140.6 Miles of Smiles--IMMD Race Report (Part 1)

It has been one week since I crossed the finish line at IMMD.  One week of reflection, celebration, rest and getting back to reality.  One week of digesting all of the events of last weekend leaves me with so much to say.  So. . .  grab an Americano, you guys. . . It's a long one.  I hope you will join me as I recount my first 140.6--IMMD.

Pre-Race:

Wednesday, September 17

When I arrived home from work on Wednesday afternoon, my carport had been transformed into a bike service center.  The hubby had my bike on the stand, cleaning gears, checking brakes, and making her nice and shiny!  Since I have little to no experience changing tires mid-race, I asked that he leave the tire changing to me to get in some practice. . .  just in case I needed to use those skills on race day.

Four tire changes later (both mine and the hubby's--trusting guy, right?), I was feeling confident and ready to tackle packing my things for our weekend away.  Soon, our bedroom looked like this

as I divided gear for each leg of the race.  I knew, based on the IMMD Athlete guide, that each athlete would be supplied with bags at check-in.  I could just shove everything in my travel bag and divide it once we arrived in Maryland, but I didn't want to take a chance with forgetting anything, so I used my bags from Raleigh 70.3 to organize my gear, planning to transfer it into the designated bags once we were settled and checked-in.  

After a quick trip to Target for our cheerleader to pick up glow-sticks,

we dropped the Little Guy off at the grandparents' house and turned in for the night, knowing that we had a long drive ahead.

Thursday, September 18

We got on the road well before sunrise, with hope of making it to Cambridge, Maryland in time for the 3pm Athlete briefing.  Knowing that the drive would be long, the reporter packed homework and books to occupy her time, while I worked on knitting a new sweater to calm my nerves.  

A few hours into our trip, we arrived here:

When the hubby suggested taking this route, I had a little panic attack.  The bridge tunnel had been on my list of places that I never had an interest in visiting.  First of all, I am not a fan of bridges or tunnels, and did I mention bridges??  But driving this route meant an "educational experience" for the Reporter (bridge-tunnel power point, anyone?) and a visit with our friend Heidi for a pre-race pep talk.  So, I sucked it up, and actually ENJOYED it.  Yep.  That "scary" bridge-tunnel wasn't so bad after all!  

Right on schedule, we pulled into Cambridge at 2:30pm--just enough time to find a seat in the grass at the Ironman Village and take in all the details of the pre-race briefing.  The atmosphere was relaxed and the head official running the meeting was comforting.  Soon all of our questions were answered and we were ready for athlete check-in!  The hubby and I made our way through each check-in station, receiving the trademark Ironman wristband, gear bags, swim caps, and a new backpack emblazoned with the IMMD logo.   A quick walk-through the Ironman store left me hopeful that I would be back on Saturday night to purchase my very own M-Dot gear to wear with pride, as a finisher. . .

After dinner on the river with our housemates for the weekend, and a quick trip to a local ice cream shop, we started settling in at the vacation rental we would call "home" for the weekend.  My first order of business was organizing my gear bags.  Soon our room went from this:

to this:

I double and triple checked each bag, ensuring that everything I needed was there--extra socks in special needs bags, nutrition for the bike bags, race belt and visor for the run bags--because these bags would be dropped off on Friday in the transition area and I wouldn't see them again until I was ready to use them on race day!

Friday, September 19

The hubby, the Reporter and I woke up early to meet friends for breakfast in Cambridge.  As I have mentioned several times, we have been fortunate to connect with athletes near and far through social media, and sometimes we are lucky enough to meet them in real life and even race together!  Friday gave us the opportunity to spend time with a fantastic family from Pennsylvania that we have known "on-line" for quite some time.  We instantly hit it off, so while our girls played in the pool all afternoon, Dave (a two time Kona finisher), the hubby and I drove the bike course to get an idea of what we would be riding on the following day.  In a word, it was gorgeous!

At the athlete meeting, we had been warned of the possibility of water covering parts of the roadway through the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge.  The thought of pedaling through the water made me a bit nervous, but after I saw the areas affected, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief.  

