So time has passed me by and it's now over a month since I did the 1/2 Ironman. I didn't forget to finish the race report I just got burned out training, talking, writing all things related to triathlons. I needed the break. What I thought would be a week long break ended up to be a 4 week break. Due to a horrible strep which turned into a 3 week chest cold there was no way I was going to exercise let alone go up a flight of stairs without wheezing. In a months time I was sick for 3 weeks, went on a week long cruise got home unpacked, packed and left for NY for my nephew's wedding. Now back home and ready to start up again, my local gym is closed for the week due to renovations. Next week I have company for most of the week. I'll get in a couple of workouts but nothing major. I have lost fitness, lost motivation, lost the body I had a month ago. But that's ok. I'll be fine...........see I have a new vision. One that will take me all the way through the next year. But that's for the next blog. For now let's see what I remember from the 1/2 ironman.
Once on the bike, you had a long slowly rising hill to go up. We drove the course the day before and I thought there was no way I would be able to ride up the hill. As I was headed up I looked around and no one was walking their bike up. So I guess I wasn't walking mine up either. It was a long 3/4 of mile twisting and turning upwards to get out of the park. Once on the country roads the wind slapped you in the face. It would turn out to be a head wind for the first 20 miles. Back country rolling hills. It seemed though that the hills were rolling up more than they were rolling down. With the wind I was managing a speed of about 16 mph. About a mile slower than I would of liked even with the wind. We got a break for a few miles as we turned off the main straight away. Still seemed like hills that only went up but at least it was less wind. After completing a square I was back on the main road this time with the wind on my back, yes! Nutrition seemed to be going well. Later I learned that I was missing something very valuable. I probably didn't eat as much as I should have on the bike but I tried. Live and learn. At about mile 40 I almost ran into a car. I was at an aid station grabbing a water bottle. I forgot that I was in areo position and when I reached for the bottle I lost my balance on the bike veering sharply to the left after I got the bottle. I missed the volunteers car by about 10 feet. I was able to regain control sit myself up and hold a water bottle all at the same time. I was lucky. So onward I went and was thinking that my groin area on my left leg was really starting to bother me. As the miles ticked on the pain got worse and the lower portion of my leg went numb. I tried to stretch while riding and I tried to reposition myself. But nothing really was working. I was able to gain some time on the way back up to mile 50 or so. I was holding a pace of 18 mph on the way back. But once again WHAM!!!!! Head wind at mile 50. The last 7 miles were hard, painful and mentally taxing. Knowing I was still going to have to run 13 miles yet all I wanted to do was get off the damn bike. Finally pulling into transition my family was right there waiting for me. Cheering me on and trying to make me happy! I was not happy. I got off the bike and walked it back to my spot. My groin area was killing me. As I bent down to get my bike shoes off shooting pain went through my leg. I was convinced I had pulled a muscle in my left leg on the bike. How on earth was I going to run? I changed shoes, shirt and put on my running hat. Found my ipod and off I went. Walking. walking and more walking. My husband walked about 1/4 of a mile with me. I remember saying how much it hurt. How tired I was, how I can't run, how it was much harder than I ever thought possible. I said I wanted to quit. I was facing that same hill yet again on the run that I did at the start of the bike. It was right in front of me. Being the best Sherpa........my husband knew better than to say , it's ok you can stop. He never said don't stop but he never said it was ok to quit. If he had I think I might have and I would of regretted that decision. I knew it was gong to be a very long 13.1 miles. I told my husband don't expect me for 3 hours. I planned on walking most of it.
