recap of June adventures

Wow. Tomorrow is July 1. Where did June go? Quick recap of my June adventures:

ROT Rally with Amy...what a blast! I've always heard about this...and heard the motorcycles themselves but this year I went to it. Amy has been a few times because, well, Amy is cool and she LOVES a parade! And this is essentially a very long parade of motorcycles. It was so neat. So loud. So outrageous. So Austin. Men, women, kids, dogs... Classy motorcycles, over-the-top motorcycles, neon motorcycles... Seriously, such a fun evening as we watched the motorcycles come up Congress, turn around (right in front of us so we got to see them twice!), and then eventually park in the middle of the street. A repeat event for 2010!

Obviously...an Ironman in Coeur d'Alene was part of June, too...if somehow you missed that then you have missed my last week of blog posts. Either get reading or ignore them! (Oh, and I sort of signed up for CDA in 2010, too!)

And, finally, last Saturday I went hot air ballooning with Blythe. I know. Completely random. Completely fun. We were at a T3 happy hour and she got the message inviting her and suddenly I was a part of the adventure. I did have an "is this safe?" moment but that quickly left my mind since Blythe has such good sense and I seem to be all about living life to the fullest these days. It was something that I made a note not to tell my family until I had landed safely on the ground! Anyway, as if we were in training again, Blythe and I were up around 5 and headed to north Austin with her friend Tim who is part of a hot air ballooning group (club?) here in Austin. Lots of technical talk when we got there...were the winds in the right direction, were the winds too strong, were enough crew members present...I had no idea! After a small balloon (like the type you have for a birthday party) was launched and observed for a few minutes, the aeronauts decided that a flight was going to be okay. So we set to getting about four balloons ready to go. The balloon has to be laid out and then inflated. The basket has to be positioned and checked for safety measures. And passengers have to be briefed on what to do. Blythe and I were busy holding ropes, carrying stuff, and basically doing whatever we might be skilled at doing. I got to hold the ropes as the balloon was inflated...it's tougher than it looks! Advice from Tim: if your feet to leave the ground, let go the rope. Check! After maybe 30 or 40 minutes we were ready to lift off. Blythe and I got to be in a balloon together with a great pilot. I never once felt nervous...only that good excitement when we were about to leave the ground.
While balloons look very graceful when you're up on the air, the take-off and landings are a little awkward and rocky. But while you are up there - wow. The views are awesome. The sounds are nearly non-existent...except for the barking of dogs - why is that the only real sound that you can hear?! And the whole thing feels very easy and calm. I learned that there are fields of crops right here in Austin. Don't know what rock I've been under. And that under the right conditions, a balloon can land in a space as small as a cul-de-sac. Not quite the right conditions on Saturday! After about 45 minutes we saw a good place to land...essentially a field that backed up to new housing development. We bent our knees to brace the touchdown and bounced along through the field. Then Blythe & I were instructed to hop out so that we could help guide the balloon up and over a little fence for a better ultimate landing spot. Again, advice from Tim: if your feet start to leave the ground, let go. Luckily, it wasn't an issue! After we packed up the balloon and loaded up the van which our great ground crew (the "balloon chasers"!) had driven to meet us we made our way back to the school where our trip began. But our adventure was far from over. Apparently, when you have first-timers on a hot air balloon ride it's a tradition to initiate them as aeronauts. So with champagne and a prayer and some mimosas Blythe and I became aeronauts on Saturday...well, sort of. We don't have licenses to fly this sort of aircraft, but in the spirit of things, we are aeronauts!

Who knew I'd be a biker chick, Ironman, and aeronaut all in the month of June?! I guess life will continue to surprise me in all sorts of fun and wonderful ways. July, I'm ready for you!

final race post...promise!

Okay, I'm more tired of writing about IM CDA than I was doing it which is a sign that I need to finish! (Sorry for dragging that on for so long!) But I can't sign off without some reflections about the training and the day and some BIG TIME thanks to a lot of people. I won't try to list everyone here by name because I will leave someone out by accident and that will be bad!