We had also been warned about. . .  THE HILL. . .

The bike course consisted of two loops, confirmed by the navigators in the front seat. . .

Once we returned from the bike course preview, it was time to deliver our gear bags and rack our bikes.

The transition area was unlike any race I had ever done.  There were drop zones for bike bags, run bags and special needs bags (these are bags that you have access to half-way through the bike and the run for refueling).  Bikes were racked side by side with no "transition space" because all of your changes would take place in the "changing tent".  But the transition area was not the most intimidating part. . . 

Beyond the barriers of the transition area was the Choptank River where our swim would take place the following morning.  The buoys were set for the swim course to give a preview of what was waiting, but if the wind, the chop and the swells were the preview, I surely didn't want to see the main event.  As I stood on shore, trying to make sense of the swim course (2 loops) that didn't match the online map in the athlete guide, I swallowed back fears and reminded myself that I hadn't put in all those miles and hours to back out the night before.  I was also reminded, by the hubby, that the wind was picking up due to incoming clouds and the morning should be calmer and less choppy.  Still, I wasn't convinced.

In an effort to calm my nerves and fuel for the next day's event, we had wine and dinner (and wine) at a local brick oven pizza company.  

Pizza and Wine--athlete food, right?

While we were dining, we chatted with other athletes at nearby tables and that is when we met Gregory Durso.  Greg was a para-triathlete who was paralyzed from the chest down in a sledding accident, competing in his second Ironman attempt.  He had not been able to finish the race in Lake Placid in July, but was back for redemption at IMMD.  His spirit unbreakable and his determination contagious, I knew he would be a face to look for on the course the next day.

Nerves calmed by Merlot, ice cream, and a good pep talk from the hubby, I was ready for my final race-day prep. . .

My friend, Gina, sent an Ironman care package in the weeks leading up to the race, complete with race-day nail polish.  As a two-time Ironman finisher, she knows all the important things to remember on race day.  As I sat chatting with one of our house mates, painting my nails, I began to feel a sense of calm.  I was hopeful and confident that the next day would be one of joy and celebration.

Finding My Balance

 balance

1.

a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight,amount, 
etc.

2.

something used to produce equilibrium; counterpoise.

3.

mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior,
judgment, etc.

4.

a state of bodily equilibrium

When taking on a new project, commitment or challenge, one of the first things I do is sit down with my trusty notebook and pencil to develop a plan.  I am a list-maker, a scheduler, and a planner.  I don't like the unexpected and unscheduled.  I like to know exactly what to do and when to do it.  Maybe that is why I enjoy training for races--choose a race, choose a plan, plug it into the calendar and go.   

After I recovered from the initial shock of registering for a Full Ironman triathlon, I realized that I needed a plan.  

"Of course," you are thinking, "You need a training plan to tell you when and how far to swim, bike, and run, and when to take rest."

While this is correct, I soon realized that this was not the only plan I needed.  I need a plan for my life for the next thirteen weeks.  A plan that would ensure that I could keep all facets of my life in balance while still devoting enough time to training to get me to the starting line on September 20.  

One complaint of many triathletes during the training period is that they feel that they lose touch with their families because of the long hours required for workouts.  With both hubby and myself training for the same race, we had to figure out a way to reach the starting line healthy, happy and with our marriage and family intact!

If you remember this post from several years ago, I went on and on about how the hubby and I share a love of running and triathlon and but over time, we have learned that training together is not always the best choice for our own personal goals, not to mention our marriage.  He is becoming rather speedy and most days I am stuck in one gear--"semi-slow".  Even so, we like to try to schedule some of our workouts together, especially trips to the lake or the pool for a long swim.

With all of these things in mind, I had to develop a plan that would allow me to achieve balance in all areas: spending time with the hubby (training or otherwise), spending time with my children, maintaining a sense of peace in my household by keeping it organized, clean and cozy, preparing healthy meals for two hungry triathletes and two crazy kiddos, getting adequate rest, and of course, getting in the training on the plan. I had done it before while training for other (shorter distance) races, and with a little creativity and some compromise, I was determined to do it again.

