Post race

Got up at 4AM on Sunday morning, also dubbed 'Christmas' morning. All my bags, including cooler bags were laid out on the fireplace hearth. Ate my 2 uncrustables, fortify drink and got my stuff ready in all the bags. I had put post it's on the outside of the bags to make sure I didn't forget to put anything in.....that worked mostly.

I had 2 special needs bags - these are the bags that 'get you through' it. They are there for you at mile 75 of the bike and mile 13 of the run. I had my dry clothes bag, which I put my wet suit, goggles, cap. I did the necessary bathroom break. Then it was time to go.

Debbie, Steve and I headed to the car for the drive into town. It was dark, but the bright lights of the start line guided us. Debbie parked and Steve helped me carry my bags as far as he could then I was on my own. I walked down the street and was greeted by the volunteers telling us the yellow bags (bike needs) went on one side and the red bag (run needs) went on the other. There were boxes with numbers on the front....I promptly found the box with 2501 and dropped my bags into the box........

Then headed to body marking....at 5:10 AM it's busy but no line for marking. They marked my arms and front of my legs withh 2501. Then the back of my calf was my age.....

Headed into transtion where I went to my bike. I pumped up the tires, I had let most of the air out the prior day due to the heat. Tires like to blow up on race day! Luckily mine were fine and pumped up no problem. I loaded up my 'bento' box with my food - Simbree (cashew / coconut), Payday bar (cut up) and fig newtons. I also loaded up my Aero Bottle with Gatorade laced with Carbo Pro and salt. I put my NUUN (electrolyes) in my water. Then I realized I left my Gu Flash in the fridge....whoops, guess forgot to actually read the post it on the bag! Oh well, I hadn't trained with it, so wasn't overly concerned. After all there are aid stations every 10 miles. Calm....that was my mantra, I wasn't going to stress.

Kathleen found me.....told me she had tire issues....then Barbara Rose found me, she too had tire issue. Both were fixed ..and fine. The thought did cross my mind, that they had their issue pre-race, hopefully I wouldn't have one during the race!

The 3 of us hung out sitting on the ground waiting to be told to go to the beach. It was a quiet time. I drank a 'baby' bottle of Gatorade and had a GU. I was ready!

It was time......we went out to the beach. BR and Kathleen found Steve and Debbie before I did, we ran over got some pictures. Then Alecia from work found me. We hugged and went for more pictures. then it was good bye for the time being.

THE SWIM:
oh my gosh....what a beautiful morning. Imagine standing on the beach, after 8 months of training and the day is here! Blue sky, hundreds of people cheering, last minute hugs from family. Wishing your fellow racers luck for the day. The PROS are off and then it's 15 minutes until you are off.

It was weird. Again for another race I was so eerily calm. I wasn't nervous at all, which was kind of scary. I was READY. Thanks to the morning WAVY Friday Madison park swims, Wednesday morning swim practice, the TWO 2.4 mile swim's with Raise the Bar Tri team, my weekly swims with Kainoa Pauole-Roth - I KNEW I could do this - proper training makes all the difference in the world. The bagpipes started, oh that sound. Then it was the Canadian national anthem, which due to all the hockey I watch, I know almost better than the US anthem. Then it was the anthem of the race start - U2's BEAUTIFUL DAY. Arms in the air and signing, I was wading into the start.

I was off and swimming. The first buoy came into sight. Seemed to take a bit of time, but finally passed it. I thought of Lisa's comment on Saturday about her 9 minute swim for the LK Sammamish Triathlon....ha...I think mine is going to be a bit longer....

Kept on moving. My feet got touched a few times and that always surprises me as that usually means someone is drafting off of ME! Slow and steady I continued. Was really lucky, no one kicked me, punched me or anything. It was busy out there, but I just motored along. Thinking about the song - It's a Great Day to be alive....the sun still shining when I close my eyes.....wow, so lucky to be out here crusing along.

At the turn, there was supposed to be a LINE of house boats, but alas I think due to the SHALLOW water there were only two sail boats marking the turn. It was kind of scary as I was afraid that wasn't the turn, which is pretty dumb as that was the way all the swimmers were going. As i turned, below me on the lake floor was a DIVER. Yep, a diver was just hanging out down there making sure we were ok. I waved....

It was surreal.....there were kayaks, folks hanging on to both kayaks and the sail boat. I just kept moving and made the next turn to head back into shore. No angst or stress, it was just getting it done - focus on floating on air / water who knows. It was a 'different' kind of swim, can't really put words to it. Just went buoy to buoy knowing I was headed in and knowing I could do it well within the 2 hour 20 minute deadline. Since both my practice swims had been 1 hour 33 minutes! On the way back in my head I am thinking about transition - no dawdling. No talking to fellow racers....see my transitions tend to be long as I am known to be a little too social in my transitions. :)

As I come into the shore, about 500 yards out I hear it....the crowds cheering and Steve King the awesome announcer calling out racer names!

