Ironman #2 is in the bag! It all happens so fast. I decided after reading Nick Wisdom's post after his Ironman that I was going to try to remember as much as I could during the IM and get it all down. I want to do this for two reasons....1) To remember everything and for the memories (I forgot a lot of things that occurred at IM Louisville.) 2) So if I ever do another one, I will have everything written down so I can be prepared for number 3. : )
On Thursday morning, I headed to Panama City Beach alone. This was much different than last year. Josh was with me the entire trip to Louisville (a LONG ride) and John Palmer and April Childs were also heading there with their crew. I didn't mind going alone, but I was full of anxiety from the past few days of trying to prepare and needed some distractions. I didn't have someone doing it with me this time that I could talk through everything with, but I knew I didn't want to think about preparation for a while. Instead, I started my journey to PCB with great music.. They kept me pumped and gave me something else to think about. Some of my fav songs were I'm Not Afraid by Eminem (I'm going to be what I set out to be, without a doubt undoubtably, and all those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony) and Uncle Kracker's It's Good to be Me (I keep stylin, smilin, handing out the sunshine). These songs reminded me...I'm going to do this, and I'm going to have fun while doing it. I wanted to enjoy the experience and whatever happened, I would deal with as it came. I wanted to have fun and hand out some sunshine. That put me in the right mindset!!! PERFECT.
I got to PCB at a great time. The first thing I wanted to do was get to registration so that I could get everything needed. It went pretty fast (one of the few times that would happen). I got my race bracelet, numbers, race info, chip, put it all in my new IM Florida pack and headed to the Ironman store to see what they had. They can always get you in the IM Store. Tons of athletic apparel that marks your big day and gives you a sense of pride to wear it....and pay a pretty penny to do so. I got a long sleeve tech shirt, two IM glasses, two IM outfits for my little nieces (TOO cute...I couldn't resist) and the best tee of all....a regular grey IM FL tshirt that has a HUGE Ironman symbol on the back....the cool part is that the IM symbol is made up of all 2800 participants' names. WOW. Standing in a LONG line to get to checkout, I met two other participants. One was a guy from Sydney, Austrailia who now lives in Atlanta and was doing his first IM. The other was a girl from Florida who now lives in TN...and this was here 2nd. She also did Louisville in 2010 and we had done a lot of the same Half IMs. Small world!
I roamed through the IM village looking at all of the cool booths and dreaming of buying everything there, but there was nothing I truly needed, so I decided to head to check into the condo. We stayed at Sterling Beach which was a few miles from the race site. It really was a good spot. Just close enough to get to everything easily, but far enough away to not get caught up in all the craziness. Perfect for me to stay stress free. I got everything in, got some groceries, had some lunch, and started packing my bags for transition. When you check in for the IM, they give you 5 large bags for the duration of your IM. One bag is for Morning Special Needs (great to use if you don't have anyone to hold all of your clothes, etc once you get ready to start the IM) a bag for Bike Gear, Run Gear, and two special needs bags for the bike course and run course with anything you want to put in them....JUST IN CASE. I won't go through everything I put in my bags, but I will tell you that I stressed over it for days. The reason? Florida IM was going to be so much different than Louisville. I was going from Louisville being HOT, to it possibly being cold in Florida...which meant I had to pack way more gear in case the temp dropped. Yes...I religiously watched the weather channel for days...I was unsure how the water temp would be, but I knew it would be cold getting out regardless. QUIT IT....Move ON. Put the stuff in your bag and relax. Right. By the time I got everything ready, it was time to head back to race site for the IM dinner and athlete meeting.