Here is a quick list of seven survival strategies I have utilized for staying sane and maintaining my balance during training:

1.  Be flexible.  Seriously.  It seems so easy, but often it is the hardest part.  Triathlon isn't paying my bills, and probably never will, so I can't let it rule my life.  If the plan says "run 5 miles" on Monday, but that is the only day the pool is open for laps at a time that you have a sitter, make it work and move on.  The hubby and I quickly discovered that we couldn't get caught up in details that wouldn't matter in the long run.  As long as we got the workouts done as close to the plan as possible, it was a win-win.

2.  Involve the kids!  I can't even count the number of people that ask me how we train with two young kids.  My answer?  We train WITH two young kids.  The reporter loves to ride her bike while I run (3 miles or 16, she is there with a smile) or join me for laps in the pool.  Lake swim?  No problem!  We added a Stand-up Paddleboard and a mini-kayak to our collection this summer so the kids can paddle or ride along while one of us plays "lifeguard" and the other swims.  Sure, it takes longer, but our kids are enjoying the fun of weekend trips to the lake and the Reporter has even started joining us in some Open Water Swimming!

3.  Change your wake-up.  75% of my runs take place before my kids even open their eyes in the morning.  I meet my faithful and loving running partner twice a week before sunrise for our morning miles.  While we solve the world's problems by the glow of headlamps and streetlights, my kiddos are still snoozing at home with the hubby.  The same can be said for early morning swims and bike trainer rides, as well.

4.  Schedule your housecleaning.  I don't have the luxury of a maid or chef, so those responsibilities are left to us to deal with.  At our house, Friday night is cleaning night.  While everyone else is at "Happy Hour", I already have clothes swishing away in the washer and my vacuum is getting warmed up.  While we dine on pizza and watch the latest Disney feature, I fold and sort laundry.  By getting these chores out of the way on Friday evening, I have the whole weekend ahead of me when I wake up Saturday morning.

5.  Menu Plan and Meal Prep.  I started weekly menu planning when we got married.  Although my method and eating habits have changed, the basic idea stays the same: Plan a menu for the week--breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, shop on Sunday after church and prep as much as possible on Sunday afternoon/evening.  The time saved during the week is a huge pay-off for a few hours of prep on Sunday.

6.  Ask for help.  For Christmas, we asked my husband's parents to gift us with babysitting for the year instead of gifts, and the results have been fabulous.  Not only have we been able to utilize this for training time (and much-needed date-time), our kids have enjoyed spending time with their grandparents and going on adventures while we are away.

7.  Honor the REST day.  It is so easy to get caught up in training and think that MORE is better.  But, I have learned that "more" eventually leads to less because of burn-out, injury and fatigue.  During both 70.3 and Ironman training, I have been diligent about following my "rest day" plan. That means, NO swimming, biking or running and lots of cuddles, reading and relaxing with family.  Your body and your mind will thank you for it.

The Final Countdown

6 days.

6 days until I arrive at the starting line of Ironman Maryland.

It's been 13 weeks since I last posted on the blog.  13 weeks filled with swimming, biking, running, fueling, rest days, researching, and planning.  13 weeks of celebrations, setbacks, fears, frustrations, victories, challenges, courage, improvements, accomplishments, and adventures.

In six days, I will set out to swim, bike and run 140.6 miles to the finish line of Ironman Maryland before the stroke of Midnight (and reach every cut-off point from point A to B in ample time to move on) to earn the right to call myself an "Ironman".

Over the next few days, I plan to share a few things I have learned throughout this life-changing training on the blog.  Stay tuned. . .

Hydrate Early and Often (A Product Review and Discount Code)

"Hydrate Early and Often".  . .  this is a phrase you hear often in endurance sports, and for good reason.  Our bodies depend on water to keep us running (or riding, or swimming, or zumba-ing), and without it we can land in a heap of trouble.  Without proper hydration and electrolyte balance you can experience fatigue and less energy, reduced mental focus, muscle camping, and decreased endurance.

