Ironman 70.3 Boise

Lets start this telling with Thursday.

I left home on Thursday afternoon to head to Boise, ID for the Ironman 70.3. It was, thankfully, a mostly uneventful 6 hour trip. The rain was very heavy in Salt Lake, and whereas they mostly know how to drive in snow, put rain on the road and they are terrible. having grown up with rain, rain every day, I put my webbed feet on and drove carefully through. I want to tell you that it mostly cleared as I neared Boise, and it was, but only because the big gray clouds were further apart from each other.

I met up with a very sweet and wonderful former missionary companion, Sallie. She allowed me the pleasure of going to her house and relaxing for the evening. We talked, we laughed, we cried (wait that was just me missing my boys). She showed off her beautiful new baby girl. I had forgotten how much I love her. Isn't that so surprising? anyway, it was so nice to be with her and her family for the evening.

I headed back to my hotel for a good night sleep. It was great. Even though i had the room right above the pool, and next to the stairwell, I heard NOTHING! I went to sleep, and stayed asleep until 8:30am! Nope, not a typo! I almost missed Breakfast at the hotel free breakfast spread.

After breakfast we (my coach and her other athletes) headed down to registration to officially let them know we were here. They had over 1500 athletes entered, so the registration was at the qwest center in Downtown Boise. When we walked in the volunteers pointed us to the first of several tables. There we had to tell them who we were and show our USAT card. I didn't have a current one, although i am a current member, and so I had to pay the $10 to get a day pass. Can i tell you, i am still cranky about that! They ought to know I am current. Anyway! Then, moving on to the next table where we tell them our number which we could get off the big posterboard hiding next to the wall inconspicuously, blending in like the other posters on the wall.

At this table they gave us papers to sign and initial in case of accident slash death who do they contact. That didn't settle any nerves. But I played it cool and moved on to the next table.

Table three, I told them my number and they gave me my participant packet. That is a white envelope that had my swim cap, bike and official number and current maps of the course. The most important part of this envelope was my timing chip and velcro wrap I would use to be timed through the course on Saturday. It also had information about what shirt size to give me. They also wrote my number on my cap and gave me a snap on bracelet with my number on it. (i was nothing but a number to them)

After that I could go to the answer booth in case I had any questions. My only question was if they had to change the run course, did they make it longer. They assured me they did not make it longer. that was a relief.

Finally I made it to the guy with the T-shirts we get just for paying to play. Well we also got the cute black cinch bag and poster, so it wasn't totally a waste of money. The last table before heading down to the Ironman store was the timing chip man. He brushed my timing chip over a sensor and up popped my name and number and hometown. It was over, registration was done. It took about 15 minutes. Last year my coach went through the same process, but it took hours. Sure glad that didn't happen this year.

As I was held captive by those who drove me to the registration, i was forced to shop and look at things I couldn't afford and didn't need. But I bought a visor, don't need it, but got it. It looks good on me. then I walked around while the others shopped and talked and looked at the displays and other vendors and sponsors booths. Finally heading out to the car and another of Coach Keena's athletes asked if we were going to the information meeting. Keena had never gone to one for a 70.3, so we went. It lasted about an hour, which was an hour too long and we were still confused about something he said.

When we made it to the car we only had about an hour before we needed to get back in the car to meet athletes to go to the swim venue and see how cold the water was and to get in one more swim before the big race.

That was enough time for me to get to my room and practice my singing for my voice lesson the following Wed. then change and pack my bag and get to Keena's room and car. She has a 4 bike carrier, but we fit 6 people and their bikes in the car, went downtown to meet others, and then drove to Lucky Peaks Reservoir. We weren't actually allowed to swim in the reservoir or see it, really, but we climbed the little incline to get a glimpse before the guard told us to get down. Maybe he thought we were going to pee in it, I don't know. I just know it is under the guard of the Army Corp of engineers and they have made SPECIAL exception for one day only to allow this event. So we swam down at one of the lower swim holes. I only had a wet suit as a top and no pants, so getting into that water, which was colder than 64 degrees, took some getting used to. But I did, and then did a little swim.
After the swim, the group of us, about 12, were to go for a quick 15-20 minute bike ride on part of the course. Knowing I am so much slower than everyone else there, I left before them, anticipating to be overtaken in very few minutes. But as i was riding, i felt so free, and stayed on the path for bike riders longer than I needed to. I rode through sprinklers. A few minutes later, i came to myself and realized that my coach may be wondering where i had gone, so I turned around an headed back to find the group. They took off down the road and not the bike path, so I headed back to the car to wait.