Reflections...where to begin on this one. As much as it sounds like a cliche, I am not the same person as I was when I started training for this Ironman.
- I like the person who I am more than I did before...dare I say that I think I am a better daughter, granddaughter, friend, colleague, college counselor than I was before?
- I am more confident and also a little more laid back about things as a result of this (note: I said "a little"!)
- I am more willing to take risks and set goals...even if I don't meet them...even if I think I might fail...even if it means possibly experiencing hurt along the way. If we don't reach high, how do we ever know what we were meant to be in this life?
- I was reminded that I absolutely LOVE being part of a team
- I am more humble about what we can do with our lives and I am more determined to live life to the fullest...and then share that joy with others
Yes, I have new muscles and some new skills, too...but the internal changes are what I treasure the most.

And gratitude for...
- family and the way that they support me in so many different things that I have done. I know that my choices don't always make sense to my family, but usually they find it within them to support me anyway and I really appreciate that. Really I do.
- friends...I've often wondered where I'd be without them, the "family we create for ourselves" which I need because I don't live around any family. Like my family, I am sure my friends have thought I was crazy from time to time for choosing things like training for an Ironman but they have not questioned and have only supported me. (Or they've asked the essential questions like what this is adding to my life, etc...) If anyone wonders how far love and friendship can carry you, an easy answer is, "At least 140.6 miles" in my case!
- T3 teammates...I owe so many individuals in T3 so many words of thanks that I could spend an entire training season offering words and it still wouldn't be enough. So I will say that I will cherish this memory of IM CDA '09 forever. And each one of you who was part of my training or race day, whether you were racing or cheering in Austin or in CDA, needs to know that you impacted me in a really profound way. I can easily say that I learned something from each one of you. That I was humbled by you on a daily basis. And that I was inspired by you every moment of the way. Seeing the faces of our T3 cheerleaders on that rainy day in CDA was always a bright spot for me and, in my opinion, they deserve the medal that I got for sticking it out and essentially finishing up 60 IMs that day!
- T3 coaches...Chrissie (in the picture on the right), Logan, Suzanne, Mo, and Charles (in the picture below), I've said it before, but y'all are simply the best. I know I relied on some of you more than others, and that I probably didn't take full advantage of your individual areas of expertise as best as I could have. But what you provided for me in terms of skills, advice, and encouragement was exactly what I needed. You never made me feel like I was asking a dumb question or that I was being a nuisance even when you had SO many of us to take care of. You made me feel like I really could do this crazy thing. And you were always tuned in to make sure that I wasn't pushing it so hard that I might risk not enjoying the journey. You calmed me down in my moments of freaking out. And you celebrated all of us - as a team and as individuals - after our adventure was over. (And all of this while some of you were racing yourselves!) We/I will never be able to repay you for your dedication, time, energy, and genuine concern. I know it's your job but you do it with love. We know that and that's what makes it mean something to us. So, I hope that as a team...and maybe even as individuals...made you proud out there.
- my heath and my ability to do things like this...yes, completing an Ironman is not easy on your body...neither is the training. And since this triathlon thing seems to be something that I'm really incorporating as part of what I do and how I live and who I am, I'm truly grateful that my body seems to be handling it well so far. And that I have the resources do to it. I'm thankful for having a relatively injury-free training season (thanks to Praveeta and Performance Wellness for all of the TLC). And I'm thanking my body now by not pushing it back into intense action quite yet!

So there it is...Ironman Coeur D'Alene 2009. I've left out a million things and thoughts I had along the way (lucky you, I've forgotten a thing or two!). And I'm sitting here not really wanting to finish this post in the same way that I didn't really want to finish the run. But I know this experience will stay with me forever because "It was good. And nothing good is ever lost. It stays part of a person, becomes part of one's character." And if I don't finish, I can't look ahead for what's to come...and I've still got a lot of life to live!

Memories in pictures (thank you Gordon, Amy, and others...)

me with my training buddy, Blythe...I'll miss you longer than it took me to complete this Ironman! Joe, I appreciate all of your support and advice, too... Don't forget to come back and visit us!!!

Chrissie and Amy who have been by my side, too, and who helped two rookie IM-ers stay calm in the days leading up to the race...>>>>


friends in the days leading up to the race... Laura, thanks for being a great housemate and for taking care of SO many of the details. You made it much easier...what will I do next year without you?

