Wow. Where do I begin. This race course and venue was simply amazing. Jets flew over before the start, canons were blown, fireworks 2 nights before. This town pulled out all the stops.
I was a little disappointed that IM decided to change the start from a mass start to 9 waves, this left me standing on my own on the start line which is always a little intimidating. The swim was a 2.4 mile rectangle, 13 bouys until your first turn. I counted each and every bouy on the way out and just used each bouy as my next milestone. The water was suprisingly choppy in some areas, I’m still not sure if it was b/c there were so many boats or high winds. Once I made the turn to go back to the beach it was difficult to keep track of the bouy count as the color had changed from yellow to orange and was a little more difficult to see. I am happy to report the one thing I didn’t have to worry about were my goggles. My Barracuda Goggles (www.skylinenw.com ) held up nicely throughout the swim, no issues w/fog and the metallic color was perfect for the swim and the sun as you were coming in. The transition was a pretty LONG run but exciting none the less as I literally got to run down a red carpet, and I of course hammed it up for the cameras w/a huge smile.
The bike was where all my anxiety was held. I’d had some knee issues come up 2 weeks prior to the race that caused “catching” type pain at the top of my pedal stroke. Sometimes the pain was bad enough I’d yell out, but I’d had Sarah write GREATFUL (spelling is for you Sarah) on my arm so throughout the day I’d remember what the day was all about. The pain has started at 105 miles on a bike ride and mile 10 of a bike ride so I just never know when it may arise but regardless started that bike w/a grin the size of a clown. The last minute bike fit to fix my stupidity of changing my cleats myself, the day my dog of 15 years passed none the less, was extremely helpful. A few big changes were made, but they were all long needed and at that point I’d take all the help I could get (not normally recommended). Thank you Jim Cunningham and www.greenvillecyclingcenter.com for getting me in and fixed. My shoulder even felt better than it normally does! So, down to the actual ride….it was comical at the least. The course is hilly, comparable to IMPlacid (actually IMMT has more supposedly) but IM Austria is actually more climbing, the point being you are using ALL your gears. Work those down hills so you can have some momentum for uphills. Well after the first 10 miles or so of climbing out of the first 56 mile loop I realize my bike won’t go into the big chain ring….and I notice I’m about to hit the highway portion w/some big downhills UGHHH! I literally laugh, get off my bike on the side of the road, and put it in the big chain ring. The gearing mattered to me more than anything b/c the further I’d go the more I’d notice that my knee would flare up if my cadence got too high, over 83 or so. The turnaround point for the highway (mile 30 something) was great b/c by that point I’d seen Jeff on the turnaround and Sarah. Not too long after the turnaround I pulled up on Sarah, we chatted, and both seemed pleased with things other than the heat was really ramping up and there was NO SHADE on majority of the bike. One of the best parts of the bike course was when around mile 40 or so, the bike goes through this small town where I swear the entire population lined the 2 miles of the road and had their own party. Music, cheering, beer stations, people dressed up, it was amazing! Just what you need when you are about to head back in town and really hit some hills. I’m not sure the exact mile but at end of your loop you have a little out and back section where you ride along the river, it was gorgeous……and hilly. I’d attempted for some time to keep my bike in the big chain ring b/c I didn’t want to have to get back off the bike to fix it, but the that didn’t last long w/one of the hills on the highway and the knee like the lower cadence but I couldn’t power through anything. Anyway, so this beautiful hilly section I’m in the small chain ring and going up a climb where some are walking their bikes (yep…) and my chain comes off halfway up. UGH! I was not going to be one of those walking though…..so I try to restart halfway up this hill people are ALREADY walking their bikes up. What happens……I fall! Of ourse! All I could do was bust out laughing, other athletes joined in my humiliation as I walked the darn bike up the hill. A couple more hills, where I literally had to hold my shifter back the entire way up the hills b/c it wouldn’t stay, I finally make the turnaround …..where I feel like my brakes are rubbing. I opened the front brakes hoping that would solve the problem, and then at the