Vegas 70.3 Race Report (Or What happens in Vegas ISN’T staying in Vegas)
As with many events, this race began long before the start line on Sept 11, 2011. I had a tough year focusing and getting excited about racing. I decided that Calgary 70.3 would be my “A” for the year, and maybe, just maybe, if I executed a great race, I might just get a Vegas spot. I wasn’t trying to put pressure on myself to achieve this, it was just a little extra motivation to get out training for a race I was having trouble getting excited about. So Calgary 70.3 came and went, and all I can say is that the race was hard. I struggled on the swim, I struggled on the bike and I especially struggled from the run. I saw my family at 17K on the run and I couldn’t even muster a “Hi” to my kids. I crossed the finish line 3 minutes slower than when I did this race 2 years ago. I had nothing left in the tank and raced the best I could on that day. Andrew left with the girls and I told him that there wasn’t a chance I would get a spot and that I would get home as soon as Amanda was done volunteering (she was going to take me home) and after Christine finished the race.
After the race was done, Kelly and Mitch came from the aid station to pick me up. I wanted to leave and Kelly convinced me to stay for the roll-down. Long story short – due to the beauty of the roll-down system I GOT A VEGAS SPOT. I didn’t even have a credit card to pay for the registration, so Kelly made Mitch go get his credit card so I could sign up. Still is shock I called Andrew and shrieked “I’m going to Vegas!”. I next called Angie and asked her “Can I go to Vegas!” (of course she said yes!). It looks like I’m going to a World Championships.
The next couple of weeks were challenging as we were going on vacation and I would not have a road bike. But I did have a mountain bike, a lake and lots of roads to run. I also had a mini-training camp in Penticton during IMC weekend to prepare for this race. It was a busy 5 weeks but by the time I left I was ready!
It was going to be HOT in Vegas and all I heard once I arrived was how hard the course was. I ended up having dinner with another athlete the night before the race who was also there alone and all she talked about for 1½ hours was how hard the bike was going to be. After dinner I e-mailed Angie a bit freaked out, and she replied “You train in the Foothills of the rocky mountains – let the race come to you”. That calmed me down. I had my ritual pre-race beer, drank some more water, and some chicken broth and went to bed.
Transition opened at 4:30 in the am and I wanted to be there early so I could pump up my tires and get organized before it got too crowded. Getting there was pretty easy as my hotel was about a 2 minute walk across the bridge to the race start. I quickly got through body marking and I was on my way into the transition area. My bike was racked amidst the 40-44 year old females and most of us were in great mood ready to enjoy the day. I got my tires pumped, my bike computer on my bike, my run garmin into my transition bag and all my fuel put on my bike. At that point I think it was 4:45 . Wow, that was far faster than I thought. I actually considered going back to my hotel room since my wave didn’t start until 6:55, but I decided to stay around and take in the entire morning. I went the porta potty a few times, checked and rechecked my tires and bike computer, checked and rechecked my nutrition and water bottles, hung out, chatted with the ladies around my bike and then it was 6:00 am and we needed to be out of transition. I saw Tanya Saloman and with a quick hug and good luck we were off to get organized. There was a moment of silence to remember 9/11 and then the pros were getting ready to get in the water. The age groupers were being staged along the water and here is where I saw Susan. We chatted for a while and I noticed her calf guards. I asked what it was like to swim with them. She said she didn’t know since she had never done it, but the guy who sold them to her yesterday said it would be fine. I had to chuckle at this point since I was wearing my brand new calf guards that I had purchased the day before as well. What happened to “nothing new on race day”? We shared a quick hug and then I went off to my staging area.
I was remarkable calm at this point. I had gone for a practice swim the day before and although I felt okay in the water I was slow. Not sure why – maybe it was the no wetsuit or maybe I just wasn’t being efficient. I was a bit nervous when I first found out that this race was going to be a non-wetsuit swim. Again, Angie her sage words, calmed me down simply saying “you know Tara, you can swim without a wetsuit”.
Unlike many ½ IM I have done where I have been concerned with “beating” my last time and racing faster, this isn’t what this race was about. Despite the fact this was a world championship, today was going to be a different race. I genuinely wasn’t concerned with my time. I wanted to execute a smart race, hydrate properly, have fun and take in the entire experience!
We finally got into the water about 10 minutes before our wave went off. I did a quick warm up and then treaded water for about 8 minutes. I didn’t expect that to be so tiring. I positioned myself in the middle but near the back. I knew that there would be a lot of speedy swimmers so I didn’t want to get trampled. The gun went and we were off. I was slow and steady. One good thing about the warm water was that I was able to bilateral breath immediately, which is something I often struggle with during races. I quickly realized that I was way in the back, but I wasn’t going to let that bother me. I kept repeating “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”, which worked very well for me last year at IMC. For much of the first part of the swim I had my own paddle-board escort. I don’t know if they were concerned about me, trying to keep me on course or what, but they were there! It was bit tough to sight due to sun, but I plugged on. So I knew that because I was a slower swimmer the waves that started after me would catch up. The first challenge was the 30-35 year old women in the white caps! Boy were they aggressive. It threw me off a bit, but then I got back into rhythm. Then came the green-capped men (who were actually better than the women) and then the blue capped men. Now I should mention that when the blue-capped men caught up to me, I was swimming completely alone – there was no one anywhere around me. So when a blue capped guy came up behind me, grabbed my left leg and actively pulled me under the water, I was not impressed. The visibility wasn’t great so I can understand a bit of contact, but that tactic was completely unnecessary and uncalled for. I recomposed myself and kept on swimming. This swim seemed long. The first 800m to the first turn seemed long and then coming back seemed long. I thought I would never get to the bridge (where we had started and had to swim past to the swim exit). I was trying to swim smoothly and efficiently but it just seemed so slow. Finally I made it to the exit ramp – 49 minutes! Not my quickest, but I can live with that. As I was coming out of the water I heard Richelle, Madi, and Rose cheering. It was absolutely fantastic to see you guys.
The run to T1 was long…..I heard about 400 yards. I got my gear bag and had a wonderful volunteer that helped me get ready. She helped me with my arm “coolers”, bike gloves, socks, race belt and right after I put on my shoes, she handed me my helmet and I was off. I decided before I even left Calgary to go with my vented training helmet rather than my aerohelmet to keep me cooler. I ran to get my bike and lo and behold, there were still 2 other bikes on the rack! I ran up the switch backs to the bike mount line and then hopped on my bike with more cheers from Rose, Madi and Richelle and Jordon snapping pictures (I actually think I waved to him).
As soon as you get onto your bike there is a steady climb to the highway. I had rode this portion a couple of times on Thursday to get used to the grade and figure out what gearing I would use. I got to the top “easy cheesy” (with a number of people passing me) and headed to the highway. At this point the course did a U –turn and went under that highway so we could efficiently change directions, and despite the fact it was a “no passing zone”, I was passed by 2 rather impatient guys. Once onto the highway I settled into a rhythm. I was watching my HR and power and keeping exactly where I was supposed to be. The course was hilly, with long stretches of uphill or downhill. Nothing too steep (I never had to get out of my saddle) just steady. It was a beautiful course. At 20 minutes I began taking in my infinit, and like clockwork I got a side-stitch. This has happened to me in many races in the past, but it rarely happens on training rides. I really have to figure out what is going on. I thought by waiting a bit to take in fuel it would help, but not today. Anyway, it was annoying but not debilitating, so I kept riding and fuelling. At each aid station I took in a new bottle of water for my bike, drank some, and dumped some over my head. I also took salt tablets each hour. The first 40Km were great. I was feeling good, smiling and having a great day. The next 30Km were more challenging. It was getting hotter and I had to work to stay focused. It was getting easier to push the pace, so I had to really watch myself, I didn’t want to overbike and blow up on the run. It was also during this part of the race that I saw 2 drafting penalties given out while going up a hill. I was very mindful of the draft zone, but there is one aspect that I still haven’t figured out about racing. When I would get passed by someone going really fast it was easy – I didn’t have to slow down to get out of their draft zone. However, when I got passed by someone going only marginally faster than I was I would slow down to re-establish 4 bike lengths within 20 seconds. Then as I slowed down, I would get passed by more people who were going slower than I was before I was passed. So I likely lost some time (especially on the uphills) simply making sure I wasn’t in anyone’s draft zone after being passed. But at least I didn’t get a penalty. There were many people in the penalty tents and after the race I heard of a number of blocking penalties being given out as well. I guess they are really trying to clean up the race compared to Clearwater. The last 20Km were great. I knew I was near the end of the bike course. It is a gradual ascent back into town and while I picked up power just a bit, I still remained steady and on track. Coming back into town I saw soooo many people on the run course and I was excited that would soon be me! One of my goals for the race was to execute a gliding dismount that Angie would be proud of. Unfortunately the dismount line was around a short corner and came sooner than I expected. I only had one foot out so I wasn’t very graceful. I handed my bike and shoe to a very helpful volunteer and headed off to T2.
I thought I was being pretty focused and efficient in T2, but it was slower than I would have liked. Clearly I was hydrating properly since I had to make a quite porta potty stop just outside the change tent on the way out to the run.
Now I was out running. Many of you know that I have struggled with my runs this year, especially running off the bike. This course was 3-7 Km loops. I really wanted to run these loops as evenly as I could. I had a goal to run by HR and RPE and not worry about my pace. I headed out feeling good with my HR exactly where I wanted it. I knew that the run would be hard. I’m not normally one for mantra’s or inspirational sayings (other than suck it up princess), but for this race I thought I might need a little something to keep me going. So I copied a strategy that Shannon used for her bike at IMC. She broke her bike ride down into three sections and dedicated them to members of her family. Well, Vegas was a 3 loop run course and I have 3 people in my family. The first loop was for my first born, Nicole. The second was for my husband Andrew and the third was for my daughter Sydney. I put them in this order because I knew I could probably go out and do a decent first loop. Then the second loop would be tough, but Andrew wouldn't care if I was slower on his loop than Nicole's. I put Sydney's last because it would be unfair to her if I ran her loop slower than Nicole's so it kept me focused. So despite the fact that my HR monitor went wonky after the first loop, each of my 3 splits were very close to one another (I actually ran that last loop 1 minute faster than the first loop!). I saw Susan during my first loop (it was an out and back course) and we gave each other some encouragement. Carla Jackman was on the run course spectating and I got lots of cheers from her as well. I took in water, dumped it over my head and arms and took ice at each of the aid stations. It was hot, but I felt like I was managing the heat well. And for the record – that neckerchief that holds ice works amazingly! On the last climb of the run I saw Susan again, and she was heading towards the finish. We stopped and hugged and then went on. Once I got to the last 2K (which was mostly downhill), I felt like I was flying. I was so excited! I was going to cross the finish line at a World Championship. I heard them announce my name and comment on how happy I looked and then I crossed the finish line!
The 2 guys who caught me kept saying lean on me, you can collapse now, we’ll take you to the med tent. At this point I was feeling fantastic. No, I don’t need to lean on you, yes, I would like some water, no, I don’t need to go to the med tent, and can I please have my Hat! I drank about 3 bottles of water, opted to skip the post-race food and found Susan for a quick congratulations and finishers photo! What an amazing day.
All in all I was absolutely thrilled with this race and how I executed it. I many times have questioned how someone’s best time was not their best race (and vice versa). I now understand this. I executed the best race I ever have before. IMC came close, but due to the technical problems I had on my bike I didn’t have to consciously hold back – my lack of gears did that for me. One this ride, I had to pace and control the bike all on my own. That patience set me up for a solid bike and the best run I had this season. I stayed focused during the entire race and did not let any negative thoughts consume me. I acknowledged them, turned them into something positive and moved on. I smiled the entire day and took in the whole experience.
Again, so many thank-yous. First and foremost to my family. I promised Andrew all my training would be finished by August 1 and I told my girls that I would only race in Calgary, Canmore or Banff this year – it didn’t quite work out that way, but they have been very supportive in all of my triathlon endeavors and I am truly grateful. To Kelly for so many things…..first, convincing me to stay for the roll-down and making Mitch pay for my spot (yes I paid them back). You were my IMC training partner, and stuck with me through all my training this year, even when you didn’t have a race of your own. I’m really looking forward to training with you again next year! To all the TTL athletes for the training rides and words of encouragement. To Susan for her inspiration on the run course. For Richelle, Madi, Rose and Jordan for cheering me on – it was great to have the support out there since my family was unable to come.
And finally – to Angie. You got me to a World Championship! I could never have done this without you……Thanks for being my coach and letting me be part of such an amazing team!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Leslie-Anne's 2011 IMC race report
My Ironman Canada race report. Wow. NEVER EVER did I think I would be writing this.
When I started triathlon training I thought only crazy people did IMC. I mean, come on folks, really? 3.8km swim to an 180km bike then follow that with a 42.2km (as in full marathon) run afterwards? Yeahhhh riiiiiiiiiiiight.
So, here I am one fully certified crazy person who did just that. And to be perfectly honest, I FREAKING LOVED IT!!!
In deciding to undertake the challenge of IMC, I talked to Angie about what was the training commitment. I was very concerned with the amount of time that I would need to give to prepare for a full ironman. Over a beer (natch) at BP’s in Cochrane one night I was advised that in order to get ready I must love training. It was discussed that I would be giving up weekend days, most weekday nights and would be more tired than I have ever been. Ok, I thought, I could do that. Told Roger about what was needed and he agreed to support me in my quest. I let Angie know that it was a go and the ball was put into motion, I was going to do IMC 2011. Helluva way to celebrate my 50th!
My ironman year fast approached after I got the crap scared out of me at the start of IMC 2010. I walked away sobbing with self-doubt not sure I could muster what was needed to get to the start. Later that night when I was a catcher and saw the athletes come across I began to believe. I really knew I could do it when I caught John Bosma. At that moment he became my hero and I continued to draw from his spirit as I prepared myself for IMC.
As far as the training, that was quite the deal! I was excited to reach the milestones that were set out for me. There were days when a long ride was Regina/Moose Jaw return (a 140km time trial actually, could that road be any flatter?). The long runs where I was plagued with “issues”, when I thought, “Just what the hell am I doing this for? Oh yeah, I will be an ironman” I heard from other TTL athletes about how IMC was “easy” because they were ready for it. I can say the same thing; the training laid out for me had me more than prepared. That was especially true when we all gathered in Penticton for the training camp. The swim was awesome, the bike was stellar and the run had me finally get the monkeys off my back about my “issues”. I knew I was on my way.
Next thing I knew it was “taper time” and our departure day for Penticton arrived! All 9 of us (my parents, 4 kids and my girlfriend Julie from New Zealand who came over just to see me cross the finish line, gee can you say “no pressure”?) headed west.
Our accommodations were out of this world and suited our numbers perfectly. It was an easy drive to join the others in our pre race meetings/workouts. It was funny to hear Shannon say how calm I was as she thought I’d be way more nervous. Ha! Little did she know that I was scared sh*tless and the outside in no way reflected the inside.
During my pre race meeting with Angie I disclosed that all I frustrated with making decisions regarding meals etc. In her calm manner, she told me that I needed to tell my family that I am not to make any decisions that the kids go to any other adult in the house and the meals were the meals were the meals. That helped along with the information regarding my nutrition for the bike. Here’s a tip for other IMC athletes in future, if you are meeting with Angie and it is at Smith and Company, please be sure that Angie’s back is to the door so she can’t see who comes in and they in turn can’t see her. That woman knows everyone and everyone knows her!
I attended the pre-race banquet and a friend of mine joined Trevor, Jason, Ken, Rona, Shannon, Cindy Danielle and I for supper. He had a great time and enjoyed our camaraderie. Numbers quoted that night included an athlete who has done 125 ironmans!
I equated my pre race brain numbness and emotional state to “pregnancy brain”, couldn’t remember anything, only focused on one thing, didn’t want to think and cried at the drop of a hat. I declared I had “ironman brain” same symptoms, same results!
This was particularly true Saturday before race day. Thank goodness for the smiles from Rona and Shannon who both told me to go for a swim and be in the place that calms me the best, the water. Before I could do that I talked to Angie, ok, cried to Angie. She along with my hero, John Bosma helped me to calm down. As John said, all I had to do was get to the starting line and all would be ok from there. It’s all “up here” as he tapped my forehead. What a gentleman to let me cry on his shoulders as I bared my soul and fears.
The swim helped especially sans the “black condom” (although my new-to-me suit rocks!). Later that day I got my bike into transition, ensuring bike bag and run bag in place soooooo weird to just hand it to someone and walk away! Time was drawing near!
The night before the race enjoyed a great meal with two more friends who came out from Calgary to cheer me on. Now there were 11 of us in the house and yes there was still ample room!
I put together my nutrition had just enough Infinit for the day! Yikes! Lucky me. Got my special needs bags ready to go and sat down to enjoy my pre-race ritual of a “wee drop of dram”. In this case about ¼ ounce (neat) of Forty Creek Rye Whiskey, Ken it was m-m-good.
Fell asleep relatively easy and next thing it was 4:00am on race day.
Race Day
Roger and Julie walked me to body marking and I had tears in my eyes as I kissed and hugged them good-bye. The night before I had written “Go TTL” on the road in chalk and smiled as I walked by it.
I handed over my special needs bags and stood to get body marked. I didn’t think I’d see anyone but lo & behold I did. Richelle ahead of me in the line, Michelle (Trevor was good she said, her Mom was there, Dad’s horse ok), and in transition our favourite wet suit “putter-oners” Tara and Kelly and later on Shannon and Trevor. As I walked through that pre race area I know I had “deer in the headlights” looks but I wasn’t alone!
Yeah for just long enough porta potty line-ups, wet suit on and next thing I know I’m walking towards the beach beside Shannon. At the last second before crossing the timing mat I grabbed Shannon’s hand, thank goodness she was there, she squeezed back and I got the internal ok that all would be right.
The Swim
I head for my spot, far left. I knew I would have a slightly longer swim but for me what is an extra 15-25m? Nothing when peace of mind with least amount of body contact is preferred.
What did I see in the distance hanging from the wall? Is that a flag in the green and white of my beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders? Wow, I thought another set of Priders in the crowd? Excellent! Hey, wait a minute that is my gang! WOW! My family got a prime spot. I head towards the flag and my daughter is hanging over the edge, she is crying and I tell her that I will be ok. (Jeez, am I kidding myself or I am I being truthful?). I say good-bye and head towards the far left. I find myself in a good spot, as there are few ahead, behind and to my left. The right side I wasn’t worried about. A quick dunk and “Oh Canada” starts I sing with pride, as I am Canadian! The gun goes and we’re off!
I knew within the 1st 100meters that I was going to have a good day. I was hardly touched and I could see my target. I could hear the helicopters as I began to swim my swim. Even strokes, no counting, and no lane markers I was in heaven! I was ultra relaxed and I simply swam for the sheer enjoyment. I approached “chaos corner” swung wide and used the current to my advantage. The next bit was a tad crazy but nothing to get me in a snit. I hit the second corner wide and see heads bobbing right beside the buoy. As I swam by them I wondered what was the reason they chose that line? Never mind I say, I’m heading home and it was a good feeling. I found the last 800m the most frustrating. Could any of the athletes that I was catching up and passing maintain a straight line? Cripes! I actually had to “sit up” to let two nimnods battle it out with each other without me in the middle! I hear Steve Kings voice, I see the bottom and know I can stand but not on those rocks, I continue to swim even though my hands are touching. I see the sand, I know I can now stand, I see the Rider flag I wave madly, Roger sees me, and I hear my name being called. It is my girlfriend who I’ve known since age 13 and is one of the people who got me hooked on triathlons standing knee deep greeting the athletes. A quick hug as I exit, another person calls my name, her husband! Wow! What a boost for me!
I get my suit stripped, (love that), get my bike bag and head for the tent. I’m in T1!
Time: 1:11:31 (I had more in me but hey, that bike and run were looming!)
8/96 W50-54. Overall place: 817. I’m good with that!
T1 was very cool! Wow, I was helped on with my socks, bike shoes, and glasses out of their case, helmet ready. I was spoiled! Glad I sun-screened pre race but took some extra just in case. A quick loo stop (note to self: Porta potty floors are slippery when wet and dangerous in bike shoes!) T1 Time: 5:52
The Bike
“This is it!” I thought as I got going, 180kms on a course that I had already ridden and for the most part enjoyed. The pre race decent on Yellow Lake was a good thing as I am not a fan of descending but as a result of that I knew on race day that I was going to use the free speed to my advantage. The cheers as I started the ride from the supporters were unbelievable especially those from TTL’ers who were there.
The ride out through town was great, next thing I knew I was at McLean Creek. It was a bit crazy going through the aid station as it was on a slight incline. I got some water and continued on my way. I was determined to enjoy this ride and kept my mantra going through my head “This is a “do” not a race”. I was surprised at the number of athletes who were changing tires and I thought I hope today I would not be one of them. I hit the flats after OK Falls and knew that I was keeping a good pace, staying “easy cheesy” and enjoying myself when all those “young whipper snappers” passed me ‘cause I knew I had them in the water (it’s a game I play what can I say?) lol.
