Ironman CdA Archives - Glitter and Dust

Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene

July 5, 2017 by Kristen 9 Comments

A week ago Sunday I took a trip down memory lane and competed at Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene. Though I know the course well, having done both the half and full distances in 2016, each race has it’s own personality and qualities that make it unique. The elements of the day, unexpected challenges, highs and lows, and people there to support can change the dynamics of any race day. My experience this year was a lot different compared to last year, as I came prepared and ready to tackle some pretty lofty goals that would far surpass my performance in 2016.

I traveled to Coeur d’Alene with Justin and Axel, and we stayed at a nice condo within 3 blocks of the finish line, which could not have been more convenient on race day. VRBO and AirBnB owners are notorious for price gouging during the Ironman events, so it was refreshing to find a close place for a very reasonable price. Justin’s mom, Mary, drove over from Seattle and joined us for the weekend to visit and spend time with Axel, which was beyond helpful.

The pre-race festivities were pretty much cookie cutter from what I am used to. Walk around the village. Pick up race packet and swag. Do a little shopping. Take pictures. I was trying to get a photo with Axel so I could do a side-by-side comparison one year apart, but Axel wasn’t having it at the time. Thankfully, Linsey Corbin stopped to talk and we got a photo together. She went on to take 3rd overall female. Such a badass.

After a shakeout run, ride, and swim in the days leading up to the race, I was feeling very eager to get into race mode and put months of hard work to the test.

The Race

Two years in a row now the water has been near perfect for the swim. No wind + very little ripples = happy triathletes. I self seeded myself for the rolling start with my friend Meg among the sea of pink and green caps, and we chatted and smiled until we reached the water. I was actually pretty pumped to get going. I must say that while I like the calmness of the self-seeded start, I’m not sure how I feel about it throughout the race. Because the other girls in my age group are all starting at random times, it’s hard to tell how you are doing while out on the course. Am I in 3rd? Am I in 9th? Who knows!

While the swim felt fine and I exited the water with no major leg cramps (what?) I swam two minutes slower than last year. The bonus → wetsuit strippers. Not a lot of the 70.3 races have wetsuit strippers, which was a real treat. Thank you to the big strong guy for whipping off my wetsuit in record time. I see you’ve done this before… wink wink.

Transition was pretty uneventful. Based on my races last year I was given All World Athlete status for 2017, which meant I had a great spot in transition right next to the Bike Out. I’d rather run through transition without my bike than with it any day! I busted out a fast run to my area, gathered the goods, and was off to power my way to what would hopefully be a bike PR.

Swim: 42:24
T1: 3:42

I really do enjoy the CdA bike course as it has a lot of challenges that play well to my strengths – hills, wind, and heat. The course does a smaller out and back within town, and then a large 40-mile out and back outside of town. Typically, riders can expect wind during the ride, and for the past two years there has been a tailwind out and a headwind back.

Unfortunately, I realized very early on in my ride that my power meter was having connectivity issues with my Garmin, and kept bouncing back and forth between actual power and zero data. This was throwing off my average power and intensity factor, the numbers I focus on the most, so I decided to completely ignore the data and go by heart rate, perceived effort, and overall feel. Thankfully, I am pretty in tune with my body while riding a bike and knew how to push it just at the sweet spot without burning myself out for the run. Honestly, I felt amazing on the bike and spun my way to a time that was 7 minutes faster than last year. That provided me with some mental gold before hopping off and starting the run.

As soon as I dismounted the bike, I ran to my transition area and quickly pulled together the essentials for my run. Unfortunately, I had to make an unwanted stop at the porta potty due to Aunt Flo paying me a visit the night before. I had never raced a triathlon during my period before and while I really did not think about it too much, it did cost me a couple minutes in transition due to taking care of “things.”

Bike: 2:33:44
T2: 3:08

The first mile off the bike always reminds me of a blind date. You just never know what to expect or how you are going to feel, but you anticipate it nonetheless. My coach’s voice was in my head with a reminder to stay calm and not go out too hard, which I managed to do successfully.

It took about three miles to find my groove, after a brief scare during mile 2 when I felt a big knot form in my right hamstring. As any runner knows, as soon as the body starts cramping it can make for a very long and painful day. To save my race, I decided to stop (the first time I have ever stopped during a race) and stretch it out. I also busted out the base salt and was vigilant about my nutrition and hydration from that point forward. It was a hot run from the get-go, but the wonderful people of Coeur d’Alene know the way to an athlete’s heart with their sprinklers and hoses. I made sure to cool off whenever possible and poured plenty of ice water over my head throughout the run. The hamstring cramp never did return, though I did experience some period cramps, which were a little more tolerable.

At about mile 3, a guy ran up next to me, settled in at my pace, and made a comment that he was probably not going to be able pass me (damn right!). I told him that we should run together to keep our spirits up. And so, for a majority of the run leg, we paced each other, talked occasionally, and encouraged each other to keep pushing forward. Our conversation eventually led us to discover that I grew up in the same town and went to school with his wife and brother-in-law. What a small world! It was such a game changer to have someone to run with, talk to, and distract my mind from the pain and heat of the race. When you are running on your own during a race, it can be really easy for the mind to wander and drift off to low and dark places. Running with Cory helped me stay positive and kept my mind off the tweaks and cramps that my body was experiencing from time to time. We eventually parted ways near the last two miles when my legs wouldn’t turn over any faster and I could see that he was ready to fly. It was his first Ironman 70.3 distance and he absolutely crushed it!

The last mile of the run in Coeur d’Alene is absolutely inspiring, as you weave through the city park lined with cheering spectators and then make your way to the long and straight finish down Sherman Ave., where there are huge crowds of people lining on both sides of the street. I was able to pick up the pace that last mile and enjoyed the encouragement and smiles from all the people around me. As always, I got emotional when entering the finishing chute and began to feel overcome with that deep-down raw joy that only happens through hard work and accomplishment. I had finished the race 8 minutes faster than the year prior, with faster splits on both the bike and run (plus faster transitions), and felt really good about the effort I left out on the course.

Run: 1:41:23
Final: 5:04:21 (6th AG)

It was a little bittersweet missing the podium by one place. Last year I finished 3rd in my AG, but I have since aged up to the F 35-39 AG which seems full of experienced and uber competitive athletes. As my coach reminded me, it’s not always about the podium but the effort you give during the race. I really had no complaints about my effort and performance (aside from my swim) and was happy to walk away with my fastest Ironman 70.3 time to date! You just never know who is going to show up and race alongside you and this year my age group was stacked with amazingly fast women. Once again, I’m realizing more and more how important it will be for me to improve my swim time if I am going to be a podium contender. I’ll get there…

Race Week

June 22, 2017 by Kristen 9 Comments

Race week is here. And so am I after a long hiatus from the blog. It’s been a monstrous spring spreading my time between work, training, and family life. I just wrapped up another term at OSU, and for the first time in a while was able to sit back and put pen to paper to write this post. Yes, I prefer to draft my blog posts the old fashioned way by putting actual pen to actual paper. It feels good write again, as it always does. The timing could not be better with Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene quickly approaching this weekend. This will be my first triathlon this year, though I am very familiar with the CdA course, having done both the 70.3 and full distances last year. I love the little town of Coeur d’Alene and the course, so it was a no brainer as I penciled out my schedule for 2017.

So far, training this year has been both challenging and inspiring. I’ve been more determined and focused that ever before and can honestly say that I have poured my heart and soul into every mile and minute, making each one of them count. Most importantly, I’m having fun. I continue to step more and more out of my comfort zone with hopes that the change in dynamics from the norm will help me fill in the gaps and bolster my areas of weakness. I’ve become more social, connected, and open minded, which has helped me tremendously to stay levelheaded and grounded. I’ve made some amazing new friends, including one in particular, Meg, who has shared in the ups, downs, exhaustion, and joy of triathlon training. Many would argue that triathletes are a unique breed, and it provides a breath of fresh air having a friend in my life who truly gets it. She is my person. We even took our beat up feet, with their blisters, cracks, dying toenails, and all, to get pre-race pedicures (she is also racing at IM 70.3 CdA) this week. If that’s not friendship, I don’t know what is. 😉

So what’s been going on with me lately? A lot of swim, bike, and run. I said at the beginning of the year that I wanted to swim more and get faster. Though I can’t say the volume has significantly increased compared to last year, I did follow through on my intention to swim with people who are better than me and attend a tri-masters class once a week. Swimming with others has definitely helped push me and allowed me to build more confidence and better technique in the water. I try to swim at least three times a week as my schedule allows (why does swimming take up SO MUCH time?) and at least two of those swims involve swimming with other people. More than anything, I’ve been focusing on technique and efficiency, so that when I come out of the water I am fresh and ready to start picking people off on the bike and run. I may never be the fastest swimmer, but that’s okay as it actually works to my advantage, as I love to chase and come from behind.

