I did it! I did a half iron distance triathlon! And, I danced across the finish line!
What started as an idea nearly one year ago - finally came true. On October 29, 2011, I swam 1.2 miles, biked 56 miles and ran 13.1 miles in 6h32m56s. It was the hardest challenge of my life....but one of the best days EVER! It was actually one of the best weekends ever - complete with a medal, a cruise on the Cape Fear river, a stack of pancakes with some my favorite champions and memories to last a lifetime.
PRE-RACE: I think I felt unusually calm. We arrived at Wrightsville Beach park to set up transition at the bike. Loaded LOLA up with gels and protein bites and laid out my clothes. I chatted with a few friends and perused the pretty bikes.
Neal and I headed to the Seaside Club. We spent some time hiding from the wind inside the car with Sylvain and Anna. With 25 minutes to go, I donned my wetsuit and headed to the pier. I was greeted by Captain Courageous! My wonderful, amazing training partner and friend, Beth had arrived in costume for an early Halloween surprise. The night before, Captain Courageous had dropped a good luck microbrew and a note at the front door. Here she was decked out in hat, goggles, cape, superhero emblem, green top and black and yellow knee high socks. She was joined by Jen, Mandi, Joe and Ben.
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| Happy and Ready. Loving all the compliments on my cute bag. |
Neal and I headed to the Seaside Club. We spent some time hiding from the wind inside the car with Sylvain and Anna. With 25 minutes to go, I donned my wetsuit and headed to the pier. I was greeted by Captain Courageous! My wonderful, amazing training partner and friend, Beth had arrived in costume for an early Halloween surprise. The night before, Captain Courageous had dropped a good luck microbrew and a note at the front door. Here she was decked out in hat, goggles, cape, superhero emblem, green top and black and yellow knee high socks. She was joined by Jen, Mandi, Joe and Ben.
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The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start. [John Bingham] That's me in the center/top with my arms raised in victory at the start of my first half-iron! |
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| Just Keep Swimming |
THE SWIM: The swim was a wild ride. I can only say that I loved it because it was incredibly fast. That in itself was wild, but the weather made it feel a bit like a roller coaster. The cold didn't bother me, but the wind and the fog made me feel like I was in a washing machine. The inbound current and winds from the north made it choppy for the first half mile. Plus, the fog was just low and thick enough to mess with my sighting in the water. I swallowed a LOT of water and I think I was 100 yards off the turn buoy at one point. Still, I had predicted a 38 minute swim and finished in 28:55 - ten minutes faster than I thought possible!
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| Out of the water and headed into T1. |
THE BIKE: The bike was a killer. By the time I got out of the water, the headwind had picked up and the temps had dropped to about 45 degrees. One of the athletes (and a meteorologist with the National Weather Service) described it like this: …..winds were 12-18 mph with gusts to at least 23 mph for the morning, but peaked at 25 mph sustained, with 33 mph gusts around 2pm. There was a slight lull in the wind from 11am-1pm when most halfers were on their way back, but the strongest winds were after that, when full athletes were coming back. Another athlete wrote: Driving home today I think I'm going to sit on the front of the car at 40 mph just to reminisce.
The first few miles were okay. I settled in and tried to get my heart rate down. I tried to figure out how to wipe the mist from my shades. I was surprised to see the Nixes on Market Street at the entrance to their neighborhood and even more surprised to see SHELLEY on the ramp onto I-140! I even caught a glimpse of my mom-in-law Dottie, Ron and one of their friends in Porter's Neck. The rest of the ride was the challenge.
The first few miles were okay. I settled in and tried to get my heart rate down. I tried to figure out how to wipe the mist from my shades. I was surprised to see the Nixes on Market Street at the entrance to their neighborhood and even more surprised to see SHELLEY on the ramp onto I-140! I even caught a glimpse of my mom-in-law Dottie, Ron and one of their friends in Porter's Neck. The rest of the ride was the challenge.
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| My bike start. Headed into the wind. |
Physically and mentally it was tough. I had three bad patches in the race and two were on the bike. I rode against that wind – at 11-15mph for 35 miles. The first 25 miles of that 35 were also in a foggy mist or rain. The last ten were simply windy. It was hard physically – I was afraid I was going to be blown off my bike sideways several times! Plus, I was having a hard time staying in my heart rate zone. Mentally, I was afraid the wind would never stop. I was being passed left and left [it's illegal to pass on the right]. And by mile 10, I already knew that I wouldn’t meet my time goal. I struggled with that disappointment for quite a few miles - trying to make the math work in my favor and trying to justify my performance. Highway I-140 will forever be etched in my mind as the Highway to Hell.