What was that I feel? It’s like I’m riding on my rim, I look down and say out loud, “Sh*t”, SH*T!” a flat. OMG! I have to change a flat. Ok, be calm be controlled, this will get done; you can do it I said to myself as I came to a stop. I looked at my deflated tire. This would be the FIRST time I had to change a flat by myself. No kidding folks, the FIRST time. (See, there are still firsts for 50 year olds). I was in a flat sandy spot. I did not put the bike down, as I did not wish to loose my nutrition in my aero bottle. In hindsight find something to lean the bike up against or simply take the bottle off. I checked my time and then methodically take out my tube, Co2 cartridges, and plastic thingys to remove the tire. Ok I said to self, what did Richelle teach me at GWN? Oh yeah, break the bead, I got that done and removed the tube. Once the tube was out I threw the tube away from me as Richelle said to in order not to get mixed up. What was the next step? Check the tire for anything that might be embedded. I do so and as a result sliced the tips of my left ring and middle fingers. Now I was dripping blood. Nice. What did I rip my fingers on, a finishing tack. I thought it odd that such a thing would randomly be on the road. Later on I found out that this is not an uncommon thing as it has been a problem in the past few years. I also spoke to an athlete after the race that said there was someone from IMC when she went through that area directing athletes away from the sides of the road where the tacks had been spread.
I removed the tack and continued with my task dripping fingers and all. I am stressed and knew that my time was going to go to ratsh*t with this. That being said I had two options, freak out and not get it done or stay on course and get it done. I chose the latter and despite taking a long time I got it done. I stayed calm, as I knew that if I got upset I’d get flustered and that would cost me more. The nicest thing was someone came and offered help but I knew enough to say thanks but no thanks as I did not wish to get DQ’d for that. When I was finished and picked up my garbage a spectator indicated to put the stuff on the ground and they would put it in the garbage for me. How nice of them.
I lost close to 30 mins changing my tire but I did it. Next time it won’t be so long.
To quote a line from Aerosmith “I’m back, I’m back in the saddle again” and was headed down the road. I was mad and had to really work on not wasting energy with crazy riding but rather channelling it to my legs to ride smooth, even paced and relaxed. I stayed focused and kept praising myself for doing the change and getting it done. I take in water and fuel and kept riding. I was passing people and kept riding. I was going to be ok. Before I knew it I was at the base of Richters. Just after the Huskey corner I was behind a guy who was standing on his bike and it wasn’t water that I saw! Yuck! I was almost in a golden shower! Eeewww! I pressed on and utilized the stop just into the climb to pee and check out my tire and of course my fingers. Check, check and check. Good to go. I’m now into a climb and as happy as can be. I was behind someone and a bike marshal said something to me but I couldn’t understand what she said. Is suspect it was a warning (like at GWN), I was too close to someone on the early part of the climb. Must pay heed to that, no need to get a drafting penalty! I continued on and eventually made Richters, loved seeing the GWN north tent at the top. Loved the cheering and signage, favourite of mine as it was for others “You are all nucking futs”. Richters-CHECK!
The descent was awesome as I headed for the rollers. I looked forward to them and they were done before I knew it. Yeah there was a wind but I don’t believe it was as strong as it was at the training camp. Besides, given where we all train and the wind conditions as well, it was just an average day! Now looming was the out and back on the bike. I saw Richelle and Trevor and cheered them on as I headed towards special needs. Met Jason at the special needs point and discussed with him what foods I should take. I let the PB&J sandwich go, gels and my bonk bar. In hindsight I should’ve kept the bonk bar. I just didn’t think I could stomach solids and decided to make it a 100% Infinit day. A slow intake of the solids may have been better for me for later on. As I headed out I began to get a tad nauseous and decided that I slow up a bit while I dealt with the nausea. At one aid station a Japanese athlete was having difficulty with asking where the squirt cap water bottles were. I helped her understand there were none and she moved on. What a challenge I thought, to do a race where English is not the 1st language! Rollers and the out and back (latter was not enjoyed but utilized well)- CHECK!
The next part of the ride was Yellow Lake. I have to say, that climb is much easier on an empty bladder. (During the training camp I had to go and didn’t as we were all meeting at the top and had to get there by a certain time). As I neared the top I decided to use the last of my water to cool off when an aid station person advised me to save my water as they were out. WTF? OUT of water on the top of a climb a hot day climb no less? I got some ice, as I knew it would melt quickly and I’d have some water on the descent. Again, the supporters were amazing at the top and I absorbed the good vibes to focus on the next stage, the final descent into Penticton. I was calm and collected as I began and found myself repeating my new mantra for descending. It’s corny but it worked. “Use the force Luke, right hand rear”. The latter is to remind myself which brake is which! I actually passed people! Whoohoo!!! Skaha Lake and then Main Street that is one long street! I saw the pro leaders finishing and cheered them on. I focused on me; I had made it, 180km ride-CHECK!
Time: 7:16:32, 53/96 W50-54 Overall place 2231 I’m ok with this as I know without the flat it would have been much less. Still, I changed it and it stayed filled!
I was told that T2 was a negative place and to get the hell out of Dodge as soon as possible. I was treated very well by Tanya and regrouped myself with a bottle of water that she found for me. Hit the porta potties, “ a little dab will do ya” of sunscreen and I was off in good spirits for what would be my first marathon. T2 time: 8:00
The Run
I began with a slow run and to my surprise it felt ok. I saw my parents walking and yelled out and was very happy to be able to grab a hug and good wishes from them. They have been to my athletic events in my youth but none as an adult. In all the years I played rugby my Mom saw me once in the 1st years but my Dad never did. Here they were at IMC as very proud parents of an athlete.
Roger, Julie and the kids were further up and I was able to get more hugs and wishes from them. “RUN FORREST RUN” was chanted I loved it! (For those of you that don’t know, my maiden name is Forrest). Saw the female pro leaders finishing as I started as well which was exciting for me.
I was in a good place mentally and continued to enjoy myself. Saw friends along the way that encouraged me and another hug from Debbie and Byron who I met coming out of the water. I kept my emotions in check, as I had to keep breathing normally. Internals were behaving and as I approached Cherry Lane and the TTL tent I was smiling. As Angie checked in with me I told her I was good to go and hoped that I would be able to continue with the pace I was at which was approx 12:15-30 +/- per mile. The saving grace for me for the run was in place, a neckerchief that holds ice and as it melts in the pocket cooled me down. Tanya, you are my saviour. The ice on a sponge under my hat didn’t look cool but kept me cool.
Skaha Lake loomed in front of me, the heat beating down on me I stayed focused. Walked the aid stations, taking in water and getting more ice. I was still happy with everything but had a suspicion the return trip was not going to go as well but would deal with it then. I walked the hills to save my strength and cheered those that I knew on the return trip. I thought, “ I want to be them, I want to be on the return trip”. I flipped a silent bird at the places on the run that I had “issues” with during training camp and that motivated me to go on and next thing it was OK Falls, I was getting near the turn around point and my time was good approximately 2:30 ish. I understood my family would not be there as it was too much of a challenge to get all of them there (2 cars, 8 people)
As I came towards the pylon (gee is that all?) I saw the familiar Rider green and gasped with joy and almost started to cry as my entire family along with two more friends from Calgary that were there to cheer me on. I was going to stop and hug them but was told not to and I listened to them and kept on going. There is a picture of Duncan running beside me at that point. What a difference in my spirit as I turned around to go back, I knew then that I was going to make it. I had one HUGE smile on my face too!
Out I climb from OK Falls, I was one of them I was on the return. I knew Danielle was going to catch me and she did. Way to go Danielle! I saw Cindy, Shannon and Ken. Hugs and high fives abounded as we passed. Man, TTL is the best on course support ever.
Around the 15/16-mile mark I began to have some problems, no energy, nausea and had to slow to a walk. Not happy about that but knew I had to keep going forward. I took in coke, water, and ice and kept going forward. I ran when I could, walked because I had to.
The volunteers at the aid stations became my new best friends they were so supportive. I stated my need for “something” at a station and another athlete suggested the grapes. I hesitated as I had not tried them before and I didn’t wish to set off my internals (which by the way were still behaving) with something new. By the 17-mile mark I had to do something so I tried the grapes. WOWSA!! They became the ultimate thing and I took in grapes along with water at every aid station. The ingestion of the grapes did get things going internally and like GWN “perfectly placed porta-potties” were on the horizon at 18 and 20 miles. No line-ups just in and out. Perfect. I kept my mind on going forward, I enjoyed the music from the party boat, the fact when the sun went behind the mountains I yelled “Redemption is ours! Hallelujah!” The air temperature dropped almost immediately and so did my body temperature.
I continued to “cat and mouse” with several athletes and was no means lonely on that return stretch along Skaha Lake. I kept my run going when I could, walked fast when I could and asked as I approached the aid stations if they had grapes. One aid station volunteer had even taken them off the vines! What service! The grapes saved me from being one of the many athletes that were ill along the course. I did not want that for myself and fought the nausea off.
I made it into town, Wade Church from GWN was cheering athletes on at an aid station and was pleased to see another TTL’er come through. I was struggling but kept pushing on. I felt something on the bottom of my foot, I wanted to ignore it but Angie’s words of “Do not ignore it, as it will just get worse”. I had to check the bottom of my sock just at the entrance to Main St. There was nothing there but wet socks causing some friction. Did I have my spare pair of socks and 2nd skin with me? Nooooo I had forgot to grab them from my bike. I had to think “suck it up buttercup” and just deal with it and keep going forward.
The people that were still on Main St as I continued on were so good to me. “Keep going you are almost there”. I thanked them as best I could. Sometimes I couldn’t say anything I simply nodded and pressed my hands together as if I was praying (ok, I was). “Keep going you are almost there” it began to sound like the response to kids when they asked how much further and I would say, “It’s just around the next corner”.
At one point the streetlights were not bright, there were not a lot of people around I was really struggling with nausea and knew I had to take in some fuel before the next aid station or I was going to fall over. I spun a gel in my hand, struggling with the thought of the taste (vanilla), kept going forward, should I or shouldn’t I take some gel in? I decided to try a bit but with no water the gel was sticky and gooey and not what I wanted but I knew it would help me I kept on taking a tiny bit, I mean barely 1/4tsp worth. I decided that the gel was not the answer and walked up to a bus stop with two people in it. They watched me as I carefully placed the gel in the garbage. They wished me luck but I knew they wondered if I was going to make. At that very moment I went to the dark place in my mind and questioned that as well. Could I? Would I? How could I stop now? How can I keep going when I feel so shi**y? What can I do to finish? I kept going forward.
At the next aid station my intake of red grapes and water followed by a big ol’ belch (a sign of a fine meal in some cultures!) got me past the dark side and yes, I used the force!
I am now closer, there are more people and I catch up and past that I have been walking/running with for the last 5 miles. One person in particular I say, “Tall Guy (he was 6’6” or so), run the rest of the way with me” “I can’t Average Height Person, due to muscle cramps”. I kept on going forward. I am now on Winnipeg St. and Stacey (who is 5 months pregnant) ran alongside me “Are you going to finish this or what?!” I laugh and say “HELL YEAH!” I start telling people “Ohhh look at me, keeping up with the pregnant lady!” She cheers me on. Roger and Konrad are alongside Roger asking if I want to run with the Rider flag across the line. I decline as I have a Rider flag on my race-belt. I now have the BIGGEST smile on my face, I make the corner, I know I have to turn left and what a difficult left turn that is!
I’m on the stretch, could it be any longer? Cripes it is like that ride down Main Street on the last part of the bike! The crowd is cheering me on, everyone and anyone keeps saying “Go Leslie-Anne Go!” C’mon 3085 you are going to do it! The last aid station do I stop or don’t I? I decide to take in a few more grapes as I want to finish strong and I know I will do it with the intake. I finish, inhale, I see the pylon and I hear and see TTL. Angie is there, Tara tells me to give her the neckerchief I decline, as it is part of how I got there and I want it in the picture. I fix my hat ensuring my hair is tucked underneath on all sides and nose is wiped clean as suggested in the TTL Newsletter, thanks Cindy! Angie joins me on this last part. I see the Ken, the guy who got me thru the last part of the GWN run, he recognizes me, how cool to see him again!
Accolades abound and Angie directs them to me. “Can you see the green sign? That is the finish area Leslie-Anne you’re going to be an Ironman” Angie says, “I can and
Angie, slow down I can’t run that fast!” “Can you see the light? That is the finishing line! Leslie-Anne you’re going to be an Ironman” I am smiling more than ever.
Angie tells me she will stop at the blue carpet as that is the finishing chute, I thank her and I am on the carpet. I am going towards the light!
I see the Ironman Finisher arch, I hear people cheering for me, I hear the announcer call my name, I ease up ever so slightly so the athlete in front of me has his moment and more importantly so I can have mine. I grab the tape. I am finished! I AM AN IRONMAN!!
Time: 5:46:47. 49/96 W 50-54 Overall Place 1911 OMG I improved with the run!
I immediately see Bernadette, a co-worker who, along with her friend and daughter volunteered at IMC because of me. I jump up and down with sheer joy. I will admit I had no idea I jumped up and down until I was told and then watched myself later on. She puts the medal around my neck, takes hold of my arm and moves me towards the timing chip removal and picture.
I hear my name, it is Debbie and Bryon, soooo fitting that I see them right then and there, I hug them across the fence. My apologies to the volunteer who had to take my chip off!
I then see John Bosma (that was meant to be!). I thanked him again for all that he did for me as he hugged me as one Ironman to another. He is still my hero.
I get my picture taken; get some water and what I really wanted, a space blanket! For some reason that item was very important to me! Actually I knew once I started to cool down I would need it. I gather myself for a few minutes in the athlete holding area with Mike and Scott checking in on me. TTL once again is there. Our team rocks! I get some water and head off to the designated meeting spot where my family and friends would be.
I see my family; all I wanted was Roger’s arms around me. He smothers me; I shake with joy as I say, “ I am an Ironman”. Konrad and Connor then hug me. Heather and Duncan hug me. The beauty of having twins is the joy of having them hug me at the same time that joy will never fade. Duncan after that hug sobbed in my Mom’s arms. When asked the reason he was crying, “I’m just so proud of my Mommy”. I hug my Mom and cry a bit when I hug my Dad.
I get handed what I was looking for. Sharon and Dale who timed their holiday to watch me cross (and were at OK Falls too!!) handed me one ice-cold Pilsner beer. Oh my my my my did it ever taste good!
I gather my wits, my bike and my gear. We head home, I make some phone calls. One to a friend lives in Virginia who watched me cross. His question was to me, “How did you have the energy to jump up and down after all that you did?” My family are proud of me, I am honoured they took the time to keep track of me during the day. Yeah for live broadcasts!
At the house I grab a much-needed shower, and sit down to enjoy Moet & Chandon champagne. Roger dons his Rider bow tie for the occasion. I toast my family and friends who without I could not have done IMC. I thank them for what they gave me.
I was not feeling 100% and even after the dry toast (not the champagne, but actual toasted bread) I finally succumbed to the nausea that had plagued me off and on throughout the day. I tried to stay awake but to no avail. I thanked everyone, apologized for not being able to enjoy the camaraderie and went to bed.
Time: 11:29pm. My last thought was there were still people out on the course, I wished them well and said one more time, “ I AM AN IRONMAN”.
It is a day I won’t forget. I know already that I will do IMC again in fact I can’t wait to do it again.
Thanks to all the IMC volunteers, the race is because of them. Thanks to the members of TTL the continual support throughout the process and during was appreciated.
Angie asked at my post race meeting if I was physically ready. I was and then some. All the information given was utilized. “Solve each problem as they arise” and I did. Next time I flat I will be faster in fixing it. I look at my finishing time and know that a sub 14 was possible. That being said, the execution of my race was done to the best of my ability and for that reason alone I am mega proud of what I did and how I did it.
My coach gave me the tools that I needed to complete the race. She taught me how to use the tools to the best of what I could do. She reminded me that it is my day and no one else’s. She supported me when I was frustrated and filled with self-doubt. She taught me how to focus on my strength and quite honestly to “use the force”. Thank you Angie.
My family and friends have stated what an experience they had by the whole day. I am honoured that they came for me and cheered me on even when I may not have heard or seen them. Same to those not there but still followed my progress. Their support was unwavering and for that I am grateful.
Roger is undoubtedly my most avid supporter.
He became my manager asking what I had to do training-wise, making sure I ate enough, hounding me to go to bed earlier. How many times did I fall asleep with my head on his lap? He did shoulder everything and was with me every step of the way pre race and certainly during the race.
Without him becoming an Ironman would have been near impossible. Thank-you and I love you.
I realize this is a long report but I have tried to capture my thoughts and emotions as I competed at IMC. Preparing for this event was one of the hardest things I have undertaken.
I haven’t been that focused since I went to school and to be honest, I enjoyed it. Yes there were times when I was more exhausted than I have ever been. I got tired of saying, “I’d love to come but I have to train” “Thanks for the party but we have to go as I have to train in the morning” “Where’s Mommy?” “She’s training.”
When I was in the final stages of the run I have never wanted anything to end so badly and never before have I ever wanted that finish line so badly before either. Crazy huh?
The one thing that kept me going was the sound of the Youtube video that pokes fun at someone who is going to train for an ironman. All I could hear in the electronic tone was “I will be an ironman”.
I am.
When I started triathlon training I thought only crazy people did IMC. I mean, come on folks, really? 3.8km swim to an 180km bike then follow that with a 42.2km (as in full marathon) run afterwards? Yeahhhh riiiiiiiiiiiight.
So, here I am one fully certified crazy person who did just that. And to be perfectly honest, I FREAKING LOVED IT!!!
In deciding to undertake the challenge of IMC, I talked to Angie about what was the training commitment. I was very concerned with the amount of time that I would need to give to prepare for a full ironman. Over a beer (natch) at BP’s in Cochrane one night I was advised that in order to get ready I must love training. It was discussed that I would be giving up weekend days, most weekday nights and would be more tired than I have ever been. Ok, I thought, I could do that. Told Roger about what was needed and he agreed to support me in my quest. I let Angie know that it was a go and the ball was put into motion, I was going to do IMC 2011. Helluva way to celebrate my 50th!
My ironman year fast approached after I got the crap scared out of me at the start of IMC 2010. I walked away sobbing with self-doubt not sure I could muster what was needed to get to the start. Later that night when I was a catcher and saw the athletes come across I began to believe. I really knew I could do it when I caught John Bosma. At that moment he became my hero and I continued to draw from his spirit as I prepared myself for IMC.
As far as the training, that was quite the deal! I was excited to reach the milestones that were set out for me. There were days when a long ride was Regina/Moose Jaw return (a 140km time trial actually, could that road be any flatter?). The long runs where I was plagued with “issues”, when I thought, “Just what the hell am I doing this for? Oh yeah, I will be an ironman” I heard from other TTL athletes about how IMC was “easy” because they were ready for it. I can say the same thing; the training laid out for me had me more than prepared. That was especially true when we all gathered in Penticton for the training camp. The swim was awesome, the bike was stellar and the run had me finally get the monkeys off my back about my “issues”. I knew I was on my way.
Next thing I knew it was “taper time” and our departure day for Penticton arrived! All 9 of us (my parents, 4 kids and my girlfriend Julie from New Zealand who came over just to see me cross the finish line, gee can you say “no pressure”?) headed west.
Our accommodations were out of this world and suited our numbers perfectly. It was an easy drive to join the others in our pre race meetings/workouts. It was funny to hear Shannon say how calm I was as she thought I’d be way more nervous. Ha! Little did she know that I was scared sh*tless and the outside in no way reflected the inside.
During my pre race meeting with Angie I disclosed that all I frustrated with making decisions regarding meals etc. In her calm manner, she told me that I needed to tell my family that I am not to make any decisions that the kids go to any other adult in the house and the meals were the meals were the meals. That helped along with the information regarding my nutrition for the bike. Here’s a tip for other IMC athletes in future, if you are meeting with Angie and it is at Smith and Company, please be sure that Angie’s back is to the door so she can’t see who comes in and they in turn can’t see her. That woman knows everyone and everyone knows her!
I attended the pre-race banquet and a friend of mine joined Trevor, Jason, Ken, Rona, Shannon, Cindy Danielle and I for supper. He had a great time and enjoyed our camaraderie. Numbers quoted that night included an athlete who has done 125 ironmans!
I equated my pre race brain numbness and emotional state to “pregnancy brain”, couldn’t remember anything, only focused on one thing, didn’t want to think and cried at the drop of a hat. I declared I had “ironman brain” same symptoms, same results!
This was particularly true Saturday before race day. Thank goodness for the smiles from Rona and Shannon who both told me to go for a swim and be in the place that calms me the best, the water. Before I could do that I talked to Angie, ok, cried to Angie. She along with my hero, John Bosma helped me to calm down. As John said, all I had to do was get to the starting line and all would be ok from there. It’s all “up here” as he tapped my forehead. What a gentleman to let me cry on his shoulders as I bared my soul and fears.
The swim helped especially sans the “black condom” (although my new-to-me suit rocks!). Later that day I got my bike into transition, ensuring bike bag and run bag in place soooooo weird to just hand it to someone and walk away! Time was drawing near!
The night before the race enjoyed a great meal with two more friends who came out from Calgary to cheer me on. Now there were 11 of us in the house and yes there was still ample room!
