Ironman Arizona - TriathlonFull Ironman

Whenever I did a long swim, my average mile took me 40 minutes. So let's do the math... 40 minutes + 40 minutes + 16 minutes = 1:36. Best case scenario as far as I was concerned! Not to mention that fatigue might take over (as I'd never swum that far) and my navigation skills are just not that good! So I hoped for 1:40, expected 1:45-1:50, and dreamed of 1:36! But I just blew it out of the water!! I wasn't going to hard... I felt pretty calm the whole time. I knew that I was really getting strong mentally for this portion, as I was not overwhelmed by the people grabbing me, the waves that went up my nose, etc. And for the first time ever, I regularly passed people (me!!! Dana!!!) on the swim! Totally surreal!! So I was thrilled, ecstatic and joyous about my swim. But it was impossibly long! Geez!!! For both of these reasons, thank you Jesus for my new wetsuit!!

For the inquiring minds, I peed twice on the swim. I don't know how anyone could make it through the swim without doing that!!!

Sell what I'm feeling to others. It's fine!!! Oh, and maybe not step on glass before the swim, pound anyone who shreds my ear, and not eat that Renew bar just before the swim!! But otherwise, I'm too happy to look at it critically!!!

Wait, let me think here. I didn't have a lot of confidence in my navigation, so I kept questioning my sighting. Wasted a bit of time, just making sure... especially since I don't have very efficient sighting!! (o:

Man was my transition long!! I got stripped of my wetsuit at the swim exit--that was interesting! Especially since they accidently grabbed by jog bra. Whoops!! But after that little recovery, I ran like crazy to pick up my transition bag and hop into the changing tent. Do you know what a miracle it is that I can run to the transition? Well it is. I got a little choked up.

So... um... did anyone else not expect to have there own personal hand maiden when they went into changing tents?? How bizarre was that? I mean it was great! But unexpected. This lovely women grabbed my bag and started organizing all of the contents, told me not to worry about putting my stuff away--she'd get it all into my bag. She put on my socks and put on some sunscreen, untangled my helmet straps and helped me get my jersey over my wet, wet body! Since I was still feeling emotional from running from the swim exit, I said, "Hi, did you know that a year ago today..." I couldn't help myself. I was so happy! I kept vomiting my miracle up on everyone!!! (o:

On a funny note, the weirdness didn't really end. I mean I needed to take off my tri-shorts and put on my bike shorts (both require a commando setting)--but she's right there... and I'm way beyond modesty at triathlons anyway, but what startled me (more than a bit) was that as soon as I pulled down the tri-shorts she offered me a towel to... ahem... dry myself. It was funny. It was weird. It was surreal. Anyway, lovely volunteer! On a side note... she missed some portions in her sunblock application, and since I was feeling no pain all day, I didn't notice until this very odd pattern began to emerge on my thigh which looked a lot like a... handprint??!??? (o: Burned like a sun of a gun.

Umm. Not waste so much time!! Really! What could I possible have been doing for nearly 10 minutes? Oh well. It wasn't so long that I have regrets, but I'm sure that I could shave off a few minutes here. I've never practiced transitions, so that could be my problem.

I'm not a fast biker. I made these projections for my friends to help them spectate.

Swim 1:45 (oops)
T1 :10 (just in case I needed to put my head between my knees)
Bike 8:00
T2 :10 (just in case I needed a nap)
Run 6:15

And I wasn't being modest about that. Every training ride I had indicated to me that I would bike a modest 14mph. I always always always do. But I felt great on the bike! I don't have any kind of gadgetry so I was depending on my watch and mile markers to help me figure out where I was.

First lap out: Struggled, because I was sooooo uncomfortable intestinally! Ugh. I hadn't stopped at the first place with port-a-johns... so I kept waiting and waiting. I had already decided that I was perfectly willing to pee on myself. But sadly this was not a peeing issue! Finally found the next p-a-j's at the turn around. Leapt off my bike to use them only to discover that I had a bad case of gas. Hmmm.

See here's the problem. I was raised in a house where girls don't pass gas. Really, I swear. We're made differently. Ok, well not really, but never in public. So all my life, if the need came, I'd duck into a restroom or something. So the whole day, I had to navigate a Miss Manners issue!! The funny thing was that I was willing to pee on myself... but fart in public???? No!!! (o: In any case, I would always check my blindspots and make sure that people were millions of miles away. What a dope!

But I felt much better!! I came flying back on my return, and realized that I was really holding a 16mph pace!!! I was shocked!! Where did that come from???? I felt glorious!

