MY FIRST IRONMAN - Boulder Ironman 2015

Landed in CO and started exploring with the in laws!

Us with my parents at the Rockies Game. Baseball with my dad is always a favorite memory of mine. 

Pre race bike rides were amazing. Love Colorado cycling. 

Holy cow!! It is getting real. All checked in, bike racked - Where we swim  behind us!! 

I am not sure I can fully, truly describe my Ironman Boulder experience. Even months later, as I type this, I am not sure I can put into words to fully, truly get across my experience. But I will. We flew in about a week early to try and acclimate to the elevation and to have some fun before the race. It was so good to catch up with friends and family. 

Having Colorado be my first Ironman was SO important to me. I really wanted my parents, Tom's parents and good friends to be there. I wanted them to be apart of this journey with me, and I knew I would want the support along the course. As race day rolled around..... I tried my best to remain calm. The night before the race my coach called me and talked to me about race day, we re-went over all kinds of details and he kept me calm. But let's be honest, sleep was far away the night before the race. 

My awesome co-workers gave this to my hubby to give me the night before the race. So awesome!

Race morning came so quickly and we made our way out to the Boulder Reservoir bright and early. My parents and Tom's parents rode out with us. We got ready, body marked and wet suits on (I choose to use my wet suit even though it was not wet suit legal, I wanted the comfort of my wet suit and I knew I wouldn't be placing). The below pictures are us before the race as we are getting ready and with our family. It calmed me to have my husband and family there. But I was TERRIFIED of the distance of the swim. 

Tom and I walked to the start line, seeding ourselves toward the back, for both comfort and because we were wearing wet suits and you had to be in the back. We walked to the start line hand in hand. As we started he gave me a kiss and wished me luck, and then off we went - him following me out like he had done at almost every training swim we did back home. I knew in this instance I was in it no matter and I had a LONG day ahead of me. But first, I needed to get through the swim. So I put my head down and I went. I just went. I LOVED the swim. I don't love to swim, but for some reason I was loving it. And it showed, I got out of the water WAY faster then I expected. This was seriously the best swim of my life to date. I was literally shocked looking at the time on my watching coming out of the water. 

I ran through T1 changing tent, and off to my bike.... See picture below.... 

As I made it to my bike, I saw Tom. What the heck???? I was so confused. I asked him if he was okay - I didn't expect to see him until I got to the finish line. And especially not waiting by my bike in T1. He told me "I want to race this with you!" I asked him if he was serious (This happens in our relationship a lot... Me questioning his sincerity for things) and he laughed and said "I wouldn't have waited for 20 minutes if I wasn't serious."  Good point. He was serious. So off we went. 

The bike.... Was some leap frogging to stay near each other. And where I likely made my biggest mistake. I went out for lap 1 WAY to fast. I noticed it as I was entering my second lap, and told myself to calm my jets and slow it down. My coach and I talked about this pre-race. If I was going to run into an issue, it was going to be this. Going out to fast on the bike. DON'T DO IT JESS!! I did it. Of course I did it. The damage had been done. 

I knew the killer hills were near the end. Around mile 90, I was suppose to save some energy for that. Which I did, but by the time I finished the hills I just wanted to be off this dang bike.

The below pics are Tom and I getting off the bike and heading to T2. 

At this point I was JOKING with the lady next to me as I was coming in, saying things like "Why did we sign up to run a MARATHON after this??" I was feeling pretty good in the grand scheme of things. Oh how quickly that can change. 

T2 is also where I learned that a long transition space, stairs to get to the tent are all cruel. But volunteers are amazing. All volunteers are. But in an Ironman, they are especially amazing. Seriously. One volunteer came up to me as I was entering the changing tent and wrapped her arms around me and asked what she could do for me. I didn't want to take up a volunteer because I was okay. I told her this, she told me this was my day and she was here to help me. I seriously tear up just thinking about this women and I don't even know her name. She took me to a chair, sat me down (I joked about not being able to get up, she promised she'd get me up), and she got all my run gear out of my bag. She asked if I needed anything, I needed some kind of lube for chaffing - She fetched it for me. She was amazing. She helped me get my compression socks on (This is HARD after 112 miles). She helped me get my shoes on. She held true on her promise and got me up and out of the tent to start the run. 

