Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Ironman as told by the Ironwife

Hi readers and friends!  We are HOME from the Ironman and all travelers and Ironman participants and spectators are recovering nicely.  Our trip began Thursday, June 21 and we flew home Thursday, June 28.  It was a GREAT trip.  Idaho is beautiful and the temps were cool and refreshing for this 34 week pregnant mama!  Jason and I agreed that was the hardest thing to leave (that, the Pita Pit and Java, the best coffee house in the world).

My amazing Ironman did GREAT!  He finished in 11:22 (see full stats at the end) and was happy with his finishing time.  Since I did not participate myself, I can only give you the spectator's report.  As you may remember from the Gulf Coast Triathlon back in May, I promised Jason's own written report but we never made that happen.  He was not only training for an Ironman, but working full time and working on his Ph.D...along with getting ready to be a dad.  He's a busy guy, so I can't promise a report from him personally (although I will still try for it). 

I do have some pictures that tell the story, however, and I will share them here.

For those of you who may not know, an Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 miles on the bike, and 26.2 miles of running, in that order.  It is a true test of endurance, strength, perseverance, and a whole host of other things, hence the name "Ironman."  Training for this event is intense and requires consistency, commitment and...I guess a will of iron with the 2-3 hours a day spent preparing.  Because Jason approaches everything he does with these attributes, my vision of what it takes to get ready for an Ironman is probably influenced by his training, but from what I've seen, this is NOT an event to approach lightly.  And Jason doesn't merely want to gut out a finish, he wants to finish well.  He wants to be physically prepared to face the challenge and he never waivers from that goal during his training.  While I have no desire to ever do an Ironman myself, I can honestly say it is amazing to be a part of Jason's journey every time he does this.

And when the day of the event arrives, we are both excited, nervous, and while Jason begins to question his training, I know him to be ready for this amazing physical challenge.

We flew into Spokane, WA on Thursday, June 21 and drove the 35 minutes to Coeur d'Alene, ID where the Ironman was to take place.  It is SO beautiful there!  I loved all the trees and mountains, and often had the urge to run up one of them singing, "The hills are alive with the sound of muuuusiiiiic."  We arrived at the Ironman village that afternoon and Jason picked up his bike from Tribike Transport and dropped it off at the service tent for a tuneup. He then checked in, received his wrist band and packet, and then we headed to the cute little house we were renting for the week.

We got some dinner at a local dive called Moon Time, stopped by a little grocery store on the way home and then, being the weary travelers that we were, settled in for the night.  It was, after all, two hours later in our hometown.  After a hot shower, I was in bed by 8:00 pm Idaho time, and it wasn't even dark.

The next morning Jason went for a run before we headed out for breakfast at a place called Java.  Because we were so close to everything, we never got in our car, but walked everywhere.  This was one reason I did not run in the mornings because I knew there would be a LOT of walking during the day and I did not want to get tired out too soon.  Mom clocked it one day on her watch and our walking totaled 7 miles.

After breakfast, Jason went for his first test swim in Lake Coeur d'Alene, which was 55 degrees.

He survived!

After his swim, we picked up his bike from the service tent and he gave it a test ride before my parents arrived and we took them to Moon Time to enjoy another delicious dinner.  Because they like driving out west, they drove from Tennessee to Idaho, planning to visit Glacier National Park after the Ironman.

The next day (Saturday), Jason went for one last test swim, one last bike ride, and then turned his bike in to the transition area.  It had to be checked in by 3:00pm on Saturday.  The Ironman is not like our usual running events where you show up the day before, pick up your packet that night and run the next morning.  Jason had to be checked in by Friday and his bike turned in by Saturday afternoon before the event on Sunday.

Mom tested the water during Jason's second swim. She is smiling for the camera, but this is not the face she made when she first stepped in.  

Mom snapped a picture of me and Eloise waiting on our fella.

The huge, busy and packed transition area!

Finally race day arrived.  Jason got up at 5:00, and Mom and I walked with him to the transition area to pump up his tires and do one last gear bag check.  He got his body marked (race number and age), and then began the wait for the swim start at 7:00 am.

One last hug before I saw him off to swim!

