Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break. ~ William Shakespeare
Tom and I met because I had a bike wreck in the 1999 Corporate Challenge duathlon, and one of his BFF's sent me a get well card. Thus our paths crossed.
Saturday night I happened to see his post on Facebook that he was really looking forward to his vacation in June. He bantered with friends and I thought how fun ~ not too much longer until that vacation...I hope he has a great time. Looking back now, I couldn't help but wonder if that particular post made an impression and stood out for some reason.
Today I learned that Tom passed away Easter morning in his sleep. He was only about 3 years older than me. It's a shock. There is a disconnect...'but I was just reading about his vacation and what he was up to. How can this be?'.
I didn't know him like a best friend, but I know that he was a very nice, friendly, decent, intelligent, and interesting human being. Wish that I knew him better. I feel really sad for his close friends and family. It's just flat out sad.
Life is so unpredictable. And sometimes fragile. It just reminds me to appreciate every day, every little thing, and the people that I love. Can't hold back on that.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Don't Supersize Me
There are 610 calories, 29g fat, and 77 g carbs in a McDonalds Super Size french fry "serving". Add a Super Size soda (42 oz 410 calories) and say a Big Mac (540 calories) and that totals 1,560 calories. That is approaching or equal to a WHOLE day's worth of calories in just one meal.
Making healthy habits a way of life: we have smart phone apps (I use Calorie Counter on Android) and websites that make it easier than ever to get calorie/nutrition information and to keep a food diary. Until you develop a new "normal" and develop knowledge about portion sizes and healthy options, keeping a food diary can be very eye opening to see how quickly things can add up - calories, sodium, carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
From my dad...Supersizing and the 'thrifty gene':
"That distinction [of inventing supersizing] belongs to a man named David Wallerstein. Until his death in 1993, Wallerstein served on the board of directors at McDonald's but in the fifties and sixties he worked for a chain of movie theaters in Texas where he labored to expand sales of soda and popcorn - the high-markup items that theaters depend on for their profitability. As the story is told in John Love's official history of McDonald's, Wallerstein tried everything he could think of to goose up sales - two-for-one deals, matinee specials - but found he simply could not induce customers to buy more than one soda and one bag of popcorn. He thought he knew why: Going for seconds makes people feel piggish.
"Wallerstein discovered that people would spring for more popcorn and soda - a lot more - as long as it came in a single gigantic serving. Thus was born the two-quart bucket of popcorn, the sixty-four-ounce Big Gulp, and in time the Big Mac and the jumbo fries, though Ray Kroc himself took some convincing. In 1968, Wallerstein went to work for McDonald's, but try as he might he couldn't convince Kroc, the company's founder, of supersizing's magic powers.
" 'If people want more fries' Kroc told him 'they can buy two bags.' Wallerstein patiently explained that McDonald's customers did want more but were reluctant to buy a second bag. 'They don't want to look like gluttons.'
"Kroc remained skeptical, so Wallerstein went looking for proof. He began staking out McDonald's outlets in and around Chicago observing how people ate. He saw customers noisily draining their sodas and digging infinitesimal bits of salt and burnt spud out of their little bags of French fries. After Wallerstein presented his findings, Kroc relented and approved supersized portions and the dramatic spike in sales confirmed the marketer's hunch. Deep cultural taboos against gluttony - one of the seven deadly sins, after all - had been holding us back. Wallerstein's dubious achievement was to devise the dietary equivalent of a papal dispensation: Supersize it! He had discovered the secret to expanding the (supposedly) fixed human stomach.
"One might think that people would stop eating and drinking these gargantuan portions as soon as they felt full, but it turns out hunger doesn't work that way. Researchers have found that people (and animals) presented with large portions will eat up to 30 percent more than they would otherwise. Human appetite it turns out is surprisingly elastic which makes excellent evolutionary sense: It behooved our hunter-gatherer ancestors to feast whenever the opportunity presented itself allowing them to build up reserves of fat against future famine. Obesity researchers call this trait the 'thrifty gene.' And while the gene represents a useful adaptation in an environment of food scarcity and unpredictability, it's a disaster in an environment of fast-food abundance when the opportunity to feast presents itself 24/7. Our bodies are storing reserves of fat against a famine that never comes."
