IMAZ 7

after crossing the finish line i got my medal, space blanket, hat and shirt...got my picture taken...saw my parents...my dad gave me a little box (my very own m-dot necklace!)...i found j and my in-laws and headed over to the food tent...charles was there too...he said "what do you need" at that point i really had no clue what i needed...he got me a water...then i was walking over to some tables...i couldn't tell if i wanted to sit or stand or what...some one brought me a coke on ice...that was the best thing ever...i wanted more...some one brought me more...

i was so happy to be surrounded by my family...it was such an amazing moment to be there having just crossed the finish line of an ironman...with them...then my personal cheering squad arrived...carrie, rhonda, alisa and catherine all with very kind words and big hugs and smiles...got updated on where the rest of my team-mates were out on the course...i heard it...but none of it really soaked in...everyone was out on the run and that is what i needed to know...

j had already gotten my bike and transition bags taken care of...carrie brought me my dry clothes...and put on my warm-ups and sat for a bit soaking in the moment...then i started to get really tired...and was ready to eat real food...so we gathered everything up...and shuffled me to the car...which thankfully wasn't too far...i said bye to my family...and j and i were off...

we got chinese food (i had planned on that so i didn't have to decide when the moment was here) and a huge diet coke for me (weird since i never drink it in my regular life)...ate and showered...great shower...glad there was a handle to get in and out of the bath

i was feeling bad that i didn't stick around to watch my team-mates cross the line...but i knew they were all going to be well taken care of by our T3 cheering team...they were on my mind for sure...i was totally cheering in my mind :D but couldn't really do much at that point...so i slept for a while...woke up at 1am ate more...slept more...

and that my friends is my race report...it was an amazing experience...that i will most likely do again...(no i didn't sign up for next year)...in a different location...i am very pleased with my outcome...but it was really never about the outcome...the process of getting to this point has been amazing...and if you don't enjoy the process...the two a day work outs...the commitment to a serious training schedule...the seeing your coaches more than your friends (non training friends that is)...then i wouldn't suggest that you train for an event like this...but if that gets you excited...go for it...it is well worth it...that feeling of running down the shoot with all those people cheering...and they were, at that point, all cheering for me...was unlike anything in the world

IMAZ 6

i didn't do my usual dismount with shoes still on the bike because at that point i didn't trust my legs to work right and was not in the mood to crash at the dismount line...it all was fine except i really didn't want to have my bike shoes on anymore...not at all...but i was at my bag before i knew it and into the change tent...same thing as before...i found a volunteer as i was walking up to the tent...we walked over to a chair she dumped my bag and we were off...yeah shoes off...

the tent was a lot less crowded this time...lots of empty chairs but there were other people in there...but i didn't notice anything accept what i needed to do...and that was get out of my tri shorts...i had packed running shorts in my T2 bag but never decided if i would change into them or not...i had run both ways with training and i figured i would know when i got to T2...and for sure i wanted them...and was very happy to have them...changed socks...put on my T3 hat....got my running shoes on...grabbed my hand held water bottle and was out the door to the run...

during the weeks leading up to the big event j kept saying to me...you know it's not going to get really hard until the run...i was agreeing with him...but saying yeah after mile 13 it's going to get really hard...well...yeah...those first few mile were not a walk in the park let me tell you...i could feel my quads from the first few steps of the run...yikes...i knew to take it easy coming out of transition...and i don't think i could have hammered it if i had tried...part of that is just getting of the bike and getting on to the run...i always feel like i need a few miles to feel like i know how to run again...then my body starts to remember...

came up to the first aid station on the run...they had a cool system going...one person would run up to you and ask you what you needed...they would sprint off down the length of the aid station and bring it to you...but unfortunately at this point i didn't need anything...i had my gels (8 to be exact) on my race belt and my hand help bottle...i just kept running...this lap i was just checking out the course...it is a complex figure 8 type course that is almost impossible to understand if you are not actually running on it...so i was just ticking off miles...checking out landmarks...remembering where i was in april when i was cheering...finding it cool to see the parts of the course that i didn't see then...

and feeling like i wanted to throw my hand held bottle into the river...it was not making me happy...i was just about to cross over the mill ave bridge...and was hoping to see someone i knew to get rid of it...if not i would just toss it at the next aid station...i grabbed my electrolytes out of the little pocket...stashed it in my jersey pocket...and saw cathy and leah as i came under the bridge...sweet yeah!!!!...so happy to see them...they got the water bottle...i just kept running...figuring they would understand :) (they did)...decided to go with gatorade at every other aid station...and water when i needed to take a gel...

took my first gel at 45 minutes...realized then that i was going to have to force myself to get them down at regular intervals...under normal circumstances i take a gel in two bites (swallow?) drink some water and move on...at this point...i was just nursing the gel...so what i ended up doing was getting water+ice in a cup from the aid station and crimping the top of the cup down to make a little spout out one side...and running with that in one hand and the gel in the other...carried that to the next aid station or trash drop (if i had finished the gel)...then at the next aid station grabbing gatorade+ice doing the same thing with the cup...

now i was on the back half of the right side of the 8...getting on to a portion of the course that i hadn't seen...and yikes...there was a stable for horses or something over there...wow...not really a great smell while running...then i heard my name...it was erin (she was in a car) screaming her lil lungs out for me...that was so great!!!!...i could see the people around me looking in my direction...i was smiling...so happy...just kept running...remembering where things were that i had just run by....getting it all mapped out in my head...then i was back on the other side of the river...and running under the mill ave bridge where i saw my family again!...and was on my second loop...oh yeah...

my legs were ok at this point...but it was more like i had forgotten that they were there...and just kept running...breaking down the course into little parts...make it to here...make it to there...i would run up behind people who were walking and chatting...and realized that i was annoyed with them for chatting about Junior's grades and soccer team...i was feeling like "hey, get your head in the game ladies...this is serious business"...then i would say to myself this is the way they do things...not the way you do things...just run...then you won't have to hear them talking...all the while i am getting in my gel every 45 minutes...sipping gatorade with ice...and loosing my voice...i was trying to figure out why...and realized that i basically had my mouth open with the wind blowing in it for 6 hours on the bike...that will do it...so when i got to aid stations i would yell what i wanted "ICE!!!" and it would come out like ice but everyone at the aid stations helped me get what i needed...

