Running Mommy
04-10-2006, 02:40 PM
Saturday night.. hop into bed by 9:30, immediately go to sleep... snoozzeee- visions of finishers medals DANCE in my head...:p
Sunday morning.. Wake up at 2:40 am. Well at least I got solid sleep what little I *did* get.. Go up at 3:30. Had a bowl of chex cereal, a banana, a pria bar, and a bottle of cyto/pro cocktail.. Had the feeling I'd be sick of the cocktail by the end of the day...
4:30 am, Got the bags in the truck and out we went. I remembered everything, the husband however did not. He forgot his phone! argh! So I begged off a cell phone from someone to call my cousin at home to have her bring it.
Walked over to the race site. Butterflies in the tummy, but pretty calm. Amazing considering how I've been lately!:D
Got body marked... "how old are you"... Uhh hmm oh "37"..I forgot my age! SO maybe I *was* nervous!
Went to the bike and pumped my tires, put my nutrition on the bike. Had some silent words with my bike about keeping me safe and not flatting. Had a bazillion people beg my pump off me. I was trying to have good bike karma and said sure, but finally had to start saying no or I would have been there forever. Threw the pump over the fence to Tony and headed over to my transition bags. Those were already there, but I had to add some things like glasses and water to my camelback. Got done w/ that then stood for 5 or so minutes making small nervous talk before I donned the human rubber band. At 6:20 they called us all to the edge of the transition area to get ready to get in the water. Said to the girl next to me " I wish I had as much confidence in myself as my family and friends do".
AT 6:30 the pros went into the water.
At 6:45 after the pros started. we were instructed to jump in and swim to the start line.
At 6:50 I jumped in as Mike Reilly said "you better get in. You have 10 minutes to swim the 200 or so yards to the start." I seeded my self pretty close to the start, but there was really no one behind me where I was at. I was on the left by the bouys too. Looked up on the mill ave bridge and spotted my husband. After waving frantically at him he FINALLY saw me! So he got video footage of me. cool!
At 7:00 BOOM!!! And off we go. Had to keep my head out of the water and swim around old men for the first few yards, but it loosend up quickly. Was swimming smooth and noticed that I was making progress. I just concentrated and went to town. Finally hit the far bridge and thought the turn around was close.. HA!! It went on forever. I kept being pulled to the left so I did alot of zig zagging to get on the right side of the bouys. OY!
HIt the turn, glanced at my watch 7:54 am. COOL! I was on target. Seemed like forever to get back, again zig zag, zig zag... ANd the current under the bridge seemed to push me back. About three quarters of the way in I got a calf cramp! ARGH! NOT FUN in water!! Had to stop. The kayaker came over and I said "I'm ok, just a calf cramp. I'm fine". Didn't want to take help and risk a DQ. Started swimming again.
Hit the steps at 1:59 and change... Not happy, but not horrible. I accomplished goal #1. Make the swim cut off.
Got help getting out of the water. Muttered to the volys that I was cramping.
They stripped me. Very cool! They are FAST!
Heard Mike Reilly say "Denise Amos from Goodyear AZ is out of the water. Have fun out there girl. Be safe" COOL! I love him!
Saw Tracy and gave her the big ol wave
Headed to the change tent.
The nice voly grabbed my bag and ushered me in. I yelled "LYNN. I need LYNN". She's my friend from TNO. She came running over and helped me. Oh she was an angel from heaven. She did everything I asked. She is the best anyway. But yesterday.. Oh she was my angel..
Gave Lynn a big hug and headed out. Told her "I'll see you in 8 hours"..
They called my number out to the bike handlers and they were holding her in the ready position when I got there. Not that there were really any bikes there. DOH! :rolleyes:
Hit the road and felt strong. Didn't feel any ill effects from having just swam 2.4 miles. COOL!
Heard "GO DENISE" as I rounded the corner. Knew as soon as I passed that it was Melisa. COOL! All this love!! I'm not worthy...
Got passed by a TON of pros heading out for their second lap.. Sigh.. I'm so slow! But I was making good time. Trying to remember to eat and drink, esp. since it was really warming up.
Was happy w/ my first loop in 2.5 hours. Thought I could maintain it, but with the stops I had to make it was not to be. Had to make a pee stop. Now I don't know if you've ever tried to negotiate a porta potty, on a hill, in bike cleats...It was a near disaster! :eek:
Kept saying to myself " I can't believe I'm riding my bike in an IRONMAN!!'