On my second loop out, I saw some of my friends (Shirley & Ting) that had come to spectate! I was so excited I almost fell off my bike. How come I never look cool in the pictures that they take of me??? (o:

On the way out, I settled in and kept passing people! I clearly was using someone else legs! I started to do the math in my head and realized that I was gonna finish in about 7:15! I was elated, and scared. Paranoia set in. I amused myself by watching the odd things other people were doing. I saw a women get off her bike and pee on the median of the highway. Um. It's a highway, honey. A refereen came over to give her a violation (while she was still peeing!) That's what you get for being unwilling to muss your shiny bike and spiffy shoes, I guess! Somewhere about 1/2 way through, I passed by John (jchyte) and he said hi! What was so funny was I didn't see him, because my eyes were so focused on the butt of #1122. Now get your minds out of the gutter!! It's just that #1122 had the name Jessica on it, and even though I know there are many Jessica's in the world, I yelled out, "Hey #1122, you wouldn't happen to be Tri_Take_Me_Away, would you??" She screamed yes, so we chatted for a few minutes and she filled me in on her own pee challenges! We kind of passed back and forth for a bit, and then she left me behind.

I wasn't burning up the course, but I was sure burning up my projections!! It was great. On the way back from that second loop, I passed this group of people from the reservation that was the best cheering squad!!! I felt like they'd come out just for me! I also saw that my mother, brother and his girlfriend had joined up on the outward bound aid station, so I yelled at them as I was coming in!!! They started jumping up and down and waviing and completely ignoring the bikers that were on their side of the road!!! (o: Ah, love.

On the last loop out, I stopped at their aid station. (I mostly didn't stop, except to go to the bathroom at the early one). It was so great to see them!! It wasn't until that moment when I tried to talk, that I realized how dehydrated I was getting. My voice was completely raspy! They hugged me, and I asked about Eileen. They told me she made it out of the swim, (Hooray!!!) and was holding on to her pace for the bike. I was so happy to hear that. After a moment or two, I rushed off. I felt like I was flying!

Nothing momentous in this last lap back, except that the sun was overwhelming, I ran out of my sports drink and the wind had picked up. I passed by Jessica again and said hi, and then tried to hold it steady to the end. I felt like I... was... loosing... steam! And could not imagine where the energy for a marathon was gonna come from.

But I knew this... I now had 8 hours to complete it!!!! I was soooooo gonna finish this race. In all my mental preparations, all I could do was wrestle with how I would handle not finishing. Would I be ok? What would I need? Etc., Etc. I knew I would be ok, but I also knew that someone would have to drag my unwilling body from the course before I would stop, and I was ok with that!! But now, I knew that time wasn't gonna be my enemy. I really was gonna finish... and geez... maybe in sub 16!!! What a delightful day it was!!

I don't know how I could have dealt differently with hydration. I drank 5 bottles of my Accelerade + Sustained Energy. Probably 4 or 5 bottles of water, too. I can't remember exactly. So everything seemed to indicate that I had enough, but I was still thirsty... but afraid to have to much. So I guess I wasn't really prepared for that amount of energy exertion in such relentless heat. I also wasn't getting much in the way of solids either. I FORCED myself to eat 3 PowerBars and 2 Gus, but I wouldn't have if I was just listening to my body. I knew it would be even harder to eat on the run, so I wanted to get the calories in. I think I might need a more calorie rich drink, because solid food was just not happening!!

Again, the hand maidens arose!! This still seemed awfully long, but I took some extra time with the sunscreen!! I also should have eaten something while I was sitting down, but I forgot.



What I just said!!

Some background. Well obviously, if I weighed 280+ lbs. a year ago, I could barely walk let alone run. When I started to be able to, I was a pretty consistent 4.5 mph pace. When I did my marathon in October and surprised the crap out of myself by finishing it with a 5mph pace, I was thrilled. I also developed a persistent knee injury. It kept me off of running ENTIRELY from Christmas until almost the end of February. So much for my Ironman training, hunh?? My injury hasn't gotten a lot better, but I did start to run again. Unfortunately during that non-running season, I slipped back into some of the compulsive eating patterns. I gained about 12 lbs. It was a hard time for me, and I almost gave up. But... I didn't give up. Remember that "you'd have to drag me off the course" comment. It's true for more things than just the race.

So I didn't have high expectations for this run. I knew I could finish it, at best a 14 mph pace. I also knew that my knee would not hold up if I just ran the whole dang thing. So I set up from the very first a run walk program. I determined that I would run 8 and walk 2. I did that for the first 10 minutes and almost died!! I was so dehydrated, and it was so hot, that I was sure that I would pass out from heat stroke any second!!! So at the next aid station (and everyone after that, I dumped buckets (ok, gatorade cups) of water on my head and shoulders. I drank as much as I could take in (not much) and decided that run4/walk1 was the same as run8/walk2!! That was grand!!! I held that up for the entire first loop. I was dog tired, but holding up fine. The knee wasn't protesting at all!

On the way in from my second loop, I saw an immense cheering squad for me. I was already smiling, but it just got bigger!!! I was so happy. The second loop was a real struggle and my 80% run plan started to dwindle. But I never wanted to be mostly walking or walking for long portions of time, so I switched to run3.5/walk1.5. That worked ok.

