This was definitely more of a run than a race, but I had a great time and would definitely do it again. As I've mentioned before, this has been a race my dad and I have been wanting to do or a while. We vacation in Santa Cruz every summer but have never been here for race weekend. This year we made sure to book our house for the third weekend in July and signed up before it sold out. My friend Courtney decided to come with us to Santa Cruz for a few days and joined us for the race as well.
Our house is actually a block away from the course around mile 3 so we just had a short drive to the start down by the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. We got there with plenty of time to spare and just hung out and people watched, Courtney and I playing a game of "name that shoe" (this is what happens when you work in a running store!). There were a ton of people, from seasoned runners warming up and stretching to those out to have fun, wearing tutus and questionable shoes. It was perfect running weather with the typical Santa Cruz fog and cool, fresh air.
Boardwalk!
As it got closer to the start we lined up around the 9 minute mile pace sign. When the gun went off, it took us nearly 10 minutes just to reach the start line. That's what happens when 15,000 people are funneled up a two lane street! The first couple miles were slow, as to be expected, and we did a lot of dodging. What irritated me, however, is how many walkers we had to run around! Now I more than welcome walkers out there, and it is definitely a walker-friendly race. But, it was clearly said to start in the back if you planned to walk the race, and there was even a pace sign specifically for walkers. It was also clearly announced (not to mention simple race etiquette) to stay to the side if you stop to walk. Not only was it difficult to dodge these people, but it can also be dangerous in such a crowded environment. Ok, end rant : ) Despite the crowding, it was a great race. In fact, it was probably a good thing there were so many people because it forced me to keep my pace nice and easy. As a result I actually felt pretty good for the whole race!
The course was also fantastic with enough hills to keep things interesting without being too challenging, and killer views along the beachfront. Locals were out in full force to cheer us on and bands were interspersed along the way to provide entertainment. The miles ticked by pretty quickly and before we knew it we were halfway, running by our house and waving to my mom and pup who'd come out to cheer! Around mile 4 we hit a bike path that winds above some beachfront cliffs overlooking the ocean. Talk about an awesome view!
nearly came to a standstill on most hills
hahaha
the best section of the race
The last half mile was a nice downhill to the finish in Capitola. I wasn't expecting it so soon, but was glad to see the balloon arch and be done. The course is just under 10k, and we came in around 1:02, which I'm happy with considering how crowded the course was. We were herded along with the rest of the runners toward the beach to pick up our race shirts, which were unfortunately cotton : / Still, this is a race you run for the experience, not for the swag.
the final "wharf" in Capitola!
Courtney and I both planned on adding on some more miles after the race. She has a marathon in September and had 16 on deck; I was hoping to run a few more and see how I felt. We headed out of Capitola through some back streets and then plotted a route back to the house that avoided the race course. I actually felt pretty good except for some tightness in my hip, which got better as I warmed back up. We made it back to the house with 9 miles, and while I thought about calling it a day, I liked the idea of double digits, so I did one more easy mile to cool-down. I was definitely tired when I finished, but I was also happy to get in my first "long" run since Ironman.
All in all it was a fun way to get in some miles and enjoy some of the amazing views Santa Cruz has to offer. It was also great to share the experience with my dad and Courtney. I don't usually run an entire race with others, but I really enjoyed having the company. I'm sure I'll be back for this one in the future!
Hello from Santa Cruz! I'm getting my summer vacation on for the next few days : ) Courtney and I drove down today (traffic made for a loooong drive!) and met my folks at our vacation house just a few blocks from the beach. After unloading our stuff we didn't wait long to go check out the waves with our matching pups. Today was an absolutely gorgeous day, and the cool ocean breeze was a wonderful respite from the triple digits we left in Sac. Our pups loved the water and tired out quickly playing in the waves.
Tomorrow morning Courtney, my dad, and I will be running Wharf to Wharf, a 10k along the beachfront between Santa Cruz and Capitola with 15,000 other people! We aren't planning on racing it, especially with the crowds, just hoping to enjoy the experience and have fun.