Then stopped to fill my camelback w/more water and reload my aero bottle.
Hot cytomax... YUM!!
Mile 62, coming up a hill cramp #1 hits. OH NO!! I say to myself. Must injest more salt. Start trying to dig out my thermolytes and pretzels but my bike was being blown around.. Did I mention it was getting windy?? So I stopped. Figured I needed to take action. Ended up stopping 4 times total in all the loops. SO I lost some time. Esp since my fingers decided to cease working. Hard to open the camelback clasp with gelly fingers. UGH
Had some low spots. Tummy not taking the hot cyto. Kept going.. PEDAL< PEDAL< PEDAL....
All the sudden on my last lap I see my friend Bob who passed away last year pop into my head. "C'mon AMOS. Keep going. You can do it. Your NUTS. But you can do it" in his funny Brooklynease...
Thought about my friends mom. Thought about how you guys were tracking me and wondering what was going on.
While on the bike I kept saying to myself " I LOVE this! This is the funnest race ever!". Saw my family at the turn around for each loop and they yelled for me. Saw Tracy on the last loop.
Had Michellie Jones (pronounced Mick- E-LEE) come by and say "Good job girl". Yelled "Kiss some asz Michellie" and got the thumbs up.
Also had Heather Golnick tell me to keep going. I looked strong. AMAZING! Even the pros are encouraging! It seemed like everyone that passed me had nice words. And let me tell you. On a three loop course I got passed Alot!!
Saw the aftermath of a bike accident. Two nice bikes splayed on the side of the road and people on body boards. Saw lot's of people sagging off, or melting under the trees. Truely done for the day. Did I mention it was 88-90 degrees yesterday? And by the last loop it had gotten quite windy. Like a blow dryer. Hot wind.
Knew I had a bike cutoff so watched my watch carefully. Knew I should be ok, but didn't want to chance it.
On my way back down the hill saw the sag wagon following the last rider up the hill.
5:13 pm. Hit transition. Got my bag and to the change tent.
Again, yelled for Lynn. Told her my fingers weren't working. Also told her that I was only giving myself 10 minutes to be in and out. Munched some pringles, drank some water, and was OUT!
5:23 out of T2. Looked for family.. hmmm.. were are they??
Tried to run but it immediately became apparent that my stomach would not let me. It had gone south. Started immediately on broth w/a water chaser and cola. Also grabbed cold sponges and stuck them in my bra. Put ice in my cap. It was HOT!!! Did the best I could trying to run, but did the math on whether I could make the cut off w/ 15 minute miles. I'm a slow runner, but an even slower walker. Was CONVINCED that I was not going to make the cut off. But kept plugging. Trying to find that magic formula. By the end of loop 1 the stomach was cooperating- kinda. Tried to run more and took a bit of time off my first loop. Then the calf cramps hit. It became "run as far as you can. Stop and walk, then run again".. At each aid station it was "broth, cola, water, ice". Traded out sponges a few times. And the mantra "walk w/ purpose"..
Did I mention that this course had a TON of hills?? It was a tough course.
Everytime I saw my family I told them I didn't know if I'd make it. I seriously doubted I would.
Did some more "fuzzy math" and realized if I made the 18 mile run cut off by 10:00 I could prolly make it. Made it w/ 10 minutes to spare. By now I was reduced to "run to the next light pole then walk, run to the next, walk, repeat. Actually had some company on my last loop.. Saw a guy at mile 20 that was struggling. Right after I gave him some encouraging words I heard him puking. HARD.
Hit mile 20 and looked at the guy next to me " I didn't come 20 miles into this thing not to finish".. Started really trying to run. Cramping bad. Tried to focus on fast walking. Really went inside myself and focused on the task at hand. Didn't worry about aches and pains. Even the blister I felt pop in my shoe.:eek: I felt nothing.
Kept thinking of the thing on the 2004 Kona coverage where the announcer says "She knows what a mother needs to do to get there".
Could hear Mike Reilly from all over the course. Concentrated on what it would feel like to hear him call my name. Focused. focused, focused.
Hit mile 25 with nearly 30 minutes to go. Tried to run. UGH. Legs not cooperating. All the sudden my husband pops out of nowhere. He starts running with me. Tell him I can get DQ'ed for outside assistance so he falls in back behind me and follows from a distance. Then he says " I'll meet you on top of the bridge". He's there w/ the video camera. Whadda guy!