T3 peeps were everywhere...i loved it...it seemed like every turn there was someone...a sign...or a big group of people...getting really excited and cheering...totally awesome to have that much support out there...and in no mans land where there were very few people cheering...yeah team!

i remember this one kid at an aid station like 15 maybe...i had missed the ice...or gatorade or something...and he said "i'll be right back" and sprinted back to where it was and ran up to find me we did the hand of some yards past the aid station...that was awesome...at one point there was a hill...nothing huge or long...but it brought everyone to a walk...i just kept running...i knew that if i stopped and walked it would be so hard to get started again that i would try and convince my self not to do it...so i didn't give myself the option...and ran up the hill...it totally reminded me of running the little grass hill near barton springs after doing 900meter repeats at faster than 5k pace...yeah coach logan!...the middle of this second loop things were tough...i could feel my pace slowing but i was still running...and that meant that i would be done faster than all these people out here walking...i really felt like everyone was walking...i did what chrissie said to do...just ignore them...ok no worries...then i saw the mile 23 marker...it wasn't for me at that point...but just like the 109 mile marker on the bike course...i knew that it would be for me soon...

and then i was coming under the mill bridge again...and saw my family..."knees up" from my mom...handed my sun glasses off to my father in-law "one mile at a time"...absolutely...and was out on lap three...oh my...i was on lap three...sweet...

just a little longer than the 7 mile loop on town lake...ok i can do that...i was trying to figure out where i would pick it up to finish strong...i was trying to think of where i could start so that i could maintain that kicked up pace through to the finish line...i had thought after crossing the last bridge...but then i realized where i was...on the back side of the first loop of the 8 and i was already picking it up a little bit...hit the 20 mile marker...crossed the top of the mill bridge and saw erin screaming for me...yeah!...and i was picking it up a little more...down and around and out along the river...getting that last gel down...telling myself that i was done with gels after that one...made it go down a little easier...just kept chugging along...

then i was on the back of the second part of the loop...coming back along the river to the far bridge...and i knew when i got across that bridge there was just a little over a mile to go...the bridge was far (seemed that way) but i kept telling myself that i can make it to the bridge...then it was getting closer and closer...i was still kicking up my pace...then i was on the bridge...i felt at this point that i was running at a good pace...and just wanted to maintain it through the end...then i was on the "right" side of the river (where transition was) and i was on the last mile of the course...i grabbed an orange at the last aid station i passed...yum...and kept running...i was getting closer and closer and more and more excited...then the arrow for FINISH was for me....holy cow...

ran into the parking lot that i knew was so close...and heard a roar from cathy and leah..."i did it" i said...they were yelling like mad...i loved it...then i was out on the road again...to a huge roar of T3 people..."i did it"....yes you did they said...gave a few high fives...and turned into the finishers shoot..."i did it"...."i can't believe i did it"....people lined the bleachers on both sides...the lights were so bright...my hands were in the air...i was giving high fives as i was running down...and i saw the tape...i raised my hands and ran through..."i did it"

(in the photo of the finish line i'm on the big screen in the back with my arms up)

IMAZ 5

jogged over to the transition area where all the bags were...it was hard to tell where we were coming from so i just started yelling my number...and volunteers were pointing and grabbing my bag for me...i ran up my row...grabbed the bag and ran to the top of the row...where my father-in-law was volunteering and directing traffic...gave him a smooch and headed around the side of the tent...there was a bank of potties right there...no line...i was pleased...so i ducked in one...always a good feeling...grabbed my bag again and headed to the ladies tent...as i was walking up a volunteer made eye contact...perfect...she grabbed my bag and led me over to an empty chair...may i dump your bag...yes you may...she saw my note card...looked at me and said "focus" and handed me my card...nice! i think she's done this before..she held up each item in my bag letting me decided what i needed...yes arm warmers...which i almost didn't take...i was feeling pretty warm but i didn't want to be cold out on the bike...no gloves...lube yes!...shoes...race belt...helmet sunglasses...and i thanked her and was out the door...got my face and shoulders sun screened (i think this should really be a spray booth that you walk through) since i had arm warmers on and jogged down to the bikes...

somewhere near my bike....i started calling my number...and found my row...found a guy at the end of my row...said 2121 and he sprinted down to my bike...un-racked it...and started running towards me...so cool...i said thanks...and took my bike...and jogged out to the center...and out onto the bike course...i remembered from watching in april that the bike mount area was kind of tight...so i ducked to the side...hopped on my bike and mounted clipping in with eyes forward...using some of my amazing bike handling skills to get moving away from the masses...saw j and my parents and some others lining the path out to the course...so amazing to have seen so many people so far yeah....there was a guy running with his bike (he had not even gotten on yet) who had a flat...i thought happy thoughts about my bike (no flats no mechanical)...crossed my fingers...then got aero and got down to business...