This week I started "training" for the Portland Marathon. The quotes are necessary as I'm still finding it difficult to get back into a running routine. I got up to 5 miles a couple days ago, but it was tough. The weird thing is that it's not my legs that are giving me trouble, but rather my breathing. I'm struggling just to hold a pace 30 seconds slower than my usual pace, and I can't help but get frustrated. I feel out of shape, which doesn't make sense since I just did an Ironman! Cue the frustration : /
I know recovery takes a while, and I'm trying to be patient. But I don't know if I just need to keep resting and keep my runs short, or if I need to run more to "get back in shape". I've decided to give myself til the end of July before putting any extra pressure on myself to follow a strict training schedule. I think I might have been overly ambitious and just need some more time.
In the meantime, I plan to soak up every moment of my time here and enjoy this little getaway!
It's hard to believe that two weeks have already passed since one of the biggest days in my life. I've been sort of M.I.A. on here mainly because I haven't been doing much. I've taken nearly the entire two weeks off from working out and have instead have been sleeping in and keeping busy with work, starting the hunt for a place in San Francisco, and devouring as many books as I can before summer is up! It's been nice, but I've also found myself getting antsy to get back to some sort of workout routine.
I'm trying to remember the importance of recovery, however, and also allowing myself to just take a break. It seems like in the past few years I've always been training for something, and while that certainly was fun and kept me motivated, it didn't give me much down time physically or mentally. And while I do have some exciting races on the horizon, I'm trying not to be in a huge rush to get there. These last couple weeks have been focused on letting my body heal, reflecting on my Ironman experience, and starting to get excited about what's next. Here are some highlights!
Recovery
My plan for post-IM recovery was to take at least one full week off from all physical activity. This was not a problem! I was incredibly sore the few days following the race, so working out was the last thing on my mind. I hung out in Coeur d'Alene a few extra days and even had our house all to myself on the last day, and took advantage of the time to just relax. I spent a lot of time on the couch, read, hung out on the porch, napped, ate whatever I wanted. It was a great way to unwind and also soak up some more IM glory before having to get back to the usual routine at home.
my homecoming surprise!
By the next weekend my body was feeling much better; most of the soreness had gone away, except a couple toes were still fairly tender. I was adamant about sticking to one whole week off though, so I tried not to get jealous as I heard about all the awesome workouts and races my friends and training buddies were doing that weekend. On my day off Tuesday I wanted to take advantage of the free time and get in a workout. For some reason I thought a workout dvd was the way to go - after doing so much cardio/endurance, I want to incorporate more strength training into my routine. It started out with basic squats and some lunges, and that was as far as I made it. I couldn't believe the lack of power I felt in my legs! It was a little frustrating, but I also know recovery is about more than just not being sore, and I'm glad I had the sense to stop and not try and push through it.
I'd like to say my next workout was more successful than the first, but I like to be honest with you guys : ) It sucked, big time. I was perhaps feeling a bit ambitious/hopeful when I agreed to join my coworker, Courtney, for an early morning trail run on the 4th of July. I've missed trail running, and I was getting antsy to be active again, so I figured I'd give it a shot and just take it easy. Well, I was unprepared for just how hard it would be! Now I'll admit it wasn't perhaps the best conditions for my inaugural post-IM run. The route we chose had some hills which I found challenging even to walk up, plus it was warm, despite the early morning hours. We did four miles, and I was literally spent by the end. Literally one of the hardest runs I've done in a while, including the marathon of my IM! And to add salt in the wound, I was seriously sore from the handful of squats and lunges I'd attempted the day before : /
So it was clear that I needed more time. And perhaps a less stressful, low-impact workout like an easy swim or yoga. Lesson learned. I'm hoping to do a few easy runs (on flat ground) this week, and maybe get in the pool to shake things out or go for a leisurely bike ride. My next training cycle (Portland Marathon) doesn't kick off until next week, so I'm in no rush. I think part of what makes me so antsy is that being active has become a big part of my identity, and so it feels weird when I don't have a routine. And after having such a full training schedule for the last 6 months it's just strange to suddenly not. But I'm learning that this is ok, and I'm trying to be ok with it.
