Destination Rev3 CedarPoint

Wow...Where do I even start!  First let me just say that I'm sorry it has taken this long to post my race report.  I hope there is someone still out there to read it.   I guess I didn't realize just how much I was putting off so I could get all my training in because I have spent the last two weeks catching up on life. 

The weekend was nothing short of A-MAZ-ING!  Of course I had Jury duty on Friday, because just that's just how my life goes, so I spent the morning in the juror room of the Butler, PA Court house.  Let's just say this was the wrong day for me to be sitting idle! I was just about jumping out of my skin with nerves.   I'm happy to report that I wasn't picked - I am quite certain that if I have had been questioned for the jury that morning I would definitely been lableed  unstable.  After sitting in the room from 8:00 am to 11:30 am they finally  set us free !   We had a couple of errands to run and we could hit the road. 

We arrived at CedarPoint on Friday night at 5:15 - which gave us 45 minutes to pick up my race packet and spend a little time checking out the expo.  Wow, this is quite the event. Packet Pickup was well organized and we were through the process in minutes.  The volunteers were energized and seemed just as excited as all the race participants were to be there.    We met up with Becky and Matt picking up her packet, we realized that were able to view the swim course on the beach so we took a walk out ther...Oh my!! Let's just say 1.4 miles looks like a very long way to swim when you can see the entire course from the shore!  It hit me,  I'm here, I'm actually here.  18 weeks of training is done,  I'm am going to do this...now let's just hope I have done enough to get me through this in one piece!  The things I do to myself, I think  this was completely voluntary...seriously????  OK, I've seen enough, I was starting to feel the paralizing nerves setting in so time to change the topic.   For dinner, we met up with Jerimiah & Chris who were racing their first Full Ironman and Aquabike respectively  as well as Jillian, Nanette and Stacey who would be our cheering squad for the weekend.   It definitely helped to take my mind off everything that was in front of us this weekend.    Oh, and the wine helped too! What?  I trained with it!!

On Saturday morning, Becky & I headed to the swim clinic.  We met up with some of the other racers there with the Get Fit Families Triathlon club to get a swim in before the big event.  I was so happy we would get the chance to get in the water, at least I would know what to expect on Sunday morning.   It was a little windy and overcast skies but the water seemed calm enough.  There had been storms in the area all week that had pushed a lot of black muck to shore.  

No lie,  it was up to our knees, OK, my knees, as we all know I'm vertically challenged... we were covered in mud.  If you remember my post about the open water clinic (I know I keep going back to that day)  earlier and the muck that we had to wade through....at the time I had no idea that it was preparing me for the actual race!  Eventually we were out far enough that the bottom became hard packed sand again and we could start swimming.  Wow, this is going to be tough...it seemed like I was swimming forever and I looked up and I hadn't even gone 400 yards.   Oh boy, my swim leg is going to be slower than I thought.  I had allocated an hour in my goal time for the swim and both transitions, I'm thinking it's going to be tight.  After the swim, we rode our bikes a little to check out the run course and then ran for 10 minutes.  That's it, last chance workout before the race.   I've done all there is!

Thinking back on it, Saturday was really a blur.  I was definitely more nervous than I cared to admit.  There are conversations that people talk about that I have no recollection of.  I posted on Facebook things that were meant for text and vice versa....it was the same "out of body" experience I felt the day before my wedding.  I was there but was I really?   We went to the Mandatory pre race meeting, lunch then 4:30 mass, dinner and it was time to lay out my gear and go to bed.   I was in bed by 9:30 as planned. 

My 4:30 am wake up call came early on Sunday morning....I showered and got dressed.  I brought my breakfast with me- bagel, eggs, yogurt and a banana.  I went down to the cafe to toast my bagel and get coffee.  I tried making eggs in the microwave, which I've done before, but today the smell made me gag thankfully I also brought the  peanut butter.  I tossed the eggs,  spread peanut butter on the bagel and I had the breakfast of champions!  Time for tatoo's - My race number and age markings were tatoos - which really looked so much better than the typical body markings with black marker.   One last time through my gear bag, reviewed my checklist and we were out the door....I'm as ready as I will ever be.   We got to the transition area a little later than I hoped for but it was OK.  Ron wasn't allowed in transition so I had to pump my tires on my own...well, I got the front tire done on my own by I needed Becky to help with back tire.  I'm still a little mechanically challenged.  God help me if I need to change a flat out there....hence the reason for Saturday's mass.  Hey it can't hurt!  OK - transition is all set

It's go time...get the wetsuit on and head down to the swim start - We are as ready as we will ever be so might as well get this thing started!! Between you and me -  I was so freakin nervous I thought I was going to vomit!! Seriously, I thought I had the flu I was so nauseous! 

