Ironman Wisconsin: Prelude and Swim

Mr K, Karen, Baha, and I arrived in Madison on Thursday and were immediately smitten with how mild the weather felt compared to the furnace we had left behind in Texas.  The race venue was pretty easy to find and the Athlete Village was already quietly humming with activity days before the race.  Check-in was pretty quiet when we got there, so we moved through it pretty quickly.  It was an honor to check in at the All World Athlete table, which also allowed me a lower bib number and a sweet spot amongst the bike racks in transition.  We were too hungry to shop in the Ironman store, but we did happen to catch Mike Reilly there and I was able to get him to autograph a copy of his book for us.  This was my third Ironman, but it would be the first time for Mike Reilly, the voice of Ironman, to call me across the finish line. Our final housemate, Greg, arrived later that afternoon and we stumbled across some of the finest pizza in Madison that evening.

It was great to meet Mike Reilly, The Voice of Ironman

There are two big lakes in Madison - Monona and Mendota.  The swim was in Lake Monona and the house we were staying in was on Mendota.  There are bike paths and lanes all throughout the town, so it made picking up our bikes from Omar with I Love My Bike Transport easy as we were able to ride to and from the house down to the race area.  I can't recommend Omar enough, our bikes and bags arrived in Madison and then back home without any worry.  We drove the bike course on Friday afternoon, this always sets my mind at ease a little just to get a mental picture of what the roads and scenes would look like. I had heard so many people say how challenging the bike course is and it would be quite daunting but I also knew that it was nothing I couldn't handle.

The view from our house on Lake Mendota

I felt calm in the final days leading up to the race.  I had moments of "oh no, what about...." or "did I remember...." but I tried to maintain a balance preparedness while not spending too much energy worrying. I knew that it would be a long day and there would be highs and lows, but I would be doing something that I love. 

Just Keep Swimming

The alarm sounded ridiculously early on race morning, not that I was sleeping that soundly anyway. I'm fortunate that Mr. K is an excellent breakfast cook and is willing to make a small serving of scrambled eggs and toast for me before we head out to the race. Ironman Wisconsin is unique in that the transition areas are inside a ballroom in a convention center so we were able to hang out inside before heading down to the water.  Temperatures were in the upper 50s, which felt downright chilly to us. The four of us put on our wetsuits, posed for a few pictures, then headed towards our respective starting areas.

All smiles at the practice swim

Baha and I waited for the swim start together, Ironman uses a rolling start now and we seeded ourselves according to our planned pace.  It was hard to tell where the pace groups were as the people holding the signs were moving all over the place.  While we were waiting they mentioned an athlete who would be completing their 200-something Ironman that day.  I can't even begin to imagine what their life must be like and I wondered how long they have been doing this.  Ironman has only been around 41 years, that is a brisk pace!

I think that we noticed that the water looked choppy, but none of us really wanted to acknowledge it or talk about it.  One guy near us did note that we would be swimming the longest portion of the race into the chop.  We were in the lake the day before for a practice swim and the water was so perfect - there was sunshine and it was calm and beautiful.  I'm not sure what happened to that lake, but it was not the lake we would get for our race.  It was pretty cool to see Mike Reilly in the middle of all of the athletes, sending us off with such positive energy.  I love Ironman Day!!

"Put on your goggles" Baha said as I stepped into the water. Minor detail.

As soon as I started swimming, I noticed that it visibility was going to be a challenge.  Right away I could hear voices from the kayaks telling us to swim more towards the right.  The swim was a single large rectangle and I felt way on the outside during the outward bound side of the rectangle.  I could see other swimmers and kayaks to my right and I knew that as long as I could see them I wasn't too far out.  Buoy to buoy is the name of the game in a long swim like this and I got to work.  I felt like there were constantly people around me, but I held my own this time - unlike in the past.  I knew that life was going to get a lot more interesting when we turned the first corner because we would be starting to swim into the worst of the chop.

Racked and ready to go in transition

I was thankful to reach that first corner because that meant the first part of the swim was over.  Now to turn the second corner and swim that longest section that was directly into the chop.  It felt like a tough swim, but I didn't let myself dwell on just how hard it was.  Unlike cycling or running, it is impossible to talk to the person next to you and say "wow, does this seem exceedingly tough?" So I just kept my head down and just kept swimming.  At one point I noticed a sea of green caps (men) around me and very few pink (women) caps - and it reminded me that we need more women in Ironman. Lots of traffic, lots of contact, but I just kept swimming.  Halfway through this long stretch, the buoys turn from yellow (outbound) to orange (inbound) - this was encouraging because I knew it meant I was halfway through that long side of the swim.  It was difficult to see the buoys at times, so I just made sure that I could see swimmers and kayaks to my right when I was breathing.  At one point I convinced myself that the next orange buoy was really red (a turn buoy), but it just wasn't true and I grumbled to myself and just kept swimming.

