Sorry, this is a bit long. Most of you asked so many questions and sent so many good wishes my way and I was so excited to be doing my first triathlon in almost TWO YEARS.... so, I wanted let you know how it went and I've tried to reduce it from the two hours of journal writing I did yesterday (I don't think I did a very good job of cutting though).
The weekend started off really well, a good sign. We dropped the dogs off at Club Pet and hit the road and the traffic going up really wasn't too bad. There were lots of good omens for the weekend, beginning with the beautiful wildflowers that we saw on the drive up. There were hills absolutely covered with orange flowers. I thought they had been sprayed with something, but Wade, ever the optimist, insisted they were flowers. I didn't believe him until we were actually driving past them and they were in fact flowers. Tons of orange with some purple (my favorite color) and yellow mixed in. We got to the lake and the second good omen was driving around the camp ground looking for Don Bedford and realizing he was driving right in front of us, yeah! So we rallied a camp site with them and headed down to check in and swim.
Once we got back to the camp site I started feeling a little weird mentally. I usually don't experience stress or nerves before a race. I just find myself at the race start asking "what happend, how'd I allow myself to get into this" and then it passes as soon as the gun goes off. So, I did not know what to make of it. I was kind of at a loss, like I didn't know what I was doing up there, getting ready for a half ironman, it couldn't be a smart idea as my first race. My gear was all organized but I felt like I should be doing something to get ready and I kind of started dreading race day. I asked Wade if we were going to run for a few minutes and while we were running I told him how I was feeling and he made me feel alot better. He pointed out that this was one of the biggest things I've ever attempted and I couldn't fake my way through but that I was ready for it. I think that the reality of the race combined with all that this race meant to me and what I hoped it would symbolize the end of, it was just too much to process.
Ed arrived around this same time carrying a very nice card from Tracy, with lots of encouragement and a little metal stone like thing with the word "Strength" etched into it. The stone went straight into my patch kit with my lucky penny that I found on my first ride to Ramona (past where the accident happened), my first post accident race bib, my grandfathers St. Christopher medal (yes, between the broken leg and what happened last year, I'm not taking ANY chances) and the Fierce Turtle head (a roadside totem that Wade found and took on the IMC ride with him, so it has experience). I should probably weigh all that I guess.
Race morning I felt much more normal and everything seemed familiar again. When we got down to the parking lot we saw Rick Summers (Tri Club). He was in the same hospital, at the same time I was last year. We talked for a few minutes and decided it was another good omen to run into each other.
I got my transition area set up and decided being with the old ladies wasn't so bad after all. They are very polite and they know what they are doing. Ann appeared as I was setting up and I helped her find her rack and I spent some time with Wade and talked to Karen for a few minutes and then it was time to head down to the start. I ran into Ann again on the boat ramp and we just hung out and talked. We actually hugged and cried a bit. Standing on the boat ramp, waiting to start, was my main goal. I really didn't care about the rest of the day, that was all practice. I told Ann what Wade had reminded me of on our run the day before, that this time last year I couldn't even get up and walk to the bathroom! I felt very lucky to even be able to attempt the race. That would be when the crying and hugging started.
We got into the water, swam out and then we turned and looked back at the start line and I was so happy to be there and so glad Ann was there with me. Then it was time. I never got nervous and I never even got my usual "what the HECK was I thinking, how did I allow myself to get here"! I positioned myself towards the front because Wade insisted I'd be faster than than most in my start (he was right). There was one lady, who had to be at least 60, who asked me "how fast do you swim?". I had a major brain fart and said "you mean in the pool?" and then uh....duh... "oh, today? 35-40 minutes", so she got in front of me (never saw her again). The swim was AWESOME. I managed to do a pretty good job of navigating and I rounded the first turn in no time. There was minimal grabbing and I almost lost my watch and had to kick and slug a couple of times to get people off of me, it was great! Heading out to the first boat I realized that I was actually having tons of fun and I had to remind myself that I should actually work it. I managed to find feet to draft off a few times but the feet didn't always have good directional control so I kind of gave up on that. I rounded the turn to head back and found myself in the THICK of the previous wave start, also about that time relay swimmers started to appear from behind. This was the best part of my day and to make it even better, I noticed a woman who was swimming the same speed as me. I had seen her off and on the whole swim. As I came up next to her and started to pass her we began to swim stroke for