 |
| Yes me.. the whole race. |
Leading up to this race I had an "oh shit" moment. I'd spent the last few month packing a house finding a new house, dealing with health issues, moving Joe, moving me, and clearing things out on the acreage. In June when the dust settled I realized I only had about six weeks to get my training in to go do my fourth Ironman in Boulder the first week of August.
I had a decent base of running, and has been hitting the pool and doing spin class unto May. I just needed to ramp up the mileage and not get hurt. I got my bike out of my crammed full garage and did a total of three longish rides, plus riding to work and the gym/pool. I started ramping up my weekend run distance, and morning pool time started after memorial day in the 50 meter. About two weeks out from Boulder I had a minor malfunction. Every muscle in my body got really tight and caused a fair bit of discomfort in my neck and legs making running and road riding challenging. I dialed back the run and decided to just go race and see what happened.
 |
| I love having my name on my race number |
I met up with Galen and got checked into the AirBnB we were sharing and then we walked down to the local grocer for some dinner and made a plan for the morning.
 |
| Water exit compliments race photographer |
 |
| bike compliments of race photog. |
 |
| had to stop on the run and get a picture of this awesome sign |
Then to start my worst leg... As I mentioned above I was a wee behind getting training miles in, and I'd been having some issues with my legs as well as my shoulder and neck and they all came into play at some point on the bike, but so did something else bigger than myself. This was the first race where I could feel the support and love of friends and family in spirit with me. I've lost two friends in tri in the last couple of years and one friend earlier this summer who I was supposed to visit on this trip and recently lost his battle with cancer. I reflected on what amazing people they each were how proud they would be that I was here doing what I love on that beautiful day. I knew my new love was also cheering me on from back home such that people on FB were wondering if he was there with me. I also had friends and family from running, tri and life also tracking me and sending their love and support and you know what it lifted me up in the hardest parts of that 56 miles. For that I was incredibly grateful. It was a pretty powerful feeling, but inevitably the sneaky bastard hills that you didn't know you were going up but for the drop in speed and the burn in your legs, and the aches of my body made the last ten miles pretty grueling, but fortunately they were all within sight of the venue so that gave me the strength I needed to gut it out and get my ass off the bike.
 |
| finish photo compliments of race photg |
So on to the run. As I noted my legs had been a bit of a crap shoot so I'd grately reduced my mileage the last two weeks before the race, and it was sunny and low 80s and I'd forgotten my cooling sleeves so my plan was to go easy on the first loop, and then see how I was doing for the second loop. I had walked most of a half marathon before so I was fully prepared to do that again. I got out on the course and they had ice, blessed ice in great abundance. I wore my hat so I could put ice in it, and I also put ice in the sports bra front and back which gave me a stead stream of core cooling throughout the run. I can't take on nutrition on the course due to food and gut sensitivities to the offerings so I had a couple ninjxias from Young Living on me, as well as taking one leaving transition. I figured out within the first couple miles that I felt decent and that I could carry ice in a cup to suck on while I ran. I also figured out they had potato chips which I could eat at most of the aid stations so every aid stations after mile three I took on ice, water and walked through. Then had chips as needed as they were available.
Coming into the last couple miles of the first loop/out and back I was running with another mom about my age and we were keeping each other company and still running. I couldn't believe it so I decided to keep running, and just walk the aid stations and the miles slowly ticked away. I saw Galen and Lara along the way on the run, and I kept feeling better and better. My running friend dropped off around mile nine and I still felt good so I picked up the pace and ultimately ended up with a significant negative split for the last 5k and looking at my watch realized I still had a chance to be under my goal time of 7 hours so I kicked it in and really pushed the last mile to the point where my angry leg kicked in and I was limping but damit I wasn't going to slow down because I was in the zone. I ended up finishing with my second fastest of the four half ironman races I have done. Oh I forgot... 1/2 Ironman - 1.2 mile open water swim, 56 mile rolling hills bike, and 13.1 mile crushed gravel run. |
| Had to buy this finish picture and plan to print and frame it to remind me of all the things I overcame to get here. |
With all the adversity I'd dealt with related to my food sensitivities, shingles, MS, divorce and move, falling in love again, I somehow found myself overcoming everything to finish the race strong and feel great in the end. I am super grateful for my friends and family and teammates who kept me moving the last year encouraging me, handing me tissues, moving all my crap, again... And while I'm never going to be fast, I know I don't plan to quit anytime soon. Next up, a half marathon in April 2020 and my first marathon in June 2020 and then who knows what the future holds. All I know is I am ready to face it all head on. Thanks as always for reading. Love you all. |
| Sweet swag pile from the race |
1 comment:
Well done, Shawn! You're gonna kill your marathon next year!
Post a Comment