I AM AN IRONMAN

Wow, just typing that gives me the chills!  This is gonna be a long one, but before I get to the race report, I have to give a few shout-outs and thank yous.

-To my family-- for always being my number one supporters and behind me when I come up with a new crazy idea.  I know it was physically hard for you guys to watch the race, it meant so much to me that you did!  Words cannot express my faith enough.

-Meredith, Stacy, Jessica, and Mandy-- thanks so much for sherping, tracking me, and screaming your heads off at me.  My race weekend was so much better because of the girls!  I am so thankful.

-Ed:  Oh geeze.  This is all your fault.  But yet I think it *almost* makes you love you more.  Thank you for your words of encouragement on the run laps, and the icy hot application.  I can't wait for some Justin time, soon!

-Carley, Frank, Dean, Landon, George, Sonya and all the Tri-Animals:  Thank you for the love, friendship, training rides, and Grant Ranch swims this season.  Having a support system who knew exactly what I was going through this season made all the difference!

Andy:  Thank you for all your help! Especially today after the whole flight debacle.  I can't thank you enough for that, and for all the support over the last year or so!

Carole, my coach:  I literally couldn't have done this without you.  Thank you for dealing with my crazy compulsive needs, my fears, and doubts, and pushing me just enough.  You made me realize just exactly how strong I really am!

Ok, on to the race report.

I arrived in Phoenix early Thursday morning.  Flight went fine, grabbed my bike, got my wrist band, and did a few errands.  I went to the Mike Reilly story hour.  I had gone in Boulder and it was fun.  Alot of the stories he told were the same, but it was a great kick off to Ironman weekend.  On Friday, we mostly stayed around the condo, I got a pedicure, got a few last minute supplies.  And then we went to the opening ceremonies.  It was so cool seeing the stories they showed, and the video even featured a good friend who did IM Louisville last month. Saturday morning was bike check in, gear bag check in, and then the ND/Navy game. (ND won but it was close!)  I packed my special needs bags, decided on kits, and got to bed about 9pm, though I'm not sure how quickly I really fell asleep.

On race morning, I woke up about 3:30.  Had my usual oatmeal breakfast (with berries, banana, and PB mixed in), a little bit of cold brew coffee, and lots of water.  Got in the car about 4:15, and had a very easy drive to the race venue thanks to the guiding of my friend Andy who had met us at the condo to help out.

Got everything set up, used the porta potties twice (oh the lines!), hugged my family and friends goodbye, and got into the line for the swim.  I was hoping to break one hour for the swim, so I lined up right before the 1 hour sign.  We still had a bit of a wait, so I was able to sit down for a few minutes.  I can't really remember the thoughts going through my head at that moment.  It was definitely a mixture of excitement and being totally terrified.  Not of the swim, but just of the whole day.  The canon went off, and I walked down the couple of stairs and was in the water ready to go.  It was a little dark still, and I had gone with the dark goggles, so it was a little hard to see at first.  I also had to pee really bad.  I thought maybe it was nerves and it would go away, but it didn't.  So I stopped about 500 yards in and did a little breaststroke so I could pee, and also cleared out my googles.

I ran into, or got ran into by a few people on the swim.  Wasn't too awful, but I did get a few wacks to the head and the side.  I always feel like swims take forever, so I was surprised wen the turn bouy came up--marking about the half way point.  I took a quick look at my watch and saw I was about on pace.  The swim back did seem pretty long in comparison.  I'm not sure if it got choppy or whether it's just that the last half of the swim always seems the worst.

That water is not as clean as it looks.

Got to the stairs, and had some volunteers get me up.  Got out and got my wetsuit stripped.

Swim time: 1:00.10  (damn pee break!)  My swim was good enough to get me first out of the water award for my age group from Roka, so that means that I get a $50 gift card!

T1:  T1 had a long run to get bags with gear in it, and then into the changing tent.  The advantage of being one of the first girls out of the water, was that the changing tent was basically clear.  I had like 4 volunteers helping me.  I decided to change everything as it was a little bit cold outside still, and wanted to be dry. T1 was 6:01.

Bike:
So people had warned me about the possibility of winds on the bike on AZ.  I had driven the course when I was here for the 70.3 last month, and it honestly didn't seem that bad.  Famous last words.  As a result of being one of the first out of the water, I got passed alot in the first part of the bike.  But I just put my head down and tried to stay in my own race.  The winds were awful almost right away.  I was averaging like 10-12 mphs on the way out.  The hills were not that bad that I should have been averaging that.  It was a beast.  Winds blowing right in your face.  I don't know how hard they were blowing, but I've heard rumors of 15-20 mph.  It was such a battle.  And I knew it was only the first loop of three.  Oh geeze!! I just kept remember that it was going to be fantastic once we turned around, and just focused on the mile in front of me.

