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 Swim
Comments: I jumped in the water being mindful of the practice swim...arms out to the side to keep from hitting concrete.I seeded myself at the back of the pack over to the side. I had discussed this with my coach, and we decided that this would be the strategy. I am a confident swimmer and I would just swim easy. This turned out to be a bad decision. I swam over to a kayak under the bridge and held on til the cannon went off. The sight was amazing!!!!! I have never thought of swimming as a contact sport...but make no mistake...it is!!!! It took me forever to get around the back of the pack swimmers. I apologize to one guy who I said "you suck at swimming" Really some people were awful...treading water, backstroke, side stroke. UGH! Just told myself to swim easy...long day.Thought of my daughter and how lucky I am to be doing this race. Suck it up!!!! Got to the bridge and turned around The pack had thinned somewhat. This is when I started to cramp. No problem...this had happened before. Stopped and tried to massage my calves but it made it worse. So just swam and relaxed...no kicking. I was really slow at this point. Each time I started to kick I would cramp...so no kicking. For about the last 800 it was stroke only. Very slow!!! Pulled out at the exit and told the wetsuit strippers my legs were really cramped. I wasnt sure if I laid down to get my suit off, I would be able to get up. They helped get it off and lifted me up. Love the strippers!!!! What would you do differently?: NOT seed myself in the back of the pack!!!!!Way too much time wasted trying to get around bad swimmers. Being in cold water that long caused me to cramp more than usual and affected my swim.  Transition 1
Comments: I somehow was able to run into the changing tent. Not quite sure how I ran, as I was really cold. I just wanted to get warm. I did a complete clothing change and glad I had planned on doing this. I put on my bike/rain jacket but took off the sleeves and used my disbosable arm warmers (tube socks with the toes cut off slipped over your arms). Ran out ready to ride!!! What would you do differently?: I wish I had used my bike vest instead of my jacket as a vest as it was a bit big and caught wind quite a bit.  Bike
Comments: Got on the bike and off I went.I reminded myself all day not to push the bike...I tend to ge too hard on the bike and fry myself for the run. All day I heard Rori in my head telling me to SLOW down!!! The first loop of the beeline wasnt that bad. Had a tail wind going out with headwinds and an occasional cross gust on the way back.I kept it easy the entire time.Saw Beth and Smoke on this loop.Chatted with a women named Jennifer on the way out.She was also doing her first IM. About halfway back on the beeline there was a gust and the guy in front of me went down hard.I stopped( I am not going to Kona so time is not really an issue) and he said it was his hip, clearly he was in a lot of pain. I eased his bike out from under him and then Jennifer stopped ( she is also a nurse)We both started yelling for the ambulance which we could see in the distance but I think the wind prevented them from hearing us. Another guy who said he was an MD stopped and asked us if he was concious, which he was, so he moved on. We stayed until help arrived then got back on our bikes. Got into town and saw my family!!! Stopped to give my daughter a kiss ( again...not going to Kona) I was really having a blast. I was able to smile the whole time on the bike, despite the crappy weather. I followed the plan. Ride easy, sip infinit every mile, 2 salt tabs every hour and have fun. I saw Max at the turn around and yelled out to him. Loop 2 was uneventful.Saw Beth and Smoke again I played rabbit with Jennifer a couple of times and we joked. Saw my family and Max again...they looked like they were having fun. When I passed them I yelled out "love you guys" and a guy behind me yelled out..."we love you too". BOPers have more fun!!!! I continued to follow the plan...feeling good.I saw Chris cheering out on the Beeline...so good to have encouragement Loop 3 was where things got quite difficult.Saw Chris again out there telling me I was doing well!!! Going out on the beeline there was a tailwind and about halfway up the winds got very strong, the sky got dark, and a crosswind developed. There was sand blowing and visiblity was greatly decreased. I was in aero and decided it was safer to stay tucked tight in aero. I had everything I could do to stay on my bike the wind was terrible. It began to rain and hail. There was a group coming down the Beeline that just started to go down. I believe I saw 3 guys crash...pushed over by the wind. I yelled out " are you guys alright" They said they were...so I continued on. I heard someone yell out "this