Biking this year has been a blast. I spent a lot of time on the trainer riding on Zwift this past winter and spring, so as soon as the decent weather finally made its way to Bend, I immediately found my way to the roads and had quite a bit of fitness already in the bank. We had a looong winter in Bend, and Zwift was a game changer for me. I’ve had some huge weeks training on my bike, more so than ever before, and have participated in a number of organized rides and time trials around the region to keep things interesting and fun.

A couple weeks ago I did an organized ride called the Central Oregon 500, and participated in 3 days of riding with a great group of people. I had thought about doing all five days (100 miles each day) but we had a bout of cold, frosty weather and I decided to swim and do a long 18-mile run instead. Besides, 500 miles in five days with tons of climbing is a bit masochistic if you ask me. I have never done back-to-back centuries before and was pleasantly surprised at how well my body handled the distance. This was mixed with two long runs and a few swims, which made me feel assured that my body is getting stronger and acclimating to the increased level of training. It also doesn’t hurt that I purchased a set of Normatec leg and glute compression boots, which make a huge difference by allowing me to recover and rebound from big training days much more quickly.

I also did my first solo century of the year and rode an area outside of town that is similar to the IM Canada bike course. I’ve been trying to do a lot of longer rides on hillier terrain, as the Canada course has two major climbs, one of which occurs during the last 20 miles of the race. Riding up to Mt. Bachelor and around the Cascades simulates the course pretty well, and if anything I’m trying to make my long rides harder than the Canada bike course so come race day it won’t seem so bad. More than anything, I want to be mentally ready to take on the last 20 miles back to Whistler, as I know they will undoubtedly be some of the most challenging miles I have faced to date in a race scenario.

All in all, I feel like my bike strength is exactly where it’s supposed to be at this point in the season. The combination of riding solo for the majority of my rides, plus riding with those who are stronger than me, have both contributed to my growth as a cyclist.

In the running department, I’ve had a few ups and downs mentally, but can turn on the speed when it counts. The weather for most of spring was a little disheartening as I got caught up in stormy weather on multiple occasions during my long runs, but it’s been good mental training. Train in all conditions, and don’t worry about the things you can’t control (i.e. the weather), right?

A few weeks ago I participated in the Pole Pedal Paddle as part of a relay women’s team and ran my fastest five miles ever! And that was in a one-piece bathing suit, which was part of the “costumes” we wore on team Synchronized Winning.

Of course there are also days when an 8:30 pace feels like a struggle, especially during my long runs. I’m honestly not sure what is going to transpire this weekend in CdA. I would like to see a 1:3#:## for the first time ever, but I don’t know where I am at with my half marathon pace after the bike. It’s supposed to be a HOT race, so hopefully my body is ready for a little salt and sunshine!

The most challenging part of training this year? The exhaustion and never feeling as though I have down time (hence ignoring my blog for months at a time). Now that Axel is in full on toddler mode, it is high energy in the Yax household from 6am to 7pm. Axel is now in daycare from 8:30am to 3:30pm five days a week (Justin drops him off on his way to work, and I pick him up after “school”) but those seven hours of quiet time are often the busiest part of my day. My days consist of work, train, work, clean, pick up Axel, play play play, pick up toys, laundry, glass of wine, and crash. I am typically running on fumes by the end of most days, but that’s the sacrifice of doing something that I love, and I wouldn’t have it any other day.

The most rewarding? Still being able to fit in a little time for me each day. I know I have a lot of obligations aside from training and family life. I know there is a lot in my life that needs my attention and energy, but if I don’t fit myself in there somewhere the end result is pretty discouraging. It makes me feel good – feel ALIVE – each and every day having the power and determination to jump in the water at the pool, hit the pavement on my bike, or seek out a trail around town. I couldn’t do it without the support of my family and friends – most of all, my husband.

My goal for Ironman CdA 70.3 is to put massive amounts of hard work to the test and leave everything out on the course. However, this race is only to prepare me and work out the kinks before I toe the line at Ironman Canada next month. Everything I have done this year, and continue to do, is to prepare me for a battle at Ironman Canada. A battle for the podium. A battle for that ticket to Kona. Something I have dreamed of now for years. Last year that dream eluded me by a mere four minutes – this year, I can taste it and will do everything I can to make this beautiful dream a reality.

Ironman Coeur d’Alene: Celebration

September 11, 2016 by Kristen 19 Comments

The moment I crossed the finish line at Ironman Coeur d’Alene the physical side of my body shut down and the emotions, which had been building throughout the day I was able to suppress, took over. In fact, it was one of the most emotional moments of my life. After taking a few steps forward I was greeted by a smiling volunteer who swooped my hot, sweaty mess into her arms, congratulated me, and placed a finisher medal around my neck. I rested my arm around her shoulder as another volunteer quickly removed my timing chip and handed me a finisher shirt and hat.

A cold towel was placed on my shoulders as I was slowly escorted over to have my picture taken in the finishing area. The photographer asked me if I wanted to remove my sunglasses, but I wanted to leave them on as my eyes were watery and full of tears. The emotions were still stirring as I managed a smile and then quickly spotted my family and friends who were waiting for me.

As soon as I saw Justin I wrapped my arms around him and cried. I was beyond grateful that he was there and had supported me through so much this past year. This was as much a victory for him as it was for me. I saw my mom, step-dad, and Axel (who had fallen asleep in the BOB) and gave them all hugs, still sheading tears and thanking everyone for being there to support me. And then, I saw my coach, Mike, and friend, Mickey, and completely lost it. I rested my forearms on the barrier and cried. Full on, uncontrollable, cry. That’s when they shared the news that I had gotten 4th in my age group. Wow! This gave me even more reason to cry and celebrate. To do that well on a tough day, on a tough course, and in my first Ironman was something I could have only dreamed of.

I looked up at my coach, again with a heart full of gratitude, and said “thank you.” He got me there. I was grateful for all the time and energy he had poured into making me a better athlete (and person) the past year, and for the fact that he had been there all day along the course from start to finish. Not many coaches will do that for their athletes, but that is what makes him unique and one of the best.

I remember saying, “that was so hard” over and over again to anyone who would listen. If you were within earshot, you probably heard me talk about how hard the race was. It really was incredibly hard. Next to a natural labor, it was physically the hardest thing I have ever done. Ever. And that’s what made the finishing moment so beautiful.

I honestly did not know what to do with myself immediately after the race, and was in a state of shock for a good hour or so. A volunteer handed me a cup of chicken broth, which I quickly drank, and had me take a seat near the medical tent. The next thing I knew she was asking if I would take a picture with her 13-year-old son, who was volunteering for the first time, and sign his t-shirt so he could share the experience with his friends and football team.

After sitting for a few minutes, I started to get nauseated and cold. Really cold. One of the volunteers escorted me to the medical tent so I could use the restroom and warm up. As I was talking to her, I felt really loopy, as though I had taken some really good drugs. They sat me down for a bit and asked me some basic questions to make sure I was mentally alert, wrapped me in a big foil sheet, and then guided me back out to my group. I was still pretty loopy, but the nausea and chills had started to disappear.

One of my Bend teammates, Michael, had finished literally right in front of me (what are the odds of finishing back-to-back after 11+ hours?), so we connected with him for a few pictures and congrats before parting ways. Michael’s HUGE family had been out on the course all day supporting and cheering, which was awesome. I’m pretty sure 25% of the spectators came from his group alone.

Justin and I headed to special needs to pick up my bike and bags, before loading up the car and heading back to the house. By that time I was feeling exhausted and very hungry. As soon as we were all back at the house, I took a shower (no chafe – woot woot), got Axel ready for bed, and then devoured a few pieces of pizza. There were only a handful of foods that sounded good to me for dinner, and pizza was one of them. We all sat around on the sectional sofa, eating pizza, sharing stories, and rehashing moments from the day’s events. All I remember was a lot of laughter and a lot of joy.

That night as I lay in bed, thoughts of Kona started to circulate in my head. There were 3 slots in my age group, which meant that one of the spots could potentially roll down to me. If that did happen, I would have to decide right then and there if I would take it. Of course I contemplated the pros and cons, but at the end of the day I would have gladly accepted the slot and forked over the money to claim my ticket. After all, Kona has been a dream of mine and I felt one step closer to achieving that dream.

The next morning we packed up, checked out of our VRBO rental, and headed down to the village for the award ceremony and breakfast. I took one last stroll through the Ironman store and purchased the finisher jacket I had been dreaming about for months. I was finally a finisher.

The awards ceremony started at 9:30am and I patiently waited for my name to be called to come up on stage with the other athletes who had placed in my age group. The seconds ticked slowly as I waited to find out whether or not I would be taking a trip to Kona. As soon as we were all called on stage, I congratulated the other four girls on their stellar performances and asked the 3 girls who had finished ahead of me whether they would be accepting their Kona tickets.

Yes. Yes. And…yes.

There was some relief, but also so undeniable sadness as well. Only 4 minutes…4 STINKING MINUTES…separated me from that golden ticket. Darn. Even though I walked away with a few tears, I refused to let it get in the way of the joy I felt for what I had accomplished the day before. I ran my race. Although there were things I could have done differently, I needed to learn by doing. Honestly, nothing will prepare you for an Ironman except doing an Ironman.