Author: Michael Pollan
Title: The Omnivore's Dimemma
Publisher: Penguin
Date: Copyright 2006 by Michael Pollan
Pages: 105-106
Making healthy habits a way of life: we have smart phone apps (I use Calorie Counter on Android) and websites that make it easier than ever to get calorie/nutrition information and to keep a food diary. Until you develop a new "normal" and develop knowledge about portion sizes and healthy options, keeping a food diary can be very eye opening to see how quickly things can add up - calories, sodium, carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
From my dad...Supersizing and the 'thrifty gene':
"That distinction [of inventing supersizing] belongs to a man named David Wallerstein. Until his death in 1993, Wallerstein served on the board of directors at McDonald's but in the fifties and sixties he worked for a chain of movie theaters in Texas where he labored to expand sales of soda and popcorn - the high-markup items that theaters depend on for their profitability. As the story is told in John Love's official history of McDonald's, Wallerstein tried everything he could think of to goose up sales - two-for-one deals, matinee specials - but found he simply could not induce customers to buy more than one soda and one bag of popcorn. He thought he knew why: Going for seconds makes people feel piggish.
"Wallerstein discovered that people would spring for more popcorn and soda - a lot more - as long as it came in a single gigantic serving. Thus was born the two-quart bucket of popcorn, the sixty-four-ounce Big Gulp, and in time the Big Mac and the jumbo fries, though Ray Kroc himself took some convincing. In 1968, Wallerstein went to work for McDonald's, but try as he might he couldn't convince Kroc, the company's founder, of supersizing's magic powers.
" 'If people want more fries' Kroc told him 'they can buy two bags.' Wallerstein patiently explained that McDonald's customers did want more but were reluctant to buy a second bag. 'They don't want to look like gluttons.'
"Kroc remained skeptical, so Wallerstein went looking for proof. He began staking out McDonald's outlets in and around Chicago observing how people ate. He saw customers noisily draining their sodas and digging infinitesimal bits of salt and burnt spud out of their little bags of French fries. After Wallerstein presented his findings, Kroc relented and approved supersized portions and the dramatic spike in sales confirmed the marketer's hunch. Deep cultural taboos against gluttony - one of the seven deadly sins, after all - had been holding us back. Wallerstein's dubious achievement was to devise the dietary equivalent of a papal dispensation: Supersize it! He had discovered the secret to expanding the (supposedly) fixed human stomach.
"One might think that people would stop eating and drinking these gargantuan portions as soon as they felt full, but it turns out hunger doesn't work that way. Researchers have found that people (and animals) presented with large portions will eat up to 30 percent more than they would otherwise. Human appetite it turns out is surprisingly elastic which makes excellent evolutionary sense: It behooved our hunter-gatherer ancestors to feast whenever the opportunity presented itself allowing them to build up reserves of fat against future famine. Obesity researchers call this trait the 'thrifty gene.' And while the gene represents a useful adaptation in an environment of food scarcity and unpredictability, it's a disaster in an environment of fast-food abundance when the opportunity to feast presents itself 24/7. Our bodies are storing reserves of fat against a famine that never comes."
Author: Michael Pollan
Title: The Omnivore's Dimemma
Publisher: Penguin
Date: Copyright 2006 by Michael Pollan
Pages: 105-106
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Feeling Little Rock's Vibe
2011 marked another year where I did something I said that I wouldn't do: a marathon. In 2010 it was Ironman...said I'd NEVER do an Ironman, which is swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, followed by a MARATHON. On November 14, 2010 I signed up for my first solo (non-Ironman) marathon in Little Rock. I wanted a goal to carry me through the winter, wanted to see what doing a marathon would be like after NOT biking 112 miles, and needed an Arkansas destination in my quest to visit all 50 states.
It was a wise decision, though a little challenging getting through winter's snow and ice. Leawood and Olathe's trail-clearing prowess saved me numerous times. The idea of spending any time (let alone over an hour) on a treadmill is MOST unappealing. I went to a few a la carte Runner's Edge sessions and scored big on the random inquiries "so what race are you training for?"...I found a big KC group going down there for the race (including some that I knew and people that I didn't know). It turned out to be a lot of fun! That plus my aunt Kristen going down there with me...which was helpful too. I swung through Springfield to pick her up and off we went.