I am really lucky in that I never experience cramps on the bike or on the run, but both my calves cramped a couple of times during this swim.  I must have been working that kick harder than usual? Finally I saw that red turn buoy in the distance and I swam with sheer determination to get to it.  I had not looked at my watch a single time because I just didn't want to know how far I'd gone - or better yet - how far I had to go.  I think that I really was in denial about how difficult it had been because when I finally did glance at my watch, as I swam to shore, I was disappointed that I was missing my time goal by more than 5 minutes.

I gave it my best kick as I swam towards the exit and as I went to put my feet on the ground, my left calf gave me one final cramp.  Thankfully it passed quickly and I saw 1:37:37 on my watch as I headed towards the wetsuit strippers.

Despite all of that, I still swam a personal best!  It just goes to show you how much I have improved as a swimmer since my last Ironman swim in Maryland two years ago (remember, the swim was cancelled at Chattanooga last year).  According to my watch, I swam 2.9 miles but I'm not sure how accurate that is with all of the other people around me and with the clouds in the sky. It was probably the worst chop that I've ever swum in and I held my own.  I can't think of a better confidence boost, I'm really looking forward to trying the distance again in much better conditions.

Now to focus on climbing the helix and getting through transition and to my bike at the top of the building.

Ironman Chattanooga Part I: The Devil Went Down To Georgia

I knew as soon as Ironman Maryland was over that I wanted to do a second one and within a few weeks I was signed up for Ironman Chattanooga.  I missed the training in the off season and was ready to get back to it when we started up at again at the end of May.  I am good at training and I'm a geek for the whole "process" thing and the weeks flew by fairly quickly until the last few - at that time I was ready to just race already...time to get the show on the road.

As Erik, Baha, and I headed to Chattanooga, we learned that the swim had been cancelled due to high and swift moving water on the Tennessee River (not to mention elevated levels of E coli).  I was bummed to hear the news because I started working on swimming on January 1 and I had made some good improvements.  I was also looking forward to the swim because I have heard that it is just downright fun with its downstream current.  I didn't fret about it long though because I knew that the day would be long and hard enough already.  The swim is such a small fraction of the experience.  Not to mention that this race would still be 142.2 miles - two miles longer than the standard Ironman due to 4 additional miles on the bike course.

No swimming in this very flooded and swift Tennessee River

Along with the bad news, we also got the very good news and that our friend Goat would be coming to spectate.  Goat is a very special fellow to all of us, a multi-time Ironman and one of the nicest guys that you will ever meet.  He was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 but that hasn't stopped him from chasing some goals of his own and from supporting his friends.  

We arrived in Chattanooga on Thursday afternoon and had plenty of time to settle in, explore a bit, and to give all of our bikes and gear a final test before race day.  I'd never been to Chattanooga before and I was surprised at what a cool place it was with so many small shops and restaurants all in walking distance.  And did I mention the race was sponsored by Little Debbie? All of the snacks that I cared to eat were available in the Ironman Village.  Those oatmeal cream pies and nutty bars were a taste of my childhood!  

We drove the bike course on Saturday afternoon and that is when I got really excited.  The course was beautiful with rolling hills, lots of farms, and a few small towns with many small churches.  The route crossed into Georgia early on and remained there for the majority of the ride. I didn't know how my ride would go, but I knew that I would enjoy the scenery.

Race morning had a much more laid back feel since there was no swim.  They were starting us on the bike in a time trail start with 2 cyclists starting every 5 seconds.  We started in order of bib number and since my bib was the lowest of Erik and Jason I got to start first.  They hung out with me at my rack until it was time for me to roll out.  Just like at Ironman Maryland, I got all teary eyed at the beginning of the race.  It isn't fear or sadness, but realization that I am about to embark on something huge and that everything I worked for the last 4 months was about to come to fruition.  It is one of those moments that is larger than life.

I have never started a race in time trial fashion before and I gotta tell you, it was pretty fun! I was worried that the roads heading out would be congested, but it wasn't a problem at all.  Wouldn't you know it, the last person I saw as I rolled out of the start area was Goat.  I gave him my biggest smile and right then I knew that I was going to race my heart out on my bike.  Goat is a helluva cyclist and I wanted to make him proud on this day.