the beginning of the course had a few turns in it before getting down to the main portion on the bee line highway...i was happy to have driven the course to know...ok right...left right...left right...then just get comfy...could feel that we were riding into a head wind...and told my self not to push it too hard into the wind because i could count on help on the way back in...my stomach was feeling a little bubbly...mostly gassy (i know more than you want to know...but hay it's a race report)...which happens sometimes after i swim hard...it has happened in other races so i wasn't worried...i just wanted it to go away...and i knew what i needed to do...kept my eyes open to where the aid stations were...avoided the first few staying left as people ducked right to grab food etc...as i started to climb the one hill (more like a roller on parmer...but harder out here when you are riding into a head wind...) i tried to eat a little of the bar that i have as part of my nutrition...one piece every hour was the plan...this had been just fine during training...but wasn't happening for me this day...ok i said...i have enough in my bottles for 6 hours...if all goes well that is all i will need...if not plan b was going to be gels and gatorade out on the course...good...i have a plan just in case...now focus and ride...it wasn't stomach issues that made the bar unappealing it was just too dry...and even adding water wasn't helping...i was good with my decision so i stuck to it..

my speed was starting to slow as i was climbing the hill...i was passing people...saw the leader on the bike go by the other way fast! (he was on the second half of his second lap)...looked down at my computer and was at 12 mph...ugh...reminded myself again that the way back into town would be easier...and i knew that once i hit the top of this hill that the turn was near...crested the hill saw the aid station on the left...(you hit it after the turn)...then i saw the turn!...woot!...and a timing mat...i crossed it thinking of my coaches glued to a laptop somewhere watching my first bike split come it...grabbed a water to fill up my aero bottle....tossed it when i was done...popped it in a big gear and cranked...i easily hit 25, 26, 27mph....and made up for lost time...changed up the cadence...zoom!...made it back to the last aid station before town faster than i expected so that was awesome...i decided to stop...use a potty (hoping this would help my bubbles)...before heading back into town...it helped (one bubble down one to go)...i was worried that i was going to have GI issues...that called for Imodium...but nope...i was relieved...hopped back on the bike...and was doing the turns into town...

saw the buildings on rio salado...and knew that my folks would be around there somewhere...looked at my watch...and realized that i was going to hit just under my A goal time for the lap...then i heard it..."yeah jess kolko"...the whole fam...j included was on the median....woo hoo...made the turn around by mill avenue..crossed another timing mat...and on my right...there was an explosion of cheering...the whole T3 squad was there...it was awesome...saw the folks one more time...then it was back out the way i came...

i told myself just to keep it steady like the last loop...no problems...i knew what was coming...and i knew what i needed to do...kept steady with the nutrition...kept my focus...kept doing what i needed to do...there was some interesting things going on out on the course in the second lap...i saw the aftermath of a crash...which included a shattered disk wheel...a guy in child's pose at an aid station with nutrition scattered all around him...not looking happy...a guy doing the pee off the bike thing that they do in tour de france....and a girl peeing off the bike...yeah...not subtle at all...found myself at the base of the climb...staying with the same program as the last time...sweet...took a sip of nutrition...knew i was hitting that because i was done with my first of two bottles...and i was 1.5 laps in...nice...made the turn around...grabbed water...pulled off for second...switched bottles in my rear cages...and cranked up the big gear again...

it feels good to go fast after climbing a hill...i kept wanting to tell all those people on the other side of the road that it would be ok when they made the turn...then i just started trying to guess what lap people were on...keeping my mind on the course...thinking about where my buddies were out there...boom...i was back in town...looked at a mile marker...they had three mileages on them...one for each lap...the one i saw had 109 on it...that time it wasn't for me but i smiled thinking wow...i'm going to be really excited when it's for me...

saw the fam at the same spot out in the road...and some T3 folks by the turn...then i was headed out on lap three...oh yeah...hit the first aid station for water and another potty stop...i was hoping to get that last bubble gone before the run...pulled up on a volunteer there...he grabbed my bike...asked me if i needed anything while i was in the bathroom...i said no...did my thing..he handed me my bike and i was off again...ironman is awesome...that kind of service is great...that stop did the trick...i was feeling much more comfortable...then i started plying games...well other people were playing games with me (or that is what they were doing in my head :D)...i was trying to get away from them....i would pass...they would pass me...i would pass...they would pass me...the i would get fed up...shift...and get out of there...did that until the hill....i was on the hill for the last time...yeah!...checked my speed and saw that i was at 14...realized that it had been easier...and thought it strange that the wind could have shifted that dramatically in that short of a time...it did...weird...crested the hill...crossed the mat...and was on my way back in!!!!!!!

tried to hit the same speeds as before but wasn't able to with the shift in the wind...i was still above 18 so that was good...i was getting close to hitting my average of 18 for the whole bike and that was making me excited...as i started making the first of the turns into town...i could feel i was tired of sitting on the bike...so i kept my gear big...and did a little biking off the saddle just for a change in position...then i would sit back down again....then back up...did that a few times...and then i was back in town...and the 109 mile marker was for me...i know i had a huge smile on my face...then i was at the dismount line...then they took my bike away...i must have looked nervous that they took my bike because the volunteer said "we will take care of it for you"...nice...and i was off the bike...6h 10m

IMAZ 4

then my dad was off to the airport to pick up my mom...they came back and hung out for a while before they went up to their house in scottsdale...i had thought that i would be just fine at this point...but i was kind of emotional...not nervous i don't think...but just had a lot of tears for no good reason...i think it was just rather overwhelming...too much thinking about what would happen the next day and not enough doing...i was ready to get started...the waiting was killing me...

so j and i decided that it would be best to just stay in the room...get room service (including a large glass of red wine...on advice from coach amy... :)...) yeah for plain pasta with a grilled chicken breast...but what was really amazing was that harry potter and the order of the phoenix was on TV..and had just started...man...that was awesome...a. i love harry potter b. it was so engrossing that i wasn't thinking about the next day c. i was able to sit down and stop pacing which was making j anxious...he fell asleep after dinner...i finished harry potter then watched the end of twister...not a very good movie...but i got to see the part where the cow flew in the air...i had never seen it before...it was also a good distraction...then i went to bed...

