Coeur d'Alene Race Report

[Mary]

Finally, here is my race report. Happy reading

Mary

2007 Ironman Coeur D’Alene Race Report

The alarm went off at 3am. Now I know most people would think, what is she thinking, getting up so early? Well those of you that know me know that is the normal wake up time for me. I put the coffee on and finished my final packing. I went down for breakfast at 4 and had a bowl of oatmeal, a bagel with peanut butter and honey and a banana. I left for the race site at 4:40 and got to the transition area around 4:50am. They had started body marking, so I got tattooed with my number and went into the bike transition to drop off my hydration and nutrition for the day. Off to drop off the special needs bags and back to the transition area. On the way from special needs, I remember thinking, it seems a bit windy, but what are you going to do. I ran into Ben and Cindy and then Bryan and Sarah. It’s funny that in such a large crowd of people, all week I ran into everyone that I knew that were doing the race. To me the morning of the race is a bit magical. By this time I am no longer stressed or anxious. For me the day before the race is all about stress. Fortunately this year I had the opportunity to work with Ben in the Blue Seventy Tent (thanks Ben). This was good for me, kept me busy so I didn’t have much time to dwell on whether or not I had trained long and hard enough. I know at this point, all of that is in the past.

I then headed down to the swim. Standing on the shore it was cold. I really had no idea how rough the waters were until they announced the option to do a duathlon. Now to me that was not even something that I would entertain, but I heard after the race that several people chose this option, including a friend of mine from Seattle. But I still didn’t let that get to me. The gun goes off and pandemonium sets in. This, by far, was the toughest swim I have ever done. The body contact was never ending, and my goggles kept getting knocked loose. I had put them on under my swim cap, but several times I got smacked in the head by the waves and it shook my goggles loose. After the first buoy, I finally got into a rhythm, out of the water and back in for the second loop. The second loop went on forever. I kept seeing the inflatable Gatorade bottle in the distance and it never seemed to get any closer. Finally out of the water. Ben was on the shore, told me I had a great swim; I checked my watch at 1:39 didn’t seem so good to me, but I was just glad to be on land. Swim: 1:39:40

T1 went well, although I was a bit disoriented. I had planned to put my arm warmers on, but that wasn’t working so well, so I just threw another shirt on that I had packed along with my gloves. I had packed these as throw a ways, in the event that I didn’t need them for the entire race. On the bike and happy to be riding. I had done the course a couple of times so I knew where to push and where to hold back. I really tried to hold back on the first loop, but in the end, I see that I probably went out a too hard and paid for it on the second loop. The bike was pretty uneventful, actually a good ride. I love to climb hills, so I really enjoyed the course. Bike: 6:54:27

T2 – When I got into T2 and off my bike, my legs were like jelly. My immediate thought was oh no, this is going to be a very long run. So, off I go. I had promised myself that I would only walk thru the aid stations, and after the first 1 ½ mile, I am saying to myself, it’s ok to walk, but I held firm and kept running. I saw Sara and Bryan’s dad on the first loop out and then Cindy. I felt good on the run, well hydrated and the weather was definitely cooperating. Back in to town and off on the second loop, still running and feeling good. When I was at mile 22, I realized that I would make it in under 14 hours, which was my goal, so that was inspiration enough to keep going. I passed a spectator at mile 25 and I remember he said “I have seen you 4 times on the run, and you have been running each time, good job, you made it”. Running down the chute, almost to the finish line, wait I’m here. Run: 4:58:51

Total time: 13:46:46.

Overall this was a great race for me. I cut 45 minutes off my run time from Ironman Arizona and came in 50 minutes faster. I placed 14/61 in my age group and 1304 overall.

This has been quite a year. I have met some amazing people along the way. Thanks to Sarah, my training partner. Without you, I never would have done all of the training rides and bricks, which ultimately saved me on the run. Thanks to Jen, my running partner, who stuck with me all winter long, ran with me 3 times a week in the rain, snow, freezing temps and the ice. Thanks to Ben, Cindy, Bryan and all of the SVTT team members. I have learned from each of you. And a special thanks to my family that supported me along the way and was there from the start of the race to the finish line.

[Heidi]

Congratulations Mary, you are amazing!

[andrew]

great report Mary.....well done

[Cindybigglestone]

Wow 50 minutes !!! Great PR Mary especially on a day that most people slowed down. All those rainy/icy rides payed off It really looked like you were enjoying the day, you looked strong and always smiling! Hope your recovery is going well.

Cindy

[max]

Great result Mary, all your focus and drive have paid off for you! It puts us short dstance tirathletes to shame!

Really inspirating!!! Great job Mary....

Guillaume

[benbiggles]

Mary,

You are awesome. To knock that much time off your previous best is phenomenal on such a course. IMAZ is a much more forgiving course in my opinion and I think if you were do one of the 'flater' courses again you would surprise yourself. Your AG result was also excellent, you looked solid when I saw you on the bike just finishing your second loop, very composed.

ANyhow congrats, great job and which one next? Maybe we all come up with a plan to do an overseas Ironman, South Africa anyone?!?!?!?!?!

Ben