I am home...swim as far in as you can...and then stand up and walk up to the shore....and then wait for it....and here's Ann Sloan from North Bend! Whoo hoo....one down - feeling GREAT! Nailed it. It's ok to be at the back of the pack....nicer water and no fighting in the water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-5lDh4iTTw&NR=1- swim start.

TIME: ROCKING 1 hour 38 minutes!

We kept going up, up, up. The road again was lined with cheering folks. I was feeling good....a gal next to me asked if we were to the top yet...I said...see that sign - that means you are THERE...of course we still have the 7 'Bitches' - What she said? I said - you know...those lovely rollers...there's 7 of them! Let's go get them!! There were some ladies holding a sign that said I love legs!! They had cool hats and were cheering - they called out my name and cheered me on. I dubbed them the leg's ladies!

We crested the hill and then it was DOWNHILL! YAHOO no headwind or cross wind to speak of...so I let go of the breaks and FLEW!

Here is where I think I was just in a zone, thinking of the out and back section and yellow lake, cause I really have NO RECOLLECTION of the rollers. I ate, drank and just kept going. I am pretty sure I took a couple of power gels from a couple of the aid stations I passed, just to supplement my food and keep my energy up. I did pass Sister Madonna somewhere in here as I remember seeing her and then heard someone call her name - she is the oldest racer and is just beautiful. Again, I have done this section of the ride 4 times so I know it well. I see the 'legs' ladies again and yell to them. They leap frog us pretty much the whole section. I can hear / see them coming (I and probably one other guy have a rear view mirror on our helmets) and raise my arm cheering. They yell out - 'we are loving you Ann'!!! I was loving them and the distraction.

Before I knew it I was at the turn off to the out and back section. This is where you see LOADS of fellow racers. This is also where you see lots of struggling faces. I just kept pedaling. There are two 'dog ears' on this section - meaning you do two out and backs then get on the main road again. This section is full of little 'false' flats and hills. Finally we get to the turn around and they call my number....I head to my special needs bag and I am SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.

Special needs is an interesting place. Normally it should be about 1/2 way into the bike ride, Canada it is at mile 75....well past the 1/2 way point and folks are tired. A girl in front of me was straddling her bike, savoring Pringles. Another gal fell off her bike trying to get to her bag. I am not going for a 'win', so I do take advantage of special needs.....Waiting for me.....I have a silver cooler bag packed with 4 blue ice things. Much to my surprise my frozen Gatorade bottle is STILL mostly frozen. I get some ice cold Gatorade and think...this will taste really nice on Yellow Lake climb as it should be thawed right about then and STILL be ice cold. SWEET.

Then I take my WET, COLD wash cloth from the Ziploc bag and wash off my face and arms.....ahhhhhh what an AWESOME treat. This is absolutely the best feeling ever!

Then...I take my 'frosted' cookie from a Ziploc container.
Yes, it too has survived the travel from the start of the race. I savored 1/2 of the cookie, didn't want to chance making myself totally sick.

Then I was off to go get the last hill - Yellow Lake! I was like a new person out of special needs, it was like I was starting again. WOW talk about a second wind....I was fine on time so could afford to enjoy special needs and not be stressed about cutoff times. I was on schedule.
Yellow lake is coming......traffic is backed up on the road...again, the shoulder of the road is LINED with people yelling for you to go and you are almost there.....and I am almost there! It was not nearly as bad as July! Really, having all those people cheering for you and just looking around keeps you going. Finally that GREAT sign again and we were headed down around yellow lake to the most glorious downhill ever. Yes, if you were sitting in traffic that was me....screaming ALLLLLLL the way down the hill at 31 mph! YEHAW!!!! It was fun passing all those poor cars stuck in traffic! Near the turn off to town I passed a guy and said....Weeee that was fun, I wanna do it again. He wasn't impressed....so I pedaled on - yes, it was my time and I love the bike. It is like I read....you make that turn back on the highway 97 going into Penticton and you have wings. You are almost done with the bike....you have done it well within the time frame. I looked at the clock and started pushing a bit harder hoping I could make my 7 hours but fighting with myself as I knew I still had to run 26.2 miles!

