I had posted this to facebook a while ago and just realized I hadn't posted it to my blog. Sorry!
On race day, I woke up about 5 minutes before my alarm went off at 3am. It was perfect. I felt relaxed and calm. I got dressed and pulled everything together. My dad and I checked out of the hotel and headed for Jean Klock Park.
We arrived early enough that we didn’t have to worry about a long line catching the shuttle bus to the race site.
Around 5am is when the rain started. It actually started pouring! I had already set up my transition area, but luckily I covered my shoes and stuff with plastic bags so they would stay relatively dry while sitting there by my bike. I then went and sat in the pavilion with my dad so we could stay dry. By 5:30 there was an all out thunderstorm in action. I was starting to get super worried they were going to cancel the swim.
By 6:30am they were still saying the race was going to start on time and in the water. So I started getting ready. It took me about 10 minutes to get my wetsuit on half way. I sure do hate putting that thing on.
I wasn’t planning on walking the 1.2 miles down the beach until about 7, but upon my dad’s insistence we left at 6:45. I am SO glad we did! That walk took forever! It is hard walking in sand….with a wetsuit on! I made it to the starting line about 10 minutes before my wave started at 7:39. The walk in the sand really hurt my feet and tightened up my calves. So I tried stretching everything out (to the best of my ability with a wetsuit on).
The excitement at the starting line was really cool. There were a lot of nervous faces around me….hopefully they weren’t thinking that about me. I honestly didn’t feel nervous…I felt ready.
I tried to start in the middle of my wave. I know I am not a fast swimmer, but I am a strong swimmer, and compared to most triathletes….I am a super strong swimmer. Well that didn’t hold up this time…not only were they all strong swimmers, they were all super fast swimmers. I definitely got kicked and hit along the first 400 meters or so but then it started to clear out. The water gorgeous! I could see the bottom of the lake while I was swimming. The temp was perfect as well…at 76 you almost don’t even need a wetsuit.
I felt good the entire swim. My goal time was 50 minutes, and I finished in 51 so that is pretty good if you ask me. I was disappointed everyone else was so fast…but my time was exactly what I wanted so I can’t complain.
After the swim, we had to run about 200 meters up the beach (yes more sand running is great for the feet). They didn’t have anything to wash our feet off at the top so I was worried about sand. Luckily I was on the other end of the very long transition area so by the time I made it to my slot, most of the sand had shaken off.
Transition went well. Technically it was 7 minutes long, but that includes the run up the beach because the timing mat was there right when we got out of the water. So I think that is pretty good. My wetsuit came off without any problems. I removed the trash bags that were covering all of my stuff and threw them into my bag. At this point the sun was shining so I wasn’t worried about my stuff getting wet. I sat down to put my socks and bike shoes on. I know they say not to do this, but it is easier for me to just sit down really quick than to try to balance getting everything on.
The hardest part about transition was getting on my bike at the mounting line. All of the guys around me made it very difficult to start going. I took my time and let them pass before starting. I am really glad I did! One guy crashed while getting clipped in, and another lost his water bottle.
The first part of the bike leg was awesome! I was making great time. Some of the hills I had been worried about were not a problem for me. I felt really strong. Around mile 10, the pros started passing us on the other side of the road. So I enjoyed watching them for a couple of miles until we had to turn onto a different road.
A lot of the side roads had super rough pavement. Apparently the course has never looked this great, but looking at some of those back roads I find this really hard to believe. A lot of the other riders were awesome. Instead of saying “on your left” when passing me, they would say “great job Belinda” or something like that. Our name was on our race bib, so they all knew my name. It was very motivating. That being said, I just appreciated it when the other riders would call out something instead of just flying past. On some of those roads it was hard to hear them coming up on me so if they didn’t call it out, it would scare me as they flew past. I went off the road two times because of this….so please guys, call it out next time!
By the second half of the bike course my feet were really hurting. I was hoping all of the work the Physical Therapist did on my bike would have helped more. So unfortunately I did not make very good time the second half…which is supposed to be the easier part of the course. My feet felt like they were on fire, and my toes felt broken the entire time. Every pedal stroke was agonizing. But somehow…by strength beyond my own power…I was able to make it to the bike finish. I wasn’t sure I would be able to keep going, but with some very encouraging words from my father, I pushed along. I had a great transition, and set out for the 13.1 mile run (which was indefinitely going to be a walk). I had a little over 3 ½ hours to complete the half marathon so I was feeling confident that I would be a finisher by the cut off time.
The volunteers at all of the aid stations were amazing! The athletes on the other side of the course were awesome! They were on their way back while I was on my way out. I love it when the courses are set up like this. Several of them crossed the line to give me a high five along the way. That is one of the things I love most about the sport of triathlon….the camaraderie between everyone. You don’t find that in very many sports, but it is definitely there in this one.
My feet were hurting pretty bad at this point, but I had decided to keep going no matter what. I knew I was close to last, if not the last person. However, I also knew I was making good enough time to be within the cutoff times. I kept telling myself the last person is still the person that finishes before the person that quit during the race….and definitely ahead of the person that never even tried. I thought I was doing well. Unfortunately a couple of medics thought otherwise. According to them I was staggering. They pulled me from the course and wouldn’t let me finish. I like to think it is because they were truly worried about me, but at the end of the day, I can’t help but think they just wanted to go home and they had to hang around until the last person finished.
So clearly my day came to an end earlier than I had hoped. It was disappointing because I felt ready. I knew I had trained hard, and done everything I could to make it a great and successful day. I felt good after the race (that is everything but my feet). I wasn’t even sore the day after the race which is a further testament at how hard I have trained. If you train properly, race day shouldn’t totally wipe you out.
So here are some of my afterthoughts:
I know that I am going to finish an Ironman before I turn 30. I know that there will be bumps along the road, but those bumps are going to make the finish line that much sweeter as I cross it one day.
I know I am doing what my Heavenly Father wants me to be doing. He has a plan for me. I don’t know exactly what that plan is yet, but I know that for whatever reason, I needed to be humbled at this race. I needed to see what not finishing felt like….especially given the unique circumstances. It was out of my control. I am thankful to have had the strength to have made it the 65ish miles I did. Unfortunately I needed to make it 70.3 miles to be considered a finisher.
I am thankful for doctors. While I have been to 3 different doctors so far, I am confident that one day soon I will find one that knows why I have the problems with my feet and muscles that I have. I am also confident that one day there will be better treatment options for fibromyalgia.
I am extremely thankful for the support of my friends and family. I can’t not even begin to count the emails, text messages, phone calls, etc…from all of you. It helped motivate me in so many ways. I hope to one day be able to help encourage you on your endeavors.
As for the biggest question everyone keeps asking….when is my next attempt? I am not going to sign up for anything until I figure out what is going on with my feet. The last thing I want is to spend a bunch of money on registration fees and then find out I need surgery or something. I promise to keep you updated.
