Miles of Life ~ My life as a donut Kylie Donia

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Ironman Louisville (IM KY) 2007 – PR!!

Thursday, August 30th, 2007

Ten months ago I signed up both Mike and myself for Ironman Louisville (aka IMKY). Starting soon after I began my training with Mike’s guidance – getting in more, and more quality, training than ever before. A week ago it was time, and we travelled out to Kentucky for the big day. Vineman 70.3 had been our only big race day of the year, and with Mike getting hit by a car he was definitely unsure how the IM race would play out. In fact, if I hadn’t been signed up as well, he would have skipped it. That same Vineman 70.3 race had brought me an hour and 24 minute PR at the half distance, so I was eager to see how ironfit I really was!

We arrived Thursday and got checked in, and realized we had an awesome hotel spot: our room overlooked the finish line! Friday morning I woke up in pain: I somehow managed to pull or strain one of my lower ab muscles while sleeping. It HURT: I couldn’t move to sitting up without help, and I felt it each step I took walking. Gotta keep going though, so it was off to a swim practice, to get our bikes from TriBikeTransport, and to go for an easy spin along the run course. I could feel my side during the swim, but soon had a new worry to compete with it – the current! I didn’t think I’d make it 2.4 miles in the cutoff time with that kind of current! Luckily the race directors were prepared and changed the course, making it start in waters a bit more protected, and also as a time-trial instead of mass swim start. Happy to have that fear a bit subsided, I was free to move back to the pain in my side. Luckily during our test ride on our bikes it felt ok after about 5 miles, and each morning was a bit less sore, to be only a dull ache by the time race day rolled around.

The bikes felt good, so back in the hotel we got them and our TA bags set up. Gels taped to the bars, aerobottles ready for water, and 2 bottles of super-concentrated Carbo Pro on the frames. Shoes, race belts, sunglasses, and tri tops into the bags. Our helmets would be placed on the handle bars race morning. This prep was fast and easy for us, as Vineman had been a successful test of the planning. We had time for bonus napping and relaxing, watching random tv, lying around, and generally being lazy and sleeping early. Saturday came and we went for another easy swim, a short run, and got our gear and bikes checked in. The volunteers at the bag and bike check were great: they took us through the whole TA and made sure we were ready for how that part of our day would go. We had a nap, and were woken up by crazy thunder and rain and lightening! But it soon stopped, and then it was an early dinner at TGI Friday’s, some chatting with our waiter, and early to bed.

Sunday came fast, and next thing I knew I was standing on the dock as the sun came up, holding Mike’s hand, nervous, and ready. No wetsuit with the 85 degree water: but hey it was the same for everyone out there. The line began moving, and soon it was a final kiss, a jump in the water, and we were off. Mike quickly pulled away, and I settled into my rhythm. I had a few sections of not-so-great sighting, but in general I felt comfortable and like I was moving well. Relaxed, and just pulling. Keeping my cadence a bit higher than usual and my glide time a bit shorter while I fought the current seemed to work well. Made it out around the turn with only a bit of contact, and then enjoyed the swim to home. I wasn’t wearing a watch, and I wasn’t sure what time Mike and I actually started, but after the race Mike let me know I had PR’ed: 1:18:16 for the 2.4 miles.

The transition area at this race was LONG: from the water we had about a 200m run up a slight incline, over a footbridge, and to the transition area. I just kept a relaxed jog, got handed my bag by another great volunteer, and had my own personal volunteer in the changing tent. She dumped my bag, helped me pull down my tri top, and made sure I got all I needed from the bag on before sending me on my way and packing up my swim gear for me. T1: 5:18.

Out of the changing tent, right to my bike rack, grabbed the bike and kept my easy jog right up the sidewalk and over to the street for the mount line. A bit of shakey legs having been horizontal so long in the swim made it take a second to get clipped in, but I did and was off. Nice and easy, I kept telling myself. There was going to be plenty of time on the bike. I sipped water from my aero bottle, got comfy on my bars, and just got it done. Slowed down, thanked aid station volunteers, and kept that aerobottle full of Gatorade, water, or a mix of them. I cruised the downhills, and went just a bit harder than I should on the uphill of the rollers. My stomach felt a bit off, and I realized the Gatorade was just not working that day. So I switched to water, glad I had put some eCaps (electrolytes) in my jersey pocket just in case, and felt just fine. My Carbo Pro mix bottles worked great as always: a sip every 30 minutes, plus a gel at about half way and another at the end of loop two were all I needed. I peed a number of times on the bike (wooo stinky shoes!) and feel my hydration and nutrition on the bike was pretty good. The only issue was the 2 times I was out of water for a mile or two. The section through La Grange (done twice) was a blast: I felt like a superstar as people were lining both sides of the street, screaming and cheering and cowbelling like it was the Tour de France. Just after it on the first loop some bug stung my lip, but I spit him out, found it wasn’t swelling, and just forgot about it. There were miles of beautiful land, and even some horse farms. A number of the locals were out and cheering, or had marked the sections of broken pavement right by their homes. Part of the loop had a bit of wind, and got a bit tough, but the second loop when it was even tougher I knew that the end of the loop had a bit of a tailwind, great pavement, and was that close to being done pedaling! So I just, well, got it done. The last 10ish miles heading back to the TA were awesome new pavement, mostly downhill, and just made for flying. So I relaxed and brought my heartrate down a bit, stretching the legs a bit to get them ready to run. Back in town, I hopped off the bike, jogged the long stretch back to the changing tents, and handed off the bike. On the bike I had my Garmin, so I knew this one was a PR! 6:22:09 for 112 miles.

