We're moving.

Hey Everyone! Come and see how good I look! You may not know this, but I'm kind of a big deal... People know me. My apartment smells of rich mahogany and leather bound books. OK Maybe not, but I do have a new website that I want everyone to check out!

I bet Chelsea will still post a race recap here on Adventure to IMOO, but you can now find me, Trish, at I'm Gonna Fly.

www.imgonnafly.org

Grandpa Video Productions Presents....

Ironman Race Recap

Here it is. The long awaited race recap. But before we begin, grap a cup of your favorite beverage and settle into a comfy chair. Its story time, kiddos.

For a week and a half, I was a bundle of nerves. For a year, I figured Chelsea would be the nervous one, but nope. It was me. I even started having nightmares about getting lost on the course. Shockingly, I slept very well the night before the race. But before we knew it, the 4 a.m. wake up call rang.

Time for traditional oatmeal and the morning routine before we packed up and headed to Monona Terrace. Tim dropped off Chelsea and I right where we had to drop our special needs bags. He found an amazing parking spot then did boyfriendly duties and got in line at Starbucks for Chelsea while we walked to prep our bikes. We stopped to say good morning to the Voice of Ironman, who has been such a help in me getting my story out! Thanks Mike!

We both had wonderful rack spots. When you walked all the way through transition toward the Bike Out, you literally ran right into my bike. Ah, the joys of a low bib number. (Note: Participating in the Janus Charity Challenge provides low bib numbers!) I pumped up tires, added my nutrition to my bento box and triple checked that the bike was ready to roll. After about 4 stops to the porty potty to make sure everything was on target, Chels and I found "Team IMOO" to say our last words as Iron Virgins before we headed to the water.

As we zipped up our wetsuits and were herded toward Lake Monona, Chelsea was jumping around unable to contain her nervous excitement and energy. I tried to conserve everything I had, until the DJ had me going and I couldn't help but shake it a bit. We waded into the lake, exchanged a good luck hug and promised to see each other at the finish line. Before we knew it the cannon blared and we were off.


The mass swim start was intimidating from the get go. My brother told us it was the single most scary athletic experience he'd had. So instead of heading out to the middle of the pack. I stayed where I could touch and let the crazy fast swimmers out ahead of me. I stayed wide toward the shoreline on my way to the first buoy and avoided many of the other swimmers. At every breath, you can hear the crowd on the Terrace screaming for you. It is such a unique experience - swimming. To have your face in the water, where all you can hear is the gurgle of the waves and your breath and all you can see are the murky movements caused by your stroke. Its a great time for introspection and to feel at one with the world.

At the first turn, I felt good and felt confident, so I stayed to the inside of the buoys except for at the corners. While it is completely impossible to avoid all other swimmers, I did a pretty good job on the first lap. At the start of Lap 2, I enjoyed the company of a kayaker since I can't swim and pee at the same time. If you can do it, many props to you. It was 7:42 am - and I was stoked that my first 1.2 was so fast! I've never done a Half Iron swim at that time. Go me!! The start of Lap 2 was a little more rough and my goggles were knocked loose. I took my time to get them readjusted and then started my freestyle again, focusing on form and efficiency. I knew I had properly hydrated when I had to visit another kayaker at the final turn, which is when fellow KC Multisporter Jim got out of the water. I finished strong and fast (1:32 - much better than expected!) and enjoyed the screams of encouragement from Team IMOO and other fans as I made my way to the strippers and up the helix toward T1.

Transistion is what makes Ironman Wisconsin so unique. Everything is up a level from the ground, so you have to make your way up a parking garage ramp to get to the changing areas. If you were able to go fast enough, you'd get dizzy. Spectators line the helix and you have fans the whole way. I used this time to regain my composure, let my heart rate drop and get focused on the upcoming task at hand. Entering the building, I called out my number and a handsome volunteer handed me my gear bag. I hurdled other bags to get to the changing area where another wonderful volunteer saw me in all my glory as I stripped to change to bike shorts and a dry sports bra. It was the triathlon comparison of having a personal shopper, or so I imagine. They do the work and bring you the items you need, all with the goal of you leaving happy. I've never been dressed by a stranger before, but I must say, it was quite a treat. If you've ever tried to put on a sports bra or tight top when you're wet, help is pretty much a necessity.

Grabbing my bike from another wonderful volunteer at the racks, I ran to the mount line and was off. Down the helix I'd just run up, braking the whole way to avoid a wreck. That would be a bad start to a bike ride. On the road out, spectators line the streets cheering. It made me feel kinda like a celebrity with paparazzi following me and cameras flashing left and right.



After a weird leg jetting in and out of bike trails and parking lots, you're able to pick up your speed on some rolling hills for the first 15-20 miles of the ride before the loop starts - which is where I ran into Team IMOO and got more energized to take on the day. On the far western side of the loop, as I rode north and looked over my left shoulder, I saw the most beautiful, lush green fields. The sign on my right told me there was a raspberry farm somewhere close by and I couldn't help feeling like I was really in God's Country. On such a beautiful morning with absolutely perfect weather, there was no where else I'd rather be. Every athlete was enjoying himself and though we're all competitive, everyone was encouraging and motivating everyone else. I saw spectators with a sign "Pain is temporary and pride is forever. Unless you're over 40." That made me laugh and remember that even though at some point this is going to suck - I'll be able to call myself an Ironman for the rest of my life.

The three hills were the part of the loop I was really not looking forward to. As I approached them, I was passed by the leading male pro, 4:15 into the race and I was getting lapped. Its pretty amazing to see how fast they ride, to hear the whizz of their disc wheels and feel the wind they create as they pass. If only you could get them to hollar "on your left" I would have gotten more out of the way. Old Sauk was lined with people screaming and encouraging the riders up the half mile climb. Not as bad as I'd imagined. I think I can do this. There was a bit of a straight, flat ride after Old Sauk where I was passed by more pro's. One, who I think might have been #12 and I know was wearing brown shorts, stood up and stopped pedaling. I thought he was stretching and cooling off from a water bottle shower, but then it hit me. Pee. He was peeing and it literally hit me. GROSS! I mean seriously, give a girl a warning!

Up the second big climb and I found Team IMOO again. I felt great and was ready to keep riding. The third hill really sucked but there was a cross-dressed cheerleader doing flips and shaking his/her pompoms so that made the climb more fun. Next I knew, it was time to start Lap 2 and I felt like I could ride forever. Until I got to mile 85. Yikes. That's about when the 3 hills started again and my legs felt heavy. I think I'd pulled a muscle in my left forearm, which made reaching for the brakes difficult and painful. My upper back, neck and shoulders were tired and sore and I was ready to be off my stupid bike!!! At the top of Old Sauk, a spectator cheered me up. She held a sign "Ironman is like good sex." So I asked if she meant it was painful? "No, just ROUGH." Ain't that the truth. This ride is rough. And painful. But hopefully she's right and it will end blissfully! I suffered through to about mile 95 when my brother ditched his family at Culvers and sprinted next to me for a quarter mile or so. Who knew he was so fast!? That was a big pick me up for the final leg back into transition.

