Ironman St. George

[kacie tri-ing]

Need to go ahead and do this post while I am thinking clearly and before we fly out tomorrow! I certainly do NOT expect any of you to track me....but if you want to :D:


This is the race that I am doing Saturday:

http://ironmanstgeorge.com/

Tracking will show up here on Saturday, and my number is 92:

http://www.ironmanlive.com/

Also, if it stops working (which is has in the past), and you want to know what’s happening, George will be manning my phone to pass on information, and you can feel free to text him for updates (PM if you want my number)!

He will also be updating my twitter and you can click on the link or check it out on the right side of the blog:

http://twitter.com/#!/kacie_tri_ing


Thanks for your support and excitement!

[Veronica]

Go Kacie! You have worked so hard for this since your injury at the 50K. Darn impressive! :)

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

Good luck Kacie! I know you'll do great.

[Red Rock]

Kacie,

I'll be out there cheering you on. My husband is working it at some point. Right now don't know the schedule. Hope your flight and prep goes well.

Red Rock

[Tri Girl]

Go Kacie Go!!!! Will be cheering you on all the way from here! I have a friend doing this race, too. Race smart, race strategically, and HAVE FUN!!!!!
Good luck!!!:)

[Pedal Wench]

Kacie -- you rock!!!! Have a blast and the rest will follow!

[spindizzy]

Have a fantastic race!!

[GLC1968]

Yay, Kacie!!

I'll be thinking of you as I'm doing my first tri of the season. And then when I'm done. And then when I'm home and showered and out working in the garden. And then when I'm eating dinner. And then .... you should be about done! :p

Rock it, girl! I can't wait to read your race report!

[sgf726]

Good Luck Kacie!

[colby]

Thinking peaceful, positive thoughts for you this week. You got this.

[Pika]

Have a great time! You'll be great- all the right prep mental and physical- just don't forget to have fun and "love the hills"
Tam

[kacie tri-ing]

Thanks everyone!
Yup, I will be going all day...and into a touch of night :eek:

This race has really snuck up on me, BUT i have put in the long long days, so I hope I have some decent legs to make it through this!

I am leaving to head to the airport in about 2 hours. Nervous :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Susan Otcenas]

Good luck, Kacie! Looking forward to reading your race report.

Jeff & I have family in St. George. Maybe one day I'll get there to spectate.

[limewave]

Have a great race! I can't wait to read about it. For some reason, reading IM race reports always gets me misty eyed.

I'll be sending positive thoughts your way tomorrow morning.
. . . and noon, and afternoon, and evening :)

[katluvr]

Good luck Kacie!
I am sure you will be awesome. :D
Have fun!

K

[Bike Chick]

I'm cheering for you, Kacie!!! Good luck!!

[colby]

Kacie's out on the bike after a great swim and a super fast T1! She's passed the mile 23 marker averaging 17mph. Go Kacie!

http://tracking.ironmanlive.com/newsearch.php?rid=348&y=2011&race=event%2Fironman%2Fst.george&athlete=92&sex=&division=&country=&rank=&sort=&dir=asc

TOTAL SWIM 2.4 mi. (1:26:46) 2:17/100m 1133 26
BIKE SPLIT 1: 23 mi 23 mi (1:20:54) 17.06 mi/h

[colby]

Kacie's cruising through the hills... over halfway!! :)

BIKE SPLIT 2: 66 mi 43 mi (2:48:04) 15.35 mi/h

[emily_in_nc]

I simply can't imagine an ironman. Way to go Kacie!

[colby]

Holy crap, it's up to 92 degrees in St. George, when the normal for today is in the 70s! Hang in there Kacie, LOTS of icy sponges await you on the run!! :eek:

The male winner just crossed the finish in 8:32. Wow.

Kacie's tweetmaster just posted that she's finishing the bike and struggling. Go, Kacie, go! You're home free now, just take it easy!

[Blueberry]

Sending you good vibes, Kacie - latest tweet:

Finishing the bike. Struggling. Send good thoughts, friends!! #TeamTrakkers #IMSG marathon to go!!!

[OakLeaf]

Hang in there Kacie! You've totally got this!

[Red Rock]

Saw Kacie as she was finishing bike/run transition....she said it was hilly around here. After speaking with her DH he thought that was a bit hillarious as well. Humoe when your suffering. Almost 20 to 6 PM here...still very hot outside, probably will be until the sun goes down. Think she is doing better now. Stomach was bothering her.