We rolled into Little Rock and I thought it was so cute! I was feeling Little Rock's vibe. The metro area has around 900,000 people. Aunt Kristen and I went to packet pickup and then drove over to see the State Capitol building, and then to the national historic site/museum Little Rock Central High School. This was the site of the nation's first school integration after Brown vs Board of Education struck down "Separate but (not) equal".
The visit to Little Rock Central High School was deeply moving. The museum is excellent and includes photos and video, as well as context of our culture and the Civil Rights Movement at the time. The video kiosks overlook the actual school (which is still operating) and it was surreal to see the present day site compared to the video of the mobs and military on that site where history took place in 1957. Nine black students attempted entry to the school several times unsuccessfully before President Eisenhower intervened. The mobs & threats they faced were beyond overwhelming...it is hard to imagine how these 15/16 year olds faced it with the grace and convictions that they did. They just wanted a better future, and thank God they believed that they deserved to have a better opportunity. They changed history. I thought about them during the race...as "suffering" and "perseverance" tend to be themes for me during marathons. And perspective. To see more about the Little Rock 9 and the adults they became, see http://littlerock9.com/
So pre-race night comes and the KC running crew hit downtown Little Rock and we ate at the Dizzy Gypsy, which was a really unique cool place. Our meal of choice, pasta of course. We got back pretty early and I went over my race instructions and gear. I was ready to go!
Race morning was overcast and about 32 degrees...I chose 'less' rather than more and went with capri tights and a short sleeve with a long sleeve layered over that. No hat and no gloves. By the end of the race it became sunny and was mid-40s. PERFECT conditions for a marathon!!!!
My main goal was sub 5 hours and to NOT LET THE RACE BREAK ME. I executed my training plan, which included everything up to 22 miles (one 20 miler, one 22 miler). So now it was going to be a mental battle, and I didn't want to "break" mentally (which can mean give up / not try / etc). The Ironman marathon did break me a bit...I recovered but it wasn't pretty and I didn't execute the run like I really wanted to.
I ran with Renea and Angela from KC and we start out conservatively and had fun chatting. The first 13.1 to 14 miles are "easy"...I felt strong and really great. I tell myself how great I feel and enjoy that positive feeling while it lasts. The first part is fun...the scenery, the crowds, the experience. It's all good. A random weird fact...I didn't stop for a "pitstop" the whole time. I was well hydrated and drank at every station, but kept telling myself that my body was going to absorb it and sweat it out at the perfect rate. I didn't want to stop and jeapardize my goal time!
We run through many historical areas in town, by the capitol, high school, and Governor's mansion. The Governor is out to greet us. Lots of fun bands playing along the way.
After 14 miles, a little fatigue sets in. Miles 14-15 are a big hill that just goes on and on. Which for me is fine because I'm a hill runner. Bring it! Actually running back down the steep downhill after that was more difficult because of the angles on my muscles.
After that from 17 on it is mostly flat with an out and back where you can finally see a lot of the other runners. Now even more fatigue is setting in. It's sunny and warmer now. And around mile 18, the "wall" comes or "pain cave" where it is fatigue with way more discomfort. My legs feel a little stiff...lactic acid buildup? Not so much fun anymore. But I achieved exactly what I wanted to...I didn't give up and I hung in there. I wasn't quite as fast, but my pace didn't fall off the cliff either and I was investing the effort and fully engaged.
Getting to mile 22 lifts the spirit a bit because then you are counting down...but it is major fatigue time. The whole race I had been doing an 8 minute run/1 minute walk ratio but had to keep going the last 3 miles...I just couldn't stop anymore. It hurt too much.
There was one more hill and then the lipstick station. I grabbed a lip gloss but kept going and was SO ready to be finished. Overall I was really happy with my race. After I crossed the finish line, I'm just in a massive hurt locker...I can barely walk and feel exhausted and stiff. Not fun!
Overall, worth it though for the learning & character building experience. And I met my goals! That's why I do it...and for fitness of course. There are other fun aspects too...like the people. I had a great time with the KC crew. Little Rock is a great race...highly recommend. The marathon finisher medal is enormous!