Reflection
In the first few days following the race, a lot of my reflection was on the race itself: my strategies, goals, and lessons learned. In general, I'm pretty happy with my preparation, the execution of my race strategy, and my nutrition plan. I think these things, combined with a lot of luck, are responsible for why I had such a great day. I'm happy that, for the most part, I stayed in the moment. Both during the race and after I was keenly aware of how quickly it went by, and I really wanted to savor the experience. In many ways, my first Ironman was everything that I expected and also totally unpredictable. Physically, I expected it to be much harder, and maybe on a different day, it would have been. I'm grateful that I felt so good throughout, and I think that enabled me to maintain a positive attitude and mood during the race. I expected to be emotional, and many times during the day I was. There were many moments that just seemed surreal and I had to shake myself and remind myself that this is the real deal!
one of many smiles that day
In the days leading up to and following the race I was also overwhelmed with the support and encouragement of my friends, family, coworkers, and teammates. I thought of these people countless times during the race, and there is no doubt they were part of this journey. I am also incredibly grateful to a handful of people without whom I could not have done this. My amazing coach, Jen, who guided me over the last 6 months and made an Ironman seem possible. My parents, who encouraged me from the beginning, and put up with my moods and crazy schedules and constant hunger. My training buddies and teammates, especially those who joined me on the course that day and shared the journey with me. I've learned that Ironman is a very selfish endeavor, and yet it cannot be done alone. Once again, thank you!!!
the best support crew
my fellow finishers
Perhaps it was just the great day I had, but I immediately wanted to sign up for another one. I even found myself trolling the websites of other Ironman races and daydreaming about what I might do next. But alas, there is no way I an afford another one right now, nor will I have the time once school starts, so my second one will have wait awhile. Let's just say though that if IM Tahoe wasn't already sold out, someone would've had to physically restrain me : )
What's Next
Even though I'm still in recovery mode, I've started to look ahead to the races I've got on the calendar for the rest of the year. The big one is the Portland Marathon on October 7th, at which I hope to finally break the 4 hour barrier. Over the next month, however, I've got a couple fun races to look forward to including Wharf to Wharf in Santa Cruz that I'll be running with my dad, and then the Color Run 5k that Courtney and I will be doing together as team "Flying Pigments". Neither of these will be raced, but both are sure to be fun : ) After Portland (literally the weekend after) I'm doing the Nike Women's Half in San Francisco, which will be my first race in my new city. It will obviously be a leisurely run as I'm sure I'll still be recovering from Portland, but I've wanted to do this one for a while so I'm excited to finally experience it!
And the newest addition to my schedule alludes to what I hope to focus on again in the next year: trail running and ultras. In fact, before I registered for Coeur d'Alene I debated between an Ironman or a 100 miler, but since I'd done AR50 that year I decided to switch gears and focus on triathlon. Well, now I'm ready to tackle that other goal! Before you guys think I'm crazy, let me just say that, no, I'm not doing a 100 miler any time in the near future. But I do plan on moving in that direction, and so I'll be doing the North Face Endurance Challenge 50k in San Francisco on December 1st. This will be my third ultra, and I'm so excited to start training for it! Since it takes place in the Marin Headlands I'll be able to train on the course since I'll be living in the city, and I'll definitely need to as it's a very challenging course. This will also serve as a stepping stone for my next big goal: the Miwok 100k next May. It's a lottery entry so there's no guarantee, but I'm thinking positive : )
I'm under no illusions that I won't be busy once I start grad school, but I've also realized that I need to make time for running. It's a part of me, and it makes me a much better version of me. It's an outlet, a therapy, and I'm just not willing to sacrifice it. I also know it will help keep me sane during the next chapter of my life. With a lot of changes coming my way, I know running will be one of my only constants.
Ok folks, settle in! This is gonna be a long one : ) My journey to my first Ironman began nearly a year ago when I finally let myself consider that it was possible; that what felt like just a dream could become a reality. And so I made the commitment and registered, telling myself I'd figure out the rest later. A few months later I realized I'd need some help along the way so I hired an awesome coach, and when January rolled around, I got to work. It's strange to think how much preparation goes into an Ironman. My training plan was on the low end at "only" 6 months; plenty of people spend 9 months to a year or more getting themselves ready. And then, in one day, seemingly in the blink of an eye, it happens, and it's over.
For me, however, that day was perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better experience at my first Ironman, or a better reward for all the hard work and sacrifices over the last several months. It was at once everything I'd hoped for and not what I'd expected at all. And while I can certainly give you a play-by-play of my day, it will be much harder, perhaps impossible, to convey the many emotions that pass over you throughout the course of the day. This was undoubtedly one of the most memorable days of my life and one of my proudest achievements.