stroke. Then I noticed her look at me, look at where we were headed and then she dropped back and dissappeared. Then I felt the slap slap on my feet and I was SOOOO excited that someone would actually try to draft off of me, I was honered! I managed to draft off of a couple of the fast relay guys, that was fun, and then all of a sudden it was over. I was swimming past people that were standing up in chest deep water, then I was standing and taking my wetsuit off. I hit my watch and realized later that I hit stop instead of start and had to restart and lap in transition, oh well. I actually managed to run most of the stairs to transition (a first for me there). Oh, another plus of being in the old lady group (the next to the last swim start), it's really easy to find your shoes at the swim exit! When I got to my bike I was startled to see tons of bikes still in the racks. I'm used to lots of room, but not today. I really tried to take Wade's advice and not "knit a sweater", as I have a tendancy to dawdle in transition. Ed and Megan were screaming at me, which was great. Got everything on and into my pockets and off I went, running (I think another first) out of transition with my bike . The bike was great. I passed alot of people and didn't get swarmed over from behind. I certainly got passed, but not like what I'm used to. I tried to focus on eating and drinking and working the downhills and flats. I had a whole nutrition program and that in itself kept me pretty entertained. My low back bugged me a bit (I think from looking up during the swim) but that worked itself out eventually. I gave one of the water guys a thrill by taking two bottle hand offs (stuck one in my mouth and grabbed the next one). One of my secondary goals was to end up with one of the cool race bottles. The hills were hard, but I knew what to expect. Wade drove Nasty Grade for me and that really helped me prepare mentally. I was very surprised to be passing people on the hills (again unusual for me). I also noticed alot of trading off with people that I eventually left behind. Anyway, I tried to ride a bit conservative until the hills at the end and then kind of take it easy on the hills. I felt really great the first 40 miles or so and spent time appreciating the flowers and the cows and the scenic course. Once it got hot and I hit the hills I didn't feel as good. Late in the ride I knew the run would be interesting because I started to feel like I had on a training ride where I had the longest 20 minute T run EVER.I had a pretty aggressive salt, hydration, eating program layed out for the day and something wasn't working. I could tell, but I couldn't figure out what was wrong (I didn't figure it out until I sat down to write in my journal the next day). I was very glad that Wade had convinced me to carry two containers of salt in case one got lost. This was a good thing because I discovered that a zip lock bag, even weighed down with salt tablets, can take flight very well when it catches the wind just right. So, I was left with the adult proof Tylenol tube for salt (I managed to get it open without crashing, but it took alot of thinking). I drank everything that was offered but it didn't seem to me like there was enough GI Push offered (the name will make sense later). I started with a jet stream filled with Gpush and a bottle of double strength Clip. I took at least 2G Push bottles and 3 bottles of water (none of which actually seemed full). I was so afraid of the heat and the run so I was pounding down salt and water. I think this was my main mistake, about twice as much fluid as I needed and more food than I'm used to eating. I wasn't registering that I was drinking too much, just that I was "running out" and it was dry and I thought I was thirsty. Even though I had to tell myself a couple of times, "it hasn't been 15 minutes, wait for 15 minutes, but I'm thirsty....."
I could tell I was pretty close to my 4 hour bike estimate and I think I actually came in ahead of it. Again Megan and Ed were there screaming. As I entered the transition area there was Ann taking my picture. I was very confused by this and it gave me pause and I had to ask her, "why are you wasting time taking photos". She explained that she had bike problems and was out of the race. That saddened me a bit, but we were both in it for the training and she seemed OK with it. I knew it was hot when I opened my chapstick and it was completely liquified (clear) so I poured some on my finger and it worked fine. I was afraid to open the body glide but it was ok. I think maybe I could have "knitted a sweater" in the time I took for this transition but I didn't care. I again felt so lucky to be doing this but I was worried about being comfortable on the run. I had no idea what my real race time was, I had eventually abandoned my timing on my watch. I had done really well with race "proceedures" with everything but my watch. Other than that I had everything exactly where and when I needed it.
I started out of transition and two very cute college boys were more than happy to dump cold water into my bottle of Clip powder, this maybe cost me a few seconds but it was fun. Then I searched for a run course convenient porta john (had to for girl reasons) and finally found one almost to the first aid station. When I came out, there was Ann asking if I'd mind some company. I told her no but that I might walk too much for her, which I did, and then she asked if I'd mind if she ran ahead, which I didn't.
