Ironman Coeur d'Alene - TriathlonFull Ironman

Started out with Kelly as the cannon went off. Started swimming and the cold water didn't really bother me like it did the past 3 days.

I don't know why I cannot get faster in open water. I've gotten faster in the pool, but not in OW.

I definitely started wide to the right, and there was a moving buoy on the 2nd lap which sucked, but hey, just keep swimming, right?

Find people who can swim straight to draft!

Wetsuit strippers rock. Ran to the changing tent, and could not stop shaking. Probably cold...I was in the water a long time. ;) The volunteer that helped me literally had to dress me. I couldn't do anything!

Get sunscreened! I forgot that small detail. But I bike with arm coolers specifically to keep my arms from getting fried, so that helped.

The bike hills were steep! Challenging course. It was interesting that I passed a bunch of guys going up every hill, and the same guys passed me on every downhill. And it was always the same group of guys!

I felt good on the first lap of the bike. Drank enough. At about mile 50, I started getting nauseous. Then had trouble keeping down fluids and my clif shot bloks (which I forgot to bring with me to CdA...thank you to coredump for picking some up for me at Fleet Feet!). Stopped to pee 2x on the bike. 2nd lap was tougher, plus the headwind all the way back to town SUCKED!!!

Not be nauseous?

Biked in, stopped, handed bike to some dude who asked "do you have everything you need from the bike?" I stopped, ***TMI alert!*** (you've been warned), grabbed a tampon out of my Bento Box, looked at the dude, who looked back at me and said, "Nice."

AND NOW I FIND OUT THAT THE DUDE WAS FREAKIN HAZMASTER! AND DR.LEAH WAS THERE TOO. Embarrassing, in a kinda funny way.

To the changing tent (with a port a john break), changed clothes, got sunscreened this time, and ran.

nothing.

Got to see a bunch of the BT crew on the course. There were times I felt out of it...just weird. I ran fine until about mile 15 or 16. Walked every aid station for about 30-60 seconds. Had GI issues at mile 17 and hit the port a john, but there was no TP! Had to have TP, so I walked to mile 18 at an 18 min/mi pace, IF you know what I mean. I had very inconsistent pacing for the entire marathon. 9 to 18 minutes per mile! Crazy!

Changed socks with the special needs bag and put on a long sleeve shirt. I was shivering even though it wasn't cold. I have 2 blisters on my left foot.

Felt like absolute sh*t from mile 18 to 25.5. Could only drink coke for the last 6 miles. I tried to eat a banana at one point which made me dry heave and spit out the banana. Ick. The spectators were amazing and really really helpful. I walked a lot on the 2nd lap in that time frame. Just before the last turn, Crazypop ran up next to me and said "Come on, let's go." And he started sprinting. I made it for maybe 30 seconds and told him to go on because there was no way I could sprint to the end. As soon as he went ahead, Lilia (devotchkatata) ran with me which was so cool! Thanks Lilia! Then I ran into the chute which was the most amazing part of the day. I was SO happy after hours of misery at that point! I felt absolute joy at that moment. Grinning from ear to ear!

I knew that Shannon, Wendi, Laura, and Drew were catching people after 9, and some strange man caught me and helped me a few seconds until I was swarmed by the BT crew! YAY!

Not sure. I think it was just fine for my first IM.

Met up with Kelly again...so cool to start and finish the day with her. She helped me get food and signed me up for a massage, which was excellent! Couldn't eat much. Walked home with Erik and Tara and then passed out on the bench at the kitchen table for a bit.


Nausea.


I missed my girl Stacie lots :( But it was Stacie along with my family that got me through this day! THANKS!