is why they call it an ironman". I couldnt have agreed more. It was a true test of your mental toughness at this point.I have never been so frightened while riding. My right quad started to cramp because I was so tense. I dont know how long this lasted but it felt like forever!!!! By the time I got to the turn around the "storm" had passed and a rainbow came out!!!! It was fantastic!!! The winds also shifted and we had a tailwind. YAY!!!! I pushed a little going down the beeline to make up for lost time. Once we turned off the beeline heading to town there was a horrible headwind!!! I have heard it was a 30mph wind and I believe it. The next 7 miles were directly into the wind.I had to remind myself to stay in the moment...I was almost done with the bike. What would you do differently?: Not a thing. I raced my own race and felt strong coming off the bike.I did not eat the paste!!!! Transition 2
Comments: Ran to the changing tent. Changed my shorts put on my running shoes...off I went. What would you do differently?: Perhaps move a little faster  Run
Comments: My longest training run was 20 miles so I was unsure of how this would play out!!! I started out run/walking 4:1 as I had trained. Within the first five minutes my garmin died...crap...I would just have to deal with it. I had a watch on with my total time so I used that to time my run/walk intervals.Then I realized that I had dropped my salt tabs...crap again!!! I would just have to deal with it. I drank chicken soup at every aid station, ate a gel only when I felt hungry. It worked well for the first loop.Saw Bryan and his friends on the first loop. I saw my family toward the end of the first loop. I felt great. I had paced myself well and I was fairly certain I would run/walk most of the time. I told my husband to call Aquagirl( Helen) and tell her I was NOT going to eat the paste. My husband was unsure of what this meant...I said just call her, she will explain!!LOL. About 2 miles into loop 2 I started to have some stomach cramps and bloating. I knew this wasnt going to go away unless I slowed down. So I walked for a while. The aid stations and volunteers were fantastic. Once the cramping passed I went back to run walking but more like a 2:2 pace.I ditched my hydration belt and my jacket. No need for "stuff" plenty of food and fluids on the course. The third loop I saw my son and Chris. It was awesome to see them and they really lifted my spirits. They told me I looked great and my walking was "fast". I told them I would see them at the finishline. The third loop had a lot of folks with what my coach refered to as BA. Bad attitude...folks who had decided to walk...and/or were really hurting. They had talked a lot about this at the EN presentation. I knew I needed to do something to keep myself going. I knew I could still run. I decided that I would run 26 concrete blocks of the sidewalk and powerwalk the next 26. I counted outloud to keep my heartrate down. Everytime spectators would tell me I looked strong or great I would tell them " I am going to be an ironman today" and they would cheer more loudly!!! Playing with the spectators really helped a lot!!!! Once I reached the end of the third loop and I was able to follow the signs to the finish I knew I was going to be sub 15...I got SO excited!!! Then I saw Chris...he was so excited for me. He ran alongside me and encouraged me that last half mile!!!! Finally around the corner to the chute. Tears of joy, a big smile as I high fived the people on the sidelines. As I crossed the line Al was there to catch me with Bryan.Such a suprise to have both of them there to help me!!!! I did it!!!!! What would you do differently?: NOT A THING!!!!!! Post race
Warm down: I saw my kids on the sidelines and stopped for a hug and more tears of joy. Got my medal. Bryan took me to see Chrissie Wellington. I love her. Spoke to her quickly and had my pic taken with her!!!! Then off to get some food and water with Bryan. Al went back with the kids. Didnt feel like eating much. Had some pizza and water. Then off to the massage tent. I had them massage my feet because they really hurt. It felt fantastic! Once I was done I went back to the finish and waited for Beth.So glad to be there when she finished. I was freezing and put on some layers and headed back to the condo with my family. What limited your ability to perform faster: I did the best I could with what I had on race day!!!! Event comments: The volunteers and spectators on this course are fantastic!!!! Where this is a loop course, you see people almost the entire race.I felt like a rock star all day. Last updated: 2009-11-24 12:00 AM
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Overall Rank = 1808/2361
Age Group = 50-54
Age Group Rank = 27/56
This will be a long report, so grab a beer, glass of wine or coffee..
