Kona Race Report-3 months Later

All of this cold weather winter training has made me reflect upon my last race in warm (hot and humid) Hawaii. 2007 was my fifth time racing the Ironman World Championships, but my first time racing as a pro. My best finish in Kona prior to 2007 was 2005 in which I placed 2nd in my age group and 4th amateur overall. That year I also happened to place 31st female overall. It was a break-through race for me and one that encouraged me to pursue a pro card. Hawaii is SO special to me and I look forward to racing there every year. The conditions can be extreme and the best Ironman athletes in the world are there racing. In the sport of triathlon, there is nothing like it.

This past October I arrived in Kona 2 weeks before the race. My good friend Simon and his wife, Ingrid arrived the same day as me, which was nice. Simon and I got to do some of our last training days together as we awaited some of our other friends from Long Island to arrive the week before the race (Nancy Lipira, Harry Slutter and Nandine Crane). This year was exciting not only because it would be my first year racing as a pro, but also because my brother Tom was coming to watch. He had never watched me race before and I was psyched to have Tom and his girlfriend, Jen there. My parents would be there again to watch, and I couldn't imagine a race in Kona without them. I hope they make it out every year!

Race day arrived quickly and I found myself nervous as usual, but oddly calm as well. I got my early morning phone call from George who was on a bike ride with Mike back in New York. It was great to talk to both of them as well as see my family on their spot on the pier before the start of the race. There is something about Ironman that makes you so sentimental the morning of the race. The appreciation of all of the support that you receive from loved ones comes to the surface the morning of the race. It's true when I say that without the key people in my life racing as a pro would not be easy and would definitely not have much meaning as it does with each and every one of them. This includes my family, boyfriend, coach and friends that are constantly there for me...I find that I just want to see and talk to everyone that I love before I head out for a day of intense racing, focus and at times major suffering! Once I touched base with everyone that I care about I was ready to go.

The pros start at 6:45 AM in Kona, so I was in the water at 6:30. As I was treading water, I reflected on my past years there in Kona. This year was no less special. Looking back at the pier packed with people and the helicopters up above gave me goosebumps. Here I was at the Ironman World Championships in my first pro season! The cannon went off and I was clawing my way through the other pros for position. I found myself leading a pack of swimmers and just ahead of us was a really large pack. I tried to catch the pack right in front of me, but I found that they were getting further and further away, so I decided to stick where I was and make the best of it, so I drafted a woman who made her way in front of me. Soon I found myself side-by-side with Nantasha Badmann fighting for the feet of the woman in front. We both ended up sharing her feet and finished the swim together. 1:02...not what I was looking for, but I had to move forward. I found myself in the changing tent struggling to get my tri shorts over wet skin (mistake not to wear them in the swim). Finally I headed out on the bike.

I know the course REALLY well now after having raced the Ironman there before as well as stayed in Kona for weeks on end in previous years, so mentally I break the course up in my head to make it more manageable. With the power meter, Mike and I have certain "watt goals" for the day...even on specific sections of the course. Coming through Kona, we first head up the Kuakini Hwy, which is a nice steady climb. My legs felt great already...good sign! Heading out of town can be tough because the rest of the course is on the famous "Queen K", which is HOT with NO SHADE. It is a desert-like environment for most of the bike. You can see the ocean far away, but surrounding you is lava fields and miles and miles of highway in front of you. You can see long climbs awaiting you and way in thedistance you can see your destination: Hawi (the turn-around of the bike). It looks impossibly far away. Many times the bike is a real mental challenge for me, but this time was different. I just took each section of the road as it came. The aid stations break up the course nicely, coming every 10 miles. They become something that you get mentally psyched for. "Yay!! Another station coming up ahead!! People handing out cold drinks!" I look forward to seeing people, to grabbing more cold drink, to eating a gel and trying to get some water through the vent in my aero helmet to cool off my head a bit. Every second of the bike is paid careful attention to: how do the watts feel? Do I need another salt tablet? I feel a bit nauseous, time for some water...now time for some Gatorade Endurance. Thirty minutes passed...time for some gel and a couple of salt tablets...OK the watts are feeling EASY!