The morning was cold, cloudy and windy as we waited for Jason to begin his swim.  As I shivered in my light jacket, I wondered how in the world all those swimmers could bear to get in water that was even colder than the outside temp.  The water was 55 degrees and the temp was 59.  It is always an emotional moment for me when I kiss Jason goodbye as he starts his Ironman, but this morning I was a bit more nervous than usual.

This was where swimmers exited the water after the first mile and then re-entered it for the second. 

And they're off!  Pink caps for the women, green caps for the men.

Jason describes this as what it  might feel like to be in a washing machine.

Swimmers getting ready to exit the water after their first mile.

I looked and looked to see if I could recognize Jason as he exited the water after his first lap, but the swimmers came in huge groups and everyone looked the same with their green caps and black wetsuits.  Eventually Mom and I made our way to the bike exit so that we could see Jason as he began his bike ride.  I could not WAIT for this moment because it would mean he made it through the swim just fine.  The morning was, of course, still chilly and I worried he might be a total popsicle by the time he started his ride.

Jason is in the white sleeves, red top with an E for Eloise on his helmet.

And finally came that wonderful moment when I saw Jason begin his bike ride!  I cheered as loud as I could and Mom snapped away with the camera.  It is REALLY hard to look for your cyclist, cheer and snap at the same time and Mom did a GREAT job taking pictures!  Jason smiled and waved at us, so I knew he was in good shape and I was so excited and relieved!  Mom and I walked down a little ways to see him loop back through before meeting up with Dad and getting a much needed cup of coffee and a bit of breakfast before we continued our sport of spectating.

Jason's fan club.

Around mile 57

Only about 44 more miles to go!

We saw Jason two more times before heading back to our little house for a brief rest.  After about an hour, Mom and I headed to the run start to look for Jason again.

And there he was!  Such a wonderful sight to see!

We cheered!  I got a big kiss!  Mom snapped away and then he was off again.  We'd see him in about 13 more miles.

Dad and I waiting in a shady spot to see Jason.

Here he comes!

Jason took a moment to rest and talk with me before running on.  He told me he was tired but otherwise he seemed to be doing just fine.  He said the bike course was insanely hilly, which I discovered for myself when we drove it the next day.

Running back through at mile 14.

We saw him once more at mile 14 before heading to the finish line to await his finish.  Mom got a hamburger and I enjoyed some kettle corn while we waited.  As we walked around, I got a lot of comments and smiles about my shirt.  One guy said, "Nice shirt!" and took my picture.  Somewhere out there, I'm famous.

The finish line!  Jason is the spec in red.

I imagine this is a beautiful site for Ironman finishers!

Jason racing to the finish line.  He is an Ironman x 3!

 It was so good to finally see Jason coming!  He looked good and strong as we cheered.  Once he was passed us, I immediately made my way to the finishing shoot to get pictures of him with the volunteers and to receive him once they handed him off.

Walking in with two great volunteers.

Putting on his finisher's shirt for his picture.

Getting ready to be handed off to ME!

Checking in with my Ironman as Mom takes our picture.

The Ironman x 3 with his Ironwife and Ironbaby

I've got my Ironman safe and sound and all is right with the world!

Jason finished in 11:22 (11 hours, 22 minutes).  Below is a breakdown of his splits in each event. Division Rank is his age group.

Swim: 1:19:51 - Division Rank: 135 (out of 264 finishers), Overall Rank: 1035 (out of 2314 total finishers)
Bike: 6:06:41 - Division Rank: 118, Overall Rank: 718 (notice how his rank changes with each event)
Run: 3:41:38 - Division Rank: 63, Overall Rank: 340
Transition 1 (swim to bike) took 10:42 and Transition 2 (bike to run) took 3:58.

Other interesting stats I read in the Ironman race booklet:

The average age of an Ironman is 37 years old.
95% of Ironman finishers have post-secondary degrees.
Around 75% are male, 25% female. In the Coeur d'Alene it was 73% and 27%.
In Coeur d'Alene the oldest finisher was John Laramie who is 76 and finished in 15:44.  There were two other 70+ year-old men who finished as well.

We enjoyed a few more days in Idaho before flying home.  It was so nice and cool and the last two days I did get out and run along a beautiful riverside path. I figured I'd better enjoy running in the cooler temps before coming home to temperatures reaching the triple digits!

