Twas the night before Ironman

I have quite a few posts to blog.  In separate blogs I will be writing an Ironman Race report and I will blog a thank you, but for now.  I wrote this little poem to keep you entertained:

Twas the night before Ironman, when all through the place
Not a creature was stirring, not over the race.
The bicycles were racked in their places with care,
In hopes that tomorrow soon would be there.

The athletes were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of finishing danced in their heads.
And pappa in his C-PAP, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a pre-race nap.

When out before dawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the backpack, I flew like a flash,
It’s race morning already, I’m off like  a dash.

The volume of items, inside it you know
the luster of readiness, was all set to go.
When, what to my wondering ears should I  hear,
the sound of the clock, time to get it in gear!

On goes the clothing, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment, I just may be sick.
More rapid than eagles, the nausea it came
the stomach gurgled and rumbled,  and called me by name!

"Now Helmet! now, Backpack! Bottles  and Water!
salt tabs! And wetsuit! Race watch and fodder!
out of the doorway, to enter the hall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

Off to transition, the athlete does fly,
The long day has started with stars in the  sky.
Arriving in time, to marking she flew,
With a sack full of stuff, not the least of which -  gu.

And then, in a twinkling, I saw on the rack
My bicycle shining, best of the stack.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down with the backpack, onto the ground.

Now dressed in neoprene from her head to her toe,
The bags were all sorted and set for the go.

.
A bundle of bags she had flung on her back,
To take to be sorted, bike/ run and post race snack.

Her eyes-how they twinkled! Her dimples how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry!
Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the pride on her face, so happy to show.

The stump of a gel, she held tight in her teeth,
The cold of the sand, was felt underneath.
She had a game face and a little flat belly,
 once shook when she laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

SHe was jolly  and pumped, and proud of herself,
She couldn’t have done it, without the help of an elf!
The guidance of Ange, and help to her head,
Soon gave her the know,  there’s nothing to dread.

She spoke not a word, she had done all the work,
let go of bad feelings, she did with a jerk.
Positive thoughts and feelings she chose,
OFF goes the cannon! And swimming she goes!

She sprang from the water, and off to the bike,
and peddled away for a long day’s hike.
Then I heard her exclaim as she ran  into sight,
“I’m an Ironman now, THANKS to all, a good night!"

Pre-Race Jitters

DNF-  I feel like those letters are branded on my forehead much like the letter "A" on Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorn's "Scarlet Letter."  This race has been looming over my head for two years.  There is only one other race in my life that I have not finished in my life and that other one was my Freshman year of high school in the finals of 300 M hurdles in the regionals to qualify for states.  I was in the second to last heat, and I was running well that day.  I was winning my heat in a landslide, ensuring a qualifying spot for States, when i tripped over the absolute last hurdle of the race!  UGH!!!  Yes I would have qualified for states in that event as a freshman.  The person that past me when I was on the ground qualified as the 5th seed for States.  The disappointment i felt was huge, but it was okay because i was going to states anyway in other events.  But that disappointment is nothing compared to my attempt at the Ironman race last year.  I have thought about that day every day since last year.  Not one day has gone by where I didn't get up and think about that race, the two crashes, the disappointment, the pain....I have lived it every day and ultimately my family has too.  The only way for me to overcome it was to comeback and conquer the defeat.  Every training session while training for this new event, this new day, has had reflections of the outcome of last year.  It's hard for me to reflect on the actual race because there is so much of it that I can't recall.  If i could just banish the thoughts of last year, but I can't.  It's branded in scarlet letters on my forehead that only I can see.