However, until a few years ago, I paid no attention to fueling for workouts.  I thought that if I had a little water along the way on a long run, or a sports drink at the end of a ride, I was doing the right thing.  In fact, when I completed my first Olympic distance triathlon, I fueled with water, an orange, and a couple of Fig Newtons.  No wonder I fizzled during the second half of the race and felt awful afterwards.  I saw exercise as a means to BURN calories, so why in the world would I want to CONSUME calories during my workout?

As my training became more focused and my knowledge about what my body needed grew, I began to try different fueling options: gels, gu, chomps, bites, beans, powdered drinks, tablets.  And while I didn't have GI issues with any of them (oh, well, maybe there was this one product that sent me straight to the port-a-potty), I didn't exactly LOVE any of them either, and I had no brand loyalty.  In fact, I would just use whatever was lying around the house--casts offs that the hubby had tried and didn't care for, race samples, hand-outs from friends--or whatever was on the race course.  Luckily, I never had major issues with switching things around, but I still wanted to find something that I really LIKED drinking and eating.

First Rule of Hydration:  ALWAYS stop for Lemonade Stands!

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to sample a new product that had just hit the market.  After a few workouts, I wrote the company to let them know how pleased I was with the taste and inquired about purchasing more of their product.  They replied quickly and asked me to join their team as an ambassador for their product! 
                                                       

Cocogo combines the hydration of coconut water with the taste of freeze dried fruit and natural sugar while providing a balanced blend of electrolytes and seven essential vitamins.  The taste is light, refreshing and natural, as compared to other products I have tried that are either too sweet, too syrupy, too gritty or too artificial.  Each serving is measured out in a convenient little pouch, allowing you to adjust the intensity by adding additional pouches for flavor or longer, harder workouts, and it mixes beautifully with no gritty sediment waiting at the bottom of the bottle when you finish your workout!

 

Cocogo comes in three flavors: Grape, Lemon-Lime and Raspberry Passion Fruit, and honestly I love them all!  I was skeptical when I tried the Raspberry Passion fruit, as I am not a Raspberry fan at all, but it is a perfect blend of flavors!  I often mix Grape and Lemon-Lime for long workouts to intensify the flavor and the hydrating benefits, while sipping on "Grape-Limeade"!!  Not only do I use these myself, but I feel good about my active kiddos using Cocogo as a drink mix on hot days or after swim team workouts. 

Want to try it out yourself?  Well, you are in luck!  Cocogo has just launched their NEW website and is offering FREE SHIPPING for this week only! 

 

 

And to save even more, use this discount code (ELEVENTHAL) to get an additional 40% off your order anytime!

 

If you are already using Cocogo, now is a great time to stock up and take advantage of FREE shipping!  Get an extra box for the car and the gym so you are never without hydration!

 

 

Note: The opinions in this post are mine and I am not compensated for my review of this product.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leap of Faith

 

Eleanor Roosevelt said it best. . .

 

And I'm pretty sure I've got the next thirteen weeks covered. . .

 

In July of 2009 when I participated in my first triathlon as part of a relay team, I had no intention of adopting triathlon as a hobby.  I was a runner, who liked to ride my bike, and I was perfectly happy with that.  Eight weeks later when I completed my first super-sprint distance (clinging to the side of a canoe for the better part of the swim portion), I had no intention of tackling anything longer or more challenging.  Swimming was still my nemesis, and I didn't think I had the time or skill to train for a longer distance race. 

 

In the Fall of 2011, in a moment of excitement and peer pressure, I successfully completed my first Sprint distance race. Again, I was happy with my finish and felt that the distance was just enough to feel challenged, but not too much to feel completely overwhelmed.

 

                                               

In April of 2012, I took another big step forward in my journey by completing my first international/Olympic distance race.  This new distance challenged me in a new way, and I began to think that maybe, just maybe, I could tackle more.

 

                                             

 

 So, in August of 2012, I signed up for Ironman Raleigh 70.3.  The outcome was not what I had hoped for, and I immediately began to question my judgment of what my body and my mind could handle.  You see, as the distance becomes longer, your mental strength is just as important as your physical strength.  However, I moved forward, conquered my fear, and began to feel confident in what I could achieve once more, and registered again for Raleigh 70.3, leading to a successful and joyful finish.

