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Infrequently Asked Questions: Ironman athlete Brandon Orna

Editor's note: Today we're debuting a new feature called INfrequently Asked Questions. Each week, we'll explore the sides of suburbanites' jobs or hobbies that you might have always wondered about.

Brandon Orna

Age: 35

Hometown: Carpentersville

Why him? He's training for an Ironman race Sept. 20 in Lake Tahoe. The Ironman consists of a 2.4-mile open water swim, followed by 112 miles on a bicycle and then a 26.2-mile run.

Q: You were a gymnast in high school and college. Did you have any experience with swimming, cycling or running before?

A: "None. I hated running, I never biked, except for my BMX when I was a kid. And with swimming I was like dead weight because of the muscle mass from gymnastics."

Q: So what made you decide to do your first triathlon (a mini version of the Ironman)?

A: "My wife, Audree, is a runner. She signed me up for the Accenture Chicago in 2008. She said we're doing this for Team In Training, which raises money for leukemia and lymphoma research. I was completely against it at first. And now that's all I do."

Q: So, you did it for a girl?

A: "Yeah, but when I saw the atmosphere, I knew I had to do it. The spectators, the volunteers running around. It's like being at the Tour de France. It's nuts."

Q: Tell me about your first Ironman race. How long did it take you to finish?

A: "I did Madison (Wis.) in 2010. It took me 11½ hours. Anyone who can do a 13-hour Ironman, that's pretty respectable. The pros out there will do it in 8 to 10 hours."

Q: When do you start training for a race?

A: "Right after the new year - nine months. That's probably the longest you'd want to do. I stretch it out more because of the whole family thing (he has two sons younger than 6.) I just can't get in the mileage within six months."

Q: Now that you're into this, do you enjoy all three sports?

A: "No! I like the racing part of swimming. The fun part for me is the battle, going out for open water swimming. If I didn't like that part, I would be doing duathlons. Training for swimming in a pool ... it's like swimming in a fish bowl."

Q: Distance runners talk about hitting a wall. What's your wall as an Ironman?

A: "I've never run a straight marathon - only in my Ironman. The wall is almost like what marathoners go through. It's not in the swim or the bike. It's really about mile 18 of the run when you start to battle with the voices in your head."

Q: What do they say?

A: "Basically, 'You're an idiot. Why are you doing this? Quit.' It's like having the angel and devil on your shoulders tugging at you. Part of the training is mentally preparing yourself, because you're going to have those thoughts."

Q: In the course of an 11-hour race, does your mind drift?

A: "Oh, yeah. It happens once you get to the run. Your legs are moving but your mind isn't there. You have to take advantage of the atmosphere. Everyone around you helps keep you focused on what you're there for."

Q: Do you have a mantra that you say to yourself during the race to keep you on track?

A: "Nothing you can put in the paper. You tell yourself you've done the training. You're fine. You have to be better than yourself. You have to attack back. Sometimes it's not pretty. If I have friends racing with me, I make sure they're always behind me."

Q: How many times do you have to stop for a bathroom break?

A: "For the biking portion I stopped once. For the running I stopped once. It's a good sign if you have to go. It means you're not dehydrated. A lot of people pee on the bike. I'm not there yet; I have stage fright."

Q: Is there one thing about doing an Ironman that nobody but an Ironman knows or can appreciate?

A: "The feeling of finishing. It's the biggest high you'll ever have. People will experience runner's highs from completing marathons. But you just did 140.6 miles in a single day over three events. It almost brings you to tears when you finish."

Q: Your wife wants to know: Will you run more after Tahoe?

A: "The funny thing that people don't understand is that the day after I finished it's like the honeymoon was over and I wanted more. Yep, I wanted to sign up for another one right away. At Tahoe last year when it got canceled (because of smoky forest fires) right before we got in the water, it was like being left at the altar. You prepare yourself for the big day, and it ran out the door."

Introducing a new column of INfrequently Asked Questions

INfrequently Asked Questions

A weekly feature of the Daily Herald that explores the sides of suburbanites' jobs or hobbies that you might have always wondered about.

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