RACHEL GRIFFIN - YOU ARE AN IRONMAN

Holy Sh*t, this is it.  The crowd is getting louder I am in mile 26. I only have the .2 to go.  The shoot is lined with people and of course straight ahead before it bends to the left is Dad, Marc, Christy and Stephen.  I am tearing up, I am jumping up and down and I am running into that shoot what feels like 100mph, to the point where I start running in place so I am not on top of the lady in front of me. (After all, I want her to have her moment, too)... Then I hear the most amazing words of my life.

 

RACHEL GRIFFIN - RACHEL - YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!

THAT'S RIGHT, GIVE IT UP FOR PARTY RACHEL!!

16:16:46 

 

 

 

 

I don't really quite remember what happened next.  It was all kind of a blur.  I remember getting my medal and inhaling a few slices of pizza behind the finish line.  There were pools filled with water for what I would assume were ice baths, but since I was so late, the water was warm and as inviting as it was, not what I needed.  I made my way through the maze that was in the back I grab my finisher shirt and see Neil grabbing his shirt, too! I see blood on his chin and ask if he is OK.  He says he is fine. We hug and congratulate each other.  It was very emotional. (I later learn from Marc and Christy that Neil ditched the girl in the shoot and took off like a bat out of hell running Mach 2 and when he reached the finish line he tripped and feel flat on his face.-- I felt bad for him, we were in hour 16, was running that crazy going to make any difference? :-) plus his finisher photos were going to be of him on the floor.) --  I say, "well, I totally understand why he would run fast, after all, I did too. I was running so fast, I had to run in place." And Marc gracefully told me, that although I thought I was running super fast, it was really more like a jog. LOL.  Where as Neil really hauled it! To funny. I literally thought I was running a 5min mile in the finisher shoot. :-)

I finally make my way out looking Dad, Marc, Christy and Stephen, when there they are. Stephen is already showered and changed since he finished about 2-3 hours ago. :-) I am so psyched for him. We give hugs all around and congrats and catching up when Stephen informs me of the finisher photo area where I just came from.  I think I was so out of it and just wanting to see them, that I didn't see it.  So we go back in and get a few pics.  It was great.  We make our way back outside and they are waiting for me with Tina's champagne and all! It is awesome. 

 

I take a few minor swigs of the champagne when BOOM, I get completely light headed and nauseous. I sit for a minute then think it is best that I go back to the med tent. After all, this is my first Ironman, I have no idea what could happen.  I almost throw up, but don't and the docs inside give me a nauseous pill.  I decided to lay on the ground to get myself to calm down. Stephen was awesome, making sure I was OK and keeping Dad, Marc and Christy in the loop.  After about 15min I am fine. I wrap myself up in one of those tin foil blankets and we are all set.  I think it was a combination of not eating real food on the run and then inhaling pizza and champagne plus all the adrenaline. Probably not the smartest move, but so delicious! 

 

And with that, we hear the last Ironman finisher cross the line and that's it. It completely shuts down.  It was kind of weird. So we walked over to pick up my bike and drop it back to TriBike and head back to the hotel.

 

The night is over and I am officially an IRONMAN... or as I personally like to say, an IRONWOMAN!

 

Thank you to everyone for your support along the way.  I truly could not have done it with out you.  Now... on to Ironman Boulder - August 2 - and yes, I have recruited my Iron Cheerer Brother, Marc, to race with me! 

 

THANK YOU!!!  LOTS OF LOVE!

 

Rachel, the IronWoman.

RACE DAY - THE RUN

Transitioning off the bike and making my way into T2, I am honestly surprised that I see Dad, Marc and Christy front and center on bike shoot. Cheering me on.  They seriously always found a way to appear, just when I needed to see their smiling faces. It was super cool.

As I enter T2, I think to myself. O-M-G I just finished 112 miles on a bike after 2.4 ocean swim.  I am 26.2 miles away from becoming an Ironman!!   Holy Crap!

Yes, that is exactly what through my mind as I was transitioning off the bike.  That and Holy crap this will be the first time I am running a marathon!! The most I had ran to date was 15miles and that was only because I tacked on the extra 5 while running Marc's Bronx 10-miler run and even then I could barely walk for 3 days after!  And shortly after, my orthopedist told me I have to stop running while giving me my first cortisone shot. :-) But yet, here I am - about to run a marathon. I think to myself, I hope to god those hours on the elliptical and aqua jogging pay off and the 2nd cortisone shot kicks in!

In the transition tent, I am showered with help.  Those volunteers were seriously amazing. Per Ian Murray, head coach for LA Tri Club, he advised I change my socks and put Vaseline on my feet and in between my toes for the run.  No problem! I can do that and I am so happy I did.  Happy Feet = Happy Rachel. :-). So as I lube up my feet and put on a fresh pair of socks, the ladies in the tent are stripping me of my bike shirt, putting on my run shirt and spraying me down with sunblock and bug spray.  Thank heavens.

