I really hate race reports.
And yet here I am, writing my race report. Usually when I write a race report I find starts with useless information that only pertains to myself and finishes with a bunch of excuses on why the race didn't go as planned, why my training was sub-par, why I didn't go faster, etc etc etc.
But I mean....if you don't write a race report....can you REALLY call yourself a triathlete? An Ironman? A human being?
Unconfirmed, but probably not.
The day started at 3:32 when Chris' alarm buzzed me out of my deep slumber...
Just kidding. I'm not wasting your time with the arbitrary details of my relatively boring morning.
Here's the short and dirty: I woke up tired, ate bland food that I gagged on, got on a school bus, slept on the way to the start while trying to block out everyone's small talk.
Best part of the morning? I walked out of a portapotty and bumped into my very best most wonderful friend in the world Julie, who surprised me by coming to the swim start. She is the greatest. THE GREATEST. And if any of you fools think you have the best best friend in the world, you don't. Words can't describe how happy I was to see her. She woke up insanely early to drive 45 min to the swim start just to turn around drive all the way back to downtown and work the Ironman merch tent all day. She is insane - insanely wonderful and selfless.
I didn't feel nervous before this race and really, I didn't feel anything. I mostly was thinking how much I'd rather be back snoozing in my bed. It always changes when the gun goes off, but up until then I just sit on the edge of the water contemplating my life decisions and where this obsession with triathlon came from.
SWIM - 1:03:41
So I lined up in the sub 1 hour group and impatiently waited for the gun to go off while sizing up the other girls, as per usual. They're all so skinny. So fit. One girl I saw her 6 pack THROUGH HER WETSUIT.
I noted to myself that my mom once told me I looked like a walrus in mine.
I kissed Chris one last time and reminded him that the race is fair game. If we see each other on the side of the road or drowning we do not stop, we do not acknowledge. Every man for himself. It's a cruel world out there and true love means nothing on the race course. See you at the finish, homie. Love you so much. Also I hope I kick your ass in the swim.
The only thing I have to note on the swim was that the rising sun and fog made it damn near impossible to see the buoy.
Yea yea yea, I know. Another triathlete whining about not being able to sight and getting punched in the face and my goggles are leaking and my wetsuit is tight and where is my line and I can't breathe and blah blah blah ;)
The first lap was better than the second, just because the second was more crowded.
Not my fastest swim (58 min) but not my slowest. I got a little of course and zigzagged but overall I was good with that time and got out of the water with a smile.
MOVING ON.
T1 - 6:44
Didn't even notice the steep run up to transition that was the talk of the town on the SR Facebook page. I was busy being in awe that the guy in front of me had ONE LEG. Triathlon is amazing. He smoked me on the bike and I never saw him after that. Un-freaking-believable. ONE LEG. Finishing the swim in an hour! Talk about zero excuses. I love this sport.
Changed into bike stuff with no issues. Off we go!
BIKE- 5:27:30
I was so happy to be on my bike. I love my bike. And with my new Eagle Wheels? He is the most beautiful thing.
The only notable issue was that my visor kept fogging up and I kept having to fumble with it for the first 10 miles.
Other than that bike was good. Limited headwinds and just a beautiful, rolling bike course. I really don't look up too often in a race because I'm in "race mode", but every time I did I was like "awww so pretty! Should I pull over at that vineyard?"
The only minor panic I had was when I lost 3 water bottles because the bumpy roads. I definitely had to rethink my hydration plan and recalculate some things.
But after a few "calm the f*** down" "get your shit together Katie"s I was good again.
The nice thing is my awesome Eagle Wheels were SO SMOOTH over the rough roads. I could stay in aero and pedal through the potholes knowing my wheels are tough and can handle it. I definitely felt the extra speed on the downhills and flats.
My bike shop at home also put in sealant for flats for this race which SAVED MY ASS because after the race when I picked up my bike I had a flat tire. Thank you sweet baby Jesus and cycling gods and Buddha and Allah and everyone else up there. Y'all are the best.
I could definitely feel a little bit more anxiety from racing harder this time. I kept hearing from spectators I was either 2nd or 3rd woman on the course, and knew I was first in my age group. I kept having to self-talk to keep myself from going too hard and to keep the nerves down. Louisville I was so happy-go-lucky the whole time, this was a little more tense and I let my competitive side unleash it's ugly head a little bit, especially when going back and forth with this other woman.
