After the dopers got axed from the tour this year and the winners came in within 30 seconds of each other my perspective on Floyd’s case changed. There are no miracle performances. There is determination and grit and pain but nothing is going to rocket you into the lead. You might be able to gut it out and hold on even though you have a bloodied and bruised hiney but you aren’t going to shoot out in front.
I’m disappointed in Floyd but the finish of the Tour was so fantastic this year that I am hopeful for cycling. It might actually stay clean and sober and show us many more exciting finishes.
If you haven’t seen the real story on the real clean athletes then click here. You won’t be sorry.
No – I didn’t win my triathlon – I didn’t even place. I didn’t even make my goal of going sub 2 hours but I did win something in the post race raffle which I’ll tell you about in a minute and I did win having a great day and I did PR so before I go on let’s celebrate
My official time was 2:06:19. This is not a USAT chip timed event so you have to sort of wing it on the times but by my various chronometers my times came out like this:
swim 15:09
bike 1:01
run 44
Total ~2 hours
That means I screwed up transition big time and took a total of 6 minutes. There’s something to work on. Also, my bike was not so good. My bike computer says I was going an average of 15.4 mph which is definitely a best effort to date but not so hot. The course is basically flat. There was a headwind that did some damage but mostly I just need to push harder on the bike. I get too worried about trashing my legs for the run and I just don’t step it up enough. Lesson learned. I actually had a good run with an average pace of 10:35. On a wicked, tough course. Here’s the elevation map and it’s no lie.
The course is littered with these short, steep hills that are nasty. Fortunately the weather was perfect – overcast and cool. My very first bead of sweat hit my eyes with just 1/2 mile to go on the run. Very tolerable.
Shout outs to the guy with a “49” on his calf who ran by me and said “Hey – I think they got the numbers for your age transposed” Love that guy!. I yelled “Oh man – I HATE it when that happens”. Then I picked it up a little but alas, he was too fast to catch.
I had a great time, though and that’s what counts. As I was coming out of T2 I heard someone yell “go Pamela!” and looked up to see Jen of RunningStories . She and her husband Zach came out just to cheer me on – how cool is that??!! When she yelled for me so did some other people which was a huge boost and really energized me. Pictorial evidence of our meeting was gathered by Jen and I’m sure she’ll post it soon. Jen is local so I’ve been working to recruit her and Zach to join my race club, Forward Motion (FMRC) – I think it’s working!
FMRC was out in force – 40 people participated in the race and about another dozen people were on the course as volunteers. As though that weren’t enough we had a club BBQ this afternoon that was attended by about 100 people. I mentioned before that the race was handicapped so that people like me could experience placing something other than last. Okay – I’m the only one who consistently places last but you get the idea. Everyone who raced got a certificate and a little medal and some of us got prize titles. I’m not sure what my place was but I was given 2 title awards.
“PR Pamela” and “Most Likely to Write an Entertaining Race Report”. I felt honored. I ♥ my race club. Once more:
If you have a race club in your area I can’t encourage you enough to join. Getting up the nerve to join FoMo was one of the best things I have done in a while. It’s fun and the really good elite athletes are helpful and encouraging to us struggling age groupers and there is nothing better than participating in a race with a bunch of other people all in the same team kit. If it’s an option for you, go for it – you won’t be sorry!
So what did I win besides the PR and the great time? The raffle included such things as bike jackets, messenger bags, gift certificates to Fleet Feet, gift certificates for a massage and then there was my prize – a free entry for another Olympic distance race. Oh yeah – lucky me? Think it’s a hint? If nothing else it gives me another chance to get faster at the bike and transitions before SOMA and yet another chance to PR. What better way to live up to my new title?
My next race is Sunday. It is my “A” race because this event was where it all started for me with triathlon. In 2000 I did this race on a Schwinn Varsity 10 speed that I had ridden 3 times. Those were the first 3 times I had ridden a bike since I was about 16. I had been swimming quite a bit but not really running all that much. The race is 700 meters swim in open water (a first for me), 16 miles bike, and a 4.2 mile run on a convoluted, run in circles dirt trail – with hills. My swim was a predictable first effort replete with panic, rolling on my back and sputtering. The ride was sloooooowwww…. and by the time I got to the run it was about 95 degrees and I ended up walking repeatedly. I finished in 2:31, just ahead of a 9 year old kid and a man who was limping. I guess there were about 5 other people behind me, too.