bottom of the turnaround literally almost face plant as my bike locks up. Bike pitstop #3. I’m still laughing, literally…..b/c that’s what I do. A nice volunteer came running over to help, what had happened was my wheel had gottened skewed and was rubbing the frame and was what had locked the bike up. I tried to take a moment, make sure everything else was kosher, and then back on the bike I went. Loop #1 done! Now to special needs, only to find that they had the one shaded spot in the entire freaking place and both my bottles were frozen! Laughter yet again, I replaced one since that’s all I could do and was on my way. Luckily IMMT had Ironman Perform (www.powerbar.com ) on the course which is awesome it just didn’t have extra carbo pro. Loop two was uneventful, I made one more pit stop (#4) to force my bike into the big chain ring. The weather was in the 80’s at this point, and I had the pleasure of passing Jeff at an aide station and dousing him with water. I’d gotten a sinus infection, sounded like a man, and was coughing stuff up, but luckily my hubby had found allegra D the day before for me. I’d taken some that morning b/c of obvious reasons, and I’m not sure if it was that or the lower calories or the heat but I hit the last out and back section of hills and started to feel extremely light headed. I was already looking like a fool holding my gearing back while at the same time having to get out of my seat to climb and all I could think of is if I fall again I will be MORTIFIED. I ended up stuffing every piece of nutrition I had left on me trying to make myself feel better, all I had were a couple miles left to get off this bike.
I busted out of transition w/the weight of the world off my shoulders. I knew that worst case scenario I was going to finish this Ironman, whether I had to walk that marathon or not. The first couple miles were awesome, the bridge crossing w/the waterfall on the left and sailboats on your right, the crazy drunk people cheering you on, and then you hit the 8 miles of somewhat solitude. The solitude was along a trail w/a spectacular view of the lake and calmness to gather your thoughts and focus. The turnaround on mile 6 was where I could feel the knee wasn’t holding up. Past knee issues have taught me that it can go downhill pretty quickly, so I walked. I walked the next 3 miles, after Advil of course, and had the goofiest grin on my face the entire time. Convinced at the time that I’d be walking the rest the way, I was so grateful to be out there that at that point I didn’t care. I hit mile 9 and said what the heck, lets see what jogging feels like. Jogging and walking hurt the same….so why not jog. My form was awful, I hurt, but this was my day and if I could make something of it by gosh I was going to try. I remember crossing paths w/Jeff (friend) and he just looked at me and said I don’t know how you are doing this. I must have looked awful. I jogged the rest of the marathon, hills and all. Perk to pushing a 3 yr old in his stroller, you’re used to resistance! I only walked aide stations and mile 20 something when I saw Sarah (my bestie). I may or may not have started crying for no reason and hugged her. I was a little emotional to say the least. I crossed that finish line w/Ironman #6 in the books so thrilled just to know I finished.
Grateful doesn’t begin to describe how I felt that day to have the chance to race, have support, and experience the awesome places I have. Most my support has been with me since I did my first Ironman in 2006, and I am honored those companies still entertain my warped dream of triathlon only made possible b/c of them. Thank you to those companies, www.Trisports.com (NRAMSBEY will get you 15% off) and Atlanta Bread at Cherrydale (the BEST food), and Powerbar (www.powerbar.com , by far they make the best fueling for workouts, during, before, and after and my 3 yr old LOVES their bars). The other companies that support my crazy dream are Nuuns (www.Nuuns.com weekday workouts and midday hydration), RSLED Group (www.rsledgroup.com ) they can do parties, jumbo screens, races, and some GREAT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. 110% Play Harder (www.110playharder.com is not a sponsor, however their product was AWESOME to have for travel, racing, and injury….which www.Trisports.com sells:).
My hubby, he doesn’t get this sport and still stands by my racing. My dad, he made yet another IM (only missed 1 out of 6) and my friends Jeff and Sarah I couldn’t ask for better traveling partners in crime. The drive to and from Canada will be in a blog itself, lets just say I love Sarah and Jeff however they did almost kill me. LITERALLY!
Even bigger news in the Ramsbey household…..blog to come by the end of the week with this!!!
