Ford Ironman Wisconsin - TriathlonFull Ironman

1:09 better than a year ago.

Last year I started on the line, but 3/4 of the way back. Having done 2 2.4m swims at under 1:20, we decided this year I would start on the shore side about 1/2 way back with the goal of swimming wide to avoid early traffic and then getting closer to the buoys after the first turn. I got in and was looking for that perfect position. What I didn't realize is that 100s of people stand on the rocks/shore before getting in. I had no idea where half way back was and I had no ability to be all the way to the right of the traffic. I didn't like the position I was in, but I was like a deer in the headlights. I froze.

The gun went off and I started to swim. Within a few seconds, I had the shorehuggers on top of me. I've been dunked before, but never by multiple people. I freaked. I came up for air and got a swift kick in the side of the head. I had to pull up and wait for the traffic to pass. I was breathing way too hard and people were passing me because I was standing still. I finally told myself if I didn't get on with it, my day would end here. I had taken in a lot of air and I knew I needed to get rid of it before I got out of the water. My mantra was "calm down, stay long and relax". I needed to stay in the moment and focus.

The remainder of the swim went fine. I was passing people and I honestly thought maybe I was doing ok timewise. Finished the first loop and the traffic was far less (just like last year). I made the final turn on the second loop heard Mike Reilley's voice and smiled. I once again was making it happen.

I was not supposed to focus on the clock at all, but I had to see how I had done given the fiasco and then my recovery. The clock read 1:44:xx. My heart sank. That was 9 minutes worse than last year. What I didn't know, is this was elapsed time and included the pro start.

I ran out of the water, got stripped quickly and immediatley saw Dino. Had to hug him. Then I ran up the Helix too fast again and would see someone pivotal to my training and hug them. I knew it wasted a little time, I didn't care. I am always so happy to get out of the water!

Not sure. I made so much mental progress swimming this year only to have panic at the start when I had none last year. Technique wise I also made a lot of improvement and think I was able to call upon it further in the swim. Need to talk through what I should have done with my coach.

This is 2:18 better than last year, but still slow. I know the multiple hugs held me up a bit :), but I do a full change and it takes time. I stuck to my list and only let my volunteer empty and refill my T1 bag. I did stop at the bathroom on the way to my bike, but did run all the way to my rack and then to the mount line. As I was running to my bike, I realized how few of them remained. That hit me in the gut because it reminded me how slow my swim was once again when I had the opportunity to be faster.

Stop hugging people!

21:00 minutes better than last year (could have been at least 46:00 better than last year--read on).

I had a solid plan that we broke into four pieces. The first 30' were ez to let my stomach settle (which was remarkably good from the beginning). I got down the Helix with little issue, through the no passing zone and into the first parking lot. I went to change into my 53 and nothing happened. I kept fiddling with it, thinking it was me. It wasn't. I had broken my front cable 3 miles into the race. My heart sank. I am not a mechanic, so I wasn't sure if it was even safe to ride it this way. I had visions of my race being over, but kept going. I was doing fine on the hills, but the descents were a reminder how slow this ride was going to be. People were passing me. I finally decided to stop and ask a volunteer to call SAG. They told me to wait, but it would be a while. More and more people were passing me. After 15', I couldn't take it. I told the volunteer to have them find me and kept going in my 39. I figured I could finish this way, but it would be a lot slower than I had hoped for. I got almost to the end of the stick (16m) and I saw SAG up ahead of me. I screamed like a crazy woman and flagged them down. A guy came running to me and it turned out to be a mechanic I used to work with. He checked the cable and had it changed within 6'. Post analysis, I had lost 21' at the side of the road and a lot of speed early on with no 53. I didn't care. I was good to go. Ironically, the bike fiasco made me forget all about the perceived sucky swim :)

At this point, I had two options, wallow about how far behind I was in my goal or stick to the plan. I decided to go with Option 2 and make the most of my day. I stuck to the plan and was passing people left and right. I was the tail of the swim and at that moment the tail of the bike. I didn't care. I told myself to stay in the moment and focus on what needed to be done. I smiled at people just like last year and decided to have fun. The hills were great. Like being in the Tour with people running beside you cheering. I saw Ben (ChasingKona) in his speedo cheering for me on Old Sauk Pass. I loved it! I saw Paul and my posse on Midtown both times and I loved that too!

I felt great on the first loop and decent on the second, much better than last year. I felt this was going to set me up for another very good run and that made me HAPPY!!! I was fueling on the 12'and had no stomach issues. I was taking salt caps regularly. I refilled H20 at every station and thought I was drinking enough given the heat. I went to the bathroom at 30 miles and was expecting at least one more stop. It wasn't happening. I was concerned by it, so drank more. Still nothing.