As I exit the tent, I hit my watch again - fully transitioned for the run. I hear it buzz saying low battery.  WHAT? I say to myself, it is barely 10hrs.  This thing is suppose to go for a full ironman! I panic for a second and then I see dad, Marc and Christy, AGAIN on the exit shoot.  They were like cheering ninjas! The watch situation escapes my brain and say to myself - Here we go. This is the last leg.  I GOT THIS!

Running through the streets of Cozumel was probably the coolest experience of my life.  The streets are flooded people cheering on every single runner or walker as the case may be. It is the biggest fiesta you could ever imagine. "Si Se Puede" is chanted over and over again.  Bands and DJs are playing music at each and every aid station, kids are running with you down the street trying to give you a cup of water or orange slice, that they so proudly sliced themselves. It is phenomenal the love you feel from complete strangers.

Approaching the first mile I noticed that my watch did not buzz for my 4:1 interval (run for 4min /walk for 1min).  I am surprised, because for a hot minute I thought I had run a 4min mile! LOL.  But I quickly reminded myself, that I am NOT that kind of runner.  However, according to my watch that was barely hanging on, I was at a 9min or so pace.  Which was awesome, but I knew my knees would not be able to sustain that, so I slowed myself down just a little and continued on for another 2miles at that pace until my watch completely died on me. My watch dying was probably the worst thing that could have happened. I need those intervals to keep me going so, I did the next best thing, I counted my intervals in my head, or at least attempted to.  I know I lost count a few more times that I care to admit, but there I was, counting out loud or singing the number until I reached 240 then I would walk for 60 and repeat for as long as I could.

I saw Stephen and Guneet early in the run.  They were looking good - strong.  I think they both were on their 2nd lap or possibly the last.  I was so happy for them. Slightly jealous as I was just starting, but over the moon for them. Stephen was in the zone and I don't think he saw me, where as I was able to get Guneet's attention and we said a quick hello and good luck and chuckled on how far we have come. It was great and that was the last I saw of him in Cozumel. What an inspiring athlete.  I am so glad we have become friends. 

Passing each mile marker I am getting more and more excited.  I am RUNNING!  I know this sounds so trivial, but it is huge for me.  Each loop was 8.6 miles.  Just before I finished the first loop, I saw Marc, Dad and Christy up ahead on the right.  It was hysterical, because I can hear them cheering, and not for me.  They were cheering for everyone that passed them. I can hear dad saying to a lady...
"Hey you in the pink top, I told them you would pass that guy in the yellow! Well done." Or Marc saying to random dudes, "You got this man!" It was really fun to watch them be excited for others and then, the real hysterics took place when they saw me!  They were cheering "GO RACHEL" at the top of their lungs, taking pics, jumping up and down to the point where anyone near them was also cheering directly for me by name.  Amazing. 

The best part about the run, was the fact that there were loops. So at mile 8, give or take is when I saw Dad, Marc & Christy.  They would flip flop from across the street so they could cheer me on again from the other side, so I saw them again at mile 9. And I knew that is where they would be for last two loops.

Excited to be running, I pushed the slight knee pain out of my head for as long as I could. I ran my intervals, or as close to them as I could.  For a solid 8 miles I was in the zone and I was able to push it to mile 13 before it gave up on me.  For a while, I thought I would be able to crack my A-Goal of 15hr, but unfortunately my knee thought otherwise.  But that's OK. From mile 15 to maybe close to 18 miles I was speed walking.  I had never really done that before, but I felt good and I was stoked! I hit up my special needs bag to grab an Ibuprofen and to swap out my hat for my visor, since the sun had set and I peeled off my hot pink KT tape under my knee braces.  They were practically peeled off anyway from the swim and sweat. And in hindsight, I probably should have put on the extra tape in my bag, but didn't... Although at this point I don't think it really mattered.

I was a chatting with everyone, including KELLY from the bike.  Although this time she wasn't so annoyed to see me, maybe she finally realized that despite doing this individually, we were all in it together.  We were going to become an Ironman.  Not only was I chatting with everyone or anyone at this point who will chat back, but I am having a little dance party at every aid station because the DJ or Bands were so fun!  It was awesome.  I was also peeing ALOT!  I literally was stopping at every other port-o-potty to pee or sometimes additional business. I know, TMI, but when you are moving around for 16hrs straight, your body jostles things around and you just have to go. SHOCKLINGLY, they were all in pretty decent shape and thankfully, I didn't get locked in any of them! :-)

When I reach the main part of town again during my second loop, I look to where Dad, Marc and Christy were the first time and I don't see them.  It was weird. It was not like them to not be there and I was slightly disappointed, only because my knee was hurting and I needed a little love, but I continue on taking in the support from the rest of the city. After all, the Ironman race is just as much a mental race as it is physical one. I think to myself, they are probably getting a good spot near the finish. I make my way to the turn around and get a tiny burst of energy, I am on my last loop. 8.6mi to go.  YES! 