...and some friends after the race...

race report - phase 7: the run!

I was warned that funny thoughts would cross my mind during the Ironman. But I think that the most humorous by far was thinking as I headed out of T2, "Yeah! I get to run a marathon now!" This was my first marathon and I was excited about it. Okay, maybe I was most excited to have made the bike cutoff and to be off the bike. Whatever, I kept telling myself I was happy to be running. And I was!
The temperature was probably in the 50s by the time I started my run and the rain was beginning but I was in good spirits so I didn't mind (yet!). I saw T3 folks immediately as I started my run, and I must say I was a tad envious of those folks who were on their second loop as I was starting my first. No matter - they deserved to be there, they had biked faster! My legs felt awesome and the first mile flew by. Literally, 9:50...time to dial it back that was no pace if I wanted to stay strong the entire run. Mile 2 - 10:00...a little better but still too fast. This is what I had joked I would do so I really tried to settle into a better rhythm. And I think between miles 3 and 16 I did. I found myself really enjoying the course and loved seeing so many teammates out there. I had a blast cheering them on as I passed them going out as they were coming back. This was a great thing about the course overall...LOTS of times for us to see and support one another. I have to say that each time I saw blue I got excited and hoped that it was a T3er because there was a certain energy in knowing that my friends were out there with me. I also liked the course just as a running course. Granted, I could do without the hills in the neighborhood that seemed to last FOREVER...but otherwise it was a really nice run. Scenic. Varied terrain. And a ton of support. There was one little girl in particular that I just wanted to hug each time I saw her. She made a point of saying everyone's name as we came through and said, "You can do it!" Then there were the folks along the lake who were dressed like hippies and handed out peace sign necklaces and sometimes serenaded you with a song with your name in it. They really made that lakefront bearable because by the time I was headed back into town for the first time the wind and rain were really picking up.
As I approached town again, I saw Kimberly and John (and Grace and Emma!) and gave them a thumbs up. Apparently I looked okay to Kimberly: "In a steady rain, in the low 50s, etg just ran by us in great spirits. She's finishing her first loop headed back into downtown where she will eventually finish after one more loop... Watching her do this is amazing. So many people are struggling, the weather is horrible, and she's just trucking along. In her words, 'I'm still moving forward.' They are handing out blankets to runners, we're wearing 4 layers of clothes and freezing and she's facing, after a trip through downtown, at least six miles of running along a lakefront before she swings back this way. But again, she's in great spirits, cracking jokes, waving and smiling. She's doing it!" All I can say is that looks can be deceiving! I was feeling the distances at this point as witnessed by my comment to Amy as I came back into town, "I'm ready for it to be over!" She said the best words, "One more loop and it will be...you can do it!" Right, one more loop...I can do this.
Thankfully I had put a long sleeve shirt and some gloves in my run special needs bag because my arms and hands were really cold at this point and I just didn't think I'd have the patience for a garbage bag to ward off the rain or a silver space blanket wrapped around me like a cape! The wonderful volunteer at the special needs station helped me get my new clothes on. I felt like a 5 year-old because I was shivering and couldn't do any of it by myself. Again, God bless these volunteers, I know they weren't any warmer than us! As I headed back for my second loop I saw Nancy who ran a few steps with me after giving me a much appreciated hug. Had to hit another port-a-potty...must have been hydrating VERY well on the bike because I seriously had to pee an unexpectedly high number of times! (And I wasn't just using it as an excuse to stop!) My deal with Chrissie (and myself!) had been to run the first 16 miles. Secretly, I thought I might be able to run the whole thing, but as triathletes we have to be flexible:) Anyway, I was steady for the first 16 miles but I have to admit that when I saw the 16 mile marker I felt a little bit of relief and I think I even let myself walk a little right then and there. (Chrissie joked that next time she's telling me to run 26.2 miles before I walk!) I had been walking through aid stations when I needed more water but I always picked it back up as soon as the tables ended. After mile 16 I became a little more lenient with myself. But I was still running most of the time. I was inspired by my teammates who were headed back into town for the last time...as long as I kept moving that would be me before too long. And I was inspired by my teammates who I saw along the lakeside headed in my direction. Some looked steady and strong; others looked like they were fading. I wondered what I looked like but decided a smile could hide a lot and maybe convince my legs that they still felt great so I tried to have one for both friends and for me!
