login
 Swim
Comments: The start was a little hectic and it stayed that way for all of the first lap and some of the second lap. I started on the outside right side about 10 people deep. I could not start bilateral breathing until I got on the second lap and had a little separtion. But then as people converged on th turn it got crowded again. I swallowed a good amount of water during the swim but didn’t feel like it affected me too much. I tried to keep a nice comfortable pace and never felt too bad. As I got to the final turn, I started to think about the transition and what I needed to do. I stood up, remove goggles, looked at the clock and was amazed. What would you do differently?: Not too much. I was right on my pace and felt comfortable. Maybe not drink so much water. Although it never really bothered me.  Transition 1
Comments: As I crossed the mat I saw my mom and sister right there next to the announcer. It was awesome. I then pull wetsuit down below hip and dropped to the ground at the wetsuit strippers. Stood up and ran up the helix. Which was awesome (note: word for the day). Nate and Kristin were on the helix and cheering me on. Into the ballroom, grabbed bag and went to changing room. The volunteers were awesome. They went through the bag and asked what I needed and helped with everything. They brought over water and gatorade. I ate a gu and drank some water. Then ran out to sunblock people, also awesome, and then to my bike. I had a long run down the transition to the mount line. Mounted and was on my way down the helix. What would you do differently?: nothing. I took my time and enjoyed the moment.  Bike
Comments: When I mounted the bike, I was so excited to get moving out of town. The weather was still nice, with a good temp and not to windy. But that would all change by the second half of the bike. I set my watch to beap every 30 mins to eat a gu. I drank 1 bottle gu2o, 1 bottle h2o per hour and took 2 endurolytes per hour. The first loop went smoothly other then the fact that I could not get my heart rate down. In the 160s-170s spiking on the bigger climbs. But didn't feel bad. Made it through the first loop and decided to stop at special needs check bag and see if I wanted anything then continue on. Took extra tube and co2. Took second bottle of concentrated gu2o and extra gus. Decided second lap to try to get hr down so no longer pedaled on the down hill. Which worked. Got it down to the high 140s and low 150s. Stayed on track with nutrition and drinking. Made myself stop at the stop after Mt Horeb to pee. Here is something that helped me (warning this may sound crazy/corny but it hleped): I ziptied a small stuffed dog, the same as my avatar, onto my bars. My son, Maddux, is a large 100+ lbs black lab who has always gone for short runs with me. He always wants to sprint up hills, so I always tell him to pull mommy up the hill and he does. So this little stuffed dog pulled me up some of those hills and made my day to loop at him. What would you do differently?: not much with the heat. I actually got compliments by a couple of men on my climbing skills. which really made my day. Transition 2
Comments: The volunteers were waiting at the dismount line to take our bikes. After dismounting, ran into ballroom, grabbed bag and into changing room. Took off helmet, glasses, bike shoes and socks and put on new sock, running shoes, hat and took gus and water bottle. Talked with volunteers for a moment and then out to sunscreen people. Then started the run with a smile feeling good. What would you do differently?: nothing, I took my time for not having changed clothes. i even stopped to Kiss Maddux good bye before I handed the bike over.  Run
Comments: This was the best part. i felt great and let it show. My plan before getting to madison and the weather being in the 90s was to try to run for 10k then stop and walk then repeat. but with the weather, I decide to run each mile, walk the water stops and drink one full cup gatorade/h2o mix. This worked for the first half wonderfully. I was able to run all the hills and felt great. Took 2 endurolytes per hour and got to the special needs feeling good. Took 2 sips of a defizzed coke from my special needs, ate 2 jelly beans and was on my way. Because I ran all the hills/inclines on the first loop I told my self I could walk them if I wanted on the second. This worked great, was able to run between water stops and 1/3 to 1/2 the hills. Only slowed down 9 mins the second half. But that might be to the 2 long bathroom breaks, lines were long. But really felt great and had a smile on my face the entire time or most of it. Coming down that last stretch was amazing seeing the capital all lit up and hearing the announcer and the crowd. I was so proud to be a part of this great group of people who had become my friends through out the day. I crossed the finish line and was never happier. What would you do differently?: not much with the heat. I never looked at my watch so if I had maybe I would have known that I was that close to breaking 13 hrs. I might have tried to push it, but then who knows if the race would have ended this well. Post race
Warm down: continued to walk around for 1/2 hr to 1 hr and then got a massage. which was awesome. What limited your ability to perform faster: the weather and limited times to train. With the high DNF rate (19.5%) and slow winning finish time (9:01.34 M and 10:11.22), I was just proud to finish let alone break my 13:40 personal goal. I did it by racing within myself, watching my heart rate and never checking my times. I stayed on course with nutrition and hydration and kept a smile on my face. Until the finish line where once again I started to cry for the last time that day, or atleast I though until seeing my friends and family cross the line. Event comments: This was an awesome race. The volunteers, sponsors and race directors really know what they are doing. The amount of spectators are amazing and wonderful, cheering for everyone. Profile Album Last updated: 2005-09-13 12:00 AM
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK
United States
Ironman North America
91F / 33C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 574/2076
Age Group = W30-34
Age Group Rank = 29/111
Where Do I Start? Really I could start with last fall when I signed up for the Eagleman 1/2 Ironman to help my brother-in-law and friend train for IM Moo. Or with the decision in May to do the full Ironman this year by registering for a Community Slot. But I guess that would make for a long race report, so I will just start with Thursday, Sept. 8th when I left for Madison, Wisconsin. (But I must warn you, it is still going to be long).