While I am bummed that we didn't get to swim, I am thankful that I got to experience this type of start.  For the first 20 miles or more, it was all women who are in my age group.  I've never been in a more positive and supportive race environment before with everyone working together to help each other pass and sharing good thoughts for the day.  A real women's bike race! I may never experience anything like this again, it was just the coolest thing.

I was watching my power numbers and my speed and I could tell early on that this was going to be a strong ride for me.  I wanted to keep everything steady and strong for as long as I possibly could.  As expected, the scenery was absolutely gorgeous.  I made sure to thank every officer and volunteer that I could along the way, I'm not sure I've ever felt more grateful on a ride before.  About 40 miles in, I decided that I was going to do my best to stay on my bike the entire 116 miles.  I did not do that in Maryland and I took a break at the halfway mark and I also stood for a bit at a couple of aide stations in the second loop.  I have been thinking about and working on taking more risks and I was prepared to do that one the bike today. I had aches and pains here and there, but they came and went throughout the ride.  

Towards the end of the first loop we passed through the town of Chickamauga, Georgia.  There were crowds lining the streets to cheer and it made me feel like a pro - what a great scene!  Speaking of pros, a few of them passed me on the first loop and it was a little bit terrifying as it felt like they were only inches away from me and my bike.  I've never seen anything like it before, those guys are simply amazing.

I was happy to start the second loop, but forgot some of the early climbs - must have blocked those out when I was all pumped and excited at the start.  My power and my speed were holding strong and consistent and I just kept pushing.  I think that I did a good job with eating and drinking too and I felt so pro taking water bottle hand-ups from the volunteers at the aide stations.  It was a really great feeling to make that right turn at the end of the second loop and head back towards Chattanooga. I noticed the time as I got closer to town and hoped I could pull off a sub-6 hour finish. I knew that I was on the cusp of a huge bike PR, even with the four extra miles, and I was so happy.  That was the most fun I have ever had on my bike! I completed 116 miles and rolled into transition in 6:01:45 - an average of 19.2 mph.

As I unclipped from my pedals and the valet whisked my bike away, my knees nearly buckled and I felt like a baby deer standing on wobbly legs.  I had every intention of running through transition to grab my gear bag, but I found that I could barely shuffle along.  Did I make a big mistake and bike too hard? How in the world was I going to run a marathon on these shaky legs?  This was my first sign that I was in for the hardest run of my life.

IMMD Run: Maryland Victory

Welcome to Part Three of my Ironman Maryland story.  If you missed the swim you can catch up here and you can find the bike here - I'll wait if you need to catch up!

Run
I am a runner, running is what I do....time to get to it.  My plan was to run until I couldn't and then run from aide station to aide station, walking through the stations when I came to them.  I was so happy to see Baha within the first couple of miles, he said "keep this up and you will be an Ironman today." That was a super exciting thought, but I had a long way to go before I could dwell on that too much.  I ran the first three miles before my brain got the better of me and I started mixing in walk breaks.  I didn't comprehend that it was hot, but it must have been as both my pace and my spirits improved when the sun started to go down.

Fresh out of T2

The run course is two and a half loops with one end of the loop being pretty desolate and miserable and the other end being super fun since it goes to downtown Cambridge.  I saw Mr K for the first time on the run back in the desolate end of the loop, around my 4th mile.  We waved and he looked like he was moving well and it made me feel very happy to see his face and know that he was doing okay.  I made that turn around and headed back to the other end of the loop, on the way I saw Baha again and I felt for sure that he would lap me at some point, but my brain must have miscalculated just how far that side of the loop was because I didn't see him again until the beginning of my second loop.

I met up with Mr K again on my way towards downtown and he was still looking good, heading towards the end of his first loop. Then I saw Erin and Karen at the turn around in downtown, they called out "how are you feeling?" and I shrugged.  How else do you answer when you still have about 15 miles to run? As I made the turn around I gave them the thumbs up because I didn't want them to worry and I really wasn't feeling that bad.  I found a run pace that I could just kind of cruise at and then I walked through the aide stations, by doing this I settled into a pace in the mid 11:00s per mile.

Several years ago, while running the Chicago Marathon far from home and with no one there to cheer for me, I began to see the timing mats as a little boost of energy from home.  I knew that my friends and family would be tracking me and every time I crossed a timing mat I thought about them and how much they support me and I touched my heart and sent them a message in return. Those happy moments carried me throughout the day.