We're ready!!  We  got to the swim start after the Full Ironman started - I wanted to be there before they started to wish my friends good luck but that didn't happen.  This race was top notch, they didn't forget anything - when we got down to the swim start there was a tribute to 9/11 which really helped me to put everything into perspective.   There were 2,977 flags lined up in the sand, one for every life that was lost on that awful day...so when I thought about my nerves, I would remember how lucky I am to be standing on this starting line, I get to swim, bike and run today...for that I am fortunate. 

We were able to watch some of the full swim, the full Ironman participants swam two loops on the same swim course as the half.  As we were watching, we saw our friend Jerimiah come around the turn around in  3rd place!! How exciting, he had passed pro's out there - amazing!! 1.2 mile swim in 33 minutes - unbelievable!!

The DJ came on and announced it was time for all 40+ women and Athena's to line up.  As I went out to the start I noticed that I was the only pink cap in a sea of yellow....Of course I wasn't the only one to notice, I can't tell you how many people told me I must be in the wrong wave.  Nope, I'm 43 I'm in the right wave (I just got lucky with the pink cap) - Yup I am pretty damb proud as I think to myself I am 43 years old - I started running when I was I 40 and here I am 3 years later at the starting line of a half Ironman - I still don't think I have fully wrapped my head around that yet....Oh yeah and don't get to close ladies.... I'm about to vomit!!  Holy cow, I am NERVOUS!!!!!!  As I think you have to calm down....calm down!!!  You can do this, you have done this in training twice, there is nothing in front of you today that you haven't already done.  So why are you worried??? 

The DJ is counting down, Oh god....5 seconds.....the fog horn goes off and I'm running, yup running right through the muck...and into the water - face is in, Oh god, find a spot, look out for flying arms, legs  bodies....ok I think I have a spot...no one has touched me in a few minutes....breath...you're OK....and there it is the sun...As I felt the sun Ray's on my right side, I felt a sense of calm come over me.  I'm not kidding, this is probably only one of a few vivid memories I have of the day.  I knew I would be OK.   I had to work hard to stay on course but eventually I was rounding the farthest buoy heading back into shore...a little while later I could finally see the roller coaster that I made mental note of on Saturday...once you see that you are home free (and quite frankly I would rather be in this water than on that roller coaster).  

The worst part of this race would be behind me - There it is the shore...I stood up and realized that I stood up too soon.  I should have swam further in, it takes less energy than running through water,  but I was so glad to just be close that I stood up, I tried to get back in but had lost the momentum so I started to run out of the water. 

They had water sprayers to wash our feet off and wet suit strippers at the top of the beach (the best part of the entire day).  Anyone who has tried to get out of thier wetsuit on their own knows how key this is in a race.  Brilliant...lay on the ground and in 2 seconds the wetsuit is off and your on your way.   There was probably a quarter mile run from the water to my bike in transition.  I was trying to catch my breath, get my socks shoes, helmet and gloves on.  It took me longer than I wanted but I needed the extra time just to catch my breath. 

Swim - Goal Time 40 minutes; Actual Time - 44:12
T1 = 5:11 (my friend wanted to know if I blew dry my hair and brushed my teeth while I was in there)

On my bike and off I go for the 56 mile trek through the farm land of Sandusky.