In the summer of 2005 I went on vacation with my siblings and their spouses and my sister and brother in law and I rented bikes and went for a ride. I was SO impressed with myself. I could ride hills! Thus began my life as a cyclist. I started on that Schwinn but quickly decided to buy a hybrid bike. I thought it was so sleek and cool despite it’s hefty 22 pound weight. I rode and rode that bike with my friends. Last year I did my “A” race again but this time I had way more time in each discipline. I came in at 2:08 – a 23 minute PR. Woot!
This year I approach this race with 2 Olympic distance and 1 super sprint under my belt. I have trained like a triathlete doing brick workouts a few times a month. Okay so I train like a lazy triathlete but it’s better than last year! My goal has always been to break 2 hours and I have every confidence that I can do that.
As though that isn’t enough, my race club has decided to make this a team challenge and they’ve developed some sort of handicapping system. This makes my “A” race exceptionally “A” for me because with my hideous Wildflower time I expect my handicap is HEEEOOOOGE! I could place in the top 3 for my club! Maybe. In any case I will have a lot of buds out there and that alone is worth the price of admission. The club is having a BBQ and doing some awards later in the afternoon so it will be just a ton o’ fun on Sunday.
Here is an excerpt from last year’s (absurdly long) race report:
“The run on this thing is hard because it loops around a couple of times. I kept thinking I was done but then there was another loop or another hill. The thing that made the run so much better than it was last time was the Forward Motion Race Club who came out to pass out water and encourage the participants. This is the club I believe I will join so that I don’t have to cry in my beer about doing these events alone any more. They were fabulous, yelling out ‘Way to go! Looking Strong!” and that meant a lot to me because I was tired. ”
Of course I picked up some airplane spooge on the way back from Madison and my throat has been sore all week and I’m a little snotty in the head. Hopefully this will clear up by Sunday AM. Sick or not – I’m going for for it! In fact I’m so excited about this race that I bought myself some new toys. A swanky new transition bag and a white helmet, because my blue helmet clashes with my team kit. A girl has to do what she has to do, you know?
** minor update** The handicaps were posted and mine, as predicted, is the worst/best. My number is the lowest so I think that’s good – very good. I still have to race really hard to grab a spot. Excellent incentive.
See what I mean – I HAD to get a new helmet. It was not optional. I can’t believe Brightroom thinks I would buy this photo. No way!
My next race is Sunday. It is my “A” race because this event was where it all started for me with triathlon. In 2000 I did this race on a Schwinn Varsity 10 speed that I had ridden 3 times. Those were the first 3 times I had ridden a bike since I was about 16. I had been swimming quite a bit but not really running all that much. The race is 700 meters swim in open water (a first for me), 16 miles bike, and a 4.2 mile run on a convoluted, run in circles dirt trail – with hills. My swim was a predictable first effort replete with panic, rolling on my back and sputtering. The ride was sloooooowwww…. and by the time I got to the run it was about 95 degrees and I ended up walking repeatedly. I finished in 2:31, just ahead of a 9 year old kid and a man who was limping. I guess there were about 5 other people behind me, too.
In the summer of 2005 I went on vacation with my siblings and their spouses and my sister and brother in law and I rented bikes and went for a ride. I was SO impressed with myself. I could ride hills! Thus began my life as a cyclist. I started on that Schwinn but quickly decided to buy a hybrid bike. I thought it was so sleek and cool despite it’s hefty 22 pound weight. I rode and rode that bike with my friends. Last year I did my “A” race again but this time I had way more time in each discipline. I came in at 2:08 – a 23 minute PR. Woot!
This year I approach this race with 2 Olympic distance and 1 super sprint under my belt. I have trained like a triathlete doing brick workouts a few times a month. Okay so I train like a lazy triathlete but it’s better than last year! My goal has always been to break 2 hours and I have every confidence that I can do that.