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| No stop signs, speed limit/Only wind is gonna slow me down. Like a wheel, gonna spin it/Nobody's gonna mess me round. I'm on the Highway to Hell. |
In fact, when I started singing that AC/DC tune out loud at mile 15, I started to feel a little better. I knew that my attitude was one of the only things I could adjust so I started singing Christmas carols. Out loud. I started with Away in a Manger and went down my list alphabetically [O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Come All Ye Faithful, Deck the Halls, etc.....]. I even made one up to the tune of Away in a Manger:
Alone on my bike, and into the rain
My toes are so numb, I can't feel the pain.
The wind it is blowing, and I'm being passed
I wish I had wings now or a bike that was gassed.
And what's that ahead in the fog and the mist?
A hill in the distance, WTF is this?
Right about that time, I got mad. In the distance - at mile 19 - loomed a giant bridge. The threat of it - a six-story climb in the wind and rain - was a surprise. In all the months of training, this was the one stretch that I hadn't practiced. [It's illegal to bike on an interstate.] I hadn't even driven this section of it in years.
I do not like to be unprepared. Plus, I was suddenly scared to death. The wind was gusting from my across my front tire from the right and I was afraid of being blown off the bridge. So I turned my anger and fear as the way to power up that hill and against the wind. I reached the peak in 2m:4s, my speed stayed above 15mph and I counted eight people that I passed [on the left].
I regrouped when I reached Highway 421. This section I knew: the set of railroad tracks, the false flats, even the wind on this section felt familiar. I worked a little harder on readjusting my attitude. I sang a little more and talked to a few people in passing. Santa was helping out at an aid station and I called out: will you bring me a medal for Christmas? He answered: it's waiting for you at the finish! Up ahead, I could see a distinct break in the clouds and sunshine for the first time all day. My heart rate began to drop [and stay] in Zone 2. I also adjusted my finish time. I had hoped to finish the bike in 3h:18m but with the wind and the rain, I added 20 minutes and aimed for 3h38m.
I had one other dip in my ride between mile 30 and 35. I was hungry, I had to make a pit stop and oh, did I mention it was still windy? Plus, I realized that the course had been changed. As I turned onto Blueberry Road, I started looking for other riders. The course was designed to be an out and back on Blueberry Road and I thought it would be possible to see Erica and Jason racing for their relay teams in the opposite direction. No Erica. No Jason. Nobody. This is not right. There was literally a moment of thinking - I am lost. Where are they taking us?! I am going off-course. I am turning around. In the next moment, I collected my thoughts. I had done this ride enough to know the roads to lead us back to the Battleship.
Fortunately, I was leap-frogging with a gal with a beautiful pink camo bike. As I passed her, I asked her how she was holding up. This wind is getting to me, she answered. Hold on for another few miles. We're getting ready to hit a tailwind. At the second right, you're going to feel much better. I believed my own words. This time, I started singing: Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I passed the sign at the Currie Baptist Church that said: David, a man after God's own heart, and I laughed out loud. I took it as a sign. [my small group at church is doing a study on David and it reminded me of my heart rate training!] So, of course, I started singing Jesus Loves Me.
I actually turned a corner (literally and figuratively) at mile 35. I made a pit stop, ate half of my Uncrustable and I refilled my aero bottle. When I got back on my bike, I made that second right and I was a new woman. My heart rate came down even more and I went from averaging 16mph to 24mph for miles at a time.
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| Uncrustables: PB&J on White Bread |
When I turned back onto Highway 421 and headed south, I breathed a sigh of relief. The sun was mostly out and the wind was at my back. I knew I could reach my new time goal and suddenly I didn't want it to end! I started remembering all the amazing training rides this summer: the trips to White Lake, the early starts at Malpass Corner, the hot long rides to Holly Shelter, the heat, the bee stings, the dog chases, even the flat tires! I began listing all the people who helped me on my training journey: Michelle, Jen, Jen, Beth, Erica, Brian, Alex, Nicole. I began assigning their names to the traffic cones I passed. I named each little orange and white cone the name of my family: Ace, Anna, Colin, Dad, Joyce, Parker. Even Mama and Nanny [I can bike to Pender County and back. My Mama can't! She never could!]. If I know you, you have a cone on Highway 421 named in your honor. There were hundreds of cones so my list went on and on: my coaches, my friends, running buddies who got me into this [Billy, Ben, Sylvain, Brian and yes, Amy S., you got me into this, too].