I worked on Thursday until about 2:30pm. Then drove home to meet my husband, Nate, so he could drive me to the airport. I had packed all my race gear in a carry on in fear of having my baggage lost (which was a good idea after all, more on that later). After a quick good bye at the security gate I was off to my gate and ready to go. Flew to Cleveland, where I met my brother-in-law, Craig, and friend, Brad (the two who convinced me to do this race). They think I am neurotic for carrying on all my gear, but it gave me peace of mind. Got in to the hotel late and went to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Friday was a very busy day. Started with getting up at 6:30ish and out of bed at 7. At this point I forget what I had for breakfast. But we headed out from the hotel for Monana Terrace to go for a swim and check in for registration. The 30 minute swim made me realize that I was at the Ironman and made me a little nervous for what was to come in the next two days. The whole thing kind of hit me that this was it, the IRONMAN.
Registration went quick because, these Ironman people are organized. They walk you through everything. They weigh you, give you a wrist band, your numbers, your bags and send you off to prepare everything for Sunday. We walked around the expo for a bit, talking with our friends at the Timex booth. Picked up my bike and then to lunch. Back to the hotel to start packing bags for transition and special needs. Which wasn’t too bad, since I divided it all at home. Messed around with bike. Then we drove the course.
Now this was another point where reality sets in. The hills didn’t look bad, but they were endless as far as the number of them. (Definitely recommend anyone doing it in 2006 to drive the bike course). Made it back to Manona Terrace in time for the athletes dinner. The presentations where fabulous and all the athletes at varied levels of experience were all so inspiring. The best part was seeing the “does and don’ts” video put out by Paula Newby-Fraser and Paul Huddle because our friend Dave, from Timex, was in it. The athletes meeting went quick and relatively painless, except for the head Doctor who put a little scare in us. “Don’t come into my tent without being able to tell me the last time you peed or if you can’t get on the scale on your own two feet...” Home to hotel to meet up with sister, Amy, and Brad’s wife, Kristin, then right to bed for a good nights rest.
Saturday was a busy day and I must say I was very nervous and a little cranky in the am. More family came into town. Went to breakfast, grocery store and then took bike for a spin. Loaded cars and headed to Manona to drop off bikes and bags. Then went and spent time at the Timex tent talking with David Harju and Louis Alverez. Wow are they nice people. They had lots of great pointers about the course and watching heart rate. I was definitely the starry-eyed Iron-Virgin trying to soak up all I could from these amazing Ironman pros.
Finally my husband arrived into town. We then wondered the expo more and went to lunch. My mood slowly got better and I was able to relax. Back to the hotel to sit by the pool and pack special needs bags. We actually didn’t get to eat dinner until after 8pm but that was fine with me since I had such a large pasta lunch. We were in bed by 9:45....
Sunday morning, I awoke at around 4-4:30am. Ate a Luna bar, 2 bananas, 1 bottle gu2o and 1 bottle h2o. Then dressed and drove to race site. Arrived at Manona at 5:20am. Was separated from Brad and Craig due to my misunderstand of when and where we would meet (I would not see them again until much later in the day) . I went to bike and stood in long line for tire pumping, they waited for me. I filled water bottles and went to go find them. They were done waiting for me so they went to bikes and took care of things. I got body marked and then put on wetsuit. I started to cry standing there looking at all these amazing people around me and soaking in the moment. I was so happy and excited.
The walk down the helix to the swim start was great. as I got to the bottom I found my husband and Kristin. they had made great signs with pictures of our heads cut out so that we could find them. I got a great big kiss and handed off my clothes then got in line to enter the water. I wasn’t wearing the strap of my heart rate monitor for the swim but I was picking up someone elses heartrate, 116. Then I crossed the mat, and entered the water. As I swam out, and took it all in they said that there were 2094 swimmers in the water. I started to cry again.
No real warm up other then treading water for 10 mins