Remember now, I'm going to the dinner alone...and my mission was to spread sunshine. LOL. I got inside the building and once again was in a line waiting to get into the banquet room. It seemed that there were plenty of people going alone, but no one was talking! Nerves? I kept quiet and listened to conversations going on a round me. The line started moving in about 10 minutes...Yay!!! I got to the entrance and bam...stopped at the doorway. The lady asked if the guy behind me and I were together. I turned to him...asked if he was alone...he said yes. I laughed and said yes...we're together. LOL. I was spreading the sunshine. So, we got in line, got our food, and found a table to sit together. We were both thankful to have someone to talk to. He told me tickets were $30 for non-athletes to eat, so his parents who were with him, weren't coming. It was NOT a $30 meal...much less $10! Picture a large banquet room (but not large enough) with hundreds of tables lined up with little room between, chairs packed in so tight, that they were connected, and more than 3000 people trying to sit. Not pretty and not comfortable. Turns out my friend, Nicholas, was doing his first IM, lived in Canada, and was working on his MBA. He didn't have much time to train in the last few months due to studying. His goal was a sub 11. There were others sitting around us that were first timers too. It's always fun to talk to other athletes and hear their stories! The banquet got started and all the fun stuff began. Who's the oldest doing this today? 80 years old (I didn't make a mistake...80 years old!!) How many married couples doing it together without killing each other? Too funny! How many IM virgins? 1000!!!! How many have done IM FL the most? There were 5 who have done IM FL every year for the last 13 years. One of whom was completing his 129th IM!!!! OMG!!! Lots of fun to hear all this. Time for the Athlete Meeting.
So, we stay where we are and the officials go through the weather, water conditions, rules, bike and race course. The best thing I heard was that the water was suppose to be like glass and 70 degrees. I will take that!! The worst thing I heard was that there were lots of jellyfish...and beware of the pink ones. SERIOUSLY?!? That freaked me out a bit. Everything else was typical. Don't draft. Don't get a penalty or end up in the penalty tent...etc. Only pee in porta potties or risk being given a penalty or arrested for public nudity...Athlete meeting done. It has been a long day. Time for SLEEP.
FRIDAY
I will make this one short. I got up early and prepared myself for a practice swim. Headed down to race site so I would have others to swim with. The water was NOT like glass today...it was a bit choppy. The weather was pretty chilly (mid 40s) and windy, and it was hard to make myself want to get in the water as cold as it was outside. Despite my better judgement, I put on my wetsuit and swam for 15-20 minutes. The water temp wasn't as bad as I thought. It was actually warm once you got out a litte bit. Done. No jellyfish...no sharks. I'm good.
Next, I got on my bike and rode for about 40 minutes. The tailwind was awesome!! The 25 mph head wind...not so great. I got to spin my legs out...that's what counted. Back to the condo. I had lunch and laid on the chaise lounge by the window....I fell asleep with the sun warming me from the window. AWESOME.
Once I got up, the family started showing up. My mom and stepdad showed up and within ten minutes, my dad, Josh and Lane were there. Yay!!!!! We sat around and talked a little. I rolled out my legs with the roller and we watched some movies and relaxed. THIS is the life. They went out for some dinner. My dad and I stayed at the condo. I ate spaghetti. I didn't want any restaurant food the night before the big race. Time for bed. TOMORROW IS IT!!!
SATURDAY
Up at 4:30 am. Drank coffee, Ensure, and had a pop tart. Got everything prepared to head to transition. Josh was going with me. My dad and stepdad, Ronnie were up hanging out. The adrenaline and nerves were GOING. Josh dropped me off at race site and went to park. I put my computer and water bottles on my bike. Pumped tires. Shared my pump. Good Karma!!! Headed for body marking. It's getting REAL. Nerves were jumping. Found Josh. He found fellow Albanians at body marking (some volunteered in order to register onsite for 2012). I went to talk to them to help pass the time. Mitchell Sellers, George Walls, and two others (names will come to me!) were there. They made me laugh and helped calm me. Time to head toward the water. Took some Bonine just in case...for motion sickness in the water.
