Ironman Wisconsin - TriathlonFull Ironman

I started in the back along the buoy line. It was a good location for me, allowing me to warm into things without too much contact. I really didn't feel much contact until the second lap. First lap went well; I felt like I drafted very well and stayed right along the buoy line as planned. Things fell apart a bit at the very start of the second lap. I felt really sea sick & dizzy (an remembered I wore a scopolamine patch in Racine, but my OWS practices had been going well so I forgot about that and didn't wear one today). In focusing on keeping my cool (and my stomach) I somehow swung out really wide by the second turn and spent a lot of time working my way back in. I also had a really hard time finding someone swimming my pace to draft. Seemed like every time I found someone, they'd start breast stroking. At least I made it through.

I had a lot of anxiety all summer about completing this distance in under 2 hours, so I was actually happy with this. I do plan to focus on swimming this winter to improve my fitness and form, with hopes of getting faster some day! I realize this is slow in grand scheme of things, but I'm ranking it "good" for me :)

I didn't have any specific plans for T1. I think it went well. I ran up the helix and through transition, so I was happy about that. My volunteer was SO nice... and again I was simply amazed at all the helpful folks out there today.

Someday I might try to get faster but this was fine for me today.

First off, very shortly into the ride I did something that reset my computer (went blank) and then it wasn't working correctly during the entire ride. I've used it all summer without one single problem so I have no idea what happened today. I ended up watching the average speed read-out only, but that wasn't even accurate as it turns out.


The bike course felt a little tougher than I expected today. I biked part of it a few weeks ago and felt better and averaged a better pace, so I had higher hopes than this. My first loop was OK and I felt like I was conserving a bit, but I didn't lose some time with a stop at the porta potties in Cross Planes. I struggled during the second loop and my pace definitely dropped but like everyone else, I rallied during the last portion back with the tail wind. I think the heat affected me more than anticipated and maybe I didn't realize it as much because of the breeze. I felt really good climbing the hills actually, and I passed a fair number of people on the major climbs.

My family was scattered along the bike course at various points and it was absolutely uplifting and just wonderful to see them. I was simply floored by the enthusiasm and spectator support on the hills! Couldn't believe the mostly naked men in Tutus on Timber Lane I believe :) I had one issue on the second loop of the Sauk Trail .... I started the climb and tried to shift to the small chain ring 3 times, but it wouldn't shift. Normally my bike shifts flawlessly and I didn't know what was going on. I pulled to the left to get off the course and I had not even unclipped when a spectator grabbed my bike and asked what was wrong. Another guy jumped out the crowd too. After I told them what happened, they helped me complete the shift with a little tweaking. Then they gave me a big push to start since I was in the middle of the hill at that point. I really think the whole thing took about 20 seconds but I couldn't believe how nice and helpful they were. I know it wasn't a big deal really but I'm horrible at trouble shooting mechanical issues on my bike their kindness and reassurance really boosted me mentally :)

Nutrition and fluid intake felt spot on. I also was happy with the fluid "hand-offs" at the aid stations. In the past, I've always stopped to pick up stuff but I didn't today and I was pretty happy with my ability to control the bike and grab stuff. Small victory :)

Work harder - I think I have way more potential on the bike and I feel like I was slacking a bit during my rides this summer.

I was fine with this. I had no agenda and to be honest, it felt good to sit and I told my (also very nice) volunteer that I wasn't in a hurry :) :)

Well, this started great but then tanked, and I'm still mulling it all over in my head. I felt absolutely wonderful - physically and mentally strong - coming out of T2.

I planned for about 11-12 min miles and I was right on track for the first half. I walked 1 minute at each mile marker and also walked a bit through each aid station. Cola and orange slices went down well and I was feeling like a million bucks at the half marathon point. I really don't know what happened or changed and I wish I had more answers. I did not follow my nutrition plan that I'd trained with (NUUN and combos/cheetiz/Gu chomps were making me a little gag- y at that point in the race). However, the aid station offerings seemed to be working well. Just before mile 18, I started o feel gross - very suddenly - and had to visit the porta pottie on Walnut St. Shortly afterward, I started vomiting. Any time I tried to run, within about 1/4 mile, I vomited. I tried to sip really small amounts of fluid, but couldn't really hold anything down. When I hit Breese Terrace on the way in, I vomited a pool of frank blood. It freaked me out a little, but the medical side of my mind rationalized it - we see that happen all the time in pets if they vomit frequently a short period of time, especially when they're really dehydrated, so I figured I just needed to control the vomiting and get rehydrated. I hadn't taken any NSAIDs or anything before or during the race, so I didn't really have much worry about anything too serious. On the other hand, I felt like crap and had never vomited blood before, so I didn't want to completely ignore it. However, I was like 2 miles from being an ironman so I refused to drop out. I walked the rest of the race with multiple stops to sit on the curb and rest... and again, SO MANY volunteers, athletes, and spectators were absolutely amazingly kind and wonderful!!

I feel a little gipped because I didn't really enjoy the finish line experience as much as I had hoped, and I just wanted to get out of the crowds to sit and rest. I didn't even hear my name or "you are an ironman" announced. My own fault of course but I sure was hoping for a little more jubilation. I do feel good about it looking back - but last night it was mostly a blur.

I don't know. I REALLY need to figure out the vomiting during the run thing. This is the second time it's affected me in the late miles of a marathon distance run and my confidence is really shaken. I haven't had a strong finish in a race in 2 years and it really bums me out. I really wish I could do something mentally to avoid it or power through it (because I don't know how to change the physical aspect of it). Definitely something to think about.

Saw and hugged my dear family and friends. I went to the med tent but actually was feeling better by then and once I was in there, I knew I didn't really need to be there. I had lost only 5 pounds, my BP was normal, and my HR was only about 25 above my normal resting rate. There were so many more people in rougher shape than I was - vomiting, collapsed, cramping to the point of not being able to walk, etc :( :( I was able to sip some broth at that point and after not puking it back up, they let me go. I'm doing OK the next day, just a little stomach/esophageal irritation but able to eat bland stuff and drink. I hope the others are doing better too!


Vomiting during the run.


Overall, this was a spectacular day...one of the best of my life!!! Wade & I stayed to watch the finish and it was absolutely uplifting. We saw firefighter Rob come through, watched the last man finish and fall into a hug from a person who appeared be is son, and watched with tears as the last woman came through less than a minute after the clock stopped... I hope she knows she's an ironman too.

There were so many special moments during this race:
- I passed the firehouse across from Camp Randall at the same time Firefighter Rob did... the station saluted him with their sirens and several firefighters came out to shake his hand. I got goosebumps!!
- I think all cyclists, during the hills, are treated by spectators as though they are leading the Tour de France. It is an amazing feeling and the spectators don't care how fast or slow you are, they're just pulling for you to get up that hill!!
- My family watched a man finish who had recently lost 200 pounds!!!!
- I passed the oldest competitor (74 year old man) at mile 111 of the bike. I told him he was an amazing person. He ended up beating me on the run and my family said he crossed the finish line about 15 minutes before I did. That is simply spectacular!!!

I think Ironman is so interesting and appealing because it really illustrates the tenacity and strength of spirit of so many people. There are so many agendas, all different yet somehow similar, and every single person has a story. Afterward, I told my husband that if people treated one another as they did during this race, the world would be a better place.

I couldn't sleep at all after the race. I stared at the ceiling in the dark and cried - a little overwhelmed by the emotions from the day :)