When I first heard about the Ironman a few years ago, it seemed impossible, and yet a seed was planted. From that day, a part of me began working toward that goal, cultivating that seed, until I finally realized that the impossible was instead inevitable. I shared with you my time goals before the event, but my main goal was to stay in the moment. I was told that although it's a very long race, it will go by incredibly quickly. I wanted to savor each moment, the good and the bad, and I think that's partly why I had such an awesome day.
Pre-Race
Per Ironman rules, we'd dropped off most of our stuff - gear bags and bikes - the day before, which actually made race morning a lot less hectic. It had taken me a while to fall asleep but once I did, I slept fairly well and woke up easily at 5am on race day. I got dressed, made a bagel for breakfast, made sure I had all my stuff in my morning gear bag, and then we hopped in the car for the short drive to the start. The sky was dark and overcast, but so far was holding off on the forecasted rain, so we just crossed our fingers that it would stay that way.
all ready to go!
We headed to transition first to check our bikes and load them up with fuel. There was a definite energy and excitement in the air, but you could also see a wave of nerves and anxiety in the faces of many athletes. as we were getting our stuff ready, we heard a gun go off, signaling the pro start, but also letting us know it was almost game time! After getting our bikes ready met up near transition to get our wetsuits on. Soon enough we joined the throngs of other athletes near the exit, trying to get out and down to the beach. The crowd wasn't budging, so we knew we wouldn't have time to meet up with our friends and family, and instead just waited and tried to be patient. This was when my nerves suddenly got the best of me. I started shaking and felt a little panicky at what was about to happen. It was so helpful to have my friends with me to reassure me and keep me calm. It turns out they were just waiting for the pros to start their second lap before unleashing us onto the beach. And so, with just a few minutes to spare, we were funneled down onto the beach to begin our Ironman.
body-marked
Swim
The swim start is from a small beach on the lake, so it was pretty crowded with over 2,500 athletes. We tried to move to the right and away from the buoy line as much as possible, and were maybe halfway back from the front. We were still getting situated when, all of a sudden, the gun went off! I didn't have time to think or freak out, I was just swept forward in the crowd and into the water.
2,600+
madness!
The next 10 minutes are almost indescribable. I'd been told by experienced Ironman athletes that a mass start is like being in a giant, human washing machine. That there was an almost guaranteed chance of getting kicked, hit in the face, and/or swam over. This is all definitely true; and yet, it's something I think you just have to experience to understand the utter chaos. All around me bodies were flailing. It was nearly impossible to swim any kind of real stroke. Your instinct is to keep your head up - both to see where you're going, but mostly to protect yourself - but that causes your legs to drop and allows those behind you to literally just try and swim over you. I immediately got panicky, and thoughts entered my mind wondering how I was going to do this.
I kept telling myself to keep fighting and moving forward whatever way I could, and that eventually, things would space out and I'd be able to swim. Being so freaked made it hard to catch my breath so I resorted to breathing just on one side and every stroke. This calmed me down a bit, and soon enough I was able to find some space and try to swim with my usual rhythm. I still found myself occasionally being hassled by another swimmer, and often found myself getting "boxed out" (swimming between two people who slowly move closer together and force you to drop back). I also couldn't help but notice, both before the start and during the swim, how many green caps there were (men) and how few pink caps there were (women). The event program reported that only 27% of athletes this year were female. I can't help but wonder if that was why the swim was so crazy!
The swim course itself was pretty straight forward. Two laps of a long rectangle, with a short run between laps. Although there were only two turns, they were incredibly chaotic as everyone funneled together to get as close as possible to the turn buoys. The first turn came sooner than I expected, I think partly from being caught up in the chaos for the first 10 minutes, but also because the one upside of a mass start is the insane drafting it causes. You literally get swept up with all the other swimmers for a while til you find your own space. I was able to get into my usual rhythm on a few stretches, but still found myself breathing more often to stay calm. On the way back for the first loop I couldn't help but think of how nice it would be to get out of the water and be done, rather than have to get back in for another loop. The only thing that kept me positive was knowing that at least the second loop wouldn't be so crazy.
swim course
As I approached the beach we were helped out of the water by volunteers and steered to our left to make a short run over the timing mat before hopping back in the water. My friend and coworker, Anandi, finished the first lap just when I did and when I saw her all I could say was, "That was f*cking nuts!" When I got out of the water I checked my watch, but I think it got kicked or hit because it wasn't recording my time right. I knew I was around 38 minutes, though, and I was quite pleased with that.
