Interview with Jennifer Wentzel: Prospective IM Athlete

Triathlon is a selfish sport.  Though relays exist, a majority of competitors race individually.  Against the clock, against their own best self, and against everyone else in the field.  As the sport grows in popularity, the level of narcissism increases.  Watching someone new to the sport tackle their first big race, or reach a new goal in training reminds me of how great the sport can be.  The innocence and joy they experience is infectious and keeps me motivated and inspired.

One such person is my Team HPB teammate, Jennifer Wentzel.  (Team HPB is the team of athletes coached by Coach Hillary Biscay and Coach Alyssa Godesky).  Jen is by no means new to endurance sports.  She actually thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail a couple of years ago (more on this later...).  But she is new to Ironman, and she will be tackling her first iron-distance triathlon this November at Ironman Arizona.

I got to know Jen over the last year just chatting over our team page.  Hiking the AT is on my bucket list and I was so intrigued by how someone my age made this incredible journey happen.  We have a lot in common.  She is an animal lover.  Her dog Georgy (aka: Bear) hiked the AT with her.  She works the night shift as a trauma-ICU nurse.  She is hard working, and maintains her night-shift schedule even on her off days which means that much of her training is done solo, and sometimes in the middle of the night.

When I finally met Jen in March at our team camp I discovered that she is also opposite of me in many regards.  She is soft spoken and laid back to my more boisterous, demanding nature.  She is fun, and quick to smile.  She never backed down from a challenge or looked in the least bit flustered (unlike myself who cried 3 times in the first hard workout...).

Last fall, I encouraged Jen to sign up for Ironman Arizona- she was ready to take on the next challenge and was deciding on a race.  It is a great course for a first time and selfishly, I'd get to watch her cross the finish line and vicariously live that moment again through her eyes.  Jen chose to sign up with the Ironman Foundation fundraising team which gives back to several charities within the community of each race.  (For example, Ironman Arizona will give to local animal shelters and youth athletic organizations in the Phoenix area.)  She wanted her experience with Ironman to be about more than just herself (this is sooo Jen).

I have fundraised on multiple occasions, once for the Alzheimer's Association (my grandfather was afflicted with this horrible disease) when I ran the Chicago Marathon and again for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.  Fundraising is a humbling experience.  It can be very intimidating, or embarrassing even, to ask people for money.  But I have been blown away by the generosity of friends and strangers alike when I have asked for donations.  People want to give.  We have the resources and often when we feel a connection to the person asking, or the cause itself, we don't hesitate to open our wallets.  This is how it is for me when I have people asking for support, and when I got to know Jen, I felt compelled and wanted to help.  I asked Jen if I could interview her and help get the word out about what she is doing and see if I can help her rake in the last few dollars that she needs to reach her goal. 

Me:  Tell me about yourself.  What's your background... sports history... how did you get involved in endurance sports? 

 Jen:  I'm originally from New Jersey and I grew up with 3 much older brothers in a sporty household. I played soccer and baseball from a very young age and added sports like field hockey and basketball as I got older.  I played field hockey through college and when I graduated I continued to run for enjoyment and to keep in shape.  I have never been a big racer- maybe a single race or max two a year.  My running was always just a solo adventure for myself- exploring neighborhoods and local trails.  

It wasn't until I met my friend Emily, who would later become my Appalachian Trail partner, that I discovered long distance trail running and triathlon.  We met at University of Virginia Medical Center as nurses and immediately realized we were simpatico.  We began running trails together and making up crazy workouts to challenge each other.  She had built a bike from a beautiful De Rosa steel frame that was too small for her, so she gave it to me so that she would have a partner to ride with.  Soon after that she convinced me to sign up for my first tri- the Patriot's Sprint Triathlon in Williamsburg, VA.  I ended up racing that and an olympic the year after before getting sucked into the ultra running trail scene for a few years.  

M:  How did you get started in triathlon?  When/ why did you decide to join Team HPB?   Why do you want to do an Ironman?  

J:  After my brief stint (my one sprint and one olympic tri in 2009-2010) I spent some time away from triathlon doing long distance trail running and then preparing for and thru hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2012-2013.  When I finished the trail I moved to California and realized I had landed in the perfect location to return to triathlon.  The weather is beautiful all year round, I had a great pool nearby and plenty of bike friendly roads to train on.  

I was working with my old coach who trained Emily and I for the AT for about 5 months getting ready for my first 70.3.  During that time I rediscovered Hillary's blog and became totally obsessed with it.  I went back and read every single entry from 2006 on and was so inspired by her journey and diligence.  She just has this amazing energy that even translates through writing.  I wrote her my first ever fan letter (not kidding) and she wrote back!  We emailed back and forth and she was willing to take a chance on a newbie and help me reach my goals and beyond.  

Jen with Coach Hillary and the team at Tri-Camp after tackling Mt. Lemmon.

Last year we really focused on getting through the 70.3 distance and by the end of the year I was so inspired by my teammates just crushing it that I knew I had to go for the full 140.6.  I never want to stop pushing myself and a full Ironman definitely seems like a good way to push my limits! 

I first heard about Ironman racing as a teenager and it sounded like a completely ridiculous, unattainable feat.  In my mind I somehow equated it to going to the Olympics in a sport.  It wasn't until I did my first marathon in my 20s that I even really thought about it again, though to be honest it still sounded completely unattainable.  It wasn't until a friend of mine signed up and raced Ironman Couer d'Alene in 2011 that I knew a real person who had completed the race.  I followed along with her training like a complete stalker, gleaning knowledge from everything she did.  During her race I was working at the hospital but had the Ironman tracker up at work the entire time. I got the whole nursing staff to cheer along with me, ecstatic when she made her goal of going sub-14 hours.  At this point I had done only one sprint and one olympic, but it was the first moment that I thought "Ok, this might actually be a possibility."  It would be another 2.5 years before I was able to get back to training for tri's, but from that moment in 2011 it was on my bucket list and it never left the back of my mind. 

M:  How is training going?  What do you like best/ least?  Is there anything about IM training/ lifestyle that surprises you?  

J:  Training is going well overall.  I definitely have exercise ADD and have always made sure to mix things up as much as possible while still pushing towards specific goals.  Triathlon has fit so perfectly with that mentality.  With three different sports and the variety of challenges Hillary gives me I am never bored. 