In my head I was like "I AM GOING TO EAT YOU ALIVE. YOU ARE GOING DOWN." But then she'd pass me and smile with a "you go girl" and I was like "Omg she's so pretty and nice and encouraging I love other fast women racers. I hope she wins.
....Wait. I want to win. GET BACK HERE YOU BEAUTIFUL FAST NICE HUMAN BEING."
Nothing super exciting happened on my bike and I finished with a 10 minute PR without any big highs or lows, kind of like the bike course itself!
T2 - 2:51
Whenever I finish the bike it's like a wave of relief hits me. My biggest fear in Ironman is the uncontrollables such as crashing or getting a flat. Once I'm done with the bike, I know I'm going to finish.
But this was a little different. I rolled off the bike 3rd place woman and finally the realization that I was 26.2 miles away from a Kona slot hit me. I started bawling my eyes out. What the ACTUAL BLOODY HELL KATIE.
Put your big girl spandex on and DEAL WITH IT.
I was so scared that my run wasn't going to be fast enough that I was terrified that I was so close and yet so far.
I know my run isn't my strong suit, it never has been. Typically in a race I come out in the front in the swim, pass a few on the bike and maybe I'm first place in my age group or overall, then I get passed by a girl or two on the run and I can barely squeak by a podium slot.
I just knew a girl in my age group was going to run me down and pass me, and all that training and wishing and secretly hoping I would place first would be for nothing (I know it's not for nothing, but at that moment that's what I kept thinking.)
So I ran out of T2 with tears streaming down my face as Julie was running next to me yelling stats and words of encouragement. Again - best friend ever.
RUN, KATIE, RUN! - 3:53:20
The run was hell. HELL.
The first thing I noticed was that my calves and Achilles felt like someone beat them with a hot frying pan. My right lower back was super tight and I felt so sleepy I could have curled up and taken a nap. I just felt slow and sick of this shit.
My whole body hurt and for the entire 26.2 miles I just dragged myself along. It was a pure mental battle. I literally felt a devil and an angel on my shoulders.
Devil: you're going to get passed anyway, might as well put yourself out of your misery and walk now
Angel: Just run one more mile. Maybe just get to halfway and re-evaluate. How many times have you run 13 miles? You can do it.
Devil: don't your calves kill? They hurt SO bad. Walking would feel so good.
Angel: Katie. MARGARITAS. On the BEACH. HAWAII. You can get there!
Devil: Walk walk walk walk walk. You want to walk. You NEED to walk. Just walk. Do it now. Ok walk at that tree. No? Okay walk at the bridge. Still no? You're going to walk eventually.
Angel: Run 1 more mile Katie. Just one more.
Devil: you're a weak runner. you've always been a weak runner.
Angel: Run 1 more mile Katie.
And so it went for twenty. six. miles.
I smiled for my parents and the cameras but my head was a war zone and I kept bursting into tears from mental exhaustion and physical pain.
But my training prepared me for this exact moment. All those 90+ degree runs in the sun. All those long runs I didn't think I could finish. All those hours and hours and hours of track workouts and zone 2+ intervals and endless miles in the heat of the day with no shade and no rest days. It all prepared me for this race. And overall I didn't find it THAT hard to talk my body into keep running, as long as I could just keep tricking myself into running one more mile.
My heart won over my head. And I pulled myself to the finish line, aching muscles and bones and all.
FINISH: 10:34:06
My finish line video is the saddest thing. I limped over, stumbled, got hit from behind by some dude sprinting to the finish, and fell into Chris' arms. Thank GOD that race is over.
I didn't know I finished first in my age group until Julie told me after my finish pic, and even then I didn't want to believe her. I was so scared someone behind me finished faster because the rolling start and would bump me down.
This was all I wanted since I started triathlon in college. I have every Kona race recap memorized. I didn't want to believe that I achieved the seemingly impossible. So I pushed it out of my head and hugged my parents (who were crying - bless them), and posed for pics..
After I finished I got super dizzy and my mouth went numb. I've never been to the med tent after a race but I decided now was as good a time as any. The temperature the med staff took was 84 degrees. Not sure if that was accurate or not (I feel like that's hypothermia status and I would be dead by then but okay) but they took it a few times and it all said the same. Woops. After some minor panicking from the med tent staff we got it all under control and I felt so much better after some TLC and chatting with a super nice guy named Jeff. We both agreed chicken broth is KING.
