Pumpkinman 70.3

My first half ironman is complete.  All week I felt like I was going to throw up whenever I thought about it, and now it's finally over.  I had an absolutely awesome day - didn't hit the numbers that I was looking for, but it was my first, and considering that this was my first tri season, it ended well.  I finished with a strong run and a smile on my face.

3:45 am - Alarm goes off.  Up like a little kid on Christmas morning.  (This is a trend with my races, I'm always super excited and have no problem getting up early).  I also have no problem sleeping the night before - I went to bed at 8 and slept like a rock.  Turned the coffee pot on, started to get together everything I was going to need for the day.  I am not a night-before packer - I like to get up with a clear head and think everything through for the day the morning of.  My plan was to be at the venue by around 5:30, race started at 7.  By 4:30 I had drank two cups of coffee, eaten a clif bar, and had everything I would need in the back of my truck.  I started thinking - I could've slept another half hour :)

I was really excited about the day.  My mom was volunteering on course, my best friend was the race director, and my boyfriend was one of the assistant race directors - as well as tons of other people that would be there racing and cheering.  It was going to be an awesome day.  I didn't feel nervous at all until I got to the venue, and even then it wasn't too bad.  I parked, got all my stuff out, went to get my timing chip and to get body marked, then went to transition to set up. 

I decided last minute that even though I've been having shin splints in my left leg, I was not going to wear my compression socks on the bike and run, because I had completely forgotten about the ankle band-chip, and decided that would be too much of a pain. So I bagged the compression socks and used regular socks.  I also got to meet Dot and John M, fellow ontrier's in transition, so that was really nice. 

A couple trips to the porta potty - hi's and hug's and kisses to Mom/best friend/boyfriend - and a couple little pep talks, and I was ready.  I put my wetsuit on and headed down to the water. The swim waves were pretty big - mine was all females 39 and under.  I made the decision that I was going to just start way in the back, to the left.  I knew that even if I was in the back, I would start my day better than if I was getting kicked and punched and swam over... and I was so glad I did.  Saw a bunch of friends down on the beach (racing and spectating) - my friend Matt was down there to take some pictures of me looking like a deer in headlights as I looked at the pond and thought about the swim.  I had been swimming in this pond at least once a week all summer, so it was nothing new.  I knew the course, had swam it many times, and really knew what time I could expect. It was gonna be slow, but at least I was prepared for that and had told myself that no miracles were gonna happen out there. 

The waves start... my wave is called to the water, and we're given the signal to start.  I was the very last person, and just got right into my groove and swam very comfortably.  Very uneventful - didn't get kicked or punched - I did get swam over by a couple of elite males as they lapped around - funny that no one else did this.  Apparently their so focused on finishing that it's too hard to see someone right in front of them and they end up on top of you.  The swim was a two loop course, and in between you had to get out of the water and run across a timing mat.  I got out, ran across, back in the water for my second loop. Uneventful again.  I was able to pee a couple times (yes, in my wetsuit) which was good because I didn't want to have to go on the bike (that backfired).  Out of the water in 49:43. Oh well, it is what it is.

From the water to T1 was a "hill climb challenge" - it replicates a local ski/sled hill in the town called Powderhouse hill. They have a seperate challenge for the fastest climb out of the water, and there are people that actually have the goal of just winning that challenge.  I was just going to take it easy, I didn't want to aggravate my achilles or shin splints.  Took my wetsuit off at the bottom of the hill and trotted up.  1:32

Into T1.  socks and bikes shoes on, helmet and sunglasses, grab bike and go.  1:17

Onto the bike.  I had ridden the bike course a few times before as well, so I was pretty familiar with it.  Hilly.  I was pretty far to the back of the pack, so I didn't get passed at all, but I did pass a few people.  I felt okay on the bike, but in the end I had only averaged 18.1 mph, I had hoped for faster.  I did have to pee starting at about the half way point, and try as I did, it was not happening. And I certainly wasn't going to get off my bike and lose any time. I need to practice peeing on the bike, I guess - cause no matter what I did, it just didn't happen.  Again, lots of familiar faces volunteering and cheering along the bike course - good stuff.  The wind picked up towards the end and made it a tough second half.  3:05

Came into T2 and saw my Mom standing there flagging people in. That was pretty cool. I gave her a high five and said something, don't remember what. But it was nice to see her.  Bike shoes off, running shoes on.  Helmet off, visor on.  Now here's the tricky part: I wanted to run with my fuel belt, and I didn't want a race belt as well, so I bought these little things that can attached your race number to the fuel belt. Only thing is, you have to close the velcro before you can attach one of the sides (unless there's another way that I haven't figured out yet).  So as I ran out of transition, I fumbled with trying to get the elastic through the hole in the race number and then the little plastic thing on.. as I ran by my mom I said "this was a really bad idea!" but it didn't take long, and actually worked out great.  T2: 1:07