I (somewhat reluctantly) got in the water again for my second lap, and as I predicted, I had much more space this time around. As if to make up for the lack of mass start chaos, Mother Nature decided to kick up the wind and create some nasty chop. Almost immediately I was asking myself if it had been this choppy during the first lap, but there was no way. It felt like I was in a completely different body of water! Breathing became difficult again, but for a very different reason. I'd turn my head to take a breath, and instead just get a mouthful of water. I was able to keep my cool and was so thankful that I'd swam in some chop at Lake Natoma and practiced dealing with it. It also made sighting difficult because the waves often obscured the buoys. As far as sighting goes, however, I was pretty proud of how well I did. I tend to swim off course very easily, but I made sure to use the other swimmers and buoys to regularly check my position, and as a result stayed pretty close to the buoy line.
The chop continued to get worse, and the I found the second loop to feel much longer than the first. When I finally found myself around the turn buoys and on the home stretch, I couldn't help but think how badly I just wanted the swim behind me and to be on my bike! Finally I could see the bottom of the lake and hear the music and announcer, and then my hands were scraping the sand and I stood up, never so happy to be done with a swim in my life. My second lap was 44 minutes - nearly 6 minutes slower than my first - which gives you an idea of just how bad the waves were! The chute up to transition was lined with cheering spectators as I walked up, and I heard my name called and saw my parents and smiled. I was so happy and proud to have survived such a crazy swim, and ready to get on with the rest of the day!
swim time (2.4 mi): 1:22:46
T1
At the end of the chute they had wetsuit strippers, so I found a free one, plopped onto my butt, and had it off in seconds! I grabbed my gear bag from the long rows of bags and headed for the transition tent. I really needed to pee, but for some reason the port-o-pottys that were right there were zip-tied closed. I didn't want to waste time so I sat down on the grass and just started getting my gear on. Now, this might be TMI, but while I was sitting there, I just did it. Peed. I figured it wasn't much different from peeing in your wetsuit, and I did not want to stand in line at a bathroom. At the last moment I decided to wear my arm sleeves as it was still overcast and chilly, and I was glad I did. I got up and threw my gear bag into the pile and headed out to find my bike!
Fortunately I knew exactly where it was, right next to a tree in the the front, and very close to the bike out. I heard my dad yell and smiled, but then it was all focus as I grabbed my bike and ran toward the exit. At one point, a thought flashed through my mind that I was in the middle of my first f*cking Ironman. I smiled again : ) Just past the bike mount line I hopped on, clipped in, and was off!
T1 time: 7:59
Bike
The bike course consisted of two laps, with two out-and-backs on each one. We started off in town, and then out on what would later be part of the run course. This was also the section that we'd rode on Friday as a preview of the run course. There was one big hill that we rode up, then down before turning around and heading back up. I kept telling myself to just keep it easy, spinning up the hill and keeping it comfortable on the flats. My legs felt pretty good from the start, and for some reason I just felt like it was going to be a good day : ) We headed back toward town along the lake, and as we got closer the crowds got bigger and louder. I heard my dad yell my name again, but it was impossible to find him in the crowds as I was zooming by. But once again, I smiled.
Then we were out on the longer out-and-back, about 21 miles on highway 95 that took us out into gorgeous rural Idaho. My friends and I had drove this section the day before, and it definitely lived up to it's reputation of "rolling hills". There were a couple big climbs - which also became screaming descents on the way back - and the rest were gentle rollers. Even the big hills, however, weren't very steep and the longest was 2 miles. The scenery, however, was amazing and a perfect distraction (pics below taken the day before). Everything was so green and lush, at many points taking your breath away (sometimes an issue on those climbs!).
so green!
the resort across the lake
As I approached the first climb, I just threw my bike in an easy gear and focused on staying nice and steady. I knew I would get passed by a lot of people on the bike, especially on the hills, but I just wanted to focus on my race and not get caught up. Just a ways up the hill a familiar face called from behind me and it turned out to be Nicole! We chatted for a while and ended up leapfrogging a few more times the rest of the ride. She ended up having an awesome race - congrats girl! This was the longest hill, and after about 2 miles I was happy to reach the top. A few miles after that first climb we had our first long descent, and boy was it fast. The roads were in great condition, so I opted to stay in aero, and ended up clocking my fastest mile ever - 33 mph! As I was passing people like crazy and picking up more and more speed I just tried to keep a steady line and focus on what was ahead of me. While it was certainly thrilling, I was also happy to reach the bottom in one piece.