Off I went as the kids and my sisters yelled my name. I waved and trudged on. As I was walking up that hill I watched as people I passed on the bike run past me. That should be me I thought. But I knew better than to try and run up the hill. I decided once on the trail I would try and run. This 1/2 ironman has a trail run that goes throughout the whole park. I knew ahead of time it would be a trail run but I guess I wasn't thinking I would be in a forest for a good part of it. As I approached the start of the trail you immediately went up stone and gravel. Only to go down stone and gravel. Running any speed would be difficult on the current terrain. I managed a slow jog for awhile and then started to walk again. It was the longest 3 miles I have ever run. Now in my fourth mile I was in the forest watching for tree branches and stones on the trail. It was a nice distraction and of course was completely shaded. Lots of people passed me. I only passed one or two at this point. But it was a double loop so you didn't know if the people you passed were already at mile 8 when your at 4 or if the people passing you were on their second loop. Probably better not to know. I continued the run walk thing for many many miles. I have to say the first 6 miles were about 2/3 of a walk and 1/3 run. But as I was getting close to the 1.2 way mark I found my new favorite volunteer. He was handing out pills. Yes pills. As I approached he asked if I wanted any. I asked what they were. Electrolyte pills. He handed me three and I decided to take them. I felt horrible I wanted the race over. I barely was running at that point. So what the hell, I might as well give them a try. As I continued on my way wondering when on earth I would start the second loop I was also waiting for my father to pass me. I had no idea how he did on the bike. I know that is his strongest event. I figured he was about 10-15 mins behind. Given that thought he soon would catch up and pass me on the run. I just couldn't keep running. I walked more and by the time I got to mile 7 about 1 mile after those pills I felt like I could run the rest of the way. I learned a valuable lesson right then and there. I didn't come close to taking in enough Gatorade on the bike. I don't like Gatorade and if I drink too much too fast it upsets my stomach. So I was careful to only have a bit of it. Big mistake. Had I drank more of it on the bike or better yet had these electrolyte pills on the bike my run would have been completely different. But there was nothing I could do about that now. I was happy as a clam that I was running again. Maybe only a 10:00 pace but that's ok better than walking. The miles ticked on and I did walk here and there but most of the last 6 miles were running. I ran in dirt, gravel, grass, horse trail, passed campers and their camp sites. Sometimes you are so far out in the trails there is no one around just you and the ground. Scary at times but also a feeling of Wow, look what I'm doing, on my own, it's me against me. I can do this. As I got to about the 11 mile mark I came to what looks like a stone quarry for the second time. There was a camera guy ready to take your picture. I had forgotten he would be there and I had stopped to walk for a minute to open a packet of sport beans. I looked ahead and there he was ready to take the picture. I yelled and waved my hand, no no wait. I have to be running. Don't take it yet. He laughed and said ok. So with a mouthful of beans I started to run. He said smile will ya? I said I can't I have a mouthful of beans. But somehow I faked a smile and said thank you. You know what, after checking out the pictures that day it is the best picture ever taken of me in any race I've ever done. I've already placed my order and waiting for that picture to arrive. Mile 11-12 is a blur, all I wanted was to get off the trail. Once I was off I knew it was back down that big hill that I started on to the finish. I had a few people in front of me when I turned right to go down the hill. Some of them started their second loop and I felt their pain. I headed down the hill and right at that moment the song. Not Afraid by Emimem came on my ipod. Those words were awe inspiring for me. I was now at about a 8:00 pace going down the hills. Every step hurt. The quads shot with pain as my feet would hit the ground. But I didn't slow. I had my eyes on a woman about .2 miles ahead of me. I was determined to pass her before the finish line. I replayed the song again and started to cry. I was doing it, I had done it. I was going to make it. I didn't give up. That song pulled me to the line. I passed that woman about .1 miles from the finish line. I saw the family cheering me on, taking pictures. I made sure to high five all the kids on the way. Everybody who stays all those hours to see their person deserves a metal themselves. They deserve that high five. It's the least I can do.
I passed through the finish line with my hands in the air and a smile on my face. I was bent over in pain hobbling to the girl that I weighted to see for 6 months. The one holding my metal. MY METAL. No one else's, it was all MINE. Right after the metal a guy walked up to me and asked if I was ok. I could see Dave about 20 feet behind him snapping pictures. I said yes and then he said are you sure? So now I was questioning myself. Do I look that bad? I'm I really not ok but think I am? Am I delirious?? I answered that yes I was fine. He said ok just sit down and drink lots of fluids. Exactly what I did. Come to find out that was his job. To ask every athlete if they were ok. So maybe I didn't look that bad after all.
Hugs and more hugs from the family. Smiles and anticipation still waiting for my Dad to come across the line. I then learned that he was much further behind me in the bike then I thought. About 40 mins worth. That wind whipped us both good. No wonder he never passed me on the run. Too bad we could run together. Me on my second loop and him on his first. He crossed that finish line about 50 mins after I did. I finished in 6:52:49. I was hoping for 6:30 but it just didn't happen. That's ok, because the decision as been made to attempt another one next summer. It was in the top 3 of hardest things I have ever done. The other two being birthing two kids! I know my errors. I know what I have to improve on. And I now know what it is like to be one of the few who can say, why yes I am a 1/2 ironman finisher and athlete.
Next up a whole new challenge...............