I've always struggled with the middle miles of a marathon.  I typically don't have the "wall" that many people have at mile 20, but miles 13 to about 18 just kill me mentally.  It is too far from the excitement of the start and also too far from the excitement of the end...no man's land.  And as luck would have it, many of these miles came the second time through that desolate loop.  If I had a mental low point, it might have been in this section.  I walked much of that turn around loop even though I didn't need too.  I saw Mr K again in this little loop and he said I was going to catch him, I honestly did not see how because I felt like I was moving so slowly.

With Super Sherpa Erin

I perked up a little bit as I left that area and realized just how many people were behind me.  I could totally do this! It was also a mental boost to know that I wouldn't have to come out to that part of the course again. I went back to my running/walking pattern as I headed back towards the other end of the loop.  I could see Mr K ahead of me by maybe a half a mile and I tried to keep him in my sights. Somewhere near mile 18 he pulled up with a big cramp, I stopped and offered to help (not sure what I could have done, but I wanted to try) and he sent me on my way. 

As I came back towards downtown suddenly Erin was running next to me.  I was not expecting to see her and just talking to her a minute or two gave me a big boost.  As I made the loop in downtown I saw another familiar face, our friend Jeff was there cheering on a friend.  He gave me some encouraging words and sent me out for that last half loop.  I saw the finishers chute as I headed back out and I knew that after passing it two times the next time would be my time to run towards the finish line.

It was dark by now and parts of the course were well lit and others were completely in the dark.  It was a bit of a relief not to be able to see just how far I had to run, but it also made me nervous because tripping or turning an ankle this late in the game would be awful.  There were a few spectators in their yards and one guy had a megaphone and was telling bad jokes into the darkness (What does a nosey pepper do? Gets jalapeno your business).  When I saw the marker for mile 22 I knew that I only had a Lake Grapevine Friday 4 miler left, I could do this!  Then at the half loop turn around we were at mile 23 - just a 5K left.   It gave me a shot of confidence when spectators would comment that I had a steady pace and that I was moving well because so many people were walking at this point. Wouldn't you know, I negative split those last 3 miles - like a horse to the barn, y'all!

Erin popped in to run with me one more time and I remember telling her "I'm going to do this!" It was starting to sink in that my journey was almost complete. I got a big hug and a hearty congrats from Jeff right before I ran towards the finishers chute.  This was the moment I had been waiting for so long for and I wanted to remember every bit of it - the lights, the music, the red carpet, the spectators - it was really happening! As much as I tried to remember, I'm afraid that so much of it is still a blur.  Isn't that how it goes with most big moments in life?

MICHELLE.
YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!

The volunteer helping me at the finish line was the same volunteer who helped me with my contact in T2.  When I mentioned that my husband would be coming along soon, she asked if I would like to medal him.  Of course I would, what an honor!  She was so sweet, waiting with me until Mr K came across the line.  I was so proud to give him his medal and a hug and a kiss.  He did it! Team K did it - we are Ironmen.

Official time: 5:07:32
Total time: 13:24:33

There is something magic about the first time you finish a big race distance.  October 7 will live on in my memories as the day I proved to myself that I am stronger and more capable that I ever dreamed. I loved everything about Ironman. I loved the training and I loved the race and I feel like I thrived during all of it.  One of my favorite quotes is "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." I feel like I was both challenged and changed and I'm walking away from this a better person than I was at the beginning of training.  On race morning, I wrote the words "make it count" on my hand with a Sharpie.  During this training process, I had been given a couple of very clear reminders that there are no guarantees in life.  Every finish line should be a celebration because you just can't take them for granted, while you assume that you will be healthy and strong and ready to race for years to come you just never know.  You only get one shot at a first Ironman on a gorgeous day and I did my very best to make it count.

Ironman Maryland Part II: There's a Girl in the Heart of Maryland

Welcome to Part Two of my Ironman Maryland story.  If you missed Part One you can catch up here - don't worry, I will wait for you!

Bike
Preparation pays off again and I was thankful that we had driven the bike course on Thursday afternoon.  It sure helped me to be able to visualize what would be coming at me that day.  I was very excited about the course because it covered some beautiful territory and the roads were simply divine - all asphalt without as much as an inch of chip seal.  A rare treat for a Texas cyclist! This course was also two loops and was as flat as flat could be.  There are positives and negatives to this - no rolling hills to climb, but also no coasting.  I knew that if I stopped pedaling, my bike would stop moving.  There was one "hill" on the course, which they had jokingly marked with tape, because if they didn't then we might have just missed it! I don't even think that there was even a false flat on this entire ride.  I do love getting in aero and cranking out some big gear miles on a straight flat road and there were some long stretches of road that begged me to do just that.