Trotting down the street, mixed in with speed walking and 1:1 intervals, I hear voices from what seems like the heavens cheering for me, but not me as in Rachel specifically, just a random racer. I hear the Ironman clappers and a girl's voice, "YOU GO GIRL IN THE TEAL TOP AND WHITE VISOR! YOU GOT THIS!" as I look up to say thank you, I notice that it is Christy!  She of course then notices its me and all of the sudden, she is jumps up screaming and yelling that it jolts Marc and Dad to realizing it is me and they stand up and start super duper cheering.  I mean they are cheering like their life depended on it.  It was awesome! They are freaking out. "This is your last lap! You got this! You are doing awesome!" So now I am pumped up. I tell them that when I finish, I will be wearing a thin white shirt over my tank top and all I hear back is Marc saying something like, "Stop talking to us and run." (Of course Marc later tells me he never said that, which is hysterical in itself -- and they actually never heard me say that I was having a costume change.)

Pushing down that last loop I am now asking everyone under the sun what time it is. Since my watch is dead, I have no clue how long I have.  Of course I am getting general times.  It is 9:30.   But what I really need to know is it 9:30 or 9:32:43. LOL.  Getting nervous that my speed walking is not so speedy, I really push the 1:1 intervals... 8.6 miles is not that many miles, but as the same time, it is still a while to go. (I later learn from my times that my speed walking was faster than my 1:1 intervals)

Reaching the last turn around I am beyond excited.  It is around 10:20pm, I think, and I know that even if I crawl, I will be an Ironman.  That of course was not the scenario I want, but my dream was going to become a reality.   The band is playing music actually in front of my hotel and I grab a random guy and start dancing with him in the street while still running.  It was great. I asked him to do me a huge favor.  See, once the race is over, your special needs bag is tossed and you lose whatever was in it.  I had tons of stuff in there that I still wanted to keep, including a back up pair of sneakers, so, my dancing partner thankfully, took my bag to the lobby of the hotel for me so I can grab it when I got home, YAY!  So before I passed my bag on to him, I took one final Ibuprofen and grabbed a thin white shirt.  One, I wanted to have sleeves, because I knew as soon as my adrenaline calmed down and was not crazy, I was going to be chilly from sweating and the fact that I was 11:15 at night! And Two, it was my mom's shirt.  Not a shirt that she was known wearing or anything, just a shirt she loved before she died because it was so light and thin, it was not constricting when she was sick.  And I have to agree with her. It is a very soft light shirt and perfect for after training.  I know that she was with me the entire race, this was just a little added something.

At mile 24 see two people standing in the middle of the street. By now, most of the crowds had gone home and the restaurant were closed. I ask them the time and it is 10:46pm.  The next thing I say to them, they found extremely hysterical... and to be fair, so did I.... I said, "DO YOU KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE AN IRONMAN IN 2MILES?  THIS GIRL!!!" (as I point to myself and am now skipping down the street) they loved it. 

As I am taking each and every moment in, I notice that there are a few athletes just starting on what I hope is their last loop.  But I know deep down, if they are walking, they won't make the cut off and I am crush for them.  To come so far to not finish is such a heartache.

Just then, two runners creep up on me.  And I cheer them on.  "Good Job guys! You got this, 1mi to go!" They say thanks.. and just then I realize it is Neil from the shuttle bus! He is looking pretty good and asked if I wanted to run in with him and the girl he was running with.  I said thanks, but my knees are not up for it and I am going to walk and save up whatever running I have left for the finish line.  He says sounds good.  "Good luck I will see you at the finish" and he and his gal pal take off.

"Good luck" I say back with excitement as I know I luck is no longer needed. We are moments away from becoming an Ironman.

RACE DAY -- THE BIKE

Transitions during an Ironman are extremely different than a regular triathlon.  First off, this race is a well oiled machine.  After running out of the water and running through a shower to rinse off, I grab my Bike transition bag. (I know exactly where it is because Stephen and I practiced running out of the water to our spots. :-))  I make my way to the tent to change and I swear to you it is like a 5 star hotel.  There are tons of people in there waiting on you hand and foot, literally. Before I can even open my bag, there is one girl there to help me get out of my skin suit while another is spraying me down with sunblock. I get my bag open and as I am putting on my socks another girl starts putting my shoes on me.  It is amazing!! I kinda wanted to stick around there, maybe get a massage or a margarita. :-) But I decide, I should probably handle this race. I make sure all my food is still stuffed in my pockets, grab my sunnies and off I go!!  I know exactly where my bike is and where Marc, Dad and Christy were going to meet me and sure enough, they are there! I swing by and say a quick hello and run down the shoot with my bike.  112miles.  Here We Go!

At the start of the bike, I am a little tired, but sooooo excited, I cannot even tell you.  I hit my watch again to make sure I am now transitioned from the swim to bike and start pedaling. I grab my first PB&J and I have to tell you, it was delicious!  This part of the loop is slightly windy.  Not too crazy.  I started off goings about 17mph then dropped to about 14mph... it is a steady headwind. I am in a solid groove and literally loving every minute of it.  By now some of the pros are whizzing past me on their second bike loop, heck maybe even their last. I am so impressed by them. As this is happening a guy in is mid-40s, I think, in a Spiderman Tri kit, looks over to me while passing me and says: "I don't know about you, but I am all about the pace." -- I agreed 100% with him.  And then it happened... or lordy it happened. 