Truth be told, I never really thought about actually going to Kona this year until after the 70.3 in June where I was able to see the gains I had made in my fitness. Once the summer rolled around it seemed as though everyone I knew was asking me about whether Kona was on my radar. Part of me wanted to get there so badly – to do it ALL in one year – while the more realistic side just wanted to run a good race, get a feel for the Ironman distance, and then plan accordingly for the future. After competing in Coeur d’Alene, I’m not sure I would have been ready for that experience quite yet, especially with only 7 weeks to prepare. Kona can wait. Until then, I am an Ironman.

Ironman Coeur d’Alene: The Race

August 28, 2016 by Kristen 43 Comments

At 3:45 a.m. on Sunday I woke up to Eye of the Tiger blasting on Justin’s cell phone. It was the perfect alarm tone, and I cracked a smile and rolled out of bed. I could immediately feel the adrenaline kick in as I made my way downstairs to pour a massive cup of coffee. Justin prepared my favorite pre-race meal and smeared a bunch of avocado on toast, topping it with salt. The atmosphere in the house seemed a little tense but fairly tranquil as we all gathered our gear and made our way out the door by 4:45 a.m.

It was still dark when we arrived to the Athlete’s Village. Participants, supporters, and volunteers were bustling about on a mission and you could sense the nerves in the air. It was electrifying. I made my way to my bike to fill the front Torhans hydration bottle and to place another bottle in the cage. The plan was to carry two bottles instead of four to avoid the extra weight, take advantage of the aid stations, and switch out bottles at special needs. I dropped off my special needs bag and then reconnected with Justin near the swim start.

As I put on my wetsuit and munched on a Luna bar, Justin gave me a little pep talk and we shared some tears. I was extremely nervous… actually, downright scared… about getting into the water. He said a few choice words that helped calm me and then brought up the memory of my father, who had lost a hard battle with cancer. He reminded me of my dad’s strength during some of the most difficult days of his life, and told me that when things got hard out there – and they would get hard – to fight through and tough it out just as my dad had done. That was all I needed to step forward and begin my race.

THE SWIM

Lake Coeur d’Alene is known for chop and whitecaps, but thankfully today it only had a few ripples and I never thought twice about the conditions. Don’t think about what you can’t control. As soon as 5:50 rolled around, I kissed Justin goodbye and shook out the nerves as I made my way to the sandy beach to join the other athletes. One of my favorite things about the swim was the self-seeded rolling start, as it allowed athletes to trickle in to the water and provided a lot of space out on the course.

Everyone who knows me or reads my blog knows that swimming is my Kryptonite. I struggle in the water, partially because I just don’t enjoy swimming all that much and I have poor technique. I am one of those people who tends to work harder on the things I am good at (cycling and running, for example), at the expense of the things I should be working to improve (mainly swimming). My goal this next year is to work one on one with a coach and master good technique in the water. For this race, I knew I’d be fine once I survived the swim.

The course in Coeur d’Alene is two loops and requires athletes to exit the water, run across the timing mat, and then re-enter the water to begin the second loop. Initially I thought I would like the two loop set-up, but I actually found getting out of the water and back in to be a challenge, mostly because it triggered some cramping.

By the second loop the water was fairly choppy and the sun was directly in my eyes during the home stretch back to land. Surprisingly, I wasn’t cramping as much as I had in previous races (WIN!) and was able to maintain a steady pace during the entire swim. As soon as I heard the music roaring around me and exited the water, I felt a sense of joy. It’s over. The hard part is over! That was “high” moment #1 for me that day.

Swim Time: 1:26:08

TRANSITION 1

As soon as I entered transition I made eye contact with two energetic wetsuit strippers and fell to the ground, having my wetsuit stripped from my body in seconds. I cramped a little while getting back up, but proceeded to grab my suit, thank the volunteers, pick up my bag, and head into the changing tent.

I can’t believe how different the Ironman transitions are compared to the shorter distance races. I felt like the volunteers were almost pampering me as they emptied my bag and helped me get organized. “Is this some sort of spa for triathletes,” I thought to myself.

I will say that having the tent, chairs, and volunteers almost worked against me because I got a little too comfortable. As soon as I sat down in the chair my calves started cramping and I took some time to work them out before exiting the tent. In the future, I might avoid sitting altogether and just blast through transition like I do during the shorter distance races.

T1 Time: 5:07

THE BIKE

Ah, my happy place. As soon as I got on my bike it felt like all was right in the world. I immediately settled in and started chasing down the swimmers, picking them off one by one. It was hard not letting my adrenaline and excitement push me during the first 50 miles, and I really had to make an effort to stay within my designated power zones. Because this was my first “solo” 112-mile ride, I wasn’t sure what to expect from my body and mind later in the race.

The bike course is two loops that starts in town, does a little out and back near the lake, and then exits away from town for a 40-mile out and back on the highway. This is where the climbing begins and wind starts to roar.

According to my Garmin there was roughly 5,700ft of climbing, which seemed more accurate than the noted 7,000ft on the Ironman website. The climbing was fairly gradual throughout the course and was never steep or overbearing. I love my hills, so I used them to my advantage.

My one frustration with the bike course at CdA was the no pass zone on the biggest downhill descent. I understand this is for the safety of the athletes, but it was discouraging getting stuck behind riders who were braking hard and going slow on the downhill. This is where I wanted to make up valuable time (fearless), not lose it. Oh, well.

After the first loop was complete I felt surprisingly good. I was nailing my nutrition and my power was staying within the range my coach and I had discussed. My stop at special needs was a success and I refueled with two bottles of Tailwind, a Snickers, and Lenny & Larry’s double chocolate cookie. On the second loop, the notorious Coeur d’Alene wind picked up hard (20mph +) and it was a battle from miles 70-90. This was the only time I struggled on the bike and it was more of a mental resistance than anything. It was incredibly defeating pedaling into a wall of wind, expending extra energy, and feeling as though you are going nowhere. Plus, these were the miles with the uphill climbing, so it was double trouble.

As soon as I reached the turnaround point at mile 90 I knew it was time to fly. And so I did – all the way back to Coeur d’Alene feeling strong and determined, ready to start the run. I had exited the water in 36th place in my age group, 220th female, and 928th overall. I came off of the bike and into T2 in 4th place in my age group, 21st female, and 217th overall. I passed over 700 people during the 112 miles on my bike and had the second fastest overall bike split among women (the woman who finished ahead of me only beat me by 24 seconds!). All of my hard work on the bike paid off. Not to mention, I have one of the best cycling coaches around.

Bike Time: 5:38:48

TRANSITION 2

As I dismounted my bike and passed it to one of the volunteers, I began to think about the 26.2-mile journey ahead. I ran through transition, picked up my T2 bag, and headed back into the changing tent ready to get all geared up for the run. As I sat down in the chair (those dang chairs) to switch out my bike shoes for running shoes, the muscles in my legs started to twinge and cramp. No. No. No. I took a deep breath, swallowed a handful of endurolytes, and made my way to a porta-potty for a quick bathroom break. Once I was finished “readying” myself for the run, I made my way through the run out, shot my family a quick wave and smile, and settled in for the long voyage to the finish line.

T2 Time: 6:04

THE RUN

I’ll admit, I had a lot of confidence going into the run. Probably too much. Before triathlon, I had logged thousands of miles running various distances including eight marathons. Although I had never done a marathon after swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112, I felt as though I could handle the grueling demands it would require to get me through a marathon under 3:45. Let’s just say the experience was humbling.

It took me about 2 miles to realize just how HARD the steps ahead would be. I started the run feeling strong, but the little aches and pains gradually started getting worse and I watched my 8min/mile pace slowly drop after each mile. I tried to take in calories and drink something other than water, but I could not stomach Gatorade and the Coke was too warm. I could NOT do warm in the heat of the day. I ended up eating four GUs throughout the run, taking in a mere 400 calories during the entire marathon. This only provided another learning experience of what I would do differently next time → eat MORE calories!!!

During the first lap I could feel the sun pounding away my energy. It was 91 degrees and hot. I questioned whether I would be able to handle the sun for 18 more miles, as my body grew more and more fatigued. During the second loop I noticed an eerie orange hue in the air. All of a sudden the sun’s impact was not penetrating my skin like it had the lap before. I turned my head and saw a huge plume of smoke from a forest fire rising from the distant hills and trees, covering the sun, casting shade onto the run course, and creating a bright orange ball in the sky.

I found myself getting choked up, nearly falling to tears as I instantly thought of my dad and felt his presence in a momentous way. See, my dad was an accomplished smoke jumper for many years before managing the fire cache (where they store, maintain, and deliver all the equipment necessary to fight forest fires) for the remainder of his career. He spent his life fighting forest fires. Watching the smoke rise in the distance and creating a shade from the sun made me feel as though in some weird way, my dad was sending me a message, watching over me, and providing much needed shade for me. That shade empowered me and dissolved any thoughts I had of walking.