Marathon 1,811 finishers & half marathon 2,921 finishers
It was a wise decision, though a little challenging getting through winter's snow and ice. Leawood and Olathe's trail-clearing prowess saved me numerous times. The idea of spending any time (let alone over an hour) on a treadmill is MOST unappealing. I went to a few a la carte Runner's Edge sessions and scored big on the random inquiries "so what race are you training for?"...I found a big KC group going down there for the race (including some that I knew and people that I didn't know). It turned out to be a lot of fun! That plus my aunt Kristen going down there with me...which was helpful too. I swung through Springfield to pick her up and off we went.
We rolled into Little Rock and I thought it was so cute! I was feeling Little Rock's vibe. The metro area has around 900,000 people. Aunt Kristen and I went to packet pickup and then drove over to see the State Capitol building, and then to the national historic site/museum Little Rock Central High School. This was the site of the nation's first school integration after Brown vs Board of Education struck down "Separate but (not) equal".
The visit to Little Rock Central High School was deeply moving. The museum is excellent and includes photos and video, as well as context of our culture and the Civil Rights Movement at the time. The video kiosks overlook the actual school (which is still operating) and it was surreal to see the present day site compared to the video of the mobs and military on that site where history took place in 1957. Nine black students attempted entry to the school several times unsuccessfully before President Eisenhower intervened. The mobs & threats they faced were beyond overwhelming...it is hard to imagine how these 15/16 year olds faced it with the grace and convictions that they did. They just wanted a better future, and thank God they believed that they deserved to have a better opportunity. They changed history. I thought about them during the race...as "suffering" and "perseverance" tend to be themes for me during marathons. And perspective. To see more about the Little Rock 9 and the adults they became, see http://littlerock9.com/
So pre-race night comes and the KC running crew hit downtown Little Rock and we ate at the Dizzy Gypsy, which was a really unique cool place. Our meal of choice, pasta of course. We got back pretty early and I went over my race instructions and gear. I was ready to go!
Race morning was overcast and about 32 degrees...I chose 'less' rather than more and went with capri tights and a short sleeve with a long sleeve layered over that. No hat and no gloves. By the end of the race it became sunny and was mid-40s. PERFECT conditions for a marathon!!!!
My main goal was sub 5 hours and to NOT LET THE RACE BREAK ME. I executed my training plan, which included everything up to 22 miles (one 20 miler, one 22 miler). So now it was going to be a mental battle, and I didn't want to "break" mentally (which can mean give up / not try / etc). The Ironman marathon did break me a bit...I recovered but it wasn't pretty and I didn't execute the run like I really wanted to.
I ran with Renea and Angela from KC and we start out conservatively and had fun chatting. The first 13.1 to 14 miles are "easy"...I felt strong and really great. I tell myself how great I feel and enjoy that positive feeling while it lasts. The first part is fun...the scenery, the crowds, the experience. It's all good. A random weird fact...I didn't stop for a "pitstop" the whole time. I was well hydrated and drank at every station, but kept telling myself that my body was going to absorb it and sweat it out at the perfect rate. I didn't want to stop and jeapardize my goal time!
We run through many historical areas in town, by the capitol, high school, and Governor's mansion. The Governor is out to greet us. Lots of fun bands playing along the way.
After 14 miles, a little fatigue sets in. Miles 14-15 are a big hill that just goes on and on. Which for me is fine because I'm a hill runner. Bring it! Actually running back down the steep downhill after that was more difficult because of the angles on my muscles.
After that from 17 on it is mostly flat with an out and back where you can finally see a lot of the other runners. Now even more fatigue is setting in. It's sunny and warmer now. And around mile 18, the "wall" comes or "pain cave" where it is fatigue with way more discomfort. My legs feel a little stiff...lactic acid buildup? Not so much fun anymore. But I achieved exactly what I wanted to...I didn't give up and I hung in there. I wasn't quite as fast, but my pace didn't fall off the cliff either and I was investing the effort and fully engaged.
Getting to mile 22 lifts the spirit a bit because then you are counting down...but it is major fatigue time. The whole race I had been doing an 8 minute run/1 minute walk ratio but had to keep going the last 3 miles...I just couldn't stop anymore. It hurt too much.