i actually slept pretty well...maybe that was just because the alarm was set for 3.10am...ugh...and it was time to get up before i knew it...i made some coffee and started eating...my coaches wanted me to eat ~1000 calories for breakfast...so i started with an odwalla bar...then a bagel with sunflower butter and jelly...then another odwalla bar...i got through one bar about 3/4 of the bagel and couldn't do any more...stuck the second bar in my pocket to try and eat from then until the start...also stuffed a gel in my pocket for before the swim....gathered my nutrition, my pump, wetsuit, goggles and swim cap, and a gallon of water and we were off...

parked easily and walked down to transition...i remember talking but have no idea about what...i was feeling pretty calm (i was surprised by this) and collected...i knew what needed to be done and was happy to be doing instead of thinking...checked my tires and breaks, pumped them up, put my nutrition on the bike, put on the aero bottle and filled it from my gallon, put my wetsuit, goggles and cap on the bike, gave j the pump and headed to the potty and body marking...saw carrie and catherine near the morning clothes bags and chatted with them for a while...yeah!!!...then went to get body marked by the T3 crew of girls over there...yeah!!!...then to drop off my special needs bags...saw little amy on the way over there...then saw erin!!!! (she surprised us all by coming) and richard...then saw j on the way back...all the while i had been trying to eat this bar...then i gave up...i had gotten about half done....but the thought of it was not making me happy...my mouth was dry...etc...so i pitched it and moved on...gave j a smooch and went to get my wetsuit on...

as i checked out my bike for the last time...i looked over at the fence and there were my parents...yeah!...then behind them chris, kevin and ben from T3...got suited up...shoved my clothes in my bag and was off to drop them off on the way to the swim start...gel in had i lined up with all of these other wet suited people...heard the cannon for the pros go off...and started to eat my gel...(eek! ten minutes to go!) i looked down at the gel to squeeze some to the top and noticed my hand was shaking...ok...yikes...here we go...got the gel down...saw erin...i have no idea how she got into that corral with all the athletes...looked up on the bridge and saw my parents...waved good bye and got in the water...

i screamed (like a good excited woo!)...and swam left towards my spot to start...i couldn't really comprehend what was happening...but i could feel that i had a huge smile on my face...looked behind me to see if the huge mass of people was following me...and realized i was all alone over here...ok maybe there were like three or four other swimmers...i got right up to the start line right next to the huge black ford blow-up thing...hung on to a kayak and listened to the crowd of swimmers scream as the voice of ironman told us that this was going to be a day we would remember for the rest of our lives..."do you want to be an ironman today?" then they all roared YEAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! man that was cool...then boom! i hit start on my watch and we were off baby!

on the advice of many who had done this before me i just put my head down and swam...still there was no one around me...i had open water...it was awesome...i just sighted and swam buoy to buoy...not thinking about how far i had to go or what was going on around me...just swimming...doing what i had done in barton springs...count up to 10 strokes sight...then i started making it longer before i would sight...and that seemed to be fine so i kept it about 15...as i was turning my head to breathe i saw that huge hill with ASU on the side of it and i thought wow...i'm swimming by that...and the stadium...cool...sighted and saw a bridge...ok cool going to be swimming into a shadow....then going to come out of it and see where i am...did that...and then there were all these people around...but i just kept swimming...then there were more people...then i sighted again and saw a different colored buoy....i thought no way! i'm at the first turn! sweet...got jammed up in a mass of people...popped my head up and heard "hi jess" seriously...there was charles...hi...how ya doing...weird! out of all those people there he was...paddled around the buoy...looked at my watch...(i couldn't help it...it said 33minutes)...put my head down and swam...the next buoy was not far...i tried to get out past it to turn and was able to swim that turn no problem...then i was on the way back in!

i had to keep reminding myself to focus here...to remember where i was...and to keep my pace going...i could feel my self getting tired...and i know when this happens my stroke starts to fall apart...so i kept trying to concentrate on different things that my coaches had pointed out about my swim...reach deep...watch the hand waver...don't cross the center line of the body...etc...just working on that...sighting and swimming...then my mind would wander...i gave myself a few get your head in the game talks out there...but we got it together and focused...then i could see the third turn buoy...it was still out a way but i could see it...i got excited...and picked it up...made it to the turn...and swam it...there were not that many people at this turn as the first one...then i could see the steps....oh yeah...picked it up...and drove it home...swam to the middle where there was no one...and i nice burly guy to yank me out of the water...i wobbled a bit on the first steps...got to the top saw the clock said 1.14...looked up again...saw a stripper make eye contact...point at me....point at the ground in front of him...i went for it...he pulled my suit off in like a split second pulled me off the ground handed me my suit and said good luck...then i heard my name...saw kevin, chris, ben, j, mom, dad...yikes...that was way cool...then i headed to get my bag....i was done with the swim!!!

IMAZ 3

saturday morning i had my in-laws follow me down to the race site to show them around a bit before i went to swim...i also packed up the bike and the transition bags to drop off later in the morning...so i didn't have to run back and forth to the hotel...and so i could get it done and get out of the area...(the nervous energy was really thick...and it was nice to have a hotel about 2 miles from the action...close enough to get there quickly but far enough to get away from the mess)...

met up with michelle and jane again for the swim...much better...much much better than the day before...a lot less choppy...still cold...but not bad...i was in for about 20 minutes just working out the cobwebs...feeling my head in the cold water...checking out what it was like to swim under the bridges and got out...grabbed my run gear and did a 15 minute run along the water...it was nice to be out of the water and that area before the hoards of people were there...i sat in the sun for a bit after my run...listening to my ipod....and breathing...called my in-laws to see where they were...they were at the volunteer meeting trying to find a spot to work the next day...so i went to grab a latte...met up with michelle and charles again there...and then my in-laws...we chatted for a while...learning what my father-in-law learned about the change tents...cool stuff...then we went to drop off my gear in transition...

my bike was just a block away...so we grabbed my bags...did one last check....tossed the wheel on the bike and walked back down to transition...not too many bikes in there yet...found my rack...i was pretty close to where the bike out would be...and pretty close to the fence and next to some porta potties so i could tell my folks where i would be...took a photo of my bike in it's spot...dropped my bags...and was ready to eat

went to the pub where i had met up with the cheer squad the day before...the food looked good so i was excited...but then realized that it was the day i had to start being very careful not to eat too much fiber...or anything weird...i'm usually pretty good (my stomach is usually very tolerant but i was risking nothing)...so i had a plain grilled chicken sandwich with fries and lots of ketchup...good sodium right???...just as we were finishing up i got a text that j had landed...so we headed back to the hotel...

my dad brought j just as we pulled up so we hung out for a bit dad, j me, in-laws, just chatting...i was glad to have some distraction and company...