Throughout the entire city and there were these "No Drafting" signs posted everywhere, so once Spiderman said he is all about the pace... Megan Trainor and All About That Base got in my head.  Soooo for the next 8+ hours, I was singing: "I'm all about the pace about the pace, No Drafting." Over and over and over... of course I tried forever to get another verse in my head, but none would come. As annoying as it was, it was actually very motivating and I would laugh to myself.  It was great. So thank you Spiderman and Megan Trainor!

 

So, as me, myself and Megan Trainor cruised around the island we got to take it all in.  The first part of the loop wasn't too bad, like I mentioned before, the headwinds weren't too bad, but they still were a little tough, so I when I reached the beach, I knew exactly what I was going to be in for it.  Stephen and I experienced the wind on our mopeds and it was rough.  So on a bicycle, it was going to be an extremely different world and it was.  But I was ready for it.  We clocked it and it was exactly 12 miles worth of severe head and side winds on the back of the island. So, once I reached the beach, I knew.  This was it. 12miles of hell (x3) I can do this.  I practiced for this. I got this. But holy Sh*t, it was hard! I look at my watch so I can do the math as I went to see how much further I had to go and then dug deep and pedaled.  I pedaled my little heart out and unfortunately, as much as I pedaled, I was only going between 9Mph-12Mph. It sucked, but I did have this view, so could I REALLY complain??!?!?! 

 

 

 

 

Despite the wind on the back of the island, there were the most amazing cheer quad sprinkled throughout.  They had on neon green tutus and posters and the best attitude.  It was fantastic.  There was one sign - "SIZE MATTERS" in huge writing, then below it was "SWITCH TO YOUR SMALL CHAIN RING!" it was hysterical. Just when you were super tired and OVER the wind, one of them would appear and knock you back into race reality.  They were perfect and just what I needed.  So thank you random cheerers.

 

Finishing the 12 windy miles is a feat upon itself, so when it's over and you make the left towards town, your adrenaline is pumping because you know you just finished the hardest part, so you start flying and you are excited because there is no wind.  Its not like you have wind on your back, you just don't have any wind against you, so with this, I was able to get comfy in aero and just fly.  I think I was averaging 20-25mph.  It felt so great to actually pedal and go! LOL.  I know that sounds silly, but the fist 25 miles, give or take, I kinda felt like I was pedaling on a treadmill.  The miles were adding up, I knew I was doing the distance, but also felt I wasn't going anywhere.    

 

This part of the island was pretty quiet.  There were a few families throughout the route cheering with cowbells. It was awesome to see.  But I mostly used this section to make up time from the windy parts and of course eat!  I am doing 250 Calories per hour.  So I am eating PB&J, Peanut butter pretzels, FiberOne Fruit bars.  I am literally having a picnic on my bike and loving every bit of it. As I continue to pedal away, I look up and see the best sign.   How can you NOT start pedaling just a little bit faster after seeing that?

 

 



Now, I know I said the back of the island was a little lite with cheering, well, I have to tell you, the remaining 20mi makes up for it.  As you enter into town, it is bananas crazy with cheering.  Bands, families having BBQs, cowbells, horns and kids chanting "Si Se Puede" -- "YES YOU CAN!" over and over and over.  It is amazing that literally I teared up every time. It made me feel like this race was a for a purpose, for them.  I felt so honored to ride through their city and to get their support was beyond words.  I am trying to explain it, terribly, but I have to tell you. Honestly, from the depths of my soul.  The entire city of Cozumel is 10000% behind each and every competitor. It is an amazing feeling to know that they are all supporting us and cheering us on. Unimaginable bliss.... and super cool! So with the fans cheering me and the others on, I wiz through the city having the best time.  I make another few turns and I am back on the main drag about 5 miles before the loops starts all over again and that is when I see Dad, Marc and Christy.  Camera ready, signs flopping through the air, GO RACHEL! GO RACHEL!  WOW!  Its Amazing. They are amazing. I teared up then as I tear up now thinking about it.  Awesome Iron Cheerers ... and then I am gone again.  Round 2... Round 3...

 

 

 

 

I thought Round 2 and Round 3 would little easier than round  one, since I knew EXACLTY what to expect... for the most part.  The only hiccup so to speak is as the day went on, the winds increased, so the loops were harder and harder each time.  Word on the street - this Ironman was the windiest it had been in 4 years.... Lucky me! So it was tough, but manageable.