I just kept right on moving through T2: I had another great volunteer taking care of all my needs, and I swapped cycling shoes for runners and socks, and my helmet for a visor, and I was off. I found I had a slight blister on the back of my heel, and was hoping it wouldn’t get too much worse with running. Another long jog back out to the street where the actual run would begin: 5:16 (my only split where I beat Mike).

As the run started I was feeling really good. In fact, the first mile was sub-9 although I kept trying to slow myself down, knowing there were plenty of miles to come. I was still feeling good around mile 3 where the first loop reconnects around mile 14. And right as I get to that intersection, who should come around the corner but my wonderful boyfriend! I threw my hands in the air – “that’s the one I love!” and got a jogging kiss – it was one of the best parts of the day. He was starting to hurt, and had been about ready to walk. So he ran with me for about half a mile or so until an aid station where he walked, and I actually passed him! It wouldn’t last though – he said later that he couldn’t let that happen so had to get moving again. He passed me back a few minutes later. For that I take the credit for keeping his time sub-10 :) . The rest of the run got tougher. I was soon walking the aid stations, but keeping a smile and moving in between them. I was shivering and goosebumpy around mile 4, so I gave up on my plan of not chaffing by staying dry and started dumping ice down my sports bra and pants. I came back from it, and kept focusing on the white aid station tents, playing number games with myself. “It’s only 20 more miles. That’s just a long run.” “It’s only another 16 – you did that with a sore foot earlier so this will be easy.” “Only 2 more 8 milers, and those are just regular weekday runs.” At the turn around Mike wasn’t out yet having recently finished, and I missed my cheering squad that had supported me at all my other IMs. But I kept going, and finally it was “Only a 5k to go!! You’ve got this!” Unsure of exactly when I had started, I thought based on the time of day that I’d make it sub-12:45, but I wasn’t sure about the 12:30ish I had as my “all goes well” goal. My legs were hurting – each time I walked an aid station I had to start running again right at the end of it, or I knew I’d really slow. Rich (watching on his bike) let me know Mike had finished: 9:52 and 4th in his AG – probably good for a Kona slot! He also gave Mike a call, letting him know to get to the finish line and that I was coming in! And I just kept at it, my legs burning, exhausting, and leaving the last bits I had out there. And then I was at the 26 mile marker. It was still light: I was going to finish in daylight for the first time! Another runner was near me, and I asked him if it was first or second lap for him. Second, he said. But you go first… you’ve passed me all day. So I went for it. I turned and could see the chute. I was running down it, the announcers completely drowned out by the screams and cowbells of the crowd. It brings tears to my eyes even typing about it now. There was unbelievable energy and spirit and it pulled me in. I had done it: across the line, right into the arms of my finish line catchers.

Final results:

Swim: 1:18:16 (32/50 W25-29, 158/356 women, 824/1703 starters)
T1: 5:18 (8/50 W25-29, 48/356 women, 300/1703 starters)
Bike: 6:22:09 (17/50 W25-29, 86/356 women, 781/1703 starters)
T2: 5:16 (5/50 W25-29, 26/356 women, 113/1703 starters)
Run: 4:39:50 (11/50 W25-29, 69/356 women, 440/1703 starters)
Total: 12:30:47 (14/50 W25-29, 68/356 women, 498/1703 starters)

Amazing, just amazing race. I couldn’t stand on my own, but I was so proud and happy! I knew it had been a successful day, and that I had dug deep. One of my goals was to really push my limits, and I did – at IM AZ I was pretty fine when I finished, and just went about on my own. Not so this time, and I ended up needing help to get to the massage area. But at the same time, I didn’t injure myself or take it too far: it’s been less than a week and although I’m still a bit stiff I’m feeling pretty good. Sure, I had heat rash pretty much everywhere, and my chaffing is a bit scary, but I didn’t even get really sunburned. Mike got our bikes back to TriBikeTransport while I showered, and then we went back to the finish line.

We grabbed food at TGI Fridays (right at the finish line) again, and our waiter from the day before came by. He had seen us when we were running together, and had cheered for us! He had also been curious what happened or if Mike was a lap ahead, since he remembered that we expected Mike to be a good bit faster.

Monday we went to awards (Mike’s first IM award!) and signed him up for his Kona slot before heading home. Take 2 triathletes. Add little sleep night before the IM, and 3 hours the night after. Now put them in a hurry, sore, cranky, and in an airport. In a plane. Switching planes and having to cross the largest airport ever. Getting into a low car and driving home. Getting out of the car, hauling luggage. Man we were nice to each other , but the pillows were welcome that night!

I’d recommend that race to anyone. Insane energy, and tons of community interest. Our taxi driver to the airport the next day was full of questions, and said it really hit home what an Ironman meant having it local. He’d seen the Kona shows, but they were over in an hour. He said it was something else when it went through areas he knew and when the local news was still giving updates at midnight. Very nice hotel setup, and I appreciated how prepared the race organizers were. The volunteers were the best ever: they were full of energy, jogged to get people the water they asked for, and were on top of everything. I’ll also remember the two girls dancing like crazy to the “I like to move it move it…. I like to move it move it” song – a racer’s kids, either at the swim start or hanging out at one of the many pre-race activities. But just having fun, and giggling, and oddly that’s what I remember about that race. :)

Posted in biking, Ironman, mike, nutrition, pics, Race Tales, running, swiming | 23 Comments »

Vineman 70.3 half Ironman race report — LOOONG

Monday, July 23rd, 2007

Wow. Where to start… This race report is going to be long. And tough. Kinda like the day. There was the good, the bad, and the ugly. Guess I’ll just keep it how the day played out, but we’ll start a bit before Sunday.