There was one more hill and then the lipstick station. I grabbed a lip gloss but kept going and was SO ready to be finished. Overall I was really happy with my race. After I crossed the finish line, I'm just in a massive hurt locker...I can barely walk and feel exhausted and stiff. Not fun!
Overall, worth it though for the learning & character building experience. And I met my goals! That's why I do it...and for fitness of course. There are other fun aspects too...like the people. I had a great time with the KC crew. Little Rock is a great race...highly recommend. The marathon finisher medal is enormous!
Marathon 1,811 finishers & half marathon 2,921 finishers
Thursday, September 16, 2010
IMKY 2010 Video World Premiere
I'm not sure how stellar the streaming quality or speed is here...I've had a few hiccups and then times it runs pretty smoothly. It may need a "moment" to do some loading before you play it. At first it may look like the length is 0:00 but when it plays it populates to 7:45 ish in length.
This was my first attempt ever at editing and putting together a 'video' so enjoy. I hope it represents a little bit of the Louisville experience for you!
This was my first attempt ever at editing and putting together a 'video' so enjoy. I hope it represents a little bit of the Louisville experience for you!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
IMKY Perspective: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
During Ironman there are highs and lows; joyous moments, things that go smoothly, tough breaks, and challenging obstacles. With over 2,000 people participating in this event, there are a lot of stories that played out that day representing triumph and tragedy. Below are a few that I heard about.
When doing Ironman, tremendous amounts of preparation and planning are obviously required. Throw in factors beyond your control, and it can certainly get interesting. For some, maybe it just wasn’t their day. For others, there may have been issued with planning and preparation. For others, bad luck. We all were battling the elements. Although it was probably ~96 degrees, it didn't seem worse to me than the excessive heat we had in Kansas City over the summer. Heat does slow me down, but there are tactics you can use to deal with it (practicing hydration in those conditions, use of cold water sponges, bandana to hold ice in reserve, etc).
I was thankful to hear others’ experiences; to celebrate the good things and to learn from the obstacles that people faced. The perspective you get from others’ stories is interesting, and things can look very different in retrospect. There was a lot of cramping, vomiting, and equipment failures going on out there. I was very fortunate that day that the worst thing that happened to me was heat rash!
~~ A few anecdotes from iamtri ~~
“I had a very tough day on the bike: 4 flats and chain mishap. I was out of spares and crushed on the side of the road. Another rider who was also suffering, took the time to give me a spare tube and an extra CO2 cartridge. I can not thank you enough. Because of your kindness, I am able to call myself an Ironman finisher. I so hope that you are out there and read this, as I am tearing up as write this. THANK YOU!“
“A participant broke the pedal on his bike around mile 60. Mechanics came to help but it took about an hour and they couldn't fix it, the pedal was simply snapped off the crank. Another participant biking by heard what was going on and said that he was really struggling and knew he wouldn't finish so he GAVE HIS BIKE TO A STRANGER and said take it and finish this thing! (I just got chills typing this.) I watched the guy come in at 16:30 with a huge smile on his face.”
“I finished the bike and made it to mile 8 on the run when I had an allergic reaction and had to go to the ER. It has been 2 days and I still have hives on my face, neck and chest! Just wondering if anyone else had any medical problems, I made a doctors appt but still have never had an allergic reaction to anything. The doctor thought I got stung by a bee because of my symptoms but I still have hives!”
“Somehow I got a UTI at mile 30 on the bike! I haven't had one in 10 years! Needless to say, I had to stop at every porta potty on the bike AND run course. It made for a horrible feeling all day. Every time I tried to drink or eat something with sodium, I felt a horrible burning sensation.”
“It was a dreadful dreadful day. I got into the water around 7:05 AM and had a pretty decent swim (1:28). I felt great on the bike the first 50 miles (came through the 56 mile mark in 3:15). Then the wheels came off. I was so dehydrated that I cramped up every hill from mile 60-100. I literally had to walk my bike up every hill. It was terrible. I've never cramped like that ever. I didn't have water from miles 75-105. Luckily there were residents helping out with water. I finished the bike in 8:12. I had nothing left. I hit the last 10 miles of flats at about an 8mph pace.