I love having breakthroughs come out of no where after having struggled through a workout a few sessions in a row- it shows all my efforts are really working even if it takes time to see results.  I think the thing I like least is having to juggle priorities at times.  I am so in awe of the people who do every single workout on their plan day in and day out, but I am not that person.  News flash: I miss workouts.  Not a lot, but it happens.  I try not to berate myself too much and just move on, but sometimes family or work comes first and I just try to focus on the next workout and keep my spirits up.  Brett Sutton wrote this great blog about age-groupers being incredibly hard on themselves that really helped me refocus and change my thinking a little bit.  But I have still done a 4am "make-up" workout :) 

M:  What is Team IMF?  Why did you enroll in this program?  

J:  TEAM IMF is The IRONMAN Foundation’s fundraising triathlon team. Basically triathletes sign up for a specific race and then commit to fundraising $3000 for The IRONMAN Foundation's Community Fund.  The Fund gives money to local nonprofits in the community the race is held.  This has been a totally new experience for me, having never fundraised before, but I loved the idea of giving back to the community and getting a chance to race IM Arizona in the process! 

Showing off the Team IMF kit!  IMAZ here she comes!

M:  So my favorite tidbit about you is that you thru-hiked the AT.  This is on my bucket list and am completely in awe of your accomplishment.  What made you want to attempt this?  Why do you think you were successful in completing the trail?  Are there any lessons that you took from that experience into your life, and how does that influence how you approach IM training?  

J:  When I met my trail partner in 2009 we immediately realized we had a similar background prior to nursing.  I had been a backpacking guide for 5 years and she had been a rock climbing guide and backpacking/glacier crossing guide in Alaska.  We had extensive outdoor resumes and we often talked about her lifelong dream to hike the Appalachian Trail and mine to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.  After a few years of bringing it up regularlyl we both hit a point in or lives and careers that we realized "Wow, we could really do this!"  

We started planning while she was living in Germany and then we both moved to Tucson to live and train together for about 4 months before we hit the trail.  We did a ton of long hikes and trail runs,  planned by our coach Wendy Mader, along with a lot of strength work to get ready to climb all those mountains. I think our having a lot of experience on extended expeditions really helped us mentally because we knew what we were getting ourselves into.  

Physically we were able to prepare ourselves to immediately start knocking out 20+ mile days starting day 1, which was huge.  When setbacks came (and many did!)  we were able to stick together as a team and move forward.  I know a lot of people hike the trail alone which is awesome, but the bond we shared and the way we pushed each other through those 6 months was incredibly important to my hike.  Plus having my dog there kept morale super high because he is adorable and always ready to either defend us or smother us with kisses!

As far as lessons I took from the experience...I think enduring even when things are not going at all like I planned was really crucial.  It also really renewed my faith in humanity.  There is a saying "the trail provides", but it is because of the amazing people who support the trail and those who hike it.  We had endless trail magic, from free rides to the hospital and vet to snacks appearing on the trail just when we were out of food (this happened multiple times!).  As a trauma nurse I see the bad side of people more than I would like, so seeing such generosity and kindness was so uplifting.   

Jen on the AT.

M:  As trauma/ ICU nurse, how do you balance work, training, life?  Does training positively or negatively impact your work in any way?  

J:   I am a ICU nurse, specializing in Surgical-Trauma ICU.  I work night shift (7pm-7am), which brings it's own unique challenges to training.  Day to day it actually works really well for my training because getting up at 3pm feels a lot easier than getting up at 3am would to get my training in!  It also matches my natural schedule, which is a night owl.  The problem comes with racing because I have to switch my schedule around a be ready to go at 7am (when I'm usually going to bed!)  I am learning how to balance it, but it is tough on my body to switch back and forth.  

I think training mainly positively impacts my work.  After I workout I feel healthy, strong and clear-minded.  I feel like I am practicing what I preach as well- if I wasn't working out and eating healthy it is hard to tell other people to do so!  

I have had to find a balance with my work day workouts though- I noticed if I do over 2 hours of training before work I hit a tipping point in which I don't get enough sleep and I'm overtired at work.  When you are titrating life-sustaining drips, monitoring very sick patients and making critical decisions it is important to be awake and alert!  Hillary has done a great job balancing that for me and keeping track of my schedule so I can crush myself in training when I have a few days off and do more recovery or intervals when I am on a long stretch of work.  

Gettin' it done on the trainer.

M:  How is fundraising going?    

J:  Fundraising is tough!  I am terrible at asking people for money and hate badgering which makes me ill suited for this!  However, what TeamIMF is doing by giving back to these communities that host these huge events is amazing.  When I read through all the different charities they contribute I knew I wanted to be a part of it.  I am a big animal lover and they give to local shelters and rescues.  A big chunk of the fundraising also goes to youth athletic organizations which I think is an awesome way to give back and encourage kids to be active and even get involved with triathlon themselves!

M:  With 6 months to go, are you feeling prepared?  Do you have specific goals for race day?  

J:  Right now I am focused on a 70.3 I have coming up next month- Challenge Williamsburg.  I have two main goals this year- a specific time goal for the 70.3 distance and to finish IMAZ, hopefully under 13 hours.  I feel like I have a lot of endurance work to get up to the distances required of the full.  Most of my current work revolves around the half distance and getting speedy at that level so it will be a shift to try to do it all for twice as long!

First ever podium finish!  Great start to the 2015 season for Jen!

M:  Is this experience different from what you expected?  If so, how?

J:  Yes.  It is harder!!!  No specific workout is harder than I dreamed, but the culmination of so much work so consistently over time.  Before this past year and a half I worked out, but nothing near this extent.  If I was really tired I would take a day off, or maybe run 30 minutes and was good.   No longer!  It has been a big mental change to learn how to keep motivated and keep pushing as the days, weeks, months go by.  Luckily, having such an inspiring team and coach helps me a TON with that.  Also, seeing results and watching my times drop and my strength increase really helps drive me forward.  I even have my goal 70.3 times written on my bathroom mirror to remind me of what I am working for every day! 

M:  Do you have any mantras that get you through difficult sessions?  

J:  YES!  Oh my, I have so much positive self talk to get me through sessions.  When I have to do my swim TT I literally stand at the end of the pool staring down the lane for 30 seconds and pump myself up.  Sometimes there is singing involved (especially if the pool is empty!) and mostly I just tell myself it is going to hurt but the effort is what will make me faster and stronger down the line.  The pain is temporary!  When I was hiking and when I'm running I sometimes say "Strength, Endurance, Power" over and over again and I feel like I can kick any trail/ run's butt!

Jen with Bear.  

M:  Someone once told me in regards to the marathon, you're either one and done or you're hooked for life.  I have found the same to be true of Ironman racing.  Which category do you think you will fall into?  and why?