Once I got to the half marathon point, I had been running for 1 hour and 50 minutes, my goal pace. But I knew that pace wasn’t sustainable for another 13 miles. The reality and harshness of the day began to set in and my mind started to wander. I questioned my ability to finish more than 100 times. I wanted to stop. I wanted to fall in front of my family and quit. I remember seeing my friends Kayla and Brandon out on the course and telling them how “stupid” this was. Seriously, who thought this was a good idea?

Your mind plays games during those 26.2 miles. Ugly games. But there are beautiful moments as well. I witnessed kids of all ages cheering and smiling with looks of amazement on their faces. I watched volunteers pour their hearts into each and every athlete out there, making sure we were all taken care of and able to go on. Thousands of spectators lined the course and cheered for hours and hours as athletes wisped by in a matter of moments. I heard my name over and over and over again, and every time I did it gave me a little more fuel to take another step. And then the most beautiful, unforgettable moments – those of my family and coach – being there for me every step of the way. I could not have done it without them.

At some point late in the afternoon, I came upon a Y in the road for the third time, and for the first time, veered left on a path that would lead me to the finish. As soon as I entered the home stretch and saw the large finish chute in the distance, with the plume of smoke rising directly behind it, I felt a flood of emotion overtake my body. There are no words to describe the feeling of seeing “the end” and for some reason part of me did not want it to end. I wanted to live in that moment and breathe it all in – so I did. I looked around to find there was no one behind me, so I took my time, soaked up the cheers from the crowd, and celebrated with each step to the finish.

As I approached the chute I saw my husband taking pictures and capturing video (best Sherpa ever). I wanted to stop and give him a big kiss, but spared him the sweaty PDA moment and decided to wait until I saw him after.

Another familiar face quickly appeared along with an arm that was reaching out as far as it would stretch. It was my coach. As I reached out my arm and gave him a high five, the joy was too much and my eyes swelled up with tears.

And then, I heard those infamous words explode from the loud speaker. The words I had dreamed of since watching the world championship so many years ago. “Kristen Yax. YOU ARE AN IRONMAN.”

I had run the marathon in a time of 3:56:36 and finished the race in 11:12:43.

What a moment…

<-- Pre-Race Preparation

Post-Race Celebration –>

Ironman Coeur d’Alene: Pre-Race Waiting Game

August 27, 2016 by Kristen 12 Comments

Six years ago I was flipping through the channels while staying in a hotel room on vacation, and stumbled upon the televised Ironman World Championship in Kona. I was immediately sucked in and sat on the edge of the bed, directly in front of the TV, completely in awe of the athletic talent and inspirational stories. Once it was over I looked at Justin and said, “I want to do that. That is going to be me one day crossing the finish line.” Well, on Sunday, August 21, I did it. I crossed the finish line and in doing so, I became an Ironman.

I’m not even sure how to share the experience in its entirety on paper and through my writing. The emotions I’ve gone through these past days have been some of the most authentic I have ever felt in my life. One moment I think back and feel an overwhelming sense of joy, while the next I fall into a deep sadness knowing the day came and went, just like that. It’s a little surreal that so many hours, weeks, and months of work went into one day. One single day. But at least I can walk away from that day knowing it will forever be one of the most memorable, incredible days of my life.

There were 1,300 participants who descended on Coeur d’Alene for the Ironman, each with their own story to tell. Here’s mine…

Packing for an Ironman is an event in and of itself. Thankfully, I am the Queen of Lists and made a list of everything I would need for each sport and each transition. I took the advice of my friend Nicole and used a large clear bin to store and transport all of my triathlon related gear. It was nice having everything in one place. It took me an entire day to pack my gear, suitcase, and everything required for an 11 month old. I’m still trying to figure out who requires more stuff – a triathlete or a baby.

On Wednesday, Justin, Axel, and I traveled to Walla Walla (which, coincidentally, is where we were vacationing when I first watched the Ironman on TV) to break up the 7-hour trip to Coeur d’Alene, and to visit with my grandma, grandpa, aunt, and uncle. We stayed above the tasting room at one of my favorite wineries, Va Piano, and enjoyed a quiet night in the middle of a vineyard on a full moon night in wine country.

The next day we packed up and finished the trip to Coeur d’Alene, timing the drive during Axel’s morning nap. Little man was such a trooper and pretty much went with the flow the entire week/weekend. As soon as we got to CdA we headed to the Athlete’s Village to check in and do a little shopping. I was excited to receive my Ironman swag bag and was impressed by both the size and quality of the bag, which was filled with various goodies. Justin and I agreed that I could splurge a little since it was my first Ironman, so I walked away with a few tops, visor, hat, and coffee mugs. I always have to buy a coffee mug at every Ironman event. ☺

After spending some time in the village it was time to get Axel down for his afternoon nap, so we made our way to the VRBO rental we’d be staying in during our visit and set up “home” for the weekend. The rest of our group would be arriving that evening, so we got settled and enjoyed some down time while Axel slept. Later that afternoon, we went out for an early dinner at Crafted (my favorite place to eat in CdA), did a little grocery shopping, and made it home in time for the arrival of my coach and teammates, Mike, Mickey, and Faron.

Arriving to the race destination a few days early is nice, but it also creates a lot of “hurry up and wait” time. Wait. Wait. Wait. It’s odd going to such a nice destination but not being about to do all the “fun” things one would normally do if he or she did not have a race to prep for.

On Friday morning we all got up fairly early and headed down to Lake Coeur d’Alene for a quick swim to test out the water. The winds were calm and the water was smooth. As soon as I hit the water I was comfortable and in a zone. The temperature was perfect and I could feel my nerves disappear.

Shortly after the swim, my coach and I met up with a couple other athletes from Oregon and did a little shake out ride to get the legs spinning. As always, I was excited to be on my bike and felt as though my legs were fresh enough to ride all day.

Once our workouts were over we spent the day relaxing, getting transition bags ready, doing last minute prep, and more waiting. Ironman provided athletes with meal vouchers to a handful of restaurants around town, so we went out to dinner at Cedars, a floating restaurant near the mouth of the Spokane River, before lounging the rest of the evening and watching the Olympics… and waiting. I’m so thankful that Axel slept soundly through the night on Friday, as I know how critical it is to get good sleep two nights before the race.

After waking up fairly early on Saturday and enjoying a cup of coffee, Mickey, Faron, and I drove to the course for a short ride. I checked over my bike one last time to make sure everything was ready to go (Justin had already washed and cleaned it from top to bottom the night before) and did a few high cadence spins to get the muscles firing. Every time I am on my new Felt I feel grateful to be powering such a beast of a machine, and as I would soon find out the new race wheels from Knight Composites make it even faster.

Once Axel woke up from his morning nap, we packed up the bike, bags, and baby, and headed to the transition area to drop everything off. It was at that moment, walking my bike through the village and into transition, that the race became very real. I was doing it. The next time I would see my bike we would be heading out on a 112-mile adventure around Coeur d’Alene.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful as we all kicked up our feet and made it a point to rest… and wait. We shared a lot of laughs (thanks, Hans) and kept the mood fairly light. My coach and I went over the game plan and talked numbers, particularly with specific power zones on the bike and pace on the run. If all went according to plan, I would hopefully be able to pull off a 5:30-5:40 bike split and a 3:45 run.

Justin put his master chef skills to work and cooked me my favorite pre-race meal; Dungeness crab and pasta. We ate dinner fairly early and then took Axel over to my mom and step-dad’s hotel where he would spend the night. Having a baby adds a whole other element to the Ironman scene. While doable, it was easier for both myself and Justin to navigate the evening and early morning hours without having to worry about the logistics of taking care of Axel. It made SUCH a difference to have him under the care of my mom and Billy. I didn’t have to worry about a thing other than the day ahead, and I knew I would have Justin’s full attention and support to help me weave through the emotions and motions of the morning.

After saying goodnight to everyone and getting everything together for the morning, it was lights out. Well, at least that’s what we thought. Our rental house was next door to a large log home that doubles as a special event venue, and apparently a Saturday night in mid-August is a great night to get married in Coeur d’Alene. The ensuing reception, DJ, and dancing kept us awake for a while. It’s hard enough to fall asleep the night before a race with all the emotions and adrenaline. Try doing it while also listening to the Macarena, Sweet Home Alabama, Y.M.C.A., and Don’t Stop Believing!

Somewhere along the way the music stopped, or they turned it down, or I just became too tired to hear it, and I drifted off to sleep ahead of Sunday morning’s 3:45am wake up call…

The Race –>

Wrapping My Head Around An Ironman

August 4, 2016 by Kristen 21 Comments

Less than 3 weeks to go until Ironman Coeur d’Alene. After finishing Ironman CdA 70.3 several weeks ago, I really started to wrap my head around the magnitude of this race. I never mentioned it in my race recap, but during the second mile of the half marathon I pretty much convinced myself that I was going to back out of the full Ironman. There were several moments on the course when I hit those “lows” and doubted my ability to double the distance. Even after I finished the race I was questioning my sanity and whether or not I wanted to go through with such a monster of a race. Now that time has passed and I am taking my training to new heights, these feelings have since subsided and I am enthusiastic about continuing my journey to 140.6 miles in Coeur d’Alene.