I put together my nutrition had just enough Infinit for the day! Yikes! Lucky me. Got my special needs bags ready to go and sat down to enjoy my pre-race ritual of a “wee drop of dram”. In this case about ¼ ounce (neat) of Forty Creek Rye Whiskey, Ken it was m-m-good.
Fell asleep relatively easy and next thing it was 4:00am on race day.
Race Day
Roger and Julie walked me to body marking and I had tears in my eyes as I kissed and hugged them good-bye. The night before I had written “Go TTL” on the road in chalk and smiled as I walked by it.
I handed over my special needs bags and stood to get body marked. I didn’t think I’d see anyone but lo & behold I did. Richelle ahead of me in the line, Michelle (Trevor was good she said, her Mom was there, Dad’s horse ok), and in transition our favourite wet suit “putter-oners” Tara and Kelly and later on Shannon and Trevor. As I walked through that pre race area I know I had “deer in the headlights” looks but I wasn’t alone!
Yeah for just long enough porta potty line-ups, wet suit on and next thing I know I’m walking towards the beach beside Shannon. At the last second before crossing the timing mat I grabbed Shannon’s hand, thank goodness she was there, she squeezed back and I got the internal ok that all would be right.
The Swim
I head for my spot, far left. I knew I would have a slightly longer swim but for me what is an extra 15-25m? Nothing when peace of mind with least amount of body contact is preferred.
What did I see in the distance hanging from the wall? Is that a flag in the green and white of my beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders? Wow, I thought another set of Priders in the crowd? Excellent! Hey, wait a minute that is my gang! WOW! My family got a prime spot. I head towards the flag and my daughter is hanging over the edge, she is crying and I tell her that I will be ok. (Jeez, am I kidding myself or I am I being truthful?). I say good-bye and head towards the far left. I find myself in a good spot, as there are few ahead, behind and to my left. The right side I wasn’t worried about. A quick dunk and “Oh Canada” starts I sing with pride, as I am Canadian! The gun goes and we’re off!
I knew within the 1st 100meters that I was going to have a good day. I was hardly touched and I could see my target. I could hear the helicopters as I began to swim my swim. Even strokes, no counting, and no lane markers I was in heaven! I was ultra relaxed and I simply swam for the sheer enjoyment. I approached “chaos corner” swung wide and used the current to my advantage. The next bit was a tad crazy but nothing to get me in a snit. I hit the second corner wide and see heads bobbing right beside the buoy. As I swam by them I wondered what was the reason they chose that line? Never mind I say, I’m heading home and it was a good feeling. I found the last 800m the most frustrating. Could any of the athletes that I was catching up and passing maintain a straight line? Cripes! I actually had to “sit up” to let two nimnods battle it out with each other without me in the middle! I hear Steve Kings voice, I see the bottom and know I can stand but not on those rocks, I continue to swim even though my hands are touching. I see the sand, I know I can now stand, I see the Rider flag I wave madly, Roger sees me, and I hear my name being called. It is my girlfriend who I’ve known since age 13 and is one of the people who got me hooked on triathlons standing knee deep greeting the athletes. A quick hug as I exit, another person calls my name, her husband! Wow! What a boost for me!
I get my suit stripped, (love that), get my bike bag and head for the tent. I’m in T1!
Time: 1:11:31 (I had more in me but hey, that bike and run were looming!)
8/96 W50-54. Overall place: 817. I’m good with that!
T1 was very cool! Wow, I was helped on with my socks, bike shoes, and glasses out of their case, helmet ready. I was spoiled! Glad I sun-screened pre race but took some extra just in case. A quick loo stop (note to self: Porta potty floors are slippery when wet and dangerous in bike shoes!) T1 Time: 5:52
The Bike
“This is it!” I thought as I got going, 180kms on a course that I had already ridden and for the most part enjoyed. The pre race decent on Yellow Lake was a good thing as I am not a fan of descending but as a result of that I knew on race day that I was going to use the free speed to my advantage. The cheers as I started the ride from the supporters were unbelievable especially those from TTL’ers who were there.
The ride out through town was great, next thing I knew I was at McLean Creek. It was a bit crazy going through the aid station as it was on a slight incline. I got some water and continued on my way. I was determined to enjoy this ride and kept my mantra going through my head “This is a “do” not a race”. I was surprised at the number of athletes who were changing tires and I thought I hope today I would not be one of them. I hit the flats after OK Falls and knew that I was keeping a good pace, staying “easy cheesy” and enjoying myself when all those “young whipper snappers” passed me ‘cause I knew I had them in the water (it’s a game I play what can I say?) lol.
What was that I feel? It’s like I’m riding on my rim, I look down and say out loud, “Sh*t”, SH*T!” a flat. OMG! I have to change a flat. Ok, be calm be controlled, this will get done; you can do it I said to myself as I came to a stop. I looked at my deflated tire. This would be the FIRST time I had to change a flat by myself. No kidding folks, the FIRST time. (See, there are still firsts for 50 year olds). I was in a flat sandy spot. I did not put the bike down, as I did not wish to loose my nutrition in my aero bottle. In hindsight find something to lean the bike up against or simply take the bottle off. I checked my time and then methodically take out my tube, Co2 cartridges, and plastic thingys to remove the tire. Ok I said to self, what did Richelle teach me at GWN? Oh yeah, break the bead, I got that done and removed the tube. Once the tube was out I threw the tube away from me as Richelle said to in order not to get mixed up. What was the next step? Check the tire for anything that might be embedded. I do so and as a result sliced the tips of my left ring and middle fingers. Now I was dripping blood. Nice. What did I rip my fingers on, a finishing tack. I thought it odd that such a thing would randomly be on the road. Later on I found out that this is not an uncommon thing as it has been a problem in the past few years. I also spoke to an athlete after the race that said there was someone from IMC when she went through that area directing athletes away from the sides of the road where the tacks had been spread.
I removed the tack and continued with my task dripping fingers and all. I am stressed and knew that my time was going to go to ratsh*t with this. That being said I had two options, freak out and not get it done or stay on course and get it done. I chose the latter and despite taking a long time I got it done. I stayed calm, as I knew that if I got upset I’d get flustered and that would cost me more. The nicest thing was someone came and offered help but I knew enough to say thanks but no thanks as I did not wish to get DQ’d for that. When I was finished and picked up my garbage a spectator indicated to put the stuff on the ground and they would put it in the garbage for me. How nice of them.
I lost close to 30 mins changing my tire but I did it. Next time it won’t be so long.
To quote a line from Aerosmith “I’m back, I’m back in the saddle again” and was headed down the road. I was mad and had to really work on not wasting energy with crazy riding but rather channelling it to my legs to ride smooth, even paced and relaxed. I stayed focused and kept praising myself for doing the change and getting it done. I take in water and fuel and kept riding. I was passing people and kept riding. I was going to be ok. Before I knew it I was at the base of Richters. Just after the Huskey corner I was behind a guy who was standing on his bike and it wasn’t water that I saw! Yuck! I was almost in a golden shower! Eeewww! I pressed on and utilized the stop just into the climb to pee and check out my tire and of course my fingers. Check, check and check. Good to go. I’m now into a climb and as happy as can be. I was behind someone and a bike marshal said something to me but I couldn’t understand what she said. Is suspect it was a warning (like at GWN), I was too close to someone on the early part of the climb. Must pay heed to that, no need to get a drafting penalty! I continued on and eventually made Richters, loved seeing the GWN north tent at the top. Loved the cheering and signage, favourite of mine as it was for others “You are all nucking futs”. Richters-CHECK!
The descent was awesome as I headed for the rollers. I looked forward to them and they were done before I knew it. Yeah there was a wind but I don’t believe it was as strong as it was at the training camp. Besides, given where we all train and the wind conditions as well, it was just an average day! Now looming was the out and back on the bike. I saw Richelle and Trevor and cheered them on as I headed towards special needs. Met Jason at the special needs point and discussed with him what foods I should take. I let the PB&J sandwich go, gels and my bonk bar. In hindsight I should’ve kept the bonk bar. I just didn’t think I could stomach solids and decided to make it a 100% Infinit day. A slow intake of the solids may have been better for me for later on. As I headed out I began to get a tad nauseous and decided that I slow up a bit while I dealt with the nausea. At one aid station a Japanese athlete was having difficulty with asking where the squirt cap water bottles were. I helped her understand there were none and she moved on. What a challenge I thought, to do a race where English is not the 1st language! Rollers and the out and back (latter was not enjoyed but utilized well)- CHECK!
The next part of the ride was Yellow Lake. I have to say, that climb is much easier on an empty bladder. (During the training camp I had to go and didn’t as we were all meeting at the top and had to get there by a certain time). As I neared the top I decided to use the last of my water to cool off when an aid station person advised me to save my water as they were out. WTF? OUT of water on the top of a climb a hot day climb no less? I got some ice, as I knew it would melt quickly and I’d have some water on the descent. Again, the supporters were amazing at the top and I absorbed the good vibes to focus on the next stage, the final descent into Penticton. I was calm and collected as I began and found myself repeating my new mantra for descending. It’s corny but it worked. “Use the force Luke, right hand rear”. The latter is to remind myself which brake is which! I actually passed people! Whoohoo!!! Skaha Lake and then Main Street that is one long street! I saw the pro leaders finishing and cheered them on. I focused on me; I had made it, 180km ride-CHECK!
Time: 7:16:32, 53/96 W50-54 Overall place 2231 I’m ok with this as I know without the flat it would have been much less. Still, I changed it and it stayed filled!
I was told that T2 was a negative place and to get the hell out of Dodge as soon as possible. I was treated very well by Tanya and regrouped myself with a bottle of water that she found for me. Hit the porta potties, “ a little dab will do ya” of sunscreen and I was off in good spirits for what would be my first marathon. T2 time: 8:00
The Run
I began with a slow run and to my surprise it felt ok. I saw my parents walking and yelled out and was very happy to be able to grab a hug and good wishes from them. They have been to my athletic events in my youth but none as an adult. In all the years I played rugby my Mom saw me once in the 1st years but my Dad never did. Here they were at IMC as very proud parents of an athlete.
Roger, Julie and the kids were further up and I was able to get more hugs and wishes from them. “RUN FORREST RUN” was chanted I loved it! (For those of you that don’t know, my maiden name is Forrest). Saw the female pro leaders finishing as I started as well which was exciting for me.
I was in a good place mentally and continued to enjoy myself. Saw friends along the way that encouraged me and another hug from Debbie and Byron who I met coming out of the water. I kept my emotions in check, as I had to keep breathing normally. Internals were behaving and as I approached Cherry Lane and the TTL tent I was smiling. As Angie checked in with me I told her I was good to go and hoped that I would be able to continue with the pace I was at which was approx 12:15-30 +/- per mile. The saving grace for me for the run was in place, a neckerchief that holds ice and as it melts in the pocket cooled me down. Tanya, you are my saviour. The ice on a sponge under my hat didn’t look cool but kept me cool.
Skaha Lake loomed in front of me, the heat beating down on me I stayed focused. Walked the aid stations, taking in water and getting more ice. I was still happy with everything but had a suspicion the return trip was not going to go as well but would deal with it then. I walked the hills to save my strength and cheered those that I knew on the return trip. I thought, “ I want to be them, I want to be on the return trip”. I flipped a silent bird at the places on the run that I had “issues” with during training camp and that motivated me to go on and next thing it was OK Falls, I was getting near the turn around point and my time was good approximately 2:30 ish. I understood my family would not be there as it was too much of a challenge to get all of them there (2 cars, 8 people)
As I came towards the pylon (gee is that all?) I saw the familiar Rider green and gasped with joy and almost started to cry as my entire family along with two more friends from Calgary that were there to cheer me on. I was going to stop and hug them but was told not to and I listened to them and kept on going. There is a picture of Duncan running beside me at that point. What a difference in my spirit as I turned around to go back, I knew then that I was going to make it. I had one HUGE smile on my face too!
Out I climb from OK Falls, I was one of them I was on the return. I knew Danielle was going to catch me and she did. Way to go Danielle! I saw Cindy, Shannon and Ken. Hugs and high fives abounded as we passed. Man, TTL is the best on course support ever.
Around the 15/16-mile mark I began to have some problems, no energy, nausea and had to slow to a walk. Not happy about that but knew I had to keep going forward. I took in coke, water, and ice and kept going forward. I ran when I could, walked because I had to.
The volunteers at the aid stations became my new best friends they were so supportive. I stated my need for “something” at a station and another athlete suggested the grapes. I hesitated as I had not tried them before and I didn’t wish to set off my internals (which by the way were still behaving) with something new. By the 17-mile mark I had to do something so I tried the grapes. WOWSA!! They became the ultimate thing and I took in grapes along with water at every aid station. The ingestion of the grapes did get things going internally and like GWN “perfectly placed porta-potties” were on the horizon at 18 and 20 miles. No line-ups just in and out. Perfect. I kept my mind on going forward, I enjoyed the music from the party boat, the fact when the sun went behind the mountains I yelled “Redemption is ours! Hallelujah!” The air temperature dropped almost immediately and so did my body temperature.
I continued to “cat and mouse” with several athletes and was no means lonely on that return stretch along Skaha Lake. I kept my run going when I could, walked fast when I could and asked as I approached the aid stations if they had grapes. One aid station volunteer had even taken them off the vines! What service! The grapes saved me from being one of the many athletes that were ill along the course. I did not want that for myself and fought the nausea off.
I made it into town, Wade Church from GWN was cheering athletes on at an aid station and was pleased to see another TTL’er come through. I was struggling but kept pushing on. I felt something on the bottom of my foot, I wanted to ignore it but Angie’s words of “Do not ignore it, as it will just get worse”. I had to check the bottom of my sock just at the entrance to Main St. There was nothing there but wet socks causing some friction. Did I have my spare pair of socks and 2nd skin with me? Nooooo I had forgot to grab them from my bike. I had to think “suck it up buttercup” and just deal with it and keep going forward.
The people that were still on Main St as I continued on were so good to me. “Keep going you are almost there”. I thanked them as best I could. Sometimes I couldn’t say anything I simply nodded and pressed my hands together as if I was praying (ok, I was). “Keep going you are almost there” it began to sound like the response to kids when they asked how much further and I would say, “It’s just around the next corner”.
At one point the streetlights were not bright, there were not a lot of people around I was really struggling with nausea and knew I had to take in some fuel before the next aid station or I was going to fall over. I spun a gel in my hand, struggling with the thought of the taste (vanilla), kept going forward, should I or shouldn’t I take some gel in? I decided to try a bit but with no water the gel was sticky and gooey and not what I wanted but I knew it would help me I kept on taking a tiny bit, I mean barely 1/4tsp worth. I decided that the gel was not the answer and walked up to a bus stop with two people in it. They watched me as I carefully placed the gel in the garbage. They wished me luck but I knew they wondered if I was going to make. At that very moment I went to the dark place in my mind and questioned that as well. Could I? Would I? How could I stop now? How can I keep going when I feel so shi**y? What can I do to finish? I kept going forward.
At the next aid station my intake of red grapes and water followed by a big ol’ belch (a sign of a fine meal in some cultures!) got me past the dark side and yes, I used the force!
I am now closer, there are more people and I catch up and past that I have been walking/running with for the last 5 miles. One person in particular I say, “Tall Guy (he was 6’6” or so), run the rest of the way with me” “I can’t Average Height Person, due to muscle cramps”. I kept on going forward. I am now on Winnipeg St. and Stacey (who is 5 months pregnant) ran alongside me “Are you going to finish this or what?!” I laugh and say “HELL YEAH!” I start telling people “Ohhh look at me, keeping up with the pregnant lady!” She cheers me on. Roger and Konrad are alongside Roger asking if I want to run with the Rider flag across the line. I decline as I have a Rider flag on my race-belt. I now have the BIGGEST smile on my face, I make the corner, I know I have to turn left and what a difficult left turn that is!
I’m on the stretch, could it be any longer? Cripes it is like that ride down Main Street on the last part of the bike! The crowd is cheering me on, everyone and anyone keeps saying “Go Leslie-Anne Go!” C’mon 3085 you are going to do it! The last aid station do I stop or don’t I? I decide to take in a few more grapes as I want to finish strong and I know I will do it with the intake. I finish, inhale, I see the pylon and I hear and see TTL. Angie is there, Tara tells me to give her the neckerchief I decline, as it is part of how I got there and I want it in the picture. I fix my hat ensuring my hair is tucked underneath on all sides and nose is wiped clean as suggested in the TTL Newsletter, thanks Cindy! Angie joins me on this last part. I see the Ken, the guy who got me thru the last part of the GWN run, he recognizes me, how cool to see him again!
Accolades abound and Angie directs them to me. “Can you see the green sign? That is the finish area Leslie-Anne you’re going to be an Ironman” Angie says, “I can and
Angie, slow down I can’t run that fast!” “Can you see the light? That is the finishing line! Leslie-Anne you’re going to be an Ironman” I am smiling more than ever.
Angie tells me she will stop at the blue carpet as that is the finishing chute, I thank her and I am on the carpet. I am going towards the light!
I see the Ironman Finisher arch, I hear people cheering for me, I hear the announcer call my name, I ease up ever so slightly so the athlete in front of me has his moment and more importantly so I can have mine. I grab the tape. I am finished! I AM AN IRONMAN!!
Time: 5:46:47. 49/96 W 50-54 Overall Place 1911 OMG I improved with the run!
I immediately see Bernadette, a co-worker who, along with her friend and daughter volunteered at IMC because of me. I jump up and down with sheer joy. I will admit I had no idea I jumped up and down until I was told and then watched myself later on. She puts the medal around my neck, takes hold of my arm and moves me towards the timing chip removal and picture.
I hear my name, it is Debbie and Bryon, soooo fitting that I see them right then and there, I hug them across the fence. My apologies to the volunteer who had to take my chip off!
I then see John Bosma (that was meant to be!). I thanked him again for all that he did for me as he hugged me as one Ironman to another. He is still my hero.
I get my picture taken; get some water and what I really wanted, a space blanket! For some reason that item was very important to me! Actually I knew once I started to cool down I would need it. I gather myself for a few minutes in the athlete holding area with Mike and Scott checking in on me. TTL once again is there. Our team rocks! I get some water and head off to the designated meeting spot where my family and friends would be.
I see my family; all I wanted was Roger’s arms around me. He smothers me; I shake with joy as I say, “ I am an Ironman”. Konrad and Connor then hug me. Heather and Duncan hug me. The beauty of having twins is the joy of having them hug me at the same time that joy will never fade. Duncan after that hug sobbed in my Mom’s arms. When asked the reason he was crying, “I’m just so proud of my Mommy”. I hug my Mom and cry a bit when I hug my Dad.
I get handed what I was looking for. Sharon and Dale who timed their holiday to watch me cross (and were at OK Falls too!!) handed me one ice-cold Pilsner beer. Oh my my my my did it ever taste good!
I gather my wits, my bike and my gear. We head home, I make some phone calls. One to a friend lives in Virginia who watched me cross. His question was to me, “How did you have the energy to jump up and down after all that you did?” My family are proud of me, I am honoured they took the time to keep track of me during the day. Yeah for live broadcasts!
At the house I grab a much-needed shower, and sit down to enjoy Moet & Chandon champagne. Roger dons his Rider bow tie for the occasion. I toast my family and friends who without I could not have done IMC. I thank them for what they gave me.
I was not feeling 100% and even after the dry toast (not the champagne, but actual toasted bread) I finally succumbed to the nausea that had plagued me off and on throughout the day. I tried to stay awake but to no avail. I thanked everyone, apologized for not being able to enjoy the camaraderie and went to bed.
Time: 11:29pm. My last thought was there were still people out on the course, I wished them well and said one more time, “ I AM AN IRONMAN”.
It is a day I won’t forget. I know already that I will do IMC again in fact I can’t wait to do it again.
Thanks to all the IMC volunteers, the race is because of them. Thanks to the members of TTL the continual support throughout the process and during was appreciated.
Angie asked at my post race meeting if I was physically ready. I was and then some. All the information given was utilized. “Solve each problem as they arise” and I did. Next time I flat I will be faster in fixing it. I look at my finishing time and know that a sub 14 was possible. That being said, the execution of my race was done to the best of my ability and for that reason alone I am mega proud of what I did and how I did it.
My coach gave me the tools that I needed to complete the race. She taught me how to use the tools to the best of what I could do. She reminded me that it is my day and no one else’s. She supported me when I was frustrated and filled with self-doubt. She taught me how to focus on my strength and quite honestly to “use the force”. Thank you Angie.
My family and friends have stated what an experience they had by the whole day. I am honoured that they came for me and cheered me on even when I may not have heard or seen them. Same to those not there but still followed my progress. Their support was unwavering and for that I am grateful.
Roger is undoubtedly my most avid supporter.
He became my manager asking what I had to do training-wise, making sure I ate enough, hounding me to go to bed earlier. How many times did I fall asleep with my head on his lap? He did shoulder everything and was with me every step of the way pre race and certainly during the race.
Without him becoming an Ironman would have been near impossible. Thank-you and I love you.
I realize this is a long report but I have tried to capture my thoughts and emotions as I competed at IMC. Preparing for this event was one of the hardest things I have undertaken.