The water was as close to glass as it was going to get. PERFECT water conditions. I had my wetsuit on. Put my swim cap on for warmth while standing on beach. I think it was high 40s or low 50s. I grabbed my tinted goggles and ear plugs. Gave Josh a hug and kiss. Shed a tear. It's a high emotional time starting an IM!!! My dad was somewhere close by. BOOM. Pros are off. Tried to find dad, but didn't have long. As I start to turn away, I find Josh again and saw my dad's head, but didn't have time to go that far. Another kiss and off to swim start. Hey guys....the water current is pushing pros to the left of buoys...so we should move to the right. People start shuffling to the right on the beach. BOOM!!! You are doing an IRONMAN!!!! Water was awesome. Fighting 2800 other participants for a spot in the water...not so fun. Kicking, punching, pulling...you name it. I planned on doing the swim in 1:30. One buoy at a time. Once you got out a bit, the water was really warm. It felt great!!! Then...the JELLYFISH. They were everywhere. FREAK OUT. I would look into the water and all of the sudden, one would be right below me. Speed up!!! I didn't want one to touch me! Then a pink one. SHIT! GOGOGOGO!!! I told myself not to panic. There were 2800 people seeing the same thing. Just keep swimming. You're now halfway through the first lap. I kept telling myself not to panic. It's all good. It would only sting for a minute. Then...a kick or punch in the face. What jellyfish? As I headed back towards shore, the water got cooler...and no jellyfish would be seen. Then a litte push from the current once you passed the sand bar. Felt like I was a fish at this point.....out of the water and past the timing mat....35 minutes. Really? WHOOOHOOO!!! Back in the water for round 2. Not as bad this time as the participants were spread out. Keep it up. Ouch...the back of my neck burns...Chaffing from water suit. Ignore. You can do this. More jellyfish, a few more kicks and punches, jellyfish, jellyfish...I really don't like these things. Thankfully...I never came into contact (that I know of) with one. They were fascinating to watch...and that's it. You are done...1 hour 11 minutes for a swim!!! Hell yeah! GOGOGOGO. Through the chute and on the ground to peal off the wetsuit. Now I'm cold. Run to get Bike Gear bag and into T1.
T1 went pretty well considering when you are wet, nothing wants to go on!!!! The transition was inside the Boardwalk Conference Center (where we had dinner two nights ago) and was warm. Bike shorts, two jerseys, arm warmers, ear warmers, helmet...compression socks...compression socks....never mind...wool socks, shoes. I was too wet to get the compression socks on. : ( Out of T1... Sunscreen on my face please. Grab the bike and GO! 11: 58 in transition. Now...my plan...6 hours on the bike at the most. Start out easy for the first 30 miles and give my legs time to adjust. Good plan...however, the head winds weren't my friend. I'm heading down Front Beach Road. My computer says 7 mph...what? I KNOW I'm not that slow....then it said 20 mph...8, 15, 10, 20....CRAPPPPPP. My computer is messed up. Nothing to do but to watch the time. Deal with it. I knew PCB would have winds...I thought I would deal with it and no problems. Not the case. We had a head wind 75% of the ride....for 112 miles. UGH. Okay...deal with this too. Follow your nutrition plan. Something every 30 minutes. Deal with the pain and the wind and keep moving forward. Ouch. Mile 25...I've got to go.....Can't pee in public (Like everyone else wasn't breaking this rule). Porta potty...perfect. Stop one. Grab water....back to pedaling. You're doing good. Where is a turn around?! I'm sick of headwind. Mile 50...I've got to go again!!! Ugh...Stop 2 for porta potty. Grab some water. Back to bike. Reminded my self....almost half way. Just keep moving. I sure wish I would see someone I know. I could just give in and let Josh come get me....NO! Keep moving and stop it. You aren't going to give up. It's not suppose to be easy! Turn around!!! YES!! Half way. TAILWIND!!! Thank you, God!!! Try to make up some time now. Hey...The girl I met at the IM Shop...and she's drafting with 5 guys. Cheaters! I look at the guy coming beside me...he says "doesn't look like they know what 4 bike lengths mean." Their Karma...not mine. Keep moving. Yay! Mile 60...Mile 70....Have to go AGAIN!!!! Good grief. Line is packed at porta potty. Take my chances...Off to woods behind potties. Outta here! Am I really on a 25 mile bathroom schedule? I have to laugh. Didn't factor that in. Men have it made in these things.... Don't think...just keep trucking. I have a new friend. I pass him on the climbs (yes...there are hills in PCB...IT IS NOT FLAT), he passes me later. We do this for MILES. Mile 80. