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**Yikes-this is my first race report ever. Reading back in it-it is very incomplete. I wish I would have had more 'race reporting' experience under my belt-but this will have to do...
Doug and I just finished the Pigman 1/2 Ironman this past weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Karl and Cheri went up to do the 1/2 IM as well. George, Cheri's husband and my mom also came up to be our cheering section.
Alright, so we're off...Doug and Cheri are in Heat 1, I'm in Heat 5 and Karl is Heat 3, I think. They have all taken off ahead of me. I have a nice swim, slow swim, but nice. I started off in the back of the pack just knowing that's where I needed to be. I am a slow swimmer and do not want/need anyone trying to drown me. I start out a little nervous but settle in fairly early as I know this is for the long haul-nice and steady...nice and steady. The water was cool but refreshing. The sun was big and bright, it was hard to see the buoys. They had heats coming in behind me and I had several several several men pass me up. They were very kind in not kicking me, swimming over me or pulling me down. I was very lucky everyone was so kind. It was one large loop and then we were done. I remember standing on the beach the day before thinking that is NOT the buoys for our race...that is too far! Nope-that was them alright and I did it. I finished the one giant loop. Whoo for me! From what Doug told me after the race, he got kicked in the face and had a lens pop out, but the brat still had a faster swim than me.
So I come in from the swim and into TI-alright, where are all the bikes? Everyone is gone. Like WAY gone! Oh well. I had a good swim, am having a good time; I hop on and get ready for my 56 miles. For the most part, had a good ride. The day was nice, the sun was out. My legs and body were feeling good. It wasn't too hilly of a course but did offer some challenges. However, I did have yet another flat, number 4 for the season. Had I learned the 3 times before to change a flat? No! Should I have? Ummm…yes! What was I thinking? So after time ticked and ticked and ticked away (around a half hour or more-kid you not), I had a nice man help me change my tire-my back tire at that! He was racing too, his first 1/2 as well. As we watched bike after bike pass us, we sat and laughed. Oh, poor thing. Not me…this poor man for having stopped to help me! A SAG pulled up and asked if we needed help, nope, we were good-what does it matter adding on 30+ minutes to your HIM? It just means next one I’ll be able to cut off a buttload of time. We asked where we were. He told us there was one man behind us. WHAT? One person behind us? One?! Okay! So we say our goodbyes after the tire was changed and head on our what seemed like a solo journey.
About mile 45, I happen upon an accident. A motorcyclist hit 2 bicyclists. I had to ride THOUGH the accident, around EMT's, around the motorcyclist laying, bleeding on the concrete. Later to find out, the motorcyclist did not make it and the 2 bicyclists are in critical condition. This gave me time to think through the last 11 miles of my ride. This is not about a race, this is about a journey. The journey I took to get here, the journey I was taking that day, and the journey, God willing, I'll be taking for a long time to come. To be thankful that I am alive and able to feel the pain in my body.
As I roll into the park, and what a beautiful park it was, people were finishing up their run. They were done. There were people already done and many more trekking in. I had yet begun my run. As I rack my bike and toss my shoes on, I head out. Yes people, I'm going the right way. I KNOW! I KNOW! Don't have pity on me. I'm alive and I'm still going. I will do this! I had both pity claps and claps of 'you go girl! You can do it!' Phooey on those pity claps. I don't need that. I had my determination. That's all I needed.
I run into Doug at my mile 3 of the run, his mile 10. Whew, I had a ways to go. Oh well, I was going. Not so much running, but I was headed forward and that’s all that mattered at this time. On my run, I actually catch up to some people but they then pass me up again. It did not matter to me. I was completing a HIM. My first one. And to think less than a year ago I hardly even knew what a HIM was! Doug and Karl come back out to find me on the run and walk me in. I think I cussed like a sailor but we had a good time.
As I cross the finish line, almost everything is cleaned up and cleared out, there is hardly anyone around except a couple people recording times and mom. She came all the way to Iowa to sit outside all day to see me. What a great support system I have.
I made it! I finished! I'm officially a Pigman! Never thought I would want to be called a Pigman, but you can call me that whenever you want!
What a feeling! Such a great accomplishment. Something I'll always be very proud to say...I FINISHED!
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