But where was my husband??? I couldn't find him and I thought we were doing this together! But I didn't want to waste time, I was right on track to hit my goal, actually, I was going to get UNDER my goal! So off I went. Very early in the run I saw my family and asked where Tom was! Had he come out? My family said he was just a bit ahead of me, I'd catch him. So off I went. I ran awesome until about mile 5. And then I had to go to the bathroom. 

Worst mistake of my life. Stopping in a HOT porta pottie I am pretty sure ruined me. Now, let me be honest I know it wasn't the porta pottie fault, but I think that was the icing on the cake. And it was terrible terrible icing. 

I caught Tom. But I was in rough shape. He encouraged me to run/walk. We tried that for a bit. But I couldn't. The feelings went from elation to realizing I could come in UNDER my goal to slowly watching that tick away to eventually just wanting to finish before the cut off. 

My amazing husband stayed by my side (or a step ahead of me at times, trying to almost pull me along). I feel like I basically walked the marathon at this point. This was the worst marathon of my life. I wanted to quit. Then I didn't. I had come so far. It got dark, and let me tell you the mental struggle you go through at that point is crazy. Mental strength is key. 

The next picture is my attempt to run past my family and friends..... You know so they thought I was still running. I started walking as soon as I was out of their sight. (My father in law is jogging behind me in this pic? Not sure why haha). 

I am so thankful that my husband stuck it out with me. I know he has never been on a run course that long and likely never will be again. But I needed him when it got rather empty in the dark on the out and backs. 

As we finally got near the finish, and I could see the chute we looked at each other and I think I said something like "Let's go for it".... and we both started slowly jogging. We jogged the finish chute. That time was surreal. So many people yelling and screaming, cheering YOU in, people high fiving as you ran in, I just tried to focus. I reached out and high fived my friend, Garrett, when I saw him and his girlfiriend cheering for us. Finally about half way through the chute my husband and I looked at each other and grabbed hands. We ran the rest of the way holding hands and we crossed the line like that. 

I remember we talked about the post finish kiss, the finish line kiss. That kiss didn't happen. We each got whisked away by a volunteer. That volunteer gave me my medal and made sure I was okay. When he (I think it was a he) was convinced I was okay, he left me with my husband and family. 

The finish was amazing. Finishing with my husband hand in hand will ALWAYS be a favorite memory of mine, one I will cherish forever. 

Getting wrapped in a hug by my dad as he whispered to me how proud of me he was is another moment I will cherish.

Hugging my mom and seeing her. She has always been a huge support.

Seeing my mother and father in law and hearing them say they were so proud of us. 

One of my best friends, Garrett and his girlfriend Amanda was there the ENTIRE day randomly along the course with signs and cheering us on. Seeing their faces randomly along the course, receiving high fives from them seriously kept me going. 

I will do another Ironman. If nothing else, to redeem myself. I know I cold have done. But for now, I finished in time and I became an IRONMAN!! 

Us at the finish line and the finish medal! 

So happy Amanda caught this moment on video, us coming up to the finish and crossing!

My Ironman tattoo.! 

I read this a day or two before the race and I had NO idea how true it would be. I learned this on race day. 

My friends signs! Loved seeing them along the course. Seriously!

My family and I before we were heading home back to Hawaii. This trip will always be special to me.

State 4: Green Bay Marathon

State #4 was Wisconsin and as a loyal Packer fan I was SO excited for this marathon. How could I not be? You end the marathon with a lap around Lambeau field and running through Packer tunnel before heading to the finish line. Sweeeet!

 

Hubby and I left for Wisconsin the Thursday evening before the marathon - very late, as most flights from Hawaii are red eyes. We arrived in Milwaukee mid afternoon Friday. First things first we made a stop at the Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee. We have a tradition that each trip includes a brewery tour and we take home a pint glass for a souvenir. This trip was no exception. My two aunts met us down there for a tour and tasting - We had a wonderful time!

