It has been an amazing two years. In seventeen months I completed three marathons and three Ironman triathlons with Craig Strong guiding me the entire way. After my second Ironman, I earned a slot to the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, a dream that I never thought was achievable. Earning the slot meant that only six weeks after my second Ironman I would need to race Ironman Hawaii with arguably the best athletes in the world. My training with Craig to this point had gone very smoothly; there were very few workouts and races that I found too challenging. My three previous marathons and two prior Ironman efforts had been executed almost to perfection. But, it was unclear whether my body would recover enough to race another Ironman so soon.
I arrived in Hawaii with my Mom on Saturday a week before the race. The atmosphere was very tense; there were crazy athletes out on the hot highway riding 100 miles and runners on the course every day. I knew that I was with the best of the best. During athlete registration I moved aside for Chrissie Wellington, the World Champion in 2007 and 2008! I also met one of the media slots who had petitioned Ironman to let him race in Kona. He was hoping to be the first person with a heart transplant to finish the Ironman. I was extremely intimidated, not only by the great athletes, but all of the amazing people who came to compete hoping to accomplish something bigger than just finishing a long race.
As the week progressed, I tried to stay in our condo as much as possible to avoid the other tense athletes. To calm my own nerves, we drove the bike course so I wouldn't be surprised by anything on race day. The entire way there were athletes training in the hot sun. How were they going to race well in less than a week!? I swam every day in the ocean, which was very pleasant compared to the pools in Virginia. On Wednesday, my Dad and good friend Lectie arrived to keep me company, enjoy Hawaii and support me during the race.
On race morning, I was oddly relaxed. I knew that I could complete the distance and I was prepared to do everything I could to cross the finish line. I suited up in all my gear, put body glide on every part of my body, hugged my parents and friends, and headed to the ocean for the swim start.
I got into the swim early and lined up at the front. There were helicopters flying above and when I put my head in the water I was shocked to see a scuba diver taking my picture! I quickly realized that I was one of very few women lined up at the front. The cannon went off and I realized why. Everyone flew past me and I was squeezed out the back of the pack. The entire first half of the swim was a battle to find clear water to put my hands. At the turnaround, I was able to find a line of people to draft on and was pulled against the current back into shore.
I came out of the swim feeling pretty good. After tripping on the steps out of the ocean, I quickly transitioned and was off on the bike. The first 80 miles of the bike went by quickly. The scenery was amazing which made it easier to ignore the head wind and blazing sun. I reached the turnaround at the top of the twelve mile climb to Hawi, still feeling good, and headed back to Kona hoping to make up the time I lost with the head wind and climb. Due to the cross wind I was forced to stay out of my aerobars and hold on tight. I was not able to make up as much time on the descent as I'd hoped. Just as I hit a rhythm I was bombarded by the strongest head wind I'd ever experienced. The wind broke me; at mile 80 I started to cry and did not stop until mile 102. I'm supposed to be an Ironman, maybe even an experienced Ironman, and here I was with the sniffles that I couldn't control. I kept thinking about how I promised Craig I wouldn't let the wind affect my motivation and here I was crying like a little girl! I also realized at this time that I was extremely sunburned. I had asked for sunblock throughout the bike course and no aid station seemed to understand what I was asking. By the end of the bike I didn't care that I was about to finish my slowest bike split ever, I was just so happy to get off the bike.
Finally, I was out on the run. In all my previous races, this was usually a relief and I was able to easily excel. Right away I did not feel as good as normal. My hamstrings were very tight and stomach was a little uneasy. I walked/ran the first two miles and finally found a rhythm. At mile 10, my stomach started hurting bad. I began walking through the aid stations hoping to settle my stomach with water and chicken broth. At mile 17, I found a nice lady to chat with from Montreal and walked/ran with her hoping she'd distract me from my terrible stomach ache.
Out in the Energy Lab, I watched the sun go down. I tried to make it to mile 19 where the photographer was taking pictures so I could get the sunset in the background, but I didn't make it before it got dark. It was clear at this point that today was not going to be a PR. My stomach continued to hurt as I walked/ran back into Kona in the dark. I was all alone and trying everything to help settle my stomach. I started feeling bad for myself. I was having such a tough time and I couldn't run for too long without walking. I felt like I had been out on the course forever, but there were still people just starting the run. I used this for motivation. I began to wonder if I would be strong enough to finish if I was starting the marathon in the dark. I was barely strong enough to handle the darkness I had experienced for thirty minutes. At mile 25, I decided to walk up the hill before the final descent to the finish line. I noticed somebody in the shadows and realized my dad had come looking for me. He gave me a hug and asked what had happened. When I started crying about my stomach I realized I was finally going to get some relief! At mile 25 I puked in the Gatorade cup recycling, thanks to my dad, and was able to run the last mile to the finish.
Finishing Ironman Kona, more than an hour and a half slower than my PR, was the greatest accomplishment of my entire life. I will be the first to admit that I struggled. But, for the first time, I felt like I really fought for something. It took me three races to finally understand the phrase "I am an Ironman." Kona was a great success!
Of course, I could have never had such a successful and fulfilling Ironman career with out the support of my parents. They are such great supporters and now insist on coming to every race. I'd also like to thank Lectie and Dave who cheered for me the entire way, made me breakfast and dinner, and rubbed aloe on my legs to help heal my sunburn.
Finally, there is no way I would have made it without Craig Strong. He is not only a great coach, but a great friend. Craig has a unique gift to motivate and is able to evolve and change as his athletes evolve and change. Maybe some day we'll have a chance to race head to head! I wonder who will win...
Craig - I hope this is only the beginning and I look forward to more Konas in our future!