Since this was a ‘B’ race (secondary focus for the year) Mike and I basically trained through it. The week before was a bit easy training-wise just since there was so much to get done. But it was done (way too late on Friday) and Mike got off to work Friday while I worked a bit from home and got the car packed. At 1 I picked him up at work and we were on our way. I must say I was excited: I have only done one half, and it was very early in my tri career, and I had hopes for a PR. Mike was thinking there was a chance he could get a Kona spot, but wasn’t sure how likely it was. We were both excited to do a big race together. Yeah, I can even be a sappy girl about that. I was giggly and chatty on the ride, and he laughed at me. But it was an easy, uneventful drive up. We made it to my mom’s house in time for dinner and seeing a bunch of little-Kylie pics she had found while cleaning out the garage. An early night, and a relaxing morning got us on our way relaxed and ready to go.

After missing a lunch with my sis (stupid traffic on her way there and her work schedule) we made it to the expo, got registered, and got out T2 stuff dropped off. It was fun to get it all ready with him, and to play with yankz (faster shoelaces) in the parking lot. Then it was off to Guerneville where we met up with my step-grandparents, Dad, and bonus-mom Wendy. Since they live right on the river, we had another great place to stay with a swim in the river, a yummy dinner, and great company to get the bikes all set up. Then off to bed!

Up early, ate, and got to the race. Having 2 transition areas made it a bit interesting, but luckily we had figured out a plan for getting my car to the start — Wendy and my dad could each take a car, and in case they left early I had a spare key in my bike bag and they could just lock the keys in. That stress solved, I was able to really focus on the race instead of at all dealing with wondering how the day would play out.

It was my first time at a big race and in a bigger age group, so it was a bit intimidating. I did get to meet Beverly , which was great as I felt I already kinda know her. Then into the LOOOONG porta potty lines. But I made it through, and into the water on time. Gave the “I love you” sign to Mike, Wendy, and my dad, and my day started! Definitely in a washing machine — a few bumps and such, but I just remembered it’s just hard to see, and ignored it all and kept going. Only kicked a bit extra when hands stayed on my feet, instead of just bumping them. The swim started going up river, and I could feel a bit of the current. I just kept focusing on pulling, siting, and swimming steady. Got to the turn around (at last!) and had the “tailwind” of current helping me. The cruise back was much more pleasant. Oh, and I saw Mike’s wave passing under one of the bridges as I did, and thought good thoughts for his race. Got to the end of the swim, let some water into my wetsuit, and ready for a speedy transition.

Wetsuit off, bike shoes on, helmet on (after fixing it… the back had come a bit unattached), sunglasses on, stuff my wetsuit, helmet and goggles into a bag, grabbed the bike, and ran out to keep moving.

When I got on the bike, within a few miles I could tell it was going to be a good day. As I thought to myself at one point, I felt “smooth as buttah!” The first steep climb just helped me up, and the risers just weren’t as draining as I thought they could be. At 30 minutes my Garmin beeped at me and I took a swig of the super-concentrated carbo-pro mix. It went down pretty easy, and I just kept movin’. To my surprise, I was already at about 9 miles! WTF??? Um, that’s 18mph… I was hoping to be over 17! “Guess I’ll take it, I feel good.” And I just kept going. About mile 23 I heard “There’s mine!” in my favorite voice. I grinned, and saw Mike FLY past me (later learned it was at about 26 mph to my 19ish). As he screamed by, he called “Mine’s SPEEDY!…. AND I’M WINNING!!!” and at the end of that I could hear definite little boy excitement in his voice. “I KNOW! I’ve been looking for your age!” (we had our ages on our calves, so I could see when people in his wave, 32 minutes after mine, passed me.

I just kept it up. Drinking on the 30 minute beeps, pushing it so that I felt it might be just barely harder than I really should. Mike said to go there, and he thought I’d be able to pull off a good run still. So I trusted, and felt a bit of pain, but had fun and felt, well, smooth as buttah ;) Up the biggest hill, with a “woohoo! YES!” at the top. I was ready for the cruise to T2. I ate a gel, felt great, and made the last few turns.

Think of the last thing you want to see in a race. I used to think the worst thing I personally could experience in a race is crashing or failing myself. But I was wrong. I come around a turn, and I see an ambulance. A firetruck. Police cars. AN AIRLIFT AMBULENCE. “Oh crap… that is horrible. I hope the racers are all ok. Is this going to be one of those things you read about on the forums and such, the story of a crash about 2 miles from the end of the bike loop?” I keep moving, knowing the best thing I can do is just get by and stay out of the way since the vehicles were on the far side of the road. I glance as I pass, and I see it is a racer in the telltale spandex. But wait. That spandex has orange sides on the shorts, LIKE MINE. That jersey is an orange tank, LIKE MINE. HOLY SHIT THAT HAIR IS LIKE MIKE’S HELMET HAIR. OMG. I think I screamed. I slammed on the brakes (forgetting they were new and strong ones and locked a wheel). Somehow remembered to look over my shoulder and see the path was clear before turning back, pedaling harder than I think I had during the race so far. Skidded to a stop in front of 3 paramedics walking away, calling “Is that Mike Donia????”

“Yeah… are you the girlfriend? He’s ok.” The airbulance people were calm, and let me know that he was ok. That he was going in the ambulance, and not in the helicopter. That he was scrapped up and bruised, but ok. Again, ok. And that I should keep going, and that he had asked for my dad. I said I could find my dad faster, and they said good, and I took off again. I just went. Didn’t think, but there were definitely tears sliding out under the sunglasses. I still can’t get the image out of my face of him on the stretcher as I passed, just laying there. How his jersey was folded, the arm over his eyes as he faced the other way. I think keeping going and not going to him was one of the hardest things I’ve done. But I knew it is what he would have wanted. He was in good hands, he knew who to ask for. I could make sure my dad got to him, and that was about it. So I pedaled. A race official came up next to me, asked if it was me. Said he was ok, maybe a broken collar bone. Some road rash. And that I should keep going, he wanted me to, and that they’d make sure he knew I’d go to him if he wanted.

