It's All a Mind Game: Ironman Texas

Ironman Texas was a great experience and I am so glad I did it even though the results were not what I was hoping for. I knew I could pull together a good race if everything would fall into place. Even though it seemed everything fell into place there were things that got the best of me that day and there were lessons learned.

I got into Houston Wednesday morning and straight from the airport it was of to check in for the race. I was so excited about this racing and getting to the expo I knew I was going to have to keep myself in check and not let nervous energy get to me. After getting checked in I figure it was a perfect time while it was still early to drive the bike course...yes ALL 112 MILES of it. After driving the course I got even more excited about this race. I knew I could have a good bike. I am use to training on hills and this course was mostly small rolling hills with some flat sections. I was ready for it! The rest of the day I was able to relax and just enjoy myself at a friend's house that I stay at for 2 nights before heading to the hotel. I can't thank Misty and Mike enough for opening up their house to me. It was nice to stay away from all of the Ironman stuff to keep my nerves in check.

Thursday, was a little busy. I went for a nice easy run to keep my legs loose and then went to go pick up my bike. Thanks Podium Multisports for bring my bike and taking such good care of it! After getting my bike I took it for a short ride to make sure the wheels were good and everything was shifting fine. Which it was!!! Thursday night was also the athlete briefing which I hate going to but I always know I need to go. I find myself getting nervous when I get around all the athletes. It's amazing to see that your body and mind will feed off other people's energy and it is usually nervous energy at these events and that is just what I don't want to feel. After the briefing I went back to my friends house and got all my gear ready to be dropped off tomorrow.

Friday, they had a practice swim in the lake and the water temp was 80 degrees. As crazy as it sounds I was still debating on weather to wear my wetsuit or not. It is a wetsuit optional swim. I did the practice swim without the wetsuit to see how I would feel. Oh and the water...not so clean. The water was warm but really gross. As you put your hand in the water you couldn't even see it. All I could think was don't swallow any of this water. After about 15 minutes in the water I had enough. After the swim I went to get all my stuff to move over to the hotel so I was close to the race site. After checking in and picking up my mom from the airport it was then time to drop all my transition stuff off and drop the bike off. After everything was dropped off it was off to the airport again to get Jordan. For the rest of the day it was time to relax and have a nice dinner then it was off to bed early for a long day tomorrow.

RACE DAY!!!!!!
Alarm clock went off at 4:30 am, man that early. Woke up feeling well rested and feeling like I was ready to rock, and off to transition I went. I pumped the tires and drop of my special needs bags and  met up with Mike and Sandy. Thank God for my mom and Jordan who drove us to the swim start so we didn't have to walk the .8 miles like everyone else was doing. At the swim start we got body marked and when I heard the water temp was 81 degrees the wetsuit stayed in the car. This was going to be a big test for me in my swim. I had the confidence in my swim to do the distance, it was the kicking, hitting and push I was worried if I would be able to handle it without the wetsuit. With that being said I was ready for it and I knew I would get through it without the wetsuit! I said my good byes to my mom and Jordan; and said good luck to Mike and Sandy, then it was time to get in the water. Before I got into the water I said my prayers and the confidence was there... IT'S RACE TIME!!!!

Getting ready for the swim

THE SWIM:
I got into the water with about 5 minutes till the gun went off so I found a spot on the dock to hold on to and just decided to wait there until I heard them said 1 minute. With that 1 minute. warning it was out to the middle of the lake to start treading and before I knew it the gun went off!!!!!

 I started swimming with my head out of the water like always do just to get going. Once I found my grove and felt it was safe that I wouldn't get kicked in the face, my head went in. For me it was a rough swim I felt like I just couldn't get in the right spot to find that group to latch on to and draft. I felt like I was just getting pounded by other swimmer that caused me to drink more lake water then I wanted to with how dirt it was. I knew I just had to keep my confidence up and keep pushing forward and I round the first turn buoy. As I rounded the second turn buoy and started heading toward the channel all of a sudden all I could smell was skunk. Not sure way the water smelled like skunk, but all I could think about was how this water was going in my mouth and this can not be good. Onward I pushed and I was finally to the channel and it felt like the swim start all over again. I felt like I was in a washing machine the whole time and I had about 1000 meters to the swim finish. The channel was so shallow I could see people waking. I know I wouldn't wanna touch the bottom of that thing, who knows what's on the bottom. With the stairs in sight I finished as strong as I could and finished my first Ironman swim without a wetsuit!!!