J:  This is a tough one, having never raced an Ironman yet, but I can definitely say that I am hooked to triathlon for life now.  The tri community is full of crazy, hilarious, endurance people who tend to be a bit obsessive about things and I LOVE it.  I tend to go all in to things I'm super passionate about and having finally found a sport that fits my exercise ADD, my love of travel, and my lifestyle.  I am hooked.  So far I love going balls to the wall during olympic distances and testing my endurance with the 70.3s, so I can't wait to see what the full distance is like!

M:  I entered the sport of triathlon with my (now) husband.  We made a bunch of friends who were also racing IM.  After a few years, everyone moved on to different endeavors and we noticed that we were the only ones still racing.  We miss them so much!  Joining Team HPB has been a huge boost to me because I feel like I have a family, a support network of like-minded athletes who cheer me on, make me laugh, and share the pain of training and racing, goals accomplished and missed.  What has been your experience with Team HPB and how do you feel your experience would be different if you were training under your own plan?  

J:  OMG TeamHPB has been AMAZING!!   As someone who trains almost exclusively on my own, I can not say enough how important the support I have gotten from the team has been.  I don't have any local tri friends and though my boyfriend is an incredible race sherpa, he is not interested in triathlon for himself.  So getting those nightly cheers from Hillary after she reads my workoutlog and hearing the ups and downs of my teammates training and racing is so motivating for me.  When I am really struggling through a workout or even contemplating not doing one I swear I have a little voice in the back of my head that says "Well Hillary would just get it done" or "Mary would crush this workout or die trying".  I'm not above using some peer pressure to get it done :)  Though I have to admit meeting all you Team HPB rockstars at camp in March was a little intimidating as a tri newbie, but on the whole it just makes me want to train so much harder so I have a better chance of keeping up next time!

M:  What's your favorite food?  

J:  Pizza!!!  Thin crust, thick crust, doesn't matter.  If you throw in breadsticks I'm over the moon!  (Girl after my own heart!!!)

Thank you for reading and getting to know Jen.  She has been an inspiration to me, knowing how dedicated and hard-working she is.  I am so excited for November to hang out with her again and watch her tackle IMAZ!  I need 100 people to click HERE and donate $15.  That's it!  If you feel inspired to give more please do so, every dollar helps!!  The donation is entirely tax-deductible and you'll be helping to support non-profits within MY community here in Phoenix.  THANK YOU for your generosity!!  I'll share updates from Jen along the way and I encourage you to check out her personal blog.  Aside from the AT, she has done several other incredible hikes!

Stripped: Ultraman Canada

July 10.  10:13 pm.
The message from my teammate read:  Team HPBers!  My run pacer for Ultraman just bailed on me.  Anyone want to go to Penticton July 31-Aug 6- all expenses paid?  Let me know if you are interested and I can provide more details.  Would need someone to run with me 2-3 miles, every other 2-3 miles, after mile 20.

July 11.  4:09 am.
I saw the message on the team page.  I sent a quick response:  Let me check my schedule.  This would be awesome.  Not getting my hopes up... but I'll let you know in a couple of hours.

July 11.  7:59 am.
I arrived at work.  My calendar was completely clear.  I had enough PTO to take the two days I needed to make this happen.  The other 5 days were my normal days off during this block.

I texted HPB:  I can get the time off for Ultraman Canada to help Barry.  I would love to go but I'm guessing it's really bad timing for Wisconsin training.  Tell me I have to stay home...

July 11.  8:14 am.
I received a response from HPB:  Haaa!  Honestly you can totally do it.  You have so much work in the bank already that we can afford to do this.  No pressure but if you want to!  ...

She continued:
You would be perfect for it because you can be a hard ass and plus you are a cute girl so he won't be able to wimp out in front of you- all key...  

Blame it on me...  I'm putting it on your training plan. 

By 4:30 that afternoon, the announcement had been made, I was officially crewing and pacing for Ultraman Canada... something I had been secretly dreaming about since Barry first told me about it at our team camp in February.  As an ultrarunner, I have been crew/ pacer for several friends tackling the 100 mile distance.  I know from experience that there is no better way to gain experience than by crewing.  Ultraman is something that I aspire to do one day and this was my chance to go backstage and see how it really plays out.  I didn't know it then, but I was in for the ride of a lifetime.

********************************

July 31.  4:20 pm.
After a long flight, and what seemed like forever in the car from the Kelowna airport in British Columbia, I arrived at the Days Inn Penticton hotel and conference center.  The crew meeting was already underway so I found an empty seat near the back until there was a break and I could join my team at their table.  I was so excited to be there!

The race director covered the bike and run course in detail.  Instructing crews on the rules and pointing out specific road hazards that might be encountered.  I had read every ounce of material on the website so there was nothing unfamiliar to me.  As I looked around the room, I saw 29 athletes surrounded by family and friends.  Already, this felt nothing like Ironman.  The air was electric with energy, but not ego.  

After the meeting ended, I had time to squeeze in a quick shake-out run before the team picked me up for dinner.  I got to meet our team captain, Rich Sawiris of Wheelbuilder.com fame.  Richie, as he is affectionately known, was the brains of the operation.  He had a spreadsheet outline to keep track of calorie and fluid intake, time and mileage at each checkpoint, as well as predicted and actual calorie (kJ) expenditure based on Barry's power meter.  It was insane to see how close Richie's predictions were to the actual numbers... literally within 20 calories throughout the entire 12 hour stage.  I recognized immediately that Barry was in good hands and began plotting ways to convince Richie that one day he should crew for me at Ultraman.

The final member of our crew was Barry's wife, Johnna, otherwise known as Trophy Wife.  Johnna has enough energy for 10 people.  Johnna and I had hung out and biked together at our team camp in February and I was excited to spend more time with her.  About 2 months before Ultraman she underwent open heart surgery to replace a valve that had been abnormal since birth, but only recently had begun to cause problems.  She said there was never a question as to whether or not they would still go to Ultraman.  As long as she was cleared to travel (which she was) she was ALL IN in support of her husband.  Johnna is pretty bad-ass in her own right, as an athlete and an attorney, but crewing together at Ultraman I was exposed to her nurturing side as she endlessly tried to anticipate Barry's every want and need.  She did an awesome job helping minimize his energy output whenever she could.  

Over dinner we talked and laughed... a LOT.  Aside from being a technical genius, Richie is also very entertaining.  There was never a moment in his presence that I wasn't laughing.  Together the team reviewed the game plan, but also recognized that day 1 would be a lot of trial and error and we would make adjustments along the way.

I sat down with Barry the night before Ultraman to ask him a few questions.  I was scrambling to take notes as he was talking so these are not exact quotes, but I tried to convey responses as closely to his answers as possible.