At this point I was feeling pretty good. Even my butt was cooperating so far! But - I had to pee again. I really didn't want to have to stop, and I figured I'd just let it get to the point where I peed on the bike. I know plenty of athletes do this, especially guys, and I honestly tried, but I just couldn't let go (haha). So I hoped it would just happen. I didn't know exactly where the turnaround was, but around mile 35 I realized I was going to have to stop. I was so uncomfortable, and, hard as I tried, I just couldn't pee on the bike. I passed an aid station but decided to continue on to the turnaround and stop on the way back. I finally made the turn, inwardly fist pumping that another section was done, and eagerly headed back to the aid station. I quickly unclipped, racked my bike, and hopped into a port-o-potty. I was probably only stopped for a minute, but it made such a huge difference! I was much happier over the next several miles : )
climbing...
happy that I no longer had to pee?
The way back on the highway, while not without climbs, had much more descents and thus was faster and more enjoyable. There was one big climb around mile 50, but it was shorter than that first one and my legs were still feeling strong. The nice thing about this course, at least for me, was that the out-and-backs really broke up the ride mentally. Instead of thinking about riding 112 miles, which was incredibly daunting, I just focused on getting to the next turnaround point. It also allowed you to see other athletes along the way and I saw my friends a few different times which was great. Eventually I found myself back in town and done with the first lap in 3:31, which was even better than I'd hoped. I knew if I could keep that up I'd finish the ride 30 minutes faster than my goal! I heard my dad again, and this time I managed to catch a quick glimpse of him. Then it was back along the lake for a 14 mile roundtrip. The hills were a little harder this time around, but this section was mostly flat so I focused on making up some speed while also trying to save my legs for the hills to come in the last section.
one of the big climbs going back toward town
As I headed back through town and back out onto the highway, things were still looking up for the most part. My legs still felt pretty good, the sky had cleared and the sun had come out, and I was still in good spirits. Even though I knew I still had almost 4 hours to go, it felt like it was all going by so fast. I was sticking to my nutrition plan, eating half a waffle every half hour and sipping my Gu Roctance regularly, and I think this helped pass the time but also kept me feeling strong. I did have to stop a second time at an aid station around mile 80 to refill my bottles, but it was quick and more than worth it. I ended up consuming 7 waffles and 3.5 servings of Gu Roctane over the ride (~1900 cals). I stuck to my plan religiously, and thankfully my stomach handled it like a champ.
About 60 miles in, as I'd expected, I started to get uncomfortable on the saddle. I was actually surprised to make it that far with little discomfort, but I knew it would eventually happen. It got worse as I went on, making it hard to ride on the flats as I constantly needed to stop pedaling and sit up off the saddle to relieve the pressure. I also found myself wishing I'd carried some chamois cream on me to reapply. My legs were starting to get fatigued, but for the most part it was just my bum that was holding me back which was frustrating. I just kept telling myself to focus on reaching the turnaround because then I had several descents in which I could just coast. It seemed to take forever to get there, much longer than it felt during the first lap (duh!), but eventually I got there.
I knew I needed to stop again to stretch and relieve the pressure, so around mile 95 I pulled over to the side of the road for a minute. It helped for a while, and I was glad I took the time to do it. Not long after my One10 teammate Kevin pulled up behind me. He'd passed me earlier in the first lap and is a much stronger cyclist than I, so I knew something must have happened. He told me that he'd gotten dehydrated and wasn't able to keep any food or fluids down. I felt so bad for him, but I also knew that despite this challenge he would still finish. And he still managed to forge on ahead of me as we reached our last big climb around mile 110!
