Iron Girl 2008

Back in March, a friend from work sent out an email about registration for an upcoming triathlon. When I first read it I thought “yeah right”, me who has never been athletic in her entire life and who is very overweight. I had been following weight watchers since the end of January and had been working out but nothing compared to what I would need to do to train for a triathlon. I started to delete the email but something inside me said you need to do it. So I paid my $100 and it was official. I was registered for my first triathlon. It was a long sprint tri. A .62 mile swim, 17.5 mile bike and a 3.4 mile run. Then came the “What was I thinking??? I know absolutely nothing about training for a triathlon and I can hardly run for 2 minutes straight.” My friend from work recommended a book on triathlons so I got on Amazon and ordered it. As Amazon always does they recommended another triathlon book as I was checking out. The Slow Fat Triathlete. This sounded like my kind of book. So of course, I bought it as well. It was such a helpful book! It made me realize that I could do this. I started riding the stationary bike in the gym and running/walking on the treadmill. At this point I was missing a critical piece of equipment…a bike. I was doing all of my biking on the stationary bike in the gym. A local bike shop was having a tent sale so I went in search of a bike. I told the nice guy that worked there what I was looking for. At first I told him a road bike. Then when he told me they started at $700. I said maybe not. He suggested a hybrid fitness bike. He showed one to me and said “let’s get a helmet for you so you can ride it.” Well typical me I hadn’t really thought this through. I had on flips flops and as usual my car was full of stuff. I also realized that I hadn’t been on a bike in probably 10 years. But off I went flip flops and all, praying the whole way that I wouldn’t fall in front of the parking lot full of people. Well what they say is true once you learn to ride a bike you never forget. Aside from a rocky start and stop it all came back to me. I decided on a Trek. I purchased it that evening and a nice teenager that worked there helped me stuff it into my car. So I had everything I needed. Next it was time to start swimming. So I went on a Saturday morning to the swim center in Annapolis. I thought if I got there right when it opens hopefully it won’t be too crowded. Well I was wrong. I didn’t realize that the Masters Swim team met on Saturday mornings. Every lane was full and there I was with the serious swimmers. Talk about intimidating! I had a choice either to leave and come back at a different time or suck it up and do it. Well the old me would have left but the new me said nope stay and swim. So I did. I barely got through 1 lap of freestyle and was exhausted but I made myself stay and swim for 30 minutes. Not only did I stay but I kept going back. As time went on I was able to swim faster and wasn’t so exhausted at the end of a work out. I was running more than I had ever run in my entire life. The first time I ran for a total of 40 minutes during a workout I thought I was going to cry. Again I was not the athletic child and pretty much hated exercise. At this point I was hooked. In May I ran my first race…a 5k. It was so much fun. There were several people from work who did it as well. It was a great event and it felt awesome to cross the finish line. I realized training for races could definitely be my thing! As the weather warmed up I was able to get outside and ride my bike more. Amanda had a bike and volunteered to ride with me. This was a huge help! It made the time go by a lot faster. Woody also helped by giving us some very chic blue safety glasses to keep the bugs out of our eyes. Then the pool opened. I was ecstatic to not have to swim in an indoor pool anymore. Wendy came and swam laps with me. It helped knowing that I was meeting someone there. It gave me someone to be accountable to. One night in July I swam a mile. I got out of the pool and couldn’t believe it. Me…a mile! What a sense of accomplishment! I continued to train and get stronger. August came and the race was getting close. My friend Susan from church did Iron Girl last year. She offered to take me to ride the bike course. Finally the week before the race we were able to coordinate our schedules. So we met in Columbia at 7am. We had agreed before that we were going to take it slow and use it as a time for me to learn the course and get used to my gears. I have a lot of trouble figuring out my gears. It doesn’t make sense in my head. To me is would make sense to keep it in the lowest gear to make it easier. So not the case!!!! Fortunately Susan has a Trek as well and was able to talk me through which gears I needed to be in. My stubborn self listened but didn’t always do what she said because I was convinced I couldn’t do it. As we prepared to leave the park she told me that the first couple of miles were rolling hills on a steady incline. UGH! She wasn’t kidding. I made it though the first couple of miles and thought I was going to die. Only 15 more to go. Around mile 4 I stopped and got off my bike. I thought to myself “there is no way you are going to be able to do this in a week especially not with a swim in front of it and a run after”. But Susan was encouraging and patient and we kept going. As I was struggling up yet another hill thinking “God what am I doing??? This is just downright stupid for me to think I am ready for this.” Just as I said that to myself, another biker rode by and yelled “keep going you can do it”. Then almost as an afterthought he yelled back “Never Quit!” At that point I said ok God, I get it. So that became my mantra-Never Quit! We finished 14 of the 17.5 miles that day. I still left feeling very nervous but with my new mantra I decided that regardless of what happened on Sunday I was not going to quit. I would finish the race. I also realized that I was having a lot of trouble breathing and my chest felt heavy. As the weekend went on I started getting a sinus headache. By Monday morning I was sure I had a sinus infection and some sort of chest stuff. I couldn’t believe