As though that isn’t enough, my race club has decided to make this a team challenge and they’ve developed some sort of handicapping system. This makes my “A” race exceptionally “A” for me because with my hideous Wildflower time I expect my handicap is HEEEOOOOGE! I could place in the top 3 for my club! Maybe. In any case I will have a lot of buds out there and that alone is worth the price of admission. The club is having a BBQ and doing some awards later in the afternoon so it will be just a ton o’ fun on Sunday.
Here is an excerpt from last year’s (absurdly long) race report:
“The run on this thing is hard because it loops around a couple of times. I kept thinking I was done but then there was another loop or another hill. The thing that made the run so much better than it was last time was the Forward Motion Race Club who came out to pass out water and encourage the participants. This is the club I believe I will join so that I don’t have to cry in my beer about doing these events alone any more. They were fabulous, yelling out ‘Way to go! Looking Strong!” and that meant a lot to me because I was tired. ”
Of course I picked up some airplane spooge on the way back from Madison and my throat has been sore all week and I’m a little snotty in the head. Hopefully this will clear up by Sunday AM. Sick or not – I’m going for for it! In fact I’m so excited about this race that I bought myself some new toys. A swanky new transition bag and a white helmet, because my blue helmet clashes with my team kit. A girl has to do what she has to do, you know?
** minor update** The handicaps were posted and mine, as predicted, is the worst/best. My number is the lowest so I think that’s good – very good. I still have to race really hard to grab a spot. Excellent incentive.
See what I mean – I HAD to get a new helmet. It was not optional. I can’t believe Brightroom thinks I would buy this photo. No way!
After watching the run from a particular spot on State Street Jenny, Ally and I moved over to an area closer to the finish. We yelled and cheered and called out to the Ironmen to try to help keep them going. We had seen Greyhound go by and thought he was in for a sub 12 finish but then realized he still had to turn around and head back out. He was still in great shape and we figured he was looking at something under 15.
Finally the lure of the actual finish line beckoned and we wanted to be there to see our friends come in so off we went. People, you have no idea how LOUD it is there. The music is blaring and Mike Riley’s voice just BOOMs over the sound system and the people are screaming and cheering. LOUD! But it is so great so very great.
Jenny and I spotted TriMama and the Tribe across the way in the ‘run in with a finisher’ waiting area The new rule is that only 1 person can cross the line with the Ironman finisher but since all the kids and TriMama were in red capes we didn’t know who the lucky person was. Finally, Soapinator ran out and we had our answer. Sadly, my camera ran out out battery right then -grrrr…. I did get these 2 little shots, though.
I know – totally frustrating. But onward!
After Tac came in we went around the back and tried to find people but it was tough. Jenny had a VIP pass so she was able to get a pic at the finish with Boomer. At that point Ally had had enough so we headed back to the car.
I must say that Ally was an angel. i think I said that before but that child deserves kudos for patience and perseverance. On those rare occasions when she would let out a little whine Jenny would gently remind her that she knew it would be a long day and she would just head off for the Burley and curl up and rest. I considered smuggling her home with me but I figured Jenny might get mad and I ♥ Jenny so I refrained.
In the morning the group staying at our hotel all met up for breakfast
It was so great to see Tac and Greyhound in their morning after glow. Then I headed to the awards breakfast with Laurie and met up with Bold, Michelle, Brent Buckner, his sister Wendy and some other folks (it’s getting fuzzy now). (Pardon the lack of links but I’m getting all linked out.)
It was a nasty, rainy morning and everyone realized how fortunate they had been to have such perfect weather the day before. After the breakfast I still had many hours to kill but Laurie was heading home and Bold needed a nap so I did what all Americans do when they have time to kill and it is raining – I went to Starbucks, drank coffee and read The Onion. Good times. My flight was supposed to leave at 6:07 but didn’t go until after 7:00 which meant I got to do my own IM sprint through O’Hare to catch my connecting flight.
The best part about being at the finish is that you see people who just an hour before were doing a death shuffle and looking like they hated the world transformed into some of the happiest people in the world. They are so triumphant with hands over head, fists pumping in the air, smiles as wide as Lake Monona. Getting on that plane in Chicago I saw a guy in a Finisher jacket and congratulated him. He asked if I had done the race and I said No. He asked me if I did triathlon and I told him I was really in my first year and just working on Olympic distance events. Beaming like he’d just crossed the line he said, “You should do an Ironman – when you finish you will feel so fantastic – better than you’ve ever felt in your life!”