Although I'd mostly enjoyed the bike, I was very much ready to be done at this point. Those last 10 miles seemed to stretch on forever, but eventually the crowds grew bigger and I was making the final turn toward transition. With a mile left I'd slipped my Garmin off my handlebars so that when I crossed the dismount line I was able to just hand over my bike to a volunteer. I was simultaneously excited to be done with the bike, happy with how well it went, and surprised that it already behind me.
bike time (112 mi): 7:18:09
T2
With my bike handed off I ran as best as I could into transition, grabbed my gear bag, and headed to the tent. Another volunteer was immediately by my side, asking me what I needed and what she could do. I took of my helmet and sunglasses, peeled off my arm warmers, and began changing shoes. I stuffed all my Gu into my pockets, grabbed a couple ibuprofen to take, threw on my visor, sucked down a gel, and was ready to go. As I headed out of transition, something didn't feel quite right. I ran through the run out, and within a few meters I realized what was missing - my sunglasses. I stopped in my tracks, turned to a volunteer and asked if I could go back in. Looking back, I don't know what I was thinking. It was the middle of the day and it was bright out, but they weren't going to make or break my race. Without thinking much more I was running back in, sidestepping the run out and hoping I wasn't messing up my timing.
grab 'n go!
I ran back over to the tent and tried to find my volunteer, but she was no where to be found. I explained to a couple other ones that I left something in my bag, and they directed me to a pile of bags outside the tent waiting to be transported. I probably spent a full minute searching for mine - again, what the hell was I thinking!?! - but it was in vain. Finally, I decided it wasn't worth it and headed back out, feeling like a fool, and still wishing I had my sunglasses. I wasted at least a couple minutes, and for nothing!
T2 time: 5:14
Run As I left transition, I knew I was already a little behind on the run since my time started when I first exited transition. I also couldn't stop worrying that I had somehow messed up my timing by running back in. I tried to push these thoughts aside as I ran through the cheering crowds of spectators and began my marathon. From the first few miles, I was surprised at how good I felt. I focused on keeping the effort easy, which pretty much meant a slow jog, but I knew I had a long way to go. The course took us through town and then into some great little neighborhoods with throngs of people out cheering. It was a great boost to see so many people cheering us on, and I tried to make eye contact with as many people as I could and smiled and thanked them. About this time it also hit me - I was on the marathon portion of my Ironman! The great thing was that at this point, I knew I was going to do it. Even if I had to walk the whole thing, I would finish, and by the end of the day I would be an Ironman. I smiled.
sans sunglasses : /
Around mile 2 I ducked into a port-o-potty and grabbed some water at the first aid station. Around mile 3 the course emerged from the neighborhoods and took us along the lake. This was the section we'd biked earlier in the day, and quite beautiful with the water right next to us. Around mile 4 I spotted my teammate, Kevin, up ahead and soon caught up to him. He was still feeling pretty bad and knew his run would be slow going, but he was fighting and doing great considering. After a couple minutes I went on ahead, knowing that I'd at least see him again on the way back.
The run course consists of two out-and-backs, mostly flat with one big hill to go up and over twice. The great thing about this was that, like the bike course, it broke up the marathon mentally, and it also meant I got to see a lot of other athletes, including a few familiar faces. I took my first Gu about 45 minutes in, and continued to do so the rest of the run. When I reached mile 5 and started the climb, I was still feeling surprisingly good but I made myself walk the whole hill to save my legs. It was only a half mile long, and then we got a nice descent on the opposite side heading down to the turnaround at mile 6.6 or so.
As I crossed over the timing mat I thought of all my friends and family tracking me and following along, and I was hit with another wave of emotions. I kept thinking I was going to jinx myself; after having such a great day so far, I felt like it had to take a turn for the worst somehow. Didn't an Ironman include suffering and pain? Looking back, I still don't know if my perfect day was due to luck, good training, or something else (or perhaps a little of each), but I am so grateful. As I made my way back up the hill I slowed to a walk again, and thought about how crazy it was that I was already a quarter of the way through!
At some point on the way back to town I saw a couple I know from back home, ran into Kevin again, saw Nicole ahead of me still having a kickass race, and eventually saw Anandi and Cris, both looking good. It was great to see the familiar faces and gave me a great boost of energy. Plus, I was happy to know they were all still out there and looking strong. By this point I was stopping at every aid station, taking two cups of water, one to drink and one to dump on my head. It had warmed to the mid 70s and I wanted to stay as cool as possible.