There were several turns in the beginning as it took us a little bit to get out of Cambridge.  I worked on just settling in and getting comfortable on the ride during all of this.  This year I added a new dimension to my cycling by training and riding with a power meter.  It helped me so much during this race because all I had to think about was staying in my range.  I'm not one to "blow up" on the bike, but I do tend to ride a little more conservatively and the power meter helps to prevent me from getting lazy.  "Ride to power" because my frequent mantra.  I ended up on the low end of my power range and that tells me that I can and will push a little harder in the future.

One of the "perks" of being a slower swimmer is that I always pass tons of people on the ride.  It is always fun to zoom by people and then work hard not to let them repass me on down the road.  It was a beautiful morning out there on that first loop - beautiful skies and plenty of sunshine.  The wind was in our faces at times, but nothing that I really noticed until I made a right turn that put the wind at my back.  My main focus was getting to the halfway mark around mile 56, as I got closer I decided that I wanted to take a restroom break mostly just to get off my bike for a minute and take a break from that constant pedaling in the aero position.  Again, I was surprised to hear my name and see Karen there.  Turns out, Erin was on the other side and I didn't actually see her face....but I knew that she had to be there.  I had packed some "emergency" Pop Tarts in my special needs bag in case I needed something different nutritionally, but I didn't need that bag at all. I got in and out of there as fast as I could and started out on the second loop.

Ooops....didn't see Erin over there

As I began the second loop I could tell that the winds had picked up quite a bit.  I remembered that right turn later in the course and just put my head down and got to work knowing that it would get better eventually.  I heard a familiar voice right about then and saw Mr K ride up beside me. It was a relief to see him because I'd been wondering how his day was going.  He said that he had a very enjoyable swim, but he had been stung by a bee on the ride.  We chatted a little bit longer before he slipped away.  He is such a strong cyclist, I knew that I would not see him again until the run.  The second time through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge was not quite as enjoyable as the first because there was nothing to block the winds.

I focused on eating and drinking and knocking off the miles.  My fueling plan of Shot Blocks, Honey Stinger Waffles, EFS drink, and water worked very well for me.  I stopped at aide stations a couple of times just to take a break and put my feet on the ground for a minute or two, I just felt so much stronger after taking the quickest break like that.  I picked up a bottle of Gatorade Endurance, but I did not drink very much of it as I prefer water when I am riding or running.  The cross winds were a bit scary at times on the back half of that second loop and I found myself holding on for dear life a few times.  The road was beautiful, fresh asphalt but the row of rumble strips paired with those cross winds made passing tricky at times.  Did I trust my bike skills enough to negotiate the short gap in the rumble strip paired with the strong wind? Sometimes I did and sometimes I didn't.

Eventually I made it to mile 100 and then I got to make the turn towards town instead of going straight for another loop.  It was a happy moment, but I had to remind myself to be patient because those last twelve miles would feel like they took forever. When you sign up for an Ironman, you'd better be okay with spending a lot of time with yourself because you are going to do a lot of it during the swim and bike. My contacts tend to get dry when I am riding and especially when I'm riding into the wind and because of this I packed a spare pair of contacts in my transition bag.  It was a good thing that I did because somewhere after mile 100, my right contact blew out of my eye and stuck to the inside of my sunglasses.  Thankfully my vision is barely corrected and having only one contact did not cause me very much trouble.  As I pedaled towards transition, Erin and Karen popped up one more time.  Those girls are everywhere! I smiled super big because I knew that I'd made it.  I racked my bike with a huge sigh of relief as I always worry about the random fluke mechanical issue, flat tire, or crash that can ruin a day.  I gave her a pat and thanked her for the solid miles and I headed off to transition.

Almost done and happy to see Karen & Erin

Official time: 6:13:42
18.54 mph

T2
It felt like a long way from the bike racks until the back of the transition area where my bag would be waiting.  I will admit that I kind of sauntered through there a bit, using the time to gather myself and prepare mentally for the run.  I hit the restroom again before heading into the tent to see if they happened to have a mirror so that I could put in my new contact.  The sweetest volunteer ever came over to help, she did not have a mirror but she put her phone in selfie mode so that I could see to put my contact in.  She also helped me change my socks (Body Glide and toe socks are a must because my feet are so blister prone) and get ready to head out for the run.  I had no idea that I would see her later on in the evening.  I felt really satisfied heading into the run because I knew that I was two thirds done and I trusted my abilities as a runner to carry me the rest of the way to the finish line.