                                         

                                              

 

Late in the evening of October 26, 2013, as I walked in the dark with the hubby who was shuffling from port-a-potty to port-a-potty during his first Iron distance triathlon, we made a promise to each other to one day do a full Iron race together (2.4 mile swim; 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run).  That promise planted a seed that has been growing in my heart since that night. 

 

As I trained for Raleigh 70.3 this year, I knew that my short term goal was to have a happy (green) race, but in the back of my mind that promise that the hubby and I made was ever present, and I often thought to myself, "Could I really conquer that distance?". 

                                        

A few weeks before we raced Raleigh, the hubby and a group of friends decided to register for Ironman Maryland, and while I lingered over the registration form online, I wouldn't commit until I had a solid, successful 70.3 under my belt.  As we sat around the dinner table discussing his commitment, I shared my desire to race longer and we agreed that if Raleigh was successful, we would fulfill our promise to one another and register for and race Beach to Battleship together in October 2014. 

 

On the way home from Raleigh, I told the hubby that I felt ready (well, as ready as you will ever feel to make a HUGE jump in distance) to sign up for something longer.  I technically had two successful 70.3 experiences in the bag, and I finished both with a smile and gas in the tank.  He asked which race I was considering. . .  Would we do B2B in October as we promised each other or would I sign up for Ironman Maryland (IMMD) which was at the end of September? 

 

The more we discussed it, the answer seemed to appear.  Although B2B would give me an extra month of training time, It would also mean that the bulk of my hard, long training would happen after returning to work in the Fall, making the weeks a little nutty around here.  If I chose IMMD, I could train all summer while I was off work, with my heaviest training weekend falling over Labor Day weekend and a recovery week scheduled for my first week back to the grind of work. We already had travel and hotel accommodations nailed down for IMMD, but B2B is less than a day's drive and we have family that live a few miles from the start, so that wasn't an issue.  My training plan lined up to begin IMMD training after a rest week without having to make a huge jump in the distances I was already used to.  In fact the first few weeks would be a welcome step-back from where I was right before Raleigh.

 

So, on a Thursday afternoon a few weeks ago, I did this. . .

 

I kept it a secret, at first, only sharing with a few trusted and like-minded friends, and unsure that I would ever tell the world of this crazy plan.  But then I remembered something that I read in a weekly email I receive:  In order to achieve your dreams, first you have to say them out loud.  Share them with the world and let your support crew of friends and family hold you accountable. 

 

Although much of triathlon racing and training is a solo venture, the support of those around you keeps you going when the days are long and the training is hard.  So here I am. . . putting it out there. 

 

 



Am I scared?  You betcha.  But, I am also excited about this journey and proud of myself for taking the leap of faith.  Do I think it will be easy?  Absolutely not.  I know the training will be long and hard and I will have to make sacrifices.  I know that race day will be long, so long, and grueling at times, to the point of wanting to quit, but I am preparing now, both mentally and physically, for that challenge (as much as you CAN prepare for this distance). There are no guarantees in this journey, but if I never take this chance I will never know what I can accomplish.

                           

 

So, that leads me to this blog.  When I began this blog, it started as a challenge from the hubby, who enjoys my writing and thoughts and urged me to share with the world.  The blog name "I could go on and on and on" referred to my verbose-ness and unending thoughts.  I have shared thoughts, feelings, ideas, rants, projects and food with my readers (all 18 of you) off and on for a few years now, and I have no plans to eliminate those kinds of posts as I move forward.  But I have also begun to share and document my running and triathlon journey, and while I realize that some of you couldn't care less, many friends have reached out and asked me to blog about this part of my life as it brings inspiration and motivation to their own journey.  I don't document these adventures to brag, but to share in this life's journey with those I care about and maybe, just maybe, inspire someone out there to take a leap of faith and dream big.