Thankfully the bike was pretty uneventful.  The only technical difficulty was when my Garmin started beeping incessantly at me at mile 28 - damb I forgot to empty the history!! Argh, Oh well, I don't need the watch to ride my bike any way so from mile 28 on I had to rely on my inner clock and work off a scale of 1 -10 in terms of pain level.  I stuck to my fuel and hydration plan, drinking every 15 minutes no matter what and I even grabbed another water bottle at an aid station all while staying on the bike - OK so it wasn't graceful.. I dropped the first one but was able to grab the second one...not bad for never doing that before.   At mile 44 I started to feel some side stitches, I have been having trouble with them on my run after the bike so I was a little worried about getting them during the race.  Still I stuck to the plan, drinking every 15 minutes and eating every 30.  As I came back into the transition area I was feeling pretty good - I still had a lot of energy but I was concerned about the stomach cramping.  As I came in everyone was cheering for me....I was so happy to be done with the bike and to start the last leg....13.1 miles to go....I'm getting closer...Woo hoo!!!

Bike Leg - Goal time 3:15; Actual time - 3:03 (Seriously???)
T2 = 2:15 (That's better)

Into transition - off with the helmet, gloves and shoes, on with running shoes, visor, and race belt.  and I'm off again...I should stop at the port a potty on my way out but I decide to head out and see how it goes.

I wish that was me in the red...I'm the one in the green in the back.  I had a pouch on my race belt full with gels and honey stingers and it was bouncing all over the place.  Yeah, this isn't good - I emptied the pouch and stuck my gels and such in any pocket I could find and tossed the pouch in the nearest trash can I could find.  I'm on my way... one of the girls I leaped frogged on the bike for the last 12 miles came running up beside me - she said looks like we are going to be spending the day together!  My response...as nice as that sounds and as much as I hate to do it....I have to stop at the port a potty coming up so unless you want to wait for me - I guess I will see you at the finish line.  Actually she was a lot faster of a runner than me because I never saw her again, not even at the finish.  Miles 1 - 4 were great, I felt good and my pace was right where I wanted it - Then came mile 5 and so did the cramps, ugh!!  The sun was out and it was hot....I was trying to focus on the scenery - it was really pretty on the water front and through the neighborhoods.  The locals were lining the streets cheering for us.   My pace slowed down to a 10:14 and I thought OK plan B - run to each aid station and then you can walk through each one making sure you get all the water, gatorade and food you need.  The volunteers were awesome - everytime I called out what I needed someone was right there.  Each aid station had petzels and salt tabs - I was worried about taking the salt tablets because I had never taken them before and didn't want to make a complete mess of the race so I took the pretzels and some soda to try and settle my stomach.  I did this at every aid station and the miles were ticking away.  I talked to some really nice people along the way, applauded the first place  pro on his last lap of the marathon, high fived the "Welcome to the Neighborhood" guy and convinced as many people that were walking to start running again.  I'm happy to report that all except one person started to run again.  It took my mind off my own pain.  All along I kept thinking with the exception of the cramps, I can't believe how good I feel.  I couldn't believe I was out there doing it - I like to refer to it as "executing the plan".  Mile 8, slow but good, Mile 9 still crampy and slow....Mile 10 I think I'm going to finish, I'm going to finish 70.3 miles, I'm going to finish a Half Ironman and wait, where are the cramps??? I'm feeling better and I start to pick up my pace - As I run by someone who started to walk - I say...you've come all this way and NOW you're going to walk - you're almost there don't walk now....and she started to run again.  That's it you've got this - mile 11 up the only hill on the course and my legs felt like I just started out on my run - There's12....I've got this thing... the park came into view - I started into the final stretch and I could see Ron running across the parking lot screaming for me - Roy and Jen and the kids were all there too cheering for me...as I rounded the corner and headed down the finishing shoot they handed me an American flag and I could hear more than one person say look at the smile on her face....I knew they were talking about me, I was smiling ear to ear .  I did it and I felt great.  Ron was waitng for me at the end his first words - man you must have picked it up at the end, we weren't expecting you yet!  All I can say is A-MAZ-ING!!  I hope this feeling last forever. 