Ironman Maryland Part I: Going To Maryland

We arrived in Cambridge, Maryland on a beautiful, sunny Wednesday afternoon.  Mr K, Baha, myself, plus super sherpas Karen and Erin flew into Washington, DC and it was exciting to see all of the familiar scenes of our nation's capital as we drove towards Maryland. I haven't spent any time in this part of the country and I was surprised at how beautiful it was.  The town of Cambridge is small, with just over 12,000 residents, and quite charming.  The locals were so friendly and many wanted to personally welcome us and talk with us about our race.  Packet pick-up was pretty surreal, I'd been through these on several occasions with friends, but now it was my turn.   The enormity of what we were about to do really started to set in.  My favorite part of that was the note from a kiddo at the local elementary school tucked into my race packet - such a nice touch!

On Thursday morning the boys and I got up and went to check out the water for a short practice swim.  There were people milling about the area and the energy of the race was humming just under the surface.  The water was brackish and felt cold when I first put my face in it.  I had a moment of "oh no, I can't do this!" before I settled in and began to enjoy the swim.  It was just perfect, I could have swum and swum all day if I didn't have a race coming up.  After our short swim we picked up our bikes from Kevin at Cycle Chauffeur (I can't recommend him enough) and took a short ride to make sure that everything was in working order, followed by a brief run.  Again, I was taken by how beautiful the area was. We hit the water one more time on Friday morning and this time I saw some of the jelly fish that everyone was talking about. I was happy that we got two super laid back chances to get into the water before the race because I had very little apprehension about swimming on race day. The water was fabulous and I could already tell that I was going to have a blast.

Friday was pretty uneventful, other than dropping off our bikes and transition bags, it was lots of hanging out around the house, watching baseball, reading, napping, and snacking.  I didn't feel super nervous, rather I just kept thinking "What have you done?" and "It is too late to turn back now!" But mostly I felt ready to get started...no more training left to do, it was time to get to work.

I slept lightly, but better than expected, and was ready to wake up when my alarm went off.  We were staying in a house just a few blocks from transition so that made race morning super uncomplicated. The air was heavy with humidity when we stepped outside and it was noticeably warmer than it had been on our other mornings here.  Once we were in transition, I pumped up my tires and made final preparations with my bike.  I stood there for a few minutes and just took in the hustle and energy of the scene, I could hardly believe that I was about to do this.  Finally I gathered myself and left transition and joined Mr K, Baha, Erin, and Karen by the swim start.  I kept finding myself with tears in my eyes because the moment was just so overwhelming.  All those hours, all those miles, all those days spent chasing Mr K and Baha around in the hot summer sun were about to come to fruition.  The training challenged me and changed me and it was about to culminate in one amazing day.  I gave Erin and Karen one last hug and we lined up with all of the others. 

Swim
I felt very calm heading into the swim and I was grateful for the two practice swims that we had done in Cambridge as well as our faithful Snake Island swims at Lake Grapevine every Friday during the summer.  I probably would have seeded myself with a slower group, but Baha insisted that I start with him in a faster group.  I gave Mr K one last hug and kiss and told him to be safe and have a good day then waited with Baha for our turn to start the race. I had such high hopes for my guys and knew that I would miss spending the day with them as we did most Saturdays. I took a deep breath as I waded into the water and I watched Baha dive in and slip away into the distance.  That would be the last time I saw him until mile 1 of the run.  The water was great - temperatures in the mid to low 70s and brackish and fairly smooth - I felt fine in my sleeveless wetsuit.  The threat of jellyfish was always at the back of my mind and, at the advice of a local,  I'd taken the precaution of putting Aquaphor on my arms and face.

It wasn't long until the next group of swimmers was approaching as I found myself slowing up a bit so that they could pass. I'm not sure why I turned into a huge chicken there in the water because I felt quite comfortable with my abilities.  Maybe I still have flashbacks/fears from that first OWS race at Redman 70.3?  I would never let a group of runners or cyclists pass me by during a race but each time a pack of swimmers came by I found myself slowing a bit. I also found that I tended to swim towards the outside of the lane as another way to avoid people, which means I swam at least a couple hundred yards extra. It is certainly something that I will work on for the future, gotta find my inner swimming badass.  Aside from feeling slow, everything else was going quite well.  Every now and again I'd be overwhelmed with a happy "holy smokes, I'm doing this!" feeling.