I haven’t been that focused since I went to school and to be honest, I enjoyed it. Yes there were times when I was more exhausted than I have ever been. I got tired of saying, “I’d love to come but I have to train” “Thanks for the party but we have to go as I have to train in the morning” “Where’s Mommy?” “She’s training.”
When I was in the final stages of the run I have never wanted anything to end so badly and never before have I ever wanted that finish line so badly before either. Crazy huh?
The one thing that kept me going was the sound of the Youtube video that pokes fun at someone who is going to train for an ironman. All I could hear in the electronic tone was “I will be an ironman”.
I am.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Christine's Calgary 70.3 Race Report - August 2011
Ironman 70.3 Race Report
Well, I have a new found respect for all of you. This was hard – and when I finished as I was bawling my head off I was saying "that was really &*$*^%& hard, wholly shit, that was really ^&$*#&% hard – sorry my children – I think some sort of shock was hitting, and Bertha the Truck driver came pouring out. But with that being said, I completed my goals…To not poop my pants and to not look like I have cerebral palsy when I cross the finish line, check and check.
So for me race day started the Friday before when I had a wonderful chat with team mate Amanda. She told me about my box.
How to try to stay in my box the whole race and she shared with me how she stayed in her box during her first half. So my goal was now to stay in my box, not to poop my pants and to not look like I have cerebral palsy when I cross the finish line. From Friday night on, I was trying to not worry, I had done what I could and there was no changing the past – it is what it is, was my mantra.
Staying with Angie and Tara the night before was fun and we shared a great meal – I was trying to be Zen, and I think I accomplished this – nerves were only bad during the bike set up. I went for a great pre-race swim with Carla and a nice guy in a canoe told us where to sight. I was in my element and felt some confidence.
Race Day.
I was excited and ready to go. During the swim – for the first time I stayed in my box. "What do I need to do right now, to keep moving forward", "how do I feel in my body"? I concentrated on my pull stoke and sighting, feeling good, and I was all alone, I think most people swam much further than they needed - thanks canoe guy.
Out of the water I cheered, I am doing a 70.3, wow. Change good, once again, "what do I need to do right now to keep me moving forward", "how do I feel in my body"? My focus was on my equipment – do I have what I need – check. Time 47 minutes (not my greatest time, but it will do)
The Bike
The bike always worries me, this is my weakest event and I am traditionally very slow – I was worried about bike cut off, but that was out side of my box, so I just kept checking in "how do I feel right now", "what do I need to do to keep moving"? Fueling went well, and I actually liked this course, for every up hill there was a good down hill – where I excel. I was able to pass a lot of people on the down and I was not all alone – I actually had to worry about drafting – this is only the second time that I had to worry about this. My biggest issue is with the seat. The pain is excruciating, but thanks to Trevor and his helpful, tingly, cool anit-chafing cream, I was okay – not great, but okay. The last twenty minuets were a bit tough, but as I was checking in I noticed that my legs were getting tired, so I decided to slow down. I did not like to do this as the cut off time was still on my mind, but once again, being in my box, I addresses the legs getting tired, not the worry of the cut off time. I came into transition, yeah, I made the time.
3:55.xx (slow compared to most of you, but the best 94k I have every done)
The Run –
This was tough from the beginning, it was hot, way hotter than any other day of the year – I had been training at about 6:30/km – this was lost and it did not take much to have a super high heart rate. I was able to keep this pace for about ½ to ¾ of the race. Every aid station felt like miraculous oasis in the desert. I just held onto my box as much as possible, one foot in front of the other, and stay in my box. At 7k the most sensational crowed welcomed me, Team tri life was there cheering me on, proud of me, asking me what I needed. This was such a welcome treat, all of you helped me keep moving. JoZ, was great when she grabbed my shirt and sports bra and dumped a freezing cold glass of ice water into it. It was there until almost the next aid station, I sounded like a moving rum and coke – it made me laugh, it made me feel not alone, the sound of ice sloshing in my boobs was a great sound. I also picked up an orange sponge either at the team tri life station or the next station – this sponge became my greatest companion (but more about that later.
I still felt okay but the turn-around and after the first aid station on the way back. It was around 13 -14k that I felt like something was wrong, staying in my box I asked myself - "What do I need to do right now, to keep moving forward", "how do I feel in my body"? I just started to feel not well. I hit the tri life aid station and I said to Sara, I think, something is wrong – I had to pee, really bad. It is amazing that a simple, normal bodily function can set your whole system off when you are pushing yourself to your limits. I also think that I was loosing clarity of my nutrition – I had lost count of my gels, so I peed, had a gel and some coke with a lot of water – AAAHHHH much better. Good to go, I was running again until that masochistic big *&$#@Q* hill that they make us go up near the end of the run. I saw my son and could not look at him because I was hurting and seeing him I started to cry and then I felt like I would hyperventilate (STAY IN YOUR BOX). Another aid station and once again good to go…
And that was the last of my box and being good to go. I made it to about 18 k and totally lost it. I was swearing like a truck driver, why and I &#@$&# doing this, this hurts so #&@#&$ much, what the #$@*& was I thinking, it is way to #&@#& hot, there is no way that I will ever do this &$#@& again, No @#$&# way I could do Ironman. In hind sight I feel bad about the poor families that were there with their kids having picnics with there kids, when a crazy lady swearing like nobody's business, goes walking by. My feet were so sore from being wet for so long (because I would douse myself with water at every aid station). I felt sorry for myself and my only salvation at the time was that orange sponge that I had associated with team tri life. I kept dabbing that into my cleavage and trying to bring up cold water for my face and back. It was just so hot. I bonded with that sponge –it's okay, we'll make it – oh my beautiful sponge". At about 19k, I some how found my box again, and I loudly "Christine get in your box". "What do I need to do right now, to keep moving forward", "Just keep going", because there were several times that I looked at a shady patch under a tree and thought, I could just curl up and sleep – "back in the box", and back I went, knew that I would finish, so I started to run again (I walked mostly from 17k on) – well actually not run, more like a slow jog, but I was going again. I jogged from 20-21.1k. Me and my buddy, the orange sponge made it.
There is a huge jump from Olympic to 70.3 for me.
Run time 2:55 – slowest half, ever.
Do I train as consistently as I should, no, do I struggle with life and my kids and the rough year that I have had, yes, did I go as fast as I would like, HELL NO, did I get there doing the best the I could, with what I have, HELL YES. I finished.
In hind sight, I want to do it again – God what is wrong with me.
Special Thanks
Angie of course – for everything
Amanda – for the company and prep talk – your words were pivotal to me finishing.
Tara for the company and companionship before the race
Sara and Mike - for helping me get my bottle ready the day before the race and helping me stay calm
Steve – for the use of his bathroom
Rochelle – for helping me with my wet suit
Canoe guy – great advice for the swim
Trevor – for the tingly crotch cream
Mike, Angie, Tara, Trevor and Carla – for encouraging me on the run
Team Tri life at the aid station members
Amanda – for the great yell – Christine is coming and your encouragement – it stayed with me the whole race
Kelly – your smile and visible pride, it was tangible
Danny - your cheers, kindness and not letting me drink the bad water
Kelvin – for opening my gel
Paddy and Trish – for your cheers
JoZ – for your being you and telling me that you love me and for the cold water down my pants and shirt, and the ice cold coke
Sara – for your kindness and encouragement when I was coming back and said to you "something is wrong" and you gave me nutrition - what that was – I can not remember – I only remember kindness and encouragement. I also want to thank you for your kindness when I was peeing in the bushes – I still remember saying – "is this okay, this is gross", and you replied - "your doing great, its okay".
Other team mates that were cheering me on, not judging me for peeing in my clothes in the bushes and for the amazing concrete felt support
My Orange Sponge – which I still have, who became my friend during this long day.
Tara for waiting for me and being there at the end
Angie again – I remember being about 18 and watching Kona, and thinking I would love to do an iron man one day. Thanks for helping me reach 70.3 miles of a life long goal.
I know that I am not ready for a full Ironman yet, my kids are still too little and this has been too tough of a year – when my life is more stable I will do an Ironman – maybe on my 45th, three years from now. Next year I will do more half's and master this level more. For now I am very proud of myself and proud of all of team tri-life.
Thanks Team Tri Life
Well, I have a new found respect for all of you. This was hard – and when I finished as I was bawling my head off I was saying "that was really &*$*^%& hard, wholly shit, that was really ^&$*#&% hard – sorry my children – I think some sort of shock was hitting, and Bertha the Truck driver came pouring out. But with that being said, I completed my goals…To not poop my pants and to not look like I have cerebral palsy when I cross the finish line, check and check.
So for me race day started the Friday before when I had a wonderful chat with team mate Amanda. She told me about my box.
How to try to stay in my box the whole race and she shared with me how she stayed in her box during her first half. So my goal was now to stay in my box, not to poop my pants and to not look like I have cerebral palsy when I cross the finish line. From Friday night on, I was trying to not worry, I had done what I could and there was no changing the past – it is what it is, was my mantra.
Staying with Angie and Tara the night before was fun and we shared a great meal – I was trying to be Zen, and I think I accomplished this – nerves were only bad during the bike set up. I went for a great pre-race swim with Carla and a nice guy in a canoe told us where to sight. I was in my element and felt some confidence.
Race Day.
I was excited and ready to go. During the swim – for the first time I stayed in my box. "What do I need to do right now, to keep moving forward", "how do I feel in my body"? I concentrated on my pull stoke and sighting, feeling good, and I was all alone, I think most people swam much further than they needed - thanks canoe guy.
Out of the water I cheered, I am doing a 70.3, wow. Change good, once again, "what do I need to do right now to keep me moving forward", "how do I feel in my body"? My focus was on my equipment – do I have what I need – check. Time 47 minutes (not my greatest time, but it will do)
The Bike
The bike always worries me, this is my weakest event and I am traditionally very slow – I was worried about bike cut off, but that was out side of my box, so I just kept checking in "how do I feel right now", "what do I need to do to keep moving"? Fueling went well, and I actually liked this course, for every up hill there was a good down hill – where I excel. I was able to pass a lot of people on the down and I was not all alone – I actually had to worry about drafting – this is only the second time that I had to worry about this. My biggest issue is with the seat. The pain is excruciating, but thanks to Trevor and his helpful, tingly, cool anit-chafing cream, I was okay – not great, but okay. The last twenty minuets were a bit tough, but as I was checking in I noticed that my legs were getting tired, so I decided to slow down. I did not like to do this as the cut off time was still on my mind, but once again, being in my box, I addresses the legs getting tired, not the worry of the cut off time. I came into transition, yeah, I made the time.
3:55.xx (slow compared to most of you, but the best 94k I have every done)
The Run –
This was tough from the beginning, it was hot, way hotter than any other day of the year – I had been training at about 6:30/km – this was lost and it did not take much to have a super high heart rate. I was able to keep this pace for about ½ to ¾ of the race. Every aid station felt like miraculous oasis in the desert. I just held onto my box as much as possible, one foot in front of the other, and stay in my box. At 7k the most sensational crowed welcomed me, Team tri life was there cheering me on, proud of me, asking me what I needed. This was such a welcome treat, all of you helped me keep moving. JoZ, was great when she grabbed my shirt and sports bra and dumped a freezing cold glass of ice water into it. It was there until almost the next aid station, I sounded like a moving rum and coke – it made me laugh, it made me feel not alone, the sound of ice sloshing in my boobs was a great sound. I also picked up an orange sponge either at the team tri life station or the next station – this sponge became my greatest companion (but more about that later.
I still felt okay but the turn-around and after the first aid station on the way back. It was around 13 -14k that I felt like something was wrong, staying in my box I asked myself - "What do I need to do right now, to keep moving forward", "how do I feel in my body"? I just started to feel not well. I hit the tri life aid station and I said to Sara, I think, something is wrong – I had to pee, really bad. It is amazing that a simple, normal bodily function can set your whole system off when you are pushing yourself to your limits. I also think that I was loosing clarity of my nutrition – I had lost count of my gels, so I peed, had a gel and some coke with a lot of water – AAAHHHH much better. Good to go, I was running again until that masochistic big *&$#@Q* hill that they make us go up near the end of the run. I saw my son and could not look at him because I was hurting and seeing him I started to cry and then I felt like I would hyperventilate (STAY IN YOUR BOX). Another aid station and once again good to go…
And that was the last of my box and being good to go. I made it to about 18 k and totally lost it. I was swearing like a truck driver, why and I &#@$&# doing this, this hurts so #&@#&$ much, what the #$@*& was I thinking, it is way to #&@#& hot, there is no way that I will ever do this &$#@& again, No @#$&# way I could do Ironman. In hind sight I feel bad about the poor families that were there with their kids having picnics with there kids, when a crazy lady swearing like nobody's business, goes walking by. My feet were so sore from being wet for so long (because I would douse myself with water at every aid station). I felt sorry for myself and my only salvation at the time was that orange sponge that I had associated with team tri life. I kept dabbing that into my cleavage and trying to bring up cold water for my face and back. It was just so hot. I bonded with that sponge –it's okay, we'll make it – oh my beautiful sponge". At about 19k, I some how found my box again, and I loudly "Christine get in your box". "What do I need to do right now, to keep moving forward", "Just keep going", because there were several times that I looked at a shady patch under a tree and thought, I could just curl up and sleep – "back in the box", and back I went, knew that I would finish, so I started to run again (I walked mostly from 17k on) – well actually not run, more like a slow jog, but I was going again. I jogged from 20-21.1k. Me and my buddy, the orange sponge made it.
There is a huge jump from Olympic to 70.3 for me.
Run time 2:55 – slowest half, ever.
Do I train as consistently as I should, no, do I struggle with life and my kids and the rough year that I have had, yes, did I go as fast as I would like, HELL NO, did I get there doing the best the I could, with what I have, HELL YES. I finished.
In hind sight, I want to do it again – God what is wrong with me.
Special Thanks
Angie of course – for everything
Amanda – for the company and prep talk – your words were pivotal to me finishing.
Tara for the company and companionship before the race
Sara and Mike - for helping me get my bottle ready the day before the race and helping me stay calm
Steve – for the use of his bathroom
Rochelle – for helping me with my wet suit
Canoe guy – great advice for the swim
Trevor – for the tingly crotch cream
Mike, Angie, Tara, Trevor and Carla – for encouraging me on the run
Team Tri life at the aid station members
Amanda – for the great yell – Christine is coming and your encouragement – it stayed with me the whole race
Kelly – your smile and visible pride, it was tangible
Danny - your cheers, kindness and not letting me drink the bad water
Kelvin – for opening my gel
Paddy and Trish – for your cheers
JoZ – for your being you and telling me that you love me and for the cold water down my pants and shirt, and the ice cold coke
Sara – for your kindness and encouragement when I was coming back and said to you "something is wrong" and you gave me nutrition - what that was – I can not remember – I only remember kindness and encouragement. I also want to thank you for your kindness when I was peeing in the bushes – I still remember saying – "is this okay, this is gross", and you replied - "your doing great, its okay".
Other team mates that were cheering me on, not judging me for peeing in my clothes in the bushes and for the amazing concrete felt support
My Orange Sponge – which I still have, who became my friend during this long day.
Tara for waiting for me and being there at the end
Angie again – I remember being about 18 and watching Kona, and thinking I would love to do an iron man one day. Thanks for helping me reach 70.3 miles of a life long goal.
I know that I am not ready for a full Ironman yet, my kids are still too little and this has been too tough of a year – when my life is more stable I will do an Ironman – maybe on my 45th, three years from now. Next year I will do more half's and master this level more. For now I am very proud of myself and proud of all of team tri-life.
Thanks Team Tri Life
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Trevor's IMC 2011 Race Report
I arrived in Penticton on Tuesday with the family. It was hot!! Hotter than we had been used to in Calgary. Checked into the hotel and checked everything out that the town had for the kids,etc.
I was getting antsy on Wednesday and was happy when others from the team started to show up. I really enjoyed the dinner at Smith & Co on Thursday night.It was really a good way to break the ice with the other families as well as for us to thank our families again for all the hard work they put into this journey for us as well. I had to stare at the fat guy picture of me again on the slide show and finally put to bed the idea that I was still him.
We did a few swims, easy runs, and a descent of Yellow Lake a few days before the race. That was nice to have in the pocket come raceday.
Enjoyed the athletes dinner. Steve King rambled on a bit, but it was amazing to see the Jordan Rapp story again. Was good to sit with the other racers and digest a bit more of what we were going to do in 2 days.
Saturday was a bit stressful as I had to drive up to Kelowna and pick up my M-I-L and change rooms at the hotel. But once that was done, I tried to relax as best I could.
Race morning Michelle and I walked down and dropped off SN bags where we said our good- byes and I met up with Shannon. The two of us got bodymarked, walked to our bikes,etc. I don’t think she realizes how nice it was to have her around at that time. With her being a veteran, she seemed pretty calm and that levelled me off. Saw Cindy,Richelle,Lesley-Anne. I got the suit on with help from some friendly volunteers named Kelly and Tara. Again, they settled my HR down. Waded down into the water and got wet. Saw Danielle and Ken and we wished each other good luck. Had a group hug and then it was go time. O Canada again, then the gun went.
I was a bit emotional as we sang. It's been an amazing 3 year journey from a 255 lb couch potato to here. A svelt 200lb athlete!! This is what I trained for. This is why I didn't do any other Race Report's this year. This was the moment I had waited for.
2851 age groupers for the largest mass start in Ironman history. HERE WE GO!!!
Swim 1:14:00
I had decided against wearing the Garmin in the water. Didn't want something crazy to happen and lose it. So left it in T1 bag. There was lots of action in the water.
I really felt like I was being pulled out to sea in the mass. I started off to the left and a few people back. Thought I could hang in the middle and enjoy the swim. Was a kickfest for the first few hundred metres, but it seemed to settle down for me a bit until the first turn. So much contact!!! Glad I am a bigger guy, and it didn't seem to phase me too much. At one point on the small 400m straight away, I got kicked in the gut. That actually stung a bit. I really questioned at that point how I could get kicked in the middle of my stomach, but I kept going. The 1800m back seemed to take a while, but got to the shore, stood up, looked at my cheap old Nike watch and it read 1:13:xx. I was quite happy with that.
T1 9:47
I got nothing. I honestly have no idea why this took so long. I got out of the water, grabbed my T1 bag, ran into the tent. Opened bag up, got all lathered up in chamois butter, put on jersey,shorts,shoes,etc. Walked out and got sunscreened. Got on my bike.
9:47 was in the bottom 10% of racers. No potty break or anything. I am a talker as you all know. But I didn't sit down and chat. Michelle thought I must have been sick in the bathroom. No explanation for it, other than I guess slow is smooth and smooth is fast??
Bike 6:22:23
It was such a rush coming out of T1. I saw Joz and Angie as I got on the bike. Biking down Main Street with the cowbells and 1000's of people was exciting. I wanted to ride easy today.It was going to be hot, and I needed everything in me for the run. Spun up Mclean Creek. I didn't see any tacks, but saw tonnes of flats. Anyhow, road super-duper easy out to Osoyoos. Turned at the Husky and onto Richter's. Got in the granny gears and rode easy up the 4 tables of Richter's. Chatted with a few people as we were riding all of 10 km/hr. Really enjoyed the crowds once were closing in on the top. Saw Nate and his wife drive by in a convertible. High 5'ed the announcer guy at the top, and then hit 70km/hr on the descent. Few near misses on the way down. Momentum carries me nicely downhill. The 7 rollers weren't all that much fun, but got through them, and onto the out and back. Saw Richelle out there and then I hit SN. Stopped and grabbed my bag, and enjoyed some Salt&Vinegar chips. Took a boy's bathroom break on the roadside, and off I went to Yellow Lake. It's such a slow 17km climb, that sometimes you don't feel like you are climbing. I felt at times like I was just getting lazy on the pedals, as the false flats make you rethink your pedalling. Felt very TourDeFrance-ish as we were all single-laned in by people as we were hitting the top. AHA the top of Yellow Lake. It’s all downhill from here. Except when it's windy, like it was that day. So there was some free speed out there, but a few of the spots I felt like I had to pedal to maintain my balance and speed. But got through there and came back into town. Was great seeing the TriLife tent set up at Cherry Lane Mall. So of course I got a big cheer as I rode in past everyone, and back down to T2. Dismounted and gave my bike to another super volunteer.
Stayed on top of nutrition with the Infinit and some gels. Felt good coming of the bike. I think next time I could push a wee bit harder on the bike. I was pleased with how I executed the ride, but felt like I could maybe have pushed more. First time at the distance though, so I wasn't sure how hard to push.
T2 6:46
Blistering fast pace! Was a little freaky getting into T2, and seeing a guy on a stretcher and a guy puking as I arrived in the tent. I did chat here a bit. Full kit change, and out for the run.
Got sunscreened by the same girl again. I think she was waiting for me. She seemed to apply the sunscreen a little too slowly if you know what I mean. Michelle would have beat her up if she saw what this girl was trying to do to me! Some volunteers have all the nerve.