Now that we are home, I'm tackling a list I made on the plane to get ready for Eloise. I am 34 weeks, 3 days pregnant and it is my hope that after 36 weeks she will not linger too long!  Nothing is done, however.  Her room is still an explosion of baby gifts, her bookshelf is not painted, her furniture is not here, and I made a mistake ordering her pack and play/bassinet so now I have to wait 3-5 days before I can re-order it.  Good grief!  It will all come together, though, so I am not overly worried...yet. 

Ironwife Readiness

The Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Ironman is this Sunday!  Jason has started his version of tapering, which really isn't tapering at all, but it isn't training either.  During his final days up to an event, he still runs 10 or more miles each morning, and will bike and swim a little too, just to keep things loose. 

So what is my role in all of this?  Well, while he is training I try to keep him well fed (I calculated out what his caloric intake should be for 2+ hours of training a day and it is close to 5000 daily), well hydrated, and I even massage feet, calves, hamstrings, etc. as needed.  (Yes, I totally rock as a wife and yes, that is my goal.)  But I have very important responsibilities during the event itself too.

If you have ever participated in an endurance event you know what it means to see your peeps along the way.  To hear your name called out, to see people who love you cheering for you, spurring you on... it really does help performance!  For Jason's first Ironman we (me, his family and mine) were all new to this event and so I planned where I'd be when based on his finish time predictions and I wore my most comfortable running outfit because it was going to be hot and I was going to be on the move.  I even made signs and stopped by a face-painting booth during the event to have the Ironman insignia painted on my arm.  Even with all of that, however, I learned a lot that year like don't believe Jason when he says he will be slow, always show up an hour before he says he will, and real hardcore supporters should wear fun, supportive apparel.

So the next year I planned a little better.  I got best case scenarios for each event within the Ironman so I'd always be at the transition area or someplace to see him well before he got there.  (The first year I missed his running start and I hated that).  I also knew I wanted a fun, bright shirt for Jason to see when he approached a spectator area.  I looked at all kinds online and then decided I'd just make my own.  I purchased a bright pink Underarmor shirt - the ones that feel like cotton but aren't - and I ironed on some letters and hearts. 

After the event, Jason said it was easy to spot me in a crowd and it meant a lot to him to always be able to see me.  I would gladly wear this shirt to every Ironman but this year...it would be more of a mid-drift.  So, as any hardcore Ironwife would, I made another one.

Yes, I realize I am not the most creative or imaginative when it comes to making shirts (or anything crafty for that matter), but I did the best with what skill I had...and iron-on letters and hearts (compliments of Michael's).  I bought a size large Underarmor shirt this time and unknowingly chose the Ironman color for this particular event.  Green is one of mine and Jason's favorite colors and I wanted to once again be bright and easily spotted in a crowd.

I do not have to rely on my own green-shirted self, however.  Since my parents are tagging along to keep me company as I cheer for Jason, they also are the beneficiaries of my craftiness (lucky them!).

Oh yes!  My creativity knows no bounds!  I found our three green Underarmor shirts at Dick's Sporting Goods (same place I bought my pink one last year), and because they are a lot like cotton, the iron-on letters work great, even after washing (which they will need after a day of Ironman spectating).  I told Jason he can now search for a big green blob in the crowd and it will be US!  The Fan Club! 

But that's not all.  My last effort for ultimate Ironwife support was to add a bit more green to my person by way of toenails.

And while I will be wearing tennis shoes and socks during the event, I will know my toes are green and Jason will know my toes are green and somehow that seems like it will help.  I told him this very morning not to worry about the 55 degree water in which he will be swimming... my toenails are green and everything will be fine!  (He isn't quite sure of my logic on this one, but you girls know it to be true.)

So there you have it!  Now all that is left is to get ourselves there, make sure his bike is in working order (I have very little role in that part), get the camera battery fully charged and get our best cheering voices tuned up and ready.  It is time for the Ironman!

The Busy Housewife and Ironman Thoughts

So I really thought this housewife thing would allow for all kinds of time to do all kinds of things that need doing.  I had grand plans for those first few days of housewifedom and I just knew that this house would be spic and span, dinners would be healthy and delicious, thank you cards would be written in a timely manner, projects would be tackled daily... yeah, I had big plans.