When they returned, the bikes were loaded and we went back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. Keena had planned a dinner with all of her athletes at the Cheesecake Factory. I needed to get new tires and a new tube, so Shane took me and my bike to the shop on the way to dinner.

Dwain called to find out where we were so he and the kids could join us for the meal. It was a really relaxing evening, the sun was out, and we ate on the patio.

Back at the hotel, I was organized into bags (it was a clean transition), and then was ready to hit the sack. Drain, being the exceptional man that he is, took care of the kids. Keena came over at this time to give me tips on when to take in fuel and how much of each kind. I still have a hard time with nutrition.

When she left I jumped into bed, read a few minutes, and was soon sawing logs.

In the morning we met for breakfast and getting a time frame for when we would be leaving and how to get everyone up to the swim venue on time. I am not sure how it worked, but my bike was on one car and I was in the other and we got separated at the drop off. Thankfully, we did find each other and I was able to get my bike up to T1 with about 20 minutes to find my place and figure out where to take my morning clothes bag. I wanted to use the port-o-'s they had available, but the lines for them were astronomically long. There were about 1500 people with the same idea.

We were separated into heats and after the singing of the National Anthem, the pros were in the water and with the cannon shot were off for the 1.2 mile swim. The sun was shining, it had broken through the clouds that had dumped on Boise in the early morning hours, and with the second cannon shot the pro women began their turn. My turn was coming in 15 minutes after 3 more waves were sent off. By this time, the sun was gone and wind had turned up. The starter called us into the water (deep water start) and I quickly headed in to get used to the water because I was swimming without a wet suit on my legs (I think I would change that for next time) only on my torso. I acclimated quickly and went out to the line to find a place where I wouldn't get kicked in the face. Treading water for 5 minutes was a good warm-up. Finally, the starter blows the horn and off we go for our turn at 1.2 miles in the water.

Did I mention that the wind had kicked up earlier? So halfway to the first buoy, the waves slash chop in the water had me dog paddling some of the swim, stopping to spit out the water I was trying to breathe, and basically being a nuisance. When I made it to the first buoy, I turned right into the headwind. It was really tough swimming. By now the good swimmers from the heat behind me had passed me. I could tel by the swim cap colors I saw passing me. It was also at this time I was getting a headache. I was wearing 2 swim caps to help with the cold of the water, but I put my goggles under the second swim cap. I knew what the problem was, just didn't know how to fix it there in the middle of the water. So I did my best into the headwind with the waves and headache to the next buoy where I figured to be able to hold on and switch things. But then when I got there I figured it wasn't too bad and I could make it. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. one buoy to the next. Just keep swimming. the third buoy was the breaking point. My head was too sore to keep going but there was no way to hold on and use 2 hands to fix the problem. So i spotted the next kayak and headed for him. Unfortunately he was halfway to the next buoy, Just keep swimming. Then he thought he was in my way, so he was getting out of my way. LOL! I chased him down and held on with the crook of my arm so I had 2 hands to get my goggles off and put back on on top of the 2 swim caps. I found immediate relief and let go of the kayak and headed to the last buoy that would turn me to the finish line.
Oh, it still was not easy, but it was easier. I kicked and stroked and tried to have the best form I could. halfway to the finish line from the last buoy I really stretched it out and tried to breathe on the other side, and found i couldn't. I would get so dizzy just attempting it, that i thought i was spinning in circles. I really don't know what the problem was but soon found it happening even when looking up to sight boat launch slash finish line. Just keep swimming, try not to get kicked and pushed under by those passing me and Just keep swimming. By God's great mercy I made it to the finish line for the swim and could stand up to walk up to my bike to transition.