At this point I don't know what was wrong with me. I felt kind of whacked systemically, like I was dehydrated, but I wasn't. I'd had plenty of salt and water and food and I wasn't using anything that I hadn't trained with I just wasn't processing it well. I think just had too much of it and my stomach was too full. So, I pounded down another bottle of Clip in the first two miles of the run course (that'd be my second, and final, brain fart of the day). OK, here I have to say "DUH?!?!" but at the time it made sense and I really didn't see any of this until I the next day. Then I got kind of worried (this was all in the first mile or two). I didn't really know where the run would take me and I wasn't sure if I was dehydrated, hyponatremic (sp) or just tired. At about mile two I realized it was really mostly going to be a walk unless something changed dramatically. I passed a guy who was limping and said "great day for a walk, eh" (I was also walking at that time) and he said that was his plan and he seemed OK with the idea and I wondered "how long does it take to walk 13 miles"( I saw him come in 10-15 minutes after me). I was feeling bad enough that I thought about turning around but there was really no way I was going to give up that easy. I thought the isolated lake area was beautiful, but I wondered what would happen if I fell to the ground convulsing out there, but my head was OK and my legs were working. I just felt terrible, so I figured it was the heat. Then I started to wonder.... I know everyone said this was a hard race, I was prepared for it to be hot and hard. I wondered what they could possibly have said to really describe it! Then I wished I had picked the Olympic distance for my return to racing. Where was the wisdom in choosing what seemed to be the hardest half ever as my first race in almost 2 years. Then I wondered WHY was I signed up for another half and a full Ironman! AH, there was the familiar "what was I thinking". Then more beautiful shady single track that I plodded through and with each up tick I walked. Then I thought "jeez, Heather probably just scampered through this" and I was in awe of her, and people like her, that can do these things so fast.At about mile 5 I started to feel better and I was able to run a bit more. This didn't last for long though, I started to have terrible gastro intestinal distress (the most polite way I can put it) and at that point I couldn't even run the down hills for more than 20-30 steps before it hurt too much. I began to feel bad that Wade would be really worried and also that he would show up and try to get me running. The problem was I actually felt fine while I was walking and probably looked OK. There was a woman right in front of me for a good part of the "run" who's husband kept telling her "common let's try running through here" and she looked aweful ( I ended up finishing well ahead of her)! The most amazing thing was how many people were around and actually behind me walking. Really fit looking people.
I was very excited, I actually got to see the naked coeds. I got water from a chubby naked girl. She was very nice, made sure I saw her so I could get water, the most dramatic water "presentation" of the day. I really enjoyed the aid stations that were out of cups too. I could always tell they were coming because I could see two guys standing at the front of the station, on either side of the road with 5 gallon water jugs on their shoulders and bigged, ripped stomachs (they always had their shirts off), and I would just run up and get under the jug and get water poured in me. It was great, very, I don't know, very something! There were several of these stations and the GPush was interesting (in coolers with spigots) "I'll just hold it up here and you push the button honey".
When I hit the turn to head towards back to the beach I saw the most beautiful sight of the day, a porta john just as I rounded the corner. I stopped there in hopes that it would allow me to run down the last hill. This downhill was the only part of my day that came close to sucking, walking down the hill in the last mile. Everyone that was heading out up the hill was very encouraging and I really appreciated that. I tried to save my remaining running steps for the finish chute and I was able to run that at least! I heard Katie and Geoff screaming for me but I was too focused on the finish line to turn my head. Wade was there, bullying his way past people to give me my medal. We had a good hug and got our photo taken and oh the water spray at the end was lovely. Wade pinched my skin and agreed I wasn't dehydrated. After about three hours of "I can't be more than 20 feet from a bathroom" I was able to drink some gatoraide and eat some crackers and I felt much better and managed to eat dinner.
I can again confirm my theory that these events kill brain cells. All those cells that were thinking "what the, why, how can I...." are all gone. Replaced with analysis of what happened, asking Wade for a long training day, with a long ride and a long run on the same day to perfect nutrition needs. And most bizarre of all remembering that I had fun. I'm sure "fun" never crossed my mind on Saturday, but that's how I remember it. My time was not indicative of my day, 8 plus hours, but I had a great day. My goals were A) make the start line, B) make the finish and C) learn from the experience (in that order) and I achieved all three. Given what I've been through I just feel SO very lucky to be able to still attempt this. None of my accident injuries had any effect on my day. I can't tell you how grateful I am for that, and I was afraid of what limits I might run into because I was pushing it. All day, to myself, I thanked Dr. Garfin for not being eager to operate on my spine and Sean, Joe and Joanne for fixing me with physical therapy. I'm a very lucky girl and I know that and I really appreciate all the support and good wishes, even from those who probably think I was insane for doing this, but noone ever said I couldn't or shouldn't and I appreciate that too.1.2 mile swim, 55 mile bike ride and 13 mile lovely walk, and what looks to be a really easy half Ironman PR to crush at Vineman! Can't beat that, well, actually I can, but you know what I mean.
Cath