One thing that really messes with you mentally is when your odometer passes the century mark. You think you're done, but nope. 12 more miles. And for most people, 12 miles is a decent distance to ride. So I tried to focus on having fun, beating the cutoff by more than an hour and spin in easy so my legs would be ready to run. Volunteers in T2 were just as wonderful and I saw my race buddy from Redman 08 there to help out and sign up to race 2010.

As I started the run, I found the O'Donnell side of Team IMOO waiting for me. Cheering me on, I learned The Face was about to start Lap 2 and I should see her before too long. There isn't too much to report from the run. I ran when I could. Walked when I needed to. The lap in Camp Randall, UW's football stadium felt like a spa pedicure. Turf on sore feet is a dream come true.


Me being me, I made some friends while running. TriSupporter's girl and I had buddied up and then realized we had mutual friends. Another girl and I had been playing cat and mouse on the bike and upon chatting realized our friends were friends back in KC. It is such a small world. There is one big hill on the UW campus that you must run, er, walk up. At the top a group was studying the words so they could accurately sing. I mean really, who needs a lyric sheet for Sweet Caroline?! So I stole the mic and karaoked to the crowd before taking off and using gravity to my advantage. Chelsea lapped me at about mile 12/25 and I tried to keep up with her - but damn, that girl is fast. I could only manage the Ironman Shuffle and not a full out run so I wished her the best and off she went. As darkness set in, I expected to hit a wall. To want to quit. But I never did. I enjoyed every miserable step of the run. With many thanks to the volunteers and other athletes, particularly Team in Training from Madison and the wonderfully costumed aid stations from the 60s proclaiming the benefits of "Legalizing GU" and the need for "LSD", I truly had a great run.

Going into the day, I said that if I finished in 15:30, I would be ecstatic. With 2 miles to go, I had 30 minutes to make my goal, and I did my best to pick up the pace so I could demolish that time. As I approached the Capital, I really wanted to walk, but some wonderful spectators encouraged me to keep with the quick step and make it to the finsher's chute. All I could think about was the proclamation I was about to hear.

I rounded the corner and immediately beamed. Full on ear to ear smile. I had gone 140.6. I was still smiling. Goals accomplished. Then from the PA system, I hear "FROM PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KANSAS....TRISH O'DONNELL..." But it's not THE voice. As I look up to the announcer's booth, I see Mike Reilly grab the mic and start screaming "WAY TO GO TRISH. YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!"



As promised, I danced down the finisher's chute. (Video from Grandpa Video Productions to come.) I enjoyed every step of the way. I smiled at the finish line. And most importantly, I finished.
Even if Chelsea lapped me and beat me by 3 hours. She's a machine, so it doesn't really count. :-) All other things aside, we both accomplished our goals and lost our Iron Virginity. And that's something you can't ever take away from us. Because as they say...

"Swim 2.4 miles. Bike 112 miles. Run 26.2 miles. BRAG FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE."

3 Years Coming...

Sitting at the pre-race banquet tonight, I got more emotional than I thought I would. I was really enjoying the whole experience, sitting with Chelsea and Tim hearing Mike Reilly taunt us with "You are an..." and not finishing the statement while we chowed on overcooked twirly pasta and hardened breadsticks. We got butterflies watching the video and energized by the man who lost 212 pounds while training. And then I started thinking...

Thinking about my brother who obviously was wishing he was racing. Remembering when he was in my shoes, sitting in Monona Terrace eating the same mass-cooked meal, shaking the same nerves two nights before his first Ironman. Thinking about everything we'd both put into training to be where we are at that moment. Thinking about where I was when he sat anxious and energized to see if he could "brag for the rest of his life" as the motto says.

I don't remember much. Looking back, I see a dark house, dark leather couches, dark stormy skies and a dark, haunting quiet. I remember checking a couple times online to see how he was progressing, not really understanding the gravity of his undertaking. I remember fighting, crying, exhaustion, anxiety, screaming, insulting, fear. All those dark days with Shithead run together, and this was one near the end.

I wanted to share about 1000 words that tell the story of my progression from that time to now. It's been a long journey. But one that is definitely worthwhile. I'm not the fastest athlete out there, and probably not the one with the most heart. But being the best doesn't matter in Ironman. It's all about having the courage to start. And if I can do it, you can do it. Just take the plunge.

You know that feeling when you’re at mile 22 of a marathon when your legs are heavy and stiff as concrete columns, your body is shaking and tingly from the desperation of wanting to be finished and yet you’re still far enough from the finish line that quitting is a possibility so your mind starts to play games with you? You’re not good enough. You’ll never finish. You’re not tough enough to handle this. Your body hurts, your heart aches, your head throbs. Why would you ever have signed up for such an unreachable feat when you know it’s much too big for you to achieve?
That’s how I felt when my relationship with Shithead was at its worst.

I’d finish a long day at work, after battling those inner demons that all 20-something women have all day, working to prove to myself and my boss that I was good at my job, and come home to a man who claimed to love me. Home is supposed to be your respite from the trials and tribulations of the outside world. But when I got home, things for me got worse.

So bad, actually, that one night we fought (like usual) from the time I walked in the door, until 4 a.m. when I passed out because he strangled me. I had been beating my head against the front door, miserable and hating life, hating who I had become because of him, hoping that I would cause myself outward pain to take the place of the pain I was feeling on the inside. He taught me that I was a horrible person, with no value, a slut and a whore (not to mention a virgin), who had no one to love her except for him. The next day when I got up for work and said to him, “Good morning honey, can I use one of your two cars to get to work today?” He said I needed to ask him nicely. It took me two hours and two missed meetings to figure out I needed to say “May I please borrow your car?”

My independence was non-existent. Everything I had previously used to define myself had disappeared. My friends, my family, my confidence, my motivation – all washed away in the whirlwind that was our abusive relationship.

Until I found the courage to leave. I tried several times, and I have no idea what caused me to finally act. Maybe it was the Freaky Friday effect. It was, after all, Friday the 13th when I finally decided to no longer let a horrible and hateful man define me. To no longer allow any person other than ME to tell me what I was worth.
The following month was a rough one. I almost returned to his abuse many times. But then I found the one thing that helped me become me again.

Both my brothers were runners and they were convinced that running was the best and most cost-effective therapy you can find. So, I gave it a shot.

And hated it. Loathed it. But, luckily, suffered through it.

I have found that a little bit of suffering is healthy. A little bit will help you grow. Too much though, and you’re headed for the injured reserve. Your body, your mind and your heart can only take so much beating.

A year after I left Shithead, I was still on the injured reserve. I put on a good front for myself and for those around me. I was convinced that I had healed from my trauma, I was ready to date again and ready to make a name for myself.
But the truth tells you otherwise. I was willing to go out with any guy that asked me on a date, befriend any girl that showed interest in me. My standards were low and my expectations were lower. Those failed relationships should have taught me a thing or two, but they didn’t.

It wasn’t until the middle of my training for Ironman Wisconsin when I finally came to a gut-wrenching realization.