IMAZ 2

so after coffee with the team friday i had planned on riding my bike out on the course just for a short time...but things were really congested and riding in that didn't look like too much fun so i switched up the plans a bit...went back to the hotel and packed my transition and special needs bags as much as i could...my dad picked me up around noon we put my bike and gear in his car...wandered around the transition area so he could get a feel for things...ate some lunch and headed out onto the bike course for a drive...

we headed all the way out to the turn around spot...and i geared up out there...told dad to drive a ways down the road (8-10 miles) and i would bike to him...i didn't want to spend a whole lot of time out on the road...and i didn't want to struggle with the wind...which on friday was blowing pretty hard...so i rode downhill with a tail wind...just because i wanted to have a good ride :)...out there i realized that i was pretty dry and decided to start downing gatorade (ugh) and not just water with electrolytes...so i could be up on my hydration when sunday rolled around...pulled over when i saw dad...and packed up the gear and rolled back in to town...

the T3 cheering squad was eating/drinking at a pub in tempe so we stopped by just to say a quick hi...i was gross...and in need of gatorade a lot of gatorade...but really wanted to chill and drink lots of wine...so i had to run away from all that fun :( but it was so nice to see everyone...familiar faces...very important...

back to the hotel to finish packing up the gear bags, get my numbers on my bike and double check the bags v. the lists...all the while drinking several flavors of gatorade...yeah...quick shower then out to the athlete dinner and meeting...i was hoping to meet up with jane and gave her a call on the way over...but no luck...then i saw her just as i was getting in line for food...yeah!...that was really nice...in a sea of people to see her...dinner was actually pretty good...lots of salty carbs...and chicken breast...oh yeah...and more gatorade...jane got to go on stage...as one of two of the biggest losers of the group (weight loss that is)..yeah jane...

then meeting about course stuff...nothing new but good to know...on my way out of there i saw meredith, cathy, leah and claire and their friend they were being sherpa for...yeah!!! more people i knew....walked back with them...then to the hotel...to meet up with j's folks...they had just gotten in to town after a 3 hour flight delay in buffalo...we hung out in my room for an hour or so but then i was ready to get some rest...

IMAZ 1

so i am going to post a few installments of race week/race report so i don't take up too much time procrastinating...since the last day of classes is next friday....oh well..so here is installment one...

thursday morning...j took me to the airport where i checked my bag...slipped through security and was at my gate in no time...a super easy flight...got the car and headed to tempe beach park for registration...i actually got there before registration opened...but just by a few minutes...there was a short line that moved quickly...after telling my number and flashing my usat card i was weighed and sent over to bill my friendly volunteer...he walked me through all the numbers...put on my wrist band...wrote my number on my pink swim cap...and wished me luck...

my plan was to grab my bike...but tri bike was not going to be opened until 1.30 so i went to the local whole foods...ate lunch...got my self acclimated...bought supplies for the week...and headed to the hotel...was able to check in early...organize my thoughts then head back to grab my bike...got it no problem...bag and all then headed north to see my dad...

arrived at his place...unpacked my bike...made sure it was all in working order...hung out and drank some wine and chatted a bit....then headed out to dinner at nick's Italian...the first of many pasta dinners of the week...this one was very yummy...gnocchi with spicy tomato sauce and grilled shrimp...yum...after dinner...i was beat so headed back to the hotel to crash and figure things out for the morning...

friday morning was the first of two practice swims...met up with jane, charles and michelle to get in the water...and have some fun...or something close to that...the water was cold at first and really quite choppy and not all that much fun to swim in....kind of like swimming through boat wake...making you bob up and down as the waves went by...i only spent about 10 minutes in the water...not all that comfortable...i was hoping that the water would improve before sunday...i had heard that the wind would die down and make it less choppy...that is what i had hoped...

got out of the water and saw RD extraordinaire ms. terranova and her hubby :D so nice to see familiar faces...we chatted for a bit while i waited for the rest of my team mates to emerge from the water...then it was off to a sunny and warm spot for coffee...and a nice and rather relaxing chat with jane, michelle and charles...that was a very calming moment for me...much needed...

here we go!

well i'm off to arizona this morning...have been getting really excited in the last couple of days :)...more then likely i will be without computer and Internet until j gets to town on saturday...and well i might just not post much while i'm out of town...i know it's heart breaking...but i will catch you up on the events of the trip when i return...

thanks to everyone for the very supportive e-mails, facebook posts, training sessions, advice, encouragement etc...this has been an amazing experience training for an event of this caliber...most of all i want to thank my very supportive and loving husband for putting up with 6 months of alarm clocks every weekend...twice a day workouts...not so fantastic dinners...messy house...and a wife who more often than not was wearing spandex or running shorts or pajamas...and has not said yes to an invitation from friends to go out since may...thanks bear...you are so amazing for sticking with me through this...i love you...and i promise we can go out together after sunday...

yeah! this is going to be so much fun...don't forget to watch ironman.com on sunday...#2121 :)

barton springs...