I tried to run the 1st mile and cramped right away. So walked the first few, then tried to run and immediately cramped and fell over. I could not run at all. I stumbled for the next 10 miles when I then collapsed in pain. Somehow I got back up and met my friends at mile 14. No idea how, but I then managed a half limp/walk for the rest of the way... All I could think when I crossed the finish line was how stupid I was for pushing myself so hard. It was so dangerous out there. I saw multiple people passing out and not being able to move.”
When doing Ironman, tremendous amounts of preparation and planning are obviously required. Throw in factors beyond your control, and it can certainly get interesting. For some, maybe it just wasn’t their day. For others, there may have been issued with planning and preparation. For others, bad luck. We all were battling the elements. Although it was probably ~96 degrees, it didn't seem worse to me than the excessive heat we had in Kansas City over the summer. Heat does slow me down, but there are tactics you can use to deal with it (practicing hydration in those conditions, use of cold water sponges, bandana to hold ice in reserve, etc).
I was thankful to hear others’ experiences; to celebrate the good things and to learn from the obstacles that people faced. The perspective you get from others’ stories is interesting, and things can look very different in retrospect. There was a lot of cramping, vomiting, and equipment failures going on out there. I was very fortunate that day that the worst thing that happened to me was heat rash!
~~ A few anecdotes from iamtri ~~
“I had a very tough day on the bike: 4 flats and chain mishap. I was out of spares and crushed on the side of the road. Another rider who was also suffering, took the time to give me a spare tube and an extra CO2 cartridge. I can not thank you enough. Because of your kindness, I am able to call myself an Ironman finisher. I so hope that you are out there and read this, as I am tearing up as write this. THANK YOU!“
“A participant broke the pedal on his bike around mile 60. Mechanics came to help but it took about an hour and they couldn't fix it, the pedal was simply snapped off the crank. Another participant biking by heard what was going on and said that he was really struggling and knew he wouldn't finish so he GAVE HIS BIKE TO A STRANGER and said take it and finish this thing! (I just got chills typing this.) I watched the guy come in at 16:30 with a huge smile on his face.”
“I finished the bike and made it to mile 8 on the run when I had an allergic reaction and had to go to the ER. It has been 2 days and I still have hives on my face, neck and chest! Just wondering if anyone else had any medical problems, I made a doctors appt but still have never had an allergic reaction to anything. The doctor thought I got stung by a bee because of my symptoms but I still have hives!”
“Somehow I got a UTI at mile 30 on the bike! I haven't had one in 10 years! Needless to say, I had to stop at every porta potty on the bike AND run course. It made for a horrible feeling all day. Every time I tried to drink or eat something with sodium, I felt a horrible burning sensation.”
“It was a dreadful dreadful day. I got into the water around 7:05 AM and had a pretty decent swim (1:28). I felt great on the bike the first 50 miles (came through the 56 mile mark in 3:15). Then the wheels came off. I was so dehydrated that I cramped up every hill from mile 60-100. I literally had to walk my bike up every hill. It was terrible. I've never cramped like that ever. I didn't have water from miles 75-105. Luckily there were residents helping out with water. I finished the bike in 8:12. I had nothing left. I hit the last 10 miles of flats at about an 8mph pace.
I tried to run the 1st mile and cramped right away. So walked the first few, then tried to run and immediately cramped and fell over. I could not run at all. I stumbled for the next 10 miles when I then collapsed in pain. Somehow I got back up and met my friends at mile 14. No idea how, but I then managed a half limp/walk for the rest of the way... All I could think when I crossed the finish line was how stupid I was for pushing myself so hard. It was so dangerous out there. I saw multiple people passing out and not being able to move.”
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
IMKY - Run + FINISH!
Okay. The marathon. The first three miles of the run were awesome and I loved the bridge view over the Ohio River!
After that I was feeling a little overwhelmed & intimidated by the notion of the marathon and was a bit cranky because of the heat. I walked a lot. Then I realized that I had to overcome this mentally and get with the running plan that I had practiced. I had to engage, get happy, and get to the finish line. I bucked up and started running 8 min with 1 min of walking. It wasn't bad once I got moving. I can't say it was as joyous as the swim though :)
We ran past the beautiful University of Louisville and wished that I could meander the course through the campus a little. The out and back seemed to go on and on and on. We also ran past Churchill Downs and then finally the turnaround. Tried to find positives to cling to and just take it bit by bit. As Tim O'Donnell helpfully reminded me - KEEP MOVING FORWARD. You have to keep going. Even if I did walk, I tried to prod myself to at least walk faster. There were a LOT of people walking - it seemed like "hey everyone is doing it".