I am not sure how it happened, but I did manage to get everything off that needed off and everything on that needed on and then was running with my bike to the bike out where I could get on and and ride down the big hill. That was the BEST part of the whole bike course. It was long and steep and I could make up time and speed. I was going 30+ mph down the hill. Then the hill ended and I had to work from here on out. BUMMER!!! 5 miles into the bike I am on a hill that is 3 miles long and person after person is passing me. I am not fast uphill and I know it. I will have to work on that.
As I am riding along, there are people standing on the roadside cheering! I couldn't believe it. That was a great part of the race. Mile 10 into the ride and the rain starts. Still uphill and with a headwind and now rain. at mile 12 I am fortunate enough to see the pro men pass me heading back into town. I think the timer on the top of the car read 2:45:ish. WOW!! they ROCK!! I had so much longer to go.
Also about this time my GI tract is not playing nice. It wants me to stop and use a potty, but there are NO potties around and the best I can do is push on. Every time the pedal was brought up into my body, I had shooting pains. But I pressed on. Rain, Wind and Hail, can't stop me. Hills, well they can stop me. I pushed on to the Birds nest which was another steep uphill, which I knew about and trained for, but there was rain and wind and hills. And at the top was the Aid station. Hurray.

I grabbed water and gatorade and a banana and FORGOT to use the Potty!! Yes, i am kicking myself for that when I am at the bottom of the hill and know there is nowhere for me to go until I hit the next aid station at least 15 miles and too many hills away. So now the temperature has dropped there is thunder, lightening, and hail and wind and rain and the stabbing pains that I could have done something about, but didn't. And I pressed on, cheering those who were passing me, really wanting them to do well.
The next 5%grade 1.5 mile long hill was a B!#&H!! Then, when I finally did make it to the top, I eventually saw this great hill to ride down, and I was told to slow down because i had a turn in the middle, and it was wet. This was onto 10 mile pasture road that was really pretty and i would have like to ride that any other day. This was the only time it didn't rain. There was a break in the clouds that lasted to corners and until the halfway point of the ride, but I didn't care. I was hurting. I pressed on, but ever so slowly, and made it FINALLY to the 2nd aid station. It was maybe 1 minute before the cutoff time, but I didn't care, I just wanted the potty. It was relief.
When I stepped out I knew I didn't have time or desire to continue to the next transition and the race director pulled me off my bike. Not literally, he just told me I couldn't continue. That was FINE with me at the time.

We drove around for a while looking for other athletes who also didn't make the cutoff or were being tended to medically and drove in to T2 to get the run gear that went unused for the day. I found Drain, and we went to the recovery of the Morning clothes area. That is where we found my Aunt and Uncle who had driven for hours to support me, it was after 8pm at this point. And the rains had pounded downtown consistently and Dwain came without a coat so he was soaked. We decided to go back to the hotel, and call it a day.
Dwain went out to Sallie's house and picked up the kids while I laid down and slept.

The next morning the regrets set in, and i felt like THE biggest quitter. I was the only athlete that Keena trained that didn't make it to the finish. It is hard to think about it even now. I don't like to quit and I really don't like to let people down. I also hate being beaten by the course.

I am still considering triathlon. I hate that I am so terrible at something athletic.

SO that is my experience. I will see and let you know what happens from here.

Grandpa's birthday Dinner.

a view of the river for dinner. nice boat.all the fam

Scott and Adriana

Grandpa and Grandma
Married 67 years
he is 90 years old.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Family Pictures from Washington.

Mt Hood.

My brother from behind, as i stand in the River!

I had to stand in the Columbia River. My feet hurt so bad from the triathlon the previous morning.

The Haberlach cousins and their significant others, if present.
Back Row:Brandon, Ivalle, Scott, Thomas
Front Row: Pearl, Anita, Anna, Adriana, Katya

My Big Brother, cousin Anna, and Ivalle.