I saw my mom point at me as I got to the school, and could tell she didn’t know it was me. I figured it was because they were still waiting for Mike. I was right, and later found out she was using me as the example of what he’d look like. “Hi Mom…” In the narrow bike path, I just went to the transition, grabbed my shoes, and was back on the course so that I could talk to them without being in the way. As I jogged, I saw my Dad. “Dad… Mike crashed. He’s being taken to a hospital. Will you go with him?” I have no idea what he answered, but it was something of concern. “Please just go with him!” and he said he would. I told my mom and Wendy as I passed them, and told them to talk to Dad.

And I ran. A few panic attacks. But I kept moving. Up hills, down hills, around people. Up the biggest hill, I tell a girl why I’m stressed, seeing my boyfriend ready for an ambulance ride, and where. And she asks “the one hit by a car?” UM WHAT?? She felt horrible, as I struggled to breathe and sty stay with my mantra: just keep moving. I was only getting closer to being back to him, and he’d be proud I finished. I vaguely knew I was close to breaking the time he told me I could beat, that I wasn’t sure I believed. Saw faces I knew, hear cheers. It just didn’t feel real. Just didn’t really care. People in my age group passed me, and I passed them. I just wanted to be done. I wasn’t there mentally. I now know that focus can be broken, what it feels like to be running a race that you are no longer mentally in. I just kept moving. I knew that they’d know more once I was back, and that by just moving I’d be back the fastest. I remember it being hot. I remember taking a pic with an I love you sign because all I could think of was that Mike wasn’t running with me, and that I wouldn’t see him at some point on the out and back. But I kept going, and I got it done. And then I finished. I sprinted the end, I knew I’d get info and be done and it couldn’t hurt that much because it would be over, and I wouldn’t even think of it.

And I was done, and somehow got sponges on my head and shoulders and water in my hand and my mom there, telling me where Mike was, and that he was in xray. Mom and I kept busy waiting for more info, checking at medical. Finding Mike’s bike at info. Yes, getting my results so I could tell Mike when I saw him that I did it. The medical tent was great (actually the same guy who helped me at full Vineman last year), and another guy who called my mom with each update he got. My dad let us know that Mike was out of xray, and someone told me he had no broken bones. I got cleaned up a bit, and by the time the car was repacked with all the bikes and gear Mike was being discharged and my mom could lead me to where Dad and Wendy had him, getting fed. We made it, and I got the hug I’d needed for over 13 miles. To see with my own eyes that he is ok.

We said goodbyes to my family, and started the long drive home. Mike wrapped in gauze and bruised and sore, but in good spirits and knowing he’d be more sore in the morning. He talked with me all the way home, and promised that he’ll never let me pass him like that again. And that he’d never do it again. And that he is proud of me.

Of course we weren’t done for the day. Leaving the restaurant my check engine light comes on, and the car decides if we are in slow traffic it will stall. After it did so the third time right by my mom’s, we stop. Of course pulling off the highway to make the turn to where Mom’s car boyfriend was so he could see what was going on, the light went off and everything felt normal again. So he checked it, gave the car a clean bill of health, and we were back on our way home.

On that long drive I got to hear Mike’s story, the parts that were missing in my mind. Yes, it was a car. He was biking along, still right in the thick of things for his age group (just behind the 2 leading bikers who had passed him, but who he thought he’d be able to outrun. He made the same left where I saw him, and was moving along the straight away. A car was in the lane next to the bike lane, over to the left, having also just gone through that controlled (by the race and police) intersection. There was a bit of a gap between Mike and the next bike, and the car puts on its right blinker as if it is going to turn into the condos he was passing. It moves into the bike lane, so he moves left to go by as he was moving about 26mph and faster than the car. All of a sudden, the car pulled back left to make a uturn, and Mike thought “You’ve got to be kidding” as he had no time to do anything but fly over the car, getting thrown to the other lane of traffic, and skid to a stop. As he lay in the road, he could hear the driver getting yelled at by all the spectators, and an MD (who was racing) stopped and helped him until the rest of the help arrived. Oh, and the bike is done, as is his aero helmet, and the zipp disc and 808. But the driver should be covering that expensive part of his mistake. Looking at the bike it seems ok, but on closer inspection you can see flakes of carbon that you can lift on the top tube, and a hole through the disc. And we looked at results later, and the guy with him on the bike won the age group — and yes, Mike and I think he could have gone faster on the run. Guess we’ll still have to look to Kona at IM KY.

Tonight he is sitting next to me. Road rashed, bruised, and sore. But he is here with me, and ok other than that. And he loves me, and is proud of me.

Oh, and I did great — I PR’ed by about 1 hr 24 minutes. Granted, my last half IM was early in my tri-life, but I’ll take it:
swim: 39:30ish (mixed with T1 in official results)
T1: 2:53
bike: 3:05:57
T2: 2:38
run: 2:03:14
Total: 5:54:14

Previous PR was in 2004 at Caliman: swim 42:50, T1 8:48, bike 3:56:17, T2 6:52, run 2:26:28, for a total 7:18:40. My open half marathon PR had been 2:01:33 from a week after the Caliman half IM. So yeah, I’m pleased with how I did. Choosing to listen and keep racing was hard. Very hard. I’ve never had 13 miles be so long, or unimportant in the moment. And now… I have a boy to comfort and hug.

