Pre Race to Night Before the Race
I have been working with a wonderful coach since December 2018. Jena-Caer was just what I needed for my first Ironman. She was always positive and supportive. I developed a deep trust in her training and that she would have me ready on race day. During the last weeks of training she talked me off the ledge more than once. Her belief in me kept me going. While working with her I developed more confidence in myself as an athlete.
In the past I didn't want to be on a triathlon team. I didn't feel like I was a "real triathlete" or good enough. Over the summer that started to change. Maybe it was time to challenge those beliefs and insecurities. At the same time I started hearing about a triathlon team called Solo Sports System. I felt like everywhere I went I saw them or someone was talking to me about them. At Tri-smore, in June, Jody pointed them out. He said, "They have cute outfits (tri kit) maybe you should join them".
I mustered up the courage and contacted them to see if maybe it would be a good fit. I had a phone interview with Charles, the amazing coach. Along with telling me about the team, how he coached and what I could expect he asked what my goals were for my Ironman.
Me: "Just finish in the time limit."
Charles: dead silence
Me, in my head: oh-oh
Charles: "How about we meet up next week and talk about specific time goals?"
Me:
I mustered up the courage and contacted them to see if maybe it would be a good fit. I had a phone interview with Charles, the amazing coach. Along with telling me about the team, how he coached and what I could expect he asked what my goals were for my Ironman.
Me: "Just finish in the time limit."
Charles: dead silence
Me, in my head: oh-oh
Charles: "How about we meet up next week and talk about specific time goals?"
Me:
At our meeting Charles plugged info into his computer and came up with these time goals.
I was blown away. In my wildest dreams I never thought this time was possible for me.
I'm not going to lie, later that day I got a little annoyed with Charles. He didn't even know me. Was he setting me up for disappointment? Was my whole race going to be thrown off if I didn't make one of the time goals?
After a few days I started to think, maybe I could make these time cut offs and pretty soon I knew I could!
I made cards and put them around the house and I started to tell people my time goal.
I'm not going to lie, later that day I got a little annoyed with Charles. He didn't even know me. Was he setting me up for disappointment? Was my whole race going to be thrown off if I didn't make one of the time goals?
After a few days I started to think, maybe I could make these time cut offs and pretty soon I knew I could!
I made cards and put them around the house and I started to tell people my time goal.
The month leading up to the race was hectic. I was still working full time. There was so much to get ready, check and double check. Packing took multiple days to complete.
Three weeks before my race Jody and Jarom got sick with a cold. I was so worried that I would get it, I wouldn't go near either of them. I went so far as to sleep in the guest room. All was for not, ten days before the race I got a cold too. I did everything to get myself better and by race day I felt pretty good.
My mom, she lives in Lethbridge, had multiple emergency room visits and hospital admissions that required me to make trips down. She was admitted to the hospital, two days before we left. Concern for her played heavily on my mind.
Melissa was due with their third baby on September 26, the day we flew out. When I found out Melissa was expecting we had a lot of discussions about changing my race plans. Melissa graciously said for me to go ahead with my plans and she would be okay if I missed the delivery. We both thought we would be okay with the decision but as my departure date grew closer and there was still no baby, I started to have regrets. I could sense Melissa was feeling sad too. We were both relieved when Warren made his entrance on September 20.
I was relieved when our departure date arrived.
Melissa was due with their third baby on September 26, the day we flew out. When I found out Melissa was expecting we had a lot of discussions about changing my race plans. Melissa graciously said for me to go ahead with my plans and she would be okay if I missed the delivery. We both thought we would be okay with the decision but as my departure date grew closer and there was still no baby, I started to have regrets. I could sense Melissa was feeling sad too. We were both relieved when Warren made his entrance on September 20.
I was relieved when our departure date arrived.
Wednesday September 26
Jody, Jarom and I flew out at 1206am. I'm not sure who's idea it was to take an all night flight. We had a tight connection in Toronto, made even tighter by a delayed flight. After very little sleep we arrived in Washington DC around 9am. We got in our fancy rental jeep, got some groceries, got a bit lost but finally made it to Cambridge Maryland.
Cambridge is a very small town, with only a handful of local hotels so the residents rent out their houses on Airbnb. We stayed in a sweet fifth wheel with a great host.
After getting settled in our rental Jody took me down to the Ironman village to drop off my bike at the bike store for a quick check over. It was then I discovered that the airline had not only ripped my bike bag but also broken a wheel off the bottom. I felt really bad as it was Charles' bag. Luckily my bike was okay.
I picked up my race packet and looked around the merchandise tent.
When I picked up my race packet emotions flooded me. The amazing volunteers made me feel like I was a superstar and treated me like I was an elite athlete. I had tears in my eyes and a huge smile on my face. It hadn't taken much to bring out the tears lately. Just talking to people about the race or thinking of crossing the finish line would make me cry.
Cambridge is located on the Choptank river. The Choptank empties into Chesapeake Bay which is a bay off the Atlantic ocean. The water in the Choptank is brackish water, a mixture of salt water and freshwater. It is known for it's sea nettles and that it can live up to it's name Choptank. I wanted to get into the water as much as I could so today brought a practice swim. The water was definitely salty but not as much as the ocean. No sea nettles and today was calm. The water was also warm!! The warmth brought another concern. What if it was too warm and the race wasn't wet suit legal?. I prayed that the temp would be just into the wet suit legal range, not too warm but not too cold.
I made up all these inspiration cards and posted them in our trailer.