I get into town and I hear - hey I think that's Ann - Cindy (a Penticton local) who I stayed with this summer for two races saw me and was cheering her head off along with her husband Seann! That was cool.
I pull into the 'dismount' area and hear the song - Walk 500 miles by the Proclaimers - Honest, I am not lying! I did laugh at that. Here's me after 112 miles....Sean (fellow North Bend person) captured me getting off the bike and No, I actually didn't pose for the picture. That is a true smile. It was a GREAT ride and my training totally paid dividends. I wouldn't have changed a thing. It really is ALL ABOUT THE BIKE!

I saw the 'legs' ladies again, we remembered each other....again got more cheers.

Here is where it got hard, yes, I did struggle. It was HOT and I started to feel nauseous. Food did not taste good...and I knew I needed to eat. Thankfully my GU flask did not taste bad to me....but my Gatorade did and my 'chews' did. I loaded up my bandanna with ice....patted my face. That was nice. I also got off my 8 min run / 1 min walk schedule. I was walking....just trying to settle my stomach. Heard someone else mumble the same thing. A team FAST (local Seattle Tri Group) gal was leaning over and a volunteer called a medic....she popped up and said she was fine - just stretching out her back. We all laughed as the poor volunteer had just run up with the first aid kit. Just testing....I walked with that gal a bit.

Again, I knew I'd be seeing Steve and Debbie at the house.....I think I ran a little. Then started down the little hill to the house...this was about mile 4.5. They brightened my day....I got to kiss Steve...I am sure I mumbled that I wasn't doing great. Debbie was like a crazy woman snapping pictures! Great encouragement. Cindy and Seann were there too. Steve had warned them, they would see me coming! That they did...can't miss those pants. Further down the road was Julie with the big pink sign again....I again I mumbled that I wasn't doing great, she yelled at me to look across the street at Duncan...I saw him and waved.....
That was the last of town, but there were still folks along the road. Many athletes walking at this point. Somewhere out here, I got my legs and tummy back and actually started running - aid station to aid station. Yes, my 8 / 1 went totally out the window....I just ran...and as soon as I saw the first porta pottie marking the onset of an aid station I would start walking. I started drinking pepsi and chicken broth ~ yep, double fisted drinker that I am. Best stuff ~ pretty much continued this at EACH aid station. There is a reason that there are aid stations every mile during an Ironman...now I know why. I also filled my bandanna with ice...MAN, I am sooooo very glad I had my bandanna. I patted my face and it kept me as cool as I could. This is also better than pouring water all over you and getting your shoes wet, as that would equal BLISTERS...and I was happy to keep those a bay for as long as possible. To keep my core cool I also filled my bra up with ice at each aid station.

Spoke with several athletes...many liked my pants. Just kept ticking the aid stations off. Kathleen caught me some where out on the road....we ran just a bit together and then she headed on. Saw Barbara Rose too. Did pose for a picture again!

Finally made it to special needs at 3 hours...again, had yet another silver cooler bag packed with 4 blue ice things. I had not used much of my fuel belt bottles, so didn't trade them out...in fact dumped one. I got my long sleeve shirt in case I got cold. Then again - the BEST thing ever - my cold wet wash cloth! Washed my face and let a big ahhhh out. A young gal who had commented on my pants was beside me - she let out a big sign to my ahhh. I said to her....I am tossing this wash cloth...so if you want it you are welcome to it. Might be gross to wash your face after me, but you are welcome to it. She said are you kidding, I don't care, I would love it! She said, she'd offer me her 'treat' but it was a toothbrush....and yeah that would be GROSS! We bundled up our bags and then headed back ....we were 1/2 done with the run and we were going to FINISH!

I ran just a bit...and then calculated in my head my time, dangerous I know no one should do ANY math after 12+ hours of exercise, but pretty much came to the conclusion that I had plenty of time. My goal for the run was shot, but I thought to myself....this is MY first Ironman....who am I doing this for?!? ME...so I feel good walking, I don't feel great running....so I am going to walk and enjoy the view, yes I'd like to be in under a 'certain' time, but again why...it's my first and I don't really want to feel like SHIT. The lake was beautiful. The moon was coming out....beautiful, unfortunately yellow due to forest fires, but an awesome sight. Athletes would pass me...ask how I was doing...Great I'd say. Saving my energy for the finish line....and then wish them well as they headed on. Some of them would keep running others would stop and walk. It was an effort for everyone. There was a volunteer giving out 'glow necklaces' so we could be seen. I happily took one and kept moving. At mile 19, it occurred to me that for the last 4+ hours I had been drinking Pepsi which equals caffeine! Yes, this is what I think about at mile 19, holy shit how will I be able to sleep tonight with all this caffeine. So from mile 19, it was Gatorade and chicken broth...ok, so really did you expect me to be thinking clearly?!?