I was on my bike for my first 90-miler. I was hot, salty and grimy from the summer sun. I was physically exhausted from the five hours of repetitive and mundane pedal strokes and engaged core needed to stay upright in the Kansas winds. My mind kept telling me to quit, just call for a ride and then meet a friend for a beer, I wasn’t tough enough to finish this workout, let alone The Ironman so I might as well just back out now.

And then I remembered how hard it was. I remembered how lonely and tired, beaten and bruised, how sad and exhausted I felt when all I had was Shithead. And now, I have the most important thing. I have me. So I kept pedaling.

I have the opportunity of a lifetime at my fingertips. I have my future and I have me to thank for that. I have my own opinions and they matter. I have friends and family who love and support me no matter what I do. Maybe the reason I’m still single is because I haven’t found a guy who is good enough for me. Maybe he’s just too intimidated by the fact that I (finally) have all my shit together. And maybe that is 100% okay. Maybe I don’t need anyone else. I have me. I have back what I had lost, what he had taken from me.

And now, I have the chance to prove to myself and to everyone who knows me, that I am not broken. I have been through hell, true, but I’m no worse for the wear. I’m stronger and smarter and more beautiful. I no longer need to be handled with kid gloves. I can take it. All 140.6 miles of suffering.

Because when it comes down to it, suffering makes you stronger. I feel stronger than I ever imagined I’d be. And you’ll see that strength when I shimmy down the finisher’s chute at Ironman Wisconsin, not a care in the world because I have just accomplished something I once thought impossible: Self Satisfaction.

Here!

Finally made it yo Madison. Long drive but we are here! I'm ready for a good nights sleep and excited to get all checked in.


By the way I still can't eat enough!! Feed me!!!

Blogging on the road

We are driving thru Iowa en route to Madison. Going to try to update blog and facebook via Twitter. Let's see how it works! By the way no one should have given my dad cowbell access this early in the trip!

Smile!

If you want a true barometer of your race, let your smile be your guide. - Andy Potts, professional triathlete

Four days out from the biggest race of my life and I'm changing my race strategy. Sort of. It's always been about 1) getting healthy, and 2) crossing the finish line. Lately, though, there has been a lot of dialogue surrounding finish times, expectations, etc. It's a lot of fun to talk about and predict who is going to do what, what event will be my best, and overall finish line hopes and expectations. Truthfully, I've gotten caught up in it. Hard for me not to when that suits my personality to a T!

However, several seasoned Ironman triathletes - the people you listen to because they've been there, done that on several occasions - have said time and time again that your first Ironman is about the experience. Those people, and Andy Potts, are the people whose advice I am going to heed going into these last final days and especially on race day.

I will let my smile, not my Garmin, be my guide... and everyone who sees me on race day is absolutely invited to hold me to that :)

Now, time for my final workout before departing for Madison bright and early on Friday!

Pack it up!

I packed up my stuff this evening. Full suitcase, full transition bag, full grocery bag... full full full!!

I'm leaving KC around noon and I am getting excited! I'm so energized by all the well wishes, calls and notes I've gotten from friends. I'm energized by the amount of money we've raised for Girls on the Run. I'm energized by the cake I just ate. Needless to say, I'm pysched.

I've gotta drop of Pete (the PBJ bread eating dog) at The Q's, get kinesio-tape and adjusted, get a quick workout in and make sure everything else is good to go!!!

I'll do my best to do a couple updates from the road, but in case I don't - track me online!!

www.ironmanlive.com
Bib #94!!


Next thing we know, I'll be hearing Mike Reilly's amazing voice booming....

Stupid monster.

From USAT:

Slaying The Fatigue Monster
by Ingrid Loos Miller

No matter how fit or how fast you are, central fatigue kicks after 4 hours of sustained effort and your thoughts turn from blissful to “you haven’t trained enough”, ”you are slowing down” and worst of all ”you don’t belong here”.

Left unchecked these thoughts can become self-fulfilling prophecies. Focusing on how tired you are slows you down, making you feel even worse which slows you down even more. This downward spiral of despair can turn a race into a suffer-fest. You finish the race feeling defeated and resolve to train more next time. But training your body will not solve the problem. The fatigue always arrives and you have to deal with it.

Here is a simple mental strategy that will keep your thoughts working for you rather than dragging you down. Flooding your mind with memories of success will make you will feel better and when you feel better-you race better.It is important to do these steps at home in a comfortable setting. Put this into your mental toolkit and use it when you are really struggling.

Step 1: Make a list of past accomplishments that make you feel especially victorious and strong. Include things like overcoming a personal struggle, landing a big account at work and your latest race PR. Draw upon all aspects of your life and come up with at least 5 powerful memories.

Step 2: Imagine deep fatigue/despair as something concrete and living. It can be anything, but ectoplasm-goo monsters work well. What color is it? How does it move? As you get more fatigued, does it grow larger or does it multiply? The more detailed and bizarre the image, the easier it will be to remember. Give it a name. Draw it if you like.

Step 3: Pulverize the monster with the powerful memories from Step 1, shaped into bullets, bombs or poison gas. The defeat should be graphic and when the battle is over, only memories of your greatness remain. Next time the fatigue monster comes knocking...POW!

Ingrid’s book, Ironplanner: Iron-Distance Organizer For Triathletes, offers no-nonsense mental and organizational tools that can be used with any training plan.

#2121... Oh, The Possibilities...

I like my IMOO bib number! Nevermind that it looks like it should belong to a newly-legal college kid :) And it will give people plenty of fodder for funny signs and phrases to yell out as I pass. My cousin Dav has already coined "Run Drunk, Drunk Run!" She'll be the loudest of the Krohe clan that day for sure, and I can't wait!

We're getting closer and closer to race day, and I'm getting more and more excited! As fellow IMOOer Jim Nicholas pointed out to me yesterday, less than 8 months ago I couldn't run more than one mile without pain... and now I'm trained, relatively pain-free and race ready for Ironman. Wow, what a difference the knowledge of a few great people (more on them to come post-race) and the support of family and friends makes!

Now the most pressing question is, how do I convince my mom to ring the cowbell come September 13? (Back story: Really, really annoying soccer parents used to ring a cowbell at EVERY SINGLE GAME back in my competitive soccer playing days. Mom still hates the sound of the cowbell to this day.) I'll take any and all suggestions!

Bib numbers set!

I'm #94 for Ironman Wisconsin.

Anyone have any ideas the significance of #94?? I know there were 72 trombones, Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492... but what about 94???

Want to ride with Team Garmin?

WANT TO RIDE WITH TEAM GARMIN?

Here’s your chance to ride with pro cyclists from Team Garmin following their appearance at the Tour of Missouri! This exclusive opportunity will include time to meet and ride with team members Christian Vande Velde, Steven Cozza, Danny Pate, David Zabriskie and Tom Peterson.
As part of a fundraiser for Girls on the Run, you can make a tax-deductible donation and be entered in a drawing for a chance to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event! Team Garmin event details below.