Thursday September 27
The race director for Ironman Maryland is amazing. In the weeks leading up to race day he did facebook videos outlining each leg of the race and answering questions. He organized events for the three days leading up to race day. This morning I attended a first timers meeting. Actually anyone could go but it was focused on first timers. Mike Reilly, the voice of Ironman, was at the meeting. I was sitting five feet from him. I'm not a star struck kind of person. I don't think there are any movie stars or singers I would want to meet but I am star struck by Mike Reilly. He's not hard on the eyes either. He spoke to us, motivating us and helping us to remember why we were here. After the speakers we broke into groups and went to all the different areas we would be going through on Saturday. We were pretty lucky to have a sneak peak at the venue. It was so helpful to know where I would be going each step of the way. On race morning I never once felt lost.
In the evening we went to the welcome ceremony. The local elementary school had a marching band that performed. They were amazing. A few politicians addressed us then Mike Reilly spoke. He is a gifted motivational speaker. He called on random people in the audience to come up. He called on the oldest participant, an 81 year old man. The guy doesn't have his drivers licence any more but he can complete an Ironman. I had the honor of watching him cross the finish line. That is my goal, to finish an Ironman at 81! There were videos documenting some of the reasons people were doing Ironman Maryland. One mom raced for her son who has downs syndrome and to assist orphans with downs syndrome to be adopted. The boy was there and he was called to the stage. He stole the show. When Mike Reilly told him he was an Ironman, the young man was so excited.
In the evening we went to the welcome ceremony. The local elementary school had a marching band that performed. They were amazing. A few politicians addressed us then Mike Reilly spoke. He is a gifted motivational speaker. He called on random people in the audience to come up. He called on the oldest participant, an 81 year old man. The guy doesn't have his drivers licence any more but he can complete an Ironman. I had the honor of watching him cross the finish line. That is my goal, to finish an Ironman at 81! There were videos documenting some of the reasons people were doing Ironman Maryland. One mom raced for her son who has downs syndrome and to assist orphans with downs syndrome to be adopted. The boy was there and he was called to the stage. He stole the show. When Mike Reilly told him he was an Ironman, the young man was so excited.
Friday September 28
I tried to keep it low key today but it still ended up being a busy day.
I was part of an online Ironman Maryland training accountability group. We were there to give each other a boost when we didn't feel like getting out for a training session or just needed to talk to someone. This morning we met up for a practice swim and a photo together. The water was a bit choppy today but not bad at all and still warm.
I was part of an online Ironman Maryland training accountability group. We were there to give each other a boost when we didn't feel like getting out for a training session or just needed to talk to someone. This morning we met up for a practice swim and a photo together. The water was a bit choppy today but not bad at all and still warm.
After the swim I quickly changed and went on a guided bike tour of the run course. The run course is 2.5 loops. Imagine an U shape with one arm of the U longer than the other. On the long end of the U it went up into a future residential area. There were paved streets but no working lights and no houses. I dubbed it the loop of desolation. Our tour guide, my new friend Tim, told us that this part could be mentally difficult but the volunteers at the aid station were some of the wildest and loudest. I made up my mind that I was going to enjoy the loop of desolation and smile and talk to as many people as I could when I went through there. We only hit this area twice. The other arm of the U was into the downtown area with the turn around at the micro brewer. A definite hot spot. We would hit this area three times. The rest of the course was either residential or through a park.
After the run course tour I road my bike back to the trailer. I picked up all my gear bags and the boys dropped me off at the bike racking area. I racked my bike, dropped off my gear bags and went to the athlete briefing. That was it. Nothing more to do today but try and relax. Try was the key here.
After the run course tour I road my bike back to the trailer. I picked up all my gear bags and the boys dropped me off at the bike racking area. I racked my bike, dropped off my gear bags and went to the athlete briefing. That was it. Nothing more to do today but try and relax. Try was the key here.
Notes of encouragement from my family.
Today marks a significant anniversary for me.
On this day in 2004 I was told that I had colon cancer. I was only 39 years old, young to have colon cancer.
I vividly remember the beginning of the conversation with the doctor.
Doctor: "I have some bad news."
Me: Laughing, " I know, the test didn't show anything." In the previous 10 days I had every scan, exam, and blood test imaginable to try and figure out why I was so sick. They all came back negative. They had also previously ruled out cancer with a colonoscopy and some blood work.
Doctor: "No, you have a tumor in your large intestine."
I don't know what he said after that. Jody and I were hugging each other and crying. I kept telling Jody I didn't want to die. I didn't want my kids to grow up without a mom. If I died my boys wouldn't have any memories of me, they were still so little. That night started a ten month journey of growth. At this point in my life I can say that I am grateful I had cancer. It saved my life.
As I went to bed, I thought about that night fourteen years ago, how different tonight was, yet how that night started me on the path to this night.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
On this day in 2004 I was told that I had colon cancer. I was only 39 years old, young to have colon cancer.
I vividly remember the beginning of the conversation with the doctor.
Doctor: "I have some bad news."
Me: Laughing, " I know, the test didn't show anything." In the previous 10 days I had every scan, exam, and blood test imaginable to try and figure out why I was so sick. They all came back negative. They had also previously ruled out cancer with a colonoscopy and some blood work.
Doctor: "No, you have a tumor in your large intestine."
I don't know what he said after that. Jody and I were hugging each other and crying. I kept telling Jody I didn't want to die. I didn't want my kids to grow up without a mom. If I died my boys wouldn't have any memories of me, they were still so little. That night started a ten month journey of growth. At this point in my life I can say that I am grateful I had cancer. It saved my life.
As I went to bed, I thought about that night fourteen years ago, how different tonight was, yet how that night started me on the path to this night.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."