[emily_in_nc]

I've been following her times here: http://tracking.ironmanlive.com/newsearch.php?rid=348&y=2011&race=event%2Fironman%2Fst.george&athlete=92&sex=&division=&country=&rank=&sort=&dir=asc

She started so strong on the bike, but probably hit the hills and heat and slowed down (not surprising!) Looks like she's struggling on the run starting out. I can only imagine how very difficult it must be. Heck, I struggle running just a few miles and can't imagine running a marathon, much less after a century+ bike ride and long swim too. :eek:

No matter what, she is a hero!

[colby]

BIKE SPLIT 3: 112 mi 46 mi (3:15:41) 14.10 mi/h
TOTAL BIKE 112 mi (7:24:39) 15.11 mi/h 1077 21

RUN SPLIT 1: 6 mi 6 mi (1:20:35) 13:25/mi

Kacie's struggling a bit on the run, hang in there - just take it easy, at least get some electrolytes and calories in. The temp's going to start going back down, the sun's going to start setting. You've got plenty of time, but you won't need it - after it starts cooling, you'll be able to start running again.

Go, Kacie, go!

[Blueberry]

Looks like her run is speeding up!!

RUN SPLIT 2: 11 mi 5 mi (1:03:00) 12:36/mi

Yay Kacie!! Keep it up!!

[Pedal Wench]

Run, Kacie, RUN!!!!!

[colby]

Twitter says 10k to go! Kacie Darden, you are an Ironman!! :D

[Bike Chick]

She's got it licked! Go Kacie!

[colby]

She made it, of course. :D

Congrats, Kacie. It was a very tough day, evidenced by how far you moved up the ranks from swim to bike to run even considering you added 2 hours from your last IM. (ETA: That sounds horrible, but you know what I mean. You did awesomely, but I bet it was a day FULL of DNFs.) When the weather is bad, you change your game plan, you start over, you adapt. That is what makes you Iron.

Enjoy the best meal of your life in the morning. It's always my favorite part other than hearing "you are an Ironman" and taking my finisher picture. No matter what you eat, it'll be the best thing you've ever eaten. ;)

[Red Rock]

Kacie,

Great, Great job yesterday. You were awesome especially on the bike and run. I'm so glad you were able to finish even when you perhaps thought you weren't going to make it. I've seen this now for two years and I still can't wrap my head around the fact that someone can do all of that in a day. Not only that you were a part of the few, the pround, your a woman finisher.

May you have a more relaxing Summer and Fall now that IMSTG is over.

Happy eating.

Red Rock

[Pika]

Awesome job Kacie!!! You finished THE toughest ironman out there and I bet you had a smile on your face doing it:) Looks like it was a tough day for so many...enjoy your accomplishment and breakfast of course!!

[OakLeaf]

Woohoo Kacie!

You rock. You seriously rock.

[Tri Girl]

Congrats, IM Kacie!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D:D
Tough, tough, tough!!!! That's pretty much the same course as Silverman, correct? My friend has done that race the last 5 years. TOUGH course!!!
SO proud of you!!!!
Congrats, girl!!!!!!!

[emily_in_nc]

Congratulations, Kacie! I am in awe of your accomplishment! :p :)

[GLC1968]

Wow, Kacie - so impressive! You definitely have the guts of an IRONMAN. You pulled it out and I'm so proud!!

Congratulations!

[indysteel]

Wow, Kacie. As a non-triathlete, it's hard for me to get my head around training for and completing a tri of any length, let alone an Ironman. What a stupendous accomplishment. I'm sorry the weather conditions didn't cooperate more, but it sounds like you made the best of them. Congrats many times over!!!

[sgf726]

Awesome Kacie, very impressive. I was looking at the course profile and that looks like one tough course. Congrats on completing.

[hulagirl]

Wow! Congrats! As someone just now contemplating a 70.3 next year, I can only imagine the pain, but I've got a pretty good idea. Someday for me. Maybe. You are Ironman!

[kacie tri-ing]

Thanks everyone!

I posted a race report with some pictures on my blog:
http://kacietri-ing.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-asked-for-humble-pie-but-they-only.html

It was a really hard and really long and really hot and really hilly day. I am glad that it is over!

It was awesome to have Red Rock out there cheering for me!