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| Thank You, Mr. Conehead. |
I had two great things happen in those last miles of the bike. First, I decided I needed to stop again. I tried for two miles to eat the other half of my peanut butter and jelly, but my hands were too cold and honestly - I was going too fast! With the wind, I was traveling around 23mph. I knew there was an aid station ahead but I already had the sandwich out and ready to go. In the distance, I noticed two people on the side of the road. I could tell they were watching for a biker, because they were cheering and clapping. I figured they were safe and I'd stop when I reached them. A few seconds passed and I thought: they look friendly, that person even looks like Anna (my sister). A few seconds later I was screeching to a halt. IT IS ANNA! I said out loud. I'M STOPPING!!! Anna and Colin were both there cheering me on! In between bites of my sandwich, I think we hugged and said a few words before I was off again.
Second, I was passed by my new BFF. She said, "I have decided that you have the best legs out here!" I thanked her and laughed. "I usually only look at men's legs, but your legs are beautiful." I thanked her again and said (as she passed): "I would give anything for your fast legs right now!" I think she said something like we'll work out a trade at the finish, but I never saw her again. I love her and her words of affirmation.
I cruised into Battleship Park and was anxious to get out on the run. Who would have thought I'd be so excited to run 13.1 miles?! I was so thankful to hand LOLA off to the volunteer and be off the bike. My one mistake on the run came long before I started. I had forgotten to set my watch for this workout: Run 13.1 in Zone 2. Fortunately, I had practiced setting my Garmin 405 a million times and it didn't cost me too many seconds. Before I knew it, I was off and on my way.
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| Headed Out on the Run. I Posed for Every Picture. [Shocker!] Click Here to See the Rest |
By mile three of the run, the sun was out and my spirits were up. My quote going into this race: Divide the race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart [Mike Fanelli]. I ran 13.1 miles with my heart. I felt the love of so many friends [Michelle, Jen, Anne, Mandi] and family that showed up to cheer on every mile. I met and talked to women on the course, I got a shout-out from Leanne on her back in, I high-fived my husband, mother-in-law, sister, brother-in-law and dad [three times], I hugged friends at the aid stations [Shelz] and smiled at volunteers [Renee, Johnny, Tricia, the Moxeys] that called my name. I have been joking that I did 70.3 miles that day - one for every friend, family or fan. [Jen and Mike's Bambino-to-Be counts as the .3]
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| Mile Three near the corner of Water & Market Streets. |
The weirdest part of the entire run was the turn-around. It was a surreal moment. First off, it was a lot sooner than I remembered or had practiced - which was GREAT! As I ran off a footbridge, into a little valley and up the other side to the turnaround cone, I was greeted by a lounge singer and his electric piano, an aid station where everyone seemed to be dressed like a pirate or pimp and a section of fans that were loud and hilarious. [One sign read: Toenails are for Sissies and another: Chuck Norris Never Did an Ironman!]
The best part, though, was that Dad, Anna and Colin were there! I was totally shocked. I had expected them to head from their last spot at the corner of Water and Market to the Battleship finish line! I was so excited to see them. I stopped to walk and high-fived them. I grabbed some water from the pimp-pirate and passed the lounge lizard [Nights in White Satin? Really?!]
The best part, though, was that Dad, Anna and Colin were there! I was totally shocked. I had expected them to head from their last spot at the corner of Water and Market to the Battleship finish line! I was so excited to see them. I stopped to walk and high-fived them. I grabbed some water from the pimp-pirate and passed the lounge lizard [Nights in White Satin? Really?!]
Right after that, I hit my third bad patch. I think I was emotional about them being there. My left IT band was getting tighter. Plus, I came up and out of that little cove on Greenfield lake and headed north and there was wind in my face. I thought, I’m all by myself, now. I have to get all the way back….against the wind?!!! My legs are hurting and it’s getting colder! It didn’t take long to snap out of it. I started talking with another runner and it suddenly felt like all the other long runs I’d practiced in this park. The sun is shining, my legs are moving and I only have 6.2 miles to go. I knew I would make it if I ran like I loved it and stuck with my heart rate pace!
Those last miles were long - but fun. I passed Brian Campbell and Jen Young on their first out of their double out-and-back. Shelley hugged me at the PPD aid station and got me all teary by saying how proud she was. I talked a girl over the Isabel Holmes bridge - I sang her my off-key version of U2's vertigo as we ran across the steel grates. I saw Valjeanne at the last aid station. And did a fist pump at the top of the Tommy Rhodes bridge when I got a glimpse of the Battleship and downtown Wilmington.