Arriving here in Coeur d'Alene has been nothing short of surreal, dream like...almost nightmarish because the dream started so pleasant.  This year...I know it's going to be a pleasant but emotional ending.  i have pent up stress, pent up energy, pent up anger, just so many emotions that i have held in.   Several people have asked, "what's your goal time?"  My goal time...16:59:59.   An athlete has 17 hrs to complete the event and really that is what it is all about for me.  I have heard it all... "come on Cathy, that's not a goal, you are so capable of going under 13 hrs.... What is your far reach."   I have also heard, "are you going after a Kona slot?"   And the answer is, no, NO, NO!  I will be ecstatic if i go under the clock at 16:59: 59.  For me, it will be nothing short of miraculous.  I know what my avg times are for Half Ironman distances, I know what I have been recently racing and I know "statistically" with all the crazy calculations --- just double your time and add and hour, add 10% for each hour of your half and multiply by two.... yada, yada, yada... I've heard it all and for this race I am ignoring it all.  My goal is to finish.... Not to finish as fast as I can, not to get a Kona slot... TO FINISH!!!  And, I will finish with a smile on my face and body, mind and soul in tact.   My race will be a comfortable race... I am not taking any risks... a long training day with a party at the end!

You will see me swimming on the far right of the course on the outside of all the athletes taking wide turns at the buoy's.  I am a fairly strong swimmer and so I don't have to worry about meeting a cut-off time.  I will swim comfortable in my zone to reflect on the day.  Calmly breathing and stroking, it will be my Zen time.  I will be calm, relaxed and away from the melee.  I will be away from kicking, slapping, sinking bodies swimming over one an other... I will be swimming a different place, peaceful, serene.  it's actually what i did last year.  although, I do remember migrating inwards last year and getting involved in a traffic jam at one of the turn buoy's.  I will stay wide and avoid that this year.   I suspect it will take me 1.5 hrs for the swim.  Last year I finished in 1:20.   the water is cold - mid 50's, so i may speed up to stay warm or to just get out of there.

The bike, will be ridden in my own training zone.  I will be controlled and relaxed, my breathing will be in control.  There are some serious climbs on this new bike course.  And some screaming descents.  I heard an athlete claim that he was going 70 mph on one of the big descents.  Well the fastest I have ever gone down a descent in Maine  is 47mph.  And, I rode down the steepest descent on Wednesday on the course (yes, i did have to pedal up it first) and when I did peek, I was braking at 38 mph.  I was feathering the brakes 3/4ths the way down.... it's a full mile and quarter down.  There were crosswinds, I was blowing everywhere....my goal is not fast, my goal is to be in control, as much as possible every second of the race.  And you know, last year i was too, but I took a sharp turn too fast last year and that was crash number 1.  That turn has now been eliminated from the course (and I wasn't the only one to crash there either).  My other crash --- the bad one, I really have no idea what happened.  It was at a bottle exchange... 1 minute I was flinging a bottle into the drop box and the next I was over the handle bars lying on the ground in a puddle of blood.  And, you know for those that didn't hear or read the story: after they made me stay there for an hour before progressing with my cracked helmet and broken bike with only two gears that worked for the rest of the 50  miles, I finished the bike leg, in time to proceed to the run. Although, my timing chip was removed in transition with the option of taking a DQ for a violation of riding with a cracked helmet, or the option of taking  a DNF.   After I made my choice, they also highly urged me to go to the medical tent....That's being, polite, they practically made me go...and inside there, they sent me to the hospital....but there won't be any of that this year.  This year, it will be a smooth ride, comfortable, in control.  There won't be chasing anyone one.  There won't be staring at age group calves... It is my race against myself and the ironman distance.  It's me against my ghost of last year.  That's the only think I am chasing.  I suspect it will take me 7.5 hrs to do the bike.  (I know some of you are thinking that I just did 60 miles a few weeks ago in just under 3 hrs --- I am riding this race differently, this is a different course, the hills are bigger and more of them... it doesn't compare!!).