it. Here it was the week of the race and I am sick. Ugh! I called first thing that morning and went to the doctors. Sure enough…sinus infection and respitory infection. The nurse practitioner gave me heavy duty antibiotics and decongestants. I decided against a workout that day and opted to go home and rest. On Tuesday, I went to REI to go pick up my race outfit. I decided to wear tri shorts and a tank top that matched. I would wear this for the entire race including the swim. I tried it on. It fit but as I looked in the mirror I thought this is way more spandex than I should ever wear! Later on Tuesday I sent Dad an email about something completely unrelated and he emailed back that he was flying in to watch me race. I have to admit I sat at my computer and cried. I was so happy that he was going to watch me cross that finish line. I really wanted Dad or Laurie to be there but didn’t say anything because I knew they had a lot going on. That night I went to the pool. I knew I had to practice swimming in it at least once before the race. I figured it was a week night there probably wouldn’t be anyone at the pool; of course that wasn’t the case. There happened to be a very large birthday party that night. Again I had the decision to leave or stay. Well I chose to stay and risk embarrassment. So out of the bathroom I came looking like a big dork in all my spandex. I jumped in the lap lane and got to work. My new outfit was very comfortable to swim in! Friday morning I got up and did a short brick. I rode for 10 minutes and ran to the coffee shop to meet Dad and Kayla. I got there before them and I they walked up Dad stopped and looked at me. I said “What?” He said” You’re like a real runner” Never thought I would hear that in my life. That afternoon, Kayla and I drove to Columbia and met Holly at packet pick up. I have to say as I gave them my name and was handed my packet it was very overwhelming. I looked at Holly and said “Holy Crap I am really doing this!!!! She said “Yes you are!” We walked around and looked at the different vendors. Who would’ve thought there was such a market for tri gear? I got Kayla a t shirt that says “My Mom Is An Iron Girl” and Holly got one that said “My Sister Is An Iron Girl”. Saturday Dad, Kayla and I went to Columbia and got my biked inspected and racked. One of my brakes was sticking. Fortunately they had someone onsite that was fixing bikes. Dad and I decided it was time for me to get a bike rack. My brakes were out of alignment from me shoving my bike in my trunk. I got my biked racked and went down to look at the swim sight. My first thought was “EWWWWW!!!!!!!!” The water was absolutely disgusting! I looked at the course which seems awfully long. It looks very different all spread out. I was used to swimming it in a pool. But I felt confident about the swim. I was able to do it in 30 minutes in a pool which wasn’t a bad time. After that it was errands and then home to get off my feet and try and relax. After a short night of tossing and turning my alarm went off at 4am. It was time to get up. UGH! I was so sleepy but really excited! I got ready and ate my oatmeal that I made the night before so I wouldn’t have to worry about it. Then off Dad and I went. We got to the park around 5:45. There was a lot going on for being so early. I said goodbye to dad and went to the transition area (tri talk for the place that you bike is racked and you keep you stuff you need to transition from each event). I got my transition area set up and off I went to get body marked. Again as I got body marked, I thought again “Holy Crap!!!!! I am really doing this!!!!!!!!!!” I was getting excited! I found my friends and we headed over to the swim start. Everyone was lining up in their wave. I was there by 6:45 but my heat didn’t go until 7:45. A couple of weeks before the race I changed heats from my age group to Athena which is anyone over a certain weight. My age group didn’t go until 8:17. They were the second to last heat. I had this vision of being the last one to cross the finish line. So I changed. When I got to the swim start I realized that I still had my age group swim cap and not the Athena. I found a very nice volunteer who gave me the right cap. At the start I found Dad again. There he was video camera in tow. It was the longest hour of my life. I was counting down the time. It seemed like I was never going to start. At 7:25 I ate a gel. YUCK! I was hoping this one would taste better but no dice. But I got it down. Finally my wave was lining up. Before I knew it we were walking down to the water. It was an in water start. We had to tread water for 5 minutes before the gun (or in this case duck) went off. As I walked into the water and felt the bottom of the lake I was so grossed out. YUCK! It was squishy and there was lots of grass. I made the mistake of entering the water with my goggles on top of my head instead of over my eyes. So there I was treading water and trying to get my goggles on as I was getting kicked, shoved, and elbowed etc by the other women in my heat. I realized that I swallowed some of the lake water. GROSS!!! As we are treading water the announcer is calling out the names of first time triathletes. I hear my name called (thanks Dad J) Finally the duck went off. Everyone is running into everyone but it doesn’t take long for it to thin out. The water was a lot rougher than it looked. It is a lot harder than I expected. I am getting water in my mouth it seems like every time I breathe. UGH! I stop trying to swim freestyle and swim breast for a couple of minutes. Then went back to free. I was still having trouble so I remembered what I had read over and over and rolled onto my back and did backstroke for awhile. This definitely helped. It gave me the opportunity to catch my breath and keep moving. It seemed like the swim would go on forever. I saw several people struggling and made sure to say a prayer for them as I swam by. I was amazed at how small I felt in that huge lake. I popped my head up and realize I am too far to the right. Ugh! I have just added time for myself. I get back on course and keep swimming. Finally I can see the end of the swim. YAY!!!!! I didn’t