It's been fun... Half Ironman here I come!

**KSH** · 10-05-2007, 01:31 PM

Well, we leave EARLY tomorrow morning to drive to my boyfriend's parents house. We are staying there as the race is about a 30 minute drive from there.

I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Sure, I would be more ready if I could have ran the past month... but hey, it is what is is. There are plenty of athletes who go into a race with an injury, etc. If they can do it, so can I.

Here is what I HOPE to do....

Swim: 40 minutes. I want to make sure I pace myself and feel fresh out of the water.

T1- 8 minutes. I will be drying off and applying sunblock (spray, but still).

Bike: 4 hours/15 mph average. I'm aiming low on my average with the hills and wanting to leave some for the run. I am also factoring in a break off the bike. I will have to get off and stretch my back at some point. Once on the bike, my focus will be listening to my body. I know when I'm working too hard and when I'm riding without a lot of effort. My goal is to get off the bike fresh, not dead.

T1- 8 minutes. I will be body gliding the feet and prepping for a long and comfortable run.

Run: 3 hours/15 minute mile. Again, I'm aiming pretty low. I'm pretty sure I can keep around 13-14 minute miles with a lot of walking and some running.

So... it looks very close to 8 hours for me. I don't have any delusional thoughts of being fast out there.

Thanks for all the support and kind words along the way. I'm just ready to get the race over and done with... so I can be lazy for a couple of months... before the Ironman training kicks in!

**roadie gal** · 10-05-2007, 01:46 PM

Good luck!

Give us a report when you get back.

**Running Mommy** · 10-05-2007, 02:05 PM

You know I'll be thinking about you out there Girlie!
Go rock that course!

**Tri Girl** · 10-05-2007, 03:17 PM

Good luck KSH!!! I'll be sending you speedy racing vibes. I'm sure you're going to do much faster than you've anticipated on the 3 legs, but it's good to give yourself some wiggle room, cuz you never know what race day will hold for you!

Good luck, friend! Can't wait to hear how it goes (and BF better be taking lots of pics for us girls to see).

**HillSlugger** · 10-05-2007, 04:51 PM

Good luck. You'll be great!

**teigyr** · 10-05-2007, 06:49 PM

Good luck and have fun! I like your attitude but I bet you do better than you think you will.

And ditto on the pictures

**Wahine** · 10-05-2007, 07:38 PM

I hope you have a great day out there KSH, it's a long time coming. Maybe you'll even surprise yourself.

An 8 hour day is a looooooong day, eat well and stay hydrated. You'll do great.

Most important is to have fun.

**rocknrollgirl** · 10-06-2007, 03:35 AM

Good Luck. I will send you some good race day vibes. Have a great time. Enjoy every min. You have worked really hard.

Ruth

**mtbdarby** · 10-06-2007, 08:38 AM

Go KSH!!! I hope you're doing great and enjoying yourself - can't wait to hear how it goes.

**tattiefritter** · 10-06-2007, 02:09 PM

Ooh when is the race, is it Sunday? I'm totally out of sync here with time zones and what not, will read to try to find out.

Anyway, good luck KSH, you've worked so hard I'm in awe, I mithered all the way up the climb on my trail race today before I finally kicked my own butt and started enjoying it, hope you enjoy yours from the off, do not let any negativity in, its poisonous.

**tygab** · 10-07-2007, 05:37 AM

Go KSH Go! Sending good race thoughts!

**light_sabe_r** · 10-07-2007, 12:54 PM

Hope everything's going to plan! ^_^ Sending some last minute "You're probably on the run right now" good luck thoughts your way

**KSH** · 10-07-2007, 05:31 PM

Thanks for all the well wishes and good vibes ladies!

I ROCKED IT TODAY!

Total race time: 7:11:30 (the seconds are not exact, but who cares).

That's right, beat my time by 49 minutes!

I'll type up a full RR and post it up later. Pictures? Well, my camera's battery died after he took 2 pictures of me in the water. Sucks!!!! But some of my friends out there took pictures of me so I might have those.

Boyfriend was great though. Really helped me out and cheered me on. He even had a shirt made, "Suck it up buttercup! (Go Karen)". How sweet... huh? He has 6 more to pass out at my IM. HA!

In closing, I would like to say I LOVED THE RACE! I had a great time, was never miserable and really enjoyed the distance. I felt that the swim and bike were easier than the Olympic I did. The run... eh... the walk was just about the same but longer. I truly had fun doing it.

**Running Mommy** · 10-07-2007, 05:41 PM

YAY!!!!! I've been thinking about you all day!
Can't wait to hear the full report! You did GREAT!!!!
YAY YAY YAY!!!! (insert pic of Denise clapping and cheering)

**Tri Girl** · 10-07-2007, 05:51 PM

Awesome KSH! I KNEW you'd beat your goal time! I can't wait to hear all about it!!!!!! Congrats!!!

...and what a sweet BF- I'm sure the shirts were cool!

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