 

As I am biking away singing "All about the Pace...." enjoying my picnic, I had amazing conversations with myself. Hysterical, one may think, but when you are alone in your thoughts for 7 to 8 hours, you must keep yourself entertained. I was talked to my mom alot, started making my holiday plans, writing a book and a TV show - all in my head.  Some of it I remember, some if I don't.  But whatever I was saying to myself at the time, it was a truthful, soulful conversation, if that makes any sense.  It was actually quite insightful.  The only tough part was I kept interrupting myself! :-) 

 

When I wasn't talking to myself, I started drumming up conversations with the others bikers.  Some are happy to talk and others would rather see me choke and die on my PB&J than talk to me.  It was pretty funny actually.  On each of our bib numbers it has our name and the country we are from. So me, the natural "Go Team" gal, I am cheering everyone on. LOL. Stephen actually passed me on the back half of the island and I shout "GO STEPHEN! YEAH!" and literally 3 different riders turned to look at me.  So I looked at their name or number and shouted "GO TOM! GO MARCEL! GO 1122!!  YOU GOT THIS!" Again some appreciated it, some just ignored me.  My favorite were the ones that talked back, whether they were pleasant or not, at least they engaged.  KELLY from the USA, it was her first IM, too.  I was faster than her on the bike but then she caught up to me on the run.  As I passed her in the 2nd loop. I said "Hey Kelly, from the USA!  How ya doing? -- She goes "I'm F-ing Dying -YOU?"  I Agreed and laughed, but said "we are dying, but isn't it great?!?! We are doing an Ironman."  She rolled her eyes at me.  But agreed. When I saw her on the run, I said "HEEEEY! Kelly from the USA, she laughed in a not so welcoming laugh, because I know she knew it was me.  She said HI.. and I acknowledge that she was crushing the run. And to keep it up. She actually was a little more pleasant for this time and said "thanks, you too!" Others on the ride were way more receptive. This one lady had done IM Cozumel a few times. She was a diver and loved coming to do both the race and dive.  A few others were first timers as well and they were just as excited as me.  Another dude was on his 15th Ironman! So crazy. So inspiring.  It was awesome.  Of the entire bike portion of the race, I did have one major highlight and one super scary moment. The highlight for me was "CHICKING" 'Spiderman' in the middle of the third loop - and telling him about my "All About the Pace" song that he inspired.  He actually loved it. (I wonder if was stuck in his head as it was in mine.)  :-) The one scary part was seeing one of the pros, I think, laid out on the ground after you come around after the windy part to the fast part after the 2nd loop. He looked like a legit rider, he had one of those space helmets and the uni-tard tri kits.  I mean serious. But he wasn't moving at all.  It was scary. I said a prayer for him as I continued on.  I still don't know what happened to him.  I hope to God he is OK.

 

 

 

As I finished my 3rd loop, I looked at my watch. I wasn't too far off on my finishing goal.  I thought I would be finished in 7:30.  That was my goal, but with the crazy wind, it tacked on another 45min.  So it was a total of 8:15, give or take, not ideal, but my worse day of training was 8:45 and that still had me finishing the IM... so I was happy with this time, still well within my window to complete this Ironman.  Finishing the last loop, I had no idea where Marc, Dad & Christy would be.  Seeing them twice on the bike was awesome. But sure enough, the Iron Cheerers did not disappoint.  As I dismounted my bike and ran into T2 to change for the run, they are right there!! Every time I needed to see their smiling faces, they appeared.  It was awesome . I don't know how they did it, but they were right there, lining the shoot.  It was awesome.  Seeing them made the final steps of the bike perfect. 

 

Holy Crap! Two Legs down, One to go until I am an Ironman! 

 

 

RACE DAY - THE SWIM

This is it.  November 30th - IRONMAN COZUMEL 2014 RACE DAY

I wake up to my alarm, 3:15am. Although it is not like I was able to sleep with all the nerves and emotions running through my body.  I make my granola with almond milk and bananas.  It is delicious.  I take my time enjoying my breakfast.  I don't normally do this, I usually just eat and get on with my day, but today, I enjoy it while listening to the waves crashing on the shore.  It was just what I needed to get me centered for the day.  I washed my face, brushed my teeth and changed into my tri shorts and sports bra -- taped up both knees in gorgeous hot pink tape -- and got comfy in my sweats, tee and Ragnar hoodie. It will still be quite chilly since it is so early.  I back up my bag and head down to the ice machines to load up my water bottles.  Upon my return, I get my food ready for the bike.  This entails tons of PB&J sandwiches.  Yes my dears, that is right.  My PB&Js are coming with me.  I make about 3 sandwiches for the ride, keep in mind I have another 2 in my special needs bag.  But I do also have my Fiber Fruit One Bars, Peanut butter pretzels and Powerbar gummy.  I am all set!