We start run/walking the last little bit. But I'm dying. Run down the hill towards the chute.Realize my glow stick is around my neck. Rip it off quickly. See the guy call my number up to Mike Reilly. I look at the gate guy and I say " I F-ing MADE IT" He laughs and says "Yeah, with nine minutes to spare".
I turn for the chute and go NUTS!! The crowd is cheering like I'm a rock star and I just lose it! I'm waving my arms wildly and I'm in utter shock that I'm about to break the tape! I reach over and grab Mike Reillys hand. He says my name but not "You are an Ironman"... Had I been THINKING I would have stood there and coaxed it out of him". :D
Crossed the line and was "caught" by a sweet lady. She put a heat sheet on and my medal. Then got me water. Asked if I was ok. Said I looked better than alot of the earlier finishers.
Tony was right there takig pictures. Had my "official" picture taken. It's really bad! ha ha
Talked for a few minutes. Tracy and the kids were there. Saw some friends from TNO. But I started fading fast. Talked to Nanci on the phone! 3:00 am her time and she was soo chipper!!
Started feeling pukey on the way home.
Got in the house and headed for the potty. My body was trying to trow up but there was nothing in there. Took a compazine. Ate some crackers and water and went to bed. Feeling so proud of my self for having the fortitude to pull this out.
This morning Tony delivered me advil in bed.
Other than a rash of blisters on my feet I'm fine. A bit sore, but not all that bad.
Went down to pick up my photos from the race site and stopped by the post race banquet. They were getting ready for Kona roll down. Had two people tell me that I was on the video they showed of late night finishers. This woman gave me a hug and said "you were so cute. Everyone was cheering for you". DANG!! And I missed it!! So now I need to try to get a copy!!
Anyway, thanks for all your support my iron readers!! You guys are the best! My cousin was so impressed w/ the nice folks like Tracy and Nanci who she met through me. She may even come out of the shadows and register... :D
And my closing thoughts.... If you have a dream, don't discount yourself. At least give it a try. Do the work it takes to achieve the dream. If it doesn't happen, well at least you tried. But if you really want it. And I mean REALLY want it... I bet you'll get there!
As the Ironman logo says "anything is possible"....
Rock on!
Denise :)
Sunday morning.. Wake up at 2:40 am. Well at least I got solid sleep what little I *did* get.. Go up at 3:30. Had a bowl of chex cereal, a banana, a pria bar, and a bottle of cyto/pro cocktail.. Had the feeling I'd be sick of the cocktail by the end of the day...
4:30 am, Got the bags in the truck and out we went. I remembered everything, the husband however did not. He forgot his phone! argh! So I begged off a cell phone from someone to call my cousin at home to have her bring it.
Walked over to the race site. Butterflies in the tummy, but pretty calm. Amazing considering how I've been lately!:D
Got body marked... "how old are you"... Uhh hmm oh "37"..I forgot my age! SO maybe I *was* nervous!
Went to the bike and pumped my tires, put my nutrition on the bike. Had some silent words with my bike about keeping me safe and not flatting. Had a bazillion people beg my pump off me. I was trying to have good bike karma and said sure, but finally had to start saying no or I would have been there forever. Threw the pump over the fence to Tony and headed over to my transition bags. Those were already there, but I had to add some things like glasses and water to my camelback. Got done w/ that then stood for 5 or so minutes making small nervous talk before I donned the human rubber band. At 6:20 they called us all to the edge of the transition area to get ready to get in the water. Said to the girl next to me " I wish I had as much confidence in myself as my family and friends do".
AT 6:30 the pros went into the water.
At 6:45 after the pros started. we were instructed to jump in and swim to the start line.
At 6:50 I jumped in as Mike Reilly said "you better get in. You have 10 minutes to swim the 200 or so yards to the start." I seeded my self pretty close to the start, but there was really no one behind me where I was at. I was on the left by the bouys too. Looked up on the mill ave bridge and spotted my husband. After waving frantically at him he FINALLY saw me! So he got video footage of me. cool!
At 7:00 BOOM!!! And off we go. Had to keep my head out of the water and swim around old men for the first few yards, but it loosend up quickly. Was swimming smooth and noticed that I was making progress. I just concentrated and went to town. Finally hit the far bridge and thought the turn around was close.. HA!! It went on forever. I kept being pulled to the left so I did alot of zig zagging to get on the right side of the bouys. OY!