 

Over the next 13 weeks, you will probably see more triathlon and training posts here, and if that's your thing. . .  awesome, come along for the ride.  If not. . .  I still love ya.  Because now, "I could go on and on and on" doesn't just refer to my love of talking/writing, but to this multisport lifestyle that I love and want to share with the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't Call it a Comeback. . . (Ironman Raleigh 70.3 Race Report)

Race week is filled with anticipation, planning, fueling and tapering.  Since the hubby and I were both racing, we also had to make arrangements for kiddos (and pack a race day goodie bag of fun toys and snacks to keep them occupied), not to mention the fact that the Reporter and I had Saturday school the day before the race to make up a snow day from our harsh Winter.  Needless to say, it was a busy, busy week.  However, I had already decided to stay "in the green" all weekend, so I did everything I could to alleviate stressors--meal planning, getting ahead on paperwork so my workdays wouldn't be overwhelming, hydrating, and prepping the kiddos for a long weekend. 

The week of the race, we decided to see if any hotel rooms were available in the area to eliminate the need to drive an hour to and from the race site, and to get some extra kid-free rest and relaxation after the race.  Luckily we found a room at the Marriott that was adjacent to the finish line and transition area.  Now, all that was left was the packing. . .

 

Friday:

The hubby and I decided to go to the Expo and packet pick up on Friday afternoon to avoid the Saturday crowds.  This turned out to be a great decision for many reasons.  We saw pictures of the line for check-in on Saturday and it was crazytown.  Not only did I not want to stand in line for the afternoon waiting to get my race packet, but I needed the time to pack my individual bags (this was a point to point race, so there were three bags to pack--morning gear, bike gear, run gear), unpack them, and pack them again (and maybe again. . .).  Also, having to work on the Saturday morning before the race put a time crunch on the whole arrival process, so I wanted to avoid feeling rushed.  But most of all, I needed to avoid the chatter.  I know many people love the pre-race atmosphere, meeting other athletes and speculating about water temps together, but it was more than I could handle.  That kind of talk would take me right from GREEN (my happy place) to RED (sheer panic), and I knew my limits. 

 

The hubby and I milled around the expo, picking up samples and registering for door prizes, but it wasn't long before I became overwhelmed by race talk and the thoughts of Sunday.  I quietly slipped out to the lobby and hubby found me a while later, fully aware of my panic.  We decided on a quiet dinner before heading home to pack.

 

Saturday:

The alarm sounded early for me to get the Reporter and myself ready for a half-day of school.  Time passed quickly and before I knew it, the hubby and I had dropped the kiddos off and were headed to the lake to rack our bikes.  As soon as we reached the Lake, I quickly realized that the position of my bike rack was identical to the location of my rack last year.  Suddenly I worried that I was in store for a replay of the events of last year, but I quickly shook off the fear with a reminder to "trust my training, trust myself, trust my wetsuit, and trust God". 

 

Once the bikes were racked and ready, we met up with a few friends for a quick chat, checked out the buoys on the water and were ready to head to Raleigh for dinner and a good night's sleep. 

 

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am part of an amazing online community of athletes that offer support, advice and friendship on a daily basis.  Several of these athletes, that have become long-distance friends, were also racing in Raleigh and the hubby and I had the opportunity to meet up with one athlete and her family that I have grown particularly close to for an early dinner.  We planned our early wake-up (3:45am!) and agreed to meet to ride the shuttles to the lake together.  After a quick photo op and a pep talk from the hubby, I was ready to turn in and see what Sunday had in store.

Hotel Lobby Shenanigans

Sunday: Race Day:
Wake up came early at 3:45, although I had woken up just past midnight and panicked thinking that we had missed the shuttle.  Luckily the hotel had a Starbucks in the lobby that agreed to open at 4:00am for race morning.  When I stepped off the elevator (in my pajamas) at 3:50, there was already a line forming outside the doors.  I quickly grabbed 2 Americanos with steamed soy, treated my buddy Mike to some caffeine and headed back upstairs to eat my race day "waffle PBJ" before heading down to T2 (This is the location we would arrive when the bike portion was complete, so our run equipment needed to be set up before boarding a bus to the lake.)  Before I finished my waffle, Heidi was knocking on the door and in a flurry of nervous giggles, we headed downstairs with the hubby.  Once we arrived in T2, run gear needed to be set-up, but I couldn't focus because there was no word of water temperatures, yet.  Remember that last post about needing water temps below 76 to be a wetsuit (security blanket) legal race?  Well, temps had been borderline, so every athlete was waiting for word from the head official.  After we set up our transition areas, Heidi and I sat on the curb waiting for the hubby and checked Facebook for race day updates.

