IMKY - Bike + T2

“Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen.” ~ Louis L'Amour


Before the race, Meagan and I got a chance to drive some but not all of the bike course. It was really pretty. The first segment is flat, and you can cruise along at a decent clip. I tried to keep it pretty relaxed though...note to self during the ride "this is going to be a LONG day...do NOT burn out". RELAX. There are a LOT of riders out on the course and it is crowded.

Riders had to be careful because of safety and there are lots of potholes. So I can't look around TOO much, but grab as many peeks as I can of the pretty scenery. The course gets hilly and the temperatures were rising. You see some crazy stuff out there. There were several bike wrecks and seemingly lots of ambulances going around that day. As the day goes on, I see lots of men on the side of the road sitting in the shade. Some looking dazed and confused. Not really sure if they are taking a break or hanging it up for the day. Some are massaging their legs. Some are changing flat tires (if you don't know how, all you can do is hope someone is nice enough to stop). One man literally just falls over on his bike up a very steep short hill.

I had practice changing flats a couple of times at my coaches' suggestion, and it greatly increased my confidence. Sometimes flats come in 2's, so I also decided to carry 2 tubes with me and had 2 in my bike special needs bag. Didn't need any of it. Good luck that day!!!!

Anyway, there is lots of carnage out there. I roll on. Favorite parts: the beauty of the course, HORSES!!!, the gauntlet of fans at La Grange (great energy, signs, cheering), and of course our KC Multisport fan contingency hanging at a great point in the course before the loop turn. These things helped a lot. Nutrition plan - used Hammer Perpetuem, water, 1/2 berry smoothie power bar per hour (YUM), and 2 Hammer Endurolytes per hour. No tummy problems.

I kept a positive attitude on this leg of the race, and try to celebrate the good things. I stop a couple of times for my special needs bike bag and to mix my 2nd 3.5 bottle of Perpetuem. Feeling solid and relaxed, but the ride was a bit slower than I would have liked. Oh well! I can't help but think that I need to be careful because a MARATHON is next up. Really I feel decent...just a bit fatigued at the end and my feet hurt and are numb. Not too bad!

I'm SO happy to get back to the flat section and ECSTATIC to get back to transition. YES...I'm getting off this bike.

Bike time 7:04:42 (avg 15.8 mph); Rank 340 / 525 women. 2nd best split of the day behind the swim.

Transition #2

I have a volunteer helping me with my bag this time. She lays out my stuff and I change my jersey and into run shorts. Grab my bandana (later would be dubbed "Bandana Girl" and people mentioned being jealous of it - my coach suggested I take it to wipe my face, fill it with ice to have to munch on or use to cool off...it was AWESOME!). Also grabbed my nutrition - had 2 to choose from, my gummy gel blocks and my Sports jelly beans, extra body glide (mini) for any chafing, and my Hammer Endurolytes.

Heading out onto the course...I feel good, but am a little overwhelmed that we now have to run a marathon. I've never run a marathon before...