This year has been a whirlwind of emotions and change, but the one thing that has remained consistent and focused is my determination to cross the finish line of my first Ironman. I have worked SO incredibly hard, every day, every week, since starting this journey in November. I can still remember the first time I got back on my bike after my pregnancy, barely making it 12 miles in an hour, and feeling as though I could not go another foot forward. Heck, I almost called my husband and had him come pick me up because I wasn’t sure if I would make it up a small but steep hill that leads back to our house. And my first run out the door, averaging 11min/mile and feeling as though my lungs were going to explode. The progress I have seen in my fitness this year is unbelievable and I never would have thought I’d be where I am today. Now that the final weeks are upon me I wanted to reflect on what this entire experience has been like and where I am at mentally and physically as I enter into the final weeks before the race.

The biggest lesson I have learned this year is to live in the moment and ENJOY the moment. I simply could not train, work, and be a mom effectively if my mind was in other places all the time and I couldn’t just be in the moment. So, when I am training, I enjoy it and focus on the work that is laid out on my schedule. When I am working at home I get into a zone and rid myself of distractions. When I’m with Axel, I try to be focused primarily on him, even though there are times when I have to multi-task and keep up with laundry, dishes, or other random chores around the house as well. Living in the moment allows me to juggle the different dynamics that each of these roles carries.

The experience has also been one of self-discovery and growth. I am amazed that all this time, effort, energy during the last 7months of training has been invested for one day. One race. One single event in my life. People always tell me it’s the journey and training they enjoy most, not the race itself. I completely understand why. And while I am looking forward to the race, I really do appreciate and savor the time I am out pedaling my bike or pounding the pavement in my Hokas. That’s my “me” time where I get to collect my thoughts, release my stress, and learn more about myself each day.

My confidence was shifted in a more positive direction this past weekend after attending a 4-day training camp with my coach and a few other athletes. A small group of us traveled up to the Coeur d’Alene area and stayed at a lake house owned by my friend and Bend teammate Michael. My coach, Mike, another friend and athlete, Mickey, and I drove up to house on Thursday morning to meet up with Michael and his wife Mary for the start of training camp. This was my last “big” week of training before slowly tapering to the race, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to completely focus and go all in on my workouts.

After arriving to camp on Thursday afternoon, we set out for a 40-minute swim in Spirit Lake, followed by a hilly and hot 6 mile run along a curvy shaded road from the lake house. It was nice to shake out the legs after being in a car all morning. Unfortunately, my coach broke his collarbone a couple weeks ago during a mountain bike race, and could not partake in most of the activities, but he did hop on a jet ski while we were swimming and made waves so we could get a feel for a little chaos in the water. He also carried fuel and food while riding a mountain bike next to us as we all ran. And took a lot of picture. Best coach ever.

That evening we enjoyed a chicken and vegetable dinner, paired with some good Walla Walla wine that I brought from home, and took an evening boat ride out on the lake. Michael’s wife Mary was is an amazing cook and always had food waiting for us when we would return back to the house each day. I was SO incredibly thankful for all the time she took preparing meals and making sure our bellies were full each night.

On Friday we woke up and started the day with an 80-minute swim, before heading out on our bikes for an epic 112-mile ride from the house to the top of Schweitzer Mountain and back. It was hot from the get go, with temperatures nearing 100 degrees, and the winds were whipping in various directions.

I have done some hard rides but this was, without question, the hardest ride I have ever done. Not just because of the distance, which was also the furthest I have ever ridden, but the temperatures (and wind) made for some major suffering. But that was what we were there to do. Suffer. And if it’s an inferno on race day, like last year, I want to at least know I can survive.

The road to Sandpoint was really pretty as we passed by the countryside and various bodies of water. It was pretty iffy at one point when we had to ride on the shoulder of a highway into Sandpoint, but then we merged onto a bike path and did not have to deal with any more cars.

Climbing up Schweitzer Mountain 40 miles into the ride was tough. I remember telling my coach, as he jumped on his bike and rode with us for the climb (yes, with a broken collarbone) that I might call it a day and jump in the car when we come back down. But I never did. It would have been so easy to get into the car, sit in the breeze of the air conditioner, and sip on a nice cold drink. But easy isn’t going to get me stronger. Easy might get me to the starting line, but it’s not going to get me to the finish line.

The last 20 miles were actually my strongest as I helped pull the group back home. It felt really good to contribute my efforts and repay the others for all the pulling and support they had provided to me earlier in the ride. It amazes me how every athlete goes through mental and physical ebbs and flows throughout a workout. We all had our moments to shine – I’m just glad mine came at the end.

The following day we woke up and headed straight to Coeur d’Alene to ride the Ironman course and do a short run off the bike. I honestly was quite scared about doing another long ride after completing the colossal ride the day before, but sucked it up and trusted in my strength, and coach. Our goal was to do two loops of the course, excluding 20 miles that weave through town in an out and back.

It was a super windy day and we had a nasty headwind for half of the ride – which also meant we got to reap the benefits of a tailwind as well. Wind is the one element that can mentally shut me down, so it was good to battle through conditions that are likely to appear on race day.

After completing the 92-mile ride on the course, we all took off and ran the first 5 miles of the run course loop. I felt surprisingly good and was able to maintain an 8 min/mile average pace. The more I run off the bike and build that muscle memory, the more confident I become in my ability to settle into a strong run on race day.

On our final day of camp, we started the day with a 30-minute swim and then drove back into Coeur d’Alene to run two loops of the three-loop run course. With fatigue and soreness settling in, I knew this run would be a good indicator of how things might feel on race day. Once we got started, Mickey and I quickly settled in at a comfortable 8 min/mile pace for the first loop, and Michael was only seconds behind. Mike was on his mountain bike riding next to us, offering drinks and food a long the way, which significantly helped.

On the second loop, we picked up the pace and tried to push it on hills and through the streets of the town. During the last two miles, we pushed it as hard as we could, finishing the 16-mile run in a little over 2 hours. I was STOKED to finish as strong as I did, and to know I could do it after the days of swimming, biking, running, and fatigue. It was at that moment when I realized that I was ready to do an Ironman.

The biggest lesson I took away from the entire weekend was the importance of nutrition prior to the race, and while out on the bike and run. Nutrition can make or break an athlete. And although I hissed at my coach a few times when he yelled at me to drink and eat, it became very clear to me that this is something I need to work on and nail down before the race. I have a feeling that my intake of calories, liquid, and salt is going to be reflected in my performance, especially the salt if it is a hot day. My new favorite drink is tailwind endurance fuel (hello salt!) and I always enjoy munching on bloks and gummies that are stuffed into my bento box.

I have never done a training camp with other athletes before, but I must say it gave me a huge boost in confidence and was just what I needed mentally and physically as I prepare to take on my first Ironman. The entire experience was great, and although it was tough to be away from Justin and Axel for four days (the longest I have been away from Axel since he was born), I really got a lot out of training with others that I would not have been able to do on my own. You can learn so much about yourself and this sport when you surround yourself with likeminded people who are willing to share their experiences and be supportive along the way.

These four days away from home, surrounded by other hardworking athletes, really allowed me to visualize myself completing this race. My mindset shifted from “I think I can do an Ironman” to a mentality of “I know I can do an Ironman – and do it well – if all the pieces fall together on race day.” And you know what? I am still having fun, which is incredibly important to me as I take time away from my family and home. If I were not having fun, none of this would be worth it.

On that note, is it August 21 yet?

Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene Race Report

July 7, 2016 by Kristen 37 Comments

It has already been a little over a week since I lined up with athletes from all over the world to race the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene, but I’m still basking in the afterglow. I can’t believe that between pregnancy and parenthood, it has been nearly two years since my last triathlon. Although I felt a little rusty and would have liked more time to practice transitions and do more open water swims, I was feeling confident and excited to toe the water of my first race of the season. If you would have asked me a few weeks ago what my plan was for this race, I probably would have eagerly provided a list of 10 goals in order of importance. That’s just the way my mind works when it comes to working hard toward any big event.

But after getting hit by a car while riding my bike less than two weeks before the race my goals became a little less finite. As I was lying in the ambulance, I remember thinking to myself, “I guess I won’t be racing next weekend.” Well that, and telling one of the (cute) paramedics that I wasn’t wearing any underwear when he mentioned the fact they would probably have to cut off my cycling kit. Knowing that my body was beat up, my psyche was muddled, and my tt bike was totaled, I thought it would take a while to pick back up and feel like myself again.

But then something happened when I walked out of the emergency room with only road rash, bruises, achy muscles, and a bag of shredded cycling clothes. I began to think of the possibilities. Maybe I could actually pull this off. Maybe I could get back on a bike and face the fear of being on the road. Maybe my body would bounce back. Maybe I can get another bike quickly. As all these ‘maybes’ began to spring around in my head, I realized I was given another chance. No major injuries. Not at fault. And loads of support and encouragement from everyone around me. Even if I did not have a single goal or expectation going into this race, I would still get to race.