I made it to the turn around, and was thrilled.  Almost right away, I could feel the wind at my back, plus it was slightly downhill on the way back.  Bonus! I think I averaged like 27 or 28 miles on the way back down.  I had in my head the idea that it would be sweet to break 6 hours on the bike.  When I hit the turn around, I was just under the 2 hours mark, so I was happy about that.  I turned around knowing that I was going to go right back into the horrible wind.  I kept trying to fool myself into saying that it was my last lap.  I just had to get to the top.  I don't remember a lot from the second lap.  I do remember that the first lap, it had taken me about 1:15 to get out, and 45 minutes to get back.  So I tried to stick to that timeline.  When I got to the turn around, I was just a minute or two behind that goal.  I was so glad to hit the top again and turn around.  A few miles later, there was a special needs tent, where I got my extra water bottles, and a little more nutrition.  Then got on my way.

I think starting the third loop...

When I got back at the end of the second loop, I was right on track for a 6 hour split. But man, I was in the hurt locker.  My quads were killing me.  I didn't want to be on that bike seat any longer.  My shoulders were awful.  The front of my knees were also killing me.  Which was awful.  They never bugged me on any of my training rides, so I'm not sure what was going on there.  At the turn around going out on my third lap, I saw friends and my family (they were there the first loop, I guess I just didn't see them). I told myself, just one more loop.  18.66 miles and the torture would be over... well on the bike at least.  I think the loops on the third lap were even worse.  I stopped quickly at the first aid station on the way act to use the porta potty.  I was a little annoyed when the porta pota was on the side of the road, which was sand, but had turned to mud.  That got stuck in my cleat.  I had to bang it on the side of my bike a couple of times, and still didn't get clipped in.  I had to then stop and bang it on the curb.  I also had leaned my bike against the curb while I used the bathroom, and didn't realize that my aero bottle had leaked basically all of the water out.  I had to go until the next aid station without plain water, which was a little annoying.

I'm not sure where it came from, but during the bike, I just kept thinking "courage to start, resolve to finish" I just kept repeating that in my head.  I think the winds on that last lap were the worst. My speed heading out went way down.  I realized at the turn around, that I wasn't going to hit a 6 hour split.  I was disappointed for a minute, but quickly realized that I was still going to have a pretty good bike split, especially considering the winds. I hit the 100 mile mark.  Mixed emotions there for sure.  You're glad you're 100 miles in.  It feels like it's almost over.  But let me tell you, those last 12 miles are the longest 12 miles ever. Even though they were mostly downhill.  I concentrated on getting in some more salt and liquid nutrition, and trying to take a few stretch breaks (on the bike, didn't get off), and a few breaks where I didn't pedal.

 I was really worried about my legs though.  My quads were toast.  More toasted then I think I've ever felt them in training or racing.  My knees hurt. My back hurt. I knew I still had a full marathon to go.  Yikes.

Bike time: 6:16.37

T2:  I'm always so glad to get off the bike. It was no exception. I handed my bike to a volunteer to re-rack (so nice!) and grabbed my T2 bag and ran into the changing tent.  I did a complete change with the help of Jessica, and got my individual toe socks on (love them!).  got some water and ice and was out on the run. 4:42

Run:
My run has gotten alot better, but it certainly is still my weakest link.  I was happy to get off the bike, and was happy that even though my legs felt like crap on the bike, they didn't seem to feel too awful on the run.  I had told myself that I would try and hold miles that were around 11/min miles for as long as possible.  I really wanted to run a 5 hour marathon.  I don't remember a ton about the run, honestly.  It sort of all blends together.  I remember repeating to myself,  resolve to finish. resolve to finish.  The course included some of the areas that we had run for the 70.3 last month, so I was familiar with some of the course (probably 90% of it--there was one point where we got off the path, but I actually knew that because it was part of the bike course at the 70.3).

Run, run run

I did a little bit of a run/shuffle for most of the first lap.  I walked through the aid station, getting water, gatoraid every couple of aid stations, some orange slices, coke, and licks of my base salt.  I had a few gus too.  I saw friends twice on the first lap.  They were super encouraging.  Ed ran with me a little bit and talked to me. I remember telling him that the bike had taken it all out of me.  I think he basically told me to suck it up and get it done, so that we could cry at the finish line together.  I remember telling him that he had to stop because I couldn't start crying yet.  The first lap the sun was out, and it was really hot.  I dumped water on my cooling sleeves, ice down my bra, and in my hat.  Towards the very end of the first lap, the sun started to set, and I was so happy because it cooled off a bit.