Run 5:21:46
I had no idea how this was going to go. It was hot. I had this crazy orange scarf that you could put ice into one end and then velcro around your neck. It was a lifesaver. I didn't need to worry about sponges in the top or anything. I looked a little like a boy scout, but looks were pretty much irrelevant at this point. Anyhow, I planned on running 5 min and walking 1 for the first bit. I wanted to keep my HR under control and not get too crazy on the way out to OK Falls. So ran through the first funky out and back in town. I KNEW this is where Michelle and the girls were going to be. I hadn't seen her since the swim, and the girls all day. Sure enough they were there with their "DADDY IS SUPERMAN" and "RUN FASTER DADDY" signs. I really did not want to lose it so early in the run. So I ran to them, gave them all kisses and told them I'll see them soon. Mike H was working the next aid station, so chatted with him as I started to fuel up. Really tried to drink a cup of water at every aid station, and if I wasn’t sucking back Pepsi, then it was a gel. Mentally I had to prepare myself for Cherry Lane. I knew Angie and some of the troops were going to be there, so I wanted to stay in control again. Got a big cheer and of course the dancers came out. Angie ran with me for a bit and I told her I had no emotion. Which confused her. Had I said what I meant “I am trying to show no emotion. I am doing a job right now, and can not show emotion yet” that may have been clearer for her. I saw Scott,Cindy,Carla out at Skaha just before it got smoking hot along the water. Once I hit the hills of Okanagan Falls, I knew I was nearing the turnaround.Saw Steve and Richelle on their way back into town. Got there, grabbed my S&V chips and some notes from the girls. I walked and ate my chips, reading the notes as I walked up the hill out of the turnaround. It sucked not having any water while eating those chips! I have the 3 notes from Michelle and the girls sitting here in our computer room at home as I type this. "Daddy don't give up. Just go again. Run as fast as you can. Daddy be as fast as a Superman.I love you Daddy, you have superpowers." That was Sarah our 4 year old's note. Reading them got me going again. It was so hot out there. Saw everyone on the way back – Leslie-Anne, Cindy, Danielle, Shannon,Ken and Rona caught me. She tried to will me along in the run but I couldn’t keep up with her. Plus she farted ALOT! Every aid station was stocked for me and I took advantage of anything and everything on the way back. Last few aid stations were 2 shots of pepsi, shot of chicken broth and a glass of ice water. Only in an Ironman does that combination sound good. It was nice when the sun FINALLY went behind the mountain top. I hit Skaha Lake and ran into Kelvin. I don’t think he knows how much of a saviour he was there. He was someone I knew. He was someone I could actually talk to and have it mean something. He rode and I walked up that last hill into town. I knew I only had around 8k left, and the day was going to be over. I came around the corner and Angie has waited there. Today was not a day about time goals, but of course we all set them in our mind. She asked me what mine was. I told her I thought 14hrs would be great, but super secret awesomeness goal would be 13:30. I had around 6.5k left and an hour to get there in to break 13:30. So off I went. The crowd started to pick up as I hit Main Street. Turned off left towards the out and back which sucked when the finish line is just to the right. And the damn turn around here is longer than it was on the way out. I kept running down to the turnaround, and once I saw our hotel I saw the family and the team. I lost it. I started crying big time. Ran up to the girls gave them big kisses and I'm sure the hugs were nice and sweaty. I thanked Michelle for being there for me through this all. Or at least I think I did. I was blubbering. I left with Michelle and Angie running with me but I left them in my dust for the last 700m. I was so focused on getting there before 13:15. I passed a few people before the blue carpet. I had it all to myself. I heard my name, looked at the clock and knew I was going to break 13:15. I did a few fist pumps and allowed myself to celebrate a bit, but didn't doddle, and crossed the line.
It was a hot,hot run. I probably could have ran a bit more than I did. But I enjoyed the run. I can't believe I can say that now. But I did feel like I enjoyed it. It hurt some, but I got through it.
I wish I would have celebrated a bit more in the chute. I don't know if I fully enjoyed that moment as much as I could/should of.
Crossed the line, had a couple catch me and grabbed a medal/ tshirt and hat. Mike and Scott bullied their way in and took over to get me a picture and sit me down. We chatted for a bit about the day,and they tried to give me some food but all I wanted was some water. I felt fine. Michelle came and rescued me from the recovery area and we gathered up my bike and bags. Went back to where the team was and ate a couple ham buns and a triple chocolate brownie ice cream cone while watching other come in.
I really enjoyed the day. I enjoyed the training to get me to that point. The late Monday night swims. The Tuesday night rides. The early mornings. All of it.
I can’t thank Michelle and the girls enough for putting up with me and my craziness leading up to this day. They made me feel like a superhero through it all. For those of you who know me well, it’s been an amazing 3 ½ years. I’ve transformed myself back into someone I enjoy being again.
Richelle introduced me to this sport and she was the first person I met in this crazy world. She provided alot to me along the way. She is such an amazing supporter and an overall great person.
Angie and all her hardwork made me feel like an athlete again. She knew what to say and what to do to get me to that finish line in one piece. I learned so much from her through the last few years. But the camp weekend and the ride home chat from taught me so much. Life and balancing it all. Training and family. I truly could not have made it here without her!!
All my training partners this year made all those long rides go by so much faster. Thank you Leslie-Anne,Cindy,Danielle,Rona,Steve,Ken and Shannon. Shannon you settled me down so much this week. Between the ‘short’ walks to the ice cream shop, and Josh entertaining the girls. You totally helped make this week easier for me with my family.
And to the rest of the TTL team – The support out here for each other is second to none. I thank you all for being a part of my journey to my 1st Ironman finish!
I’ll see you all soon!
13:14:41 I am an Ironman
I was getting antsy on Wednesday and was happy when others from the team started to show up. I really enjoyed the dinner at Smith & Co on Thursday night.It was really a good way to break the ice with the other families as well as for us to thank our families again for all the hard work they put into this journey for us as well. I had to stare at the fat guy picture of me again on the slide show and finally put to bed the idea that I was still him.
We did a few swims, easy runs, and a descent of Yellow Lake a few days before the race. That was nice to have in the pocket come raceday.
Enjoyed the athletes dinner. Steve King rambled on a bit, but it was amazing to see the Jordan Rapp story again. Was good to sit with the other racers and digest a bit more of what we were going to do in 2 days.
Saturday was a bit stressful as I had to drive up to Kelowna and pick up my M-I-L and change rooms at the hotel. But once that was done, I tried to relax as best I could.
Race morning Michelle and I walked down and dropped off SN bags where we said our good- byes and I met up with Shannon. The two of us got bodymarked, walked to our bikes,etc. I don’t think she realizes how nice it was to have her around at that time. With her being a veteran, she seemed pretty calm and that levelled me off. Saw Cindy,Richelle,Lesley-Anne. I got the suit on with help from some friendly volunteers named Kelly and Tara. Again, they settled my HR down. Waded down into the water and got wet. Saw Danielle and Ken and we wished each other good luck. Had a group hug and then it was go time. O Canada again, then the gun went.
I was a bit emotional as we sang. It's been an amazing 3 year journey from a 255 lb couch potato to here. A svelt 200lb athlete!! This is what I trained for. This is why I didn't do any other Race Report's this year. This was the moment I had waited for.
2851 age groupers for the largest mass start in Ironman history. HERE WE GO!!!
Swim 1:14:00
I had decided against wearing the Garmin in the water. Didn't want something crazy to happen and lose it. So left it in T1 bag. There was lots of action in the water.
I really felt like I was being pulled out to sea in the mass. I started off to the left and a few people back. Thought I could hang in the middle and enjoy the swim. Was a kickfest for the first few hundred metres, but it seemed to settle down for me a bit until the first turn. So much contact!!! Glad I am a bigger guy, and it didn't seem to phase me too much. At one point on the small 400m straight away, I got kicked in the gut. That actually stung a bit. I really questioned at that point how I could get kicked in the middle of my stomach, but I kept going. The 1800m back seemed to take a while, but got to the shore, stood up, looked at my cheap old Nike watch and it read 1:13:xx. I was quite happy with that.
T1 9:47
I got nothing. I honestly have no idea why this took so long. I got out of the water, grabbed my T1 bag, ran into the tent. Opened bag up, got all lathered up in chamois butter, put on jersey,shorts,shoes,etc. Walked out and got sunscreened. Got on my bike.
9:47 was in the bottom 10% of racers. No potty break or anything. I am a talker as you all know. But I didn't sit down and chat. Michelle thought I must have been sick in the bathroom. No explanation for it, other than I guess slow is smooth and smooth is fast??
Bike 6:22:23
It was such a rush coming out of T1. I saw Joz and Angie as I got on the bike. Biking down Main Street with the cowbells and 1000's of people was exciting. I wanted to ride easy today.It was going to be hot, and I needed everything in me for the run. Spun up Mclean Creek. I didn't see any tacks, but saw tonnes of flats. Anyhow, road super-duper easy out to Osoyoos. Turned at the Husky and onto Richter's. Got in the granny gears and rode easy up the 4 tables of Richter's. Chatted with a few people as we were riding all of 10 km/hr. Really enjoyed the crowds once were closing in on the top. Saw Nate and his wife drive by in a convertible. High 5'ed the announcer guy at the top, and then hit 70km/hr on the descent. Few near misses on the way down. Momentum carries me nicely downhill. The 7 rollers weren't all that much fun, but got through them, and onto the out and back. Saw Richelle out there and then I hit SN. Stopped and grabbed my bag, and enjoyed some Salt&Vinegar chips. Took a boy's bathroom break on the roadside, and off I went to Yellow Lake. It's such a slow 17km climb, that sometimes you don't feel like you are climbing. I felt at times like I was just getting lazy on the pedals, as the false flats make you rethink your pedalling. Felt very TourDeFrance-ish as we were all single-laned in by people as we were hitting the top. AHA the top of Yellow Lake. It’s all downhill from here. Except when it's windy, like it was that day. So there was some free speed out there, but a few of the spots I felt like I had to pedal to maintain my balance and speed. But got through there and came back into town. Was great seeing the TriLife tent set up at Cherry Lane Mall. So of course I got a big cheer as I rode in past everyone, and back down to T2. Dismounted and gave my bike to another super volunteer.
Stayed on top of nutrition with the Infinit and some gels. Felt good coming of the bike. I think next time I could push a wee bit harder on the bike. I was pleased with how I executed the ride, but felt like I could maybe have pushed more. First time at the distance though, so I wasn't sure how hard to push.
T2 6:46
Blistering fast pace! Was a little freaky getting into T2, and seeing a guy on a stretcher and a guy puking as I arrived in the tent. I did chat here a bit. Full kit change, and out for the run.
Got sunscreened by the same girl again. I think she was waiting for me. She seemed to apply the sunscreen a little too slowly if you know what I mean. Michelle would have beat her up if she saw what this girl was trying to do to me! Some volunteers have all the nerve.
Run 5:21:46
I had no idea how this was going to go. It was hot. I had this crazy orange scarf that you could put ice into one end and then velcro around your neck. It was a lifesaver. I didn't need to worry about sponges in the top or anything. I looked a little like a boy scout, but looks were pretty much irrelevant at this point. Anyhow, I planned on running 5 min and walking 1 for the first bit. I wanted to keep my HR under control and not get too crazy on the way out to OK Falls. So ran through the first funky out and back in town. I KNEW this is where Michelle and the girls were going to be. I hadn't seen her since the swim, and the girls all day. Sure enough they were there with their "DADDY IS SUPERMAN" and "RUN FASTER DADDY" signs. I really did not want to lose it so early in the run. So I ran to them, gave them all kisses and told them I'll see them soon. Mike H was working the next aid station, so chatted with him as I started to fuel up. Really tried to drink a cup of water at every aid station, and if I wasn’t sucking back Pepsi, then it was a gel. Mentally I had to prepare myself for Cherry Lane. I knew Angie and some of the troops were going to be there, so I wanted to stay in control again. Got a big cheer and of course the dancers came out. Angie ran with me for a bit and I told her I had no emotion. Which confused her. Had I said what I meant “I am trying to show no emotion. I am doing a job right now, and can not show emotion yet” that may have been clearer for her. I saw Scott,Cindy,Carla out at Skaha just before it got smoking hot along the water. Once I hit the hills of Okanagan Falls, I knew I was nearing the turnaround.Saw Steve and Richelle on their way back into town. Got there, grabbed my S&V chips and some notes from the girls. I walked and ate my chips, reading the notes as I walked up the hill out of the turnaround. It sucked not having any water while eating those chips! I have the 3 notes from Michelle and the girls sitting here in our computer room at home as I type this. "Daddy don't give up. Just go again. Run as fast as you can. Daddy be as fast as a Superman.I love you Daddy, you have superpowers." That was Sarah our 4 year old's note. Reading them got me going again. It was so hot out there. Saw everyone on the way back – Leslie-Anne, Cindy, Danielle, Shannon,Ken and Rona caught me. She tried to will me along in the run but I couldn’t keep up with her. Plus she farted ALOT! Every aid station was stocked for me and I took advantage of anything and everything on the way back. Last few aid stations were 2 shots of pepsi, shot of chicken broth and a glass of ice water. Only in an Ironman does that combination sound good. It was nice when the sun FINALLY went behind the mountain top. I hit Skaha Lake and ran into Kelvin. I don’t think he knows how much of a saviour he was there. He was someone I knew. He was someone I could actually talk to and have it mean something. He rode and I walked up that last hill into town. I knew I only had around 8k left, and the day was going to be over. I came around the corner and Angie has waited there. Today was not a day about time goals, but of course we all set them in our mind. She asked me what mine was. I told her I thought 14hrs would be great, but super secret awesomeness goal would be 13:30. I had around 6.5k left and an hour to get there in to break 13:30. So off I went. The crowd started to pick up as I hit Main Street. Turned off left towards the out and back which sucked when the finish line is just to the right. And the damn turn around here is longer than it was on the way out. I kept running down to the turnaround, and once I saw our hotel I saw the family and the team. I lost it. I started crying big time. Ran up to the girls gave them big kisses and I'm sure the hugs were nice and sweaty. I thanked Michelle for being there for me through this all. Or at least I think I did. I was blubbering. I left with Michelle and Angie running with me but I left them in my dust for the last 700m. I was so focused on getting there before 13:15. I passed a few people before the blue carpet. I had it all to myself. I heard my name, looked at the clock and knew I was going to break 13:15. I did a few fist pumps and allowed myself to celebrate a bit, but didn't doddle, and crossed the line.
It was a hot,hot run. I probably could have ran a bit more than I did. But I enjoyed the run. I can't believe I can say that now. But I did feel like I enjoyed it. It hurt some, but I got through it.
I wish I would have celebrated a bit more in the chute. I don't know if I fully enjoyed that moment as much as I could/should of.
Crossed the line, had a couple catch me and grabbed a medal/ tshirt and hat. Mike and Scott bullied their way in and took over to get me a picture and sit me down. We chatted for a bit about the day,and they tried to give me some food but all I wanted was some water. I felt fine. Michelle came and rescued me from the recovery area and we gathered up my bike and bags. Went back to where the team was and ate a couple ham buns and a triple chocolate brownie ice cream cone while watching other come in.
I really enjoyed the day. I enjoyed the training to get me to that point. The late Monday night swims. The Tuesday night rides. The early mornings. All of it.
I can’t thank Michelle and the girls enough for putting up with me and my craziness leading up to this day. They made me feel like a superhero through it all. For those of you who know me well, it’s been an amazing 3 ½ years. I’ve transformed myself back into someone I enjoy being again.
Richelle introduced me to this sport and she was the first person I met in this crazy world. She provided alot to me along the way. She is such an amazing supporter and an overall great person.
Angie and all her hardwork made me feel like an athlete again. She knew what to say and what to do to get me to that finish line in one piece. I learned so much from her through the last few years. But the camp weekend and the ride home chat from taught me so much. Life and balancing it all. Training and family. I truly could not have made it here without her!!
All my training partners this year made all those long rides go by so much faster. Thank you Leslie-Anne,Cindy,Danielle,Rona,Steve,Ken and Shannon. Shannon you settled me down so much this week. Between the ‘short’ walks to the ice cream shop, and Josh entertaining the girls. You totally helped make this week easier for me with my family.
And to the rest of the TTL team – The support out here for each other is second to none. I thank you all for being a part of my journey to my 1st Ironman finish!
I’ll see you all soon!
13:14:41 I am an Ironman
Shannon's IMC 2011 Race Report
IMC 2011 Race Report
This was supposed to be my first Ironman race. When I signed up for IMC 2011 it was only because I was convinced I would not make bike cut off in IMC 2010. Mentally, it helped me when I signed up the Thursday before the race – it was just going to be another step in the journey. IMC 2010 was the most amazing day of my racing life with one small glitch –I now was going to do Ironman Canada 2 years in a row. Now I was striving to be a 2 time Ironman.
In the training leading up to race day, I was really starting to worry. IMC 2010 was so amazing – this race was going to be different and harder. This was making me really dread the race – why had I signed up again? In the lead up to the race, I was enjoying being around the first timers – I felt so wise and loved supporting their journey. In retrospect, I realize that, yes, the journey should be different and this was one of the ways that made it so enjoyable.
Once we were in Penticton, my sick, bad feeling turned to really good butterflies so I was happy about that. I loved the days leading up to the race once again. Getting to see Angie and fellow competitors Richelle, Trevor, Leslie-Anne, Ken, Rona, Danielle and Cindy helped the week go well. To see their nerves and anticipation made it so real and exciting. As always, Angie was my rock and helped calm me down. Josh was there to support me again (Ronnie and Dylan were there in spirit and via texts), my friends Angela and Bruce were there once again and my parents surprised me by arriving Saturday to there for race day. Good luck emails, texts and bbms flooded in from friends and co-workers. Wow – what great people I have in my life. It overwhelms me as I write this.
Race morning arrived and alarm rang at 5:00 am. Had my breakfast, grabbed special needs bags and headed to body marking. Saw Richelle and was good to get a smile from her. Got into the body marking line with Trevor and got to see Michelle before we headed into transition. Meeting Michelle this week is one of the bonus things about triathlons – met a great person there to support a fellow teammate. Headed to my bike, pumped up the tires and then panic sets in. I have forgotten my solid nutrition!! I had taken it off the bike when checking my bike in the day before and totally forgot about it. I had to run to the hotel which normally would not have been a big deal but today they had us corralled in and I had to do a 1 km of running to get to the hotel. Now I was running out of time. At 7:40 am, I am just getting my wet suit on. I know that Tara and Kelly are supposed to be working in transition so raced there to get there help. Jen, Tara and Kelly saw my panic and they helped me calm down and helped me get into the suit (best fit ever!!). With minutes to spare I headed to the beach for the largest mass start in Ironman history. What a vision! I put the forgotten nutrition behind me and stayed in the box. The gun went off and we started our long day. This swim was for my Grandma who just turned 92. She has not been well for years and I know she would have loved to come to watch. She is the reason I love to swim. Her friend Charlotte taught me to swim when I would visit Grandma in the summers. I love you Grandma.
Last year I went off course so this year I stayed to the left still but made sure I was in the thick of things. I experienced a lot of body contact and one hard punch to the head which brought out the fighter in me. Kept pushing hard and had what I thought was the swim of my life. Was so disappointed when I got out of the water and realized I was 7 minutes slower than last year – this was really deflating. Quickly put it behind me and had a great transition (the staying in the box thing was a common theme all day and it really worked!). My friend Cathy had a message for each of my bags. I ripped the envelope open to read “You are doing this by yourself for YOU and no one else. Be proud!!” This message gave me a boost and I waved to family and friends as I headed out on the bike. My bike dedication this year was a long one. It was for the three most important boys in my life – Ronnie, Dylan and Josh. The first 60 km were for Ronnie. He is my rock and most loyal supporter. He never complains about the hours of training. He helps me clean my bike, gives me encouragement and is harsh with me when needed. He is my best friend. The middle 60 km were for Dylan. My first born and the biggest bone head I know (after me of course). Dylan is a great kid and hockey player but sometimes lacks self-confidence. This part of the ride is where I struggled mentally so I drew energy thinking about him and the way we butt heads because we are so much alike. The last 60 km were for Josh – my baby, my easy going child. Sometimes he is so relaxed he drives me nuts. I used his relaxed energy to “enjoy” Yellow Lake and smile all the way into Penticton. I wish I could be more like him in my everyday life but since I can’t, I used his energy to finish the bike in grand fashion.