I am still pretty tired after traveling home, but I am enjoying some extra desserts in my life right now. I am hoping for a pretty quick recovery.

[indysteel]

Wow, Kacie. Thanks for posting your report. You are one tough cookie. I understand that you felt humbled, but honestly, you should be extremely proud of yourself.

[tprevost]

Incredible job Kacie! I am so impressed with your mental toughness... Very very well done, you should be so proud of yourself!

[redrhodie]

My favorite part of your report was when you tried make yourself to throw up. That sums it up for me. You are made of something else. Iron. Yeah, iron. :D

[Veronica]

The type of person you are isn't determined by what you do on a good day. It's what do you do when you're having a crappy day. You could still joke and cheer and be happy for your friends. You found the mental strength to keep going and finish what you started, without killing yourself, or bringing back your injuries. You persevered and you should be proud.

I'd hang out with you. :D

Veronica

[Susan Otcenas]

Totally impressed!

[Susan Otcenas]

The type of person you are isn't determined by what you do on a good day. It's what do you do when you're having a crappy day.

+1million :D

[indysteel]

The type of person you are isn't determined by what you do on a good day.

Well said!

[OakLeaf]

Wow. Just wow. What V. said. I'm in awe.

[colby]

The type of person you are isn't determined by what you do on a good day. It's what do you do when you're having a crappy day. You could still joke and cheer and be happy for your friends. You found the mental strength to keep going and finish what you started, without killing yourself, or bringing back your injuries. You persevered and you should be proud.

I'd hang out with you. :D

Veronica

Totally, 100% agree.

I love the race report - I came here after reading it on twitter. Sometimes humble pie is what we eat, but we live to fight another day. ;)

You didn't quit. You smiled. You finished. And you finished with an absolutely respectable time. It's virtually impossible to compare one Ironman to another, even the same course year after year, because in a race like that, there are SO MANY variables and they all get magnified at that scale of distance.

Again, congrats. :)

[katluvr]

Kacie, what more can be said that others have not already posted. I am in awe of you! Seriously you completed an Ironman,an event not many can say they have completed. What a tough course...but u did it. U trained hard and you stuck with it. I am very proud of you and continue to look forward to your postings for you next event!
K

[Bike Chick]

Awesome job, Kacie! I'm so impressed that you were suffering so but kept pushing on. You truly are an Ironwoman!

[GLC1968]

Hmmm, my reply from yesterday is gone?? :confused:

Kacie - thanks for the awesome race report. It really helps me put into perspective my silly little race on Saturday. You certainly showed what you are made of in a situation like that - and like someone else mentioned, it's clearly IRON. I'm very impressed with your fortitude and your strength.

I was actually thinking about you last night in my cycling class when I didn't think I could hit my numbers for the last interval. I thought about what you did on Saturday and realized how silly I was being about a measly 10 minute interval. A healthy dose of HTFU and I managed to pull out the best interval of the night. So...thank you. I needed the reality check. And I won't forget it, either.

You are my hero. :)

[kacie tri-ing]

I am overwhelmed everyone. Seriously. Thank you.

I am really thankful for this community.



I am still pretty tired :-) I just had chocolate cake with my lunch. And then seconds.

I am meeting with my coach tonight over dinner and we are going to be making some decisions about future races....this is always a dangerous time right after a big race. I tend to have to be held back by the coach otherwise I sign up for stupid things!

I am feeling pretty good right now physically, except for the chocolate binges and the narcolepsy I am experiencing!

[spindizzy]

Kacie- I just met my coach for coffee and he told me that he is really having to pull the reigns back on one of his female athletes that tends to sign up for things without a thought to training properly and recovery....

You are an amazing, strong athlete with mental toughness++++. That you perservered when things got tough, it's like what V said. It's what you're made of and that It will only make you stronger.

Congratulations on IM #2 and your courage and strength.

[kacie tri-ing]

Kacie- I just met my coach for coffee and he told me that he is really having to pull the reigns back on one of his female athletes that tends to sign up for things without a thought to training properly and recovery....

You are an amazing, strong athlete with mental toughness++++. That you perservered when things got tough, it's like what V said. It's what you're made of and that It will only make you stronger.

Congratulations on IM #2 and your courage and strength.

Ha! That's funny! I don't actually sign up for things until he agrees to coach me for them...but I do campaign for things that are really really hard :p And sometimes he says yes!