I had a feeling even with the bike delay I was doing better than last year. On my second loop people were still on all major hills cheering and in Verona. Last year there was nobody. It was a ghost town.

When I got off the bike, I had no idea how long it had taken me because I wasn't watching the clock, but I felt decent about the effort.

I had a mechanic do a tune up before the race. I had questioned the cables at that point and was told I was good to go so not sure I could have done much else.

The smartest thing I did was not let this overwhelm my day. I stuck to the plan and felt good about that.

1' better than year.

I was stiff coming off the bike so walked into T1 which sucked up time. I changed shorts and my tri top and that was it. Grabbed my fuel belt and was running out the door when I heard Scott (Schmize, another PPL coach) yell to me that Brett was in town. I did a mental happy dance. He wasn't going to make it for any of the race and he was out there somewhere! Stopped at the bathroom and still nothing. I knew if I didn't drink seriously I would be in trouble.

Run off my bike.

7:00 slower than last year. I ran the entire marathon in '10. My goal was to do the same this year only a little faster.

The plan was to run to each aid station, walk it to drink, throw ice down my shirt and sponge off. When I hit the edge of the last table I needed to run just like last year.

I was tired, a little dazed, but I remembered this is exactly the way I felt last year so figured I could handle it. I also had bad cramps, girl kind, but my nutritionist told me no Advil. I saw Brett in the first mile and he told me to stick to the plan we had created and drink, drink, drink. I did feel behind on hydration so drank a cup of H20 at all the beginning water stations and intermingled it with Carb Pro. I didn�t feel great. My legs were fine, my head was shot. Kept telling myself aid station to aid station and that worked pretty well the first half. I was once again passing so many people who seemed to be walking the whole marathon chit chatting. Ingested 60 CHOs during that time although the Carb Pro was not going down easily. Still no bathroom. I saw Paul and my posse multiple times and tried to muster up the energy to smile at them while they cheered for me. Sometimes it didn't work so well :). State Street was electric and so much more crowded than last year that it did spur me on some. I saw so many friends both cheering and running and was thankful for them all.

I hit the second loop and SN and grabbed the remaining 4 bottles of Carb Pro. I got one down before my stomach said forget it. I remembered Brett told me about Coke so I started drinking some at 8-12m. Here I was doing something I never did in training, but I didn't care. They were tiny little Dixie cups and it made be bloated, but was better than the Carb Pro. I couldn�t handle any more H20 so quit that all together. Last year I was so good at running and only walking during aid stations. This year, I wasn't as good. I bartered with myself a lot that last 10K, run to this sign, that flood light, etc. I made sure I ran downhill, but walked Observatory (both times) and then anything that seemed like an incline. I would then kick myself and get going--kept telling myself to focus. When I was running I was at a solid pace and passing a lot of people who were walking, but then my head would question why I was running and I�d walk. Ugh. I never looked at my watch, went completely by RPE so I had no idea how long I had been out there. It didn't seem quite as dark to me as last year. I did walk some of the last mile, but once I made a turn onto the Capitol Square I kicked it in. I saw Jessica from SBR and yelled to her! I thought for sure my PR was out the window with the swim, the bike issues and the walking, but I was proud of myself for holding it together with so many issues along the way.

I made the final turn to the chute and almost passed out with joy. I couldn't believe the clock said 13:20:44. I was actually going to PR the day by almost 19 minutes. I heard the crowd cheering and I was on fire. I literally flew down that chute to the finish line with no thoughts of how tired I was. WOW--adapt and overcome had worked! I had passed over 615 on the run!



Given the fact I went to the bathroom once at 30 miles and then never again, I believe I got behind on hydration with the distraction of the bike issues.

I felt pretty bad after crossing the line and nearly passed out. Tracy (gofish) caught me again this year and we slowly marched over to the med tent to make sure I was ok. Only down 3% of my body weight so was good to leave.

Caught up with Paul and then Brett, but I really wanted to see Kim. She had finished about 20' before me. We hugged. It was a great moment.


My whole day was one of adapt and overcome from the very start. Neither the swim or the bike issues completely knocked me off my plan and I give myself three cheers for that. I had read a book on mental training to make myself bullet proof and that helped immensely throughout this day. While it certainly did not turn out to be the final result I wanted, I was satisified with my performance.




I love everything about this race. The fact it is in my hometown means I'll be back next year!

I couldn't end this RR without a shout out to a few people:

1. My husband Paul who spent four solid weeks moving us into our new house while I trained, tapered and slept. He never complained. He's my rock.

2. My coach, Brett Petersen from PPL who improved every aspect of my game in 7 months, both physically and mentally to help me grab that PR in the face of adversity.

3. My great SWBKRUN Mentor Group for supporting me and my best gal pal Kim (KT65) for coming to do this race with me.