Ironman Wisconsin

I know, I know I never blogged the entire week while I was in Wisconsin. Somehow preparing for Ironman and attempting to rest and relax became my priority. It did help that I did NOT have internet access most of the week. Workouts were limited to one a day but somehow I stayed busy all day even though I was not at home. I guess the fact that I am always so busy has more to do with “me”. After a few relaxing days at a friend’s house we arrived in Madison and that is when Ironman became all consuming. Thursday was spent getting unpacked and Friday was a little open water swim on the race course once the weather warmed up from a balmy 50 to about 75. The water was nice and smooth and despite not really swimming all week I did not forget how! After that we went to registration and then hit the Ironman store where you can buy anything and everything with an M-Dot (the Ironman logo) on it. After that we walked back to the hotel just in time to get ready to go to the pre-race dinner and “mandatory” meeting. The dinner was really nothing to write about but at the pre-race meeting medical portion they did manage to scare the heck out of the 1000+ first time Ironman racers.

For those of you who have never done an Ironman race you might not realize that you have turn in your bike and most of your gear on the day before the race. While this does not sound like a difficult task it can take a good few hours to lay out the 5 plastic bags you have been allotted. You have 1 for Swim to Bike, 1 for Bike to Run, 1 for Special Needs on the bike and 1 for Special Needs on the run and then your Dry Clothes Bag. Then you also have to make sure to get all the food that you are going to need on the bike organized and attached to your bike. Preparing for an Ironman race takes some serious logistical skill. Even though I have done it so many times the day before the race is just nerve racking. After the bags were packed and the bikes were ready we headed down to the transition area, did a quick ride to make sure the bikes were in good working order and then we finally got to drop it all off.

Ironman Wisconsin was an important race for me for a few different reasons. In 2004 I traveled to Wisconsin for the Ironman, unfortunately before the race ever began I already had an injured quad which during the bike portion I finished off. There was no way I could continue the race with a torn muscle so I made the best of it and pulled out at mile 50. It was not a good day but as I have learned with Ironman sometimes things just happen that you can’t take control of. This year a lot of people asked me if it was my first Ironman, or how many have I done. This made me realize I am not sure what my tally is. I have had more DNF’s (Did Not Finish) races than I care to admit but the way I see it you have to fail sometimes before you can succeed. Failing often can make the success that much better. I am fortunate in that way because I have known the best of both during my Ironman experiences. I have ended a race in the hospital which was ironically the same race location that sent me to Hawaii. So here I will share with you a list of my Ironman races – good and bad.

Ironman Lake Placid 2002 – 11:44
Great Floridian 2002 – 11:15
Ironman Brazil 2003 – 11:13
Ironman Lake Placid 2003 – 11:29
Hawaii World Championships 2003 – 12:30
Ironman Florida –2003 – 11:15
Ironman Lake Placid 2004 – 11:14
Ironman Wisconsin 2004 – DNF
Ironman Lake Placid 2005 – 12:24
Ironman Florida 2005 - DNF
Ironman Brazil 2006 – DNF
Ironman Florida 2006 – 11:48
Ironman Lake Placid 2007 – DNF
Ironman Wisconsin 2008 – 11:56

Sorry for all the reminiscing!

Race morning was there before we knew it and I was excited and relaxed all at the same time. It is such a good feeling to know that all the training is done and you can just go out and enjoy an amazing day. The swim was a little rough at the start which made me nervous. It was a bit more of a fight than usual. Once I was past the hitters and scratchers it was pretty smooth sailing. After dislocating both of my shoulders last year I was so grateful to be able to be swimming. I don’t come from a swimming background but I really enjoy this part of triathlon and over the years it has become one of my strengths. I exited the swim in 1:04 and some change which is a time I was very happy with.

After the swim we had to run up a helix in a parking garage in order to get to the transition area. A quick change into dry clothes and I was off on the bike. The weather was perfect! I had arm warmers on with a little tri top and I was comfortable the entire ride. The temperature was about 55-60 when we started on the bike. The first lap of the bike went really well. I tried to hold back a little bit because I knew all the hills would seem harder on the second lap but what I had not counted on was the wind on the second lap. That took the bike ride to another level of difficult. I pushed through it even though my speed was slowing. I focused on eating and drinking so that I would be ready to get off the bike and run. I rode a pace I felt comfortable with and while the time was not fast I have to admit I was happy with it! (6:33 for 112 miles)

As most of you know I love the run. That is my element. I took off running like I was just doing a 10K which was probably not the best strategy but for some reason it felt good. I held a good pace for about 8 miles until stomach distress had me sprinting for a porta-let. Maybe we can count the 3 sprints to the bathroom as my speed-work for the day? At one point I was feeling particularly bad and I looked up at the sign on the door and it said “This is NOT your Happy Place – get out and get going!” As bad as I felt that still made me laugh. About 2 miles later I threw up and then felt much better. Since I knew I had nothing left in my stomach at that point I was forced to try a new strategy…chicken broth and pretzels at one aid station and at the next a flat Coke and with this I survived and actually was able to finish strong. While my pace and my overall time on this portion may not look that impressive I was very pleased with how my form held and how good I felt. I ran a 4:03 which I am very pleased with considering the issues I faced during the run.

Overall time was 11:56. Most importantly it was a completed race. So many have asked if I am satisfied and if the truth be told…I am. I am pleased just to be able to race again. I am fortunate to be able to go to a race with friends and to be a part of their Ironman journey; to have friends to cheer me on; to have strangers yell my name and to share the same road with over 2000 athletes who have battled their own obstacles. The clock may tell the time but it never tells the whole story.