Climbing to Hawi always includes some crosswinds. This day had winds, but nothing compared to what I experienced the week before while Simon and I were training up there. I was deciding on my Zipp 606's, or my 303 in front with my 606 in back. After getting blown off the road during training, I decided on my 303 in front. The 606's are SWEET, but for Kona I am just too small to gamble with a really windy day and potentially getting blown all over the road. With my Zipp 606 on the rear and my Zipp 303 on the front I feel fast, light and secure that I can handle anything...and I do. I climb Hawi fast and descend down (with a gnarly crosswind) even faster. I'm psyched as I descend down, heading back to the Queen K and to Kona. Again this year is different...usually the last 30 miles of the bike are pure torture to me. I just cannot wait to get off the bike. Not this year...aside from the fact that my foot is aching in my shoe (swollen from the heat?) I feel great and I am psyched. I remain aero in my Profile Design Cobra Wing Aero bars nearly the entire ride. I feel comfortable and I feel strong. My family is waiting for me at the turn onto the Queen K and I find myself getting choked up and psyched at the same time. It is so awesome to see Tom, my brother, cheering for me as well as Jen and my parents. It's uplifting and it makes me want to get back to town to start running!

As I approach town, the crowds are awesome. I get off the bike, and get into the changing tent where the volunteers throw wet towels on me, lather me up in sunscreen and help me to get my running shoes on. I'm off and running. The transition from biking 112 miles in a focused effort to running a fast marathon is one that can be down right scary, but with all of the hard training behind me, I always seem ready to go. It's amazing, really...
It's HOT and HUMID! One of the worst days I can remember... As I make the turn onto Alii Drive in the first couple of miles of the run I turn from feeling good and strong to feeling sick to my stomach. I start to worry for a few minutes and then quickly realize that I need to eat and have some salt at the next aid station. After downing a gel and taking a few salt tablets, pouring water over my head, putting the cold wet sponges in my singlet and putting ice in my hat I start to feel better. Soon I am cruising down the road feeling strong. As with the bike, I am constantly monitoring my body and how I feel. Every aid station is like an oasis...I pour anything and everything over my head to try and cool off, I put ice in my hat, I put sponges in my uniform. One aid station is for salt tablets and the next for gel. I drink Coke every single station. These aid stations come every mile and by each mile I am more than ready...it's that hot out! I ran a 3:22 marathon in Kona this year...that means that after 7+ minutes of running I am trying to cool off already! As I climb Palani Road to head out to the Energy lab I see my family...they are going nuts and I am psyched to see them! I feel great and I tell them that. As I run, it is amazing to me to see some of the biggest names in the sport having a bad day. That's the incredible thing about Kona. It humbles the best athletes in the world every year. This reminds me to keep focused. As I head into town (and toward the finish) I see my family...they tell me I am close to breaking 10 hours...as I pass my mother, I decide to go for it...who knows? maybe I can do it! As I am running to the finish I pass a few pro women that I know. It becomes a close race between a handful of us...I am aware of this and am running with all I have left. I am also running against the clock...I want to see 9:59.

Running down Alii Drive to the finish is ALWAYS surreal...this year it's even more amazing. I cross the finish line with a time of 10:00:24 seconds! 25 seconds away from the 10 hour barrier, but I am PSYCHED!!! I crossed the line as the 23rd fastest female pro. This is exciting and super encouraging for the future. After talking to Mike and going over the race, then talking to George and going over the race, I get back to the condo, talk more about the race, eat, shower and head to the finish line where I stayed till midnight watching the other athletes finish along with my mother, brother and brother's girlfriend Jen. This was my 9th Ironman and the first time that I went back (I had always wanted to go back, but never did it!!)...I will try to never miss it again as it was one of the most incredible experiences.

Now I am getting ready for my 2008 season and I am entering it with more confidence to race against the top women in the sport and finish among the top. I am racing California 70.3 on March 29th and Ironman Brazil on May 25th. My training is excellent and I am stronger than I have ever been. Next week I'll be heading to warmer weather for quality training (not that the long hard training in sub-30 degree weather hasn't been fun)! Entering my second season as a pro and reflecting on 2oo7 gives me butterflies in my stomach and gets me pumped at the same time. I'm doing what I love and I know it'll be a season to remember.

Winter Training (and memories of Boulder)

As the winter has progressed I have already logged some memorable miles in the cold, wet weather. While I cannot say that I enjoy doing this one bit, I have to admit that I have created some funny memories already and some grueling training days to reflect back upon when the going gets tough in a race in 2008.