1/2 Marathon time = Goal 2:15; Actual 2:10
Overall time = Goal 6:15; Actual 6:05
22 out of 39 in my age group and 93 out of 220 women finishers

Thanks to Ron, who through out this journey made me feel like no less than a Rock Star....Becky for doing some of the hardest training with me and standing with me at the starting line.  You certainly made it a lot easier to stay calm.  Roy, Jenn, Luke, Brooke, Ian and Caleb  thanks, once again, for making the trek out to be there for us.  Words cannot express how much it meant to have you there and for your inspirational and thoughtful gift.  Jillian, Nan and Stacey thanks for helping to take my mind off the task at hand and for all he laughs through out the weekend.  To the countless Get Fit Families Triathletes and Dawn Crackers who trained along side of me, especially Judy, Alice & Cheryl for answering all of my questions no matter how silly without rolling your eyes and Jerimiah & Chris for the long bike rides.  And to Joella, who believed I had a half Ironman in me this year when my plan was to wait another year.  You had me more than ready to be standing on that beach waiting to start.  Thank you for the countless lunch hours you spent with me in the pool trying to get my left side to do what it's supposed to do.  The journey is in the training, the race is just the destination!  

Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow....

Well, it's here, it's time to slow down and start making a game plan for Sunday! As I wind down and start making checklists of things not to forget when I'm nervously packing for Rev3, I am also planning my strategy to successfully complete 70.3 miles.    Physically I think I am ready, scratch that, I know I'm ready.  Mentally, I have some work to do.  I'm starting to put together my plan to keep my legs moving when they start to tire and when I know it would be easier to stop than to keep going. 

This isn't my first endurance event, but it is the longest and most challenging to date.  As most of you know, when it gets tough for me, I start to think about people who inspire me to do this.  I think about people who I know without a doubt would be doing similar things if they could and I think of those people who would much prefer the pain I'm about to endure than the things they are faced with on a daily basis.  I am so fortunate to be able to go out and do this every day and I try to never forget that.     The list is long but to name a few -

First there is my Dad, I am so inspired by him and I know if he could do the things that I am doing, he would be right there next to me...doing just that.  For him, I do this because  I CAN.  

There's my coach who, despite Lupus and Asthma, goes out and does this every day.  Some days pushing past immense pain.  For that, I know I have no reason to complain about the temporary pain I feel. 

For my classmate who was on one of the flight's that hit the WTC and for all the victims of September 11.  It's no coincidence that I am doing this event on September 11.  For the past 3 years I do something hard on this day, because I know there are people who would much rather be in my pain than to have had to make the hard decisions of that day.  I would much rather face the fear of an open water swim, than face the fear that the victims of September 11 faced.  Nothing about pushing myself for 6 or 7 hours would ever compare to one minute, to one second of that day.   It reminds me of how thankful we should all be that we were given the gift that each day offers us. 

I think about my brother in-law, Ray who I know sits on  my right shoulder keeping me strong, keeping me safe.  When I feel the warmth of the sun shining down on me, I can't help but to think it's him giving me a high-five.  I remember last fall standing in my kitchen announcing to Ron and Ray that I was going to do a half-Ironman on September 11, 2011 and in his normal, selfless way, he made me feel like what I was telling him was the most exciting news he has ever heard.  He made me feel like I could've gone out that day and got it done!  I miss him everyday and I am so fortunate to have have him in my life.

These are just a few of the people and things I think about to keep my legs moving.  I am so fortunate to know so many strong people, who have overcome emmense obstacles, endured pain and come of it of it stronger, smarter, better.  I am lucky to have a supportive husband, family and close network of friends who I know are thinking about me and are just as excited for me as I am, as I set out to complete this goal.  I will be thinking of all you next Sunday as I do every day.

So as the week starts to shape up - I begin my list of mantra's that I will use to help me finish the last few painful miles:

1. I get to swim, bike or Run today
2. You got this
3. I'm so proud of you
4. You can't say you did it, unless you do it (my favorite)!
5. Just a few more miles and you can do anything you want
6. Look who you've become

So as I think about this journey, and we all know it's not over once the race ends on Sunday.  I think about all the training I've completed, holy cow! I think about all the people who keep encouraging me which helps more than you know to keep getting back on my bike or lacing up my running shoes and I think about how far I have come...I was driving in the car the other day and the song playing on the radio was one I have heard a thousand times, one that's really easy to sing along to, but one I think I only really heard on this particular day-   I leave you with this thought from Fleetwood Mac -

Don't stop thinking about tomorrow,
Don't stop it'll soon be here
It'll be better than before
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

How true...don't let your yesterday ruin your tomorrow.  Keep living for the next goal, the next acheivement, the next celebration,  what ever that will be!  How exciting to think about all the possibilities.  I love you guys!!!