Barry, when did you decide you wanted to do Ultraman?
I scoped out the race a couple of years ago but wasn't prepared physically.  I started working with (coach) Hillary (Biscay) 2 years ago, and my training level began to increase.  One cocktail too many in November and I submitted my application.

What was Hillary's response? 
I didn't tell her right away as she was getting ready for the Ultraman Hawaii Championships.  I waited a couple of weeks and then told her.  She was psyched.  She's always looking for an excuse to turn up the volume and intensity.

How did your training change after your application was accepted?
It didn't really change until after Oceanside 70.3 (at the end of March).  I signed up for a 200 mile bike ride (double century) in February, and we had the 5 day training camp which was a lot of volume.  After Oceanside I had two-a-day workouts almost every day.  I couldn't come home from work and chill, rest up for the next day.  I was always doing another workout after work.  I had a lot of 10k swims, about one a week.  Lots of band-only (swimming freestyle with a band holding ones ankles together) work in the pool and lots of PBB (pull sets with paddles, buoy and band).  The good part of training in May and June was that I couldn't eat enough.  I was burning so many calories with training I could eat whatever I wanted.

Did you have any tune-up races between Oceanside and Ultraman Canada?
I raced the Whoos in El Moro 50k which had about 6500 feet of climbing.  It was hot.  I ran at a "run all day" pace so I felt good, except for the last 3 miles which were all downhill.  Every rock hurt.  (Note: he finished in a respectable 6:24:16).

And I raced Ironman Coeur d'Alene in June.  I was instructed to swim all out, and ride my hardest IM bike leg ever.  I came off the bike in 8th place in my age group, and I'm never in the top 30.  Then I had to run the marathon at my "run all day" pace.  It was the best I've ever felt after an Ironman.  Except that I got food poisoning 24 hours later after eating a half price yogurt parfait.  (Note to self:  do not buy discounted perishables...)

How did you manage training and recovery? 
The hardest part was managing my work schedule and training schedule.  I found myself a lot sleepier June and July.  Prior to Oceanside I was training 15-16 hours per week, with a typical month being 60-65 hours of training.  In my buildup for Ultraman I was averaging 25 hours a week.  In June I hit 102 hours of training.  July felt like a taper though I had a couple of long weekends.

The key thing with volume is recovery.  I was able to stay healthy through training.  I used the recovery pants about four times per week, got a deep tissue massage every couple of weeks, and tried to go to bed early.  And Hillary is really smart about scheduling the volume.  It made it really bearable because there were not a lot of days when my legs were so trashed.  I never felt like I couldn't get up and do the workout.

Now that Ultraman is here, what are you most excited, and most nervous about?
I am most excited to just get going.  I am most nervous about the length of day two... and what happens past mile 30 of the run.

****************

August 2.  6:00 am.  Stage 1:  10 kilometer swim (6.2 miles) and 90 mile bike.  12 hour time limit.

We were bursting with restless energy waiting for stage 1 to begin.  The swim is point to point in Skaha lake, and on race morning the surface was like glass.  Each athlete was assigned to a paddler to lead them in a kayak for safety reasons (the lake is open to boats).  The kayak would also carry any food/ fluids that the athlete might need during the swim stage.  Barry got really lucky being paired with Wayne, a very experienced kayaker who led the way to his stage victory beautifully.  

Me, Richie, Barry and Johnna.  Our T-shirts read:  You cannot be serious.  :)

Barry comes from a swimming background, and secretly we were hoping to match the swim course record.  He came close with the second fastest time in race history of 2:31:23, and about 27 minutes ahead of the next athlete.  As crew, we had a lot of fun watching the final 2 kilometers of his swim.  We were perched on a dock overlooking the water, and we could just barely make out his kayak in the distance.  When Barry made the final turn to cross the lake, there was not another swimmer in sight.  We were screaming our heads off as he swam the final meters to the swim exit and ran him through transition in 3 minutes 42 seconds.  He was quickly onto the bike course and packed up our stuff and headed to the car to follow.

Swim exit.  Photo credit:  Rick Kent, official ultraman photographer.

The second half of stage one our time was spent leap-frogging Barry on his bike.  Richie had scouted out the course in the days before the race, and had planned where the best feeding spots would be.  We tried to find a good incline to hand off food/ water as we knew Barry's pace would be slowed some, and it would be easier to run alongside his bike to replace bottles and hand off food.  We kept track of how much he was eating and drinking and whenever necessary we would shout at him to "DRINK!"  Barry is pretty quiet, but eventually he began to tell us what he wanted (coke, ice, etc) which reduced the guessing game we had been playing most of the day.

Little mountain shower keeping the athletes cool.

Being first out of the water, he was a hunted man on the bike portion of day 1.  He was passed about half way through by the eventual winner of Ultraman, and we never saw another athlete until we were down to the final 20 miles.  At that point we knew he had a solid lead and would hold onto 2nd place at the end of the stage.

Day 1 Bike Finish.  Photo credit:  Rick Kent

Day 1:  Swim 2:31:23 + Bike 5:10:41 = 7:42:04, 2nd place overall.

August 3.  7:00 am.  Stage 2:  171 mile bike.  12 hour time limit.

Recovery from stage 1 was a little bit hectic.  We wanted to make sure Barry was off his feet, eating and drinking and heading to bed early.  Johnna and I did were able to get out for a bite to eat which was the first real food we'd had all day.  We made plans for the following morning and had everything lined up for the final day as well since we'd be spending the night in Princeton after stage 2.

Day 2 we were a little more prepared for when we needed to stop and how often, though adjustments were still made on the fly.  After leaving the start area, we made a quick stop in town and then headed out to start leap-frogging.  When we passed Barry we took note of where he was on the course relative to the other athletes.  We pulled over in one of the first small towns the course travels through and waited for Barry to come by.  When we noticed several athletes who had been behind Barry come through we knew there was a problem.  We whipped the car around and a mile or so back he was on the side of the road getting ready to change a flat.  Richie jumped out of the car with a spare wheel, swapped wheels lightening fast, and had Barry back on the road in no time.  He lost less than 2 minutes with that flat.  Unfortunately it was his second one of the morning and he felt pressure to catch back up with the lead group.

Stage 2 Bike.  Photo credit:  Rick Kent

By half way through the 171 mile course, we had the logistics down pretty well and Barry had caught back up with the main pack.  We were stopping much more frequently on stage 2 because the road conditions were worse and we didn't want to chance another flat or mechanical issue.  Plus it was getting really warm as the day wore on and we kept him cooled down with ice and water.  We kept a very close eye on him.   Each time we stopped we also got to cheer for the two or three athletes in front and behind him on the road.  It was fun to interact with the other crews and support each other in this venture.  Nothing like 171 miles to make you feel bonded!