Water temp had been posted.

75.4

We both squealed with joy and at that moment a sense of peace and hope filled my heart, knowing for sure that this time would be different.

Riding a bus full of anxious triathletes for 45 minutes is not the way to calm your nerves, but luckily I remembered my headphones, pumped good tunes for the ride and read encouraging notes and messages from friends near and far on my phone. 

When we arrived at Jordan Lake, everyone exited the bus and began prepping their bikes and equipment. Being in the third to last swim wave, gave me plenty of time to set things up and check my tires, but I finished quickly and headed out to watch the swim start.  Heidi and I were fortunate enough to watch both the pro men and women exit the water before having to put on our wetsuits and wait our turn.  The hubby was in a swim wave about 15 minutes ahead of me, so after a quick pep talk and a kiss, I told him I would see him at the finish line and saw him off.  I had nothing to do but wait for my turn, and I couldn't have been more excited to get the race started.

The Swim 1.2 miles:
The swim was in a triangular formation, with buoys every 100 meters for sighting.  As I approached the in-water starting line, I hung toward the back, as I usually do, with my friends Heidi and Lisa.  I checked my cap and goggles and before I knew it, the starting horn sounded.  I did my regular "count to 10 and get in" routine, but there were so many women in my age group, that I had no choice but to just GO.  The first 100 meters I worried that I would get kicked, hit or swam over.  Then I began to think about the two waves of swimmers coming behind us, and I wanted to move to the side to get out of the path of the strong aggressive swimmers.  However, with every stroke I felt strong and able and. . . calm.  The worry of someone getting in my "personal bubble" went away and I felt confident in the middle of a pack of swimmers.  As I rounded the first buoy, I looked to my left and saw Heidi.  We had made it to the first buoy without stopping, without meeting a kayaker, and without panic.  As I made my way across the long back leg of the swim, I found my rhythm, got kicked a few times, and took advantage of drafting off of other swimmers (and I may have even laughed when I saw a girl swim head-on into a blow-up buoy).  There was no hesitation, only joy.  As I rounded the last buoy to start the final leg of the swim, I was tempted to look at my watch.  This was the very spot that I realized I was going to miss the swim cut-off last year.  Dare I look?  43:00.  YES!  I only had to swim about 500m to reach the shore and I knew I could make it and even have a "best time" at the 1.2 mile distance.  I pushed hard those last few meters, remembering that I had 56 miles ahead to ride, but wanting to post a good time (for me).

Time: 53:52(a personal best)

                                                               
 T1:

After a quick clock check and a visit with the wetsuit strippers (these people are wonderful, and trislide is a must-have), I headed into T1 with a smile.  I quickly dried off, pulled on my socks, shoes and tri top and began spraying myself with sunscreen.  Suddenly I winced.  I realized that the body glide I had applied to my neck to prevent wetsuit burns hadn't done it's job.  My neck was covered in "wet suit hickeys" and they were burning.  I endured the burn and headed out of transition to the bike course.



 



 The Bike--56 miles:

Having ridden the first 35 miles of the Raleigh 70.3 bike course more than a few times, I felt confident beginning the bike.  The first three miles, or so, were uphill on less than wonderful pavement.  But I knew that when we turned the corner, it would be smooth sailing and downhill for a few miles.  What I didn't know is that we would encounter a wicked headwind and crosswind for a large portion of the bike course.  I wasn't happy about the conditions, but it could have been worse.  I made the best of it, thankful to just be on the bike and sailing down the road. 