I make my way downstairs to meet up with Dad, Marc & Christy.  Everyone is bright eyed and ready to go!  It is awesome. We sit an enjoy some breakfast. I just chill and have some OJ while they enjoy the breakkie. Then the shuttle arrives.  4:45... and arrives at T1 at 5:00am.  Holy moly it's about to get real! :-) 

There are buses upon buses and the energy is buzzing.  I am super excited and super scared.  I know deep down I am ready for this and that I will become an Ironman, but what if I DON'T finish?  I have trained mentally for a year and physically for 6months!  Can I do this? What if I let everyone down? I let myself down? I went down that rabbit hole for a couple of minutes before my inner unicorn turned that attitude right around into pure excitement and nervousness, but for the anticipation, not towards the negativity. I walked with Dad, Marc & Christy as far as I could.  We said our good byes, good lucks, I may have teared up a little, like I was never going to see them again or as if I was going off to kindergarten for the first time, but I used that energy to get me jazzed up.  This was it.  It was about 1hr 30min before the race was going to start. I was ready!

 

I checked in at my bike.  Dropped my water bottles, pumped my tires, gave her a little love tap and kiss, changed into my skin suit then dropped my swim bag made my way to the shuttle to take me to the swim start. By now, I am flying solo.  No Dad, Marc or Christy. No fellow racers that I know, just me alone in my thoughts, making my way to the shuttle.  It is amazing the most random of thoughts that go through your head and how quickly they fly by.  Like, I wonder how many times I will pee on the swim? I hope I find my bike quickly when I get out of the swim. I hope I don't have to use that Imodium today, that would suck. -- it really is quite the conversation with myself. :-)  On the shuttle, I make a few friends, not one that really sticks with me, just some friendly conversations.

 

We get dropped off at the swim start and it is amazing how relaxed the whole place it. I was expecting a bunch of people buzzing around in a ball of nerves like little worker bees, but nope, just a few people stretching, some photos being taken and the heats beginning to group up. 

 

Before I make my way down to the water, I pop into the port-o-potty for one last visit.  It was a successful visit and I am a happy camper, until, I can't get out!  That is right my dears, I am locked in the port-o-potty, struggling to get the door open, I literally almost start to panic as that is probably one of my worst nightmares that and if it were to tip over!!! Could you imagine!?!?  Anyway, back to me being locked in... the door would not open. I have no idea why, nada ... then finally, by the grace of god, it opens!  The entire line of people are staring at me. I am mortified... and make a quick joke --  something along the lines like "be careful of that one!" then I got the hell out of there!  sooooooo embarrassing.

 

Once at the water, I see Stephen, he is in yellow cap, the first wave to go. I give him a huge hug and good luck and off he goes.  I also see Guneet and Neil separately, which really is amazing considering this event has 2500 people!  It was meant to be.  Hugs and Good Lucks all around and then we disband to get into our own mental space.  Here we go!! Wave one, Wave two, the waves keep going, I think were are wave 4  --  we get cattle called into the water.  Thankfully in my training at both Vineman and Silverman, we had in water starts, so I was ready for this.  I had those clear goggles on, despite the difficulties in the pool and the day before, I was confident in them that they would be great and would be beyond awesome for the beauty that lies below for the next 2.4mi.  My heart is now beating like crazy.  We are in have about 30seconds until the horn blows.  I calm myself down and remind myself that I have done this swim many times before and that I totally have this. Now it is time to sit back and enjoy the ride.  One quick little prayer to mom and powers at be and HOOOOOOOOOOOORN!!!   Boom.. we take off like! (I'm in a purple cap -- somewhere in the abyss below) (pictures from Ironman)

 

 

 

 

This swim is gorgeous.  WOW. Erick was right and for a few brief moments I was so happy I had the clear goggles over my tinted ones. But then it happens. Probably about 10min in, if I am lucky, the damn goggles!! I scream at myself and say I knew I should have switched them! Damn it!!! (I even had them in my bag at T1! --dumb!) They weren't working in practice, the pool or even yesterday.  What the hell would make me think that they would work today?? I am furious with myself.  I have to stop and fix them multiple times and all I keep thinking is that I am losing time.. the swim and the bike are my strengths - if I don't do well on the first two, I am screwed on the run. This is not helping me.  I am probably 1/2 mi in the swim and fighting with myself is not going to get me anywhere. I quickly remind myself and pull it together. I continue to swim on, stopping every 50 or so strokes to fix my goggles, screaming internally at myself.  The frustrating part is, it was only the left side, which is the buoy side.  The worst part of it all, was that I would be in a rhythm swimming and to stop to fix the goggles threw me off and I lost momentum. That being said, after about 1mi or so, losing what must have been a solid 5 min, I just started to swim one eye open.  I would swim only breathing out of my right side and when I had to breath out of the left, I would close my left eye to breath so the water that was in that side of the goggle would go in my eye.  This was awful.  It worked for a while until I made myself a little seas sick. So I had to stop again, empty the water from that side of the goggles, tighten them up a bit and then really just hope for the best as that was the last time I was stopping.  So for the remainder of the swim, the water continued to get in my goggles, but my eyes just adjusted to it. I think it is because our eyes tear salt water, they were used to the salt water by now? I have no idea, but that is what I am telling myself. I zoned out and swam on. At one point, I see what I thought was the final triangle buoy and turn on the engines and haul ass... only to learn after a couple of buoy markers that it was not the turn around buoy.  So I am slightly tired because I burned my engines too soon, but then I realize I am doing pretty well, despite the goggle situation and burning out my engines. I noticed I am passing multiple people with yellow swim caps among others... I am swimming past dudes in the first wave?!?!  What? That is crazy... that being said at the same time, dudes with black caps that were the wave behind us are flying pass me and others with no regards that we are there.  I mean seriously torpedoing over us.  They are 6ft tall and just machines.  It's very impressive, to be honest.  With this, I am deep in the zone, the mindless zone of just swimming, I actually forgot I was in a race for a little while. I seriously was just enjoying the view below, the fish, noticing the current was moving in opposite directions at times, mediating through my breathing and in perfect Zen.  That is until I look up to sight and almost hit a lifeguard on a surfboard telling us we are at the turn around.  What?!?!  That was quick, I say to myself.  Then I turn on the engines again, pass that amazing "Never, Never, Never Give Up" sign below -  get super pumped and head for the stairs... 2.4 Ironman Ocean Swim is DONE!!!! 