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! Talk to a guy coming beside me. He starts beating his leg with his left hand. Says he's going to be sore tomorrow. He might be cramping. Wish him well. He gets 4 lengths ahead of me. Not sure if he cramped or was a little out of it, but he runs off the side of the road. He corrects. He's safe. He overcorrects. Damn. He's down. Thank you for staying back four lengths!!!! Another guy and I try to check on him but keep going. I pray he is okay. Now we start talking. He's doing his first. He bets I get off the bike and do the run in a couple of hours. Don't I wish!! I'm wondering if my legs will survive the bike...much less the run. So tired. Mile 85...hey...those spectators look familiar!! YAY! Josh, Lane, and Dad are there. You can do this! They are here to cheer you on. I found some mojo!!! They rode beside me and we talked a few minutes. Josh yells remember to have FUN!! Oh yeah. They said they would be heading toward town. It helps so much to see them. Up ahead an out and back section. Mile 90. YES! Not much longer. Mile 100...Porta potty AGAIN!!!! Seriously? 12 MORE MILES!!! See the fam again. I cannot explain how much it helps. Last 8 miles are heading back on Front Beach. The WORST head wind yet. Gusts from the beach (esp between condos) almost blew me off the road. Just get it done and get off of this damn bike. Tell them to throw it in the trash if they want. I don't want to see it again for a long time. I'm so tired. YES!!! Finished with bike. 6:32 and 17 avg. 32 minutes over goal. If I could take out the bathroom breaks, I would have met my goal. Oh well. I will take it considering if I hadn't hydrated so well...and gone to the bathroom so much, I may have had worse problems later. Guess I can start to run now. I'm so tired....maybe I could just go to condo?!
T2....Sit for a second. Ahhh! So nice. Get all this junk off. It's going to be cooler when it gets dark, so I keep my tri jersey and my bike jersey on. Remove everything else. Run shorts, visor, compression socks finally go on this time (still tough but wasn't going without them) and KSwiss running shoes. Grab nutrition and head out. 7.39 in T2.
Run/Walk through transition. I hear my name. Fellow Albanians!!! Yay! Off for 26.2 miles. Legs are tired, but running feels better. I could just give in and quit this. Why did I sign up for this again? Do I really have to run two of these loops? There were so many things going through my mind. It was so hard not to quit, but it was harder to think that I would give in. All I could remember is the saying Pain is Temporary, Quitting is Forever. Take it mile by mile. Just keep moving. Turn the corner. FAMILY!!! Yay! I remember...have fun. There are rest stops approx. every mile. Plan to walk through and take in what I can at each one. I thank everyone. The volunteers are absolutely AWESOME and into this. One mile is the naked mile. Party on. Beer, half naked people dancing in the road, and MUSIC!!! I miss MUSIC!!! Apple bottom jeans...boots with the fur!! YES! Feeling good now. Just needed to get moving. Oh no! I didn't get my pills at T2....!!! NO ibuprofen, no imodium...no caffeine. CRAP. Oh well. Before I know it, I'm in the neighborhoods. Suns still shining. Everyone (other than volunteers) is pretty quiet. Here comes a skateboarder through the center who jumps a sign. He gets berated by a participant. Ouch. I tried to share my sunshine...but no one wanted it. Suffer in silence is obviously preferred. The hardest part is to be on your first lap and see a sign that says mile 18...Boy I wish I was on my second lap. Remember the people you dedicated each mile to. They will keep you going. Take it slow. I've got a pretty good pace going considering my bike. Here comes a guy riding a scooter. Can I borrow that? He laughed. Just keep it up. Try to run the entire first loop except for at rest stops and deal with the second loop as it comes. I'm in the state park....No one is there and it is REALLY quiet. I need people!!! I wish Josh was riding with me like he did in Louisville. Spectators were everywhere on the course...running with participants, biking everywhere...I wished I had someone to talk to. I couldn't find anyone with a similar pace. I need my running partner! I head back into the neighborhood. Believe it or not...still stopping at porta potties. At least 3 if not 4 times during the entire run. Definitely not dehydrated. Getting close to 2nd loop! I can do this. Still smiling. I see my family again. I yelled at Josh to come run with me when I hit the turn around. YAY! Only 13.2 more to