And that’s what it is about. It’s about pushing yourself to go the distance through hours of training, through days of missed parties, through hours of early morning darkness, through muscle soreness and fatigue that makes you question your own motives, through fear and lack of confidence and on to cover 140.6 miles in one very long, very special day. And when you do that – you feel like the person you are – YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!
Several people have asked the question – “So what about you, Mom? Is there an Ironman in your future?” The answer is “Maybe”. In fact, I am considering one for next year but I’m not sure I want to invest the time. I’m not sure I don’t. Fortunately, I have at least until November to think about it.
After watching the swim IronMomJenny her adorable daughter Ally and I reported to duty in T1 to slather the athletes in sunscreen. A few Pros were still coming through but they were not stopping for anything. They just blew through there in bare feet or socks because they were allowed to leave their shoes clipped to the bike pedals. The age groupers were not. Hmmmm…
There were times in transition when it got completely frenetic. We stood there yelling ‘SUN SCREEN?’ ‘SUNSCREEN??!!’ to dazed and focused athletes who were mostly thinking about what comes next and did they have all their nutrition and was it a good time to stop at a porat-potty and what? What??!! Oh – sunscreen? Sure! They were so on the move as though 30 seconds for some UV protection would mess up the day and they ended up with a thick, and probably annoying coating of goo on their shoulders. I tried not to slime them but there is only so much you can do under the circumstances. Jenny positioned herself at the end and yelled “Last chance for sunscreen” as she chased the athletes and made sure the back of their necks got some sunscreen.
I tried to keep watch for “my” athletes but I only saw a few amidst all the chaos. Tac came in and I ran over to sunscreen him and started yelling “Shake and Bake, Tac! Shake.And.Bake” and then wondered if he had ever seen Talladega Nights. He yelled “21stCentury?? NO WAY” I yelled “WAY” and he was off. Greyhound came through and I called to him. I asked him if he wanted some sunscreen and he said no but he wanted to give me a hug. It was a high point in the day. We had a quick one and then off he went wearing <a href=”http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1074/1021761633_ba1f57b901.jpg“>his white batwings; targert=”_blank”. I think I saw Roman rip through T1 and that’s about all I remember.
After a few hours of that the 3 of us and the Burley headed for the bus to go see some bike action. Jumper joined us. We thought the shuttle bus line was prohibitively long but it turned out to take about 15 minutes to get on and off we went.
If I thought picking the people out in T1 was hard it was nothing compared to catching them whiz by on bikes. We had our big beautiful banners with everyone’s name on them (Jenny has pics) and we yelled and rang cowbells and had a great time out there.
Then it was time for T2 sunscreen duty. I saw more athletes. I caught Bold heading out for the run and yelled to him and held the door for the porta-potty open. He was headed straight for it when some other dazed and focused dude just cut him off and took his station! He went to the next one and when he came out he just trotted off. He was in the zone. I also got Brent Buckner and I don’t remember who else.
At 3 we headed out again to watch people on the run.
This is where the day got even more fun if that was possible. Jenny had made a sign that said, “You Know Your Reasons” and people LOVED it. We called out people’s names and yelled “Karen! This is your day! You are IronKaren” lather, rinse, and repeat over and over and over and watch the smiles grow. It was like magic. We tried to find TriMama and the Tribe at their water station but we had the wrong one and thought they had left.
You may not know this but IronMomJenny knows at least every 5th person at the Ironman. Being with her was so much fun because she was forever spotting someone she knew either racing or watching. Jenny is just the nicest, warmest, friendliest, most open person I have ever met and spending the day with her was such a pleasure. If she saw someone she thought she knew she didn’t just sit there wondering “do I know that guy?” She would just turn to him and say “Hey! Do I know you? ” If the person looked confused and said, “umm.. don’t think so” she was unfazed. “Oh – I thought I did – you look so familiar” All smiles. I so admire her confidence and candor and warm heart. And her little Ally was such a trooper. Nary a complaint all day and a long day it was.
As we wandered around State Street looking for Trimama and the tribe and trying to find a good place to stand we bumped into Kona Shelly who was on her bike. It was so great to meet her. I only wish we had had more time. She spent most of her day in the penalty tent, dinging people on time. Not a happy job but I think she enjoyed her day.