Monday, Sept. 14 (day after Tour of Missouri ends and the day after Ironman Wisconsin!)
Events take place at Garmin International, 1200 E. 151st, Olathe, KS

12:15-1:15pm
Team Meet ‘n Greet – The team will be bringing the team sprinter and 35-foot trailer for a look at all of the team’s bikes and supplies for the Tour. In addition, three team cars will be on the property for employees to look at and take pictures with. “Hero Cards” and posters will also be on hand for you to get autographed!

1:45-2:45pm
Team presentation will take place in the Auditorium followed by a 30 minute Q&A session.

3:15-4:30pm
You will get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride with team members Christian Vande Velde, Steven Cozza, Danny Pate, David Zabriskie and Tom Peterson. Groups will start and finish a 20-mile ride at Garmin HQ, 1200 E. 151st St., Olathe.

As part of my training for Ironman Wisconsin, I’ve committed to raising funds for Girls on the Run (www.girlsontherunkc.com), a local non-profit program for girls 8-12 that teaches self-esteem, nutrition, healthy relationships and more through running. Your donations are 100% tax deductible!

To enter for a chance to win a ride with Team Garmin, simply make a donation online here: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=296288&supid=245693222

The amount of your donation determines the number of times your name is entered in the drawing. So, a $50 donation = 5 entries. After you submit your credit card information, you will be on a “Dedication” page. Please be sure your name is chosen as the “from” and in the space for “Recognition To” please type “RAFFLE”. This is how you enter the drawing.

The winner will be chosen on Tuesday, September 8th so all donations must be made by Midnight, Labor Day, September 7th.

If you are uncomfortable donating online or have any questions, please contact me via email at trish_od@hotmail.com.

Speaking for Safehome

In June, I raced at Ironman Kansas 70.3. I set a PR by 1:30, even in the horrific Kansas heat. I had little time to recover when I had to get dressed up for a benefit for Safehome - Johnson County's domestic violence agency - where I was the featured survivor speaker. I've never been nervous in public speaking situations, but when there is a crowd of 500 in front of you and you've been in the sun racing all day, it's a little different.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to hear my story and get a little better picture of why completing Ironman Wisconsin will mean so much to me. I've come so far in the past three years. I was with Shithead (he deserves no other name than that) when my brother raced at Ironman Wisconsin in 2006 in 50 degrees and a day full of rain. I was too wrapped up in my life with Shithead that I didn't go to support him and watch him race. Something I definitely regret.

Once you hear what I went through, I hope you'll understand why Girls on the Run is such an important organization to me. GOTR teaches girls self-esteem through running - something that definitely has brought me back to life. It has made me the person I am today - one who will complete Ironman Wisconsin in 13 days!!





PS - That means there are only 12 days to donate to help me reach my goal of raising $10,000 for Girls on the Run. Please donate here!!

Hillsdale OWS

I spent an hour in Hillsdale Lake this morning with some fabulous friends/athletes. One who is going to Rock IMOO in a few short days. One recovering from knee surgery and out for the fun of the day. One potentially needing knee surgery who won't give up on her goal of completing the half iron at Redman in 3 weeks. One new to triathlon who continues to amaze me at his improvements and one we the former hoped would be slower than him. (Not such luck.)

We had a great time in the water and out. Watching the Baywatch-esque exit from the water, the inability to master Warrior 2 on the lawn, and the car-aoke of the not-so-famous hair bands of the 80s.

This is part of what this journey has been all about. Sharing it with amazing people who make it mean so much more.

Ah, Taper.

I slept in this morning. Woke up without an alarm. The joys of life.



Too bad the dog wasn't ready to get up yet.

OK, so that's an old picture, but that's exactly what he looks like laying next to me on the couch. He thinks he's part cat and lays on the top of the couch cushions. Silly animal.

The girls and I had a great dinner last night. Homemade calzones and girl talk. You can read about some of our escapades on Lyndsey's blog.

Now, for the important Ironman training talk.... Time to eat and swim. Open water wetsuit practice. I can't believe its August and our high today is 75! Crazy.

BIA Results

I got the thumbs up from Sheryl last night. Wahoo!

I have not lost a bit of my lean body mass. Bonus.

I lost 1% body fat. Bonus.

My intracellular water is up. Bonus.

I'm down 2 lbs of fat.

This photo shows just how much 1 pound of fat is. Gross.

So now to make sure I'm as healthy as possible come Race Day.

Sleep.
Stretching.
Healthy foods. As little processed sugar as possible.
No more alcohol.
Fish oil. Fish oil. Fish oil.

Time for an update

Well, I'm sitting here at The Salvation Army camp in Independence, MO waiting for our staff retreat to start, and what am I thinking about? Ironman of course! Just about 2 weeks until I pack up the car and drive to the Great White North.

The biggest news is that I've been fighting with my bike lately. My last big brick on Sunday was ruined when I finished my swim in Hillsdale Lake and took my bike out of the Jeep to find a flat bake tire. I figured the air had just leaked out, but when it quickly drained, I knew I needed to change it. So I tried. For an hour. I tried. April tried. The random park maintainence guy tried. And FINALLY we got it changed. So I took a pit stop to finish preparing for the 55 mile ride. And while I was in the bathroom the tire popped! Seriously. This must be a sign from the gods. So I called Coach and he said to put it in the "mental toughness" file and get out and ride. But I couldn't get it back in so I figured it was the tri gods way of telling me that I was not meant to be on my bike. Instead April and I had a good 8 mile run. Which Pete really enjoyed... off leash in a state park (shh! don't tell!) and then a short swim to cool off after. Doggie heaven if you ask him.

Then yesterday I had another brick. I wanted to ride my brother's race wheels which he graciously offered to let me ride. I think he hopes I break them so I have to buy him new ones. Unfortuntely they are made for a 10-speed, and my bike is a 9-speed. So I'll have to swap out cassettes after 1-2 more rides on my regular wheels. But luckily I (and by I, I of course mean my heros at Elite Cycling) got the regular wheels on and got a 90-minute ride and 20-minute run in.

I didn't fight too much with my legs so I'm hopeful that my work with Synergy and The Sport of Massage is paying off! Combine their awesome work with my favorite chiropractor and I'm doing everything I can to stay healthy!

Tonight I'm doing BIA testing with Sheryl and I'm really excited to see how my body has changed during this journey. Hopefully I can make a full report in a few days.

In the meantime, I hope everyone can make some sort of a contribution to my fundraiser for Girls on the Run. There are about 2 weeks left to make a donation and help me reach my goal of $10,000 for this amazing organization! So PLEASE IF THERE IS ANY WAY YOU CAN, MAKE A DONATION TO HELP GET GIRLS RUNNING!!

Feed me Seymour!

This is how I feel.

Seriously, I wake up in the middle of the night. Growling. Starving. Famished.

I guess this is what it feels like to be in the peak of Ironman training!

Many the miles!

It's kind of like my old self talking to my new self....

Thanks for sharing my feelings Sara. And you didn't even know you did it!

Cocktail Party and Auction a Success!