The run will be steady and in control as well.  Obviously I didn't run the course last year.  I will be patient with my pace this year, be in control and take in the moment.  My goal is to keep moving forward.  My running since April has not been stellar.  I have been plagued with aches, pains and fatigue off and on.    I will run fast enough to get to the finish in my goal time of 16:59:59.  Age calves will not interest me, if I pass anyone I will give praise and words of encouragement, and will cheer those that pass me.  I will look for the fireman in full turnout gear running the 26.2.  I would say that I will keep an eye out for Crowie but he will be finished before i even start my run... i fully suspect this will be a 5 hr marathon.  yes, i know I am capable of being faster...fast is not my goal.  So at the half,  if it's been over 2 hrs... don't say "she did a 10 miler in 1:25 where is she....??"  I am fine...

Yes, I am nervous beyond belief, but writing this has helped me calm a little.  I am anxious and excited.  Tomorrow at this time, I just might be out on the bike...Race start is 7AM local time 10 AM for you folks on the Eastern seaboard.   My number is 603, in the 40-44 age group.  Tomorrow's weather is predicted to be high of 77 with 30% chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms.  I have received so many text messages, FB messages, and emails of support from so many family members and friends.  I thank you all for your love, thoughts, words of encouragement and prayers.   If I appear to be slow tomorrow, don't worry!!  Be happy, I am still moving forward and I am comfortable.  So don't be staring at the clock saying "she should be at this check point by now, what happened??"  Know that I am okay, I am in control, it's going to take time to erase those scarlet letters on my forehead... and when  the branding is gone.... that's when you better lookout!!!  See you at the finish!!!

Open Water Swimming Safety

As June arrives, the water temperature rises with the air and everyone is excited to get to the beach, go to the lake  and/or just get out in the open water and boat, swim, fish and play.  We triathletes wait all winter long swimming endless laps staring at a black line at the bottom of a 25 yd lane; back and forth, lap upon lap; it's mind numbing.  We long to get outside and escape the monotony.    Some of us visualize swimming on a surf board, we breath out... talking to the fish or various other mantras to keep our minds active and focus on our swimming to help pass the endless laps.  It seems though that at the beginning of every open water swim season we forget how vulnerable we as adults are in the water.  So, I thought I would tell a quick story of a serious situation that occurred today swimming and review some good water safety habits that EVERYONE, no matter how good of a swimmer you are, should practice. 