Well.  Things have been busier than I thought and I am having a harder time than I imagined fitting it all in!  Add in an hour of exercise (sometimes a little more depending on intensity) and then the inevitable tiredness that strikes at inconvenient times and... WHAM, it is 5:00 pm and I'm starting dinner plans (one of the things I HAVE successfully done regularly) with only one or two things marked off the list!

I've had fun, though.  And I refuse to stress about things that don't matter...yet (like how the nursery is still an explosion of baby gifts, nothing is washed or put together, and I have yet to wash all the window sills and baseboards as planned).  I'm taking care of my Ironman husband - making sure his lunches and dinners are packed with healthy nutrients to sustain his activity.  I'm managing the house (mostly), keeping up with laundry and dishes, keeping healthy beverages available for the ever hydrating athlete and mama-to-be, and doing a few other odd chores here and there.  But fitting in EVERYTHING has been...well... more challenging than I anticipated.

This weekend Jason took Friday off so we could drive to Birmingham to drop off his bike and gear for delivery to Idaho for the Ironman.  It was cheaper and probably friendlier to his bike to do it that way.  After walking 3 miles with my sis, off we went to Birmingham.  We got back to Huntsville, did a little shopping for the Ironman, hit the pool for some laps, and then I babysat my niece and nephew so Julie and Mark could see Avengers for Mark's birthday (great movie by the way).

Saturday morning we were up by 4:30 a.m. heading to Bellbuckle, TN for the annual RC Cola Moonpie 10 Mile, which we have run every year we've been together (only missing one while being in Montana for a marathon).  I didn't run it, but Jason represented well finishing in 1:01 and winning 2nd in his age group.  I walked and ran while I waited for him and then I ran the last mile with my mom for a total of 3 miles that morning.  We drove home, rested a few hours, hit the pool again and then Jason's Deli and 32 degrees (yogurt) for a much needed afternoon treat. I slept like a ROCK that night. 

Sunday we got up early, got in our morning runs and then headed to Fayetteville, TN to go to church with my parents and hang at their house for Father's Day.  My sister and her kids and in-laws came as well, along with my Aunt Cindy and we ate BBQ, Edward's pies (my dad's favorite) and enjoyed talking, laughing and catching up.  Jason rode his bike home (the one not delivered to Birmingham) and I drove, getting home around 5:00 pm and finishing up some things around the house that hadn't gotten tackled. When I DO have energy, I like to seize the moment and quite literally become a tornado of activity cramming it all in before I feel the need to lie on the couch like some sort of invalid.

WHEW!  Now it is Monday morning and I've walked with my sis, seen Jason off to work, and I'm having breakfast, catching up on a little blog reading and writing, sipping a little coffee before tackling my "to do" list and getting ready for the Ironman.  My mom and dad are driving to Idaho to hang with me and cheer for Jason too.  We thought it might be good for this 33 week pregnant lady to have a little support herself...just in case, and I am so glad they are coming!  Mom and Dad love traveling out west and also have plans to visit Glacier National Park after the event. 

I'm excited about this trip.  It is sort of our last big adventure before we are parents for real and adventures become a little less frequent.  I love watching Jason participate in the Ironman - and a side note here - if you ever get a chance to spectate this event, DO IT!  It will blow your mind, inspire you beyond belief, and if you let it, set your own imagination to wondering what YOU are capable of achieving.  It is amazing to watch, especially when a loved one is participating.  I have the utmost respect for these athletes and I feel a kinship with all of them even though I am not an Ironman myself.  I want to cheer for them ALL, pat them all on the back, and say WELL DONE!  I always get emotional when I see Jason finish his marathon.  I feel pride as he completes such a challenging feat, relief that the man I love is okay, inspiration, excitement, amazement, all wrapped into that moment when I see his form round the last corner and head for the finish line.  I want to hug the volunteer that takes care of him afterward, and I am like an adoring fan when he is finally handed off to me.

Jason's first Ironman, Louisville, Kentucky 2010

Jason's second Ironman, Madison, Wisconsin 2011

And yes, there will be more homemade fan club t-shirts like the one above for not only me and Eloise, but Mom and Dad as well.  More on that to come!