The swim course was a giant rectangle shape that we swam twice and I appreciated that it was a loop because I didn't really have to see just how far we were going.  I fell into a steady rhythm of swimming buoy to buoy.  My splits from the race results are within a second of each other, consistent all the way, in typical MK fashion.  I was very happy to keep going straight at the end of the second loop to head for the swim finish.  I was going to make it with no drama, no freak-outs, no major incidents - my goal anytime that I race in the open water.  I still can't believe that I am capable of swimming 2.4 miles. I was surprised to see Erin and Karen cheering for me right at the swim exit.  Their cheers stayed with me as I headed into transition.

Official time: 1:41:26

T1
It is amazing how fast time flies by when you are in transition.  I felt like I was just there a few minutes, but in reality it was nearly 11 minutes.  I could hustle through there a lot faster, but I wanted to make sure that I had everything set for the 112 bike ride that awaited me on the other end.  Volunteers were spraying people who had been stung by jellyfish with some kind of vinegar concoction and I was extra thankful that I avoided those guys.  Bike gear on, sunscreen applied, bike food crammed into pockets....it was time to go for a little ride.

How do you measure an Ironman?

How do you measure an Ironman? The obvious answer would be 140.6 miles, but it is so much more than that.  I saw yet another beautiful sunrise while I was running this morning and it brought the song "Seasons of Love" to mind.  You know the song from the musical Rent - how do you measure a year? Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes.  (lyrics here if you need a refresher)

Well it got me to thinking: How do you measure an Ironman?  We all know that it is 140.6 miles, but what about all the other "things" that make the story complete?

 Of course, there are all the basics that happen in 18 weeks of training:
1931 miles on the bike
543 miles run
137,000 yards (78 miles) of swimming
280 hours of training

And don't forget:
3 pairs of running shoes
54 loads of laundry
1 flat tire
3 dropped chains

There has to be food:
176 cups of coffee
24 post training breakfast/brunches in which we solved the world's problems
32 breakfast tacos
10 pizzas
countless pancakes/waffles
52 packages of Shot Blocks
10 Pop Tarts
85 bottles of Topo Chico
24 MexiCokes

Along the way there were also:
2 races
3 bike rallies
1 5K age group win
3 parties
5 pedicures
4 massages
1 large book read entirely on the bike trainer

But this is the best part of the whole process, the part that will keep me coming back again and again:
24 Lake Grapevine sunrises
1 duck (the lovable Floyd MayFeather)
35 bad jokes
235 laughs
4 "you are stronger than you think" pep talks
1 long Goat walk
3 "pretty sure this brick run might kill me" runs
1 rain run
8 post long training day camp chair chats
3 friendships that grew stronger and deeper

It is officially less than a week until race day and my bike is on its way to Maryland tonight.  I didn't just survive the training, I thrived.  I am not sure that I have ever had this much fun or learned this much about myself while training for a race.  I feel as if I am on a roller coaster that is slowly climbing the hill before that first big drop.  There is no getting off now, time to enjoy the final ride.

The Space Between: Summer 2017

Hello, first sunrise of summer...we are going to be seeing a lot of each other over the next
few months. There will be smiles and laughter and frustration and exhaustion
and everything in between...and I can't wait.

I snapped this picture and wrote the caption on the first day of summer break, a beautiful Friday morning at Lake Grapevine.  I watched the sunrise every single Friday in this spot and summer saved her most glorious sunrise for the last Friday of my break.  I snapped a picture of that one too because it was just so quietly stunning in its beauty.  Swimming in the calm waters while the sun gently slipped up into an orange sky filled my soul with so much peace.  For a moment I knew that everything in this scary world was going to be okay. Looking through my Instagram feed, I noticed that I had a picture of both the first and last day of summer...but what really caught my attention was all the pictures in the space between those two.  I couldn't stop looking at all of the pictures and thinking of the memories that are attached to each. It is moments like this when I realize just how much my cup overfloweth with people and experiences and love. I am the luckiest. 

