on the continent in 2010.  When we decided to move to South Africa 2 years ago, access to those events was real.  After connecting with TRIFACTRI a year ago, I knew my opportunity for taking on a full Ironman was a reality.  My decision was made to register and commit to the training journey in August, 2016.  I set the target, and set the height of the bar.  In my 61^st year I latched onto a hope with enthusiasm, excitement, and committed passion.  I am blessed, lucky, and grateful.  To have the capacity to latch on with such intensity, at this point in my life, feels really special.

If you can put in the time for the training, you can do an Ironman.  Since August 2016, I swam 150 km in 75 hours,  I biked 3800 km over 224 hours, with an additional 40 hours on the bike trainer (while watching Netflix!) and I ran 610 miles in around 110 hours. I’ve committed around 450 hours to preparing for the Ironman!  I know, because my “masters” over the months – my Garmin watch and Training Peaks app – don’t lie.  My life was focused upon preparing for April 2, 2017.  Lucy and Des laid out the path, I just needed to step up and do it!

Race Day finally arrived on the morning of April 2!

Rise at 3:45. Breakfast at 4:00.  Two dozen wide awake athletes eating the hotel buffet, quiet silence permeates the restaurant.  One guy orders an omelette with 10 egg whites!  Seemed a little extreme compared to my plate of scrambled eggs and I chuckle to myself! He must really know what he’s doing!  There’s a shared experience and a long day of extremes lies ahead.   A 5:00 date with my sweet Quintana Roo in the transition zone to make sure there’s air in my tires! It’s a dark and cool morning. The breeze off the ocean is gentle, the transition zone packed with 2300 bikes.  Last minute adjustments to the run and bike bags, air in tires, minor bike checks.

The coolness of the sand is noticeable and I converse with strangers as we all await the start on the beach. It’s good to run into Johan from Trifactri and we’re on pace to enter the water together. The South African national anthem welcomes a gorgeous sunrise. Sunset is 12 hours away!  We begin to edge closer to the swim. Nervous energy, helicopters buzz and hover overhead and the crowd of thousands lines the beach.  It is a special feeling.  Collectively, we just want to start, to feel the water and make that first left turn at the red buoy floating 300 meters off shore.

I enter the chilled Indian Ocean, allow my wet suit to settle onto my skin, the thin layer of insulating water mitigates cold. After 8 months of preparation (and 400+ hours of preparation), I’m off.  I need to compose myself in the first 100 meters, calm my nerves, regulate my breathing, empty my mind of negative or doubting thoughts, find a rhythm.  The chop of the water and the swells make the first 2000 meters challenging.  I absorb several mouthfuls of seawater! Left at the first red buoy, then count the four yellows at 400 m apart until the next red.  One buoy at a time, patience, and keep your sights on the crane in the distance!  It was a bumpy ride.  The return felt smoother, easier to site the Radisson Blu hotel tower and the pier.  The end in sight!  The final right hand turn and 300 meters to the beach.  I body surf a wave, sort of!  Generally, you are expected to sprint through transition, save time, and get out on the bike course.  Sprinting was not a consideration. I needed a moment in a chair to strip off the wet suit, dry the feet, put on the socks and biking shoes…..and find my way to the bike.  A long day was lay ahead.  The 180 k cycle was a spectacular ride along the Indian Ocean coastline.  45 km out, 45 back and Repeat!  I knew the ride would be between 6 and 7 hours. The day would be warm, the sun intense, and of course where you have ocean riding there’s always WIND.  While not too bad, there were definite headwinds.  I return to the city after 90 km and head back out. Halfway is significant and now that I have the map of the course in my mind, the 2^nd lap will be easier.  Headwind out, tailwind back!!   My Quintana Roo triathlon bike moves beautifully on a slight downhill, with a tailwind! Perhaps I’m a stronger with a tailwind?   I was satisfied with the bike ride, though I always believe I can move a bit faster.  I entered the 2^nd transition with some wobbily legs, while knowing I had at least a 5 hour marathon in front of me on the 4 lap run course.  I’ve never run more than 26 kilometers (or 3 hours) at a time, now I had 42 k (and 5 hours) in front of me.  But, likewise, I’d never biked 180 km or finished a 3.8 km ocean swim, each part of the day was a new personal best on my Garmin watch!!  It took a couple of km for my reluctant quads and resistant calves to get the message.  Yet, I truly felt strong on the run through the first couple of laps.  Marine Drive was lined with thousands of cheering spectators who yelled out your name with brilliant energy and encouragement. I ran with a smile from ear to ear, slapping high fives, and soaking up the moments. My Trifactri mates shouting encouragement as we passed one another. The heat of the afternoon began to cool as evening approached.  The shadows of the buildings lengthened. The sun, lower in the sky, could now only be found in breaks between buildings. The wind picked up and half of the run course was into a headwind which, as evening approached, cooled by the minute.  Running with a tailwind, though more pleasant than a headwind, simply doesn’t ensure the same impact on speed as it does on a bike.  The wind doesn’t pick you up and increase your stride length.  It’s still one foot in front of the other. The sun disappeared, the wind continued to be a factor, and darkness over took parts of the course.  With each lap, there were fewer triathletes on the course, as more finishers found the red carpet, Marine drive emptied. The crowds thinned but ardent supporters remained.  I would find my way to engage in various conversations with other athletes to pass the time and look forward to every 5 km when I would see Rhona or Corey – my dedicated support.