Ironman Wisconsin as told by the Ironwife

The alarm clock went off at 4:00 a.m. and I took a quick, hot shower to wake up.  I knew it would be a long (wonderful, emotional, moving, inspiring, anxious) day spent watching for my swimmer, my cyclist, my runner - my Ironman, and I wanted to be awake and ready.  I had packed my drawstring bag the night before with the essentials - camera, iphone, chapstick, water bottle, and snacks, and I laid out my homemade Ironwife shirt, shorts, shoes and a light jacket for the chilly morning.  I was ready to go.

Jason and I hopped on the shuttle that would drive us to the transition area at 5:00 a.m.  I had a cup of coffee in my hand that I sipped as we drove in the early morning darkness through Madison, Wisconsin.  Jason was quiet as we sat shoulder to shoulder, hands intertwined. 

When we reached the transition area, Jason went to his bike to pump up his tires and check on his gear, and then he put on his wet suit and got ready for the swim.  I had a hard time letting him out of my site as I wished him luck with a huge lump in my throat as the most beautiful sunrise began to color the sky.  "Here we go," I thought once again, just as I had a year before in Ironman Kentucky.

Unlike the Louisville Ironman, (and like most of them), this Ironman was a mass start, and it was amazing to watch. After the most beautiful National Anthem (sung by an Ironman participant) followed by a moment of silence as we remembered all of those lost in 9/11, "It's a Beautiful Day" by U2 came over the loud speakers as the cannon fired signaling the swimmers to begin their 2.4 mile swim.  The race had officially begun. 

 

They swam two huge loops around buoys placed in the water. That meant spectators could see (and hear) the entire swim.  The men wore green caps and the women wore pink caps and I wondered which cap belonged to Jason and how it was going as I watched the circle of swimmers. Jason completed his swim in 1:15, which was almost 10 minutes faster than last year.  I was so excited as I saw him run onto the parking deck to get on his bike before cycling down the ramp, starting is 112 mile bike ride.  

I crawled up into a planter directly across from where Jason's bike was parked. 

The transition area as volunteers wait to help cyclists get their bikes. This picture does not encompass them all either.  There were 2811 out there.

Once I saw Jason ride off, it was time to catch another shuttle to Verona where spectators could watch the cyclists come through at mile 54 and 94.  There were tents set up with groups selling hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, and all sorts of snacks.  I met a man on the bus whose wife was also doing the Ironman and we compared stories as we rode.  We were some of the first people to Verona and I excitedly picked the spot I wanted and stayed there for 3 hours as the crowds filled the field and the side lines. I got quite the sunburn on the back of my legs, but I wasn't going to budge and lose my spot (you gotta be hardcore about this spectating thing).

I calculated when I should see Jason based on his previous Ironman and figured I might even see him before then.  As the minutes and hours passed, however, I became concerned.  Eventually I knew something had gone wrong because he would have shown up by this point, even if he had slowed down.  The question was what, exactly, had gone wrong and where was he.  I checked my phone again and again for emergency calls, but nothing came through.  This was agonizing as I stared intently at each cyclists looking for the familiar signs that they were mine.

After what seemed like too many eternities, I saw him.  Relief washed over me as I tried to cheer and snap a picture. He was in one piece.  That was a good sign.  Maybe my calculations had been wrong.  I was very alarmed however, when he stopped his bike to talk to me.  If he was racing, he should not be stopping!  He told me his bike chain had broken at mile 10.  He had to retrieve it from the road (with cyclists flying by) and then he used a tool he had with him to repair it as best he could.  Shortly before he reached mile 54 where I was waiting, he found the Trek Bike assistance vehicle and they helped him adjust it.  He had lost about 40-45 minutes doing all of this.  He was disappointed and he told me the goal for the day was now to finish.  I could see his disappointment and I was crushed for him. 

He rode off and I stared after him, not sure what to do.  I called Mom and told her what had happened and asked her to pray that he would keep his chin up and stay positive.  I prayed the same, but I couldn't help asking why???  Why did his chain have to break?

I hadn't eaten all day and my coffee was long gone, so I went to a tent and bought a hamburger, chips and a drink.  This helped quite a bit as I found a shady spot to eat. I knew I had a few more hours before I'd see him again and my legs could not handle any more sun.  I recalculated when I should see him if there were no other issues, and this time he came in when he should have.  He was smiling and slapping hands with spectators and I knew he had pushed through his disappointment and meant to finish his race as best he could. 