I have spent the bulk of my time this summer training for Ironman Maryland, my first.  It has been a real labor of love. I had no idea what to expect when I began this journey, I knew that I was about to put in some of the hardest work that I'd ever done.  I knew that the hours would be long, it would be hot and gritty, and that at times I would be weary.  I expected to be tested and I expected to be pushed beyond what I thought I was capable of.  I didn't expect to have so much fun, to smile so much, and to learn so much about myself. The first week of training was so darned hard, I seriously wondered how I would survive the coming weeks.  But then I found my groove, calmed my perfectionist mind, got to work, and I've never looked back.  There have been times where I read the training plan and wondered how I would pull it off, but then I put my head down and I ended up surprising myself.  Just a few more weeks of hard work remain before the race day in October. You only get one "first" shot at a race and I'm soaking up all of the new experiences, I don't want to forget a thing.

So now it is time for me to head back to work.  I'm thankful for a job that I love and coworkers who are like family to me.  I've missed the kiddos that I work with and I can't wait to see how they have grown and changed over the summer.  I'm also thankful for a job that lets me recharge and enjoy life at an easier pace a couple of months out of the year.  I am a better therapist, a better colleague, and a better version of myself because of the time that I am given.

The space between the tears we cry is the laughter keeps us coming back for more.

Friday Quick Hits: It Is Fall Y'all!

This week brought one of the best days of the year - the first day of fall!  It is officially my favorite time of year.  Time for the State Fair of Texas, pumpkin spice EVERYTHING, candy corn, and the best running weather of the year.  The school year is off to a great start and marathon training is going strong now as I prepare for California International Marathon on December 7.

Tour des Fleurs
The Tour des Fleurs is one of my favorite races of the year because it begins and ends at the Dallas Arboretum with a terrific after party on the lawn.  We've had to miss it the last couple of years, so I was happy to see that it would work with our training schedule this year.  We signed up for the 20K, but had 18 miles on the plan for the day - so we parked 3.5 miles away and ran to the start of the race. It worked out perfectly and I enjoyed being able to practice my long run in real life race conditions. It was nice to have the on-course support with aide stations every few miles.  I also enjoyed crossing the finish line, taking a break to visit with friends, enjoying a beer, and then finishing up the rest of my miles as I ran to the car.

Ironman Chattanooga
This is a big weekend for a few of my friends as they take on the challenge of Ironman Chattanooga. It has been fun to cheer on Baha, Stude, and Drum as they train for their latest Ironman challenge (I say "latest" because none of them are rookies at this distance).  I was privileged to get to share in some training time on the bike with Drum this summer.  I use the word "share" liberally as she was always WAY ahead of me, even on her "easy pace" days.  She always wears a big smile on her face and I know that Sunday will just be her victory lap to an incredibly strong training cycle.  Good luck to Drum, Stude, Baha, and the rest of the gang!  Listen closely and you can hear us cheering all the way from Texas.

Have you ever seen a bigger smile on a bike? (photo: Mama C)

KittyCat Quince 
Last weekend I attended a unique event - a Quinceanera for Oliva the beloved cat of That Pink Girl. You may laugh at the idea of a Cat Quinceanera, but it was really quite a brilliant idea.  What a great way to gather your friends together while collecting towels and sheets for a worthy animal charity? There was cake and a piñata and the singing of Happy Birthday - it really was a fantastic evening.  My Maggie dog will be fifteen next summer, perhaps she would enjoy her own Quinceanera!

Photos Courtesy of That Pink Girl

Friday Five (plus a couple): Scenes from Ironman Texas



I've told you time and time again that I have some pretty ridiculous friends.  That was illustrated once again as I was fortunate enough to have no less that six (that's right, SIX!) friends competing in Ironman Texas in The Woodlands last Saturday.  Many of you are aware of what makes up an Ironman, but here's a crash course for those of you who are aren't -- 2.4 mile swim, followed immediately by a 112 mile bike ride, followed immediately by a 26.2 mile run.  All of the aspiring Ironman athletes have a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete this feat.  Texas weather came through once again and provided the us with an especially humid 90+ degree day.  Staying cool was impossible and I was merely a spectator.



The Luebs almost made it look easy!



Fi & I demonstrate proper jingle skirt/instrument matching

Stude on his final approach to Ironman Glory

 

Ironman Number 3 for Jason and his beautiful wife Karen

 

FIGJAM Central -- we had a premium spot on the run course along the canal

Erin & me with Buc-ee -- no trip down I45 is complete without him!

All in all it was a pretty incredible day.  There were tears of absolute joy for some and tears of utter heartbreak for others.  This was my second Ironman event to spectate in person and I can honestly say that I have walked away overwhelmed with energy and inspiration each time.  I have no doubt that there will be more of these adventures in my future and I can't wait!



'Nuff said.