With my Ironman only eight weeks away, I knew I needed to get a long course race under my belt early in the season, and the 70.3 distance in Coeur d’Alene would give me the perfect opportunity to preview the course for the full Ironman (this really is the perfect combo for anyone considering). As usual, my coach did a great job of providing encouragement and hope when I was feeling down about my crash, and gave me the push I needed to get back on the bike quickly and without fear. Better sooner than later, he said. My husband was also extremely supportive and helpful, cleaning and bandaging my wounds, assisting me with the bike buying process, and helping out with Axel so I could prep for the race. We truly make a good team.

The week leading up to the race was a whirlwind and good reminder that triathlon is anything but an individual sport. It took an army of people to get me back in the game and race ready. I would not have stepped foot in Lake Coeur d’Alene without the endless support of those around me. I was able to purchase a new bike and have it two–day shipped to The Hub Cyclery, where Matt (one of the owners) graciously spent the next two days building it up and getting it ready to race. I was also able to get a bike fit from Bart and Cody at Bowen Performance to assure I would be as comfortable, powerful, and aerodynamic as possible on the bike. All of these people went above the call of duty and made time in their schedules to assure that I would have a bike to race with on Sunday. They made this possible. A friend and fellow athlete, Hans, also hooked me up with a great hydration system using his TorHans aero products. These products are absolutely amazing and some of the most aerodynamic on the market.

I ended up purchasing the Felt IA 2 and was able to ride it a total of 20 easy miles in the two days before the race. It is completely different from my Cervelo P3 and will take some time getting used to, but I’m already in love. The biggest difference is the Di2 shifting (set up on both my aero bars and on the bullhorns near my brakes) and the more aggressive position. The bike itself is amazing and gives me a sense that I am floating above the pavement.

So, with a new bike, second chance, and new attitude, it was off to CdA for my first triathlon not only of the season but of almost two years. Time to put months and months of hard work to the test.

The Race:

This was the first year Ironman offered the 70.3 distance course in Coeur d’Alene, so it was fun being a part of the inaugural event. The town of CdA is absolutely beautiful and the people truly embrace the athletes and welcome them with open arms. The hospitality was second to none.

We arrived to CdA on Thursday and met up with Justin’s mom who drove in from Seattle to spend the weekend with us and visit her grandson. She was a HUGE help all weekend long and I felt as though the entire stay would not have gone as smoothly without her support. We spent Friday and Saturday hanging out, engaging in pre-race festivities, previewing the course, and visiting with friends. My mom and step-dad also arrived in town the night before the race and we visited with them briefly before heading to bed. Before I knew it the time had passed and it was the morning of the race!

The swim was a rectangular out and back loop in Lake Coeur d’Alene. This lake is notorious for choppy water and white caps, but we somehow got lucky and had smooth water on race day. Until you have 3,000 athletes stirring it up, that is. This was my first time experiencing a self-seeded rolling start, which I quite enjoyed because I was able to position myself in a corral based on my expected swim time, and everyone eased into the water in a semi-single file line. My coach wanted me to start with a group a couple minutes ahead of my goal time, which helped because ultimately I finished the swim with a PR.

The first half of the swim was pretty mellow (did I just say that?) as I stayed just inside the buoy line and did my own thing away from the masses. There was a little more chaos during the home stretch as people were bunching up, but I still maintained my groove and remained calm. I did experience some bad cramping in my calf and hamstring, but didn’t have a choice but to shrug it off and continue on. By the way, why do I have to cramp during EVERY open water swim?

Swim: 40:52
T1: 4:54

Once I was out of the water it took me a second to find my balance. “YES! The hard part is over,” I thought to myself. After sprinting up the beach it was a long run on the hard pavement (ouch!) to my transition area, which made for a long transition time. As I started taking off my wetsuit, the muscles in both my legs completely seized and cramped, and it felt as though I could not move. I tried to keep calm and stretch them out while leaning on a tree that was next to my transition area (I knew that tree was put there for a reason other than to get in my way), but I couldn’t help but think about trying to bike and run when my legs were already giving me issues. I came THIS close to quitting right there, but instead chose to take a couple of deep breaths and continue on.

The bike course was rather hilly, which caters perfectly to my strengths. I enjoy climbing and descending, which comprises a majority of the course. Most of the climbs were fairly short (3-4 miles) and not steep at all. I actually felt as though there were a lot of false flats throughout the course. Although I probably could have pushed a litter harder to meet my 2:35 bike split goal, I was really trying to stay at 85% power and leave some juice in the tank for the run. Coach’s orders. And, I’m glad I listened. He is probably reading this right now, with a big grin on his face and thinking, “see what happens when you stick to the plan.”

There are three significant climbs on the bike, which also means there are some really fun descents. I have no fear of going fast on the downhill during a race and tried to be really aggressive when gravity was on my side. I do wish there would have been a little more space for riders to pass on the downhill, because as I would approach riders who were riding at a slower pace, not every rider was all the way over to the right like they should have been. I had to use my brakes and yell a few times, which was rather frustrating. I wish everyone would just stay over UNLESS passing. Ooof.

Bike: 2:40:49 (20.9mph)
T2: 2:42

When I finished the bike leg I was feeling pretty good. I did a good job eating and drinking consistently throughout the ride and was sure to take a GU Roctane moments before the dismount. Again, the transition took some time, as I had to run my bike quite a ways before reaching my T2 area, which was close to the run out area. As I took off my bike shoes and slid on my Hokas (I only run in Hokas now, by the way → officially converted) my left leg got a monster cramp that crept up my calf and into my hamstring. What the heck is going on today!? Body, please don’t fail me now – I’ve still got a half marathon to get through. Once again thoughts of quitting entered my head as I started running toward the crowd of people that lined the course through the park, but then a huge smile emerged on my face as I saw my husband, mom and step-dad. Keep going.

The first mile is always the hardest for me as I shake out the bike legs and settle into the run, but I think the long run from the bike dismount to my transition area actually helped me prepare for it. I felt as though I was running a 10min/mile pace, even though my pace for the first mile was 7:27.

After sipping some water at mile 2, the liquids started to slosh around in my stomach and throat, and were not getting absorbed at all. A few minutes after taking in water I threw up (while running) but kept going. At the next aid station I tried Gatorade. Nope. Threw up again. And then again. When I saw my coach at mile 6 I told him what was going on and in true Mike Larsen fashion he said “So what? You are currently in 5th place. Keep moving and go catch the girl in the orange socks.” before suggesting that I start drinking Coke – so I did. That seemed to help, although the coke was really warm. Not to be picky, but is a nice ice-cold coke during a half Ironman too much to ask? Cue sarcasm.

The run course is two flat loops that venture through McEuen Park, around a cute neighborhood, and along the lake. It is great for spectators as they can easily see athletes multiple times. As I ventured onto the second loop I could feel the muscles in my legs starting to cramp. Honestly, I was a real mess at this point but kept my composure, as panicking would get me absolutely nowhere. I was discouraged by the fact that I had so much more in the tank but my muscles would start to tighten and cramp when I pushed harder. So, I was forced to settle in at a 7:45-8min/mile pace, finding the sweet spot where my muscles would not spaz on me. I’ve already received a lot of questions about my cramping and I believe it was a combination of dehydration (magnified by the vomiting) and not taking in enough salt. I need to start training with salt tablets ASAP or I will not survive the Ironman.

By the time I reached mile 12, I could sense the excitement building inside of me. All I wanted to do was sprint out of joy, but knew that I needed to be smart and just keep everything steady. The home stretch to the finish was unlike any I have ever experienced. People upon people upon people lined the street, and I literally lost the sound of my breathing and thoughts to the noise and cheers of the crowd. It was literally one of the most breathtaking moments of my life. I don’t think there is any other race experience like running through the roaring crowd down Sherman Ave and seeing that Ironman finishing chute get closer and closer. Just magical.

Run: 1:42:53 (7:52 min/mile)
Final: 5:12:10 (3rd AG)

When I finished all I could do was smile at the volunteers and thank everyone around me. I quickly spotted my husband and gave him a sweaty kiss. We both had tears in our eyes and I was so glad he could experience that moment with me.

The guys that I train with, Adrian and Michael, had also finished around that time (Adrian actually crossed the line right in front of me) and we were all able to celebrate and get a finisher photo together. Michael finished 2nd in his AG and Adrian had a huge PR. It was all around success.

My coach was also there and I immediately started crying when I saw him – just filled with so much gratitude for how hard he has pushed me this season and knowing that it paid off big time.

And then the news came – I had finished 3rd in my age group. What the what??? Me? I was 52nd in my AG coming out of the water, and made up a lot of ground on the bike to move up to 5th place heading into the run, but at the very best I was just hoping to hold on and make it up on the podium in 5th place. But somehow I managed to pass two girls on the run and push my way into 3rd. I was, and still am, shocked!