 

As I get out of the water, the excitement is literally bubbling out of me.  I am in this and ready to crush it.  I knew I did pretty decent on the swim...  I just hoped I hit my A-Goal of 1:18.  And all of the sudden as I am running down the lane I see Dad, Marc & Christy! Right there, front row!  It was awesome! 

 

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!  One down Two to go!!!

 

CRUSHED MY SWIM GOAL: 1:14:02

 

 

 

 

 





Ironman Eve

It's the day before my first Ironman and I am overloaded with excitement and nerves,

Stephen and I were set to take our mopeds to T1 for a practice swim, it was finally it open and safe for us to experience the water. 

So, here we go, right... well... sorta. :-)

I woke up that morning and had breakfast and of course it was good, after all, I trekked my cereal and almond milk all the way from Los Angeles.  Anyway, hee hee, I hopped on my moped and met Stephen at his hotel.  When I arrived, he was slightly frustrated as his moped was basically doing what mine was doing the day before.  Turning on and stopping for no reason. We figured it may need gas, despite the fact that the gage said it had half a tank.  As we made our way to the gas station, Stephen's moped completely died. It was awful.  So I went a head to get gas for mine and bring some back for him.  After trying to navigate the city, I finally found a gas station.  I filled her up and then filled up a water bottle of gas for Stephen.  When I get back to where he was suppose to be, he was gone?  Was I really that lost, I thought to myself? Nah... so I head back to the gas station and see Stephen is there.  (He was able to get his running.) As I make the U-turn from across the street, my moped goes bonkers.  I try to slow down and break but the damn think won't work and the moped takes off. I go crashing into the other end of the gas station parking lot and flip completely over the handles and land flat on my bike.  They moped stops.  I am in shock and as I look up to see a few very nice Mexican gentlemen try to help me up and Stephen. It was so scary. With that, Stephen and I decide to take these death traps right back to the store and take a taxi to swim practice.  Holy Sh#t, I really thought I was done. My dreams to become an Ironman were over because of a faulty moped! SCARY!!!

The picture below does not give the massive bruise on my knee and leg justice. 

 

After we drop the mopeds off, we immediately jump in a taxi and haul it over to the swim start where we quickly change and learn that they are closing the swim in 20min!  WHAT!?!?   With that, we jump in the water.  My goggles immediately start to leak, like they were doing in the pool.  But I fixed them, so I thought. After all, the water was so clear I wanted to see it all! 

  

As we are swimming and splashing around, I notice on the bottom of the ocean the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life "Never, Never, Never Give Up." I mean seriously, how cool is that?  How can you NOT get pumped after seeing that and it is at the bottom of the ocean!! That is how clear it was.  Unreal!!  Reality was definitely check in.

 

This is really happening we say to each other. Tomorrow we will become each become an Ironman! As that settles in, we wrap up the swim and head back into town.  We still have quite the day ahead of us.  We still had to drop our bikes and special needs off at T1 and our run and special needs at T2 and I had to get back to meet Dad, Marc & Christy, my IronCheerers.

So the taxi drops off Stephen and then me.  I head up to my room to pack and repack and repack again each bag.  I have to tell you, it is really quite funny. I only took this one pic.  Why I did not take a pic of my bike, bike special needs, and run, I do not know.  The below pic is my run special needs.  I have everything and anything you can imagine. Extra sneakers, socks, visor, sunblock, Vaseline, snacks, medicine, garbage bag, glow stick, the list goes on and on.  And I was never a girl scout! LOL... but you damn well better believe I was prepared!

After multiple efforts, I take a break and head down to the lobby. Marc, Dad & Christy should be arriving anytime and so should Stephen to take the shuttle from my hotel to T1 for the bike drop off.

