IMAZ 06, Let the party begin...

[Lise]

I am so excited for you! Swag! Clams spent! Posing with the M-dot! AAAAAHHHHHH! My favorite part of any race !

You look great, your bike is gorgeous, and the energy of the race will carry you through. You've trained, you've rested, you're healthy, you've got so much support--have a GREAT TIME!!!

Would you please post an estimation of when you think you'll be taking off--in T1--in T2--crossing the finish line. And then...AZ is what? Two hours behind Central time? I would hate to miss you because I goofed the time calculations, for which I am famous. Thanks.

Thinking of you much, and enjoying it vicariously! Have a blast with Tracy and Melisa, too--only wishing I could be there! Tell you what, if I deliver a baby while you're on the course, I'll insist that they name it Denise. Boy or girl. Only seems fair! L.

[btchance]

good luck, good luck, good luck. I know you'll do great. I'll be thinking of ya while I watch my friend do the Powerman duathlon the same day. Let us know how it went.

[Trekhawk]

Good luck for the weekend. We will be thinking of you.

[Nanci]

Just standing next to the freaking mdot would cause my heart to fail...Be sure to save many more clams for finisher merchandise!!! Geez, I don't even know what to say, except you have way more cajones than me...

Nanci

[Running Mommy]

Unless something wierd happens, and this is Ironman... Even the motto is 'Anything is possible"... Sooo... ya never know...
But I have been VERY consistant in training, so my times should be pretty even... Remember that Seinfeld where no matter what he did Jerry came out even? Even steven.. lol Well, thats me. I have one speed. Mine. Slow to some, fast to a very select few, normal to me..
Oh and our time zone. Well technically we are mountain time. But since we don't play the daylight savings time game, right now we are even w/California. So think of it as pacific time. Two hours ahead of central, three of the east coast...
Swim - goes off at 7:00 am. I should be exiting the water anywhere between 8:45 and 9:00. Yeah I'm slow. If I don't make it by 9:20 I'll get pulled and my day will be over.
Bike should be 7.5 hours to 7:75 hours. I hoping for 7.5 and judging from the course should be able to do it. So depending on when I start the bike, just add up 7.5 hours from there and it should be close. Of course, lets not forget possible mechanicals. I can change a tire fine, just not very fast...
Run. Here is the big ???. In training I managed a perfect run/walk combo that came out to 11:30-12:00 minute miles. I should be able to keep that up for at least the first half. My first half should be about 2 hours 40 minutes. Then add on a good few ticks on the last half as I KNOW I'll slow down. This is based on my marathon history. So first 13.1 should be 2:40, last 13.1 around 3 hours.
So if you add that all up- figure 2 hour swim + 7.5 hour bike + 5.75 hour swim with a couple of 10 minute transitions somewhere in the 15.5 to 16 houtr range. I would LOVE to be in the 15 hour range and that's what I'm shooting for. But realistically will prolly be closer to 16. Of course as long as I make it by 16:59:59 I'll still be an Ironman and that will be just fine for me!

So there you have it. Don't forget www.ironmanlive.com
Athlete # 794.

And a quick update. Went to dinner w/ the trinewbie folks, some of whom have become friends-locals. It was great. The energy was electric! All of us talking at once! And only a handful of us were actually RACING! ha ha
Saw lots of athletes out training. Wondered what the point of riding at 8:00 pm was?? DUDE, SETTLE DOWN! TAPER!@@@!!!!!!!
Saw some pro's, and just absorbed the energy.
Well, off to bed. Gotta be out the door early to get to the swim in the morning. I never realized how bad the west valley commute traffic really was until this morning! OY!!
Stay tuned for another update tomorrow. And thanks all for your well wishes. I've been bragging about the positive energy here all day! You girls ROCK!
nighty nite...
denise

[Nanci]

Listen to you!!!

What pros are going to be there???

Nanci

[crazycanuck]

Hey denise,

Good luck on sunday!!! I have no idea how to cheer an ironman participant on other than letting them know we're behind them no matter what.

I received the braclets today and am wearing them (ian was quite surprised that i was wearing jewelry). Way cool chickie!

Good luck and i'm looking forward to the stories/story..

cheryl

[Lise]

Thanks, Denise.

I wrote down all your times on a sticky, then converted it 2 hours in the wrong direction. Looked at it. Thought, that's not right! I swear, I have a broken part of my brain. Anyhoo...the good news is that you'll cross the finish line before I go into work--I start at midnight PST. I was worried that I might not be able to be near a computer at work. No worries, I'll be right here at home, glued to the screen!

I had to smile at Nanci (who just rode the distance from Chicago to Mpls on her bike) commending Denise (who's put in an amazing number of hours and miles training for an incredibly demanding event). You both have my admiration and respect. I can barely fathom doing the endeavors you've done/will soon do. But that's how it is with what we've come to love, right?

Looking forward to it all, vicariously!

Lise