Probably the best part of that leg of the run was my time with Dionn! I was surprised to come up on her but welcomed the comradery on the course. We agreed to walk the last big hill together and then pick it up after that. We exchanged stories about being surprised by our friends and family on the race course...we both got teary. And I will forever remember this part of the run because of Dionn. I have to admit that my legs welcomed the rest but more than that, Dionn helped me remember why I'd come out here in the first place.
You see at that point along the lake, I knew that I sort of had a "make it or break it" decision to make. I could put my head down, go into a zone, and really focus only on my time goals. Or I do what I had set out to do from the beginning. Enjoy the rest of the day. Live into the fact that I was doing an Ironman. Continue to see friends and teammates. Decision made...without a second thought my heart told me what to do. My head questioned it later (I'm not going to lie). But my heart spoke up and said, "And at the end of your life, Elizabeth, what are you going to remember - a time on a clock or precious memories with friends?" No brainer.
As we turned at the turn-around I remember thinking...we're almost there and part of it is downhill! The neighborhoods seemed endless again but I knew that with every step I was getting closer. I collected a peace sign necklace from a volunteer. I thanked the little girl who had been so nice for the entire run. I made sure to make eye contact with teammates. And I made sure I made one more pit stop before heading onto Sherman Avenue. As I crested the last little hill by the library, the volunteer said, "Finishers to the far left" and I said, "Yep! That's me!" I'm sure he could tell by the slow pace I was keeping!
I think at that point my legs went into auto-pilot mode. I made the turn onto Sherman and since it had just gotten dark there was both a figurative and literal light at the end of the tunnel. I remember thinking that I should ditch my water bottle and Nuun container with my Thermolytes for the photo finish but I was afraid I'd get a penalty so I hung onto them. I also remember thinking that I had it in me to "sprint to the finish" but I resisted that temptation and instead tried to soak up all that was going on around me. I failed miserably at that seeing as only a week later I can only remember the details of the last few minutes. I remember smiling so broadly that I am sure I looked quite foolish. And I remember seeing Amy and Chrissie on my left...Amy paced me into the chute. And then I saw Kimberly and John on the right. And that's when the tears pooled in my eyes. I wanted to stay in that moment forever...but I had to cross the finish line to hear "Elizabeth, you are an Ironman!" So I kept going.
I have even fuzzier memories of what happened after that. I remember a volunteer asking me what size shirt I wanted. I remember another volunteer taking my timing chip (while I was explaining that the strap was mine!). And then I saw Amy. Who gave me the biggest hug ever. (YES! A mega hug from a self-proclaimed non-hugger...LOVE YOU, Amy!) And then Kimberly and John were there. And we were all talking and smiling and on the verge of crying but no one was really crying.
Pictures...more hugs from Chrissie, Laura, Michelle, Charles, and others who were around...although most (smart!) people had gone home right after their race finished since it was so darn cold! Thankfully Amy and Chrissie had my warm clothes and Laura was there to tell me what we needed to do. Somehow we made our way to the bathroom where I changed - grabbed 1/4 of a bagel on the way and that was about all I could handle. Dry clothes, grabbed our bikes, took them to TriBike Transport, and hobbled back to the house. Some people were still racing and I felt terrible for not sticking around to see them finish. But I needed to get warm. (Found out later that it was in the mid-40s when I finished...no wonder I was cold!)
Some happy debriefing with Amy and Chrissie...not enough stretching...an almond butter and honey sandwich with two bread heels (my prison break sandwich according to Laura!)...a shower...and then bed.
Only to wake up at 5 a.m. the next morning...seriously?!