My ride was solid for the first 35 miles.  I averaged around 15.6 mph (good for me, while still keeping my legs ready for the run) and fueled just as I had planned.  I stopped at the second aid station to shove a Honey Stinger waffle in my mouth, chase it with Blueberry Banana Pocketfuel and switch out my bottle of cocogo.  The ride was going well, although my left hip had been giving me a fit since mounting the bike out of T1.  I stood to stretch it out at every opportunity and kept moving forward. 

As soon as we reached the 35 mile mark, the hills began.  I LOVE climbing on the bike, love it.  But I am a huge scaredy-cat with the downhills.  For every huge uphill that I passed a handful of people, the same people would zoom past me on the downhill.  I made a new friend on the bike as we leap-frogged each hill all the way to Raleigh.  Coming into Raleigh, I had peeked at my bike computer and was sad and disappointed to see my average pace slip so much in those last 20 miles, but I felt certain that I had made the bike cut-off and would have a shot at crossing the finish line.

Time: 3:51:13

T2:
When I arrived at T2, so many bikes were back that it made me panic.  Would I get to run?  I thought I had met the cut-off.  I yelled to Coach E, who was standing outside the transition area, and he assured me that I still had plenty of time, so I quickly changed shoes, grabbed my water bottle, sprayed more sunscreen and headed out. 

The Run--13.1 miles:
I had 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete the run and still get to "finish" and after almost 2000ft of climbing on the bike, I was worried that I would take every last second of that time.  I had decided to use my tried and true 4:1 run:walk for the run, but when I tried to run I knew that I would need to switch gears and take plan B (It appeared that I wasn't the only one with a Plan B.  People were walking everywhere).  The first half mile out of transition was uphill, so I decided to walk it until I could hydrate a little and stretch my hip out.  When I reached the top of the hill, I decided to go with a 2 minute run to 1 minute walk plan.  I continued that pattern for a few cycles and suddenly my legs felt alive again.  I tried for 3:1, then 4:1, feeling good and making good time.  I knew from my Marathon that the "main drag" of this race was full of small, rolling hills, so I made the decision to walk the uphills and run the downhills and flats.  Suddenly I was cruising.  Everything seemed to be working the way it should and I had no pain during my run.  I stopped to grab ice and water at a few aid stations and even snagged a Coke in the last few miles for some extra energy, but I primarily fueled with pocketfuel and cocogo (I had Endurolytes with me, but the case fell out of my pocket around mile 5 and I didn't realize it until it was too late). 

The two loop course made for a very spectator and athlete friendly race.  I loved seeing my kiddos and parents as I looped by the finish line to start my second lap.  I even got a high five and a kiss on the course from this guy:

 

The miles went by quickly and I felt great.  It was hot, but the course was dappled in shade and the energy from the volunteers and spectators was motivating.  As I checked my watch at mile 11, I knew that I was on track to beat my time from  my own 70.3 from the previous year.  I gave myself enough of a walk break that I knew I could run the entire length of the "finish line"--a long city street lined with fans.  As I approached the finish, I smiled, I cried, and I looked around for the hubby in the sea of spectators. 

 

 

Time: 2:21:22

 

 But he wasn't there.

 

 

He was just beyond the finish line, medal in hand, waiting for me.

 

He had asked if he could come back into the finishers area to award my medal. 



 

 I had done it.  I finished.  I finished with a smile on my face and feeling absolutely fantastic.

And I couldn't have done it without the support of this guy.

 

1.2 mile Swim: 53:52

T1: 6:13

56 mile Bike: 3:51:13

T2: 4:19

13.1 mile Run: 2:21:22

70.3 Total: 7:16:59

 

 

After a quick visit with our support crew:

The Reporter!

Coach E, the Little Guy and the Reporter!

 



We headed back to T2 to pick up our bags and bikes:

 

Celebrated with friends:

Heidi, we did it!!

Lisa, hubby, and me

 

 And celebrated a year's worth of hard work, both mentally and physically, that led to a personal victory and the beginning of so much more. 

I never lost hope.

I never lost focus.

I found the courage within to overcome.

 

And I'm just getting started. . .