I checked the stats every 10 minutes the rest of the night, just knowing that I would refresh it and get bumped down. I didn't believe I actually got the Kona slot until they called my name the next day and gave them my husband's credit card (Thanks, babe!). It still hasn't sunk in.
So, overall, the day was an obvious success. But the truth is the race was miserable. It's so true that it always hurts, you just get faster. This race was TOUGH. I felt miserable the whole race. Even when I felt good I was an anxious mess and didn't feel as awesome as I did in Louisville. The pressure was on. I don't think anyone believes me when I tell them just how excruciating this race was for me. Everyone replies "everytime I saw you, you were smiling and looking so strong!" It just goes to show me that athletes can put on the strongest face in the world, but you never know what's going on in their head.
But I never stopped believing in myself and I think it's amazing the performance I put out there. It's vain and I know I'm getting full of myself, but I'm so freaking proud that I never gave up - in training or in racing.
This whole process was so hard. It's expensive and lonely and you have to get obsessive. You have to give up a social life and pretty much everything outside training. For a long ass time. I don't know if I could have done it without my amazing husband who supports me in every way possible and trains/races with me. He is my everything. And in addition to everything else, you somehow have to manage to not get burnt out or injured. And then on race day it has to go perfect. So much has to fall into place to be first.
I hope everyone gets to feel this way at some point in their life - in or outside triathlon. It's incredible what you can achieve if you finally just believe that you can do it. That you DESERVE it. That this is YOUR time to shine and be number one. So many of us put so much doubt in the things we do, and I think it's because none of us want to be disliked by others because we believe we can be the best. But to win, you have to not only put in the hard work, but also know that you really can do it. The whole time. The whole race. And never give it up or think another girl in your age group deserves it more than you or that she trained harder or that she trained more or woke up earlier or is stronger. We all deserve it, but you have to want it and fight for it more than the girl who is trying to run you down. You have to beat down the demons on your shoulder who are telling you to give up and that you're not good enough.
And always remember: You don't have to be an Ironman, but you do have to have Ironman sized dreams. (-Julie Moss)
-Katie
And yet here I am, writing my race report. Usually when I write a race report I find starts with useless information that only pertains to myself and finishes with a bunch of excuses on why the race didn't go as planned, why my training was sub-par, why I didn't go faster, etc etc etc.
But I mean....if you don't write a race report....can you REALLY call yourself a triathlete? An Ironman? A human being?
Unconfirmed, but probably not.
The day started at 3:32 when Chris' alarm buzzed me out of my deep slumber...
Just kidding. I'm not wasting your time with the arbitrary details of my relatively boring morning.
Here's the short and dirty: I woke up tired, ate bland food that I gagged on, got on a school bus, slept on the way to the start while trying to block out everyone's small talk.
Best part of the morning? I walked out of a portapotty and bumped into my very best most wonderful friend in the world Julie, who surprised me by coming to the swim start. She is the greatest. THE GREATEST. And if any of you fools think you have the best best friend in the world, you don't. Words can't describe how happy I was to see her. She woke up insanely early to drive 45 min to the swim start just to turn around drive all the way back to downtown and work the Ironman merch tent all day. She is insane - insanely wonderful and selfless.
I didn't feel nervous before this race and really, I didn't feel anything. I mostly was thinking how much I'd rather be back snoozing in my bed. It always changes when the gun goes off, but up until then I just sit on the edge of the water contemplating my life decisions and where this obsession with triathlon came from.
SWIM - 1:03:41
So I lined up in the sub 1 hour group and impatiently waited for the gun to go off while sizing up the other girls, as per usual. They're all so skinny. So fit. One girl I saw her 6 pack THROUGH HER WETSUIT.
I noted to myself that my mom once told me I looked like a walrus in mine.
I kissed Chris one last time and reminded him that the race is fair game. If we see each other on the side of the road or drowning we do not stop, we do not acknowledge. Every man for himself. It's a cruel world out there and true love means nothing on the race course. See you at the finish, homie. Love you so much. Also I hope I kick your ass in the swim.
The only thing I have to note on the swim was that the rising sun and fog made it damn near impossible to see the buoy.
Yea yea yea, I know. Another triathlete whining about not being able to sight and getting punched in the face and my goggles are leaking and my wetsuit is tight and where is my line and I can't breathe and blah blah blah ;)
The first lap was better than the second, just because the second was more crowded.