It was already hot at 8:30 am – long day ahead of us. McLean Creek came quickly and I climbed it really well. “Easy, cheesy” was running through my mind on way to Osoyoos but my mind and body were not cooperating. My legs felt like lead and my head was having massive doubts about finishing the day. Why the hell do I do this? “You choose to do this” is what Angie told me Saturday morning. Oh yeah, so suck it up Princess. I got to see Leslie-Anne and Cindy on the bike so that helped me keep going and then came Richter. I enjoyed the climb on Richter despite the heat. I got back into a good head space for the bike. My favourite sign of the day was on Richter – “You all are nucking futs!” That is an understatement. I felt ok until about 20 km from Special Needs. Hot feet plagued me and I felt like crying – well maybe there were tears. Remembering words from my wise, old coach (she’s not that old but she is wise) - “Fix whatever is bugging you”. When I got to special needs I gulped down my salted baby potatoes and an Advil and took my shoes off. What a relief! Cathy’s message read “All those bike rides have prepared you for this. You are strong and steady”. When I got going again, the stamped out feet and words of wisdom made a huge difference. Off to Yellow Lake!! My feet started to hurt again and I knew the climb was coming soon. I pulled over, removed my shoes and stomped my feet out. I went to get started (as close to the edge as possible) when I biker did not see I was just getting going again and she hit me. My arm felt broken for an instant and my hand was bleeding. I was in much better shape than the girl who hit me. I waited with her for the ambulance and when it arrived she told me to go. I felt so bad leaving her but I really wanted to get going. I tackled Yellow Lake and with the heat beating down, it was the hardest climb of the day. I was not sure if I was going to get to the top without stopping when I say the lane narrowing sign of 200 m (Kelly has just reminded me of that the day before). I made it that silly hill once again. I descended really well into Penticton and was feeling pretty good until Main Street. I found that last 7 km killer and I couldn’t wait to get off my bike. I had a really quick transition even after reading my message “You have more inner strength than anyone I know. Enjoy the success!!” I headed off on the run with a smile for Cathy. Cathy rode all my long rides last year to help me train for Ironman – now that is a true friend. Mom and Dad, Josh, Angela, Bruce and Angela’s parents were all there cheering me on. I gave Josh a hug and he declared “Gross, you are all sweaty!! What was he thinking – of course I was going to be sweaty after +30 C heat and 180 km bike ride. Josh and Bruce ran with me for a ways. I was really hoping they would give me permission to stop but they didn’t. I couldn’t let my fans down. The first half of my run was dedicated to Linda. She is a true friend that had turned 60 on Thursday. She has a problem hip and cannot run anymore. She has helped me get through a lot of tough times in my life and I wanted to use this to tribute my legs/hips to her. The last half of my run was for my most loyal fans – Angela, Bruce, Mom and Dad. Angela has been with me from day one of my Ironman journey as she came with me in 2009 when I volunteered and signed up for 2010. Angela, her parents and Bruce made “Team Ouellette” t-shirts last year and were there at every transition. Once again they were here for me and there are not enough words to express my gratitude. My Mom and Dad came out last year with their 5th wheel to make my first Ironman memorable and then much to my surprise, they arrived Saturday to surprise me this year. I am an only child (I know that explains a lot) and they have always been here for me. It means so much to have had them here again.
I headed off on my run and caught up with Cindy shortly and it was so good to see a teammate. The run was really tough. It was really a long walk with a little running but seeing Cindy throughout that part of the race was a huge boost. There is something about having TTL colors and positive vibes out there that make things easier. I saw Richelle pushing to the finish line – she is my hero. Steve looked like he was in pain but was looking really strong. Danielle caught up to me and boy was she moving. When I grow up I want to have an Ironman run like her! I was finally at the TTL tent and was so happy to see everyone. I asked Angie why my swim time was so slow. She told me the 2010 swim was shorter and everyone was slower today. I was so glad I had quit worrying about that by putting it behind me – in a 15 hour day what is 7 minutes? I was concerned I was walking so much but Angie just told me to manage the run and keeping moving forward. She also told me “If Ironman was easy, everyone would do it!” As I rounded the corner I saw Rena and she gave me words of encouragement and off I went. I also saw Cindy Chetley-Thomson closer to Skaha and she gave me another much needed boost.
Thank goodness for the ice scarf, hat and holding ice in my hands. They all helped. I couldn’t resist getting sprayed by water but paid for that with the 15 blisters on my feet (well really only 10 but it felt like 15!). I saw Trevor and Rona on the way to OK falls and then Leslie-Anne. I could see in her eyes the feeling I had last year doing my first Ironman. She was loving the day and cherishing every moment. This made me a little teary to see her but in a really good way. I was happy to run into OK falls and get my potatoes and message “Amazing - Strong – Focused. Keep Going.” Despite the positives at the turnaround, the climb out was hell. I saw Ken on the way out so was happy to know our whole team was still battling it out in the heat and doing a great job of that. It started to cool down and then my feet started to really hurt – both blisters and toe nails. I started talking to a girl and we complained about our sore feet for a while. I spectator declared “How neat, 2 Shannons”. I looked at my companion and we started to laugh. We had not introduced ourselves to that point. We finished the last 7 km together with our walking and running routine. At the turnaround heading to the finish line, I saw the TTL crew. Got high fives and hugs from everyone and then Shannon and I headed off to the finish line. Steve King commented on the 2 Shannons and made us laugh. My new friend was younger than me so I told her to go ahead and finish. I stayed back and high fived the people in the finishing chute which was a great way to finish. I was a 2 time Ironman!!
I was so lucky to be caught by teammates Scott and Mike – it was the perfect end to a really hard but satisfying day. Shannon and I got a finisher picture together and headed off to meet our families. I couldn’t get my shoes off fast enough. We said our good byes to my parents and Angela and Bruce then Josh helped me gather my belongings from transition. Josh was a highlight for my whole Ironman week – he was so patient and understanding. Thanks for that Josh. Did not sleep well and it is now 9 days later and I really have not felt tired yet. My feet are giving me grief but I am still on an amazing high. I learned so much about racing Ironman and myself this time. I learned that racing Ironman is hard and each race will be different. I love to solve problems and Ironman is a full day of solving problems.
I really only signed up this year in case 2010 was not successful. It seemed like a good idea at the time. It has been a long 2 years of Ironman training but as I sit here and reflect, I honestly have no regrets. I had an amazing last year of training and I have really matured as an athlete. My family and friends have once again made this journey possible. Coach Angie has helped me realize that even though I am not an “elite” athlete, I am a triathlete and an Ironman and that is pretty damn impressive.
Have I signed up for next year? Not yet…..
This was supposed to be my first Ironman race. When I signed up for IMC 2011 it was only because I was convinced I would not make bike cut off in IMC 2010. Mentally, it helped me when I signed up the Thursday before the race – it was just going to be another step in the journey. IMC 2010 was the most amazing day of my racing life with one small glitch –I now was going to do Ironman Canada 2 years in a row. Now I was striving to be a 2 time Ironman.
In the training leading up to race day, I was really starting to worry. IMC 2010 was so amazing – this race was going to be different and harder. This was making me really dread the race – why had I signed up again? In the lead up to the race, I was enjoying being around the first timers – I felt so wise and loved supporting their journey. In retrospect, I realize that, yes, the journey should be different and this was one of the ways that made it so enjoyable.
Once we were in Penticton, my sick, bad feeling turned to really good butterflies so I was happy about that. I loved the days leading up to the race once again. Getting to see Angie and fellow competitors Richelle, Trevor, Leslie-Anne, Ken, Rona, Danielle and Cindy helped the week go well. To see their nerves and anticipation made it so real and exciting. As always, Angie was my rock and helped calm me down. Josh was there to support me again (Ronnie and Dylan were there in spirit and via texts), my friends Angela and Bruce were there once again and my parents surprised me by arriving Saturday to there for race day. Good luck emails, texts and bbms flooded in from friends and co-workers. Wow – what great people I have in my life. It overwhelms me as I write this.
Race morning arrived and alarm rang at 5:00 am. Had my breakfast, grabbed special needs bags and headed to body marking. Saw Richelle and was good to get a smile from her. Got into the body marking line with Trevor and got to see Michelle before we headed into transition. Meeting Michelle this week is one of the bonus things about triathlons – met a great person there to support a fellow teammate. Headed to my bike, pumped up the tires and then panic sets in. I have forgotten my solid nutrition!! I had taken it off the bike when checking my bike in the day before and totally forgot about it. I had to run to the hotel which normally would not have been a big deal but today they had us corralled in and I had to do a 1 km of running to get to the hotel. Now I was running out of time. At 7:40 am, I am just getting my wet suit on. I know that Tara and Kelly are supposed to be working in transition so raced there to get there help. Jen, Tara and Kelly saw my panic and they helped me calm down and helped me get into the suit (best fit ever!!). With minutes to spare I headed to the beach for the largest mass start in Ironman history. What a vision! I put the forgotten nutrition behind me and stayed in the box. The gun went off and we started our long day. This swim was for my Grandma who just turned 92. She has not been well for years and I know she would have loved to come to watch. She is the reason I love to swim. Her friend Charlotte taught me to swim when I would visit Grandma in the summers. I love you Grandma.
Last year I went off course so this year I stayed to the left still but made sure I was in the thick of things. I experienced a lot of body contact and one hard punch to the head which brought out the fighter in me. Kept pushing hard and had what I thought was the swim of my life. Was so disappointed when I got out of the water and realized I was 7 minutes slower than last year – this was really deflating. Quickly put it behind me and had a great transition (the staying in the box thing was a common theme all day and it really worked!). My friend Cathy had a message for each of my bags. I ripped the envelope open to read “You are doing this by yourself for YOU and no one else. Be proud!!” This message gave me a boost and I waved to family and friends as I headed out on the bike. My bike dedication this year was a long one. It was for the three most important boys in my life – Ronnie, Dylan and Josh. The first 60 km were for Ronnie. He is my rock and most loyal supporter. He never complains about the hours of training. He helps me clean my bike, gives me encouragement and is harsh with me when needed. He is my best friend. The middle 60 km were for Dylan. My first born and the biggest bone head I know (after me of course). Dylan is a great kid and hockey player but sometimes lacks self-confidence. This part of the ride is where I struggled mentally so I drew energy thinking about him and the way we butt heads because we are so much alike. The last 60 km were for Josh – my baby, my easy going child. Sometimes he is so relaxed he drives me nuts. I used his relaxed energy to “enjoy” Yellow Lake and smile all the way into Penticton. I wish I could be more like him in my everyday life but since I can’t, I used his energy to finish the bike in grand fashion.
It was already hot at 8:30 am – long day ahead of us. McLean Creek came quickly and I climbed it really well. “Easy, cheesy” was running through my mind on way to Osoyoos but my mind and body were not cooperating. My legs felt like lead and my head was having massive doubts about finishing the day. Why the hell do I do this? “You choose to do this” is what Angie told me Saturday morning. Oh yeah, so suck it up Princess. I got to see Leslie-Anne and Cindy on the bike so that helped me keep going and then came Richter. I enjoyed the climb on Richter despite the heat. I got back into a good head space for the bike. My favourite sign of the day was on Richter – “You all are nucking futs!” That is an understatement. I felt ok until about 20 km from Special Needs. Hot feet plagued me and I felt like crying – well maybe there were tears. Remembering words from my wise, old coach (she’s not that old but she is wise) - “Fix whatever is bugging you”. When I got to special needs I gulped down my salted baby potatoes and an Advil and took my shoes off. What a relief! Cathy’s message read “All those bike rides have prepared you for this. You are strong and steady”. When I got going again, the stamped out feet and words of wisdom made a huge difference. Off to Yellow Lake!! My feet started to hurt again and I knew the climb was coming soon. I pulled over, removed my shoes and stomped my feet out. I went to get started (as close to the edge as possible) when I biker did not see I was just getting going again and she hit me. My arm felt broken for an instant and my hand was bleeding. I was in much better shape than the girl who hit me. I waited with her for the ambulance and when it arrived she told me to go. I felt so bad leaving her but I really wanted to get going. I tackled Yellow Lake and with the heat beating down, it was the hardest climb of the day. I was not sure if I was going to get to the top without stopping when I say the lane narrowing sign of 200 m (Kelly has just reminded me of that the day before). I made it that silly hill once again. I descended really well into Penticton and was feeling pretty good until Main Street. I found that last 7 km killer and I couldn’t wait to get off my bike. I had a really quick transition even after reading my message “You have more inner strength than anyone I know. Enjoy the success!!” I headed off on the run with a smile for Cathy. Cathy rode all my long rides last year to help me train for Ironman – now that is a true friend. Mom and Dad, Josh, Angela, Bruce and Angela’s parents were all there cheering me on. I gave Josh a hug and he declared “Gross, you are all sweaty!! What was he thinking – of course I was going to be sweaty after +30 C heat and 180 km bike ride. Josh and Bruce ran with me for a ways. I was really hoping they would give me permission to stop but they didn’t. I couldn’t let my fans down. The first half of my run was dedicated to Linda. She is a true friend that had turned 60 on Thursday. She has a problem hip and cannot run anymore. She has helped me get through a lot of tough times in my life and I wanted to use this to tribute my legs/hips to her. The last half of my run was for my most loyal fans – Angela, Bruce, Mom and Dad. Angela has been with me from day one of my Ironman journey as she came with me in 2009 when I volunteered and signed up for 2010. Angela, her parents and Bruce made “Team Ouellette” t-shirts last year and were there at every transition. Once again they were here for me and there are not enough words to express my gratitude. My Mom and Dad came out last year with their 5th wheel to make my first Ironman memorable and then much to my surprise, they arrived Saturday to surprise me this year. I am an only child (I know that explains a lot) and they have always been here for me. It means so much to have had them here again.
I headed off on my run and caught up with Cindy shortly and it was so good to see a teammate. The run was really tough. It was really a long walk with a little running but seeing Cindy throughout that part of the race was a huge boost. There is something about having TTL colors and positive vibes out there that make things easier. I saw Richelle pushing to the finish line – she is my hero. Steve looked like he was in pain but was looking really strong. Danielle caught up to me and boy was she moving. When I grow up I want to have an Ironman run like her! I was finally at the TTL tent and was so happy to see everyone. I asked Angie why my swim time was so slow. She told me the 2010 swim was shorter and everyone was slower today. I was so glad I had quit worrying about that by putting it behind me – in a 15 hour day what is 7 minutes? I was concerned I was walking so much but Angie just told me to manage the run and keeping moving forward. She also told me “If Ironman was easy, everyone would do it!” As I rounded the corner I saw Rena and she gave me words of encouragement and off I went. I also saw Cindy Chetley-Thomson closer to Skaha and she gave me another much needed boost.
Thank goodness for the ice scarf, hat and holding ice in my hands. They all helped. I couldn’t resist getting sprayed by water but paid for that with the 15 blisters on my feet (well really only 10 but it felt like 15!). I saw Trevor and Rona on the way to OK falls and then Leslie-Anne. I could see in her eyes the feeling I had last year doing my first Ironman. She was loving the day and cherishing every moment. This made me a little teary to see her but in a really good way. I was happy to run into OK falls and get my potatoes and message “Amazing - Strong – Focused. Keep Going.” Despite the positives at the turnaround, the climb out was hell. I saw Ken on the way out so was happy to know our whole team was still battling it out in the heat and doing a great job of that. It started to cool down and then my feet started to really hurt – both blisters and toe nails. I started talking to a girl and we complained about our sore feet for a while. I spectator declared “How neat, 2 Shannons”. I looked at my companion and we started to laugh. We had not introduced ourselves to that point. We finished the last 7 km together with our walking and running routine. At the turnaround heading to the finish line, I saw the TTL crew. Got high fives and hugs from everyone and then Shannon and I headed off to the finish line. Steve King commented on the 2 Shannons and made us laugh. My new friend was younger than me so I told her to go ahead and finish. I stayed back and high fived the people in the finishing chute which was a great way to finish. I was a 2 time Ironman!!
I was so lucky to be caught by teammates Scott and Mike – it was the perfect end to a really hard but satisfying day. Shannon and I got a finisher picture together and headed off to meet our families. I couldn’t get my shoes off fast enough. We said our good byes to my parents and Angela and Bruce then Josh helped me gather my belongings from transition. Josh was a highlight for my whole Ironman week – he was so patient and understanding. Thanks for that Josh. Did not sleep well and it is now 9 days later and I really have not felt tired yet. My feet are giving me grief but I am still on an amazing high. I learned so much about racing Ironman and myself this time. I learned that racing Ironman is hard and each race will be different. I love to solve problems and Ironman is a full day of solving problems.
I really only signed up this year in case 2010 was not successful. It seemed like a good idea at the time. It has been a long 2 years of Ironman training but as I sit here and reflect, I honestly have no regrets. I had an amazing last year of training and I have really matured as an athlete. My family and friends have once again made this journey possible. Coach Angie has helped me realize that even though I am not an “elite” athlete, I am a triathlete and an Ironman and that is pretty damn impressive.
Have I signed up for next year? Not yet…..
Cindy's IMC 2011 Race Report
Guess What??? I'm an IRONMAN!!! (copied from Cindy's blog-see the original location for the pics: http://graphixdivasblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/guess-what-im-ironman.html )
On August 28, 2011, I joined the ranks of those who proudly call themselves IRONMAN. What a ride!
(NB: I'll post more pics later, including my Finish Line photo, these are some candids).
The day dawned early - the ice machine outside my hotel room was active at 4am. (Sheesh people, it's just going to melt anyways!) I chewed thru my quinoa and cranberry cereal (modified recipe from Quinoa 365), lathered up the sunscreen, even in areas that wouldn't see the sun, suited up in my TTL gear, filled my water bottles with ice (that would promptly melt), and headed into the dawn. Athletes were drawn to the centre of the beach by an unseen magnet, quiet with anticipation. Ah, the atmosphere of an Ironman morning is unmatched for its energy, the air tastes acrid and sweet at the same time. Maybe it's the adrenaline, maybe it's the atheletes knowing that their time, their day, it has arrived.
Getting everything into T1 was easy - uncrowded, unhurried, time seemed to expand. There wasn't even a line at the portapotties! And then time started to contract: people exponentially multiplied, I started to see familiar faces, lots of hugs, back to the portapotty (there's a line now), then off to find my wetsuit fitter; Tara B is far and away the BEST amateur wetsuit fitter I've even known (she should go pro). She wrestled me into that thing, no gaps or pulling away from my neck, a perfect fit. Time shrunk again and I needed to get onto the beach. Angie A snagged me at the line for a good luck hug and some sage advice that likely saved my race (thanks Angie!) - but I'll get to that in a few moments.
The Swim: 3.8km
I found my spot on the beach, then waded into the water. I didn't want to be too far back, as I am a strong enough swimmer that I can handle a few bumps, and I wanted to find some feet to follow. Easier said than done! From the moment my face hit the water, there was constant contact from the other competitors, all of us wanted to share the same space, swim the same line. Egads, it was chaos! In spite of the chaos, I didn't panic - I kept moving forward, one stroke after the other, I found a rhythm in the chaos and pushing and bumping and kicking and punching and shoving. Then came the heel to my left eye. Sheesh, that one hurt. I honestly thought that when I surfaced on the beach I'd have a black eye. And the suction on my goggles got extra tight, like it was sucking my eyeball out!! With all the jostling around, I didn't want to stop to adjust my goggles, so I kept on swimming. The second corner was worse than the first! I popped my head up to sight on the next buoy and ran into a wall of people! I muttered, "Where are we going?" and heard several people chuckle and say "good question!" The swim back to the beach didn't improve much, lots of contact. I tried all kinds of strategies, speed up, slow down, move to either side, but I guess I was just in the mix of it all. And honestly, if I can survive a swim like that, I can survive any kind of swim in the future.
All of that bumping around cost me: based on training swims and previous race results, I had hoped for a faster swim. My swim time is still admirable, I'm just a bit disappointed, because I felt strong, I didn't have to stop and adjust, I swam as smoothly as possible.
Swim: 1:25:36
Swim rank: 110 out of 127 Women 35-39
Swim rank: 2028 out of 2811 overall
T1
Tara B saw me coming and dashed for my bag - thanks Tara! - and I hurried off to claim a seat in the tent. Wow, it was crowded in there, time to get moving and get out of here! The sunscreen station was thorough, thanks, I didn't even get a sliver of a burn all day long (which was one of my biggest concerns). I waved at Madi S and headed for the road.
The Bike: 180km
I love my bike. She's shiny and light and takes me to fun places. Today, she worked hard: the temperature was rapidly rising (it would top out around 35+ degrees) and it was windy and I spilled nutrition and food all over her. What a trooper.
The ride out of town was uneventful, but I was thirsty. Very, very thirsty. So on the way up MacLean Creek road I decided to grab some water at the aid station. Much better. Shannon O and I played leapfrog a few times, as we would all day long, and then I buckled in for the long ride: keep it simple, keep it steady. Drafting was a big problem. I know the marshals did their best, but it was a crowded road and I saw packs of people moving forward. Knowing that the only thing to do was to ride MY ride, I put my head down and kept spinning. The ride up Richter wasn't so bad - everyone complains about it - but I saw Jen S and decided to keep her butt in view the whole way up (as she reminded me, "Let's see if Richelle's spin class pays off!"). At the top I put my foot down for a quick minute to adjust some nutrition bottles and saw Rona S and Leslie Ann M spin past. I gave a quick wave to my support crew Ryan and Emma, then got ready for the fun part: descending Richter's. Wow, I love speed, to the tune of 63km/hour! And gravity is free!
Next up, The Rollers. Now that the sun was viciously beating down on us, the wind also decided to pick up, so the downhill portions were actually hard work. Eventually I made it to the out and back, tore open my Special Needs Bag and devoured some salt tabs, used some chamois butters, and grabbed more water. I know the aid stations ran out later in the day, but rest assured I drank every last drop in the bottles that I picked up. I took the extra salt tabs with me and continued to consume them every hour; I hadn't trained with them, but I bet they saved my body a lot of grief this day. In fact, I was starting to feel a bit nauseous, which I have come to learn means that I'm dangerously close to the limits of exertion. The salt tabs almost instantly took away my nausea. At this point the temperature was ridiculously hot, the sun was beating so hard on my black shorts that they felt like they had spontaneously burst into flame, and I was sweating hard. It was H.O.T.
