IMCDA: The big day!

Here it is finally...race day!

So after having some rainy and windy weather I didn't know what to expect race morning. The forecasters had said that the rain would be cleared out but I was hoping the wind would be gone along with it. My alarm went off at 4 AM race morning and Brian and I got out of bed and started getting ready. We had already laid out everything so getting ready was fairly straight forward. After a quick breakfast and a check on Herb to see if he was ready, we opened the door. I had refused to look outside prior to this so I wouldn't have any excuses to climb back into bed. The sky was clear, but the wind was a-blowing. I accepted it for what it was and we loaded up the car and started our quick drive down to the race start.

The air temps were somewhat cool but not terribly freezing or anything. I was comfortable in my thin long-sleeve shirt and long pants. Walking along the waterfront towards transition I tried not to look at the turbulent water and just focus on how great it was going to be once the race began. I got to my bike and luckily the girl next had a pump with her and was kind enough to let me borrow it to air my tires. I put the rest of my nutrition on my bike and did some visualization of my exit out of the water, into the changing tent, and onto my bike. It was as I was standing here that I realized that I hadn't seen any body markers! I quickly ran over to Brian to see if he was done and told him that we needed to get body marked. He was done so we grabbed our bags and headed out to find the body markers. We had apparently approached transition from the “back” side so we had to walk around to the beach area to get marked. After that was done we headed back inside transition to finish up and drop off our morning clothes bags. After one last restroom stop it was time to put on the wet suit and head out to line up for the swim.  

The masses waiting for the swim start.
Totally not my picture. I found it on the internet but I don't remember who to give credit too. Sorry!

Swim: 1:25:00

Since this race was using the rolling start method, Brian and I placed ourselves with the 1:15-1:30 swimmers. As we were weaving our way to our places we ran into Herb who was already in line. We all gave each high-fives and good wishes. It was so awesome to see him before we started. We reached our places and waited for the crowd to roll forward. Then it was our turn! I looked at the clock as I entered the water -- 6:47. So I needed to be done with this race by 11:47 to be under 17 hours. With a quick peck and squeeze Brian and I were off on our race.

I pressed start on my Garmin and nothing happened!!! I’m skipping/running through the water trying to get my watch to do something before I finally said screw it I need to start swimming! I dove into the water and quickly had to start weaving my way around people and try to find clear water. I got pretty beat up during the first 500 meters or so. I just couldn't seem to find a clear path in the water. I also felt like a canoe being lifted up and down by the waves. The side of my face hurt from slapping down on the water. I was too busy worrying about the waves and people and that none of my issues with the clear water surfaced during my swim. I hit the first turn buoy and quickly made it to the other one that would lead us back to the beach. I should have expected this, but I didn't, so when I realized that the waves would actually help me on the way back to shore I got super excited! It was so much fun “riding” the waves back in. I knew that this would probably help my swim time. Once I got back to the beach and looked down at the watch my worst fear was realized. No swim time!!

This is a two-loop swim so as I ran in for my second swim I hit the start button again on my watch and this time it worked! I tried to keep what I thought was the same intensity as my first loop on the way out but it seemed like the waves were slightly rougher. Luckily on my second loop the crowd had thinned out a little and I was able to find a nice, clear lane to swim and had a pretty uneventful second loop. As I exited the water and headed for the changing tent to get ready for my bike I saw my second loop of the swim was 43 minutes. I decided to take that and double it and add 2 minutes for my total swim time, which would be 1:28. I was pretty close! Only off by 3 minutes and I was actually pretty excited about 1:28 considering my last IM swim time was 1:36. Huge PR!!

T1: 10:19

Since the air temps were still cool and I wasn't sure how much it was going to warm up during the day, I opted to wear my tri top with my bike jersey over it and arm warmers. It turned out to be perfect for me. Not the quickest transition time, but still a little faster than my IMAZ one. Another PR!

Bike:  8:05:34

The bike -- What can I say about the bike? Well, I did enjoy myself and the scenery was absolutely gorgeous but I really wish my bike time was at least an hour shorter. I felt strong heading out on the course. The first part of the bike takes you along the lake and it is fairly fast. I got to the turnaround feeling good and headed back into the town before the course takes you south of town on the highway. I had heard that this is where the wind can make you or break you. So far I had not noticed the wind but that would quickly change. I was approaching my first climb of the day (2 miles ~6% grade) and I put my bike in an easy gear and just pedaled my way up the climb. I got so many compliments on my SmashFest Queen Sunrise kit that I made a joke that I was going so slow so people could really take a look at the kit and see it in action. Finally the first hill was done and now I was ready to have fun on the descent! But things didn't go according to plan. I picked up speed and was ready to fly when all of a sudden a gust of wind grabbed my front tire and blew me to the side. I about freaked out!! The bike started wobbling a little bit and I was like, “Oh no! A high speed wobble!” I quickly brought my body in and tried to put as much weight on the bike as possible and the bike stabilized. Well, this totally messed with me mentally so I rode the brakes down the rest of the hill trying to keep my weight on the bike and cursing at all the people flying past me and wondering why they weren't being affected by the wind like I was. I finally got to the turnaround on the highway and started heading back.