We raised $2,863!!!!

Many thanks to everyone who attended and bid on auction items. Dave and Mike were amazing on the mic and guitars. Very entertaining. Thanks to my brother for being our auctioneer. Thanks to Dr Meagan, Alex, Billy, Denise, Dan, Mike and Dave for closin' 'er down with me and giving me some of the best laughs I've had in ages.

I still have 3.5 weeks to get to my goal of $10,000 for Girls on the Run. Please, if you can - make a donation today!


Alex and Meagan had a Total Eclipse of the Heart.

We had a great crowd!

My coach trying on an item up for bid!

Mike, Alex and Dave.... totally entertaining for the whole night. And, best of all, I learned that I can't overdo it on salt in Wisconsin. Dave told me the story about his attempt at IMOO 2006 in the 50-degrees and rain. He kept drinking water, but not gatorade or salt tabs. Four miles from the finish line, he collapsed, broke 3 ribs and was in a coma for 2 days. I have learned from him - and will be enjoying many salt tabs during the race!

A little karaoke never hurt anyone!

Tim and I on the mic encouraging high bidders!

IT Hell

Well, my IT Bands hate me. Its official.

I spent an hour this morning with Tom Teter, getting seriously beat up. I noticed several good sized bruises after my shower tonight. Man, I hope it helps. Luckily, he's always fixed me before so I have every confidence he will fix me again.

I had a time trial/heart rate test on my bike tonight. Drove to the downtown airport where I got to load up my bottles with ice since a friend offices down there. (Have I ever mentioned that pilots are hot!? Apparently its a pre-requisite, at least at this company. I will be visiting again.) I did two laps as a warm up, trying to get my heart rate up. Then it was on. 30 minutes all out. Wow. That is hard. I had trouble getting my HR up as high as I thought I could, but my legs were burning. I went 9.68 miles in 30 minutes - an average of 19.2 mph!!! My heart rate was 140 bpm average. I do feel like the fastest person in the world. Lance, eat my dust.

It was a great workout and I had a ton of fun - jammin' out and working really hard. Felt great until the very end when my knee started to hurt.

So now, I'm laying on the couch icing and hoping I can run my 7 in the morning without pain.

Last LONG weekend!

Well, I made it through my last LONG weekend.

Friday: Long Open Water Swim at Lake Quivira. What great water and great place to swim. I figure it was just shy of a mile that we swam. Felt great. Except for the banging my knee and shin on the rocks. Twice. Woops. Oh, and I coulda sworn I took a stroke into a fish or a snake. I hope it was just a leaf. It had to have just been a leaf right!?

Saturday: My last century and short run. Ugh. This started off horrible. My alarm didn't go off so I didn't get up when I wanted to. My iPod broke. I had a special visitor that I was hoping wouldn't visit this week. Had to pee about 4 times before I got on the bike, 45 minutes later than I wanted to. I rode down Metcalf to Louisburg, into the wind on loose gravel. I thought I was going to wreck a couple times. Then that worst nightmare came closer to being true than it ever has before. I was riding west in Louisburg, near the Casey's on K68 when a red hatchback driving east either didn't see me or thought she could beat me to turn left into a coffeeshop. Keep in mind its 7am in tiny Louisburg, there was little traffic and I swore she saw me. We both slam on our brakes. Hard for me to do going downhill. EEEK!!!!!!! My heart rate rose substantially and I got royally pissed. She continued to the coffeeshop and I tried to keep riding. I made it about 20 feet before my body really reacted and I started shaking and crying. I sat on the curb at Casey's and almost quit. This day was not going as I had planned. But I got up and shook out my nerves and kept riding towards Hillsdale, Gardner and back to my landing pad. I met a friend to ride the final 40 together. Unfortunately, she's been struggling with her knee and on Saturday, the knee was winning. So was the wind. Strong from the south and west, it was a rough ride all day. But I kept pushing a big gear and on the flats of 179th could hold 18-19 mph fairly consistently. I was pleased. We turned around a bit too short, so I had to do another loop after making it back to the house. Turned out a 95.5 mile ride and then quickly changed shoes for a short 1 mile/10 minute run. All I could think was "HOW AM I GOING TO DO 25.2 MORE OF THESE!?!?!?" Good thing walking is allowed! Next time, I'll eat a little more on the ride so I have the energy needed for the run.

Saturday evening: Very successful fundraising event. More on that later!

Sunday: Slept in. Wow. This felt fabulous!!!! I can't remember the last time I didn't have to set an alarm or could lay on the couch watching reruns. I love it. Went to lunch with a great girlfriend and got new shoes at Gribbles, along with GU and an adorble new running top that I gladly sported when I went out for my last 20-miler of this journey. Hit the road about 5 pm. Ran 4 solo and then met another great training buddy to run 6 together. She is always so encouraging and keeps talking to keep me moving. Ran 3 solo to Coach's house to fuel up on salt, gu, gu brew and motivation. He gave me a route that he thought was about the distance I needed to finish up my 20. Well, when I hit 17 miles, I knew I was plenty more than 3 miles from home, so I turned back. I was feeling great. A little bored and lonely, soaked to the bone from the intermittant downpours, but mentally was feeling really strong. I even practiced my IMOO finish line moves in the dark on Lee Blvd. Then I used a little walk break to make it up a baby hill, and when I was ready to start running again, I couldn't. I knew my IT Band was angry at me for all the hell I've put it through over the past days, weeks, months, but I really thought we had come to an understanding. I was flustered, tried to stretch and walk in hopes I could make it home, but had no luck. Then I realized where I was and how close I was to my hero's house! After Aleve, water, puppy kisses and chocolate cake, Sheryl drove me home. That hot shower felt amazing, as did dry clothes. Ah, and leftover pizza from a friend. MMM. Then it took me about 2.5 seconds to pass out. Man, I was beat.

And I can't wait to see the man who will help me win the war with my leg. Tomorrow can't come soon enough. I'm 4 weeks out from the race. I know I can do the distance, now I just need to keep healthy enough so I can do it with a smile on my face and a dance down the finish line.

Thats the name of the game

What Gloria says, goes...

UltraHOT Kansas 50

Well, it was a hot one.

That pretty much sums up the entire race experience for the first Ultramax Kansas 50 at Hillsadale Lake on Sunday.

The high on Sunday at the lake was 98 degrees. And I'm not talking about the band. By the time I finished, the heat index was 103.

All things considered, it was a great race. Mark and crew put on a stellar event. Unfortunately, to do so, he had to start everything later than we all wanted. My heat got in the water to start at about 9 am. Yikes.

I started up close to the front for the first time, confidence was high I guess. I did a pretty good job of sighting and swimming straight. At least this time I didn't veer totally off course to my left like I usually do. A few mouth-fulls of water later, I was still feeling strong, but hating the wind. I passed a few boys and even made it out of the water before Chelsea. This is a monumental victory for me. I never beat Chelsea at anything!