HIt the turn, glanced at my watch 7:54 am. COOL! I was on target. Seemed like forever to get back, again zig zag, zig zag... ANd the current under the bridge seemed to push me back. About three quarters of the way in I got a calf cramp! ARGH! NOT FUN in water!! Had to stop. The kayaker came over and I said "I'm ok, just a calf cramp. I'm fine". Didn't want to take help and risk a DQ. Started swimming again.
Hit the steps at 1:59 and change... Not happy, but not horrible. I accomplished goal #1. Make the swim cut off.
Got help getting out of the water. Muttered to the volys that I was cramping.
They stripped me. Very cool! They are FAST!
Heard Mike Reilly say "Denise Amos from Goodyear AZ is out of the water. Have fun out there girl. Be safe" COOL! I love him!
Saw Tracy and gave her the big ol wave
Headed to the change tent.
The nice voly grabbed my bag and ushered me in. I yelled "LYNN. I need LYNN". She's my friend from TNO. She came running over and helped me. Oh she was an angel from heaven. She did everything I asked. She is the best anyway. But yesterday.. Oh she was my angel..
Gave Lynn a big hug and headed out. Told her "I'll see you in 8 hours"..
They called my number out to the bike handlers and they were holding her in the ready position when I got there. Not that there were really any bikes there. DOH! :rolleyes:
Hit the road and felt strong. Didn't feel any ill effects from having just swam 2.4 miles. COOL!
Heard "GO DENISE" as I rounded the corner. Knew as soon as I passed that it was Melisa. COOL! All this love!! I'm not worthy...
Got passed by a TON of pros heading out for their second lap.. Sigh.. I'm so slow! But I was making good time. Trying to remember to eat and drink, esp. since it was really warming up.
Was happy w/ my first loop in 2.5 hours. Thought I could maintain it, but with the stops I had to make it was not to be. Had to make a pee stop. Now I don't know if you've ever tried to negotiate a porta potty, on a hill, in bike cleats...It was a near disaster! :eek:
Kept saying to myself " I can't believe I'm riding my bike in an IRONMAN!!'
Then stopped to fill my camelback w/more water and reload my aero bottle.
Hot cytomax... YUM!!
Mile 62, coming up a hill cramp #1 hits. OH NO!! I say to myself. Must injest more salt. Start trying to dig out my thermolytes and pretzels but my bike was being blown around.. Did I mention it was getting windy?? So I stopped. Figured I needed to take action. Ended up stopping 4 times total in all the loops. SO I lost some time. Esp since my fingers decided to cease working. Hard to open the camelback clasp with gelly fingers. UGH
Had some low spots. Tummy not taking the hot cyto. Kept going.. PEDAL< PEDAL< PEDAL....
All the sudden on my last lap I see my friend Bob who passed away last year pop into my head. "C'mon AMOS. Keep going. You can do it. Your NUTS. But you can do it" in his funny Brooklynease...
Thought about my friends mom. Thought about how you guys were tracking me and wondering what was going on.
While on the bike I kept saying to myself " I LOVE this! This is the funnest race ever!". Saw my family at the turn around for each loop and they yelled for me. Saw Tracy on the last loop.
Had Michellie Jones (pronounced Mick- E-LEE) come by and say "Good job girl". Yelled "Kiss some asz Michellie" and got the thumbs up.
Also had Heather Golnick tell me to keep going. I looked strong. AMAZING! Even the pros are encouraging! It seemed like everyone that passed me had nice words. And let me tell you. On a three loop course I got passed Alot!!
Saw the aftermath of a bike accident. Two nice bikes splayed on the side of the road and people on body boards. Saw lot's of people sagging off, or melting under the trees. Truely done for the day. Did I mention it was 88-90 degrees yesterday? And by the last loop it had gotten quite windy. Like a blow dryer. Hot wind.
Knew I had a bike cutoff so watched my watch carefully. Knew I should be ok, but didn't want to chance it.
On my way back down the hill saw the sag wagon following the last rider up the hill.
5:13 pm. Hit transition. Got my bag and to the change tent.
Again, yelled for Lynn. Told her my fingers weren't working. Also told her that I was only giving myself 10 minutes to be in and out. Munched some pringles, drank some water, and was OUT!
5:23 out of T2. Looked for family.. hmmm.. were are they??