i had to get one more barton springs swim in before heading out to arizona...there is something about that place...it is amazing...and i feel very lucky to have it to train in...i mean that is a very cool thing...to have this crazy open waterish place to swim...that is free most of the time...and full of cool creatures...and just the whole place rules...so yeah...did about 2000...imagining myself in tempe town lake...with 2500 of my closest friends...and had a huge smile on my face the whole time...

home for a while in the morning...j was working from home cause he had to wait for the city inspector...so that was fun to have a friend around...then off to chem and chem office hours...yeah...i wasn't really focused on class...my nose was runny...(pesky) and i was rather confused...i'm planning on catching up on my chem reading on the plane...

did some laundry and packing...and got to hang out with amy for a little while...i wish she was coming...but i will (as always) hear her voice in my head while i am racing...you are well prepared for this race...trust your training...transition...slow is smooth, smooth is fast...she has been an amazing friend and inspiration through this whole process...i even remember the day outside of run-tex where i asked her if she thought i could do one of these crazy things...good times...wow that seems like a long time ago...

then i had to swing by the training center...i was feeling cut off from my team...since i haven't seen them twice a day like i normally do...since i started tapering...i was glad i went...got a hug from both my coaches...and well wishes from my teammates...great to be a part of a team...nothing like it...

wow...i'm excited...i'm listening to my IM mix as i type...it is so motivating to me...it starts with bittersweet symphony...and goes right in to hatebreed mind over all ...yikes...

and as j just reminded me...96 hours...again....not that i'm counting

seems a little pointless

but i will tell you anyway about my 20 minute run...wow!...really hard day out there...no seriously...my whole workout for the day was a 20 minute run...3x3minutes building to strong with 2 minutes recovery between...5 minute warm up and 5 minute cool down...i ran on the track that is bout 100 yards from my house...the thing about that track is that well...it is not an oval at all...it is just a circle...it's small and funny....but perfect for just such workouts...it felt good to get my legs moving...and that my friends is very promising...(does everyone feel like they forget how to swim, bike, run during taper or is that just me???)

in the am...i went to the first installment of yoga at the training center...there was enough interest that we were able to bring a teacher in...cool!...it was fun to do some poses again...and i am excited for the whole 6 week session...even if i miss one :( due to it being the day after IMAZ...

so last night as i was adding my 20 minute workout into my training log i found some totals...that i thought i would share...i started keeping track when i started training for the cap tex tri...i think it was march...

Bike:	201h 40m 10s - 3006.39 Mi
Run:	137h 19m 58s - 592.3 Mi
Swim:	95h 35m 49s - 210408.9 Yd
Strength:	39h 20m

seriously...i could have biked from east to west coasts...cool...hard to believe....6 days OMG!

oh and i forgot to add...i got a card in the mail from allison....and an e-mail from my mom...both made me cry...i must say they have no idea how much their words are appreciated...no idea....thanks guys...

weirdness

so this whole tapering thing is crazy...i mean i understand the concept but it really is weird not to have a packed schedule in terms of workouts...i have been mentally preparing my game while i have had time to rest...and eat a lot of animal cookies from whole foods...carb loading is good right?

so friday was the traditional day off...but i had school...then had to drive to leander to drop off the printer to get fixed...weird how stranded i feel without a printer....then to whole foods up north cause it was on my way home...for the standard friday grocery run...going there sometimes makes me happy that i live so close to the downtown mega store...i love that place...then it was brownie to the vet...just for a check up but it's always stressful packing up the pet putting it in the car...having a meow while driving...shots...etc...poor brownie...had an ear infection...so she got some goop put in there that makes her not be able to hear very well...should help...

saturday was supposed to be a 40 mile ride...out on south mopac just to do some work at race pace...however the weather was not really cooperative...i (was the only one) tried to ride out side...the wind was _very_ gusty...i couldn't stay aero at all...so i did one loop and decided to join everyone at the training center for an indoor spin/watch a movie...since i had planned on being outside i didn't have any homework to study...and we were watching some really bad funny (well not really funny at all) movie...made for a boring ride...but at least my new tires got a few miles on them out in the real world...

then it was homework...getting stuff prepared for my exam monday...finishing up my interview questions getting all my maps printed....thanks j for taking me to work to use the printer...then off to pick up the farm share...i love farm share...then to my interview...for my anthropology project...thanks so much for doing that!!! (you know who you are...and shall remain anonymous)...home to eat soup and watch the office with j...

sunday...up around 6.30 to meet up with the group to run...temp was in the high 30's this morning...what!...i know...weird...so not a lot of people showed up...and guess what....i was the one who was doing the least mileage today....amazing....i laughed...then rocked out the 7 mile loop in 59 minutes...got back to my car and found a note written in the dirt that has piled up on the car...yeah!!!...not sure who it was from...but my guess was amy... :) thanks! IMAZ here we come...

home to bubble wrap the bike and pack the bag to go with tri-bike transport...to meet me in AZ on thursday...the bag was checked twice against the list...and ready to go...all important parts were wrapped and the boys at the shop took the pedals off for me...gotta love jack and adams...totally...love those guys...

now i have a case of separation anxiety...but will soon get over that...going to meet up with the gang for a beverage at the chili parlour...oh yeah...and i really have been studying for my test tomorrow....i swear...

spin

morning spin...good workout...then chrissie kicked me off my bike...and told me i was done...sigh...i wanted to be in taper a while ago...and now that i am here i want to keep working out...pesky...

got new tires...and tubes put on my wheels...will ride them this weekend...to test them out...and got all of my last minute supplies...restocked gels, bars, tubes, co2 everything...bought some pitch-able gloves and girls footless tights that i made into disposable arm warmers...getting my tri-bike bag ready with all that stuff that can't get on the plane...

cooked some chicken soup with an asian flair to it...lots of ginger, garlic, and chili paste...with chicken and soba noodles...it was yummy! nice to cook something unplanned...and new i missed it...