Took my time in T1, since my heart rate was so rediculously high. Tried to spin easy on my way out of the park to get my HR down, but wasn't having much luck. When the first hour on the bike ticked by, I had gone 17 miles. Man, I think to myself, I'm the fastest girl in the world. But then I turn the corner and hit the wind. Or maybe I should call it a wall. Either way, I was going really slow. I keep telling myself to stay hydrated. Drink more than I think I should. I went thru 3.5 bottles just on the bike. It woulda been 4 but I spilled a bunch coming out of T1. Woops. My Garmin kept messing up too. It turned off a couple times on the bike and during the run it somehow switched to "multisport" which is a setting I don't even know how to get to. So I have no idea my average on the bike. I'm guessing like 16.2-16.5, but I'm not sure. Of course the official timing mats didn't pick it up either.

I made the best decision of my life in T2. Grabbed a bottle to take with me on the run, and filled it with ice at every aid station. I have no idea how much I drank, but I know it was a TON. And the other ton went over my head about every 10 feet. Whatever it takes to keep moving right!? I know I could have run faster, but I kept reminding myself that this wasn't my A race and IMOO is much more important, so I need to keep staying healthy as my #1 priority. So I took my time and chatted with fellow racers along the course. I'm still not sure how I feel about the packed gravel trail we ran on, but I guess at this point it doesn't really matter. Looking back, I wish I would have pushed it a bit more at the end, and passed the one girl in sight. Turns out she was in my AG too. Ah, sigh.

The finish line was a welcome sight for sure. And the shade under the food tents was wonderful. And the showers in the park bathrooms were fabulous! And I didn't have to drive to Red Robin for my delicious burger all grimy and salty. Love it.

This was definitely one for the books. And it filled up my account with the Pain Bank. A good character builder. And it proved that I am tougher than all those suckers who quit when it got too hard.

5:29:25 total race time.

Major props go out to:

My brother Tim, 2nd in his Age Group!

Chelsea, 3rd in our Age Group!

Amy, 2nd overall Octomax woman!

Alex, first triathlon!

And everyone else who suffered through, did not quit and can wear the title "finisher" proudly!

Thoughts on Scott

You know those people who make a significant impact on your life, but aren't around for long enough to be considered one of THE significant people.... well, I've been thinking about one of those lately. He and I met while I was watching my first Ironman, when my brother raced in Panama City Beach Florida in 2007. We spent most of the day cheering on the athletes and having a ball. Even though he lived in North Carolina/Ohio, we stayed in touch. We weren't exactly "dating" but we did have a close friendship. For a while, we talked pretty much every day. Then over time we lost touch. A few months ago, I thought of Scott and sent him an email to say hello, which was promptly kicked back undeliverable. I thought that was a little weird, but I guessed he just got a new job. Well, yesterday I came across the business card of his coach so I got in touch in hopes of reconnecting with my friend. Instead of the easy response with the new email address, I got an unexpected phone call.

Sonni explained to me that Scott had a very successful day at Ironman Florida 2008, finishing way ahead of his expected time. He fell and broke a finger, but got up and kept moving. The rest of the crew had a run in with a 4-foot shark during a pre-race practice swim, and that was the most eventful part of the trip. Until 3 days later when Scott was having trouble breathing. He went to several doctors, worried about a few lymph nodes, and at the beginning of December - a month after completing Ironman - he was diagnosed with Stage 2 Lung Cancer. Wow. He moved home from Ohio back to family in North Carolina (Which he always said with an adorable southern drawl!). And at the beginning of February, he passed away.

I'm not sure how to react to this news, or how I'm supposed to feel. I know I wasn't one of the most important people in Scott's life, and he knew the same could be said for mine. But at the same time, I often think about him while training - how he used a dog collar around his ankles when swimming, riding through the cold and rain and loving it, adjusting to triathlon in a new place without his coach and training buddies, and how much he was looking forward to finishing IM Florida and telling Lake Placid where to shove it. We had a bond that can't really be put into words.

Its so hard to believe that you can be in the best shape of your life, completing all 140.6 miles of the IRONMAN TRIATHLON for crying out loud. And not knowing that during the entire ordeal, you are sick. Something evil has invaded your body, and you can't do a damn thing about it.

I have to believe that everyone has a purpose and when we've done all we are supposed to do, we move on. Maybe completing Florida was the last thing Scott was supposed to do. He'll be on my mind in 5.5 weeks when I race, that's for sure. As inspiration to live life to the fullest, take advantage of every trial and every gift, and enjoy the ride.

He would always say that its about the journey. And while much of this journey to Ironman Wisconsin has been hell, its taught me a lot about who I am and what I'm capabale of. And what I can be to others, even when I don't know it. So I'm going to enjoy every sweaty, hungry, exhausted, jubilant, bored, salty moment of the next 38 days.

Inspiration Station

I hear quite often of people looking for good stuff to add to the IPOD, so here's a great list I found from IRunLikeAGirl.com


The Warm Up – songs to remind you why you are doing this

I Run For Life by Melissa Etheridge
If I Wanted To Melissa Etheridge
A Change Would Do You Good Sheryl Crow
Born to Run Bruce Springsteen
Ready to Run Dixie Chicks
Bring it On Seal
Let’s Get it Started Black Eyed Peas
I’m Coming Out Diana Ross


The Run – songs with a good beat, good feeling to keep you going

Sweet Emotion Aerosmith
Soak up the Sun Sheryl Crow
Delicious Surprise Beth Hart, also done by Jo Dee Messina
Feel Good Tony! Toni! Tone!
Ain’t Nobody Chaka Khan
Extraordinary Liz Phair
Got To Be Real Mary J Blige
I Feel For You Chaka Khan
It’s My Life Gwen Stefani/No Doubt
Make It Happen Mariah Carey
Family Affair Mary J Blige
Lady Lenny Kravitz
Into the Groove Madonna
Vogue Madonna
Runnin Down A Dream Tom Petty
Fly Sugar Ray
Beautiful Day U2
Vertigo U2
Runaway Bon Jovi


Speed it up – fast songs to GO

What You Waiting For? Gwen Stefani
Bring Me Some Water Melissa Etheridge
Yeah Usher
Gettin’ Jiggy with it Will Smith
Hey Ya! Outkast
All I Want For Christmas Mariah Carey (good no matter what season!)
Where Are We Runnin’? Lenny Kravitz
Elevation U2
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Theme Nerf Herder
Pump It Black Eyed Peas


Almost done, feeling tired, but need to run a little farther?

It Keeps You Runnin’ Doobie Brothers
I Will Survive Gloria Gaynor, also done by Diana Ross
Harder to Breathe Maroon 5
You Can Do It Ice Cube
Keep on Movin’ Soul II Soul
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough Diana Ross


The Cool Down – relax and be proud of your accomplishment

Outstanding The Gap Band
Dreams Fleetwood Mac
Wide Open Spaces Dixie Chicks
I’m Alive Seal
Take It Easy The Eagles
Lovely Day Bill Withers
I Believe I Can Fly R. Kelly
Jamming Bob Marley
Main Theme from “Chariots of Fire” Boston Pops Orchestra
Favorite Things Beth Hart
Feels Like Fire Santana and Dido
We Are the Champions Queen
Fireflies Faith Hill

100

Its such a significant number...