Lakefront Brewery! With Aunt Shelley and Aunt Ellen

Tom, me & Aunt Shelley

After the brewery we headed to the go to dinner with the rest of my family and hit up another local brewery! We had a great time Friday evening!

Saturday morning we went up to Green Bay - it was a couple hour drive and lucky for us my cousin drove hubby and I so we got to sit back and enjoy the ride (we appreciated this even more coming back post marathon!) When we arrived in Lambeau we headed to lalalala..... LAMBEAU FIELD! How awesome is that? We quickly moved through the packet pick up and expo. A note about the expo and pick up. I thought it was weird that they had you pick up your packet and then go up to another floor to get the t-shirts. They even had signs on all the doors leaving reminding you not to forget your t-shirt. Why not just do it together? The expo was small, but I'll be honest I only did a quick loop before leaving the expo. We then went to lunch - QDOBA! My love - it is a shame Hawaii does not have such goodness. After lunch we went back to Lambeau to do an 1.5 hour tour - this was SO cool and a MUST while in Green Bay!

 

 



Packer Tunnel.... (Ran through this ONTO the field!!)

Go Pack Go!

Lambeau!

Down on Lambeau field!

Marathon morning came early! By 4:50am I had finally managed to roll out of bed and eat my post run meal which consisted of a piece of toast with peanut butter and a banana. I dressed, got all marathon ready and headed down to the hotel lobby to meet my support crowd and we caught the shuttle from the next door hotel to Lambeau.

I used a sharpie on my arm to remember paces at certain miles and my overall time goal - 4:45!

This was so convenient that the marathon offers this. Another awesome thing the hotel we stayed at automatically began breakfast earlier and offered late check out Sunday (no charge!) because of the marathon. Thank you for being so accommodating Baymont Inn and Suites!

Tom and I waited near the start of the race with my family until it got closer to the finish line. I was a bit nervous because it was so chilly. I was bundled up in my sweater and sweats with my hood up. About 10 minutes before the start I finally decided to ditch the sweater and sweats (But leave my long sleeve over) and headed to the start line. Gave my hubby a kiss - wished him good luck and settled in by the 4:45/4:30 pace groups to start. Before I knew it - we were off and I was on to marathon and state #4! Woohoo! I kept remembering what my coach told me to stay patient and I kept reminding myself to keep myself under control and not start out to fast. For the first 5 miles I paced myself and was having a blast! Around mile 5 I joined up with the 4:45 pace group. At mile 6 I decided I needed a potty break.

 

P.S.... Potty breaks are the worst especially when you have decided to stick with a pace group and you have to catch up with them. It took me until almost mile 10 to catch up with the pace group again because I didn't want to go super face and tire myself out and not be able to hit my goal. I caught up with the pace group again though - and ran with them the remainder of the way. Never running with a pace group before I have to admit I quite liked it. I enjoyed having people to talk to and having people who were aiming for the same time encouraging each other. At times we really kept each other going.

 

Around mile 11 or so I left my long sleeve with my family. Who by the way were AWESOME! They made it to multiple different spots throughout the course to cheer both me and my hubby on it. It was so awesome to see them along the course and have their support - it meant so much!

 

We hit the half way point and I felt great. I knew I was on target for my goal time as I was still a couple minutes ahead of schedule. I was determined and I made sure I continued to fuel correctly. I took water and Gatorade at every aid station (even if just a little) and I made sure to have GU every 45-50  minutes. At mile 20 I had one every 3 miles (Mile 20 and 23). Even when the dreaded 18-19 miles came I still felt great. In the past this is where I have really began to slow and pain creeps up on me. It didn't happen this time. Sure I had my aches and pains - but overall I still felt pretty darn good. I felt much stronger this race then past races.

 

Running a lap around City Stadium (Where the Packers played long ago) was awesome. It was made even cooler by one of the girls I was running with went to that high school and was filling me in on little city facts as we ran. It was pretty cool!