race report - phase 6: T2

Another full wardrobe change for me! This costs me a little time to change clothes completely but it helped me start the bike warmer than I would have had I swum in what I was going to bike in. And as far as the run goes, I like to run in running shorts and a tech t-shirt so another change was necessary. Yet another wonderful volunteer helped me and pretty soon I was out of the changing tent...much faster than T1.
And my legs felt surprisingly good so I was excited to start the run...

race report - phase 5: bike

112 miles...hills...some flats...plenty of technical parts...plenty of spectator friendly parts...and plenty of really remote parts. The longest part of the Ironman by far - and the part that usually feels the longest to me. Except on this 112 mile bike ride. I think that I started off in such a great mood that I was almost carried over the first loop by my smile and happiness. The first 56 miles really did fly by. Saw LOTS of T3 teammates on the route - mostly going past me or doubling back on the out-and-back course. I think that kept me going, too. There was great energy out there.
As for the course, well, the hills that I practiced on the computrainer became very real. I had driven the course a couple of days before but when you're in a car, there's a very different reality to the hills! The groaning of the car engine that I remembered became a groaning in my chest and in my legs but I muscled through.
On the first loop there was a guy singing "The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music" as we climbed the first major hill. Those of us around him expressed a mixture of laughter and annoyance! I thought it was sort of funny...at least for a little while.
More than anything on this first loop, I was happy that the weather was holding out, that I'd somehow managed to dress appropriately, and that so far there were no technical or nutritional problems. Quick pit stop before I headed back out on loop 2 - the wonderful volunteer who held my bike for me said, "Wow...that was fast!" My reply was, "I need all the extra minutes I can get on the bike...no dilly-dallying for me!"
Saw Kimberly and John on my way back into town and then the T3 cheering squad when I hit downtown CDA. What a lift in my spirits to see these familiar, supportive faces again. (And seriously, how you can be in a bad mood when someone like Amy jumps out and sings show tunes to you?! I laughed so hard I cut my lip on my aero bottle straw! Seriously....she was an amazingly wild cheerleader that day...hence...no voice for Amy now! But there's more to come about ALL of our cheerleaders...a full post of their own is on its way.) I was feeling strong - mentally and physically - as I started on the second loop. I was aware that the temperature was dropping but still felt comfortable...and said a little prayer that the rain wouldn't start while we were still biking. Was conscious of my nutrition & happy that I was staying on top of it. And I made a mental note to spin my legs wherever possible to get them ready for the 26.2 mile run I had in front of me. I was doing well on time so I began to relax about that a little...but not too much.
The hills seemed tougher this time around - no surprise - and I was especially thankful for the extraordinary volunteers who were there with emotional and nutritional support. Only took water from the aid stations but the enthusiasm of the folks there always gave me an extra boost of energy. Got a side stitch somewhere along the way and popped a few Thermolytes in hopes that something was "off" in terms of my electrolytes. Not sure if this or time solved the issue but by about 3/4 of the way through the second loop I was free of the pain. Yeah!
As I approached town again my spirits were soaring. I was finishing the bike with plenty of time to spare to the cut off and I laughed that at one point during training I was honestly fearful that I would miss the bike cut-off time. I had averaged just below 16 mph which is strong for me for a ride like this, especially with headwinds as we came back into town. Thank goodness for all of our winter riding in the chilly, windy Austin weather in January and February (and March!). Rolling back into transition I had a HUGE smile on my face and when the nice volunteer said, "Need anything from your bike?" I quickly said, "Nope! Take it away!" I was relieved to be finished but I have to say I never hit a breaking point while I was on the bike when I just wanted to dump it on the roadside. I had been MUCH happier for those 112 miles than I ever thought I would be...nice feeling to carry into the run with me. Little did I know how much I would need those good feelings although the rain as I exited T2 should have been a sign of things to come!