I kept my eye out for the few BTers I knew and for Eileen, as I neve saw her on the bike. I saw JeepFleeb (well, I'm assuming it was him. It was, afterall, the only guy on the course that I saw carrying the American flag.) I called out to him as we passed, but as I had mentioned my voice was almost gone. He looked pretty focused, and we'd never met, so I wasn't surprised that the moment passed. But he looked good, and I figured he was on his last lap.

On the final loop (after my cheering section haled me!) I settled in. It was beautiful and the night felt fabulous. I could finally stop dropping water bombs on my head and maybe let my clothes dry out a bit! I ran the rest at 3run/1walk. I wasn't gonna turn any heads, but I never dropped it.

I cried several times for pure joy. It was such a good day!!! And I new I was gonna be able to go sub 15. Sub 15!! I mean it's great, but it felt almost less important than the fact that I had not given up, that I had faced this day with as much courage as I could. I felt so happy that I had not compromised the things that were most important to me to obtain this goal. Time with my friends and family, with myself and with God.

I tried to imagine what I would do when I finished the race--how I would feel. But I felt like I was already feeling all those things right then. So I sang worship songs as I pulled through the last few miles. At mile 26, they have this big billboard where people can put a message up for you. And when you hit that, all you have to do is cross the bridge!!

At the foot of the bridge, my (very helpful, wetsuit bearing) friend Wes was waiting with his cell phone in hand. He ran with me up to the bridge, while I struggled not to cry and he yelled into his phone over and over again, "She's on the bridge, she's on the bridge!! She's coming!!!!" I was so overwhelmed and happy to see him. We ran up to the sign together, where 2 friends had left a message for me on the billboard. I wish I could tell you what it said, but my brain had nothing left in it but "left foot, right foot" anymore. But I know it said they were proud. Me too.

At the top, I told Wes that it was time for my 1 minute walking break. You'd think I might have skipped it, but I really think I needed the moment to collect my thoughts. He sprinted ahead (sweat pouring off his face) to relay in person what they could not hear over the phone.

And then I saw it, and my friend came bursting out of the crowd (without having signed a waiver, or getting and armband!) and ran with me to the finish line. She was running too fast, I told her, and I couldn't keep up, but then when I saw that clock, it was like a rubberband pulled me straight to it, and I left her behind!!! I don't remember what I did when I crossed the line, if I broke the tape, if they called my name. I don't remember anything except wanting to throw up!!! And crying a lot.

I finished an Ironman.

Well, I think nutrition was the problem again, but I don't know if I could have forseen it. I barely got any calories into me during the marathon. I consumed 2 Gus (with reluctance) and about 6 fig newtons. I tried the cola, but it nearly made me hurl. I had one of the broth, but it also made me want to throw up. I kept taking Endurolytes--about one per hour. So most of my calories came from Gatorade (about every other aid station). I really tried to eat, but I just couldn't do it. I'll have to do more research and practice with this thing.

Anothe thing is that I didn't do enough strength training with my bum knee which was pure laziness. Well, not entirely. I was super depressed about the knee (see above degeneration into binge eating) so it was hard to get motivated to do the work that needed to happen. But I'm really going to do it now!!

Not much. I wasn't in horrible shape when I crossed the line. Very emotional, but nausea and some pretty sore knees where my only problem. I managed to eat 1/2 a banana--but pizza was a big no-no!

As I was sitting there, my friend (the one who could have gotten me DQ'd by running with me!) told me that Eileen had not made the 4:15 bike cutoff. I was so sad for her, but really proud that she had accomplished so much. I knew she probably wasn't gonna see it that way immediately, but hoped that she would come to it.

After I had a minute, I went to see my family and friends!! It was so amazing.

Mom (Linda), Brother (Dave), Brother's Girlfriend (Hana), Miracle, Eileen, Eric, Joann, Bora, Wes, Kate, Anna (the younger!), Anna, Shirley, Ting.

They had made a burger for me (I'd been craving one all week!) and gave me flowers. I'm not sure if I ever stopped smiling!!! It was such a lovely moment. Did I stretch? No. Did I cool down? No. Did I eat anything to recover? Other than the banana? No. Did I do anything right at all???? Yes, I hugged everyone and laughed and cried & felt like my day was perfect.


Well, seeing as how I blew my Best Case Scenario of 16:11 right out of the water, I don't even know how to answer this!!!!

Sure I should have done more strength training, sure I should have done more time in the pool (and on the road and on the bike).

But I have NO regrets!


Really well supported and organized. But what's that worth?? Here's my comment. You can do it. If you want to, and it means something to you, you can do it! Don't ever think you're not the type, or you're too heavy, or people are watching.

I AM your poster child.
4/9/05, 280+ pounds
to
4/9/06, 172 pounds and an Ironman!!!

There is hope for all of us, even on the darkest of days... and I've had my share over the past 3 months, the past year and the past lifetime. But Hope has always made himself known to me.