On each lap runners are given a cloth bracelet – a band. You collect your 4^th as you head out on your final lap.  Slipping that 4^th band on was a defining moment.  I was not returning to this end of the run course!  I was headed home in 8 km!    But the last 10 k were less than friendly.  Nausea and tightening muscles were upon me. The nausea was a bother. After 12 hours of gels, power bars, coke, and water my system was in revolt!  My game became street lamp to street lamp – walking and running.  Alternating lamps was my strategy.  Move Forward!

Over the last 2 km I increased my speed!  I was there, ready to finish.  The red carpet looked spectacular.  Bright lights, still a cheering crowd,  the music, the voice of Paul Kaye.  My arms pumped as I crossed the line…..and then it was behind me. 14 hours and 11 minutes from the time I stepped into the water!  I only wish I would have stood on that finish line and absorbed the moment. (Not to mention a better photo!)  Instead, the medal was slipped over my neck, a volunteer wrapped me in a space blanket…..and I searched the dark for a place to sit down! Exhausted, satisfied, thrilled.  But, oddly, I didn’t feel emotion.  I was numb,
nauseous, and fighting to stay coherent…..I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew my body needed to rest and my thoughts needed to be calmly gathered.  The hug from Rhona and the photo with Corey……..made my day.  If they hadn’t been there I’m not sure how I would have contained myself.

FB support and encouragement was incredibly positive and important over the IM weekend. Rhona posted photos during the day.  I felt this immense wave of support from friends new, old, and “very” old (read-childhood friends – those who warmly take us back to our teen years when they call me SMITTY), former students, and family members around the world. The messages were more than humbling.  Training for an endurance event is lonely. I spent many hours running, biking, and swimming alone with my thoughts over the past 8 months but throughout the Ironman weekend, I felt alive with connections and support.  A consistent piece of advice from experienced Ironman athletes was to enjoy the moment. I did. I embraced it. I absorbed it all.

Cygni trains us twice a week…..an awesome trainer!

I am grateful.  Grateful to Cygni for the twice a week physical training sessions for Rhona and I at home.
Grateful to Renata my physical therapist for ensuring my legs are strong and loose.  Grateful to Lucy and Des and the Trifactri team.  Grateful to my Trifactri mates who supplied encouragement during training rides and races. Grateful to my co-workers who offered so much support. Above all, grateful to Rhona who has journeyed with me over the years in our athletic pursuits – from Indonesia to Ghana to South Africa!  We love our rides together.

Des is a great coach!

Thousands of people do Ironman events each year.  Yes, doing an Ironman is a big deal but it’s entirely achievable if you can make a commitment to the training and to a training plan. I am so very happy and proud to have accomplished my goal. It is a special feeling.   Will I do it again?   I want to better my time and position in my age group!  Maybe that’s my challenge. Maybe that’s my commitment. For now, I’m enjoying my weekend and I didn’t have to wake up to an alarm and a workout!!!

The Trifactri Team in Port Elizabeth!

My last post was December 2015.  Trump – the School Yard Bully. I’ve been uninspired as a blogger since then….