The climb up Yellow Lake was hard. I kept spinning, I passed people who were walking, I kept spinning, I passed people who were sitting in the shade, I kept spinning. At the top there is no respite, just a short flat stretch before one final climb. I kept spinning, knowing that the downhill into town was within reach. I put a big smile on my face and let my bike carry me home. But wait - the wind was back, right in my face, forcing me to pedal. I kept it light, kept spinning, back to town.
The bike portion was fun: I didn't over-exert myself, I didn't run out of gas, but I did run out of "zip." The heat just sucked it right out of me. My legs weren't heavy, but they weren't full of energy either; I was having an okay day. Did I have expectations for the ride? Sure, I'd love to have been faster, but given the heat, I'm super pleased with my bike results.
Bike Time: 7:19:15
Bike Rank: 121 out of 127 women 35-39
Bike Rank: 2260 out of 2811 overall
This pic was taken by pro Triathlete Jordan Bryden, and I love that I have a smile on my face, sunscreen everywhere, and I'm ready to get it in gear!
T2
In retrospect I should have paid closer attention to the people who took my bike. I crossed the dismount line into T2 and someone grabbed my bike and pointed me in the other direction. That's a lot of trust in a total stranger! Thank-you to the wonderful volunteers who looked after the athletes and our gear.
Into the tent, strip, get dressed, get more sunscreen, get moving.
OUCH!!!!! WHY DO MY FEET HURT!!!!!!
The Run: 42.6km
I have spent countless hours with Sarah PG (thanks Sarah!) at physio sorting out the issues under my toes, and issues with my hips/IT band. Can you believe that neither of these things reared their ugly heads at Ironman? Nope, instead, a whole new problem surfaced: the metatarsals in my feet were THROBBING!!! The big, long foot bones in both feet were screaming at me. Every step was painful. Now what????
I gulped down some Tylenol and set out at a brisk walk, hoping that the pain would go away.
I saw our neighbours Kris and Renata cheering for me, I saw my kids, my family, my sister who came from Ontario to watch me do this crazy thing. Wow, what a rush, the support was overwhelming.
And did I mention it was HOT? I was in danger of overheating, I could tell that my focus was less than perfect, and all I wanted was some air conditioning. I don't do well with heat; I prefer the high-teens to low-twenties for temperature, no humidity, nice and temperate. I melt in the heat, I get instant heat rash, I feel simply wretched in the heat. And now I was faced with running a marathon in the 35+ degree heat. Here is where Angie's sage advice came into play: she suggested that at each aid station I grab a baggie of ice (or a cup of ice) and carry it with me. I could either suck on the ice water, use it to cool myself, or just hold it in my mouth. She was right. I took ice at each aid station and put three cubes down the front and back of my top (I later felt my top and discovered it was deliciously cool, those ice cubes kept my core temp low, to good effect). I avoided the sprinklers as they would simply weigh down my shoes with water and potentially cause blisters. I grabbed a slice of orange and a cup of Coke at the aid stations until my tummy said "eeewww" and I drank water and took salt tabs every hour.
On the way out, I saw Angie and the TTL tent - what a great cheering section! I was disappointed that I wasn't running, but I kept my pace strong. Angie trotted beside me and commented on my fast pace (it's the long legs, Angie) and reminded me that I got to choose how to deal with this dilemma. She was right, I just kept moving forward, no free walking, and then when the downhills approached, I decided to suck it up and run down them (gravity is free!). The running portions got longer and longer, and eventually I passed Shannon (we leapfrogged again - she did wonders for my morale all day, thanks to Shannon for her wisdom and perseverence!) and then she would pass me again. I walked uphill, ran downhill and kept moving forward. I saw my sister at the turn-around in OK Falls, she was pushing Amy, nice to see my family, they all watched me like an exhibit at the zoo as I applied Second Skin to my budding blisters, then I was off again, headed for home. The run back along the lake had cooled down a bit, I actually enjoyed this part of the run, and yes, I was running again, not fast, but faster than walking. I was eating pretzels and soup, sucking on water and ice. By the time I reached town it was dark, kinda eerie. Lots of encouragement from pedestrians along the way, back to town, back to Lakeshore. There was TTL at the turn-around, cheers and high-fives, there was my family, time to get it in gear again. I ran the last kilometer into the finish line, the crowd was fantastic, I had the finisher's chute all to myself, hit the blue carpet and BLISS. I crossed the line! Cindy Spence, you are an Ironman!
I know that my training made it possible to run this marathon. I believe I had the legs for it, that I had the focus for it, that I was ready for it. Once I found my feet (or maybe once they were numbed from the 6 Tylenol I gobbled down), the running seemed easier than walking. I even negative split my marathon, I mean, how crazy is that? I have no ambition to ever run in Boston, and sure, I'd like to improve my 10k PB or feel better running uphill; but, for now, I am pleased with this marathon. I fought back after some serious heat issues, didn't have a single GI issue all day, fueled the marathon portion entirely with on-course nutrition, and finished with a smile.
Marathon time: 6:12:56
Run rank: 1323 out of 167 women 35-39
Run rank: 2195 out of 2811 overall
I love that I'm running with such focus in this photo, I look stronger than I have ever felt, and I'm racing Ironman! (photo courtesy of Jordan Bryden)
Yes, I had to do some walking, but you can see the heat and how much I was sweating in this pic. At least there's a BIG smile on my face!
On Hitting the Blue Carpet: T3
I need to offer up a huge, extra-special thanks to my catchers, Scott and Mike, both from TTL. I was really dazed when I crossed the line, I don't even remember gathering my Finisher shirt or having my photo taken, I think I started to be aware of my surroundings sometime after my first slice of pizza, just as Scott and Mike were saying good-bye. They helped me find a seat, get some food, and stay upright. Thanks guys, you were great.
Over-all Ironman time: 15:14:47
Ironman rank:127/167 women 35-39
Ironman rank: 2197 out of 2811 overall
And now for the thank-you's:
Thank-you to Richelle L, who deserves Coach of the Year for her unending enthusiasm and belief in my abilities, even when I doubted and cursed and raged and laughed.
Thank-you to my sister, Robin M, who flew with my 10-month old niece to be at this momentous event in my life.
Thank-you to the friends who think I've disappeared off the face of the earth (Ironman training is all-consuming, sorry for deserting you) - you know who you are.
Thank-you to the girls who sent me music for my marathon - I thought of you along the journey and call upon your strength.
Thank-you to my daughters, for loving me even when I am a crazy Ironman-in-training.
Thank-you to Ryan, for loving me just because.
I promise to post more pics soon, the official video and pics are coming, they look great, but the download is slow. Stay tuned!
.... what's next?
Well isn't that the question hanging in the air. Yes, I still want to race triathlon. Yes, I miss my mountain bike. Let's wait a few weeks to decide, shall we?
.... and yes, I'm getting the tattoo, I'll post pics of that, too! :)
On August 28, 2011, I joined the ranks of those who proudly call themselves IRONMAN. What a ride!
(NB: I'll post more pics later, including my Finish Line photo, these are some candids).
The day dawned early - the ice machine outside my hotel room was active at 4am. (Sheesh people, it's just going to melt anyways!) I chewed thru my quinoa and cranberry cereal (modified recipe from Quinoa 365), lathered up the sunscreen, even in areas that wouldn't see the sun, suited up in my TTL gear, filled my water bottles with ice (that would promptly melt), and headed into the dawn. Athletes were drawn to the centre of the beach by an unseen magnet, quiet with anticipation. Ah, the atmosphere of an Ironman morning is unmatched for its energy, the air tastes acrid and sweet at the same time. Maybe it's the adrenaline, maybe it's the atheletes knowing that their time, their day, it has arrived.
Getting everything into T1 was easy - uncrowded, unhurried, time seemed to expand. There wasn't even a line at the portapotties! And then time started to contract: people exponentially multiplied, I started to see familiar faces, lots of hugs, back to the portapotty (there's a line now), then off to find my wetsuit fitter; Tara B is far and away the BEST amateur wetsuit fitter I've even known (she should go pro). She wrestled me into that thing, no gaps or pulling away from my neck, a perfect fit. Time shrunk again and I needed to get onto the beach. Angie A snagged me at the line for a good luck hug and some sage advice that likely saved my race (thanks Angie!) - but I'll get to that in a few moments.
The Swim: 3.8km
I found my spot on the beach, then waded into the water. I didn't want to be too far back, as I am a strong enough swimmer that I can handle a few bumps, and I wanted to find some feet to follow. Easier said than done! From the moment my face hit the water, there was constant contact from the other competitors, all of us wanted to share the same space, swim the same line. Egads, it was chaos! In spite of the chaos, I didn't panic - I kept moving forward, one stroke after the other, I found a rhythm in the chaos and pushing and bumping and kicking and punching and shoving. Then came the heel to my left eye. Sheesh, that one hurt. I honestly thought that when I surfaced on the beach I'd have a black eye. And the suction on my goggles got extra tight, like it was sucking my eyeball out!! With all the jostling around, I didn't want to stop to adjust my goggles, so I kept on swimming. The second corner was worse than the first! I popped my head up to sight on the next buoy and ran into a wall of people! I muttered, "Where are we going?" and heard several people chuckle and say "good question!" The swim back to the beach didn't improve much, lots of contact. I tried all kinds of strategies, speed up, slow down, move to either side, but I guess I was just in the mix of it all. And honestly, if I can survive a swim like that, I can survive any kind of swim in the future.
All of that bumping around cost me: based on training swims and previous race results, I had hoped for a faster swim. My swim time is still admirable, I'm just a bit disappointed, because I felt strong, I didn't have to stop and adjust, I swam as smoothly as possible.
Swim: 1:25:36
Swim rank: 110 out of 127 Women 35-39
Swim rank: 2028 out of 2811 overall
T1
Tara B saw me coming and dashed for my bag - thanks Tara! - and I hurried off to claim a seat in the tent. Wow, it was crowded in there, time to get moving and get out of here! The sunscreen station was thorough, thanks, I didn't even get a sliver of a burn all day long (which was one of my biggest concerns). I waved at Madi S and headed for the road.
The Bike: 180km
I love my bike. She's shiny and light and takes me to fun places. Today, she worked hard: the temperature was rapidly rising (it would top out around 35+ degrees) and it was windy and I spilled nutrition and food all over her. What a trooper.
The ride out of town was uneventful, but I was thirsty. Very, very thirsty. So on the way up MacLean Creek road I decided to grab some water at the aid station. Much better. Shannon O and I played leapfrog a few times, as we would all day long, and then I buckled in for the long ride: keep it simple, keep it steady. Drafting was a big problem. I know the marshals did their best, but it was a crowded road and I saw packs of people moving forward. Knowing that the only thing to do was to ride MY ride, I put my head down and kept spinning. The ride up Richter wasn't so bad - everyone complains about it - but I saw Jen S and decided to keep her butt in view the whole way up (as she reminded me, "Let's see if Richelle's spin class pays off!"). At the top I put my foot down for a quick minute to adjust some nutrition bottles and saw Rona S and Leslie Ann M spin past. I gave a quick wave to my support crew Ryan and Emma, then got ready for the fun part: descending Richter's. Wow, I love speed, to the tune of 63km/hour! And gravity is free!
Next up, The Rollers. Now that the sun was viciously beating down on us, the wind also decided to pick up, so the downhill portions were actually hard work. Eventually I made it to the out and back, tore open my Special Needs Bag and devoured some salt tabs, used some chamois butters, and grabbed more water. I know the aid stations ran out later in the day, but rest assured I drank every last drop in the bottles that I picked up. I took the extra salt tabs with me and continued to consume them every hour; I hadn't trained with them, but I bet they saved my body a lot of grief this day. In fact, I was starting to feel a bit nauseous, which I have come to learn means that I'm dangerously close to the limits of exertion. The salt tabs almost instantly took away my nausea. At this point the temperature was ridiculously hot, the sun was beating so hard on my black shorts that they felt like they had spontaneously burst into flame, and I was sweating hard. It was H.O.T.
The climb up Yellow Lake was hard. I kept spinning, I passed people who were walking, I kept spinning, I passed people who were sitting in the shade, I kept spinning. At the top there is no respite, just a short flat stretch before one final climb. I kept spinning, knowing that the downhill into town was within reach. I put a big smile on my face and let my bike carry me home. But wait - the wind was back, right in my face, forcing me to pedal. I kept it light, kept spinning, back to town.
The bike portion was fun: I didn't over-exert myself, I didn't run out of gas, but I did run out of "zip." The heat just sucked it right out of me. My legs weren't heavy, but they weren't full of energy either; I was having an okay day. Did I have expectations for the ride? Sure, I'd love to have been faster, but given the heat, I'm super pleased with my bike results.
Bike Time: 7:19:15
Bike Rank: 121 out of 127 women 35-39
Bike Rank: 2260 out of 2811 overall
This pic was taken by pro Triathlete Jordan Bryden, and I love that I have a smile on my face, sunscreen everywhere, and I'm ready to get it in gear!
T2
In retrospect I should have paid closer attention to the people who took my bike. I crossed the dismount line into T2 and someone grabbed my bike and pointed me in the other direction. That's a lot of trust in a total stranger! Thank-you to the wonderful volunteers who looked after the athletes and our gear.
Into the tent, strip, get dressed, get more sunscreen, get moving.
OUCH!!!!! WHY DO MY FEET HURT!!!!!!
The Run: 42.6km
I have spent countless hours with Sarah PG (thanks Sarah!) at physio sorting out the issues under my toes, and issues with my hips/IT band. Can you believe that neither of these things reared their ugly heads at Ironman? Nope, instead, a whole new problem surfaced: the metatarsals in my feet were THROBBING!!! The big, long foot bones in both feet were screaming at me. Every step was painful. Now what????
I gulped down some Tylenol and set out at a brisk walk, hoping that the pain would go away.
I saw our neighbours Kris and Renata cheering for me, I saw my kids, my family, my sister who came from Ontario to watch me do this crazy thing. Wow, what a rush, the support was overwhelming.
And did I mention it was HOT? I was in danger of overheating, I could tell that my focus was less than perfect, and all I wanted was some air conditioning. I don't do well with heat; I prefer the high-teens to low-twenties for temperature, no humidity, nice and temperate. I melt in the heat, I get instant heat rash, I feel simply wretched in the heat. And now I was faced with running a marathon in the 35+ degree heat. Here is where Angie's sage advice came into play: she suggested that at each aid station I grab a baggie of ice (or a cup of ice) and carry it with me. I could either suck on the ice water, use it to cool myself, or just hold it in my mouth. She was right. I took ice at each aid station and put three cubes down the front and back of my top (I later felt my top and discovered it was deliciously cool, those ice cubes kept my core temp low, to good effect). I avoided the sprinklers as they would simply weigh down my shoes with water and potentially cause blisters. I grabbed a slice of orange and a cup of Coke at the aid stations until my tummy said "eeewww" and I drank water and took salt tabs every hour.
On the way out, I saw Angie and the TTL tent - what a great cheering section! I was disappointed that I wasn't running, but I kept my pace strong. Angie trotted beside me and commented on my fast pace (it's the long legs, Angie) and reminded me that I got to choose how to deal with this dilemma. She was right, I just kept moving forward, no free walking, and then when the downhills approached, I decided to suck it up and run down them (gravity is free!). The running portions got longer and longer, and eventually I passed Shannon (we leapfrogged again - she did wonders for my morale all day, thanks to Shannon for her wisdom and perseverence!) and then she would pass me again. I walked uphill, ran downhill and kept moving forward. I saw my sister at the turn-around in OK Falls, she was pushing Amy, nice to see my family, they all watched me like an exhibit at the zoo as I applied Second Skin to my budding blisters, then I was off again, headed for home. The run back along the lake had cooled down a bit, I actually enjoyed this part of the run, and yes, I was running again, not fast, but faster than walking. I was eating pretzels and soup, sucking on water and ice. By the time I reached town it was dark, kinda eerie. Lots of encouragement from pedestrians along the way, back to town, back to Lakeshore. There was TTL at the turn-around, cheers and high-fives, there was my family, time to get it in gear again. I ran the last kilometer into the finish line, the crowd was fantastic, I had the finisher's chute all to myself, hit the blue carpet and BLISS. I crossed the line! Cindy Spence, you are an Ironman!
I know that my training made it possible to run this marathon. I believe I had the legs for it, that I had the focus for it, that I was ready for it. Once I found my feet (or maybe once they were numbed from the 6 Tylenol I gobbled down), the running seemed easier than walking. I even negative split my marathon, I mean, how crazy is that? I have no ambition to ever run in Boston, and sure, I'd like to improve my 10k PB or feel better running uphill; but, for now, I am pleased with this marathon. I fought back after some serious heat issues, didn't have a single GI issue all day, fueled the marathon portion entirely with on-course nutrition, and finished with a smile.
Marathon time: 6:12:56
Run rank: 1323 out of 167 women 35-39
Run rank: 2195 out of 2811 overall
I love that I'm running with such focus in this photo, I look stronger than I have ever felt, and I'm racing Ironman! (photo courtesy of Jordan Bryden)
Yes, I had to do some walking, but you can see the heat and how much I was sweating in this pic. At least there's a BIG smile on my face!
On Hitting the Blue Carpet: T3
I need to offer up a huge, extra-special thanks to my catchers, Scott and Mike, both from TTL. I was really dazed when I crossed the line, I don't even remember gathering my Finisher shirt or having my photo taken, I think I started to be aware of my surroundings sometime after my first slice of pizza, just as Scott and Mike were saying good-bye. They helped me find a seat, get some food, and stay upright. Thanks guys, you were great.
Over-all Ironman time: 15:14:47
Ironman rank:127/167 women 35-39
Ironman rank: 2197 out of 2811 overall
And now for the thank-you's:
Thank-you to Richelle L, who deserves Coach of the Year for her unending enthusiasm and belief in my abilities, even when I doubted and cursed and raged and laughed.
Thank-you to my sister, Robin M, who flew with my 10-month old niece to be at this momentous event in my life.
Thank-you to the friends who think I've disappeared off the face of the earth (Ironman training is all-consuming, sorry for deserting you) - you know who you are.
Thank-you to the girls who sent me music for my marathon - I thought of you along the journey and call upon your strength.
Thank-you to my daughters, for loving me even when I am a crazy Ironman-in-training.
Thank-you to Ryan, for loving me just because.
I promise to post more pics soon, the official video and pics are coming, they look great, but the download is slow. Stay tuned!
.... what's next?
Well isn't that the question hanging in the air. Yes, I still want to race triathlon. Yes, I miss my mountain bike. Let's wait a few weeks to decide, shall we?
.... and yes, I'm getting the tattoo, I'll post pics of that, too! :)
Cindy IronMan
Guess What??? I'm an IRONMAN!!!
On August 28, 2011, I joined the ranks of those who proudly call themselves IRONMAN. What a ride!
(NB: I'll post more pics later, including my Finish Line photo, these are some candids).
The day dawned early - the ice machine outside my hotel room was active at 4am. (Sheesh people, it's just going to melt anyways!) I chewed thru my quinoa and cranberry cereal (modified recipe from Quinoa 365), lathered up the sunscreen, even in areas that wouldn't see the sun, suited up in my TTL gear, filled my water bottles with ice (that would promptly melt), and headed into the dawn. Athletes were drawn to the centre of the beach by an unseen magnet, quiet with anticipation. Ah, the atmosphere of an Ironman morning is unmatched for its energy, the air tastes acrid and sweet at the same time. Maybe it's the adrenaline, maybe it's the atheletes knowing that their time, their day, it has arrived.
Getting everything into T1 was easy - uncrowded, unhurried, time seemed to expand. There wasn't even a line at the portapotties! And then time started to contract: people exponentially multiplied, I started to see familiar faces, lots of hugs, back to the portapotty (there's a line now), then off to find my wetsuit fitter; Tara B is far and away the BEST amateur wetsuit fitter I've even known (she should go pro). She wrestled me into that thing, no gaps or pulling away from my neck, a perfect fit. Time shrunk again and I needed to get onto the beach. Angie A snagged me at the line for a good luck hug and some sage advice that likely saved my race (thanks Angie!) - but I'll get to that in a few moments.
The Swim: 3.8km
I found my spot on the beach, then waded into the water. I didn't want to be too far back, as I am a strong enough swimmer that I can handle a few bumps, and I wanted to find some feet to follow. Easier said than done! From the moment my face hit the water, there was constant contact from the other competitors, all of us wanted to share the same space, swim the same line. Egads, it was chaos! In spite of the chaos, I didn't panic - I kept moving forward, one stroke after the other, I found a rhythm in the chaos and pushing and bumping and kicking and punching and shoving. Then came the heel to my left eye. Sheesh, that one hurt. I honestly thought that when I surfaced on the beach I'd have a black eye. And the suction on my goggles got extra tight, like it was sucking my eyeball out!! With all the jostling around, I didn't want to stop to adjust my goggles, so I kept on swimming. The second corner was worse than the first! I popped my head up to sight on the next buoy and ran into a wall of people! I muttered, "Where are we going?" and heard several people chuckle and say "good question!" The swim back to the beach didn't improve much, lots of contact. I tried all kinds of strategies, speed up, slow down, move to either side, but I guess I was just in the mix of it all. And honestly, if I can survive a swim like that, I can survive any kind of swim in the future.