Stage 2 Finish.  Photo credit:  Rick Kent

At the end of stage 2, Barry's stomach was not feeling great.  He did a great job of refueling that evening, and tried to take in as much fluids as possible, but after 2 straight days of endurance racing, we were in a big deficit.  Each day he weighed in before and after the stage.  And after both stage 1 and 2, he had lost over 7 pounds of body weight in fluids.  To say he was dehydrated would be an understatement.  I was frantically texting Hillary for suggestions knowing that everything was going to play out on stage 3 and he needed to be in the best possible shape at the start of the day.  

Day 2:   Bike 9:35:32 + Day 1 = 17:17:36, 4th place overall.

August 4.  6:45 am.  Stage 3:  52.4 mile run (or 53 miles as it were...).  12 hour time limit.

The final day.  Gathering around the start line I couldn't help but feel a little anxious.  It's now or never.  The last stage.  It's make or break time.  I was hoping with everything in me that the day would go smoothly, that Barry would have the race that he dreamed of having.  I had the same feeling of melancholy that I get when I am about to start the Tahoe Rim Trail... all that work and it's going to be over in under 12 hours.  You want the pain to end, but the experience to last forever.

Stage 3 Start.  Photo credit:  Rick Kent

Everyone was ready, and the director started the athletes off a few minutes early.  There was no sprinting off the start line, just the steady beat of footsteps heading into the morning.  It took a lot longer for separation among the pack to occur than during the bike ride on stage 2.  This contributed to a bit of congestion along the course as all the cars were in leap-frog mode from mile 1.  We elected to stop on the half mile (1.5/ 2.5/ etc...) to avoid some of the traffic.

Each time we stopped, Johnna and Richie tried to get me to stay in the car.  Get off your feet... you have to run later!  But I had too much nervous energy and simply could NOT stay in the car.  Every mile we handed him Gatorade or water, and every 30 minutes we offered him some calories.  He looked super strong and his pace, though a little slower than he had hoped, was steady and consistent.

Stage 3 Run.  Photo credit:  Rick Kent

Several runners had pacers with them from the start.  Each time they ran by they were chatting and smiling and making it look so easy.  At one point near the half marathon mark I told Barry if he needed any help with the hills to let me know.  But he was still charging along and didn't ask for help until mile 19.5.  We were standing by ready to hand off drinks and he asked if I wanted "the 32 mile option, the 30 mile option, or the 26 mile option."  It was run time!!  I hopped back in the car, layered some more sunscreen on, and at the next exchange at mile 20.5 I jumped in for pacing duties.

Time on the run course went by a lot slower than time in the support car.  Instead of constantly having my mind occupied with what we needed for food/ drink and where the best place to stop was, I had only one focus:  to keep Barry making forward progress.  (And to not annoy him in the process.)  As a pacer, I take on new identities depending on who my athlete is and what they need at the time.  I've been fun run pacer, I've been hard-ass-meanie run pacer, and I've been let's-not-get-lost-in-the-woods-cause-you're-delirious run pacer.

Stage 3 Run.  Photo credit:  Rick Kent

Running along with Barry, I maintained the attitude of "everything us cool, everything is fun", borrowing a quote we overused at team camp.  When everything started to fall apart a few short miles into my pacing duties, I tried my best to pretend like this was normal and to be expected.  At mile 25 Barry took a gel.  An instant later he was vomiting on the side of the road.  Vomiting a LOT.  I put my hand on his back in a gesture of support and glanced back toward the car as Johnna retreated with a look of shock on her face.  It was really difficult for her to watch him suffer, though before the end of the day this episode would look like nothing.

When he stood back up, I put on my best poker face and announced that it was time to get moving again.  I also reassured him that now we had a clean slate.  The stomach was empty and we could start over.  Over the next few miles, Barry continued to feel like crap.  Finally, I made the call to have him walk at an easy pace for 10 minutes and drink about 8 oz of chicken broth.  He was so dehydrated, and I thought maybe getting some salt in would settle his stomach and allow him to start absorbing things again.  My suggestion was based on experience in endurance racing, not just something that I pulled out of my ass.  It was a gamble whether it would work for Barry or not, but at the time I thought it was worth a shot.  The effect seemed positive and we had a solid 10 miles in the middle where everything went smoothly and he was able to run steady again.

Richie ready to drape the towel on Barry for cooling.

There was a final 10 kilometer climb before reaching the summit and subsequent 8 mile descent into the finish.  During the climb, Richie offered to jump in and pace while I ate a sandwich in the car.  I figured on the climb they would be doing more walking than running, but Barry must have felt good or didn't want to be outdone by a non-runner because he ran quite a bit of that stretch.  Richie and Johnna continued to provide fluids and cold towels every mile.  Barry was wearing a Mission cooling towel and arm cooling sleeves which when kept wet help manage core body temperature.  I was using standard issue hotel towel soaked in ice water.  I wore it for 30-60 seconds on average during beverage exchange and after I handed it back I could still feel the cold on my arms and shoulders for several minutes.

Stage 3 Run.  Photo credit:  Rick Kent

Eventually his stomach woes returned and the vomiting along with it.  By the second, third and 4th episodes his whole body shook as he expelled the unabsorbed fluids and he was left weakened and further dehydrated.  I held onto his hips for support as he leaned over the edge of the road puking, afraid he would fall headfirst down the cliff.  I kept telling him we had plenty of time to get to the finish before the cutoff.  At one point I gave him a predicted finish time if we maintained 15 minutes per mile (which was well over the pace he had been running).  I was happy to see that he was still in the game mentally when he corrected my math... reminding me that it was 52.4 miles, not 50.  (Note to self:  Don't play the numbers game with a CFO... he's better at numbers than you are.)  After each episode of vomiting, I tried to push fluids again knowing that he still had too far to go to NOT try.  Even if he only absorbed a little bit, it might be just enough to get us to the finish line.  I'm sure he was cursing me in his head as nothing sounded palatable this late in the game.

I didn't really start worrying about Barry's physical state until we got down to the last 5 miles.  Now when the urge to vomit came over him, nothing came up.  There were no fluids left in his system and the dry heaves seemed to take more out of him than vomiting.  With 4 miles left, he was too depleted to run so we walked.  Richie jumped out of the car to encourage him, and forever the comedian, ran by us wearing a pair of my runderpants with "Get Used to the View" across the rear.  I had packed them thinking that if Barry needed a little motivation, it might be enough to get him moving.  I imagined them on my own ass, not necessarily on that of Richie though we all got a good laugh and Barry claimed that this was something he couldn't unsee and made Richie get dressed before it made him sick again.  In Richie's defense, he could totally pull off the runderpants look.  I think if he were a triathlete, he could rock a speedo.