It is the sum of the first nine prime numbers, as well as the sum of 4 pairs of prime numbers (47 + 53, 17 + 83, 3 + 97, 41 + 59), and the sum of the cubes of the first four integers (100 = 13 + 23 + 33 + 43). Also, 26 + 62 = 100, thus 100 is a Leyland number.
100 degrees Celsius is the boiling temperature of pure water at sea level
100 is the atomic number of fermium.
A 100 year old person is known as a centenarian. George Burns. Bob Hope, and United States Senator Strom Thurmond were among those who had lived to 100.
The number of tiles in a standard Scrabble set
The denomination of the U.S. hundred-dollar bill with Benjamin Franklin's portrait; the "Benjamin" is the largest U.S. bill in print
In Greece, India and Israel, 100 is the police telephone number.
"The First Hundred Days" is an arbitrary benchmark of a President of the United States' performance at the beginning of his or her term.
NASDAQ-100 is a stock market index of 100 of the largest domestic and international non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange
100 Grand Bar (formerly known as $100,000 Bar) is a candy bar produced by Nestlé
Pope Valentine succeeded Pope Eugene II to become the 100th Pope in August 827
Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born (Gen. 21:5).
Pop 100 is a chart created in 2005 and released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It measures mainstream radio airplay, and is one of the three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Singles Sales and Hot Digital Songs charts, that determine the chart positions of singles on the Pop 100 chart.
100 episodes, generally the point at which a TV series becomes viable for syndication (often reached during a prime time series' 5th season)
The number of runs required for a cricket batsman to score a Century, a significant milestone
The record number of points scored in one NBA game, set by Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors on March 2, 1962
The Freedom 100 is an Indy Pro Series auto race held the Friday before the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The 2004 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals was the 100th Fall Classic
San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 100 touchdowns on November 19, 2006
Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies became the fastest MLB player to reach 100 home runs on June 27, 2007
The minimum distance in yards for a Par 3 on a golf course




It is also the distance from my place in KC to:
Chanute, KS
Past Emporia
Maryville, MO
St Joe and back

And the approximate distance from:
Denver to Cheyenne
Indianapolis to Louisville
Chicago to Milwaukee

And most importantly - how far I rode my bike this weekend!

The Cider Mill Century was a great success. All 103 miles of it. So proud of myself and my great friends that I shared the day with.

Now, just 35.2 more miles and I'll be at the IMOO finish line.

Sigh. 39 more days!

Bark at the moon like the wild dog that you are! And Get It On Film!

"I want to know what you ache for. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for you dreams, for the adventure of being alive. I want to know if you can live with failure and still shout at the edges of a lake, river or mountain "Yes I am a warrior poet!" I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, wary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done for someone you love. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and truly like the company you keep in the empty moments of your life. Unleash yourself upon the world and go places. Go now. Giggle, go, laugh, and bark at the moon like the wild dog that you are."

This is serious motivation. John Blais, the warrior poet, was diagnosed with ALS and then completed an Ironman. The next year, he wasn't around to witness the same race. He tells a great message through his story. A message that tells you why you put your body through the pounding, the pain, the product of your potential insanity.

"This is not a dress rehearsal. This is it. Your life. Face your fears and live your dreams. Take it all in. Yes, every chance you get. Come close. And by all means, whatever you do, GET IT ON FILM."

Do you have a death wish?

**Yikes. So I knew Ironman training was going to be time consuming. But I never really realized it would take AS MUCH TIME as it has. I mean, I haven't blogged in over a month. Call me a slacker. I deserve it. But when you do, just remember that I've been the one doing 90 mile rides and 20 mile runs.


Monday mornings at most offices finds co-workers recounting stories of weekend activites. Children's ball games, yardwork, restaurant experiences, crazy nights out. When I tell my co-workers about my weekend of 90s and 20s, they look at me bewildered. One woman always asks, "Do you have a death wish?!"

And, ya. I do. I want to kill all self doubt. I want to destroy every ounce of poor self esteem. I want to deafen the voices in my head telling me I can't do this. And right now, more than anything, I want to stomp muddy footprints on the images of those who've been unsupportive of me in the past. One in particular. I'm sure you've heard me mention him. Shithead.

For the worst 8 months of my life, this "man" (which I use in the loosest sense of the term) made me feel horrible about myself. There was nothing I could do. No one I could be. All I was happened to revolve around him, how he perceived me, and my perception of how he perceived me. I was ugly, fat, stupid, incapbable, unloved and every other descriptor that made me feel worthless.

Not only was he convinced that I was nothing, but he had me convinced I was nothing. In the past three years, I've done a good, scratch that, GREAT job of killing that image of myself. Now, training for Ironman is one more way to prove to myself first and foremost, those around me secondly, that I can do anything, be anything, feel anything that I put my mind to.

I knew this would be a journey. A challenge. A fight. More steps would be taken begrudginly, more taken with pride, more out of responsibility than I'd ever planned on. I have 50 more days to prepare to step up to the starting line, wading and floating in Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, nerves at full tilt waiting for the gun to go off telling me there really is no turning back now.

Stroke after stroke, step after step for 140.6 miles. Each step squashing all the fears, the doubt, the voices telling me I'm nothing. And from each step, from the ashes I've created from my blood, sweat and tears, will rise a new identity, a new perception, a new me. An Ironman. A badge to carry to prove that Yes, I do have a death wish.

Weekend of the Longests

Longest ride ever, longest run ever!

The mileage is really picking up and, strange as it may sound, I'm loving it. Getting up early isn't fun, of course, but it's such a cool feeling to get a really long ride in and, when noon rolls around, I can say I've already rode 75 miles that day. Then I have the rest of the day to do things like hang out with our really cool Colorado guests who were in town for the big Kansas 70.3 race. I had a few moments in which I really, really wished I was racing it but I have a bigger fish to fry and need to be smart about my training.

Spectating was a lot of fun, though! Not only did I get to hang out with Pat and Linda (Tim and Trish's parents), I got to watch studs like Luke Bell, Tim O'Donnell (the pro), and triathlete phenomenon Chrissie Wellington race a local course. Then, I had the fun of cheering on all of our friends to fantastic finishes - Barry got a Clearwater spot, Brett and Todd broke 5 hours, Jenny broke 6 hours, Trish PR'd, and a ton of our KCM friends had great races as well.

Of course, waking up with everyone at 3am and not getting home until 3pm made for one of the longest days I've had in a while! It also made for a very tough 15mi run. Add the heat to that and I definitely put some time in the pain bank! The run went great overall, though. Even with being on my feet all day in the heat, I still averaged 10:30s. Right now, that's a great accomplisment for me!

From here on out, almost every weekend will be a weekend of the longests, and I can't wait to tackle each one! Next up, 16 miles in Idaho, then a rest day to watch Tim PR at IM Couer D'Alene!

There's no place like the finish line!

Tomorrow is Hospital Hill!

