Pre-Race and Swim

Lars and I left Denver on the Wednesday before the race.  We flew to Spokane and then drove to CdA.  Easy peezy all the way.  We shared a house with Canadian Cuppies John, Tamara and Martin (more about that shortly).  Since we arrived in CdA before them, we headed over to the campground to say Hi to Ed and Linda Sproull.  I hadn’t seen them since Oregon 70.3 last year, so it was great to catch-up.  Plus, I got lots of doggie love.  

Thursday, Friday and Saturday were filled with pre-race swims, athlete check-in, bike rides, the IronKids run, bike and gear bag check-in, a Cuppie meet-up and lots and lots of laughs.  If you didn’t see my post, I was given the surprise of a lifetime when Lara’s husband and 2 boys showed up at our house!!  I had ZERO idea they were coming, and was completely overcome with emotion.  Lara had flown in that day (which was pre-scheduled), but Ryan and the boys drove their Airstream all the way from Carbondale, CO (which is just outside of Aspen).  I am still blown away by that. 

Sharing a house with my Canadian teammates was amazing!  I’ve never stayed with anyone pre-Ironman because I’m always a complete basket case.  But being with them calmed my nerves and made the lead-up to what was arguably the most important race of my life so much better.  You will hear me say this over and over again, but I am beyond blessed to have those 3 in my life.  

Race morning was just like every other IM.  Up at 4:15 AM to attempt to get some food in my stomach.  I succeeded without hurling, which is always a win.  We all got to transition at 5:30, which was a full hour before the race started.  Plenty of time because all I needed to do was check the tires, put my nutrition on the bike and drop off my bike special needs bag.  I left transition, and found Lars, Lara et al.  The nerves were totally real at that point.  I just focused on my breathing and reminded myself that I’d done this 11 times before; this was nothing new.  

Around 6:10, I got myself into the swim corral and lined up in the 1:00-1:10 group.  The atmosphere around the start was electric with tons of spectators, and I let it all soak in.  The lake was calm- hardly any wind.  The canon went off for the first age groupers, and the line started moving.  I wasn’t far from the front, so I’m pretty sure I was in the water by 6:38 or so.  The swim at CdA is 2 loops, so we swim 1.2 miles, get out of the water, run through an arch and then get back in the water for another 1.2.  While it’s a pain to get out of the water, I actually prefer the 2 loops because it gives me boxes to tick off (as I’ve mentioned in previous reports, racing IM is all about ticking off boxes for me- that’s what keeps me sane and focused).  

All in all, the swim was easy and uneventful.  Water was perfect: 66 degrees.  I never felt crowded, and I didn’t get kicked or run over.  I just ticked off buoys (nicknamed Cool Ranch and Nacho Cheese Doritos because they are yellow and orange triangles) and kept moving.  The second lap was super choppy from me coming up on the slower swimmers and the jet skis.  I’m guessing that’s what slowed me down because a 1:13 is pathetic for me.  I was slightly annoyed at that when I got out, but quickly changed the mindset to focus on the relentless bike course I was about to face….