IMLT shapen up to be a doozy (Page 5)

Originally posted by LittleCat I get to wear one of the DFL capes. Last girl in AG 40-44 to bring it home at 16:56:33. My day got quickly more brutal when I kicked an underwater rock a couple minutes into the start and broke 2 toes. With the water so cold and my feet numb from the beach I just thought that I would have a couple more black toe nails. I also had unfinished business after DNF'ing in the swim at St. George last year so I wore my IMSG swim cap under my Tahoe one. My swim, after the breaking of my toes, went fine. It was pretty amazing rolling for a breath and seeing snow capped mountains! Getting out was brutal and cold. I skipped the strippers and went straight to the tent and holy mother of god it was insane. It was a standard IM size womens change tent which is fine if the weather is nice, but not for everyone doing a full change. Naked, cold shivering women covering every inch, bike cloths everywhere. But got it done in about 20 mins. The bike, oh the bike was cold. I had full winter gear on but was still cold, warmed on the climbs only to lose it on the decents. I'm a strong climber so passed alot of folks. Second lap when the wind picked up my asthma decided it wasnt going to behave. Slowed back and just held on for the ride. Got in at 5:05pm. The latest I've ever come in on an IM by 2 hours!! The run was mostly a speed walk. Stopped to see a medic at mile 3 because I had yet to even look at my toes. On the bike as long as I didnt wiggle them I was fine. The run was eye opening! Medic took one look and said 'these 2 are broken, no question.' He put bandaids on the one that also had the nail mostly torn off so it would stay. My legs felt decent but knowing that while my toes were broken, they were clean, straight breaks and I didnt want to make it worse so I trotted a little, power walked alot. I'm also an ultra runner so I can walk fast. I had an elic meltdown at mile 13. I was freezing, it was pitch black, was exhausted and my toes hurt so bad. I sat down and just cried. I wanted to go home and be warm. Somehow I got up and kept going. When I came to the Squaw turn around I knew I could finish, I could not afford to stop for any reason My finish, I came around the bend, heard Mike Riley say my name but the crowd drowned him out screaming 'you are an Ironman!' I got past the cameras, my catcher wrapped a mylar blanket around me, I walked over to the barrier, sat down and just cried. I was in so much pain and really mentay overwhelmed. It wasnt the race or finish I envisioned but I wouldnt change a thing.

Originally posted by turtlegirl

this is just crazy!!!  Epic for sure. I hate cold weather racing, and I can't imagine dealing with it in uphills and downhills.

You guys are wicked tough for finishing. Quite a badge of honor!

Originally posted by tri.bob  My first tri was May of 2012 and after I saw IMLT get announced I figured it was a worthy goal. My plan was a Marathon last Dec (California International), an Oly Tri in May, a 1/2 in July and then this one.

Originally posted by rafikichapman I was out there Sunday as well. My expectations for the race were low as I didn't train nearly as much as I should have. I moved and changed jobs this year so I was very worried coming into the day. I also added some challenge by not change my cassette .... and I place by bike in transition without covering it.... so my front shifter was frozen solid on race morning.... didn't realize until I made the first climb up Dollar in my big ring I also managed to miss T1 and swim right by the paddle boarders making a run for the other side of the lake. When I realized my error I added about 5-7 minutes to my swim. Even with all that I had a good day..... not a PR by any stretch .... but it was beautiful out there and I met a ton of awesome people. I really loved the guy doing the entire bike in his full wetsuit. I know he stayed warm. I didn't really run much of the marathon as my legs were shredded from the bike.... so now I didn't get my long run in for the Chicago Marathon. Hopefully my long walk on Sunday was good enough