Sorry this is long, but I don't want to forget the details of this experience:
JP drove the bikes out with Todd, they left on Monday night. Cale and I flew out on Wednesday at 8pm. Cale did great on the flights, flirting with the flight attendants on the flight from DFW to Denver and then sleeping the whole way from Denver to Spokane. We arrived at the Guinn’s house late that night (family friends since I was little). They live on a nice golf course in Post Falls. It was great to be able to stay with them, just like being at home. Thursday got up and headed into CDA to ride with Cyndi, Donny and Todd, we rode the first out and back from the house they were staying at. Good ride, legs felt good. Went to lunch with them downtown and then headed to registration. I got all checked in and then headed back to Guinn’s to relax. Bill took JP, Cale and I out to eat, it was so nice out, so much cooler than Dallas. We then headed back to the house to put Cale to bed and proceeded to drink wine on the patio overlooking the golf course! Friday JP played golf in the morning with Bill and Karen (the Guinns) and Cale and I hung out on the patio and in the back yard the whole morning. Bill grilled some brats for lunch and after Cale woke up from his nap we headed out for a grand tour of North Idaho and Montana. We saw some beautiful mountains and rivers/lakes. What an amazing country! We then headed back into town and had dinner at a local Mexican place with Jen (Guinn’s daughter) and her family. This was great, I have known Jen pretty much my whole life. Then off to the airport in Spokane to pick up my Mom. It was once again a good night for a glass of wine on the patio to end the night. Saturday morning I got up and swam, got to see Katie, Todd, Kim, Suzanne, Michelle, Chuck, and many others down at the swim practice. I did a 20 min swim and then a 20 min run. My body felt great, the swim was nice and cool, little rough, but I was happy with my practice. I just relaxed at the Guinn’s house the rest of the day. We had our typical pasta dinner (thanks Mern!) at Katie’s house. It was nice to get to spend some time with my fellow team mates before the race (little different for me this time not staying with them). I slept a good 8 hours that night, no issue.
Race Day
4:30am, 1 cup oatmeal
Very overwhelmed before the start, even shed a few tears, did not want to start, in fear that I would not do as well as expected, that the bike course would kill me, and that my run would be too hard to deal with. I knew once I was in the water I would be fine.
6:15am, granola bar (yogurt covered)
Got into my wetsuit and headed down to drop off my dry clothes. I was headed back to see my Mom and Cale when I got stuck in the traffic jam of people headed to the beach. I was not going to make it. I was disappointed not to be able to see little man before the start, but decided to head to the beach. 5 min before the start they announced that due to the high winds and waves that they would offer a duathlon for those that did not want to attempt the swim (or for those that decided after the first loop that it was too rough). Most people stayed and attempted the swim.
7:00am, vanilla power gel
Started the swim in the midst of a pack (usually I try and avoid this), lots of bumping and kicking, I got kicked in the face twice where I had to pull up and make sure my goggles were still on and I was not bleeding. I just relaxed on the swim, the corners got very congested with people, slowing everyone down drastically as we tried to tread water to get around the buoy. On the first loop I turned fine around the first buoy and then did not turn sharp enough around the second turn buoy, ended up quite a ways from the buoys to come back in, pretty far off course. Anyway after the first loop the clock said 36 min, I thought to myself, the second loop should be quicker, less people and less off course. The traffic was actually not much better, and the waves were hard but manageable. Out of the swim, though to the strippers and off to the change tent. Swim 1:13:31
Concentrating on being quick in transition although putting arm warmers on when wet is never a fast process. Opted out of any other clothes (just arm warmers) and I was on my way (I had seen the sun coming out on the swim and figured I would not get too cold).
T1 4:18
Did great on the out and back, just trying to get my legs going and start concentrating on the plan of action. Legs felt good, started eating as planned. I took in ½ sandwich and 3 cliff blocks along with Gatorade and water each hour. Got a little behind the plan at hour 2 due to my bike computer stopping, and I did not realize it until I thought to myself, I have been in hour 2 for a long time. I easily got back on track. First loop I felt fast, working hard up the hills, trying to keep up with the fast girls out there. Coming in off the first loop I thought, man I wish this was a half Ironman! I was a bit tired going out to tackle the hills again. The course was very difficult, no time to rest or spin out the legs for the middle 20 miles, constant up, then brief down, then up again. I did the best I could on the second loop, but the hills were getting tough. I knew I had pushed too hard when standing on the hills toward the end became very difficult due to tired legs. This could not be good for the run ahead. Bike 6:02:11
T2 was great, in and out, pick up shoes, hat, fuel belt and off we go. T2 2:20
I immediately got a side ache heading out onto the run course. Tried to walk/jog the first out and back to get rid of it, but it was still there every time I tried to pick up the pace. About mile 4-5 I finally was able to get into a run pace. I was beat; I let myself walk a good bit. I was able to take my power gels about 1 an hour and take in Gatorade/water at the water stops. After the first helping of cliff blocks, I decided I could not do those anymore (I had been eating them all day). I took in a total of 6 gels and 1 ½ bananas on the run, also 4 cookies and 2 small cups of coke in the last 4 miles along with the Gatorade and water. Food did not seem to be the issue. About half way through the first loop my left knee started to hurt if I was not on completely flat ground, I did the best I could to stay on the center of the path and stay balanced. Coming back into town on the first loop Katie passed me, I knew she had been close the whole run. I had already resigned myself to the fact that with my current condition I probably would not be able to hold her off. About half way through the second loop I caught up with Rich Murchek, this was great; we talked and encouraged each other to run more, walking only for brief times up the hills. We talked about how the 12 hour mark had passed for us but we would both be setting PRs and we were ok with that. It was nice to have some company. The finish was incredible, as it always is. My body was shot, my legs were exhausted, but I carried Cale the block and a half to the finish. I couldn’t ask for anymore. Run 4:55:16. I was 88th female out of 614, pretty good in my book. 12:17:35 (4th Athena, 23rd of 141 in AG, 671 overall)
I stuck around (confined to a chair due to knee and ankle pain) until I saw Suzanne, Todd, Adrian, Ken T., LP, Chris, and the Dupris finish. It was so great to see the first timers finish. I was just happy to be done. It got very cold that night; I turned in around 10:30pm. With a very sore knee sleeping was a bit hard that night. Next day was all about finishers gear, awards and getting everyone’s stuff. I went and perused the finishers gear (that was already picked over), then went and got some greasy hamburgers at the local joint downtown. Then I went and purchased some of my pictures and decided to hang out and pick up Katie’s award, the wheels that Erik won, and the DVD’s for everyone. Ate a great dinner at the Guinn’s place, Katie and Todd came up to join us. I took off at 4am the next morning for Spokane to fly home with Cale. Great trip home, Cale did wonderful, got in before the storms hit Dallas. All in all a great trip! Will I do another one… JP says maybe New Zealand 2010. J
Thanks to JP and Cale for putting up with the hours of training and travel to make this happen; to my training partners Katie, Todd, Michelle, Suzanne, Kim and Adrian who always kept me going; to coach Chuck for kicking my a** daily and for working with the fact that family comes first for me; to family, Mom, Dad, Mern and P for supporting me in the races leading up to this one and being there for us; and to the Guinn family for being such great hosts!