go. Grab my special needs bag, but don't really see anything I need. Head back out. Josh runs with me. It was great. I told him about the jellyfish and other stuff. It was getting dark. I told him I wish he would stay with me. Maybe next IM. ; ) He told me that if I could keep my run at the same pace, I would be in at 12:30. I knew it was going to be close but my legs were giving and I would do my best, but I just didn't know if I could keep the pace. He turned around and I trucked on. I stopped at a porta potty...what's that? I FORGOT...my pills were in my shorts pocket! YES! I have ibuprofen and caffeine! Game on! Not that I figured the ibuprofen would work...there is no covering up the pain in my legs. My Illitioal Band was beginning to cause me a little bit of pain in my left leg (weird...my right was the one bothering me going into this.) Back through the neighborhood, cross over Thomas Drive again and headed toward the state park for round 2. The family was there! They had changed locations. It was DARK this round in the park, but I did have a IM note posted on the IM Board this loop. Something along the lines of WAY to go Amy. Perfect. You are almost done. Running out of the park a group of guys were offering beer, water, and gatorade. I just smiled and kept going. They screamed!! WE have a Smiler!! Look at her go. Spreading the sunshine. I felt good. I was at approx. mile 19. I was walking more to keep my left leg from locking up. I was telling myself to just keep running to a certain point...and then wouldn't let myself run unless I was in absolute pain. It was a good strategy. I ran pass the family again and head in for the last 6 miles. At this point it was a simple get it done and count down the miles. I knew 12:30 was out...my pace had slowed, but I knew I could make it under 13 if I just kept running. I counted down each mile and thought of every positive thought I could. Giving up was not an option especially when I was so close. It was just a matter of moving forward. I was beginning to cough some too. The cold air was irritating my lungs. I drank coke and chicken broth for caffeine and soothing my throat. Don't knock the broth. It works. Last few miles another girl said I sounded like her coughing, etc. We started talking. I asked how she was doing. She said she was feeling better and asked what loop I was on. I said 2. She was just getting ready for round 2. I wished her well and told her she CAN do it. Keep it up. I felt lucky to be almost done. Some were just getting started. It was pretty humbling. I came around the corner and into the turn on to Thomas Drive. Under a mile left to go. My pace automatically picked up. The crowd does that for you. I didn't feel a bit of pain. All I wanted was that finish line. The crowd seemed as tired as I was. I remember in Louisville that people were screaming for EVERYONE and partying like crazy. FL seemed a little more subdued. I expected tears to come as they did in Louisville, but they didn't. A sense of total relief came over me as I crossed the line. 12:41! A PR and approx. 52 minutes off of my first. I will take it! THANK YOU!!!!!
I wanted a better bike, but I did put it all into perspective....I didn't get a broken nose or black eye in the swim, I wasn't stung by a jelly fish and didn't see a shark. I didn't crash my bike. I finished. I am a 2x IM finisher!!! Awesome, amazing feeling. I got my medal, shirt, and hat. I ate two slices of pizza. I talked with Mitchell, George and crew. They were awesome! (Good luck next year guys! I hope the conditions are as good as this year). I loved on my family and told them all the tales of the day. I hardly slept at all that night. I watched a movie, drank Sierra mist and ate baked Doritos to help my stomach. I finally drank an Ensure (I was NOT hungry) hoping my shakes would go away. It worked. I slept for a bit.
Thanks to all of my supporters and all of the well wishes. Thanks to Josh, Dad and Lane for running around all day trying to catch me. Thanks to Mom and Ronnie for being there. They had to leave early Saturday, but I know they were there in heart. You guys all got me through it! My body is swollen and wrecked....it feels like I have the flu. My body aches, walking hurts, but I feel great overall. The biggest question I get asked is will I ever do another? My answer is never say never!!!! It won't be next year. Three years in a row is alot to dedicate to training. However, I will be working to get my bike back to where it used to be, and may give it another try in the future. Speaking of....my number was 303, my finish was 33rd in my age group and 3 seems to be my lucky number...so how can I say no? Three is a CHARM. ; )