Sure enough, there they are.  The IronCheerers have arrived! I am so excited they are here. It means soooo much to me.  We get them settled in and head upstairs.  Marc and Christy of course are laughing at me because of all my supplies.  I finalize my last bag and realize that I have not attached the power of the unicorn to my bike! Meredith from my TNT team is a true sweetheart and supporter.  She is the unicorn and happy thoughts and support from here and the TNT team beam through this unicorn and I am so happy it is with me. Thankfully, Marc was able to help me out and secure it to my bike. With that, O am now all set and can head to T1 to drop of my bike.  --- and Yes... I am starting to freak out a little in pure excitement.  

 



The shuttle bus arrives and it is just that a bus.  No racks for our bikes or spaces to put our bags.  Everyone and everything is going ON the bus. So one by one, we pile in.  I share the two seats with all my bags and flip my bike long-ways on its rear wheel... we all do.  Marc and Christy squeeze into a row and Dad takes the back row with a few athletes. I can tell that this is definitely not dad's idea of a good time, LOL.  It is extremely hot, humid and crowded. But he is a trooper and had a smile on his face the whole time, taking it all in.

When we get to T1 - my heart is beating.  This is really happening.  Now I know I have said this many, many times, that I am sure you all are like, "we get it, its a big deal" ... but I will continue to say it because holy crap, I am about to race in an IRONMAN competition!??  WHAT! Seriously, who decides that since they are over worked that taking on an Ironman is the thing to do!?!?    LOL.  Crazy pants. -- anyway... back to it.  Marc, Dad and Christy have to wait on the street as only athletes are allowed in.  So Stephen and I head in and drop our stuff, make our final adjustments, kiss our bikes goodbye and head back to the shuttle to drop off our run stuff. THIS IS AWESOME.

 

 

One down, one to go.  We hop on the shuttle and make our way to the back of the bus and settle in for the ride to T2.  We end up sitting to this cool guy, Neil.  He an Indian British dude and very chill.  This is his first Ironman as well.  We are both super excited.  He was talking that he would be finishing in the 14hr-15hr window.  I told him that I was hoping for 15, but I think the reality would be 16.  But as long as I finish, I was going to be happy.  He agreed.  Of course the IronCheerers joked and said they hoped for the earlier time!  :-)

 

 

Once we got to T2, we filed off the bus and headed to drop our gear.  Marc, Dad & Christy headed to the most Mexican restaurant they could find for something to eat, so of course they settled on Margaritaville.  Neil, Stephen and I dropped our stuff.  This was way quicker and easier than the bike drop off.

 

 After we drop everything off, we say goodbye to Neil and walk across the street to meet Dad, Marc & Christy.  Poor things are so hungry.  We get some snacks and a few drinks.  I enjoy a lovely bottle of water, while my they enjoy tasty adult beverages.  I am so jealous. :-) But after a short while, we head back to the hotel and to change and chill before dinner and then bedtime! 

 

 

 

Dinner was set for 6:30 at a local Italian place - Guido's.  I knew I was going to want some chicken and some carbohydrates!  Of course, I pop in to check in on dad and shockingly, he is ready to go and also shockingly, he has a ridiculous room!! Living room and all. It is nuts. My room has two beds, but it is nothing compared to dad's.  Marc & Christy's though is worse than mine.  They are on the street side in what seems like the back of the hotel, LOL.  And the only reason I know this is because we are waiting for them for dinner, calling, etc.. so we go up to check on them and the sillies took a nap!  It is pitch black in their room.  It was quite funny to watch them resurface.

 

Anyway.... they pull it together and we head into town.  Guido's is amazing!! We get some flat chibatta bread that is to die for and a few pasta dishes.  Dad ops for the fish, which, why wouldn't you??! Cozumel is known for its diving and seafood.  Everything was so amazing and yummy.  It was PERFECT!

 

After dinner, we say goodnight and good luck to Stephen.  I am not sure I will see him in the morning.  The four of us head back to the hotel.  I am not quite ready to go to bed yet and of course neither are they.  After all it is only about 8:30 or so. So Dad makes a quick call to Susanne and Marc & Christy get a drink and I run upstairs to get my tattoos -- after all I still need to get body marked.  And of course, since this was my first Ironman, I am going to at least look the part! :-). After Christy braids my hair, perfectly, I might add, I "smartly" ask her to put on my tattoos. It didn't go so well.  5-3-7. Not too hard - right? -- Well...................  My left arm, Christy nailed the 5, then took a 2 times to do the 3 as she did put it on backwards, before finishing up with the 7. LOL.. So after a few tries, my left arm looks amazing.  Which is at least the good arm to show as that is the street side.  My right arm, however, not so much.  The 5 & 7 are the perfect tattoo while the 3 had to be added on with permanent marker since we ran out of 3s. Too funny!  I wish I took a picture. I really don't know why I don't have one. -- apologies!

 

So with that and a few laughs, I have to go to bed.  I will be up at 3:00 / 3:30 to eat change and get mentally prepped.  The shuttle leaves starting at 4:00... I try to convince the IronCheerer's to do the same, but they are not quite ready to call it.  Which I know will make for a slightly harder wake up for them, but I know that they will be fine.

 

Night Night!! Oh boy!