Race Report – 2009 Ironman Wisconsin – pictures included

 

Prelude: First attempt after verbalizing a 25 year dream to friends who encouraged me to sign up this year because everyone is racing this year! (MSM Northwest chapter) Well if I wasn’t going to do it this year, it wouldn’t happen. So……here I am……a first time Ironman Finisher!

 

Prelude 1: Being the person I am, I follow rules, I need structure, I need a plan, I came off a Chicago Marathon PR finish being coached for the first time, not knowing what to do, not being able to afford a coach, but wanted a coach because I will do exactly what the coach tells me to do, found a person in the same boat, approached the coach, convinced the coach to do a two for one deal, and wa-la! Hired the coach, (told my husband later), and began my journey.

 

Training: WOW! All I can say is, I knew I would be investing a lot of time into it, but I didn’t expect the “emotional trauma” of missing my running buddies (i.e. social time) on a weekly basis (I am a runner first, you know!) and putting my family second to training. Swimming and biking was a way of cross training for running and doing short course triathlons. This is a whole new ball game! Okay, I don’t know biking routes, I can’t keep up with the fast cyclists, how will I be able to do this? Biking more than once or twice a week? Mega-miles on the bike? What? My training schedule doesn’t fit into my running buddy’s schedule. Run on my own, bike on my own (sometimes… thanks Lisa), swim with a group, but then who talks while swimming? Stress! Okay, do what I have to do.

Thanks to supportive co-triathletes, I eventually found my way around town on the bike. Thanks, Trudy! Time to think. Why am I doing this? Yes, to fulfill a dream I had 25 years ago.  I need another reason. Enter Bright Hope International…..serving the poorest of the poor.

Raising money to help families across the world. Thank you sponsors!

 

Time to complain…tired of this….unmotivated…negative comments….why did I say yes?...my house is a mess…my family has become second in line…my spiritual life is on a downward roller coaster…I find myself crying for no reason at all on a run…..my life seems to be slipping by…..help! I remind myself “this is a season, it will be worth it, it will soon be over, I will soon have my life back, how many people can do this?, just do it!”

 

Coach: Your feelings are normal. This is hard. Race day will be different. I feel the same way you do. You will do great. Nutrition, neuromuscular training, hard days, easy days, long 9 hour training days, Madison bike course multiple times, one day off, simplify, what, no 20 milers? (only if you get lost) You are trained. I have all the confidence in you. I can’t wait to celebrate with you. There is no other feeling than the feeling you have when you cross the finish line and hear your name called saying you are an Ironman! Thank you Coach Chris!

 

Fears: Mass swim start…..Holy cow! Hearing war stories, starting in a mass start, Open Water Swim Races to “get the feel of it”, bad Racine swim start. Okay, what do I do when I have fear? I pray. I ask other prayer warriors to pray for me. Specifically for peace, removal of anxiety and fears, confidence, relaxed, and breathe comfortably. Nutrition…knowing my body needs fuel to go the distance…health challenges with bladder and intestines…not something you want to experience in any race, but especially an Ironman! Called on my prayer warriors. Pray for those concerns not to be an issue, and that I would choose the proper nutrition to fuel my body. Thank you Jan for fasting and praying for me all day.

 

Swim start: Prayers answered! Excitement building but NO fear, NO anxiety. Nothing but PEACE!  (Found out weeks later that 3 people gathered together at home on race day morning and prayed specifically for me to have peace and for God to remove any fears and anxiety for the swim). Thank you, Jenni! God is good! Looking around, taking it all in, the spectators, the sounds, the glorious sun shining on the lake, perfect temperature, the athletes in the water! Five minutes to go and I am realizing I am not nervous. I have a plan. I am confident.  (Goal number one happening…I will start this race with confidence!)  I will enjoy this! CANNON goes off! Have my own water…going well…first buoy is congested but I’m okay…second buoy congested, no problems until I get my goggles kicked off. No worries, not anxious, not scared. Tread water, get hamstring cramp, quickly goes away, goggles back on, start to swim. Goggles not on good enough, get them pulled off, almost lost them, tread water, flip to back, see swimmers coming at me, think! Look at kayaks, raise my hand. “Need help?” Yes! Make my way perpendicular to swimmers toward kayak. Hang on to kayak, put goggles back on securely, compose myself, say thank you to the lifeguard, and back on track. Time went by fast and I exited the water with a smile on my face!