When we got to the final mile, and Barry's garmin told him he should already be done he wanted to stop moving.  He says he was joking when he asked to sit down, but there was some truth in the plea.  I kept encouraging him to keep moving, wanting him to get across that line and be done with the suffering.  We could hear Steve King announcing at the finish line for almost a mile.  Finally... finally, we rounded the corner into the parking lot and could SEE the finish banner.  I told Barry this was his moment.  As he ran the final couple of tenths into the finish chute, I dashed through the crowds of spectators to meet him on the other side and give him a big hug of congratulations.  He did it!!

As much as he wanted to go sit down, I made the crew gather for our finish line photo and I'm glad we did because it wasn't long and the finish chute turned into a real mess.  And by the time Barry recovered enough to move again, the finish banner and all evidence that anything had taken place was torn down.

Ultraman Finish!  Crew:  Richie, me, Johnna, and Wayne.   Photo credit:  Rick Kent

Day 3:  Run 11:29:41 + Day 1 + Day 2 = 28:47:17, 10th place overall.

We helped Barry over to the massage table.  I hopped into the ice bath and enjoyed some pizza and a beer while he was getting worked on.  Unfortunately his stomach didn't calm down in the hour after he finished and when he was done with his massage and lying on a towel on the ground we were looking at a very long night, possibly in the ER.  Richie and Johnna tracked down the medical personnel and explained that he had been vomiting for over 6 hours and not able to keep anything down.  They hooked him up with a liter of fluids, and a bit of dextrose to buy him some time until he could eat again.  With some fluids on board, we got him into the car, stopped for Gravol (potent ginger root) at the pharmacy and stocked up on Sprite which was the only thing he consumed for the next 16 hours.  By morning things seemed better and we enjoyed a late breakfast.

Nurse Johnna attending to the patient. 

    
Over the course of three days Ultraman strips you of everything not vital to survival.  You check your ego at the door prior to race day when you meet the athletes and crews that are joining you in this venture.  It is humbling to learn everyone's backgrounds and stories, and to see the amount of support surrounding each athlete.  There is a lot of love in a room filled with family and friends.  You learn to rely on others for support and help.  As someone who does everything herself, and has a hard time asking for help, I imagine this will be a huge learning experience for me one day.  It's tough to be vulnerable and rely on others for needs so basic as food and water.  Many athletes struggled at one point or another.  Whether it was getting though a nearly 6 hour swim, or dealing with heat and long miles on the bike.  Or gutting out a double marathon when you're puking your insides out.  When all you can do is put one foot in front of the other, minute by minute, you need to hear it's going to be OK and we'll get there.  It's comforting to know that your family is there, no matter what, and they've got your back.  They will make you laugh.  They will share your tears and pain.  And they will cheer the loudest when you finally make it across that line, whether it's under the time cutoff or 6 minutes too late.

As we sat through the awards banquet on Tuesday evening our emotions were on our sleeves.  We listened to story after story of trial and error, misstep and triumph.  Everyone had a different experience, but shared the same story.  The story where you have a dream, and work endlessly month after month (year after year), and eventually come together to make that dream come true.  This is the story I want to tell.  The story of Ultraman Canada 2016.

******************************

In the days after Ultraman I messaged each of our team members for a little post race follow up.  In the aftermath, it's important to write down what you would have done differently, or what went really well so that you remember it for next time.  There are no lessons learned from inattention to detail.


Q&A with Rich Sawiris:

Richie, when were you asked to crew and what were you told your job would entail?

RS:  Some time after registering, Barry asked me to crew.  I was told my job would be technical and mechanical support for bike equipment and feed support.  I pretty much did what I expected.  I didn't expect to run, but I couldn't sit in the car anymore.

Would you crew again?  (Please say yes...)

RS:  I'm not sure about crewing again.  You'd have to ask me in a month or more after the pain wears off.

What would you do differently?

RS:  On the bike we got lucky with no mechanicals.  We just didn't have enough tools to repair a (real) mechanical.  Crew needs to be fed during long days when they are in the car.  Make sure there are no personality conflicts (among crew) or you're in for a very long weekend.    

And lastly, on a scale of 1-10, knowing you are missing the last data point, how certain are you that I am a unicorn?  (Please watch this video on YouTube for reference... this became an ongoing joke among our crew.  Seriously laugh-out-loud funny....)

RS:  I think you might be a unicorn, but mathematically it's impossible to be less than a 4-5 crazy with all the training you do.  This leaves tranny as an unfortunate but highly probably solution to the equation.

*************************************

Q&A with Johnna Plaga:

Johnna,  first of all, how did you get the nickname Trophy Wife (this is what Barry refers to Johnna as...)?

JBP:  (laughing) OK, remember the story I told you about at dinner where we divorced (briefly, many years ago) and then got back together?  The second wife is always the "trophy wife".  Just so happens that the second wife is the same as the first wife!  (Every couple has a Jerry Springer story, right??)

Ha!  Love it.  How did your responsibility on the crew change after your surgery?

JBP:  My responsibilities changed a lot due to surgery.  First I was less involved in the nutrition and planning of this race than I would normally have been.  I would have planned out all possible needs for food/ hydration, etc and that just didn't happen because I was going to the doctor or resting/ sleeping more than normal.  I also would have run with him on day 3 before surgery, it just wasn't in the cards after surgery.

How did the weekend compare to your expectations?  Was there anything that surprised you (good or bad) about Ultraman? 

JBP:  The weekend far exceeded my expectations.  I knew Barry would have a great swim.  I was worried he didn't believe in his cycling abilities, though he had a great IM CDA bike, so when he hung with the big boys on day 1 and 2 I was so happy for him.  I think it was a much needed mental shift for him-- he does have cycling legs!  Day 3 was harder for me because of the vomiting.  I did not expect this.  I expected walking and cramps, but not vomiting.  It was hard for me to watch, I think I am more emotional since surgery and it was hard to watch him suffer, especially since I helped him after CDA when he vomited for 36 hours.

I was surprised how much prep Richie put into knowing the bike terrain and mapping out where to feed/ water.  It was really helpful.  I don't think anything else (other than how I felt about Barry vomiting) surprised me at Ultraman.  It was good to see that crews were as helpful to each other and the athletes as I had been told they would be.

Having been through this, do you think next time would be easier?  Or more difficult.. knowing how much he's going to suffer?  And what would you do differently?