Posted in biking, Life Outside of Tris, mike, nutrition, Race Tales, running, swiming | 10 Comments »

my forth time…

Tuesday, May 1st, 2007

PossAbilities Triathlon was this weekend. I felt strong going in, and the day played out well. Just a short report on this one as I’ve been working on my blogging motivation lately (don’t worry, tri motivation is there and strong). Oh, and this was my 4th time at this race (although the course has changed a few times). It was my second tri ever in 2004 and I’ve done it every year :)

Fun parts of the tri this weekend (local reverse order sprint – 5k run, 10 mi bike, 150 yd swim):

  • hosting a pro lady (Kim Hager) who was going to speak to our tri club after the race. She was very sweet and I am lucky to have gotten to host her. I’d highly recommend her if you need a coach :)
  • racing at the race where I met Mike last year! Wow time flies :)
  • A 5k PR! 17:51, compared to my last 24:11!! Ok I’m not going to count it as a PR… the course turned out to be only 2.3 miles ;) Still the PR was at a 7:41 pace, and this was at a 7:44. So that is good.
  • Improving my bike time (on the same exact course last year) by almost a minute and a half (over 10.8 mi). Last year: 36:25. This year: 34:02. That’s 19 mph!!! And it does have some climbing in it (about 640 ft)
  • Finishing in under and hour! 58:28 official time
  • 3/27 W25-29, 14/113 women, and 91/383 overall! In that overall and womens there is also Kate Major and Julie Swail! Having a local sprint with a big purse means getting to race in a small group with some big names.

I had flying transitions and a lot of fun. The bike was a bit crazy (like last year) since the loops with all the newbies and uturns and pros get a bit… well, crazy.

Mike did awesome (of course): 46:46! 1st M35-39, 3rd male age grouper, 10th male overall, and 12th overall! Kate Major only beat him by a little bit… she was on his feet for the swim but knew you could turn and exit the pool at the start of the stairs, while he swam to the end of them.

Amanda (another PX teammate, a pro) got 3rd women overall! So the PX jersey was on the podium 3 times :)

Posted in biking, mike, Planet X, Race Tales, running, swiming | No Comments »

April 7th Derby Day 5k

Monday, April 16th, 2007

I just realized I never posted here about my PR race!

So here it is… straight from my other blog ;)

I ran the Derby Day 5k April 7th. I mainly signed up because it went through the Arboreum, which is pretty, and the Santa Anita race track, which I’ve wanted to go to for a while. And race entry fee included parking and spending the day at the track and seeing the Santa Anita Derby and entry to the microbrew festival in the infield! So it was a fun day of pounding pavement and ponies!

The race course was great, although I had a goal of 24:59 (breaking 25 as I believe my previous 5k PR was about 25:13) so I didn’t get to enjoy much of the scenery. The downhills made my sore shin, well, more sore. But I kept telling me to suck it up and keep going hard, that it would be over soon. And so I listened to me. And finished in 24:20!! And by my watch the course was long at 3.18 miles, so it came to a 7:37 pace!! Yup, happy Kylie :)

Another fun bit was that I always pick “goal people”. You know, people I want to pass, or at least stay in sight of, etc. One guy in a russel shirt (the R was on the back of the neck) and gloves was one of those people for me. And then at one point I passed him, and he said “there you are!” and I wasn’t sure if I heard right, and I was hurting, so I kept going. Shortly after the finish I saw him, and yup, I was one of his goal people. I got away though and finished before him, but he was friendly, and both of us being there alone (his wife and daughter were still asleep) we walked around the expo together until he had to leave.

Then I ran into Dan (from Foothill Cyclery) and who I haven’t seen in a while, and talked with him for a bit, and it was good to catch up. And then later Mike showed up, and watched ponies with me, and drank beer. Wooo! It was a fun day, and the Santa Anita Derby was one by one of the least favorite horses, which I like seeing… if it wasn’t for surprises and ponies showing they are that good, it would get boring.

Posted in Life Outside of Tris, Race Tales, running | 1 Comment »

pics from this weekend’s race

Monday, February 12th, 2007

here are some pics from this weekend’s race:

me and Mike before the race

I won W25-29!

Mike won OVERALL!

To see all the pics check out my Redlands Tri gallery.

Posted in pics, Race Tales | 6 Comments »

first race of the season

Sunday, February 11th, 2007

So today Mike and I did our first Tri of the season. It was a local (Redlands) race, and reverse order (run, bike, then swim). Very short for us: 5k run, 9 mi bike, 100 yd swim. A few notes of interest on this race: it was the first tri I ever did (although the location was different that year). And this was the first race for Mike and I since the one we met at.

I didn’t wake up ready for this kind of day. The RAIN (yes rain finally here and just for race morning) was very loud, and my head felt like it was going to explode and I was all stuffy. What better when feeling a bit under the weather than to go at a high heart rate for an hour in rain? Exactly. Nothing. So we got in the car and headed out just in time for sheets and sheets of rain. Driving east we got through those, and realized it would reach the race in about 2 – 2.5 hours — right as the race was starting.

Got registered and set up pretty fast. It’s easy when all you need is a helmet and bike shoes and goggles at your TA. Spent some time inside the high school gym to keep a bit drier and warmer, did some stretching. Went for a short warmup jog, and then lined up as it was near start time. The race (like many local ones) did of course not start on time. About 10 or 15 minutes late though there was a count down, and we were off! Some light drizzle, but nothing horrible.