At one point Bold came running by so I jumped off the curb and ran with him for a little bit. I asked him how it was going and he said “I’m hurting!” and I said “Well, you’re still in it and you look strong” and he said “I’m trying” and I let him run off. Another high point on the day.
I saw lots of people on the run, one of my favorites being this guy who did the entire run in hiking boots, dressed like the Cat in the Hat
I wish I had more pics but Jenny got the bulk of them so we’ll just have to wait for her to have some time.
I have 1 more IM WI post in me that will cover the finish line and my new relationship to the Ironman distance as well as the ton of stuff I’ve forgotten to put in this post. As Boomer would say – stay tuned.
The real start for me was Saturday afternoon when I rolled into Madison. IronMomJenny picked me up at the airport with her daughter Ally and Jumper 2.0 in tow and we headed back the the hotel. A couple of hours later Jenny, Trimama, Jumper and I went for a run. I did my level best to keep up with the IronMoms and it was not easy! Jumper and I were huffing and puffing and really wanting to slow down but we hung on! I think we ran about 3 and a half miles or so in 35 minutes which is fast for me. For the IronMoms it seemed to be ‘chatting’ pace. When I grow up I’d like to be just like them (if you watched the end of the IM on IronmanLive you know what I’m talking about!)
The run was followed by a well attended dinner with IronMomJenny. Laurie,TriMama, Jumper 2.0 and a whole bunch of people from the Twin Cities area and thereabouts. AJ also stopped by. Good times! If you are ever in Madison, WI I highly recommend having dinner at The Great Dane downtown. Great menu, great food, lots of beer. After that it was bed time where I bunked with 2 of my 3 IM ‘boyfriends’. Those guys were smart enough to order a roll away bed so there was no ‘racey’ at the race. Just sleep.
Sunday we headed to the start line about about 5:30 AM – long after the racers were there, body marked and ready to SHAKE AND BAKE! At this point I”m just going to offer you some pics and short video of the swim start. The video quality is horrible but what you want to do is listen. That sibilant swish, swish is the sound of 4,400 arns and 4,399 legs moving the athletes through the water (there was at least one competitor doing this race on a prosthetic leg – a real hero, for sure). Watching that from the top deck of the Monona Terrace was just about the coolest thing ever. Chills and thrills for sure. More later.
Jumper, TriMama talking giving Tac some pre-race support, Jenny, Laurie
This is about one half of T1 – try thinking about the dollar value of what’s down there. BOOM – there went your brain!
The pros out in the water for their start with the sun coming up. Beautiful
It is 1:30AM and I am reading blogs when I should be sleeping. I am totally exhausted from my inaugural trip to experience an Ironman. I guess I just can’t get enough! I was there and yet I find myself hungrily devouring race reports.
What a great time I had – so GREAT! I have the least pictures of anyone so I’ll leave the proof (no pictures = didn’t happen) up to others but let me just say that being in the midst of an Ironman race is really fun and really exciting and I am SO glad I made it.
More later – I really do need to get to bed but before I do let me just extend yet another hearty CONGRATULATIONS! to everyone who toed the line. You are amazing for suiting up and putting yourself out there. Thanks for the inspiration.
It is 1:30AM and I am reading blogs when I should be sleeping. I am totally exhausted from my inaugural trip to experience an Ironman. I guess I just can’t get enough! I was there and yet I find myself hungrily devouring race reports.
What a great time I had – so GREAT! I have the least pictures of anyone so I’ll leave the proof (no pictures = didn’t happen) up to others but let me just say that being in the midst of an Ironman race is really fun and really exciting and I am SO glad I made it.
More later – I really do need to get to bed but before I do let me just extend yet another hearty CONGRATULATIONS! to everyone who toed the line. You are amazing for suiting up and putting yourself out there. Thanks for the inspiration.
So Floyd lost. He has but one appeal left.
The new rule is that only 1 person can cross the line with the Ironman finisher but since all the kids and TriMama were in red capes we didn’t know who the lucky person was. Finally, Soapinator ran out and we had our answer. Sadly, my camera ran out out battery right then -grrrr…. I did get these 2 little shots, though. 
21st-century-mom.com 