I made my way back through the cheering neighborhoods and eventually was back downtown, although the turnaround seemed like it would never appear! I saw my folks across the street and smiled, made the turnaround just ahead, and stopped briefly to chat with them on my way back out. I was still worried about my time and tracking, so I made sure they were still getting my updates. They were, so I tried to just let it go once again. I knew that the next time I saw them, I would be an Ironman!
turnaround
stopping to talk to my dad
The last half of the race went by so fast. There was a lot more two-way traffic as nearly everyone was out on the run course. I continued to stop at the aid stations, and started grabbing a cup of cola and an orange slice in addition to my usual water. I'm not even a soda drinker, but that cola was wonderful! I also must add that the volunteers - throughout the race - were incredible. So positive, helpful, kind, and encouraging. It inspired me to volunteer at an Ironman in the near future! Anyway, the miles kept ticking by, and soon enough I was climbing that big hill again. I think I mentioned to an athlete near me that it didn't seem this long the first time! But for the most part, I was able to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
I continued to be surprised at how good I still felt. Going into the race, I fully expected to walk portions of the marathon, and I was more than ok with that. I saw tons of people, including some really fit looking ones, forced to walk, and I couldn't help but wonder why I was feeling so good. I certainly was feeling tired at this point, but I never felt like I needed to walk. My legs felt great, too, which I attribute to the brand new pair of shoes I'd saved just for the day. And not to be overlooked, my excitement at being so close to an accomplishment I'd been working towards for nearly a year buoyed me forward.
I kept reminding myself to stay in the moment, because my thoughts kept jumping forward to that moment. With just a few miles to go I made an effort to make eye contact with the athletes heading in the opposite direction and smiled. I was just so happy I wanted to share it with everyone! I also had a lot of respect for everyone out there, both ahead of me and behind me. Going back through the neighborhoods for the last time I tried to savor it. I thanked as many people as I could and started counting down the miles. I'd been doing some math during the marathon and knew if I could run sub-5 hours, I'd also finish sub-14 hours, which I of course wanted to do. There's just something about finishing sub-whatever that is appealing, right?
With one mile to go, I started getting emotional. I was hoping to finish before dark, and the sun was just setting. The finish of this race is like no other; you round the corner onto the main street downtown, Sherman Ave, and it is just lined with people cheering. I saw the finish chute up ahead and the first tears filled my eyes. I couldn't believe I'd made it! I smiled and looked around, trying to breathe through awkward gasps as my emotions overwhelmed me. There were a few other athletes around me, so I slowed to let them go ahead and have my own finish line moment. I heard and saw my parents cheering, threw up my arms, and crossed the line. I was an IRONMAN!
emotions flying high!
OH YEAH!!!
run time (26.2 mi): 4:53:18
A volunteer grabbed me immediately and steered me through the finish line, getting me a medal, hat & t-shirt, space blanket, water, and getting a finish picture taken. I was crying and just so, so happy. I found my folks on the sideline and made my way out to them. I looked at my phone for the first time since before the race and was overwhelmed with a fresh wave of emotions as I saw all the messages wishing me luck throughout the day and then congratulating me on my finish. It was wonderful.
total time: 13:47:26
Post-Race
I wanted to keep moving, so we headed over to the lake to take some pictures of our own before the sun set. I've always been blessed to have wonderfully supportive parents, and it meant so much to me to have them there. They've put up with a lot these past 6 months of training, and I am so thankful for their support. After taking pictures my dad headed to transition to pick up my bike while my mom and I went to grab my gear bags. I still wanted to hang around for my friends to finish, so my dad took my bike and gear back to the house and my mom and I hung out.
couldn't have done it without them ♥
I felt pretty good, if not a little hungry and cold, so I bundled up and headed into the finish area to grab some pizza. As we waited, I got more and more tired, and my body started to ache. Still, nothing could diminish the feeling of finishing. Sitting there on the sidewalk, I felt like a total badass : ) Eventually Kevin, Anandi, and Cris finished. They all had their own individual struggles, but they made it all 140.6 miles, and I couldn't have been more proud, nor asked for a better group of people to share this experience with.
The rest of the night was a blur. We got a ride back to the house, I took a glorious shower, then collapsed onto the couch. We shared brief stories from the day, commiserating about the tough parts but sharing the great feeling that comes with an accomplishment of this magnitude. Eventually my exhaustion caught up with me, but I went to bed that night on cloud 9 : )
runner & triathlete. grad student. vegetarian. always looking for my next big challenge. feel free to contact me at rnwatkins11@gmail.com with any questions or comments. thanks for stopping by!