Man running fast was hard! Ok, fast for me. I averaged 8:14 miles, and a heart rate of 183, which isn’t exactly where I’ve been training this base season :) The run started with a slight uphill, then a drop and then ended a bit uphill again. But I actually felt ok on the run — a bit of complaint in the legs and lungs, but that was expected with this length race. I finished it, grabbed my bike.

I jumped on the bike for more of that same gradual grade of climbing. About 2 miles of it, then a downhill with some fun turns with sand and wet gravel across the road. I saw Mike on this first of 2 laps, and how close he was. AND THAT THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF HIM! And one of my goals was not to get passed by him, but another goal was him winning, which he laughed at. And he was closer than I thought possible. So that was good motivation. Maybe a bit too good — I actually went off road on one of the turns. I had a bit too much speed going in. Luckily it was a rounded blacktop curb and then decently flat dirt, so I just pretended it was a mountain bike. I saw him again a bit later in the loop, and that time he heard me cheer for him and realized how close he was. The bike loops ended with a uturn just past the TA entrance, and on that uturn I heard him behind me. “noooo” it was a slight uphill again and I tried, but he laughed and made it past me about 50 feet before the turn off where I would have been safe. So I almost made it.

As he climbed off his bike and ran for the pool I had one lap to go on the bike. Only one lap, I told myself as the burning of the climb started again. Oh shut up, you can do this. And so my legs did, and we made it to the top. As I got there the rain caught up though. Suddenly the barely drizzle, that had stopped for the most part, was pelting rain. It hurt, and visibility was rather reduced. Well I could see the guy marking the next turn, so I just aimed for him, and then the next one. Oh yeah and I remembered to slow a bit more and actually make all the turns while still on the road. As I rounded that uturn at the end of the course, I prepped for the transition. Rack bike, shoes and socks off, helmet off, grab goggles and run.

A 150 meter run brought me to the pool. Jumped in, pushed off, and swam like Mike tells me to: pulling hard. I felt the water pushing me forward, and just kept going. Push of the next wall, and then next. On my last push, my goggles flipped down. Happily bouncing into both eyes with each stroke. I broke my flow to pull them down and around my neck, and chased down one last guy as we got to the stairs, out of the pool, and were done. And then I got my first finish line kiss, which was kinda awesome. And the kisser was… the overall winner (yeah, Mike won!!)!

In the days leading up I was trying to guestimate our times. In the end I told him to go 45 minutes, and I hoped for an hourish. So he did (45:26). And by doing so he won overall, for his first time ever! I must be good luck. Then I got the full results (although Mike’s last name has bonus characters added to it) and those for me… and I won my age group (1:03:06)! And for once it actually had a significant number of people in it! I was 1/16 :) And overall women I was 9th! Which is awesome for me! And then there is the fact that a few women came in a bit before me that Mike saw who had pretty clearly only done one lap on the bike. So taking that into account, I give myself 7th overall in women! So yeah, it was a good start to the season.

Posted in biking, Race Tales, running, swiming | 5 Comments »

for teh winz

Monday, October 9th, 2006

So the mtn bike race was a blast!

Got there in plenty of time and signed the waiver. Then ran into a girl from work who I didn’t know would be racing. Then spent a while just chatting with people and waiting for it to be close to time.

Finally made my way to the start line (a short bike from the car). On the way, found that my front brake was rubbing worse than ever! So I just unhooked it. Seemed like the best plan — the ride to the start was uphill ;) However, it didn’t seem like a good plan for the whole race. I knew some of the single track sections, and that I’d want a brake for ‘em! Actually, I was a bit worried about one of the single track sections. It was part of a run I had done a few weeks before with Paul, and it wasn’t really runable for me (up or down) and we’d be riding down it — plenty of loose sand, rocks, and ruts. But it was near the end of the race, and I’m still getting to the start line… so more on that later.

Anyways, made it up to the start area, turned into the parking lot/warmup area, and found myself facing Mike (not my Mike, but another cute one I know through Foothill Cyclery and who worked there some and helped get my tubeless tires to bead when the other shop guy was having trouble with them). He is a semi-pro (qualified for pro and will be upgrading for next season) mtn biker, so I was wondering if I’d see him there. Said hi, talked a bit, and then he fixed my brake! Yay! It only took a second and an adjustment on a single screw. So yes, I had a front brake for the race, which was a good thing!

Soon enough it was time to line up. The beginner women were the last wave (with the Jr riders). An uphill start with a climb from 7000′ of elevation to 7600′ in just over 2.5 miles. Only the very start was steep, and then it was fireroads and nothing too technical. Next was a bit of rolling hills, and in that part, at about mile 4, there was a guy riding that I was stronger than (as his heat was 2 or more minutes before mine). He was in the middle of the fire road, a bit to the left, and staying there. So I called out “on your right!” and went to pass him. I got to where my handlebars were even with his, and he pulled to the right and hit me, throwing me off the bike! Getting up, I hear him say “You pushed me into soft sand!” All I had to say to him was “On your right doesn’t mean go right! Be careful!”. I got up, and rode off, leaving him behind and not wanting to deal with it. There were 2 packed sections on the road there — one to his left, one to his right. If he had hit me as I started passing, or had swerved in front of me as I called on your right, I wouldn’t have minded as much, as then it would have been just bad timing for my pass. But the fact that I was even with him meant I had been passing (it was a big uphill) and that he’d had time to register my “on your right”. Plus there was a track clear on his left! So I put it down to him having poor handling skills and picking a bad line. He hit sand, jerked in reaction, and hit me next to him — instead of seeing sand, knowing I was on his right, and picking the packed line to the left. Either way, my knee got to pour blood for the next 14 miles (and a while after that as well — I think it has mostly stopped now though — still got a doc apt for it in a bit).