Ah, the run.  As I went running out, I remember what my coach had said "it's going to feel really easy - BACK OFF" and I looked down at my watch and saw 5:59 and said whoa! and slowed down.  I tried to keep it at around an 8 minute pace for a couple miles, but I was still a bit under.  So as I get about a quarter mile down the road, all of a sudden two of my friends are running next to me - not runners - in their jeans - it was hilarious.  Apparently Chris had said to Derek "if we see her we'll have to run with her", not thinking they'd see me right away - so off we went! It was awesome.  Really pumped me up. They ran with me for about a mile, and then turned back.  Very cool.  I felt fine for a couple miles, and then a few miles into the run I was hurting. I was keeping around 7:43 pace - my achilles was hurting, my back was hurting; I had that terrible thought go through my head of "oh crap, I'm not going to be able to do this" - and then I crushed that thought and started thinking positive. I knew I had to turn the focus away from my aches and pains or I wouldn't make it.  So I started telling everyone that I passed "good job" and "looking good!" with a big smile on my face. and it worked. I was fine after a few miles. Then I started putting it down.  7:30's, 7:09, 7:42, etc.  The run course was kind of a loop also - out and back twice with a loop at the end.  My dad and step mom had positioned themselves on the course so that I ended up passing them four times. That was pretty cool.  Derek and Chris made their way to one of the places that I'd pass on the course, before going to the finish line to see my finish.  And there were a bunch of friends cheering for me along the way - that was great. 

It also helped to boost my spirits to hear "wow - you are flying!" constantly.  And.. I was.  Jon drove by in a truck at one point, and was along the course at a few different places to cheer me on.  It was awesome to have him there, really motivated me every time I saw him.  First loop done, back out for the second.  As I approached the final hill, I saw a girl ahead of me with a 31 on her leg.  In my age group, she's mine I thought.  So I flew past her on the hill. Into the chute and across the finish line.  Run: 1:40.  7:39 pace.  Sweet.  My Mom, Jon, Kat, Derek, Chris, Mia, Tom were all at the finish line when I crossed.  It was awesome. 

Oh, and I still hadn't been able to pee. So I ran over to the portapotties.  I felt great - a little sore, but really good.  Final time was 5:39.  Sixth in my age group.  The swim killed me.  I was shooting for 5:30, didn't happen. Oh well, next time.  I think my run split was one of the fastest out of all females, but I haven't looked at all the numbers yet. I wish I could swim and bike like I run!  Overall fantastic day - quite an experience.  Now I get to rest for two days, and then back at it for my next events.  Amanda DeBlauw, YOU are a PUMPKINMAN!

Taper Day No. 2, 5 days out, Nightmare No. 1

Taper week - everything changes. The workout hours (obviously), the way you eat, the way you sleep.. your whole body dynamics.  I have to be careful not to eat like I have a 3 hour workout, and at the same time, eat enough to keep my body going.. find the right balance, which I am not good at.  I need to keep my body in a schedule, even though there is no need to wake up super early for a long workout, I need to make sure not to throw myself out of whack. 

Last night I awoke at about 2 am feeling paniced.  I had been dreaming (let's call it a nightmare) that I showed up to Pumpkinman, finished the swim in a great time (that part is awesome, hopefully that's a premonition) and then got to T1.  T1 was a small cabin, you had to stand in line single file and walk your bike in to cross the timing mat.  The line was about 50 deep and moving at a snails pace.  As I got to the cabin and picked my bike up to lift over the wall that you had to climb over, my seat fell.  As I examined it closer, it had these weird things on both sides that needed special tools to raise it and tighten in place. No one in the cabin had a tool for this. I tried to do it with my fingers and got covered with grease. 

As I made it through T1 and out onto the course, it was a loose, gravelly, road for a while, and I tried to ride with the seat in the fallen position, but it was like riding a little kids bike.  There was a bike shop on the side of the trail, so I went in to find a bike mechanic - there were three fat old guys that were smoking and very rude and told me that there were many other athletes that were there first...although I didn't see anyone.  I tried to mess with my seat while I waited, and finally they got to me, and no one had the tool to fix my seat.... and then I woke up.  I think I need to eat less protein today.  Lord, help me make it through hell week!

Taper.... aka Hell Week

I came up with the perfect description of "Taper" while I was in an ice bath after doing my final 10 mile run before beginning my taper week: "The week spent convincing your body (after beating the sh*t out of it for months) that it's over, it's okay to heal... so that you can really beat the sh*t out of it on race day."  I think that sums it up perfectly. 

Some people look forward to taper.  Others, like myself, dread it.  For a type A personality like me, to go from a very structured, wake-to-the-alarm-drink-coffee-look-at-the-schedule-to-see-what-your-workout-is-going-to-be-today-and-get-out-and-do-it period of months, to all of a sudden open the schedule to find "Rest"... and to see that word planted in the schedule more than once in the course of the week...well, that's just plain torture. 

5:30 AM.  Out of bed.  Coffee maker on.  Drink first cup of coffee. Check email. Reply to email.  Drink another cup of coffee. Hmm... now it's 6:15.  What to do.  See what I mean?  Hell.  I cannot sit still long enough to watch a movie.  I am good for about 20 minutes, when I notice that the plant across the room looks a little droopy and needs water. So I get up and water it. On the way back from putting the watering thingy away, notice that I have a new message.  Sit down for a second to read the email.  It's a message telling me that someone replied to a post on facebook. Open facebook, read the post.  Then scroll through to see what everyone else is posting.  Back to email.  Link to website... etc etc.  You get the gist.  Movie? What movie?  That is my life in a nutshell. Can't sit still. How in the world am I expected to go from a 14 or 15 hour week to a 5 or 6 hour week? 

This is only halfway through day 1 of taper.  Tomorrow I get to swim.  As much as I do not look forward to swimming, I cannot wait to swim tomorrow.  And Wednesday, oh Wednesday. I get to ride my bike for an hour fifteen, and run a couple miles off the bike. Wednesday cannot come too quickly. 

Hurry up Pumpkinman.  You've got an impatient type A athlete waiting for you.