 

T-1: Running up the helix, being cheered on was invigorating. Yes, took me longer than I wanted, but I didn’t care. 112 miles on the bike, I wanted to make sure I was set. The volunteers were excellent, meeting my every need!

 

Bike: First 69 miles, I was loving every minute of it! Praising God for the ability to do this, and asking Him to be by my side, every step and pedal of the way. The spectators and volunteers were awesome!  Reading signs, hearing cheers, “savoring the moments”. Saw my family and friends on the first loop of the hills. Laughed at the spectators dressed in all kinds of garb!   Heard encouraging words from strangers I didn’t know and probably never will see again. Played leap frog with my friend Karen, chit-chatting casually as we passed each other back and forth. Mile 70, started feeling queasy. Okay, God, what should I do? With that thought and prayer, Karen rides up next to me again, only this time, for the first time, she specifically asks me, “How are you feeling?” I told her about my queasiness. She asked me, “You know what to do, don’t you?” I told her “no”. She said, “Slow down, (I know you don’t want to hear this), lower your heart rate, and drink a lot of water”, and off she went. I said, “God, is this your answer?” I took her advice. The queasiness came and went until the end of the 112 miles, but I made an effort to consciously drink more water than what I did previously. After all, it was warm out there, though I didn’t really feel it on the bike. Thanks, Karen! 

 

T-2: So glad to be off the bike!! A little wobbly. Okay...a LOT wobbly! Awesome volunteers to greet me and take my bike, directing me to the transition room. Okay, change of plans for the run regarding nutrition. Got what I needed out of my bag with my personal volunteer’s help, still took too much time, but hey… I was about to run a marathon! Wanted to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind!  

 

Run: Walked out of T-2, until I saw the crowds lining the streets. Time to run! I’m in my element. This is what I LOVE to do! Who are the first people I see? My husband and three kids with their signs! It was an incredible surprise! Burst of energy as I made my way down the spectator lined street. Got my running legs after a few minutes. Heard my coach’s voice in my head, “Hold back, walk through the aid stations, drink, and fuel”. Okay, being a first-time Ironman participant, not knowing what lies ahead for my body, I listened. The miles ticked by. Gatorade, water, chicken broth, Endurolytes, gels…..I saw and heard my friends lining the streets cheering me on as well as my friends in training, veterans and first-timers, on the course cheering me on even as they were racing their race. Camaraderie…..what a gift! I never felt tired, I continued praising God, and asking for His guidance to see me through to the end with strength and endurance. His presence was deeply felt. Inspiration mile…wow! Hundreds of signs line the path, looking for my signs I made, never saw them but saw Peter’s and it made me laugh! Second time around, it was getting dark. Gave up reading the signs. Before I knew it I was back in town, hearing the crowds and nearing the finish. I think I held back too much. I had so much energy and strength, I picked up the pace with excitement and finished strong and felt amazingly good! My second goal set 9 months ago accomplished. Heard, “Laurie Teper….you are an Ironman!” Coach Chris was right. It was a fantastic day. These words cannot describe the feelings I had all day long. All the while raising $920.00 for families in desperate need! Thank you sponsors from the bottom of my heart! Your generosity will truly make a difference in many lives and will not go unnoticed. Well done good and faithful servants! If you know anyone who would like to contribute to the cause, my fundraising page will be open until March 2010. Have them visit www.firstgiving.com and type my name in.

 

Yes, I hope to “race” an Ironman again in the future, God willing. It was an experience I will never forget. A huge thank you to all of those people, who trained with me, supported me, sponsored me, tolerated me, and prayed for me. I am forever grateful.

 

        

 

With a Humble Spirit,

Laurie

13:15:06