IM CDA part 2
Posted by katymoe on August 18th, 2010**Updated: Even as I write these next couple chapters about my Ironman (now two months out) I question my attitude on race day, I question if I should race with a time goal again, I question my training, and my heart. I’ve had a bit of a cold this week, which has sidelined me again just as I was searching for my run legs to come back to me. Frustrating! I know they are there, and that they’ll come back eventually. I just want my pre-ironman legs that wanted to run forever! Back to the bike course**
I grabbed my bike and hopped on hearing a few cheers for me on the way out, those little moments where you know your friends and family are watching and cheering for you are sooooo super great. I was thinking to myself, “Ok, you’re on the bike get your head together, focus on nutrition and hydration, watch your heart rate, and have FUN!”. I could NOT get out of my head that I swam a 1:17. I started doing every math equation possible to see if sub-12 was even still an option. Had I even factored in a bad swim?! Damn it. It took me a good 30 to 50 miles to quit analyzing the swim and move on. I was kind of obsessed with how poorly I had done. I really don’t know what happened out there.
The way out of town along Coeur d’Alene lake is sooooo fun and beautiful, there are a couple hills to get your legs warmed up for the real climbs around Hayden Lake, but it is mostly flat and fast. This section is about 18 miles out and back so I was able to cheer for all my buddies out there on this first section. After the turn around we head back into town, I got to see my family and hear some cheers that lifted my spirits again.
I was feeling great, my average speed was looking good and I was cruising with my heart rate right where it was supposed to be. All those long difficult rides and cycling drills (ugh) were going to pay off today I could feel it. Riding out of town, I was happy knowing Team Katy Moe was now heading out for their hard earned breakfast before driving around to iron-spectate all day. I was SO happy and feeling so loved by my support crew. Knowing I wouldn’t see them for a while I tried to just get the swim out of my head and get going on my ride. Once you ride out of town you hit the real hillies.
I tend to call huge hills, hillies because it makes them sound small and cute. I’ll say things in my head like, “ok, heading out to my favorite hillies”. It’s all just a game, if I say funny positive things before I let my brain think the ugly negative things sometimes I never get around to thinking the negative. The bike was chock full of these tricky positive thoughts especially early on trying to distract myself from dwelling on my sucky swim. I pulled them out again at the end when I was hot and tired. I remember thinking around mile 85, “I’m not really in the mood to do those last couple of climbs”. The hillies are tough, and climbing them always makes me a little nervous about having legs to run with, but just like riding here locally the bigger the climb the better the VIEW! Some of the views from this course are spectacular, they kept a smile on my face the whole time.
One of my favorite hillies, over looks Hayden Lake and on the first loop with the early sun shining on the glassy (maybe we can move the swim to Hayden??) water was chill inducing. I always try and chit-chat with people on the bike especially on the slow climbs but most people don’t feel like talking while climbing. One guy almost fell over while I was pointing out the beautiful day to him. Oops. After the hilly section, it’s flat and fast back into town we hit the first out and back section again and that’s where we pick up our special needs bags. I was really looking forward to my bagel and my redbull! Just before the aid station, the girl in front of me stood up on her bike and before I knew what was happening, I was being sprinkled with her urine. I mean this girl HAD to pee. It was disgusting! My arms, legs, and a couple drops on my face (yes, my face) we sprinkled with PEE! Shouldn’t there be a pee warning sign or something? Like stand up and yell, “PEEING”. I don’t know, and we were RIGHT by the port-o too! I mean, I get it if you are winning, or you are 1st in your AG, or something……but peeing on your fellow competitors when your riding with me? Doesn’t seem worth it. The whole race I really wanted to tell her she peed on me and just couldn’t do it. :) The rest of the race when anyone stood up in front of me I would panic! Who get’s peed on twice in a race, not me!
I had a little trouble getting my PB & honey bagel down, I saved it for a nice flat spot, and I felt really hungry,
it’s just so hard to chew, breathe, pedal, drink, steer, not draft, chew, breathe, smile, turn…. Phew. I got about 3/4 of it down, but it was right before those darn hillies again, and I found myself struggling to keep it down while I was climbing. Everything else was going well, my 1/2 way splits on the bike were right on for my goal of riding a 6:30, I was hydrating & peeing (in the port-o), my legs felt good, my only worry was how warm the day was getting. It was perfect weather for a nice long ride, but a little hot for a nice long run after. I tried to stay focused on drinking, eating, and pedaling, but I couldn’t shake the idea of a hot hot run. I took a bathroom break around mile 80, it felt good to get off the bike stretch get sunscreened with a little neck massage! The volunteers at this event always go above and beyond. I hit mile 85 and got to see the support crew out there again, apparently they had just woken up from their nap to come see me at mile 85 then it was time to head out to the run course for all of us.
Pulling into transition I couldn’t believe the race was almost over. I was excited to run, as this is my favorite part. I always tell myself, “YES! you get to run now”. I was super happy with my bike split and I knew all I had to do was run like I had been running in training. The plan was to run smart and run tough and finish this thing in less than 12 hours. I got into transition, (this part is always so exciting because there are TONs of people around cheering just for you!) found my transition bag and started changing into my run outfit. This may sounds silly, but just pulling that pink run dress out of my bag got me pretty excited to do this run. ** Looking back, I’ve never actually had a great run in this dress so maybe it needs to be retired??** I slipped on my compression socks with ease (thanks to my tutorial from Scotty-B.) and I was off! Well, first a quick visit to the port-o but then I was off and running.
I CAN’T believe you got peed on!!!!!!!! Unreal! That’d have been the end of the race for me, “Sorry folks, I’ll be down at Hayden WASHING OFF!!!” ; )