This race is dedicated to my daughter, Alyssa. Alyssa was diagnosed with Crohns disease 10 years ago. She has endured countless bouts of very serious medical problems and many surgeries...some which have left her very close to death. Throughout her illness she has shown strength and courage that inspired me through the endless hours of training. Four years ago, after watching Alyssa struggle, I decided that I was taking my health for granted and it was time to do something about it. I quit smoking and started training. Anytime I wanted to quit...I thought about her struggles...and realized I just needed to suck it up!!!!Nothing is that hard, compared to what she has endured.She is my inspiration.
I have been supported by so many family and friends. My number one supporter is my husband Al!!!He has lived with me for the past year while I have been training. Nothing can prepare you for the family sacrifices that IM training brings. Many times he was alone for days while I was off training. He never once complained!!! He was always there...suggesting various ways to help me. A special thanks for his love support and patience throughout the journey.
My friends...what would I do without my BT friends...Rori, Lisa, Helen Kathy G, Kevin G, Beth, Josh, Sue, Erica, Chris, Erica, Ben, Dan, Max, Judy, Bryan and LRR mentor group.If you were not there on race day, you were there in spirit and I thought of you all often throughout the day.
Lastly a big shout out to my coach Will, from Tri-Hard Endurance coaching. He has seen me through my surgery in May, my knee injury and my countless moods. He has been a wonderful source of information not to mention encouragement. A lot of people choose not to use a coach for training. I will say that I am now glad I did!!! With all the obstacles I encountered, he adjusted my training regularly and many times very creatively!!! It really helps to not have to think about what training needs to be done. You just do what you are told. There is also a HUGE piece of mind that comes from doing what you are told and knowing that you will make it to the finishline because you have done the training!
We arrived in Tempe on Monday before the race. I was able to ride the Beeline twice before the race. The weather was perfect, sunny in the 70's with minimal wind.My pace for riding was in the 17-18mph range. It was great to get an idea of the course before hand. It also gave me time to deal with some bike issues that arose.
Went to the athletes dinner on Friday night. It was a great presentation and I would reccommend it to first timers to get the vibe of the event. The food sucked and was not worth the money you paid for your family members. I got a text during the dinner from my BT mentor of 3 years, Bryan. It said go to the welcome athletes banner...he was there!!!! What a suprise!!!It really made the event that much more special.
The only chance we had to swim was on Saturday morning. I went with Beth and Chris and met Josh and Colin there. I jumped in off the dock and immediately hit concrete, scratching up the top of my toes on my left foot. The water was a bit chilly, but nothing that we are not used to in New England!
We checked in our bags and bikes. After check in I went to an Endurance Nation presentation on Race Execution. Bryan has suggested I attend. It talked a lot about how to pace the day and race your own race.This presentation helped me a lot on race day.Excellent presentation and would highly recommend this to anyone doing an IM.
After the presentation we headed back to the condo. I rested for the remainder of the day. My husband picked our kids up at the airport and we had a mellow dinner at the condo.
I laid down to "sleep" at 7:30pm. I slept on and off until 4 am.
I got up and woke Al and the kids by telling them that "I was going to be an ironman today". I ate a bagel, hard boiled egg, bananna and coffee . Herded my family with me down to the race site.
Arrived at transition at 5:15 am. Chris was there with is bike pump (a special thanks to him for coming, after being up all night the night before partying). Max was also there to take pics. So good to have friends there to help calm my nerves. I dont ever remember being so nervous!!!! I had some gatorade while we waited and took a gel prior to getting in the water.There was no warm up...140.6 is a long day!!!!