Had to take it one segment at a time, and make it to the 2nd loop. And getting into the second loop required running right smack by the finish line. I just had to laugh...it was such torture!!!! But it reminded me of what I had to look forward too. It would be my turn eventually! The cheering spectators helped so much, including the awesome KC crew.
I started getting really tired around mile 18...started doing 5 minutes on, 1 off. Miles 20-23 weren't great with more or equal walking & running. But then I figured if I ran as much as possible from there, I could get in under 15 hours. All I could think about was that I WOULD get there...I WOULD be an Ironman...I WOULD be okay. I had to fight mind over matter.
Even though the run was the hardest part for me, in retrospect I realized that I was having a pretty good day...relatively smooth. There seemed to be a lot of DNF's and there were many many people throwing up on the run. Talk about tough times. I didn't have bad stomach problems and kept the nutrition simple - water, small sips of Coke and chicken broth, Hammer Endurolytes (2 per hour) and my yummy Sports Beans. They were AWESOME, because they are so small and you can just eat 2-3 at a time.
The sun setting was AWESOME...it felt so much cooler out. When it got dark, we got glow necklaces.
When I got to mile marker 25, it was just such an amazing feeling of joy. Almost there. Almost there. Keep going. This is happening! It was emotional. I got kind of choked up the last stretch before rounding the corner so I could vent that emotion.
They gave us advice that we should savor the finish and not sprint and rush through it, so I tried to take it all in. It was hard, because I had tunnel vision on the finish and there are bright lights in your face. :) I heard the people cheering and started to Jersey Shore fist-pump...I may have been yelling. I wanted to dance, or do cartwheels. It was just completely surreal. I heard some friends but couldn't see them. It was just glorious. I was SO happy to have completed this.
I cross the finish line. The announcer says "Amy Slater...you are an Ironman". And I smile for the cameras. (My finish is about 1:20 into the video below :) )
Run time - too long! Averaged 14 ish minute miles.
Total time: 14 hours and 57 minutes
The Aftermath
I am very very very very tired. My legs are stiff. The volunteer puts a medal around my neck and I get a post-finish photo. Apparently I think I'm a hilarious super model and strike some kind of sassy pose :). One of the volunteers says that I am 'working it' and I am happy that I'm lucid enough to laugh.
I feel okay and really really terrible at the same time. Looking down at my legs, I'm horrified to see a hideous hot pink heat rash. Meagan comes to greet me and thankfully takes me to where the post-race/morning bags are. Medical is there, so I decide to see what they think of my heat rash.
They immediately put me in a wheelchair and take me back (some people had to wait in a waiting area for quite some time)...and proceed to give me TWO IV's, one with Benedryl. It took the med guy 3 times to get the IV in and it hurts...I feel scared that it isn't going to work.
I'm pretty upset that I feel this terrible and am also missing seeing my friends and being at the party at the finish. I feel pretty alone too. I declare that I will not do another Ironman. I call my parents to let them know where I am. My coach is texting me and is worried.
The medical student volunteer listens to me babble on and on.
Finally I calm down and am FREEZING because of the IV's and my teeth are chattering. But I know this is doing me some significant good.
I can't really get a hold of anyone but am finished after the midnight race deadline, so I feel overjoyed when they call me and 5 of the KC crew stop by to pick me up. I am so happy to see them, and I'm actually able to walk back to hotel, which I know is good for me to move a bit.
Meagan, Carly, and I clean up and then chit chat about the race until almost 2 in the morning.
Why is it still surreal? I am an Ironman. We are!!!
Everything is going to be okay. You start to feel better and life will go on...