drown and I made it. I swim up to the point where I can touch the ground and stand up. Luckily as I stood up I realized I wasn’t too dizzy. Awesome I am not going to fall over. I walked quickly to my bike. I see Dad off to the side. Definitely comforting to see a familiar face! I get to my bike and checked my phone and the swim took me 35 minutes. Not bad considering. I get my feet rinsed off and my shoes, helmet, bike gloves and sun glasses on. Off I went. The bike was the part I was the most concerned about. But I kept chanting my mantra Never Quit! And my bike mantra 2 3 is my friend to remind myself to keep my bike in the gears that make it easier. As I left the park I see this crazy person jumping and running along the rode. Oh wait I know them…its Holly! Yay!!!! I pull over quickly because I realize that I forgot to take a big drink after the swim. I am still not coordinated enough to drink and ride. I pulled over next to Holly to take a drink. Awesome to see another familiar face cheering me on! I take off for the first leg of the bike and the rolling hills. I barrel through as people pass me they yell words of encouragement. First leg done. I make the turn and it’s downhill for a little while. Yay! My legs appreciated a break! I try my hardest not to brake on the downhills but the scaredy cat in me braked a little. It was invigorating flying down the hill. I finally get to the round about. Another leg done! Yay! I get closer and closer to the evil hill known as Mt. Albert. As we approach the hill there are lots of people that live in the neighborhood out cheering. It definitely helped! I got as far up as I could and jump off my bike to walk the rest of the way. As I am walking I pull my cell out to see what time it was. I couldn’t believe it I was way ahead of where I thought I would be. At last I am at the top, the worst hill of the race over!!!! I jumped back on my bike and was off to the turn around. On my way to the turn around I look to my right and there is Matt, Holly and Dad cheering for me. They are everywhere! J It was awesome!!!! I got to the turn around and there was Grandma Ellen and Grandpa Jim. The turn around was also an aid station. I was running low on Gatorade. I slowed down to grab some Gatorade. Grandpa ran up and helped me get my water bottle full and gave me hugs from him and grandma. Definitely the boost I needed. I took a drink of the Gatorade and realized it was lemon lime. YUCK!!!! But at this point I was not going to be picky. I needed it. I was 2/3 of the way done with the bike. Off I went. There were several awesome down hills on the way back. At one point I was flying down a hill and screamed “I am kicking ass and taking names!!” I was pretty loopy at that point and was doing anything and everything to stay positive. Finally back to the rolling hill part. This time it will be even easier. I fly through it. Just as I turned into the park I hear people screaming my name, its Kayla, Wendy, Amanda, Hannah and Jonathan. That was so cool to see their faces. As I fly into transition I realize I cut 25 minutes off my expected bike time. Awesome! I jump off my bike and of course my legs feel like cinder blocks. UGH! I was having trouble getting my bike back on the rack and there was another woman there who was finished who told me to go and she would rack it. It was so nice of her. Off on the run. My legs are tired and sore. Swim and bike use completely different muscles but running uses all of them. I realize that I am going to finish this race! Yay! What a good feeling. I get a half mile into it and my quads start seizing. OUCH!!! I had never felt that before. Not a good feeling! I stopped and walked for awhile. Finally my legs calmed down. I realized that I may need to walk more than I hoped but remembered that the goal was to get across the finish line. I finally get up the nasty Gatorade hill. At the top was an aid station. YAY! I was so tired of Gatorade and ready for water. They also had cold sponges which felt awesome! I get around the parking lot and head back down. I can hear the crowd. It’s exhilarating! I keep moving. I try to run some but don’t want to push it too much. I need to save some to run the last leg and across the finish line. I come out of trees into a clearing and realize I am really close. All of the sudden I see Cindy, my friend from work. She had finished and came back to run the last leg with me. She tells me that Holly is so proud of me and is already crying. I knew they were there waiting for me, so I start to run again. The finish line is in sight. I pick up my pace. I see all of my family (I say family and not family and friends because my friends are my family!!!!!). I run across the finish line with my arms up screaming. I DID IT!!! As soon as I crossed the finish line, Holly picked up Kayla and Kayla put my medal around my neck. What an amazing moment! As soon as I got the first hug, I start to cry but there are no real tears. I think my body was holding onto every bit of water it could. I could really see how proud of me they all were. Having my family there meant more to me than I could ever explain. I still can’t believe I did it. I for once in my life finished what I started. For the first time in a long time I truly felt proud of myself. I reminded myself of where I was last August. I was miserable and had a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. I was constantly wondering if I was better off dead or alive. I didn’t think my life was going anywhere and things were never going to change. This August I am happier than I can ever remember being. I come a long way over the last year. I know that I am stronger than I think I am. Thanks to signing up for this crazy huge goal back in March, I am 42 pounds lighter, 3 pants sizes and 2 shirt sizes smaller. But all of that means nothing in comparison to the lessons I am teaching Kayla. She will grow up learning the importance of being healthy and strong and hopefully be proud of her mommy.

The completion of Iron Girl is not the end of this road to getting healthy, it’s only the beginning. There will be lots of races to come. I think I have found a new passion.

I am an Iron Girl!