Not my fastest swim (58 min) but not my slowest. I got a little of course and zigzagged but overall I was good with that time and got out of the water with a smile.
 |
T1 - 6:44
Didn't even notice the steep run up to transition that was the talk of the town on the SR Facebook page. I was busy being in awe that the guy in front of me had ONE LEG. Triathlon is amazing. He smoked me on the bike and I never saw him after that. Un-freaking-believable. ONE LEG. Finishing the swim in an hour! Talk about zero excuses. I love this sport.
Changed into bike stuff with no issues. Off we go!
BIKE- 5:27:30
I was so happy to be on my bike. I love my bike. And with my new Eagle Wheels? He is the most beautiful thing.
The only notable issue was that my visor kept fogging up and I kept having to fumble with it for the first 10 miles.
Other than that bike was good. Limited headwinds and just a beautiful, rolling bike course. I really don't look up too often in a race because I'm in "race mode", but every time I did I was like "awww so pretty! Should I pull over at that vineyard?"
The only minor panic I had was when I lost 3 water bottles because the bumpy roads. I definitely had to rethink my hydration plan and recalculate some things.
But after a few "calm the f*** down" "get your shit together Katie"s I was good again.
The nice thing is my awesome Eagle Wheels were SO SMOOTH over the rough roads. I could stay in aero and pedal through the potholes knowing my wheels are tough and can handle it. I definitely felt the extra speed on the downhills and flats.
My bike shop at home also put in sealant for flats for this race which SAVED MY ASS because after the race when I picked up my bike I had a flat tire. Thank you sweet baby Jesus and cycling gods and Buddha and Allah and everyone else up there. Y'all are the best.
I could definitely feel a little bit more anxiety from racing harder this time. I kept hearing from spectators I was either 2nd or 3rd woman on the course, and knew I was first in my age group. I kept having to self-talk to keep myself from going too hard and to keep the nerves down. Louisville I was so happy-go-lucky the whole time, this was a little more tense and I let my competitive side unleash it's ugly head a little bit, especially when going back and forth with this other woman.
In my head I was like "I AM GOING TO EAT YOU ALIVE. YOU ARE GOING DOWN." But then she'd pass me and smile with a "you go girl" and I was like "Omg she's so pretty and nice and encouraging I love other fast women racers. I hope she wins.
....Wait. I want to win. GET BACK HERE YOU BEAUTIFUL FAST NICE HUMAN BEING."
Nothing super exciting happened on my bike and I finished with a 10 minute PR without any big highs or lows, kind of like the bike course itself!
T2 - 2:51
Whenever I finish the bike it's like a wave of relief hits me. My biggest fear in Ironman is the uncontrollables such as crashing or getting a flat. Once I'm done with the bike, I know I'm going to finish.
But this was a little different. I rolled off the bike 3rd place woman and finally the realization that I was 26.2 miles away from a Kona slot hit me. I started bawling my eyes out. What the ACTUAL BLOODY HELL KATIE.
Put your big girl spandex on and DEAL WITH IT.
I was so scared that my run wasn't going to be fast enough that I was terrified that I was so close and yet so far.
I know my run isn't my strong suit, it never has been. Typically in a race I come out in the front in the swim, pass a few on the bike and maybe I'm first place in my age group or overall, then I get passed by a girl or two on the run and I can barely squeak by a podium slot.
I just knew a girl in my age group was going to run me down and pass me, and all that training and wishing and secretly hoping I would place first would be for nothing (I know it's not for nothing, but at that moment that's what I kept thinking.)
So I ran out of T2 with tears streaming down my face as Julie was running next to me yelling stats and words of encouragement. Again - best friend ever.
RUN, KATIE, RUN! - 3:53:20
The run was hell. HELL.
The first thing I noticed was that my calves and Achilles felt like someone beat them with a hot frying pan. My right lower back was super tight and I felt so sleepy I could have curled up and taken a nap. I just felt slow and sick of this shit.
My whole body hurt and for the entire 26.2 miles I just dragged myself along. It was a pure mental battle. I literally felt a devil and an angel on my shoulders.
Devil: you're going to get passed anyway, might as well put yourself out of your misery and walk now
Angel: Just run one more mile. Maybe just get to halfway and re-evaluate. How many times have you run 13 miles? You can do it.