I was almost to mile 22.5 which meant....seeing Steve and so much closer to the finish line. I was going to make it! I was walking, but making progress. I made it to Steve...dumped my fuel belt, extra shirt and my sunglasses. Ahhhhhh light as a feather. Debbie said I looked great...by this time I actually was feeling good. I kept motoring on after saying see you at the finish line.

I was then headed into downtown.....it was fun. Several athletes were more chatty here. We were going to finish...so the mood was lighter. I hit Main Street and I hear a few folks say...hey I remember those pants...I said...see I told you they'd be back in about 6 hours. Of course a big old smile on my face.

Down the street I see the clan - Cheryl, Ruth, Ann J, Barbara Rose - already an IRONMAN, Carla. I slow down and hug BR and congratulate her. Carla takes a quick picture...and of course Cheryl is yelling...GO...GO....., yeah I know...too social.

There are some great groups on the street and again, the PANTS take all the credit. They were awesome! I turned a corner and Debbie was there again, snapping photos telling me I look great. She runs along asking me about my day...I think she is more excited then me. Then she realizes that she must get to the finish line.....before me so she heads off and I head out to go PAST the finish line before I get to go down the chute......I am still walking but feeling the energy. It's 10 pm and the streets are still packed with yelling people. Amazing....the outdoor seating for restaruants are filled with finishers and familes....still cheering for us later folks. I turn the final cone to head back to that wonderful place called the finish line. I don't know where it comes from, but Cheryl had told me....you will go fast at the finish line and I had said no way, I want to savor it I'll go slow.....well, as usual Cheryl was RIGHT. Something takes over you.....(at least me) I just start running and smiling. I am going to make it...I am going to be an Ironman....here I come.
As I am heading towards the lights, yes, in this case you do want to go towards the LIGHT!

I hear.........Guns and Roses - Paradise City.

I want to go
I want to know
Oh, won't you please take me home

I want to see
Oh, look at me
Oh, won't you please take me home

Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green
And the girls are pretty
Take me home (Oh, won't you please take me home)

I want to see
Oh, look at me
Oh, won't you please take me home

I want to see
Boy, I'm gonna be mean
Oh, oh take me home

Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green
And the girls are pretty
Oh, won't you please take me home

I want to go
I want to know
Oh, won't you please take me hooooooome
Baby

Then I hear Steve King...says here comes Ann Sloan from North Bend....I'd like to say I remember him saying, Ann Sloan you are an Ironman, but I don't.
I am so HAPPY, arms in the air....I have done it!

Yes, Ann Sloan is an Ironman..........I am 'caught' by two wonderful volunteers who ask me my name....Ann I say. Then one asks..how was your day? I say AWESOME! They ask what size t-shirt and I am at a loss....and say...you actually want me to make a decision?!?! Then I see my wonderful husband walk down the road and he kisses me and takes me from the volunteers...after they have done their job to make sure I am 'relatively' sane and healthy. Sneaky Steve was able to get in behind the barriers. He rocks, my hero. Ok - now wipe those tears!!

Wait, there is more.....He walks with me to find Cheryl, Ruth, Ann J....don't recall who else was there at that point, I think I was babbling as usual.

Steve stays with me to pick up all my crap and then we meet the gang at the finisher area where I am to get food. Well, not much in the food category...but I shove down a bagel - pizza won't be here for another 20 minutes - yeah 20 minutes is LONG after a 16 + hour day.
I head over to get my finisher picture. I get up there and the photographer laughs at me...and says - I remember you!! You are here for the pictures! Yep that's me.

I head out and meet up with the clan again and Debbie takes more pictures.......then we head home. I spend the rest of the evening watching the last few finishers - seeing Sister Madonna finish and the last finisher. So cool that Penticton runs the race all day on TV.

WRAP UP:

Yes, I did have an EXCELLENT 'Christmas' Day!

Here's some stat's which got me to this wonderful day....

2009 totals
Bike: 196h 10m - 2790 Mi
Run: 135h 41m - 680 Mi
Swim: 74h 00m - 145,408 Yd

My last ride of 126 miles where I climbed 8000 feet. It was hard work, but well worth it to build my confidence...Hills of Kirkland Route is AWESOME training for Ironman Canada.

It really is about the training and IRONMAN day is about celebrating that hard work and I was lucky enough to have an AWESOME Day. I wouldn't have changed a thing and there was nothing I could have done better or differently.

And....no, I did NOT sign up for next year. Of course there will be a few 1/2 Irons, 1/2 Marathons and my first stand alone marathon on Oct 18.

But next year.....I will enjoy my 20 year anniversary to my greatest supporter.....Steve.

Pictures: http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=45838&BIB=2501&S=230&PWD=

There will be more pictures posted soon. My own GREAT personal photographer, Debra Feinman.