One such day included a very good friend of mine, Jess. Jess came from Boulder for the holidays to visit family. She just moved to Boulder in July and the decision seems like it has been one of the best ones that she has made. Not only does training in Boulder beat riding the L.I.E. of Long Island, but at any time of day you are sure to find a fellow cyclist, runner, climber, snowboarder, etc...(the list goes on) to join you in whichever endeavor you might want to partake in for that given day. The social scene is very good to Jess as well, which she seems to be pretty happy about! When opportunity strikes, I try to get out there and do some sweet training at altitude, staying with friends such as Jim Dougherty and Simon Butterworth. In fact, the last time I was there was 2 weeks after Ironman Hawaii. My friend Erin and I stayed with Simon and his wife Ingrid. It was a great opportunity to do some different activities (other than swim, bike, run).

One such day we decided to do a hike up to one of the highest peaks in the Flat irons (the Mountains that are visible from almost any point in Boulder). The hike went up to Bear Peak and it was magnificent! I thought I was in top shape until I did something like this...the hiking really uses different muscles than I am used to and I was sore the days after!!! Once we reached the summit and rested for some food, we got a "fly-by" over head from a glider plane that was out for a ride! The views were extraordinary and it was just the thing that Simon and I needed after racing Kona 2 weeks earlier (Simon is a stand-out age group triathlete, placing among the top in the world in his 60-64 age group). Erin had just completed a grueling Chicago marathon 3 weeks earlier and she welcomed the hike as well. The weekend in Boulder was just the kind of "off time" that we all needed. In the spring and summer i'll return to train hard at altitude again, but for this trip it was all fun and no serious training. It seems that Boulder definitly has it all!

Back to winter on Long Island though...It was a Thursday and I had to do a 3 hour ride. Nothing in particular for the workout, really...just go out and ride steady for 3 hours. It was a "mild day" of low 40's, but the forecast called for rain showers. I swam with my team at 6AM and decided to go back to George's take a nap and then get out on the bike at 11 (hoping the rain would subside). I was meeting Jess at the bike shop at 11, and when I left it didn't seem too bad. I wasn't particularly psyched about the grey day, but it looked like the roads would be wet, but the rain wouldn't be a factor. I was so wrong... We started out in a "mist". I didn't have a rain coat, so that "mist" turned out to be pretty soaking. After 30 min we looked at each other and said, "this isn't so bad", and, "I wouldn't be out here is it weren't for you!...you're the best"! Basically we were feeling pretty good about ourselves and pretty tough. We were out training in cold wet weather and we were psyched! After 45 minutes I realized that my tights and jersey were completely wet from the "mist". After 50 minutes, I turned to Jess and said, "I'm cold". She agreed and we decided to cut the original route down from 50 miles to 40. At the next light my fingers were getting really cold, my gloves were soaked and I said, "we should try and get home". She agreed, told me she was miserable.

As we started riding back I got wetter and colder. I was contemplating calling George to pick us up, but decided against it "I got myself into this so I have to get myself out"! I was trying to ride hard to stay warm, but trucks would come by at fast speeds spraying us with water, downhills were unbearably cold, and my attempts at warmth were failing. I was so miserable, but every time we stopped at a light I laughed hysterically. Looking back at Jess, she had dirt and water all over her face from the spray of the road and the spray that my back wheel was giving off. The scene was to much to take...it was hysterical! I was miserable, but bursting into laughter at the same time! In fact, I am laughing as I think about it now!

We were on a mission to get home. I didn't think it would ever happen. I didn't eat, I didn't drink, I couldn't move. I just hammered along with the thought of a warm house and a warm shower to thaw me out. Once we got to Babylon, we said a quick good bye (through laughter) and I rode to George's. Once I got to the door (of which I could not open with frozen hands) I walked inside to George's hint of sarcasm...with a big smile on his face he said, "How was the ride?! Fun?!" I walked in the door and went hysterically laughing for a few minutes before I gained my composure (I think I was losing my mind!) I hopped in the shower (that didn't even feel good for a few minutes...until the freezing parts of my body thawed out), and was welcomed with the best soup and grilled cheese ever! (Thanks George...).

So the ride was absolutely miserable, but on the bright side, I got some good quality in, something to look back upon when the going gets tough while racing, and some fond memories with one of my best friends... Oh, and George and Mike ended up repeating our cold rainy ride on new years Day when they joined a group of cyclists in an "unofficial race" up 9W to Bear Mountain. Cold and miserable, they were, but apparently it ended up being put on a list of funny memories as they tried to warm themselves in the McDonald's bathroom after the ride! As for me, I am planning on a "warm training trip". While the memories of training in the cold wet weather are fond, I (and i am sure I can speak for George and Mike as well) do not wish to repeat this cold rainy ride any time soon!