I started the second lap, and saw Ed, Meredith, Mandy, and Stacey again.  Ed ran with me for a minute, and I asked him to come over to special needs with me.  I had icy/hot in my special needs bags, and my calves and back were killing me.  I didn't want to rub it all over myself with my hands, and then be trying to eat with my hands.  I don't think Icy Hot would have helped my stomach at that point.  Ed (who volunteered all day at the race), helped me out and rubbed it all over my calves and back.  It helped so much.  I grabbed a long sleeve, my headlamp, some gus, and my payday.  I stuffed them all in my back pocket, but then didn't like the way it felt when I was running, so I rearranged, and ended up with the payday in my bra.  I know have some very nice chaffing marks from my pay day! Lol!

After the first out and back on the second loop, the sun was setting and we are running around the river.  The Base salt tent was on the other side of the river, and they started playing Titanium. Those who know me, know that I have a titanium rod in my leg.  That many doctors told me I would never run again.  That song has been my theme song for several years.  With it blasting over the speakers, and the sun setting, I really started to lose it.  I was at about mile 15 or 16 at this point, I still had a LONG way to go.  But I totally lost it.  I had to stop for a few seconds and just breath.  Then I kept going.  The rest of the run is kinda of a blur.  I had broken it down to 4 x 10k, plus a few miles to finish.  I got to the start of the 4th 10k, and it kinda hit me that I was actually going to finish.  Everything hurt.  My butt crack was chaffed (I got a cup that I thought was just ice and had dumped it down my bra, but it was actually ice water.  Got my butt wet and the rest is history).  I got to mile 24, and just wanted to get it done. I tried to pick up the pace a little bit.  At this point, I was taking a walk break for a minute or two every couple of miles.  I was pretty proud that I never fully transitioned into just a walk.  I took some walk breaks, and my running pace certainly wasn't fast.  But it was alot of running!

I came around the corner, and just had a small hill up to the finish line.  I couldn't even really think at this point.  I was just so excited and yet so overwhelmed.  I've been fortunate enough to have a lot of dreams in my life come true.  But it's been a long time since I worked this hard for something, and had it come true in such a dramatic way.  As I rounded the corner, I saw Ed.  I stopped and we gave each other a huge hug.  He cried. I cried.  We cursed about how awesome it was.  I think I told him this was all his fault (he got me into triathlon), and that I hated him, but that I had never loved him more.  We parted so that I could get to the finish line.

I can't really describe the feeling of seeing that red carpet and all the lights.  Knowing that your family and friends are waiting there for you.  That the accomplishment of a life time has ended.  It's funny, while I was doing the race, it felt like the longest day.  I wanted off the bike, I wanted to be done with the run.  But when I got to that finish line, it felt like it had only been an hour or two since I started.  I guess that is the adrenaline kicking in.  I pumped my arms, I cried, I grinned from ear to ear.

Once I heard "COURTNEY YOU ARE AN IRONMAN" and crossed that finish line, I saw my friend Meredith.  She had volunteered on the water, but wasn't supposed to be in the medal area.  I was shocked (and a little confused), when she put my medal around my neck and gave me a big hug.  It was perfect end to a perfect day.

Run: 5:25.31, total time 12:53.01

Got my picture taken, got some food, and walked out to find friends and my family.  There were hugs and more tears. I stuck around the finish line to watch a few friends.  I had wanted to stay for the rest of the race, but my body was just not cooperating.  I had some food, a beer, and then got a ride home.  I took a quick shower-- where I found all kinds of chaffing. My heart rate strap left a mark all across my abdomen.  Looks like someone slashed me. I got some decent sleep, got up to get my finisher's stuff.  I bought all the stuff.  So early.  No more will power left.  We had some breakfast, then went back for the awards ceremony.  I was first out of the water for my age group, so my name was called out and I got a Roka cap.  We had some lunch, bummed around for awhile, and then Mom, Dad, and my brother left for the airport.  I hang out with my girls, which involved some shenanigans, and karaoke.

T3 was pretty sweet!

I know that the full emotion of finishing hasn't sunk in.  I hear it takes a few weeks.  But I'm thrilled.  Training for an ironman was HARD.  But so worth it! I've never been in better shape, I've made great friends, and made so many memories.  I haven't yet committed to what my next Ironman will be, but I am confident in saying that this will not be a one-and-done (God willing!).

Frank is a good sport!

Karoke to finish out the weekend.  Yep we rocked titanium. Or well we sang it at least.