Hello tailwind! I swear it literally took half the time to make it back into town as it did going out. I still was being careful on the descents but I was still able to take advantage of the speed. Back through town once more, out along the lake, and then I hit special needs really quick to swap out my bottles of nutrition, and I was off again. I started to get a little pain in my knees (yes both) as I was climbing so I put it in an even easier gear to try to save them for the run. I may have been a little too cautious here but I didn't want to have to start to run a marathon on knees that were already in pain. The second time out on the highway seemed to take forever. I remember looking at my watch in town and it was only 2 pm. Then when I looked at my watch on the highway it was already after 4 pm! Finally I got to the turnaround and started the trek back to transition. Even with the tailwind it seemed to take forever but finally I was back in town and transition was in sight. I have never been so happy to be off my bike in my life but I was pleased with my nutrition for the most part. I do remember that I was ready for real food that last hour of the bike. I was getting sick of the GU’s and Infinit. Even the Pay Day bar I was using for real food was not making the cut any more.

This is the bike/run part of the course. We road on the street to the left
and ran on the paved trail along Lake Coeur d'Alene

T2:  6:47

Once in the changing tent I took a look around at what all the other people were wearing. I had pulled my arm warmers down on the last trip back into town and I felt fairly comfortable without them. I was worried that the temps would drop while I was out on the run course and I would be too cold in just my tri top. But the sun was out and the temps had risen into the high 60’s so I decided to chance it. I put on some fresh socks (best idea ever) and took off my jersey. Grabbed my visor and race belt and headed out for the run.

Run:  5:22:39

One of my immediate thoughts when I started the run was how unlike this start was from IMAZ. When I started the run in Arizona, I immediately wanted to stop and walk. Here in CdA I was comfortable from the get-go with the run. It was like my running legs had been rearing to get into action! The first mile ticked off -- 9:56 pace, yes! I knew I wouldn’t be seeing 9’s for very long so I was super stoked to see at least one. The run takes us through town and back out on the bike course that runs along the lake. There were tons of spectators cheering us on and they gave me a much needed boost of energy after that bike ride.

A few miles into the run I encountered some funny experiences. This girl comes running up alongside me and as she’s passing me I hear little toots. I make a face to myself and in my head I’m like, “Is she really farting as she’s running?” I try not to giggle and check her backside to see if she sharted as she goes off ahead of me. Then, when I round the corner, I see her on the side of the road with her finger down her throat trying to make herself throw up. I felt bad for her. I don’t know if she was on her first or second lap but I knew she wasn’t doing well. Then a little farther up the street this guy just stops running and projectile vomits into the air! I started thinking to myself, “It’s too early in the race for me to be seeing so much grossness!!!!” I quickly run past him and luckily after that I was unaware if there was any more farting or puking.

I finally see Brian on the run course as he’s heading back into town to start his second loop and he’s looking good. I cheer him on and we slap hands as we pass each other. I see other people I know from San Antonio, or who I have met while up in CdA and give them all encouragement as we pass each other. I see Brian one last time as I was headed out for my second loop. I knew he was on his way to a huge PR and I shouted at the top of my lungs to him to keep going and don’t give up!

Smiling for 140.6 miles

The people in Coeur d’Alene are just amazing. Their encouragement was contagious and I didn't even think about walking once (except for a few steps on the hill towards the turnaround on the second loop). The party house on the course that had the most awesome music blaring and people dancing in the front yard was the greatest! The Fireball Whisky girls on the corner that made the tunnel to run in was hysterical. The other corner with the guy with the PA system yelling out all the runner’s names was a welcome distraction. This town has embraced the athletes and it makes the experience that much more special.

I ran with a man from Nevada who was doing this race for his daughter, who was supposed to be at the finish line, but had been murdered by an arsonist’s fire earlier in the year. I partnered up with a young guy around mile 19 whose jersey I recognized as one from the bike shop we went to for Hillary’s Smash Party and so we started talking. He is a lifetime resident of CdA and had lots of friends and relatives doing the race. He was finishing up school in Montana and decided to give Ironman a try. He did say that he was going to be sticking with his dirt bike after the race. As we approach the final stretch into town I tell him to go. We congratulate each other and he takes off.

I round the corner that takes you down to the finisher’s chute and I experience a moment of disbelief. I am about to finish my second Ironman. For some reason I had doubts about myself going into this race; like my first finish was a fluke of some sort and that I might not be able to finish another one. I run into the chute with the biggest smile I can muster and I high-five as many hands as I can. I hear the announcer say my name this time and tell me that I am an Ironman again. I’m not sure if this moment ever gets old, but I was just as exhilarated as I was the first time I finished the race. I also ended up with a 4 minute Ironman marathon PR. Yes!

Total:  15:10:19 

Two happy finishers!

What I am most proud of on this race is that I never went into that “dark“ place you can sometimes go into when you’re racing. I knew my bike split had totally messed up my plans to PR but instead of letting that bring me down I decided to just enjoy the rest of the race. I actually don’t even know if it was a conscious decision. I was having such a great time out there it just seemed to happen naturally. I knew immediately that I wanted to do another Ironman. I’m not sure where yet and I don’t know when, but being out there on the course is the absolute best feeling ever.