Thursday, November 22, 2018

Diary of an Ultraman: Day 22

It's race week.

Time is now slipping by so quickly.  Lists are being made.  Supplies being gathered.  Crew getting organized.  

The bike is tuned, cleaned, inspected and ready to roll.  

My head feels a little more aligned with where I want to be.  

Every time I think about tomorrow (which is about every 15 minutes or so) my chest tightens and I feel like I can't breathe.  And then I take a deep breath, and let it all go.

Day 18 was a rest day.  I drank coffee.  Watched Chris race a swim- run event from the pier while Dan swam the Ironman course.  We went to breakfast and had more coffee.  I watched Ironman Arizona coverage while relaxing all afternoon.  It was the last chill day.  No schedule.  No errands.  No timeline. 

Day 19 we slept in today and got to the pool around 715 am.  Knocked out some tempo 50s at a pace I haven't held in probably 12 weeks followed by intervals on the bike, which also were at a power output that I haven't seen since late September.  Proof that my body is handling taper and getting ready for race weekend.  Afterwards we ate lunch and ran a couple of errands, and then just chilled in front of Monday night football while discussing immunology.  

And then....

The bff arrived!!!!

I'm pretty sure all eyes were on us in the baggage claim area as I nearly tackled H as she came out of the secure area.  All is well now in my world.  We headed back to the house after we collected bags and scrounged for food while enjoying a bottle of chardonnyay (well, mostly she did, I watched).

Day 20.  Crew Captain Chris escorted me on my run this morning.  We had a few pickups just to get the legs moving.  After the run (and some coffee) H and I went to the pool for a little recovery swim.  We met DB at the end of his ride and ordered some smoothies and coffee from Green Flash Coffee while waiting for the back up bike to be inspected at the bike shop next door and then headed home.  We had a couple of hours free before we picked up my parents and went to the meet and greet at Kona Brewery. 

During the social, Josie's plane landed and DB was dispatched to pick her up.  She joined us for another 2 rounds (theirs, not mine) before we called it a night.  On the way home from happy hour(s) we were laughing so hard in the van, I kinda got sad for a moment thinking I was going to miss all the fun that was going to be had in the van that weekend.  But that quickly turned to gratitude.  My crew was having fun and making memories.  This weekend was going to be epic.

Day 21.  This morning we slept in and drove down to the pier for a dip in the ocean.  I had a 35 minute swim so the plan was to just swim 1.2 miles.  At the turnaround spot we got to swim with dolphins.  I took this as a sign that the island was sending me love. 

This afternoon I had a skype session with Jess and we talked mindfulness strategies for the weekend.  How to remain in the moment, how to refocus when the mind wanders from gratitude, and how to execute from a place of calm.  Afterwards the crew and I headed to registration, got checked in, got our race binder, and I had my interview with Steve King.  It was a seamless process and we fully felt the Ohana love all around. 

We went home and Heidi made us an early dinner- kale bowls which were FABULOUS.  My tips for prospective ultraman athletes:  1.  Have a bike mechanic on crew.  2.  Have a professionally trained chef on crew.  We ate to our hearts content and then we went over our race plan.  Outlined nutrition protocol, discussed gear choices, tasks for each crew member, pre and post race plans.  It was a lot of information but everyone needs to be on the same page and have a chance to ask questions.  The most important thing is that everyone is flexible and the plan is fluid.  Things are bound to come up that are not what we planned, and we have to be able to adapt and keep going.  We discussed some of the possible obstacles, but you never know what we will encounter on race day. 

Day 22.  Thanksgiving day.  I started my day with a 30 min jog with DB under a full moon.  The roads were quiet and we just took in the calm.  After the run I hopped on my bike for a 45 min easy spin with Chris as my escort.  We did a little bit of climbing in the beginning just to test out my new compact crank system (oh yeah, they did end up getting the correct one ordered in time for race day, so bonus!!). 

Following the ride, we had some coffee and breakfast #1 before we went to the Ultraman brunch (breakfast #2) at the King K Hotel.  Brunch was followed by the athlete meeting where they went over each day's course and the rules of the race.  We took a couple of pics and were sent on our way.

We came home and got straight to work.  Josie and H started meal prep.  Chris started prepping the van and the bikes.  DB and I started packing my transition bag for day 1, and all my extra gear for both bike days.  We also laid out all my swim gear, and filled the bottles that will either need to go onto the kayak or onto my bike at the start of the ride.  Hillary called and we went over race strategy and I could feel how much she loves this event.  She will be with us in spirit this weekend as we travel over this hallowed ground. 

Now?  Now we relax.  We have 14 hours before the start.  14 hours.  That's over 50,000 moments before I dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean and start my journey.  I can't believe how quickly it has come.  I dreamed of this day for the last 18 months, or 5 years, depending on when you start counting.  I feel so incredibly lucky to be able to do what I love more than anything, surrounded by people who love me, for the next few days.  In the last few years I've said "yes" to more and more dreams and opportunities.  Life is so short.  SAY YES TO YOUR DREAMS.

THANK YOU to everyone who has reached out and shared words of encouragement.  Thank you to everyone near and far who has cheered on social media.  I haven't had a lot of time to be on Facebook or IG, so I apologize if I haven't responded personally-- but I am getting the messages and they mean so much!!  Thank you to my "mainland Ohana"-- my friends and family at home who have been with me on this journey from the start.  They've trained with me.  They've laughed and cried with me.  They've been my support system over the last year of this journey.

Thank you to Sheryl, David and Jane for giving me this opportunity and for creating a course that showcases the beauty of the island.  Thank you for the enormous amount of work that went into changing the course when the volcano erupted earlier this year.  I feel lucky to be in the group of athletes that gets to experience Ultraman World Championships on this new course.   

Thank you to my coach, Hillary, without whom I would probably have never even attempted this crazy distance.  Her passion for the sport is contagious, and her love for the island is palpable.  I know without a doubt I am ready to take on this adventure. 

Thank you to my family, who when they heard I was invited to race Ultraman, decided it would be the perfect time for a family vacation to Hawaii, and they booked a trip.  They will be at the start and finish lines each day and with me in spirit over the entire journey. 

And most of all, thank you to my amazing crew.  I hope I take time to tell you every single day how much I appreciate you.  You have given up vacation time at work, given up time with family over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and given of your energy to be here and support me in this journey.  Dan, Heidi, Chris, and Josie-- you are my chosen Ohana, and I love you all.  I could not do this without you guys.  I am forever grateful.

I'm signing off now and as much as I'd like to say I'll be back on Monday with updates-- I can't make any guarantees.  When I have recovered and processed and digested everything that happens I will have a story to tell.  Until then...

Aloha.

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