 

Mile 23 came - we stopped for a quick group photo of our pace group (See below) and then continued on. Just around mile 24 our group thinned to just 4 of us and we even lost our pacer (She dropped back to help someone). But we powered forward. 4 of us. We kept motivating each other, we kept encouraging and we kept going. At one point someone yelled "7 more blocks to go"... We couldn't have been more excited. I am pretty sure we went more then 7 blocks!!

 

When we finally turned the corner and saw Lambeau and the path to enter I was SO excited. We were SO close! I was  SO close to coming in under my goal. I ran through Packer tunnel and entered Lambeau field - HOW COOL! I did a lap around Lambeau with one of my 4:45 pace group friends (Barb) with me and it was SO cool! We exited Lambeau through Packer tunnel and made the last push toward the finish line. As we got close I still had gas in me to sprint (This didn't exist on any of my other marathons!) to the finish line... So Barb and I pushed and we sprinted to the finish. As soon as we crossed the finished we shared a hug and congratulated each other, received our medals and took some pictures together. There is nothing like runner friends - those who finish side by side and understand what you just went through and understand your accomplishment (whatever that is personally to you!)

 

I saw my family as I was finishing too and that was so awesome. Walked through the finish corral and met up with my family and hubby.

 

Final time... 4:41:23!!! I couldn't have been more excited. Not only did I beat my goal time of 4:45 but I also came in 45 minutes under my previous best marathon time. Hubby finished in 3:28 and some seconds - he cut off over a half hour off his time too!

 

Green Bay put on a great event. Aid stations were spot on throughout the course with port potties, plenty of water and Gatorade, GU, popsicle stations, root beer stations, chocolate stations (Which I skipped the last 3 but still way cool). Crowd support was awesome! We also lucked out and had perfect running weather... Chilly 45ish at the start but ended in the mid 60s.



 

Around mile 11 I believe?

Mile 23 - Remainder of the 4:45 pace group

 

Finishers medal!

We did it! Marathon #4 for me and #2 for hubby!

Us with our awesome support crowd! THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING! Love you all!

After the race I ditched my vegetarian ways momentarily (I think I earned it) and indulged in the best burgers ever.... FIVE GUYS! We can't get it on Hawaii so boy was it quite a yummy, greasy treat. After lunch we headed back to my Aunt's house and shortly after that Tom and I left for Milwaukee to meet up with his family. That night we helped set up for his Grandma's 80th birthday party and the next day we celebrated her 80th birthday with the family.

All in all - a good trip and can check off another state on my journey!



Some family at Grandma's 80th birthday!



Grandma Maggie about to blow out the candles!

The In between

What does the in between marathons look like for me? Running, running and more running with some cross training mixed in!

I started working with a running coach who I met at the Louisiana Marathon - Coach GP. He knows of my quest to run a marathon in every state. He also knows that I want to qualify and run The Boston Marathon. This is our focus as a team right now - How I can improve speed and stay healthy to be able to someday qualify for Boston. I have to say working with GP so far has been one of the best decisions I have made! Just about 2 months later and my time is already improving drastically in lower mileage events!

My next state/marathon is 4 weeks from today! I am very excited to be going to run in Green Bay and be able to run through Lambeau Field - It doesn't get much better for a Packer Fan!! I am hoping to come in under 5 hours for Green Bay which would beat my last marathon time by 26 minutes!

Beside training I've had some race to keep me busy also!

Great Aloha Run - 8 miles of running with friends :)

Haleiwa 5k - Set my new current personal best for a 5k here!! Finished in 28:04! Beat my last 5k time  by over almost a minute per mile!

Hapalua Half Marathon - A friend from work completed her first half!

Hapalua Half Marathon - Set another personal best for a half marathon here too! Finished in 2:10:51 -- beat my previous half marathon time by OVER a minute per mile!! Was SO excited!!

My first trail run! Did the Kaena Point 10k trail run - It was tough but fun!