2015 IRONMAN Asia Pacific Champion Jeff Symonds travelled in to The Woodlands, Texas from Victoria, Canada two weeks in advance of race day in order to get himself acquainted with the muggy conditions, the race course and the local community. Unfortunately while previewing the course following one of the strong rains that hit the area last week, Symonds crashed on his bike and a subsequent x-ray revealed a fractured elbow. Not one to roll over quickly, Symonds has stayed in town to carry on with his pre-race preparations in hopes of lining up at the start on Saturday.
All photographs © Lars Finanger / Slowtwitch
Freshly printed race kits from Castelli arrived into town ahead of Symonds and he looks pleased with the finished product.
Within an hour of landing in Houston, Symonds was on the pool deck for an easy swim to shake off the day of travel. The session was coached by his homestay Dana Lyons, who owns coaching groups Finish Strong and SelecTri, a team for youth and juniors athletes.
Lyons gives Symonds directions on how to get to a good cycling loop in town.
Out on the ride around Woodlane, a popular route for area cyclists, Symonds found some new friends and managed to snap a selfie with the pack of Irish Wolfhounds.
Sterling Ridge Orthopedic and Sports Medicine (SROSM) hosted an evening of Q&A with Symonds that was well attended by The Woodlands triathlon community.
Symonds and SROSM owner, Dr. Keith Johnson, a multiple-time IRONMAN finisher himself, showcasing Symond’s trademark “Get Ugly” t-shirts and a replica race kit raffled off during the event.
The next day Symonds was back at SROSM to find out the results of an x-ray, which showed a compression fracture to his radial head.
A brace similar to that worn by Houston Texas pro football player JJ Watt inspired Symonds to strike a pose.
Despite the fractured elbow, Symonds has been getting in the water every day.
No trip to Villa Sport is complete without a visit to their sauna, an important session in Symonds pre-race routine.
During his two week stay in town, Symonds has eaten at Torchy’s Tacos a handful of times.
Symonds and fellow pro Emma-Kate Lidbury handed out finisher’s medals at the IRONKIDS 1-mile run this past Saturday.
His home stay has an impressive pain cave set up and Symonds has been sticking to his daily cycling workouts.
After a quick indoor cycling session on the CompuTrainer, Symonds and Lyons chat over coffee. With over 50 age-group athletes racing IRONMAN Texas, Lyons is a man on the move during race week.
A morning tempo run session is on Symonds' schedule, one of his last hard runs leading before race day.
Symonds found the crushed limestone trails around the Bear Branch Sports Complex to be perfect for his tempo runs.
At the conclusion of his run workout, Symonds evokes his inner JJ Watt with a celebration pose.
A rare meal where Symonds chose not to eat at Torchy’s.
Back to Sterling Ridge Sports Medicine to check in with the doctors to see how his elbow is progressing.
Dr. Jackson, an upper extremity and hand specialist, explains the healing process and discusses with Symonds a roadmap moving forward. As of the publishing of this feature, Symonds was still undecided whether or not he will race on Saturday.