JBP:  I think the next time Barry does Ultraman it will be much easier.  First I will know not to sweat the small stuff, like missing Barry for the first flat.  After hearing stories from other crews about losing their athletes for hours, running out of food/ water/ ice/ etc.  One crew forgot to buy bottled water so they filled the cooler with water from a hose and the athlete complained it tasted like shit.  (The crew tasted it and confirmed it DID taste like shit.)  And one crew was no longer speaking to each other after the race.  So we batted 1000!  Second, I would be more prepared for nutrition, I like to have all options covered.  I hated possibly running out of chicken broth, which I wouldn't have even had if I hadn't bought it to make the rice!  There were no Tums in the medical bag, no organization in the cooler.  I would have had more than one cooler.  I would have had everything covered, listed, posted and re-organized each night so there is no guessing.  I would include more "real food" on the bike, and I will get Barry to practice it during training!  PB&J, boiled salted potatoes, etc.  Third (it will be easier) because I know the suffering will be temporary.

What things did you bring from California that you were happy you had, and what would you add for next time?  

JBP:   I was happy we brought the rice cooker and Nutri Bullet for protein shakes.  Cold bike clothes --cause you just never know!  (Note:  when it started raining on Day 1, the crew was frozen!!  Thankfully our athlete was kept warm by his effort.)  We had the recovery pants (which got used every night), extra bike shoes- which I originally thought was overkill!.  We had extra run gear and extra wheels, which came in handy.  We discussed bringing an extra bike, but short of the bike being crushed in a fall- which would have rendered Barry unable to ride- we knew Richie would fix any mechanical.  Next time, more tools for the bike (Richie mentioned some he wished he had), more variety for nutrition on the bike and run, and plenty of it.  Oh!  And good food for the crew!!!

Last question... do YOU ever want to do Ultraman?

JBP:  That weekend totally made me want to do Ultraman.  I am so far back in my fitness at the moment that it seems almost absurd, but it's on the list.  I spent 2013 with a torn calf muscle in January, a broken collar bone in March, 2 collar bone surgeries and 6 weeks on crutches in the fall with a tibial stress fracture.  I thought 2014 was going to be great- then heart surgery.  So I will be 55 years old probably before it is possibly a reality, but hey, better late than never.  I hope you saw Hillary's great talk on Mind Body Green- best advice ever- I intend to just keep showing up!

********************

Q&A with Barry Plaga:

Barry!!  Post race recap... How are you feeling physically after Ultraman?  Are you back in the swing of training?

BP:  I am feeling pretty good.  This week my legs feel a little tired.  I think the post race high has worn off, but it did last almost a week.  I ran 20 minutes this morning, and everything still works!  I think Hillary has me pretty easy this week.  She hasn't posted the weekend yet, so we'll see.  

Looking back, was there anything about the race that went better/ easier than you thought?  Or harder than you expected?

BP:  Looking back, everything went close to how I envisioned it.  Having done IM Canada (now Challenge Penticton), I knew the location and the setting so a lot of anxiety was not there.  I spent a lot of time during training and recovery thinking about the race, the day to day, the meals, the prep, etc, and I got pretty organized.  I was more nervous about packing than about racing.  I knew if I had everything I needed at the race, and in the car, Hillary would take care of the rest and I would be able to execute.  I thought everything went perfectly-- you guys allowed me to just stay in the zone, stay in the zone, stay in the zone.  

What would you adjust for next time?  ....There will be a next time, right?!?

BP:  The only thing I would change would be hitting me earlier on day 1 during the bike.  I probably could have drank two more bottles during the first hour.  Other than that, just a better breakfast.  My best morning meal is scrambled eggs, a little toast and some good Greek yogurt.  For next time, I would schedule more days off work to sleep and prep for the week coming up.  I was the walking dead some weeks, especially when run block and bike block collided into Big F'ing Block.  I think our CEO was a little pissed at me, but hey, I showed up on Thursday and hit our earnings call out of the park with wall street.  

In terms of next time... uh, uh, uh, YES I want to do it again.  I kind of wish I was doing Challenge Penticton this weekend.  I feel like I could do well.  Maybe that post race high hasn't worn off yet.  :-) 

All smiles at the finish.

Running on High

On recent back to back weekends I was fortunate to be able to tackle 2 races at altitude, something that I enjoy and is good for pushing my aerobic endurance to its limits.

Mountain Man Sprint Triathlon

Mountain Man Events hosts several triathlons in Flagstaff during the hottest parts of our summer here in the valley of the sun.  It's so nice to escape the heat, even for a day, and race in a cooler, overcast climate.  I have raced the Mountain Man Half every year for the past 5 years, but I've never raced the sprint distance which is held a month earlier.  When I emailed my coach a list of local races, she selected the sprint race and I (though somewhat surprised) was happy to oblige.

Swim start

 Mountain Man Sprint turned out to be a perfect race to blow out the cobwebs of my endurance laden body.  As a sprint distance (750 m swim/ 12 mile bike/ 3-ish mile run) it is all out from the get-go, no pacing involved.  My husband wasn't racing but was there as my one man cheering section.  When the gun went off, I took off as fast as I could sustain in the water.  Swimming at elevation is a little like breathing through a straw, but if you can remind yourself that it's just the thinner air and you are, in fact, not dying, you can still push yourself quite hard.  He told me later that within a short amount of time I had several body lengths lead over the next woman.  By the time I hit the first turn buoy, I glanced back and couldn't see anyone near me.  I swam as fast as I could and was thrilled (shocked!) to come out of the water in just over 12 minutes, about 2 minutes ahead of the next girl.

Having sprayed my limbs and wetsuit generously with TriSlide before getting in the water, I whipped my wetsuit off in no time.  Grabbed my bike and ran out of transition as if being chased.  (Technically I was being chased...)

Ready to roll.

The bike course is an out and back on relatively flat ground, but with a little bit of a head wind on the way out I was still required to put forth an effort.  After the turn around I calculated that the next woman was at least 2 minutes behind me still.  A good lead, but not one that I was super comfortable with.  I knew I'd have to keep the pressure on.  Rolling back into T2 everyone was excited to shout at me that I was in first.  Yay!  A first for me!  In and out, and back onto the run course in just over a minute.

On the way out my first 2 miles clocked were under 7:30 minutes.  I was happy with this, especially at 7,000 ft of elevation.  I kept running hard, and after I made the turnaround I was checking the faces of all the girls behind me to see if there was anyone who looked like they were running comfortably.  Thankfully I didn't see anyone who seemed to be bombing through the field.

Approaching the finish!