After cooling down and taking a few post-race photos with my coach, teammates, and family, Justin and I made our way back to our rental house to clean up and check out before returning for the award ceremony. Axel was a little trooper as we dragged him around and kept him up past his normal nap time (he later slept really well in the car as we drove part of the way home that evening). When the award ceremony started, I was completely humbled by all of the talented athletes around me. Standing on that stage was truly a dream come true, and the realization of something I had envisioned since starting this journey back in November when I was still only two months removed from childbirth. I will never forget that experience, or the people who helped me get there.

This was by far one of the most spectated events I have ever been a part of, which is pretty incredible for a town on only 44,000 people. I am the type of person that thrives off the energy of the crowd, so that made a huge difference in my race. Having the chance to preview pretty much the entire course has me beyond excited to return to Coeur d’Alene in less than 7 weeks to see what I can do in my first FULL Ironman. Hopefully the circumstances leading up to that race will be less chaotic than this one, and the experience under my belt will pay off when I do it again on August 21!

Lately…

May 26, 2016 by Kristen 19 Comments

I’m back! Not that I left or went anywhere special, but lately life has been busy and my priorities have left very little room for hobbies or downtime. I finally have a window of opportunity to give my blog a little attention and catch everyone up on what’s been happening this past month! Some of the highlights include:

Epic bike rides on closed roads over scenic mountain passes.
My first Mother’s Day (it was the best).
Time with family and meeting my stepsister’s 4-month-old little girl.
Introducing Axel to his great grandparents.
I got a new road bike!

After the Eugene Half Marathon, I ended up getting sick. I literally went to urgent care that evening after we returned to Bend, was diagnosed with some kind of virus, and it took me nearly a week to feel like myself again. I believe that getting sick is just another way our bodies communicate that it’s time to slow down and recover. So I spent a lot of downtime with these two handsome fellas.

Since the half marathon my running has felt a little off, both mentally and physically. I’m still covering the mileage and doing the workouts my coach prescribes, but it FEELS a lot harder. Does this ever happen to you? It’s as though after the race my legs took a hiatus and went on strike. They feel heavy and lethargic, and I’ve been struggling with consistently running between a 7 and 8 minute mile. I am chalking some of that up to the fact that I have continued to ramp up my training volume and intensity ahead of Ironman CdA 70.3 in June, but here’s hoping I can reignite the fire in my steps and find them again between now and then.

Along with this, after the race I mentally felt like I needed a small break from running. I had been doing a lot of races in March and April, and the half marathon was the tipping point that put me over the edge. Thankfully, several of my runs have been at base and endurance pace. This allows me to focus more on endurance and control, and to run with Justin and Axel on occasion.

In the meantime, I have really been enjoying life on the bike and am working hard to make huge gains in the saddle. The bike is where I can really see myself excelling this year in triathlon. Whatever time I lose in the swim (which will be several minutes) I will have to make back ten fold on the bike!

I have put my will-power and strength to the test on a few occasions lately while riding with my coach and his team of clients/athletes, all of whom are training for various events. A couple weeks ago a group of us rode up and over both sides of the McKenzie pass, one of the most difficult climbs in Oregon starting at 1500ft and climbing to over 5000ft within 20 miles.

It’s also one of the most beautiful rides I have ever done. The road is closed to vehicles in the winter, but was clear of snow and hadn’t yet re-opened to auto traffic, so we had the pavement all to ourselves. These guys provided nothing but encouragement as we weaved up and around the twisting road to the summit!

Last week was another epic climb up to Mt. Bachelor with my coach. Once again, I tested my limits and pushed hard as we rode to the ski lodge and beyond on the Cascade Lakes Highway.

Up until this past Monday the road beyond Bachelor was also closed to vehicles, so we had the road and views all to ourselves! I love when there are no vehicles on the roads and you can ride freely without worry. This road has a 10 inch shoulder, so it’s important to be cognizant of vehicles throughout the summer as traffic can be a bit crazy these days (everyone is finding out about Bend).

On Tuesday, I also showed up for my first large group ride. Ever. With a name like Hammerfest, and with a field full of current and former pro cyclists, to say that I was nervous and intimidated would be an understatement. I stuck close to my coach’s wheel the entire time, stayed with the main group until the big climb near the end, and “hammered” out 30 miles at an average pace of 22.52 miles per hour. I might even consider doing it again!

And, because my cycling has been so strong for me lately, guess who is doing her first ROAD RACE this weekend? Me. That’s right. I am stepping 100% out of my comfort zone and am doing something I said I would NEVER do. I almost just fainted typing that. Honestly, I have never had any desire to race a bike in a group setting. It scares the crap out of me. I’m okay with riding in a triathlon setting and having a comfortable space between me and other riders, but the mere thought of riding closely in a group of women puts a little fear in me. I’m just hoping I can shrug off the nerves and enjoy the experience. I’ll be racing at the Bend Don’t Brake on Saturday – wish me luck. Eek! At least I will have my favorite two cheerleaders there supporting me!

Swimming continues to be a struggle for me, both in the “I enjoy this” category and the “I’m good at this” category. I just wish something would click for me like it does for others. Three things have seemingly helped these past few weeks.

I got a small lesson and had the masters coach analyze my technique and catch. With a few adjustments and drills, my catch will hopefully provide a little more power to move me through the water.

I started breathing on my weak side. It sounds weird, but I discovered that I actually swim FASTER when I breathe on my awkward (left) side. My coach wanted me to practice bilateral breathing and as soon as I did I was 10-15seconds faster per 100meter. It is still hard for me to breathe on my left side, but this is something I am going to focus on moving forward since the results speak for themselves so far.

They removed the roof/cover and I am now able to swim outside. Just knowing I will get a little fresh air and vitamin D motivates me to get my butt to the pool when I’m not feeling it.

I’m hoping to throw on my wetsuit in the next week or two and take it out for a test swim in one of our (cold) nearby lakes. After months of swimming in the pool it will be fun to see where I am at in the open water.

Ironman CdA 70.3 is less than five weeks away, which means I will be investing time and energy into some big training days in the coming weeks before tapering for the race. I find it very invigorating to mentally prep for these big weeks and power through. These weeks are tough – but rewarding. At the same time I am entering into the final two weeks of the spring term, which means grading, emails, and exams will begin piling up and put extra time constraints on my already busy schedule. Apparently, I really didn’t think this through when I signed up for the half Ironman. Oh well, once again it’s all about doing what I can and making it work.

Honestly, because of training, work, and SAHMing, I haven’t had much of a social life lately. Womp womp. In fact, what is a social life? Haha. I guess my social life takes place during group rides and running events, which is the best I can ask for when my time is spread very thin. Thankfully I have friends who are very understanding and know what kind of commitment I am making (I think) when it comes to taking so much on at once.

Justin has been very patient with my training and helps out when he can to watch Axel, prepare meals, and do chores around the house and yard (he also built and installed two bird nest boxes, which are now inhabited by a Northern Flicker family and a House Wren family). I couldn’t do it without him. Even though we are both busy, we make it a goal to do things as a family and spend quality time together each week. It’s been both fun and challenging watching Axel experience new things as he joins Justin and I on our adventures. For example, we learned that he LOVES being in the pool, and hates car rides that are longer than 4 hours (yep, we somehow survived a 5 hour road trip a couple weeks ago). For the most part he is pretty adaptable and is very much a go-with-the-flow kind of kid. He’s nearly 30 inches tall already, more than 20 pounds, and as a result everyone seems to comment about what a great football player he is going to be someday. And his first words, much to the dismay of his mama and nana, were dada. My mom (nana) caught it all on video. I’ll have to post an Axel update after our 9-month appointment next week. ☺

It’s good to be back here after my recent hiatus, and I look forward to recommitting to my blogging from here on (as time allows, of course). With a busy summer of training, racing, and life ahead of us, there will be plenty to talk about!

Have you ever done something that was 100% out of your comfort zone?

Have you ever done something that you said you would never do?

Recovery Week and Battling Mental Fatigue

April 30, 2016 by Kristen 14 Comments

These past two weeks have been an absolute blur. Between an eruption of work that had to get done, doctor appointments, training, and taking care of Axel, I’m surprised I have enough left in me to write this post. It actually feels good to sit down, write, and give my blog some attention.

Work has consumed me the past several days with papers to be graded, an exam to prep, and emails that seem to pile up faster than I can respond. To get it all done, I had to set the alarm clock a little earlier than usual, and cut short or altogether skip a few of my workouts, but at least my mind was more at ease. Work has to be a priority before training when my students are relying on me for prompt feedback, I am working against deadlines, and emails filling up my inbox. At least I was able to push through and get all of my work done until the next round begins on Monday.

As a result, I came out of this week mentally exhausted. I handle physical fatigue a lot better than mental fatigue, so it’s been a rough go for me the past several days. On top of that, Axel has three top teeth coming in, so he’s been extra fussy and needy of late. Thankfully I was still able to break away here and there for some time outside. Most of my runs have been on the lighter side, as I am tapering for the Eugene Half Marathon, so it’s been a nice escape to get away for 30-45 minutes here and there. Nature calms the mind and soul.