But I just kept riding. I love the section of single track that was coming up, and had a blast going down it. Passed a few more people, and knew I was in front of the only people I knew were in my class. During that single track, I also passed Roger, who then caught back up to me on the climb (first part paved, then dirt) that followed. We chatted a bit (turns out he knows people I work with) and just enjoyed the views and beautiful day (while working our butts off). We soon met up with Mark as well, who I had been parked next to and chatted with some before the race. The three of us ended up riding somewhat together for the rest of the race, alternating who was where, and chatting on occasion. We enjoyed some great single track climbs and rollers and generally had a great time. I hit a bush, and missed the good line on a climbing turn after a view distracted me) and they mocked me for it. Fun times :)

As we approached the end, I was still feeling pretty good so I pushed it a bit on a climb and they fell a bit behind. Then it was onto a gorgeous single track that rolled through trees and was just technical enough to keep you focused. But I knew what was coming, and it soon did: the trail that had been scary on foot. The first downhill section with loose sand and rocks I rode down, telling myself it wasn’t that bad and couldn’t be quite the part we ran yet. But some how I was able to keep telling myself that down the whole trail. I walked 2 or 3 little sections, mostly because my arms were shaky from breaking so much and trying to be relaxed. But each time I climbed right back on and got going again. Suddenly there was tape, and people, and I heard “don’t let him pass you here!” so I pushed a bit, and crossed the finish, turning to see Mark right behind me.

After cheering Roger in a few minutes back, we road back down to the registration and parking area, put bikes away, changed, and went to check results and awards and food.

So a single crash and some great views and fun people made for a good day. As a bonus I was first in my class (out of 4)! Woo! I got a medal! I was about 20 minutes in front of the next person in it. And then as an extra bonus the manager of a team I talked with about a year and a half ago (shortly before crashing and breaking things) was there and told me to get back in touch with him as he is trying to build up his women’s team for next year.

And then, more bonus, there was a raffle with the big prize being a cruiser bike and I won it! But I didn’t win it… which is ok. I had seen it as I was there, and was surprised that was the prize at a mtb race (and am not a big fan of that style of bikes). They called my number and I thought I heard it, but I was in the middle of talking with the team guy and trying to clean my knee out, so by the time a friend poked me and said it was me and for the bike and I got to the front another number was called. So instead they gave me a consolation prize of a set of Kenda tires. Which I will get more use out of perhaps (although they aren’t tubeless ones, so we’ll see).

But yeah, a good day, and hopefully I’ll be doing more in the future!
GPS of my race is up at motionbased.

Posted in mountain biking, Race Tales | 5 Comments »

Round one of Vineman pics are up!!

Friday, August 18th, 2006

The Vineman pics Lisa took for me are now posted! Check them out!

And here is one of my favorites, as the thing I remember most about each Ironman I’ve done is the support, cheers, and love of the family and friends who took that day’s journey with me:

Mom, Ryan (big bro), Ethan (nephew), Becky (sister), Dad, Me, Jenny (in back, sis-in-law), Holly (besterest not-real-sis), Wendy (super-stepmom), Lisa

Even other non-related-to-them triathletes thought they were the best cheering section! While running by, one yelled “you’re my favorite fans!” and so my brother happily told the replied “you’re our 2nd favorite triathlete!”. When the second person made a similar comment, she was told she was their 3rd favorite triathlete. :)

Posted in Ironman, pics, Race Tales | 8 Comments »

Vineman posts summary

Tuesday, August 15th, 2006

For those of you that read your friends page from top to bottom (and thus backwards in time order) I did post each section of my race separately… here they all are:

pre-Vineman
start, swim, T1
bike & T2
run & finish (aka because an Ironman isn’t hard enough)

Times summary:
Swim (2.4 miles): 1:24:25.9
T1: 5:45.3
Bike (113ish miles): 7:13:05.2
T2: 5:02.9
Run total (unofficial since messed up on web page): 5:03ish
Total: 13:49:35.0
Age group: 6/12
women: 30/58 finishers
overall: 165

I have some great shots that Lisa and Holly took at the race… I will post them later.

I also want to share my horoscope from raceday: “Things may be moving a bit too fast today for you to grab a hold of anything, Kylie. There is an element of the unexpected entering into the equation. Be prepared for anything. The mood of the day is especially light and perhaps a bit superficial. People may not be entirely reliable, so if there is something you absolutely need to get done, you might consider just doing it yourself.” heh… it works.

Posted in Ironman, Race Tales | 10 Comments »

Vineman marathon and finish (aka because an Ironman isn’t painful enough)

Tuesday, August 15th, 2006

It felt good to be running… really good. I was comfortable, heart rate was doing well, and I was moving fluid. I passed a number of people, just keeping a smooth and easy pace averaging about 10:30 min/mile. There were 3 loops, and at the finish of the first I was feeling like I was getting close. It was definitely a tough course though — like the bike, it was constant rollers. Happily my knee and foot were just fine, and I just kept cruising. There were great support station crowds that I smiled through and joked with, and the last mile was full of cheering crowds that would call out my number. The best of course being my family section — complete with Holly and Lisa as well. They had hand clappers and screaming and banging and clapping and just generally making me feel loved and well supported.