I’m exhausted by the political discourse.  I’m caught up in it, following every move, every day…..reading the NYT or Cable News 4 or 5 times a day – re-reading articles sometimes in disbelief.  Anyway, I’m caught up in it…..but I’m also caught up in my own journey with the unbelievable support of Rhona and others.  I’m caught up in participating and hopefully completing my first full Ironman – next Sunday!!!!  I anticipate 14 to 15 hours of action.  3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, 42 km run. I’ve worked hard, I’m hopefully ready……  But, anyway, here’s a blog post that I wrote about my journey to get to this  point…..

http://trifactri.weebly.com/blog/35-days-35-yearsmy-path-to-port-elizabeth-by-geoff-smith

How to explain the damaging, angry, racist, tone of Republican primary candidates?  It’s Trump dominating the news cycles.  It’s Trump praising Putin (who kills journalists), it’s Trump calling people dumb, stupid, liars.  It’s Trump calling for a ban on the travel of Muslims to the United States. It’s Trump calling for a registry of Muslims in America. It’s Trump insulting women, immigrants, Hispanics, reporters, etc.   It’s Trump spreading lies, exploiting fears, and making one outrageous statement after another.  And yet, his outrageous and fact free comments do not dent his standing in the polls amongst his fellow Republicans.

How do I possibly help explain to internationally minded students that the person leading the “opposition party” in the race for leadership of the leading democracy in the world is doing nothing but stoking anger and pedalling fear.  How do I explain that a “Sieg Heil” salute was on display by a Trump supporter in a recent Trump rally or that Trump says a protester deserved to be “roughed up” or that rally participants tell Hispanic Americans to “go back to their own country” or that Trump muses in a speech about the killing of journalists?

Trump portrays strength, and his proclamations that he’ll “be great” for the country, for women, for minorities, etc have resonated for so many people who are simply angry with the status quo in American politics.  But he is a bully, a schoolyard bully, plain and simple.  As educators we fight the battle of bullying regularly.  Schools have anti-bullying programs as part of their curriculum.  Some states have mandated such programs in schools.  Now we have the leader of the Republican party and potential presidential candidate who models bullying.  Insulting rivals, talking trash towards anyone who speaks against him, dominating conversations and interviews with an ego the size of his real estate empire.  He is simply an out of control ego maniac – and a bully.   Bullying starts with name calling and insults, often through social media.  His version of campaigning is simply insulting opponents, often using Twitter!  He’s crass and vulgar.  He’s a bully.  Given our ongoing challenges in schools around bullying behaviour, it’s distressing to watch the leading Republican candidate legitimizing the behaviour of a school yard bully while portraying it as strength.  School yard bullies are ALWAYS exposed, and never win in the end!  He won’t win and he’ll be exposed for the shallow, unfit, school yard bully that he is.

More importantly, I wonder what our students think of Donald Trump and his outrageous behaviour?  Part of me hopes that they are disgusted by the noise. Part of me hopes that they aren’t listening or paying any attention because if they are it would be incredibly confusing to see this as your initiation into the world of politics. But, if that is the case, then their indifference saddens me even more. To be disengaged by the disappointing and harmful rhetoric is one thing but to be disengaged because of apathy, or believing that the issues facing our complicated and challenging world are overwhelming and unsolvable (climate change, poverty, the middle east, one humanitarian crisis after another, etc), is simply sad.

On the other hand, I wonder if our students are thinking about politics at all.  It’s hard to know sometimes given the world of self-absorbed teenagers.  Finding moments for a relevant conversation means finding a time when they are not either wrapped up in school work (we know the world of IB students) OR simply plugged into their headphones or social media.  It’s not easy to find times for High School students to look beyond their immediate worlds and this is a challenge for us as educators.  Having said this, I well remember the enthusiasm of my middle school students in 2008 when Obama was elected president.  They were glued to the process during the weeks before the election.

I want students to read about Trump and consider his statements. I want them to be informed.  I want them to react and pay attention to the process.  I want our students in our international schools who live a steady diet of tolerance, service, internationalism, acceptance, and supportive relationships in hopeful school cultures to analyse and understand how/why this incredible turn of political culture in United States politics.

As educators, we should exploit the current political dynamics in the United States.  Our students and schools should embrace the regular commentary, understand the roots of discontent, oppose ethnically charged anger, and recognize the tremendous challenges facing the world.  Most importantly, we should take stock that there are solutions and citizens, organizations, politicians actively working to bridge solutions.  Ultimately, I want students excited by the political process.  We need students as activists, who are ready for action.  We need students engaged for the future.  And, we need students who recognize and speak out against bullying where we see it.

It’s getting to be that time of year in schools.  The end of a quarter brings a known litany of actions, meetings, communications, responsibilities, and, above all, emotions.  Students are loaded with assessments (summative assessments or, as kids often consider them, the kind of assessments that “really count”); teachers are busy writing comments and calculating marks that truly represent student learning, while separating out behavior, work habits, and other attributes; and parents are getting prepared for conversations with their child with traditional comments that more often than not focus on how those marks could be raised.  Why is the parental urge to focus upon improving grades while performing a report card autopsy impossible to resist?  As much as parents, try to be balanced during that autopsy most report cards that students receive end up providing opportunities for deficit analysis!  In other words, in what classes will their child work harder? How will your son/daughter raise those grades? Why don’t you really “get it” that this REALLY matters?  I know this pattern well, I lived it for many years as a parent.   I also know that reality means that the stakes are higher with high school students.