If you’ve been reading this blog for some time you know that I have been seeing a physical therapist from time to time for some pelvis and lower back pain that are still lingering from pregnancy and childbirth. While my pelvis pain has pretty much disappeared, my back pain has gotten noticeably worse. It doesn’t hurt to run or bike, but swimming of all things really aggravates it. Any time I am laying on my stomach or back in a straight position, and then go to get up, I have a sharp/stabbing sensation that surges through by lower back, spine and glute region. It should come as no surprise that constantly having to pick up, set down, or carry a 20-pound baby doesn’t help either. I finally made an appointment with my primary care physician last week and found out I have a locked pelvis and inflammation in my fifth lumbar vertebra. The pelvis issue is causing one leg to sit slightly higher, creating a chain of events that create pain throughout my back, butt, and thighs.

I have now started seeing Dr. Terry Doi at NWX Chiropractic. I was a little hesitant about chiropractic work (I’m not a fan of popping and shifting body parts) but she instantly put my mind at ease and focused on deep tissue trigger point therapy (amazing), electric stimulation, and drop table. I felt some improvement after we were finished and am hoping that the benefits increase as I continue treatment. I will be seeing her 2-3 times a week until there is significant and consistent improvement. It’s tough because one of the major culprits of the pain is picking up and holding Axel throughout the day. I really don’t have a choice, but it constantly feels as though I am taking two steps forward and one step back when trying to manage the pain. At least he’s worth it.

Training has been hit or miss, but that’s okay. After my three-week build and half Ironman simulation, I was able to enjoy a recovery week last week and took full advantage of the down time. Don’t ever underestimate the power of good recovery. The weather around Bend has been erratic with a mixed bag of everything from thunderstorms and hail, to snow, wind, rain, and sunshine (sometimes all in the same day). If you go outside, you never know what you will get. Recovery weeks are easier when you don’t want to get nailed by marble sized hail.

I was able to get in a few easy rides, actually making it a point to go easy – which I struggle with. Because I train with power I can easily gauge my effort level at all times and not go overboard. When coach says “Finish your ride with an IF (intensity factor) of < 0.66, and stay away from hills” he means it! I do love the way he emphasizes the easy days. He knows me so well (my tendency to go too hard – that is). I’m learning to take active recovery days just as seriously as I do the high intensity, big workout days.

The Bend Marathon and Half was this past weekend. I had contemplated running it, as I ran the inaugural half last year when I was pregnant, but ultimately decided to wait a week and run the Eugene Half Marathon instead. There was something more tempting about running a flat course at sea level. Plus, the Eugene half finishes at the holy grail of running – with a lap around the track at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus. I plan on making my Olympic debut by sprinting as fast as I can to the finish. #Dreaming

I finally got a chance to meet and ride with Kayla, a friend I met through blogging and social media. We’ve been following each other for years and finally found an opportunity to connect. Kayla was in town with her family for the Bend Marathon, and brought her bike with her so we could go on a ride. She is also training for Ironman Coeur d’Alene (both the half and full like me) so I’m excited that I will get to see her again at future races. By the way – she kicked butt and finished in 1:30 at the Bend Half. Give me some of your running talent, please!!!

Justin and I are heading over Eugene today for tomorrow’s race! It will be our first out-of-town, overnight hotel experience with Axel. I’m really excited to see how he does with traveling. The weather is supposed to be 80 degrees and sunny tomorrow, although it will likely be 50 degrees while I am running, which is about perfect. My mindset going into this race will be – race smart. This will be my first half marathon postpartum, and although I would love to chase after a PR, I also want to finish feeling good and in control. Pace, pace, pace…

Anyone else racing this weekend?

Have you ever been to a chiropractor? Did it help? I’d love to hear about your experience.

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun

April 19, 2016 by Kristen 25 Comments

Right now I am writing this blog post while sitting outside in the sunshine, enjoying a glass of wine, while Justin is doing yard work and Axel is taking a nap. Hallelujah for baby monitors. This is probably the most relaxed I have been in a while – something about the quiet, the warm sunshine, and the cool breeze just feels so good in this moment, especially when the weather in Bend has been absolutely bipolar lately. On Thursday it snowed (!!!) and now here it is nearly 80 degrees on Sunday. Oh, the Jekyll and Hyde nature of our lovely Bend.

My first triathlon of the year is in 10 weeks. When I was pregnant with Axel and was 10 weeks from my due date, it felt like an eternity – all I wanted was to meet my son. But now, the weeks seem to be flying by faster than I can count them. We’ll be loading up the car and driving to Coeur d’Alene in no time. If you think triathletes travel with a lot of gear, imagine how much a triathlete traveling with an infant requires! I’m excited that there are a slew of athletes from Bend attending as well.

This past week was a positive reminder of how far I have come in this sport. Not just since having a baby seven months ago, but since I started my triathlon journey in 2014. This was the last week in my three-week build series, and it ended with a bang when I did a half ironman simulation on Saturday, followed by a 15 mile run on Sunday. This was my longest run postpartum and it felt great! A special shout out to my husband who tracked me down and brought me a cold Gatorade halfway into my run since the drinking fountains in Bend’s parks still haven’t been turned on for the spring/summer. He loves me.

I also did my longest swim EVER on Thursday, the full Ironman distance of 2.4 miles. And wow, was it a long swim. Thankfully I had my music and a variety of pool toys to keep me occupied. By the time I finished I had been in the water for 1 hour and 35 minutes, including rest breaks between sets and a little chit chatting with the many swimmers who were sharing my lane. It wasn’t necessarily a pretty swim (I don’t know how to swim pretty) but at least I now have one Ironman distance swim under my belt.

Now, onto the simulation…

On Saturday I joined Coach Mike and another one of his clients (also a friend), Adrian, for a half Ironman bike/run simulation. Essentially the plan was to bike 56 miles at goal pace, do a simulated T-2, and then run 3 miles at goal pace. Before we started, Mike gave me a target time of 2:50 on the bike and 8:30 min/mile on the run. I secretly wanted to do 2:45 on the bike, which was my time when I did Lake Stevens 70.3 in 2014.

The bike went better than I could have expected and I completed the 56 miles in 2:37 (including stops and yielding for traffic) with plenty of gas still left in the tank. As we approached the 56-mile mark, I looked at my watch and started screaming sounds of joy into the air. You would have thought I won the Tour de France. This may be fast for some and slow for others, but for me it was perfection. I don’t like using the word perfect, but it truly was a fulfilling moment. It was months of hard work coming to fruition. It was a reflection of my time away from Justin, Axel, and my home. It was a testament to all the grueling hours I had invested in my trainer rides over the winter. And that was part one…

Once we finished our bike leg, Mike and I took off on the run. Mike’s son Luke (an eleven year old athletic carbon copy of his father) ran with and paced Adrian. Originally the plan was to run 3.5 miles at an 8:30min/mile pace, but as soon as we got going we were both feeling good and decided to push it. We ended up running a 10k averaging 7:25min/mile. This is unheard of for me. I was breathing hard and could “feel” each step, but I pushed forward keeping pace with Mike. When we arrived back to his house, I collapsed on the grass with tears of joy welling up in my eyes. I did not know I had that in me. Self-discovery is a beautiful thing.

What I have been learning is that I don’t need to be in a race environment to recognize and appreciate hard work. Yes, it is nice to PR and give it my all during a race so everyone can see a number posted on a website or in the newspaper, but quite frankly it’s also nice to see those numbers being executed behind the scenes when no one else is looking. Even if I never bike a 2:37 in a race, it doesn’t mean I can’t. Because I can. And I have. I don’t need a race to prove anything. Thankfully though, races make it a bit easier to reach those milestones – adrenaline, camaraderie, competition, aid stations, spectators – it’s all there to bring out the best in an athlete.

This was a big mental week for me more than anything and a lot of goals/ambitions came to fruition after I accomplished some pretty big high points in my training. Right now I feel like my biking and running are really starting to click together as a single unit. Running off the bike used to be a real struggle for me, but lately it has felt natural.

When I started this Ironman journey in January, my goal was to get back in shape, have fun, and chase my dream of crossing the finish line after 140.6 miles in CdA. Training for my first Ironman, after having a baby, was a big enough goal that I did not need to put additional pressure on myself to perform to some “standard.”

Although I still have a similar mindset, something is happening in my training that I did not expect – I am surpassing my goals and finding a new kind of strength in my body and mind that I did not have in years past. I’m discovering a new side to “me” as an athlete, perhaps brought out in part by the miracle and accomplishment of pregnancy and childbirth, and am building confidence with each passing week. And most importantly, I am really enjoying myself and having fun. I am fortunate enough to have an hour or two each day to myself, and I actively choose to train hard and make this a priority in my life. Doing this each day makes me feel alive and brings out the best in me.

I love this sport. I love the fact that one can experience highs and lows in a matter of minutes, even seconds. Where pain and elation can be felt simultaneously. Where you, the athlete, completely control your own destiny. Where at the end of the day, everyone finishes what he or she has started, no matter the speed, obstacles, setbacks, or circumstances. Because hey, we’re all in it together, doing something we love.

I’m looking forward to the recovery week ahead and taking it easy on the bike and run. It’s never easy in the pool. ☺