July 17, 2011 - The week before the race I began to prepare for what was going to be a grueling hot day competing in my first Half Ironman. To complicate things further, my daughter managed to break her arm on the Friday prior to race day and rendered my entire family unable to come up and cheer me on. Bummed as I was, I headed for Racine alone on Saturday to pick up my packet, rack my bike (affectionately named Alice), and don my wetsuit and take a swim in Lake Michigan to see how cold the water temp was. Fortunately there were lots of MSM team members around and I was invited to a pre-race dinner at our club President's beach house. My motel was dingy and creepy, complete with Christmas ornaments in the lobby. In July.On the morning of the race, the transition area (T1) was bustling with activity, and I was unbelievably nervous. I set up my very small area carefully with my helmet, gloves, shoes, and all my gear. Pumped up my tires and tried to get over my nervousness by chatting with other athletes and greeting other MSM team members. Everyone was so helpful, offering up items I had forgotten. I left all of my gatorade in my fridge back at the hotel and forgot sunscreen.
The swim was probably the most frightening for me, mostly because of the wait. We slowly walked down to the beach in our wet suits, the day already getting warm. Waves lined up and since mine didn't start until 48 minutes afer the start, I just stood in the water, more waiting. I really wanted to throw up. I did a few strokes so that I could get my heart to stop racing.
Once we lined up, we got the go and off I went. The 1.2 mile course was visibly very far, and so each buoy I reached I wished I had counted them so that I knew how much longer I had to swim. It seemed like eternity; eventually, the younger males behind me caught up to me and I had to deal with crowds of swimmers now and then knocking and kicking me. I counted and talked to myself to keep a relaxed rhythm, trying not to panic like I did in an earlier Sprint triathlon. Sighting is a great idea, but eventually it becomes very challenging when your goggles fog up and you have just a split second above the water to see where you are actually going. I just tried staying with the pack, and seeing an occasional buoy. I finally made the last major buoy before turning into to the beach and it felt great knowing I was almost done with the swim.
Swim 1.2 Miles - 48:56 Woohoo!!!
Racine comes with wetsuit strippers and so I sat on the ground and they ripped off my wetsuit in about 4 seconds, saving me valuable time in transition (now T2) struggling with it myself. I quickly slipped my sandy feet into socks and bike shoes, put on my helmet, sunglasses, race belt, and headed out with Alice. The temperature was climbing quickly, and so my race strategy (per my coach) was to consume 200 calories of my gels (electrolytes and carbohydrates) and another 800 mg of sodium every hour. In a marathon, 80 + degree temps would be disastrous and here I am facing a day that would eventually reach 110 heat index.
I felt very good on my bike. There were challenging hills but I managed to get enough confidence to let loose on the downhill portions, reaching speeds of 28 mph which is fast for me! (my triathlete friends are probably laughing at this) I remember at one point blasting down a hill, all smiles, and shouting woo hooo!!!!! That was the longest bike ride I had ever done.
Bike 56 miles - 3:20:31
Being an experienced marathon runner, getting off my bike and beginning the run was the best part. This is what I'm supposed to be good at. I dropped Alice, put my running shoes on, and headed out on the two loop course. My legs were only wobbly for about a half mile, but I began a slow and steady climb that overlooked the shores where my swim began more than four hours earlier in the day. Finishers were already coming in and I had to ignore the excitement of the finish line and remind myself I had a few more hours to go before my journey would come to an end. My goal was to to not walk any of the run course. By this time, the heat was pretty discouraging for many runners who were shuffling or even walking. I gathered later that it was 100 degrees by the time my run started. I kept moving, adding ice to my regimen. One cup in my bra, the other in my tri shorts. Apparentliy there is a major artery that controls your body temperature and so if you can get some ice down there, its like a thermostat. And it worked fairly well. I ran through every possible sprinkler, soaking wet from head to toe for the entire race. Since it was a double loop, I had to come in close to the finish line, and see other finishers and then go back out for another loop. I hate running loops like that because mentally you feel like you're done but you're really not. But once I reached the peak of the hill outside the turnaround, I felt comforted to pass so many runners up who were obviously affected by the heat more than I was. I made sure to cheer on my fellow MSM team mates by high fiving them as they passed me going the other way, and I was actually still smiling. Despite 100+ degree day and still not being done, I was so happy. Who does this anyway? I do! And I'm doing it!
Run 13.1 miles - 2:23:19
The photo says it all. Elated. Within seconds, felt like I was going to throw up. That my friends, was the most difficult thing I had ever accomplished in my lifetime. At that moment, I felt satisfied that 70.3 would be the longest race I would ever do. At this writing, months later, who knows. Maybe a full Ironman one day. But for now, I will never forget this day. A special thanks to my coach, Chris Palmquist, who taught me everything I needed to know and who was so encouraging every step of the way.
FINISH TIME 6:44:53