After that I was feeling a little overwhelmed & intimidated by the notion of the marathon and was a bit cranky because of the heat. I walked a lot. Then I realized that I had to overcome this mentally and get with the running plan that I had practiced. I had to engage, get happy, and get to the finish line. I bucked up and started running 8 min with 1 min of walking. It wasn't bad once I got moving. I can't say it was as joyous as the swim though :)
We ran past the beautiful University of Louisville and wished that I could meander the course through the campus a little. The out and back seemed to go on and on and on. We also ran past Churchill Downs and then finally the turnaround. Tried to find positives to cling to and just take it bit by bit. As Tim O'Donnell helpfully reminded me - KEEP MOVING FORWARD. You have to keep going. Even if I did walk, I tried to prod myself to at least walk faster. There were a LOT of people walking - it seemed like "hey everyone is doing it".
Had to take it one segment at a time, and make it to the 2nd loop. And getting into the second loop required running right smack by the finish line. I just had to laugh...it was such torture!!!! But it reminded me of what I had to look forward too. It would be my turn eventually! The cheering spectators helped so much, including the awesome KC crew.
I started getting really tired around mile 18...started doing 5 minutes on, 1 off. Miles 20-23 weren't great with more or equal walking & running. But then I figured if I ran as much as possible from there, I could get in under 15 hours. All I could think about was that I WOULD get there...I WOULD be an Ironman...I WOULD be okay. I had to fight mind over matter.
Even though the run was the hardest part for me, in retrospect I realized that I was having a pretty good day...relatively smooth. There seemed to be a lot of DNF's and there were many many people throwing up on the run. Talk about tough times. I didn't have bad stomach problems and kept the nutrition simple - water, small sips of Coke and chicken broth, Hammer Endurolytes (2 per hour) and my yummy Sports Beans. They were AWESOME, because they are so small and you can just eat 2-3 at a time.
The sun setting was AWESOME...it felt so much cooler out. When it got dark, we got glow necklaces.
When I got to mile marker 25, it was just such an amazing feeling of joy. Almost there. Almost there. Keep going. This is happening! It was emotional. I got kind of choked up the last stretch before rounding the corner so I could vent that emotion.
They gave us advice that we should savor the finish and not sprint and rush through it, so I tried to take it all in. It was hard, because I had tunnel vision on the finish and there are bright lights in your face. :) I heard the people cheering and started to Jersey Shore fist-pump...I may have been yelling. I wanted to dance, or do cartwheels. It was just completely surreal. I heard some friends but couldn't see them. It was just glorious. I was SO happy to have completed this.
I cross the finish line. The announcer says "Amy Slater...you are an Ironman". And I smile for the cameras. (My finish is about 1:20 into the video below :) )
Run time - too long! Averaged 14 ish minute miles.
Total time: 14 hours and 57 minutes
The Aftermath
I am very very very very tired. My legs are stiff. The volunteer puts a medal around my neck and I get a post-finish photo. Apparently I think I'm a hilarious super model and strike some kind of sassy pose :). One of the volunteers says that I am 'working it' and I am happy that I'm lucid enough to laugh.
I feel okay and really really terrible at the same time. Looking down at my legs, I'm horrified to see a hideous hot pink heat rash. Meagan comes to greet me and thankfully takes me to where the post-race/morning bags are. Medical is there, so I decide to see what they think of my heat rash.
They immediately put me in a wheelchair and take me back (some people had to wait in a waiting area for quite some time)...and proceed to give me TWO IV's, one with Benedryl. It took the med guy 3 times to get the IV in and it hurts...I feel scared that it isn't going to work.
I'm pretty upset that I feel this terrible and am also missing seeing my friends and being at the party at the finish. I feel pretty alone too. I declare that I will not do another Ironman. I call my parents to let them know where I am. My coach is texting me and is worried.
The medical student volunteer listens to me babble on and on.
Finally I calm down and am FREEZING because of the IV's and my teeth are chattering. But I know this is doing me some significant good.
I can't really get a hold of anyone but am finished after the midnight race deadline, so I feel overjoyed when they call me and 5 of the KC crew stop by to pick me up. I am so happy to see them, and I'm actually able to walk back to hotel, which I know is good for me to move a bit.
Meagan, Carly, and I clean up and then chit chat about the race until almost 2 in the morning.
Why is it still surreal? I am an Ironman. We are!!!
Everything is going to be okay. You start to feel better and life will go on...
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...
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...
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