Lap 2 began much like lap 1, but it only started that way ** WARNING: TMI included — not girly related but bathroom involved **. I started to feel like I needed another portapottie pee break, so I took one a few miles from the turn around, about 15 miles from the end. I didn’t feel so great — in fact, I remember thinking it was like hell had relocated it’s fires and burning pain to my bladder. It feel awful to pee, and the jolting of running had me in tears. I was still moving as best as I could, and when running my pace was still about the same, but there was much more walking needed. I was hurting — perhaps worse than I ever have. The Southern NV 24 race was tough and scary, but I was never in that extreme of pain (other than my feet, which are easy to deal with). I constantly felt I needed to pee worse than I ever have, yet each time I stopped and did I was only peeing blood. Shit. 15 miles to go…

My dad and Wendy found me mid-return of that lap, and surprised me while I was tearily in pain and in a walk/jog combo moment. In my stress I told them vaguely why, not realizing they’d call back to my cheering squad and my mom would know (I didn’t want her flipping out). I kept moving, that lap being more walk-heavy than any of the others. My body, other than the lower gut, was feeling fine, and I had energy. It was just a matter of overcoming the pain and getting to running. About a mile from the end of that lap, a random guy cheering on the side was jogging the sidewalk to the end, and encouraged me to join him for the next flat section. Not wanting my fans to see me walking or know I was in pain, I kept it up for about 2 miles — through the start of the third lap and to the 8 miles to go point. My dad asked from the side if I was sure I wanted to keep going, and I had to let the stubborn little kid in me out a bit, which helped me keep moving.

Lap 3 was a bit better, mostly because I knew the faster I went the sooner I would be done. I managed to run more than I did on lap 2, and in fact ran in the last 2.5ish miles. Just focused on the distance left to cover, and how long it would take me. It was all about playing numbers in my head, ignoring and blocking pain, and just moving. So I just moved. I didn’t drink anything the last about 10 miles because it just made my body hurt more, and I knew it was bad but that I’d rehydrate soon enough across the line.

I was definitely upset here by the amount of cheating. So many people (I’d guess as much as 1 in 5) had a friend or 2 running with them! Keeping them on pace, talking with and distracting them from their pain, and also blocking the narrow area we had to run in. I had to go around multiple groups running 3 or 4 across with only one racer in it! I understand it’s a small race, but that doesn’t mean it’s ok to cheat. It really bothered me that people were ok with that, and then calling it their own accomplishment. At the awards the next day, Holly mentioned “aw, she’s cute” to the young girl who won the age group below mine. And all I had to say was yes, and her dad ran most of it with her giving her tips and helping her with nutrition the whole way. But I ran my race, and did it myself, and as much as I think they lost out and weren’t fair to others in the race, I’m proud of my own work and toughness. What is also sad is that I believe the overall women’s winner cheated — she had no bike or run splits, and the announcers kept telling a different lady she was winning. Oh, and her partner also placed and lost his chip. They were the only lost chips of the whole race that we heard of. To me it is sad when my gut feeling after what I saw on a course is that it is likely the winner was cheating, but that is how this race felt and seemed — and yes, she did also have a drafting penalty. One of the few that were given. To her credit, there is a race she has done at a 10:48 (IM France last year) at and a 5:19 half (St. Croix this year) that did have split times. So her 10:32 isn’t unreasonable. Just felt sketchy to me… especially since no one was aware she was in the lead and kept telling the 2nd place woman that she was winning. You’d think that they’d notice the first woman to start on the run loops since they were announcing from next to it.

I felt like I was flying the last mile… easy but fluid, and able to ignore the screaming of my body. I entered the finishing shoot, and saw a new face in my cheering crowd — my baby sis (Becky) had made it! I was so proud to have her see me finish (she thought she wouldn’t make it, and she moves to NYC and a new life as a college girl in a couple weeks), I high fived my crew and felt like I was running on clouds as I crossed the finish line, hands in the air.

Then got help to a chair, handed a water bottle and a finisher shirt and medal, and told where the medical tent was. My family took me over and stayed with me as they made sure I was ok. I was feeling good except my bladder, and the staff there was great. Although chunky chicken soup is hard to drink through a straw, the cranberry juice Holly shared with me was AWESOME! And my birthyear wine finished off the day with a pleasant taste (ok seriously it was awful and bad, but the thought that counts). My mom had a bottle for each of me, my sis, and my brother from the year we were born and to be opened at our high school grads, and had forgotten mine at HS grad, Mudd grad, and my first IM. She finally remembered, and we shared it in the medical tent with the whole family, the great nurse and doc, and I have no idea who else… and I have no idea who else bothered to taste it after the “vinegar mud” smell and look, as my mom called it. Then we dumped out the bottle so I could keep it.

But I made it — 26.2 miles in about 5:03 with about 1000 feet of climbing (for a full GPS version see Motionbased). My slowest marathon ever, but not by that much. And my swim and bike and transition improvements brought me to a final time of 13:49:35 — about 2 minutes faster than the 13:51:26 of IMAZ! Wooo personal records (swim, T1, bike, T2, and total time! 6th of 12 in my age group, and 30th out of 58 women that finished (and there were a number of DNFs that day). Probably the most physically painful race ever, although also some of the highest points in terms of comfort over the earlier parts of the day.

Yesterday was the awards (where Holly won me a swim kit! wooo magic butt for the envelope in the seat!) and the long drive home. Complete with a fire since it was Holly driving between SF and LA. Dropped Lisa off, came home and unpacked. While unpacking, Mike came by and helped and then helped me feel a lot better with a massage, cuddles, and of course a kiss or two ;-)

Yesterday was spent on the couch and returning the wheels to the bike shop. Feeling mostly better — although my bladder is still a bit worn out, most of the rest of me is fine. I’m please with how my race went, although of course I wish Lisa’s had been better (turns out she cramped up badly during the swim). Not sure if I’d do that course again, as a few parts of the organization were a bit sketchy (few people at registration knew what was going on, lack of portapotties, and road quality all contributing). But ironman #2 is done, and it’s at least a while (and maybe a bit longer) until the next one!

Posted in Ironman, Race Tales, running | 2 Comments »

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