if you are looking for me

at IMAZ i'll be #2121


just so you know :D

8 minutes on the track

seriously my workout was soooo short last night...my body is a little freaked out by all the rest...we are so used to moving...i guess that is a good thing...my warm-up running and drills lasted longer than the main set...sigh...

other than that it was a good day...i schooled my chem test with a big ol A...booyeah!...we watched a film in food science about cake and pie making...i am so glad i am a nutrition major this stuff is fun!...and we (well i )got our group anthro project going...

after class and before run i started organizing my lists and getting stuff together for the trip...i have some bags labeled with T1, T2, sp needs bike and sp needs run...i have some items on them ready to go...have to make one last trip to the bike shop for a refill on gels and some other stuff...and thinking about new tires...we will see...

we are getting close here...numbers should be out in the next day or so...oh yeah!

let the madness begin

up at 4.45 for swim practice at lost creek...the distance has been cut so the swim was about 2700 instead of the usual 3200 so i was done by 7am...amazing how much time i have on my hands now...ok it's really not that much...but it feels like so much more...

home for a nice unhurried breakfast...then on to chem studies...tuesday evening exam...so i was getting ready for that...then class...then more study...then...well then i cleaned the house...all rooms...all at one time...and even mopped the floors...all of them...amazing...that has not been done in 6 months...and man it feels nice...

made some dinner..then off to my exam...ught...17 question...2 hours...yeah...it was hard...but less hard than the last two...but still i can know how to do the problems and not come up with an answer that is in the choices...and know that i am doing it right...no question...pesky...oh well...i will keep my fingers crossed

a one workout day...

i am not sure that i can handle this...one workout a day...seems too weird...

am barton spring swim as usual...but it was as chrissie told us...do what feels good...if you question if you should do something you probably shouldn't...so i got in the pool...and swam until i didn't feel like swimming anymore...and got out...i noticed something about myself...i would much rather swim continuously than stop at the ends of the pool...so i did for 35 minutes...getting in just under 2000....got out and was home before j even woke up...

monday is busy...with classes all the way through 10-5pm then run practice right after school...but today there was no run practice...so i didn't even have to drive to school...yeah!...and only had to pack one bag...and got home just after 5pm...and felt a little confused as to what was supposed to be happening...did a little homework...

ate dinner at a normal hour...folded the laundry that was clean and sitting in the hall for a few days...and was in bed early...to read but fell asleep instead..oh well... :)

weekend

friday was an off day...did the usual...groceries and some stuff around the house...carefully avoiding homework for the day...had an exam and needed a bit of a mental break so i took one...ha!...picked up tickets for funfunfun fest at waterloo...cranked up the music when i got home and had fun putting away groceries...hung out with j...we made pizza and watched some old office episodes...the one where they do the rabies 5k (oh man...if you haven't seen this one...its is great)...

saturday was long ride day...a whole 60 miles!...meet up was at 8am...so i totally slept in...there was only a handful of us riding...and i was the only one riding more than 40...so i had the pleasure of riding with coach chrissie...yeah!...i know she probably had to slow it down to ride with me...but i really appreciated having someone to ride with...had a tail wind on the way back on parmer...made me feel great!...then a head wind on the way back on 360...so the hills were extra tough...but i felt good...averaged 17.9...that is happy for me on those hills...

home to study a bit...and do some laundry...then j and i went to hang out at the blue dahlia cafe down the street...i had a latte he had a beer...did some work then home again when it started getting chilly...got my act together...then off to the texas tri series party...very fun...good slide show...wine beer food...give aways...(i won a hat)...got second in my age group...and fourth overall for the women...but that got me no awards...ah well...maybe next time...i'm still very pleased with those results...after all this is only my first season....j went out to longbranch with some buddies...and i went to bed...

up at 5.45 to run at 6.30 with erin...her friend made us a really great route...13 miles covering a bunch of different neighborhoods....french place...sinclair...downtown...we had a great run...kept the pace up...and had a lot of fun chatting and checking out the town...saw some of the first runners coming in from the run for the water...i remember doing that last year and really liking it...

studies after breakfast...but my head was not in the game...i think due to my meeting...at 11 we (the IMAZ team) got together to go over the details...wow...it is really coming up soon...we went over what to do for the next two weeks and race day...and when we are in AZ...got my questions answered and came out feeling pretty good about what is going to happen...home to study again the off to fun fun fun fest...where we brought a blanket...set up on the hill so i could actually see the stages...and hung out...of course i brought my homework and studied until it was too dark to do so any more...but finally i was able to study...i know totally weird...loud music...lots of people...many drunk people...but i was able to get my study on..finally...had a thai chicken pie from boomerangs...it was yummy...and had fun listening to the music...DOA and bouncing souls...and many more...i like that fest a lot...there is no more than 10 minutes between bands...which is really awesome...we were home pretty early...but it felt like midnight...

all in all a really really great weekend...

thursday

am spin class...man i rocked it out in the morning...was feeling pretty strong and was hitting the cadences and working the though gears hard...core is sore from the crazy ab workout on wednesday...and from all the squats at spin class other things will be sore on friday...very good workout...lots of fun

home to study for my nutrition exam...then off to chem class...then chem office hours....to finish up my homework...ended up with a 95.something :) very happy with that...home to study again then get dinner ready before swimming...

swimming was not as happy as my morning workout...there were three of us....doing regular practice...numbers for swim clinic were up but we each had our own lane for regular practice...sweet...but my swim was rather like i was trying not to drown rather than nice smooth swimming...could have been the fact that my legs felt much like lead blocks...but yeah..the swim could always use some improvement...

home to review with a glass of wine...then off to bed...looking forward to taking this exam and having an off day friday :) sweet

back on track

am core workout was all about the abs...awesome...it totally burned in that oh so good way...home for some great oatmeal (i've been totally into this stuff lately) then study time...