Do report cards provide opportunities for reflection and possible goal setting? ABSOLUTELY!  Kids need to take on board comments and reflect upon their work and set high expectations for themselves. Parents and teachers need to support this process. However, while in the moment of those conversations avoiding judgment statements while asking provocative and thoughtful questions is an important line to draw. I remember a comment from a wise friend (a middle school counselor) while she witnessed my frustration with my then Grade 8 son’s report card, her words were “avoid expressing disappointment in him”.  This was an important moment for me.  Avoiding judgments, sticking to the facts, looking forward, focusing on the learning, maintaining perspective, and frankly knowing and remembering that the author of the journey is the student. It is  their journey!  There is so much to learn about doing good work, working hard, and maximizing your efforts but it’s their journey.  It’s their journey to succeed in, fail in, undercover passions in, experience pain in, and find joy in.

The question I often ask of students is “What kind of a student do you want to be”?  Until kids truly relate to this question and consider the implications, they will often be moving through the motions of being a student.  It’s hard being a teenager.  Teenage years are the most awkward stage in one’s life cycle. How many parents would want to be a teenager these days?  Teens are exposed to overwhelming external and internal struggles on a daily basis compounded by hormones, social issues, school commitments, parental pressures, and other school stressors – not to mention chronic sleep deprivation and constant social media exposure.   It isn’t getting any easier for teens.  In fact, it’s more and more challenging.  The pressures are 24/7 with issues constantly on their plates.  Parental and adult judgment fuels the pressure.

Posing questions, supporting the construction of a target or an actionable goal (and how one will get there), serving as a role model, suspending judgment and unconditional support and love should flow from parents; all the while remembering that it’s about the journey for adolescent kids.  How many adults (parents and teachers) were top ranked secondary students who knew exactly what they wanted to study in university and who plotted their adult course when they were 17?  How many truly understood their passions when they were 15?   The high school journey is layered with pitfalls, bumps, bruises, and opportunities.

One of those opportunities for learning, reflection, and opening communication is around the reporting and conferencing structure.    Parent conferences are on the horizon.   I believe parent, student, teacher conferences are very important.  And, it’s very important for the student to be present for the conversation.  Many years ago, I attended a profound workshop given by Dr. Michael Thompson (google him for his exploits).  What follows below is a summary of his workshop on Parent/Teacher conferences.  I urge parents and teachers to read this  note and extract any nuggets that you might find useful for your next set of conferences!

My final suggestion for high school parents who are attending a parent/teacher conference with your son or daughter.    After you have a conference, go out for a cup of coffee or a private meal with your son/daughter.  Make it a special event, enjoy the moment with your child, talk about something other than school and, I abolutely guarantee, you will not forget the experience AND, in fact I can almost guarantee you that you will share a great moment together that you will be able to recall in the years ahead.

Adapted from a Dr. Michael Thompson workshop

(Dr. Michael Thompson is the author of Raising Cain, and has consulted with many schools over the years).

The following statements are adapted from a Dr. Michael Thompson workshop, Promoting Successful Parent – Teacher Conferences. The workshop was presented to administrators and teachers at a conference in November, 2000. Dr. Thompson speaks eloquently about various sources of concerns between parents and teachers with respect to parent conferences and offers a variety of tips for creating successful conferences. Below are some of his ideas.

Sources of Parental Fear

1. Parenting is inherently difficult and no one is an expert at it. In addition, when you sit down with your child’s teachers, you are nervously aware of your amateur status.
2. Child-rearing mistakes are on display through your child’s behavior in ways you cannot always know.
3. Parents feel trapped by hope, love and anxieties (their own and their child’s).
4. In some implicit ways, the teacher may know more about their child than they do.
5. Teachers have enormous power over children’s lives.
6. Parents’ professional skills frequently have no bearing on approaching school or teacher.

Sources of Teacher Fear

1. Teaching is difficult, hard to measure, and extremely personal.
2. Kids distort teachers to parents
3. Every teacher has been intimidated, at least once, by an “out-of control” parent.
4. Teachers fear that parent influence may pose professional problems.