A bunch of triathletes, myself included, from a local triathlon club decided to meet at Kennebunk Pond for a Saturday morning swim.  We headed out early to beat the boat traffic that would be occurring on such a beautiful weekend.    We arrived just before 7 AM.   The air was brisk, with a slight breeze and the water was somewhat choppy.  The sun was low and glaring in the direction that we would be swimming in.  Between the choppiness of the water and the sun glare, the visibility, despite the clear air conditions, was not great.  The water temperature was a very comfortable 66 degrees -- remember we are all wearing wetsuits.   A group of us were going to head out to swim around an island in the middle which is just a hair over a mile swim (I was planning to do the loop a second time with a group arriving at 7:30).  Then there was another two swimmers that were going to be going to "the rock and back."  That distance was about half of going to the island and back.  One thing good we did was that we knew who was doing what -- supposedly... But in actuality, one of the swimmers was confused of the landmarks and distances and really planned on swimming out to the island and not just to the rock and back.  Her misunderstanding began with her thinking that the island was "the rock."   First big mistake: one, we didn't really discuss our specific route,  and two, what to sight for and landmarks to be watching for with everyone... A HUGE and potentially costly mistake.  Off we went.  I was swimming with the group going around the island and all was well.  On the back side of the island we stopped and talked amongst ourselves briefly about the route our swim line should take heading back.  Two of the swimmers weren't too familiar with  how shallow the rocks were and if you didn't position yourself well, you end up either kicking or scratching your hand on these big boulders underneath the surface of the water.   I led the swimmers around the island to head back to the beach.  When we circum-navigated around the island to head back to the beach and cove, where we had started at, we came upon the swimmer by herself that was going to just go to the rock and back.  It didn't really register with me at first because I was thinking that the swimmer that was going to the rock and back wouldn't be there because this swimmer was 1)alone and 2) gone a lot further than she had told us she was going to do.  Well, then I wasn't convinced that the swimmer was she  and this maybe another swimmer that might be doing her own thing.  Because, despite all these group swims we are involved in, we do all tend to do our own thing.  Not really a good philosophy or SAFE philosophy to have.  So here we are swimming back to the cove and the beach.  Just as we are heading into the cove we stopped and one of the swimmers said, "wait where did the other swimmer go?"  Ummmm.... none of us really knew.  "well wasn't she just doing the shorter rock and back swim?"  Apparently she changed her mind she joined us as we were coming back around the island.... "well where is she now?"  We all turned around and stared out at the water.  We couldn't see anyone, so we started swimming back to the rock and then to the island to look for her.  We were calling for her.  We could not see her or her green cap anywhere!  The water was choppy so we couldn't always see clearly.  We got about halfway out and still couldn't see her!!  We were all getting nervous.  Did she get out and take the road back?  WHERE IS SHE!!  Two of us swam back to shore and I told the others before heading for the shore that  I would go see if her car was still in the parking lot.  I sprinted back to the beach and told the two new swimmers coming in (the one's I was going to swim a second loop with) that we had lost a swimmer and what she was wearing: green cap, goggles, orca wetsuit.  I sprinted up the beach,  crossed the street and into the parking lot.  Her car was still there.  i was starting to get really nervous.  As I was running back to the beach I shouted to the swimmers in the water that her car was in fact there.  The other swimmers had already swam back to the island, grabbed a kayak and were paddling around, still no sign of her.  One of the really strong swimmers came in and yelled to call 911 as all the areas in and around the island where we had been swimming were checked and most of the area had been scanned.  We had sent another person up the camp roads to check and see if she was coming back by foot.  While on shore, I grabbed a cell phone and called 911.  By this point, we had 6 or so people in the water searching and people checking the roads that abut the water.  No one was coming up with her.  The dispatcher asked about how long since the last person had seen her...  As i glanced at my watch I choked up the reply -- 20 minutes....   The area we were looking in and swimming in was not that big!!  This was way too long for her!!  we were less than a half mile from shore when we last saw her.    She should have been back long by now!!  the dispatcher told me to stay on the line... "well i am going to give the phone to someone else... i am going back in the water with a partner to search way over on the left where we don't usually swim."  So i headed in with one of the guys and off we went out of the cove heading to the left.  As we got out and looked to the left, we saw a green cap.  I think that is her!!!   There she was!!!  We raced toward her.  "Are you alright???"    Her reply was that she was fine, she got disoriented, started to get  little cramps and panicky and floated on her back and then she didn't know where she was.  She said a boater asked her if she needed help and she asked where the beach was.  Well thank God we found her!  The Sheriff's department had already arrived but we could tell the dispatcher that she was found.  The sheriff took down her statement as to what happened and that she was fine. 

Today could have ended very tragically.  Even one of the other swimmers kidded to her afterwards saying, "boy, I thought that was the shortest friendship I would ever have."  All is well that ended well.  But, in all seriousness.  1) don't swim alone, have a buddy 2) know where you are going -- make sure everyone is clear on the landmarks, distances, sighting markings for heading out and returning on the swim 3) even if you have no hair or lots of hair, WEAR a Bright colored swim cap!!  This swimmer almost didn't swim with a cap and an extra was provided for her.  Had she not been wearing the cap, she would have been impossible to spot.  4)  Don't change plans for your swim or distance once you leave the beach and make sure you, yourself know the landmarks in case you do get separated. 5)  have a properly fitting wetsuit, goggles that fit tight and fog free--- in essence wear the proper equipment.  6) Make sure there is someone on shore that knows where you are going and your expected return  7)  on an organized large group swim, is to have  experienced kayakers present that have been trained in water rescue, that can spot the swimmers in the water and corral, direct and offer support as needed    and 8) consider swimming with a torpedo buoy for an emergency flotation device.  It is compact and a life saver if you get into trouble and there is no assistance nearby.