Tried to run but it immediately became apparent that my stomach would not let me. It had gone south. Started immediately on broth w/a water chaser and cola. Also grabbed cold sponges and stuck them in my bra. Put ice in my cap. It was HOT!!! Did the best I could trying to run, but did the math on whether I could make the cut off w/ 15 minute miles. I'm a slow runner, but an even slower walker. Was CONVINCED that I was not going to make the cut off. But kept plugging. Trying to find that magic formula. By the end of loop 1 the stomach was cooperating- kinda. Tried to run more and took a bit of time off my first loop. Then the calf cramps hit. It became "run as far as you can. Stop and walk, then run again".. At each aid station it was "broth, cola, water, ice". Traded out sponges a few times. And the mantra "walk w/ purpose"..
Did I mention that this course had a TON of hills?? It was a tough course.
Everytime I saw my family I told them I didn't know if I'd make it. I seriously doubted I would.
Did some more "fuzzy math" and realized if I made the 18 mile run cut off by 10:00 I could prolly make it. Made it w/ 10 minutes to spare. By now I was reduced to "run to the next light pole then walk, run to the next, walk, repeat. Actually had some company on my last loop.. Saw a guy at mile 20 that was struggling. Right after I gave him some encouraging words I heard him puking. HARD.
Hit mile 20 and looked at the guy next to me " I didn't come 20 miles into this thing not to finish".. Started really trying to run. Cramping bad. Tried to focus on fast walking. Really went inside myself and focused on the task at hand. Didn't worry about aches and pains. Even the blister I felt pop in my shoe.:eek: I felt nothing.
Kept thinking of the thing on the 2004 Kona coverage where the announcer says "She knows what a mother needs to do to get there".
Could hear Mike Reilly from all over the course. Concentrated on what it would feel like to hear him call my name. Focused. focused, focused.
Hit mile 25 with nearly 30 minutes to go. Tried to run. UGH. Legs not cooperating. All the sudden my husband pops out of nowhere. He starts running with me. Tell him I can get DQ'ed for outside assistance so he falls in back behind me and follows from a distance. Then he says " I'll meet you on top of the bridge". He's there w/ the video camera. Whadda guy!
We start run/walking the last little bit. But I'm dying. Run down the hill towards the chute.Realize my glow stick is around my neck. Rip it off quickly. See the guy call my number up to Mike Reilly. I look at the gate guy and I say " I F-ing MADE IT" He laughs and says "Yeah, with nine minutes to spare".
I turn for the chute and go NUTS!! The crowd is cheering like I'm a rock star and I just lose it! I'm waving my arms wildly and I'm in utter shock that I'm about to break the tape! I reach over and grab Mike Reillys hand. He says my name but not "You are an Ironman"... Had I been THINKING I would have stood there and coaxed it out of him". :D
Crossed the line and was "caught" by a sweet lady. She put a heat sheet on and my medal. Then got me water. Asked if I was ok. Said I looked better than alot of the earlier finishers.
Tony was right there takig pictures. Had my "official" picture taken. It's really bad! ha ha
Talked for a few minutes. Tracy and the kids were there. Saw some friends from TNO. But I started fading fast. Talked to Nanci on the phone! 3:00 am her time and she was soo chipper!!
Started feeling pukey on the way home.
Got in the house and headed for the potty. My body was trying to trow up but there was nothing in there. Took a compazine. Ate some crackers and water and went to bed. Feeling so proud of my self for having the fortitude to pull this out.
This morning Tony delivered me advil in bed.
Other than a rash of blisters on my feet I'm fine. A bit sore, but not all that bad.
Went down to pick up my photos from the race site and stopped by the post race banquet. They were getting ready for Kona roll down. Had two people tell me that I was on the video they showed of late night finishers. This woman gave me a hug and said "you were so cute. Everyone was cheering for you". DANG!! And I missed it!! So now I need to try to get a copy!!
Anyway, thanks for all your support my iron readers!! You guys are the best! My cousin was so impressed w/ the nice folks like Tracy and Nanci who she met through me. She may even come out of the shadows and register... :D
And my closing thoughts.... If you have a dream, don't discount yourself. At least give it a try. Do the work it takes to achieve the dream. If it doesn't happen, well at least you tried. But if you really want it. And I mean REALLY want it... I bet you'll get there!
As the Ironman logo says "anything is possible"....
Rock on!
Denise :)