All of that bumping around cost me: based on training swims and previous race results, I had hoped for a faster swim. My swim time is still admirable, I'm just a bit disappointed, because I felt strong, I didn't have to stop and adjust, I swam as smoothly as possible.
Swim: 1:25:36
Swim rank: 110 out of 127 Women 35-39
Swim rank: 2028 out of 2811 overall
T1
Tara B saw me coming and dashed for my bag - thanks Tara! - and I hurried off to claim a seat in the tent. Wow, it was crowded in there, time to get moving and get out of here! The sunscreen station was thorough, thanks, I didn't even get a sliver of a burn all day long (which was one of my biggest concerns). I waved at Madi S and headed for the road.
The Bike: 180km
I love my bike. She's shiny and light and takes me to fun places. Today, she worked hard: the temperature was rapidly rising (it would top out around 35+ degrees) and it was windy and I spilled nutrition and food all over her. What a trooper.
The ride out of town was uneventful, but I was thirsty. Very, very thirsty. So on the way up MacLean Creek road I decided to grab some water at the aid station. Much better. Shannon O and I played leapfrog a few times, as we would all day long, and then I buckled in for the long ride: keep it simple, keep it steady. Drafting was a big problem. I know the marshals did their best, but it was a crowded road and I saw packs of people moving forward. Knowing that the only thing to do was to ride MY ride, I put my head down and kept spinning. The ride up Richter wasn't so bad - everyone complains about it - but I saw Jen S and decided to keep her butt in view the whole way up (as she reminded me, "Let's see if Richelle's spin class pays off!"). At the top I put my foot down for a quick minute to adjust some nutrition bottles and saw Rona S and Leslie Ann M spin past. I gave a quick wave to my support crew Ryan and Emma, then got ready for the fun part: descending Richter's. Wow, I love speed, to the tune of 63km/hour! And gravity is free!
Next up, The Rollers. Now that the sun was viciously beating down on us, the wind also decided to pick up, so the downhill portions were actually hard work. Eventually I made it to the out and back, tore open my Special Needs Bag and devoured some salt tabs, used some chamois butters, and grabbed more water. I know the aid stations ran out later in the day, but rest assured I drank every last drop in the bottles that I picked up. I took the extra salt tabs with me and continued to consume them every hour; I hadn't trained with them, but I bet they saved my body a lot of grief this day. In fact, I was starting to feel a bit nauseous, which I have come to learn means that I'm dangerously close to the limits of exertion. The salt tabs almost instantly took away my nausea. At this point the temperature was ridiculously hot, the sun was beating so hard on my black shorts that they felt like they had spontaneously burst into flame, and I was sweating hard. It was H.O.T.
The climb up Yellow Lake was hard. I kept spinning, I passed people who were walking, I kept spinning, I passed people who were sitting in the shade, I kept spinning. At the top there is no respite, just a short flat stretch before one final climb. I kept spinning, knowing that the downhill into town was within reach. I put a big smile on my face and let my bike carry me home. But wait - the wind was back, right in my face, forcing me to pedal. I kept it light, kept spinning, back to town.
The bike portion was fun: I didn't over-exert myself, I didn't run out of gas, but I did run out of "zip." The heat just sucked it right out of me. My legs weren't heavy, but they weren't full of energy either; I was having an okay day. Did I have expectations for the ride? Sure, I'd love to have been faster, but given the heat, I'm super pleased with my bike results.
Bike Time: 7:19:15
Bike Rank: 121 out of 127 women 35-39
Bike Rank: 2260 out of 2811 overall
This pic was taken by pro Triathlete Jordan Bryden, and I love that I have a smile on my face, sunscreen everywhere, and I'm ready to get it in gear!
T2
In retrospect I should have paid closer attention to the people who took my bike. I crossed the dismount line into T2 and someone grabbed my bike and pointed me in the other direction. That's a lot of trust in a total stranger! Thank-you to the wonderful volunteers who looked after the athletes and our gear.
Into the tent, strip, get dressed, get more sunscreen, get moving.
OUCH!!!!! WHY DO MY FEET HURT!!!!!!
The Run: 42.6km
I have spent countless hours with Sarah PG (thanks Sarah!) at physio sorting out the issues under my toes, and issues with my hips/IT band. Can you believe that neither of these things reared their ugly heads at Ironman? Nope, instead, a whole new problem surfaced: the metatarsals in my feet were THROBBING!!! The big, long foot bones in both feet were screaming at me. Every step was painful. Now what????
I gulped down some Tylenol and set out at a brisk walk, hoping that the pain would go away.
I saw our neighbours Kris and Renata cheering for me, I saw my kids, my family, my sister who came from Ontario to watch me do this crazy thing. Wow, what a rush, the support was overwhelming.
And did I mention it was HOT? I was in danger of overheating, I could tell that my focus was less than perfect, and all I wanted was some air conditioning. I don't do well with heat; I prefer the high-teens to low-twenties for temperature, no humidity, nice and temperate. I melt in the heat, I get instant heat rash, I feel simply wretched in the heat. And now I was faced with running a marathon in the 35+ degree heat. Here is where Angie's sage advice came into play: she suggested that at each aid station I grab a baggie of ice (or a cup of ice) and carry it with me. I could either suck on the ice water, use it to cool myself, or just hold it in my mouth. She was right. I took ice at each aid station and put three cubes down the front and back of my top (I later felt my top and discovered it was deliciously cool, those ice cubes kept my core temp low, to good effect). I avoided the sprinklers as they would simply weigh down my shoes with water and potentially cause blisters. I grabbed a slice of orange and a cup of Coke at the aid stations until my tummy said "eeewww" and I drank water and took salt tabs every hour.
On the way out, I saw Angie and the TTL tent - what a great cheering section! I was disappointed that I wasn't running, but I kept my pace strong. Angie trotted beside me and commented on my fast pace (it's the long legs, Angie) and reminded me that I got to choose how to deal with this dilemma. She was right, I just kept moving forward, no free walking, and then when the downhills approached, I decided to suck it up and run down them (gravity is free!). The running portions got longer and longer, and eventually I passed Shannon (we leapfrogged again - she did wonders for my morale all day, thanks to Shannon for her wisdom and perseverence!) and then she would pass me again. I walked uphill, ran downhill and kept moving forward. I saw my sister at the turn-around in OK Falls, she was pushing Amy, nice to see my family, they all watched me like an exhibit at the zoo as I applied Second Skin to my budding blisters, then I was off again, headed for home. The run back along the lake had cooled down a bit, I actually enjoyed this part of the run, and yes, I was running again, not fast, but faster than walking. I was eating pretzels and soup, sucking on water and ice. By the time I reached town it was dark, kinda eerie. Lots of encouragement from pedestrians along the way, back to town, back to Lakeshore. There was TTL at the turn-around, cheers and high-fives, there was my family, time to get it in gear again. I ran the last kilometer into the finish line, the crowd was fantastic, I had the finisher's chute all to myself, hit the blue carpet and BLISS. I crossed the line! Cindy Spence, you are an Ironman!
I know that my training made it possible to run this marathon. I believe I had the legs for it, that I had the focus for it, that I was ready for it. Once I found my feet (or maybe once they were numbed from the 6 Tylenol I gobbled down), the running seemed easier than walking. I even negative split my marathon, I mean, how crazy is that? I have no ambition to ever run in Boston, and sure, I'd like to improve my 10k PB or feel better running uphill; but, for now, I am pleased with this marathon. I fought back after some serious heat issues, didn't have a single GI issue all day, fueled the marathon portion entirely with on-course nutrition, and finished with a smile.
Marathon time: 6:12:56
Run rank: 1323 out of 167 women 35-39
Run rank: 2195 out of 2811 overall
I love that I'm running with such focus in this photo, I look stronger than I have ever felt, and I'm racing Ironman! (photo courtesy of Jordan Bryden)
Yes, I had to do some walking, but you can see the heat and how much I was sweating in this pic. At least there's a BIG smile on my face!
On Hitting the Blue Carpet: T3
I need to offer up a huge, extra-special thanks to my catchers, Scott and Mike, both from TTL. I was really dazed when I crossed the line, I don't even remember gathering my Finisher shirt or having my photo taken, I think I started to be aware of my surroundings sometime after my first slice of pizza, just as Scott and Mike were saying good-bye. They helped me find a seat, get some food, and stay upright. Thanks guys, you were great.
Over-all Ironman time: 15:14:47
Ironman rank:127/167 women 35-39
Ironman rank: 2197 out of 2811 overall
And now for the thank-you's:
Thank-you to Richelle L, who deserves Coach of the Year for her unending enthusiasm and belief in my abilities, even when I doubted and cursed and raged and laughed.
Thank-you to my sister, Robin M, who flew with my 10-month old niece to be at this momentous event in my life.
Thank-you to the friends who think I've disappeared off the face of the earth (Ironman training is all-consuming, sorry for deserting you) - you know who you are.
Thank-you to the girls who sent me music for my marathon - I thought of you along the journey and call upon your strength.
Thank-you to my daughters, for loving me even when I am a crazy Ironman-in-training.
Thank-you to Ryan, for loving me just because.
I promise to post more pics soon, the official video and pics are coming, they look great, but the download is slow. Stay tuned!
.... what's next?
Well isn't that the question hanging in the air. Yes, I still want to race triathlon. Yes, I miss my mountain bike. Let's wait a few weeks to decide, shall we?
.... and yes, I'm getting the tattoo, I'll post pics of that, too! :)
On August 28, 2011, I joined the ranks of those who proudly call themselves IRONMAN. What a ride!
(NB: I'll post more pics later, including my Finish Line photo, these are some candids).
The day dawned early - the ice machine outside my hotel room was active at 4am. (Sheesh people, it's just going to melt anyways!) I chewed thru my quinoa and cranberry cereal (modified recipe from Quinoa 365), lathered up the sunscreen, even in areas that wouldn't see the sun, suited up in my TTL gear, filled my water bottles with ice (that would promptly melt), and headed into the dawn. Athletes were drawn to the centre of the beach by an unseen magnet, quiet with anticipation. Ah, the atmosphere of an Ironman morning is unmatched for its energy, the air tastes acrid and sweet at the same time. Maybe it's the adrenaline, maybe it's the atheletes knowing that their time, their day, it has arrived.
Getting everything into T1 was easy - uncrowded, unhurried, time seemed to expand. There wasn't even a line at the portapotties! And then time started to contract: people exponentially multiplied, I started to see familiar faces, lots of hugs, back to the portapotty (there's a line now), then off to find my wetsuit fitter; Tara B is far and away the BEST amateur wetsuit fitter I've even known (she should go pro). She wrestled me into that thing, no gaps or pulling away from my neck, a perfect fit. Time shrunk again and I needed to get onto the beach. Angie A snagged me at the line for a good luck hug and some sage advice that likely saved my race (thanks Angie!) - but I'll get to that in a few moments.
The Swim: 3.8km
I found my spot on the beach, then waded into the water. I didn't want to be too far back, as I am a strong enough swimmer that I can handle a few bumps, and I wanted to find some feet to follow. Easier said than done! From the moment my face hit the water, there was constant contact from the other competitors, all of us wanted to share the same space, swim the same line. Egads, it was chaos! In spite of the chaos, I didn't panic - I kept moving forward, one stroke after the other, I found a rhythm in the chaos and pushing and bumping and kicking and punching and shoving. Then came the heel to my left eye. Sheesh, that one hurt. I honestly thought that when I surfaced on the beach I'd have a black eye. And the suction on my goggles got extra tight, like it was sucking my eyeball out!! With all the jostling around, I didn't want to stop to adjust my goggles, so I kept on swimming. The second corner was worse than the first! I popped my head up to sight on the next buoy and ran into a wall of people! I muttered, "Where are we going?" and heard several people chuckle and say "good question!" The swim back to the beach didn't improve much, lots of contact. I tried all kinds of strategies, speed up, slow down, move to either side, but I guess I was just in the mix of it all. And honestly, if I can survive a swim like that, I can survive any kind of swim in the future.
All of that bumping around cost me: based on training swims and previous race results, I had hoped for a faster swim. My swim time is still admirable, I'm just a bit disappointed, because I felt strong, I didn't have to stop and adjust, I swam as smoothly as possible.
Swim: 1:25:36
Swim rank: 110 out of 127 Women 35-39
Swim rank: 2028 out of 2811 overall
T1
Tara B saw me coming and dashed for my bag - thanks Tara! - and I hurried off to claim a seat in the tent. Wow, it was crowded in there, time to get moving and get out of here! The sunscreen station was thorough, thanks, I didn't even get a sliver of a burn all day long (which was one of my biggest concerns). I waved at Madi S and headed for the road.
The Bike: 180km
I love my bike. She's shiny and light and takes me to fun places. Today, she worked hard: the temperature was rapidly rising (it would top out around 35+ degrees) and it was windy and I spilled nutrition and food all over her. What a trooper.
The ride out of town was uneventful, but I was thirsty. Very, very thirsty. So on the way up MacLean Creek road I decided to grab some water at the aid station. Much better. Shannon O and I played leapfrog a few times, as we would all day long, and then I buckled in for the long ride: keep it simple, keep it steady. Drafting was a big problem. I know the marshals did their best, but it was a crowded road and I saw packs of people moving forward. Knowing that the only thing to do was to ride MY ride, I put my head down and kept spinning. The ride up Richter wasn't so bad - everyone complains about it - but I saw Jen S and decided to keep her butt in view the whole way up (as she reminded me, "Let's see if Richelle's spin class pays off!"). At the top I put my foot down for a quick minute to adjust some nutrition bottles and saw Rona S and Leslie Ann M spin past. I gave a quick wave to my support crew Ryan and Emma, then got ready for the fun part: descending Richter's. Wow, I love speed, to the tune of 63km/hour! And gravity is free!
Next up, The Rollers. Now that the sun was viciously beating down on us, the wind also decided to pick up, so the downhill portions were actually hard work. Eventually I made it to the out and back, tore open my Special Needs Bag and devoured some salt tabs, used some chamois butters, and grabbed more water. I know the aid stations ran out later in the day, but rest assured I drank every last drop in the bottles that I picked up. I took the extra salt tabs with me and continued to consume them every hour; I hadn't trained with them, but I bet they saved my body a lot of grief this day. In fact, I was starting to feel a bit nauseous, which I have come to learn means that I'm dangerously close to the limits of exertion. The salt tabs almost instantly took away my nausea. At this point the temperature was ridiculously hot, the sun was beating so hard on my black shorts that they felt like they had spontaneously burst into flame, and I was sweating hard. It was H.O.T.
The climb up Yellow Lake was hard. I kept spinning, I passed people who were walking, I kept spinning, I passed people who were sitting in the shade, I kept spinning. At the top there is no respite, just a short flat stretch before one final climb. I kept spinning, knowing that the downhill into town was within reach. I put a big smile on my face and let my bike carry me home. But wait - the wind was back, right in my face, forcing me to pedal. I kept it light, kept spinning, back to town.
The bike portion was fun: I didn't over-exert myself, I didn't run out of gas, but I did run out of "zip." The heat just sucked it right out of me. My legs weren't heavy, but they weren't full of energy either; I was having an okay day. Did I have expectations for the ride? Sure, I'd love to have been faster, but given the heat, I'm super pleased with my bike results.
Bike Time: 7:19:15
Bike Rank: 121 out of 127 women 35-39
Bike Rank: 2260 out of 2811 overall
This pic was taken by pro Triathlete Jordan Bryden, and I love that I have a smile on my face, sunscreen everywhere, and I'm ready to get it in gear!
T2
In retrospect I should have paid closer attention to the people who took my bike. I crossed the dismount line into T2 and someone grabbed my bike and pointed me in the other direction. That's a lot of trust in a total stranger! Thank-you to the wonderful volunteers who looked after the athletes and our gear.
Into the tent, strip, get dressed, get more sunscreen, get moving.
OUCH!!!!! WHY DO MY FEET HURT!!!!!!
The Run: 42.6km
I have spent countless hours with Sarah PG (thanks Sarah!) at physio sorting out the issues under my toes, and issues with my hips/IT band. Can you believe that neither of these things reared their ugly heads at Ironman? Nope, instead, a whole new problem surfaced: the metatarsals in my feet were THROBBING!!! The big, long foot bones in both feet were screaming at me. Every step was painful. Now what????
I gulped down some Tylenol and set out at a brisk walk, hoping that the pain would go away.
I saw our neighbours Kris and Renata cheering for me, I saw my kids, my family, my sister who came from Ontario to watch me do this crazy thing. Wow, what a rush, the support was overwhelming.
And did I mention it was HOT? I was in danger of overheating, I could tell that my focus was less than perfect, and all I wanted was some air conditioning. I don't do well with heat; I prefer the high-teens to low-twenties for temperature, no humidity, nice and temperate. I melt in the heat, I get instant heat rash, I feel simply wretched in the heat. And now I was faced with running a marathon in the 35+ degree heat. Here is where Angie's sage advice came into play: she suggested that at each aid station I grab a baggie of ice (or a cup of ice) and carry it with me. I could either suck on the ice water, use it to cool myself, or just hold it in my mouth. She was right. I took ice at each aid station and put three cubes down the front and back of my top (I later felt my top and discovered it was deliciously cool, those ice cubes kept my core temp low, to good effect). I avoided the sprinklers as they would simply weigh down my shoes with water and potentially cause blisters. I grabbed a slice of orange and a cup of Coke at the aid stations until my tummy said "eeewww" and I drank water and took salt tabs every hour.
On the way out, I saw Angie and the TTL tent - what a great cheering section! I was disappointed that I wasn't running, but I kept my pace strong. Angie trotted beside me and commented on my fast pace (it's the long legs, Angie) and reminded me that I got to choose how to deal with this dilemma. She was right, I just kept moving forward, no free walking, and then when the downhills approached, I decided to suck it up and run down them (gravity is free!). The running portions got longer and longer, and eventually I passed Shannon (we leapfrogged again - she did wonders for my morale all day, thanks to Shannon for her wisdom and perseverence!) and then she would pass me again. I walked uphill, ran downhill and kept moving forward. I saw my sister at the turn-around in OK Falls, she was pushing Amy, nice to see my family, they all watched me like an exhibit at the zoo as I applied Second Skin to my budding blisters, then I was off again, headed for home. The run back along the lake had cooled down a bit, I actually enjoyed this part of the run, and yes, I was running again, not fast, but faster than walking. I was eating pretzels and soup, sucking on water and ice. By the time I reached town it was dark, kinda eerie. Lots of encouragement from pedestrians along the way, back to town, back to Lakeshore. There was TTL at the turn-around, cheers and high-fives, there was my family, time to get it in gear again. I ran the last kilometer into the finish line, the crowd was fantastic, I had the finisher's chute all to myself, hit the blue carpet and BLISS. I crossed the line! Cindy Spence, you are an Ironman!
I know that my training made it possible to run this marathon. I believe I had the legs for it, that I had the focus for it, that I was ready for it. Once I found my feet (or maybe once they were numbed from the 6 Tylenol I gobbled down), the running seemed easier than walking. I even negative split my marathon, I mean, how crazy is that? I have no ambition to ever run in Boston, and sure, I'd like to improve my 10k PB or feel better running uphill; but, for now, I am pleased with this marathon. I fought back after some serious heat issues, didn't have a single GI issue all day, fueled the marathon portion entirely with on-course nutrition, and finished with a smile.
Marathon time: 6:12:56
Run rank: 1323 out of 167 women 35-39
Run rank: 2195 out of 2811 overall
I love that I'm running with such focus in this photo, I look stronger than I have ever felt, and I'm racing Ironman! (photo courtesy of Jordan Bryden)
Yes, I had to do some walking, but you can see the heat and how much I was sweating in this pic. At least there's a BIG smile on my face!
On Hitting the Blue Carpet: T3
I need to offer up a huge, extra-special thanks to my catchers, Scott and Mike, both from TTL. I was really dazed when I crossed the line, I don't even remember gathering my Finisher shirt or having my photo taken, I think I started to be aware of my surroundings sometime after my first slice of pizza, just as Scott and Mike were saying good-bye. They helped me find a seat, get some food, and stay upright. Thanks guys, you were great.
Over-all Ironman time: 15:14:47
Ironman rank:127/167 women 35-39
Ironman rank: 2197 out of 2811 overall
And now for the thank-you's:
Thank-you to Richelle L, who deserves Coach of the Year for her unending enthusiasm and belief in my abilities, even when I doubted and cursed and raged and laughed.
Thank-you to my sister, Robin M, who flew with my 10-month old niece to be at this momentous event in my life.
Thank-you to the friends who think I've disappeared off the face of the earth (Ironman training is all-consuming, sorry for deserting you) - you know who you are.
Thank-you to the girls who sent me music for my marathon - I thought of you along the journey and call upon your strength.
Thank-you to my daughters, for loving me even when I am a crazy Ironman-in-training.
Thank-you to Ryan, for loving me just because.
I promise to post more pics soon, the official video and pics are coming, they look great, but the download is slow. Stay tuned!
.... what's next?
Well isn't that the question hanging in the air. Yes, I still want to race triathlon. Yes, I miss my mountain bike. Let's wait a few weeks to decide, shall we?
.... and yes, I'm getting the tattoo, I'll post pics of that, too! :)
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