T1:
When I came out of the swim even though I had my watch on I wasn't sure how long my swim was, but I was glad to get out of the water and I was feeling good and ready to get on the bike. I fumbled a little bit in transition trying to get all my bike stuff on and I'm not sure why, so it could have gone a little smoother. Out of transition I went and off on the bike I was.


THE BIKE:
I knew it was going to be a long hot bike, but I was ready for it. I was excited about this bike course and I was ready to rock it. After a few miles I was already settled in on the bike and ready for the journey. Compared to Wisconsin I felt like I was always around a lot of people so I knew I was going to be careful of the draft zone. The sun was also starting to beat down and the heat was begin to rise. As mile 30 was approaching I was excited, because it was time to bike through the National Forest and it was all shade for about 7 miles!!!! From then on the miles kept on ticking away and i knew I was at a good comfortable pace. This was going to be a great race!

As I past mile 50 I was starting to think that I wouldn't see Jordan and my mom for sure on the bike since I haven't seen them this far. (I told them not to worry about finding me on the bike, because it looked like it would be to hard to navigate around). Sure enough a few miles later there they were driving past me waving!!!! It brought a smile to my face. Then the dreaded mile 70 came and something happened. I went from feeling good to feeling sick. I wasn't sure why. I knew I was taking in my fluids and now when I sit down and think about it, I'm think it could have been all the lake water I took in. I felt like everything I was taking in was making me feel worse. All I could think about is this couldn't be happen, as I started to slow my pace down, now all was thinking about is how I wanna just drop out and I can't finish. The athlete in me told me to keep pushing so I did. The last 40 some miles were the longest miles of my life. It was getting very hot out now and I wasn't feeling good and I was struggling to take down my nutrition. Every time I saw Jordan and my mom though it put a smile on my face and I knew they would keep me going. As a dismounted the bike there they were again cheering and yelling for me and I knew I could still do this.

 T2:
At this point from feeling sick I was happy to be off the bike. When I got into transition I sat down in a chair and relaxed for a min and took my time getting all my running gear on. Once I felt ready to take on the run. I put a smile on my face and out on the run I went. I was ready to try to take on the heat and hopefully not feel any worse then I did now.


THE RUN:
As I ran out of transition I saw my mom and Jordan, and a little further down I heard another friend of mine yelling my name. Thanks Emily for cheering me on as well. I loved seeing you.  I was actually feeling a little better and my legs felt good (most likely because the last half of the bike was slow from not feeling good lol). I was ready to take on this run.

I looked at my watch and started calculating times and I knew I could do this I could still beat my Wisconsin time with even feeling sick on the bike. The first aid station was almost right out of transition I took advantage of that right away and got water and cold sponges. Those sponges were awesome!!! It was already really hot and I knew it was going to be a long run when I started not feeling well again at mile 6. I was taking in water and infinite every aid station but nothing was helping. I knew from this point I was going to take it one mile at a time. Finally, at mile 8 I saw my mom and Jordan again and that helped a little I decided I would stop and walk for a little a talk to them while they walked next to me. A few minutes later I knew I had to run again. For the rest of the run it was a battle with feeling like I was going to throw up, but I couldn't. With walking a lot of the run course I talked to a lot of other athletes and decide if I am going to finish I just need to take my time and I'll just enjoy it and take it all in.

With that being said as I started the 3rd loop I started feeling worse. I think I walked most of that loop. As I past mile 25 (which I thought I would never get to) it was time to just put that smile on my face no matter the time, because once again I AM AN IRONMAN!!!! As I crossed the finish line I was thankful for those catchers that day and as I went to get my medal I stopped and was speechless. Chrissie Wellington was standing in front of me and put my medal around my neck!!!! All the pain and suffering was worth that moment.

WRAP-UP
Overall it was a tough and hot day and I finished!!!! This day a a day of mental games that I knew I could beat and I did. I learned a lot about myself that day and know where I can improve and what I really need to focus on for my upcoming races. I am ready to get back to training and start focusing on Ironman Florida. I am still bummed about my race and I am considering signing up for Ironman Louisville, because I feel I want to prove myself sooner then Florida so we'll see what happens. Until I decide it's time to rest and get ready for sprint nationals.

All I wanted to do was lay in the tub, thanks to Jordan for helping me out.

Two of my favorite signs that my friend Misty made. Thanks for all the amazing signs!!!!