I'm running the half marathon, and doing a 2 mile warm up beforehand. But the thing I'm most looking forward to is the Girls on the Run aid station at Mile 12!! Look for some great people in costume. :-)



For those who don't know GOTR is an amazing organization! I've committed to raising $10,000 during my Ironman training to help GOTR make a significant impact in the lives of girls 8-12 in Johnson County.

It would mean a TON if you would help me reach my goal! Just go to this website and make a donation. ANY amount is very helpful and very important!

I'd also like to make a little plug for what my brother is doing... Read about that here! His charity and mine are both official charities for Hospital Hill. And I am so proud of what Tim is doing. They have about 65 charity runners raising money for Team Megan! Keep your eyes out for bright watermelon pink t-shirts on the race course.

On that note, I want everyone to remember... EACH DAY IS A GIFT!

007 Results and Recap

The inaugural Kansas City Triathlon has come and gone. And I was 007 for the day! Seriously, my bib was #7. How cool is that!?

So first, the numbers....

swim: 37:34

tran1: 2:28

bike: 1:29:05

tran2: 1:31

run2: 1:01:41

overall place: 261 out of 302
division place: 12 out of 15
gender place: 60 out of 74

time: 3:12:20

Overall, the Kansas City Triathlon was a great race! Not just for me, but they put it on so very well! Put other races to shame. Major props to my friends on the committee who did a great job organizing everything and giving everyone a great race day experience.

Of course, I didn't get out quite as early as I wanted to, but luckily I didn't have to rush to feel ready for the race. I got an awesome rack location... literally right inside the swim to bike entrance and run exit. Perfect! Got all my gear out of my new rockin' Zoot transition bag, took care of some business, and wet suited up for the swim.

Down at the water, I ran into my racing buddy from Redman, Lisa, who had come up from Wichita to race, and also a girl that went to my high school who was doing her first tri. (She ended up 3rd in her AG!) The whole slew of olympic distance women waded into the water waiting for Glenn Bo to set off the cannon. When it did, I did my normal, stay to the back of the back and hang out for a few bit while I waited for everyone else to get into their stroke. I must say that I felt pretty darn confident during the swim. My stroke felt strong, I kept my nerves to a minimum and I sighted pretty well! Luckily I didn't add too many extra meters to the race. I took it easy to the first turn and around the second, but once I headed back in, I tried to pick it up a little bit and see how many people I could pass on my way back to land. I'm happy to say that I definitely passed a few. I did notice one woman who breast-stroked the entire 1500m. I remember those days, and I'm happy to say I've come so far as to not need it anymore!

Transition... nothing really to speak of other than having to run all.the.way. through the transition area to the bike exit, but I'd rather do it with shoes on than without!

I almost forgot about how I had to fight with my new aero water bottle. I put the stupid thing on the night before and didn't really work with it too much, so it wasn't really ready for me when I hopped on the bike. It was loose, almost fell off loose, so I had to stop a few feet into the ride to fix it, or be without nutrition on the bike. But somehow I got it to stay, so that was good. Now I just need to remember to fix it before I ride again tomorrow!

The bike went pretty well, lots of turns through a cute neighborhood with families out cheering for the athletes. There were a few places to really hammer and pick up speed. The climbs didn't treat me badly, and I was able to push pretty hard through the 40k ride. I averaged over 16mph, which I'm happy with (for now).

T2 went well also, I might like the no socks trick. I was super fast to switch into the Zoots and through on my Midwest Triathlon Coaching (new) visor. Then off I went!

Chels was right at run out taking photos, so I smiled and kept pushing. The course was full of turns throughout the park and there was an aid station right at the start, at mile 1 and right after mile 2. Very nice to see those because it got HOT fast. Especially in a black jersey. Yikes, I was roasting. Got to see my training buddy Jamie at Aid Station 2 which was a perk, and coming back around towards transition I ran into Dan taking pictures for KCM who was nice enough to take my jersey for me so I didn't have to burn up in black anymore! Thanks Dan! (I must say I'm pleased that my first lap was 9:39s!)

Headed out for lap 2, I heard Jason Taylor coming in as well as D-Rock. I wanted to keep myself paced pretty well, keep my cadence up and stay hydrated so I could really push it the last mile. I am pretty proud of my performance in that regard. I had to take several walk breaks during the last lap, but I had pushed hard all morning and I didn't have much left to give.

As I passed under the bridge to the final half mile, I wanted to go hard, but the juice wasn't really there. I started to get frustrated, but kept at it. My extroversion was once again proved to me because once I got close to the finish line and heard Heather, Preston, Tim and Chels cheering for me, I was able to haul ass to the finish line. At least I felt like I was. My legs wouldn't move any faster! For a minute I thought I might fall over as I crossed the finish line! But the friendly faces at the end kept me upright! Thanks Dr. Meagan!

I'm used to not being one of the first finishers at races, and I'm fine with it. But when you come in more towards the back of the pack it means that everyone you know has already had recovery time. They want to talk and congratulate your finish right when you step across the line... they have already forgotten how they felt a few minutes before. Just wanting some water and a moment to breathe. Luckily most everyone can realize that I'm not being a punk on purpose, I'm just a little out of sorts from my finish line kick.

I had projected my finish time at 3:15 and I came in under. I pushed hard, felt strong and set a PR (for my first Oly race). :-) All in all, I'd say it was successful.

Now I have a big week of training to look forward to. Including the Hospital Hill Half Marathon (plus 2 miles) on Saturday and a 75 mile ride on Sunday. IMOO Here I come. Oh ya, and IM Kansas 70.3 will be here soon too! EEK!

TGIOD!

Thank God its Off Day!!


My two rides this week were hard. I had a horrible time keeping my heart rate in Zone 3, but Coach Ken says that's from overtraining. He wasn't too surpised or concerned. I have a hard weekend coming up, but then a lighter week to get ready for the KC Triathlon next Sunday.


SATURDAY: Start with a 15 mile bike ride in Zn 1. Conduct a smooth transition to the run. Run 4 miles in Zn 1/2. Transition back to the bike and ride 10 miles in Zn 2 (bit of Zn 3 on the hills is fine). Conduct a rapid transition and run 2 miles Zn 2 (again avoiding Zn 1). Finally transition back to the bike for one last 5 mile ride in Zn 3 or above. This last ride is at or above your race pace - all out effort. Then do a very fast transition to one last 1 mile run in Zn 3+ then an easy 1 mile cool down jog/walk.


SUNDAY: Swim 1900m without stopping. 40 mile bike ride. (I'm probably going to do this all out at Clinton Lake.)


I had a massage yesterday. Suzie is my savior. I have this huge knot in my upper back, and though I thought she was trying to kill me, I feel better today. I'll go in next week to make sure its gone for good.


I'm really looking forward to this weekend to focus all my stressors into my workouts, and having a couple good parties on Saturday. The Annual Huston Memorial Day Weekend Pool Opening Party and "Denim and Diamonds" at K-Mac's place. Yes, you'll see all my friends in "jorts" and denim jumpers and tacky rhinestones. Should be fun.