Tips regarding Parent Teacher Conferences:

Tips for Parents

1. Be on time for conferences and respect time limits.
2. Be honest with teachers and make your own concerns known.
3. Show appreciation for teachers.
4. Ask in advance who will attend, so you are not surprised.
5. Reflect on your child before the conference and try to prepare specific questions to ask.
6. Don’t bring your child or other children to the conference (unless asked to).
7. Try to remember that your information probably came through a child’s perspective.
8. Try to be open-minded. Try to listen first, reflect, and then act.
9. Discuss the issues rather than the teachers.
10. It is okay to feel defensive on behalf of your child, but act as an advocate, not an excuse-maker.
11. Try not to put a teacher – or child, for that matter – in the middle of a family conflict.
12. Ask for specific suggestions.
13. Remember that it’s okay to be a real person. It’s helpful to let the teacher know that you struggle with parenting; everyone does. The teacher also struggles with teaching (and may be a parent as well).
14. Remember that we’re all on the same side.

Tips for Teachers

1. Avoid surprises (especially unpleasant surprises) by preparing parents in advance of meetings through letters and phone calls.
2. Be prepared, have an agenda for parents, and have documented facts available.
3. Establish a mutual agenda for the meeting, based on what you wish to cover and by asking the parents what they wish to cover
4. Be honest, especially when you are struggling with a child, and encourage parental honesty.
5. Use descriptive language, cite specific examples, and avoid judgmental terms.
6. Get parents to talk about their hopes, their worries, and their expectations for this child
7. Be a good listener.
8. When possible, hold the conference in a comfortable, circular arrangement (no sitting behind a desk). Shake hands, make introductions, and get everyone’s name right.
9. Recognize your own level of experience. Don’t take on more than your training and level of experience can support.
10. Use humor. Let your criticisms be constructive.
11. Try to remember that the child’s well-being is the purpose of the meeting.
12. Know the child, “claim” the child, know his or her interests and personality outside your classroom.
13. Don’t be afraid to check with parents on the progress of the conference; ask whether it is meeting their hopes and needs.
14. End on a positive note.

It’s odd.  I’m entering into my 35^th year in education, not to mention the 19 other years as a student.  That’s 54 years in schools.  54 first days of school.  54 new beginnings.  That’s a long time.  I hope that I never lose the nervous excitement and the anxious energy that comes with the start of a new school year.  When that “buzz” is gone, I will know it’s time to step away.  “Starting over” with a new job adds additional layers of both excitement, anxiety, and nerves.  It’s also a time of opportunity.

54th First Day of school! Backpack packed, new shoes, fresh haircut!  It’s all good!

That was my opening line to the high school faculty this week.  First impressions count, perhaps my reference to 54 makes me seem really old….wait…I need to check my license to verify my age.   It’s true, I’m 59. I’ll turn 60 this year.  I see on facebook that high school friends are all turning 60.  Me, too, I suppose.  59 – 5 (or so years)=54 yrs – hence the round figure of 54.

In our first days with all of the new teachers/administrators who just arrived at the American International School of Johannesburg, we participated in an activity.  We were requested to line up according to the number of years we have worked in international schools.  30 years overseas….that’s me.  30 years ago we arrived at the American Embassy School in New Delhi for a two year adventure.  We lasted 3…and we’ve been overseas ever since. Needless to say, the line of 25 educators stretched from 3 days in international schools to my 30 years!  How did I all of a sudden become the oldest person in a room of teachers and administrators?

But, turning to the number 54.  54 first days of school.  35 as an educator.  Wow.  That’s significant.  I must really know a lot about this world of education. How can I not?  I’m sure tht  Years = Maturity = Wisdom = Intelligent Actions (hopefully)

I know a lot about first days of school, that’s for sure.

I remember the first day of Grade 6 in the middle school in Highland Park. It was a brand new building, we were the first class.  Mrs Raymond was my teacher. What was so memorable was the new facility, way across town, a long walk, and most importantly, we were able to change classes for language, reading, and a few other things.  It was a big deal. I remember the first day of high school, trying to figure out from the list where I was supposed to go and being afraid of the Seniors in the big high school hallways. I remember my first arrival at the University of Michigan and meeting Bill Metcalf who was to become my closest friend for many years.  I remember many moments of first days with students as a professional, each one full of excitement and nervous energy and optimism.

The rhythm of schools is brilliant – new beginnings, new opportunities, fresh enthusiasm.  I’m so lucky to be in this profession, recharging batteries each June and July, pushing my learning throughout the year, supporting, teaching, guiding, celebrating the work and growth of young people.

I do feel fortunate AND I better get to the gym to continue my fight to convince myself that 60 is the new 40!