off to class three in a row...nothing too exciting then home to study more...test friday and next tuesday...pesky...wasn't really focused when i got home...kept getting up to do other stuff like clean out the kitchen sink...guess i'm just better at the home work in the mornings..

then it was off to track practice...and we were back on the track! yeah! even if it's the tiny track it's way better than a field...we were doing mile repeats so coach logan got there early for those of us who were doing many...i got there about 5.15 so i could be done at a reasonable hour...did a warm up some drills some strides then 5x1mile repeats...trying to negative split...we were supposed to start out at 10k pace...i'm not really sure what that is these days so i started at an effort i thought was 10 k and it went something like this
1. 7.46
2. 7.42
3. 7.30
4. 7.23
5. 7.16

had an option to do 6 but i was feeling good...and felt that if i did do one more i wouldn't be feeling quite as good so i called it a night...

home for greek food :) and early to bed after watching bones...i like that show...and i am never around to catch the whole thing...come to think of it i really don't even know when it's on...i just get lucky sometimes :P

election day

so i said to someone "this anticipation must be what it feels like when you (if you care about football) are watching your favorite football team in a big game"....she said..."yeah...but the consequences are a little bigger" :D so true...anyway i was on pins and needles all day...fun!

morning swim...good swim...solid...nothing too eventful...distance is going down due to the taper...and i will not complain on that one...good workout i thought...weird to have the sun up while morning swimming...that hasn't happened to me before...

home for chem HW until class...then class then office hours after class...got through a good bit of the homework and am actually understanding it...hoping to get it done thursday so i can have the weekend to study for tuesday's upcoming exam...

home to get a little nutrition study on for an exam friday...and to come up with my numbers...my a-d goal times for IMAZ...d=just finish...a=super awesome day...b and c somewhere in between...still working on those...

pm spin class...good times...did some blue band hip exercises as "recovery" between spin sets...stronger hips=stronger cycling...i'm all for it...

home for some great burgers and election coverage! oh yes we can!

swim/taper

morning am swim at barton springs...45 minute continuous...got up to 2100 in 44 minutes...and called it a day...i was really happy with that...i know it's not lightning fast...but hey...i'm not that super fast of a swimmer...and i was still dodging and weaving around people who just don't look up while swimming...(how do they do this)...a guy? i think wearing only flippers swimming underwater...shocking all those around...i thought there was debris in the water the way everyone was popping up looking befuddled...but no...just someone with no pants flippering deep underwater across the pool while we were all doing our length wise laps...sun was coming up as i chatted with eric and chuck on their way out for a run...always a pleasure...

home to get ready for a test that i think i did really well on...then two more classes then lab...then running practice...back at o'henry school...running hills in the neighborhood...i knew it was going to be dark...but man...it was really dark at 6pm...we all had reflective things and vests on...some times it was hard to see...but it ended up being a good workout...

400m hill repeats...but we ran in an 400m square on the road so one loop was two 400 strong two recovery...and since we started day one of the taper...we had three loops...instead of four!...hey...it's something :)

recovery ride

so all that day light savings time did for me was make me wake up early...got up at 6.30 which was
(the day before) 7.30...so actually i slept in...it was all way too confusing...so i had some leisurely coffee and decided to get my act together around 8am to head out for my recovery 40 miler...

i decided to do the hood loops that the group did saturday...since i was doing loops on s. mopac...chrissie told me to take it easy on the ride...turn off the computer and just ride and enjoy it...it was a really nice morning...not too much going on is way south austin...pretty quiet sunday morning...ended up doing two hood loops...~35ish miles(i was really riding for time so i don't even really know how the mileage came out)....in somewhere around two hours...had Gatorade and gummy things for nutrition...nice to have a change of pace...home early!...

made my version of migas for breakfast...mine had beans...j's had left over steak...and ate on the front porch...then it was study, study...for the rest of the day...with a few house cores thrown in on top of that...j continues to take the back deck apart in preparation for the new studio...work is going to start sometime...not sure when...but looking forward to having a creative space...with clay...and a spot for my sewing machine...which is in need of a cleaning...

cooked a chicken and biscuits and a nice salad for dinner and watch an episode of the wire...then off to bed...taper starts monday...wow.

brick...big one

besides being race morning at IMFL...it was big brick day for me...40 mile ride at race pace with a 13 mile run off the bike...did loops down at the autobahn...practicing pacing and feeling out average speeds etc...not pushing it...just riding steady out there...i averaged 19 for the 40 miles...got all my nutrition in and was hydrated feeling generally good getting off the bike and on to the run...

last time we did a brick in this area we did a 10 mile run after a 20 mile ride (that was week seven!) the run was really hard...hard enough for me to question my sanity about doing an IM...so i was a little apprehensive going into this workout...

strapped on the gel ready race belt and grabbed my water with electrolytes and headed out on the run....ran from the school to escarpment to mopac...turned around went to william cannon...down to beckett...to slaughter back around to the school...then a loop behind the school for 13...felt strong...even on the sections that i knew were a struggle the last time...just kept a steady pace i felt...running along...trying to pick up my feet at times...it was getting a little warm as i was finishing the first ten but i was still feeling pretty good...got back to the school...it is hard to pass the car knowing i have three more miles that are mostly up hill...but i'm not one to quit...so i kept moving...

got to the up hill and tried to pick it up...i felt like i did...but it could have been only in my mind...either way it made me happy...then i could see the blue of the pool covers (the pool is on the corner where i turn) and i picked it up even more...did a strong finish into the parking lot...2 hours on the run...i was happy with that...

then i was glued to the computer watching jeremiah school IMFL(11h 01m 56s)...and cheering on teammates while "studying"...it is hard to get away from the computer when you know they are out there...i can't wait to hear first hand about the day...also can't wait till it's my turn...soon enough...20days 23hours...!