race report - phase 4: T1

I would not normally include a long post about T1 but this one will forever be special to me. First, I was so glad to be out of the swim that I nearly jumped into my cycling shoes right away! Second, in an Ironman you have changing tents with chairs and awesome volunteers who help you undress, dress, make decisions, etc... Whatever you need, they will help you with it - sunscreen, rolling up your arm warmers so it's easier to stick your damp arm into them, putting on your race belt. Danielle from Wisconsin warmly welcomed me into the tent and then helped me get rid of my swim gear and put on my cycling gear. She was a HUGE help and a real sense of calm for me. In about 2 minutes less than I had anticipated, I was headed out to my bike. Carefully ran across the basketball course in my cycling shoes, wool socks, T3 jersey, arm warmers, tri shorts, sunglasses, and helmet. Had my gloves in my back pocket just in case.
Focused on getting to my bike and starting on that long portion of the race, I do not know how I heard the voice that I heard saying, "Elizabeth!" But I heard it and look to my right and to my amazement there was John Works...and to his left, Kimberly. Talk about shocked. I said something like, "What are you doing here?" And Kimberly responded, "You're doing an Ironman. We came to see you!" Tears. Yes, I wasn't even on the bike yet and I had tears in my eyes. Quickly forced them to stay in my eyes - I couldn't start off 112 miles in tears! But I think that the first loop of the bike passed so quickly because I was still in shock!
Throughout the day I saw Kimberly and John and later discovered that they were updating folks in Austin about my progress. Here is Kimberly's first post to them:
"Hi everyone. John and I drove up (from Montana) to see Elizabeth compete in and complete her Ironman. We wanted to surprise her and well, I think we succeeded. The swim finish was mobbed with people but we thought we saw her come out of the water and so we ran over to where we thought her bike might be. The absolutely unofficial watch on my arm said that she came out of the water about 8:14 which is amazing. Her transition time was faster than I think she expected as well. We think she got on the bike around 8:21. We saw her and yelled and screamed as she was heading toward her bike and then we ran to see her at the beginning of the course. She, of course and as you can imagine, looked like she was having an absolute blast, smiling and calm and studly. The weather right now is beautiful, although I think her start this morning was chilly and windy. It's supposed to be partly sunny with rain predicted later on in the day. Hopefully, it will hold off until the end of the bike.
She'll do a loop on the bike so we hope to see her again and then we'll try to get ourselves in place for the finish. The city seems mobbed with people, and everyone seems to be more clued in to how to navigate everything, but we're learning. Mainly, it's just very exciting to be here watching her do this. Yay for Elizabeth!!!"

As usual, Kimberly was too generous to me...and what it meant for her and John to be there is beyond words.

race report - phase 3: swim

Those of you who know me know that I LOVE to swim (usually the best part of any triathlon in my opinion). Update to this statement: I do not really love to swim in mass Ironman starts! Chaos. Washing machine. Thrashing. Survival. Call it what you want, it was a mess! And even a little bit scary. Even though I was in the company of Matt, Jim, Liz, Blythe, and Laura, as soon as we all rushed in the water with the other 2,000+ participants I felt very alone. I know, it's weird to feel alone when you have bodies pressed up against you so tightly that you are like sardines in a can. But I felt very alone. And the first 1/2 of the first lap was only about trying to carve out a little space in which to swim so that I might get into some sort of rhythm. Every time I thought I'd succeeded someone would grab my ankle or shoulder and pull or push me back. I prayed that I wouldn't get pushed under! I knew that being under the water and the sea of neoprene that we were creating would not be a good thing.
Pretty early on I felt a little panic creeping into my chest. I wasn't breathing well. The chop was creating 1-2 ft swells so every time I turned to breathe I got a face full of water. At one point I wasn't making any forward progress and in a moment of treading water to let a few people pass I had to have a little talk with myself: "You know how to swim. You are not going to drown. Put your head down and start swimming again." Funny. After that, I was okay. Not loving it but okay.
The back side of the loop was MUCH better and I actually found some smooth water to swim in and settled into what I know as my swimming rhythm. I finally felt normal in the water for the first time all day. Finished the first loop in 35 minutes - which sort of surprised me...I thought it would be slower due to all of the thrashing around. Quick jaunt across the timing mat and I was back in the water for loop 2 - determined that it would be faster. It was certainly a lot calmer - everyone had spread out by then - but it ended up being 1-2 minutes slower. What?! Oh, well, I was out of the water...and for the first time ever in my (brief) triathlon life, I was thankful! Up to the wetsuit strippers...one of my favorite parts of these triathlons...grabbed my bag and headed into the T1 tent.