At the awards ceremony an hour or so later I was awarded my (first ever?) 1st overall win!  And I got to take home the BEAR trophy!  There were trophies for 1st male/ female and 1st masters male/ female.  The other 3 trophies were sculptures of human form.  Mine was a bear.  Bear is a nickname I've had since birth so I was beyond excited about my new precious.  

Overall women's win! 

Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run

After a few more days of work we were off again to Carson City, NV, the staging area for the Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Runs.  I had decided after my disaster at IM Texas that I would drop from the 50 miler to the 55 km run to minimize the recovery time I would need post race.  With IM Wisconsin looming in just a few weeks I didn't want to be out of commission for as long as it would take me to recover from a tough 50 miler.  I was kind of excited about taking on the shorter distance as I wanted to push myself more than I have in the past at this race.

I wasn't nervous at all until race morning.  I think just arriving back at Spooner Lake park I began to realize how much this was going to hurt, even if it was only 34 miles.  Everyone's spirits were high and I was happy to be back on my favorite trails.  My goal was 8 hours, which I thought was very doable as long as I held it together.  If anything went awry, it would be a long walk to the finish.

Checking out Spooner Lake

I knew this course intimately.  I knew when I was going to hurt.  When I was going to be walking more than running.  I knew when I'd need to fill my hydration pack.  I was ready.  I ran more over the 34 miles than I've ever run before on this course which I was so happy about.  In the past, by the time I get back to Tunnel Creek facing the final 15 miles I am so trashed that the climb from TC to Hobart nearly does me in.  I've hallucinated in that stretch.  I've been in so much pain that I literally hobble from one downed tree to the next looking for the next log to sit on for a minute to give my aching legs a break.

I knew that I would have half as many miles on my legs this time that if all went well I could push myself through that stretch and on to the finish.  I started conservatively on the first 5 mile climb of the day, which was basically a mile after starting at Spooner.  I ran as much as I could when the incline was gentle.  There were definitely short stretches that I walked, but I felt like I ran quite a bit of this section.  Reaching the first aid station I was still feeling good but knew I had a lot of climbing ahead of me.  Leaving Hobart there is a good climb for at least a mile or so (maybe 1.5?) and then a nice gradual descent through the boulder fields heading into Tunnel Creek.

I still had plenty of water so I cruised on through and headed down, down, DOWN the hill into the Red House Loop.  For some reason, I don't remember this descent being quite so long or quite so steep, but it was soooo long and soooo steep.  I guess that speaks to the fact that I am in triathlon shape, but not necessarily my best trail running shape.  Once I reached the bottom of the descent which was well over a mile, I settled into a nice cruisy stretch my legs pace.  There was a little bit of climbing mid loop, but mostly a nice steady run pace.  I had hoped to make it back up the climb to Tunnel Creek before filling water but as luck would have it, I was almost out by the time I reached the Red House.  It was quite a bit hotter that day than it's been in the past.  I debated waiting, but thought better of it.  Now I had a full liter and half on my back for the climb out.  Ugh!  On a side note... I love the Red House Loop.  Partly for the insanity of the descent/ ascent and partly for the water crossings!  We had 3 water crossings that were not quite knee deep and I always smile to myself watching people try to pick their steps around them.  I just go charging right through the middle of them.  I have found that the cold water is a nice relief for my feet, and my feet are generally dry again within a mile so no harm done.

I paused at Tunnel Creek long enough to dump rocks out of one shoe from the ascent then it was on to the incline back to Hobart.  It was rough, and I hurt, but mentally I kept my act together and power hiked as fast as I could till I got to the top and the mile-ish run back to the aid station.  I topped off my hydration pack and took off again toward Snow Valley Peak (SVP).  The last climb of the day!

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the climb felt.  I remember in the past walking the entire 3 miles to SVP.  This time, I was running quite comfortably, wondering when the climb was going to start.  Soon enough I emerged from the woods above the treeline and began the last mile uphill to the aid station.  The Snow Valley Peak aid station is manned by one of the local Boyscout troops.  They do an amazing job and take our safety and comfort very seriously.  They must have binoculars or something, but they know each runner by name before we even get close to the aid station.  And they send one of the boys out to meet each person, offering to fill packs and bottles and retrieve food.  I was set to cruise on through with plenty of water left for the final miles, but tossed back a cup of cold coke for good measure.

Tahoe Rim Trail

My husband, who needed to get his own long run in that day, had run backwards on the course up to SVP.  We started down the hill together with him a few yards behind me.  We ran this way for several miles, with DB dropping off the back a little during any technical bits (he doesn't usually run trails, and does not love the steeper downhills).  When we were down to the last couple of miles, I told him he needed to get moving so he would be at the finish line when I got there.  The last 1.5 miles is flat-ish, so he took off ahead of me and disappeared quickly into the woods.

I could hear the music and the party atmosphere at the finish nearly the entire last 2 miles.  It seemed to take me forever to get there even though it was really only 20 minutes.  Soon, I was across the finish and couldn't wait to sit down.  I always find it ironic how I can feel so good running for 34 miles, but the minute I stop and the blood stops moving through my legs I want to absolutely die.  It's all very dramatic.  I wanted my photo by the finish line banner, but stopping for 20 seconds (after working hard for 7.5 hours) to take the picture, my blood pressure dropped and everything started to go black.  A medical volunteer helped me into the med tent where I sat for a minute and collected myself, drinking a bit of coke and ice water.

Running into the finish:  7:39:01

After a LONG walk back to the car (that mile felt like 50) we loaded up just as the sky began to turn dark with storm clouds.  I wanted to hang out at the finish, but my legs hurt so badly and I was so hungry, so I begged my husband to drive me back to Carson City for some food.

On Sunday, we lazed around for most of the morning.  We drove around the lake, stopping to swim for a bit which felt great on the legs.  We finished driving the loop, and just as we were cruising through South Lake Tahoe the sky opened up and we nearly didn't make it back to Carson City as the roads were beginning to flood.  I couldn't help but think of the 100 milers who were still out there running.  Would I be tough enough to battle through the storms for my buckle?  I hope so.

In talking with a friend about the race, and about when I am going to do my first hundred, I said that I knew I wanted Tahoe Rim Trail to be my first.  I know I could find an easier course, something more beginner friendly, but I also know that for me, TRT is a calling.  It is spiritual.  Being out there, running through the woods in this beautiful place... I know it is meant to be.  One day, I will tackle the 100 miler.  Every day until then, I will dream of being back on the trail, running through my favorite forest, breathing the fresh mountain air.    

To obtain the air that angels breathe, you must (come) to Tahoe.  - Mark Twain