Devil: don't your calves kill? They hurt SO bad. Walking would feel so good.
Angel: Katie. MARGARITAS. On the BEACH. HAWAII. You can get there!
Devil: Walk walk walk walk walk. You want to walk. You NEED to walk. Just walk. Do it now. Ok walk at that tree. No? Okay walk at the bridge. Still no? You're going to walk eventually.
Angel: Run 1 more mile Katie. Just one more.
Devil: you're a weak runner. you've always been a weak runner.
Angel: Run 1 more mile Katie.
And so it went for twenty. six. miles.
I smiled for my parents and the cameras but my head was a war zone and I kept bursting into tears from mental exhaustion and physical pain.
But my training prepared me for this exact moment. All those 90+ degree runs in the sun. All those long runs I didn't think I could finish. All those hours and hours and hours of track workouts and zone 2+ intervals and endless miles in the heat of the day with no shade and no rest days. It all prepared me for this race. And overall I didn't find it THAT hard to talk my body into keep running, as long as I could just keep tricking myself into running one more mile.
My heart won over my head. And I pulled myself to the finish line, aching muscles and bones and all.
FINISH: 10:34:06
My finish line video is the saddest thing. I limped over, stumbled, got hit from behind by some dude sprinting to the finish, and fell into Chris' arms. Thank GOD that race is over.
I didn't know I finished first in my age group until Julie told me after my finish pic, and even then I didn't want to believe her. I was so scared someone behind me finished faster because the rolling start and would bump me down.
This was all I wanted since I started triathlon in college. I have every Kona race recap memorized. I didn't want to believe that I achieved the seemingly impossible. So I pushed it out of my head and hugged my parents (who were crying - bless them), and posed for pics..
 |
| Chris finished in 10 hours and met me at the finish line, as always. |
 |
| Julie hugs are the best hugs! |
 |
| DONE. |
After I finished I got super dizzy and my mouth went numb. I've never been to the med tent after a race but I decided now was as good a time as any. The temperature the med staff took was 84 degrees. Not sure if that was accurate or not (I feel like that's hypothermia status and I would be dead by then but okay) but they took it a few times and it all said the same. Woops. After some minor panicking from the med tent staff we got it all under control and I felt so much better after some TLC and chatting with a super nice guy named Jeff. We both agreed chicken broth is KING.
I checked the stats every 10 minutes the rest of the night, just knowing that I would refresh it and get bumped down. I didn't believe I actually got the Kona slot until they called my name the next day and gave them my husband's credit card (Thanks, babe!). It still hasn't sunk in.
So, overall, the day was an obvious success. But the truth is the race was miserable. It's so true that it always hurts, you just get faster. This race was TOUGH. I felt miserable the whole race. Even when I felt good I was an anxious mess and didn't feel as awesome as I did in Louisville. The pressure was on. I don't think anyone believes me when I tell them just how excruciating this race was for me. Everyone replies "everytime I saw you, you were smiling and looking so strong!" It just goes to show me that athletes can put on the strongest face in the world, but you never know what's going on in their head.
But I never stopped believing in myself and I think it's amazing the performance I put out there. It's vain and I know I'm getting full of myself, but I'm so freaking proud that I never gave up - in training or in racing.
This whole process was so hard. It's expensive and lonely and you have to get obsessive. You have to give up a social life and pretty much everything outside training. For a long ass time. I don't know if I could have done it without my amazing husband who supports me in every way possible and trains/races with me. He is my everything. And in addition to everything else, you somehow have to manage to not get burnt out or injured. And then on race day it has to go perfect. So much has to fall into place to be first.
I hope everyone gets to feel this way at some point in their life - in or outside triathlon. It's incredible what you can achieve if you finally just believe that you can do it. That you DESERVE it. That this is YOUR time to shine and be number one. So many of us put so much doubt in the things we do, and I think it's because none of us want to be disliked by others because we believe we can be the best. But to win, you have to not only put in the hard work, but also know that you really can do it. The whole time. The whole race. And never give it up or think another girl in your age group deserves it more than you or that she trained harder or that she trained more or woke up earlier or is stronger. We all deserve it, but you have to want it and fight for it more than the girl who is trying to run you down. You have to beat down the demons on your shoulder who are telling you to give up and that you're not good enough.
And always remember: You don't have to be an Ironman, but you do have to have Ironman sized dreams. (-Julie Moss)
-Katie
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