HANCOCK COUNTY — The swimming and cycling segments of the race were behind him, so Devon Brown set his sights on tackling the toughest part of the cross-county adventure still before him — the running segment of a nearly 1,000-mile journey of endurance.
Brown, 37, Greenfield, had finished two of the three challenges in the TransAmTri — a 945-mile swimming, cycling and running endurance test winding on sun-baked roads to destinations in Florida, Alabama and Louisiana. His goal was to swim 16 miles, ride 805 miles and run at least 124 miles during the two-week event that started May 25.
In the end, however, the fitness trainer who has competed in numerous ironman events didn’t make it as far as he hoped.
Here is a summary of Brown’s odyssey before it came to an end on Thursday, June 3:
Brown knocked the swimming section off his list early, finishing 16 miles during the first 14½ hours of the race.
He posted on his Facebook page the following day: “Sunburnt and sore this morning, but got to keep moving and get some miles in even if it’s not many.”
After the strong start, things took a turn for the worse for Brown the very next day, “Heat exhaustion sucks, realizing that dad is getting old sucks even more,” he posted. “Shutting it down for several hours to wait out the heat. Hope to be back at it tonight when it’s cooler.”
On Day 3, Brown said he woke up earlier to take advantage of the cool temperatures, and it paid off with part of the ride producing perfect weather, giving him an ocean breeze, a full moon, and no vehicles. “Rode for 20-30 miles before lack of sleep caught up and I started yawning a lot.”
Day 4 was even better, as Brown set out to ride 70 miles before the heat set in. He told his followers he was going to reward himself and his dad, who was accompanying him in a support role, with some hotel time and posted, “the last several miles included roadkill of big snakes and small gators.”
Day 5 was the most challenging so far.
“I had my first big ‘incident’ today (Sunday, May 30) that involved me getting lost, having to walk about 10 miles in sandy trails in the middle of the woods, spending a lot of energy in the scratchy outback, logging miles on the back trying to find my way — a very stressful time.”
Brown noted not only are these types of races physically grueling, but they have many mental peaks and valleys as well.
“I’ve had a flat, then had to walk a couple miles on the roadside to be saved by a trail angel,” he said. It’s a story he said he’ll share with his family and friends on a later date.
Brown also took advantage of the local culture when he had a chance to rest and even saw a local band play during a break. “Today was a low valley, but it is giving me time to reflect and grow,” he posted.
On Day 6, May 31, Brown reached a major section of the race and made it to the Pensacola Bridge in Florida. On Tuesday, June 1, one week into the race, he was down to the final 110 miles left to ride. He finished around 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, having ridden a total of 805 miles.
“Oh thank goodness,” Brown said. “Resting and then out to get some run miles.”
Brown told the Daily Reporter on Wednesday, June 2, — Day 8 — that he was planning to run 156 miles — or about six marathons — to wrap up the race on Sunday, June 6. It was shaping up to be a stiff challenge: Brown said he had already lost 11 pounds heading into the running segment of the event.
His plan was to run a marathon (26.22 miles) on Wednesday and then run another 1½ to two marathons on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
“That will leave less than one marathon for Sunday, so I can get done early and see my family at the finish line,” Brown said.
But the race, after 877.6 miles, had taken a toll. There would be no more running toward a milestone — not on this occasion, at least. By Thursday, he had posted a photo of his feet, his big toes bandaged. He could not continue.
“Yes, I dropped out,” he confirmed in a message shortly before 9 a.m. Friday, June 4, just two days and less than 70 miles from his projected finish. “It is a long and emotional decision/story that ultimately concludes with my ‘why’ to do the race became smaller than my reasons ‘why not.'”