This was the best I could do as he sped by, giving me a high five before riding out of sight.

After seeing him a second time, I texted his mom and mine, telling them he looked great, and I hopped on the bus that would take me back to the transition area and the start of the marathon.  Jason's splits on the bike were 16 mph for the two loops where he had to stop, but for the loop when he didn't, he rode at 21 mph.  If he had not had technical issues, his bike race would have been dynamite!  I knew these things happen and that every triathlete had a story like Jason's, but I sure wished it hadn't happened to my triathlete!  Still, his spirits seemed improved and I thanked God for that.  Plus he was safe.  He was unhurt.  I was more grateful than I can express for that as well.  He completed his bike ride 6:24:29, which was over 30 minutes slower than last year. 

The way the marathon course was set up, I could see Jason 5 or 6 times as he ran, simply by walking a few blocks through downtown Madison. This was great for not only spectators but for the tired runners as well.  They pretty much had fans and cheers for the entire marathon.  Jason told me later that I became the goal as he completed each section of the run.  He was exhausted from pushing so hard at the end of his bike ride, and the goal remained simply to finish.  Despite the fact that this Ironman would be slower than his first, his run was still impressive.  After the swim, he was slotted at 126 in his division.  After the bike he was 156.  After 8 miles of the marathon, he was down to 91 and as he ran, he jumped down 20 more spots to 71 in his division.  I saw him several times, walking with him for a spell and giving him encouragement as best I could.  He was tired, but he kept moving and I was so proud of him.

Jason finished his run in 4:02, completing his Ironman in 11:57:52.  Despite the technical issues - the broken bike chain that never really shifted correctly during his 112 mile run and the two stops to fix it, he was pleased with his efforts and I was more proud than I can express.  From my own experience, I know a lot can happen during a marathon to change the course of the race in a second.  Add in a 2.4 mile swim and a 112 bike ride to the mix...and for these men and women to finish unscathed and in one piece is an impressive feat.  I was so proud of my Ironman for pushing through despite the issues he faced during this race, and for not giving up.  He gave it all he had and when he was moving, he was really moving!  That, to me, is another trait belonging to a true Ironman.

Stats and such:

Louisville, Kentucky Ironman 2010 - Swim/1:24:30, Bike/5:45:24, Run/3:45:41 - 11:13:35
Madison, Wisconsin Ironman 2011 - Swim/1:15:28, Bike/6:24:29, Run/4:02:30 - 11:57:52

To read of Jason's first Ironman:
My Husband the Ironman, Part I
My Husband the Ironman, Part II
My Husband the Ironman, Part III

Ironnerves for the Ironman

It is almost here.  Ironman Wisconsin.  This will be my husband's second Ironman.  And the wife is a nervous wreck!  Okay, maybe not a wreck, but I'm getting the butterflies already.  Not because I don't think he can do it and do it well.  I know he can.  I also know his hopes and his goals and how, just like many athletes, he can be hard on himself when his performance is not what he thinks it ought to be.

So as wife, best friend, cheerleader and president of his fan club (hee hee), I REALLY want him to reach his goals.  I want him to succeed at everything he does and I want him to be proud of himself.  It is this that makes waiting and watching both exciting and nerve wracking. 

Still, nerves aside, I'm pretty excited.  I loved watching the Louisville, Kentucky Ironman last year.  It was amazing and inspiring and moving, and when I saw Jason come through that finish line, I thought I might explode with pride.  So I am looking forward to doing it all again.

I'm also prepared.  I'll be catching the shuttle to the swim start EARLY in the morning with Jason and from there I will catch another shuttle to where I can cheer him on during the bike ride. I'll then catch that same shuttle back to the transition area and be ready to cheer for him as he starts and completes his marathon.  I've packed a little drawstring bag that I will carry with me and in it I will have my camera, iphone, water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, the athlete information booklet, snacks and money for more snacks (cheerleaders have to stay well fueled, you know).  Am I forgetting anything?

I have also made sure that I can be easily spotted by my athlete and that other supporters will know my status as wife, cheerleader and fan club president.  Instead of ordering this most important supporter apparel, I made it. 

So yeah, this Ironwife is READY!