On Sunday, July 27th I achieved my goal, my dream - I became an Ironman. I loved every adventurous moment of my race. I realize now that I wouldn't change a thing about the way the day unfolded. I evoked my inner superhero IronBird spirit!
Ok finally it is time to reveal my very own IronBird superhero Painting which was is amazing birthday gift from artist and friend Bray Scott-Lewis. It is oil on canvas and I will take a photo when it has been stretched onto a frame. It is priceless to me! Thank you so much Bray. When I requested that she make me an original piece of art for my 50th birthday I had no idea this masterpiece would immortalize my Ironman achievement
During the Ironman race, I smiled rather than cried my way to a top ten age group victory by crossing the finish line in under 3 hours.
I laughed and danced with my favourite Thunder Gods - Zeus, the Greek & Thor, the Norse - each and everything they sent me fireworks, a deluge if liquid sunshine and heavenly hail stones! I was kissed and warmed by my favourite sun deities Áine, the Celtic beauty and her Greek counterpart Apollo. Their superpowers gave me the ultimate pleasure of descending the mountain in a perfect aero tuck on the 2nd lap thanks to dry pavement. I was given one chance to reach a top speed of 80 kph and feel that adrenaline rush I love and need to reenergize and nourish my newly discovered "need for speed" in perfectly safe conditions.
As my friend Stacy said on Facebook
"She ended up executing a perfect day for all the things in her control. Her time as bang on. They pulled her due to weather but SHE did it all right. Look at the races other Ironman athletes had yesterday and you'll see just how AMAZING Moka's finish time is. She did fiercely great!"
I believe It was my destiny & ultimate test of discipline, focus & determination that the day unfolded as it did. Physically and mentally I pulled it together. The only slight gastro and cramping issues I had were immediately remedied by taking salt tablets every hour from hour 5 onward.
See post "my Ironman nutrition plan to see what I ate from my breakfast at 03h00 to my finish at 19h44.
I helped other racers who spotted my salt tab container hanging from my race belt during the run. They pleaded and I happily shared those and dispensed Tylenol & Zantac I brought but didn't need myself! I suffered no serious illnesses nor injury throughout my training and race.f! I suffered no serious illnesses nor injury throughout my training and race.
I took Monday off totally and enjoyed post race chats and the awards ceremony. I walked a lot and felt fine. I swam for 20 minutes in the pool at the hotel yesterday and had massage. I hope to swim again today. I can't wait to get back on my bike and will tomorrow if my saddle sores allow. My recovery training plan recommends Friday as a day off - osteopath visit anyway. Saturday is supposed to be my first run and Sealey can't wait. The intensity and volume are low.
The 4 Race Day Thunderstorms
I've always loved thunderstorms. I respect their power and know they can be dangerous. But I love the show - lightening awakens something in me I like and thunder makes me jump & sometimes scream & sometimes grip onto something like in scary movies.
There were 4 thunderstorms and other times the rumble of thunder was heard at a distance.
Storm 1 was the most dramatic and the only one that frightened me really and only because it was so powerful & I was swimming! As soon as I was on shore, I was I started to laugh. The forecast predicted it for 2 weeks! I am surprised so many people were surprised.
I saw the thunder clouds gathering on my first lap of the swim and wondered to myself "when" not "if" it would begin. I recall I was willing it to let me finish the swim. Earlier, in transition, I made the correct and wise decision to only inflate my tires to 105psi so they'd be better in the rain that hadn't yet begun but as a Maritimer I could smell & feel in my bones.
You don't need your race bib on the bike for an Ironman (though I saw plenty opted to wear theirs). I used a spare belt to attached mittens with Velcro to address the
chronic Raynauds (hands freeze, get numb, turn white from lose of circulation) get after the swim or whenever my hands are exposed to the cold (wind, cold) or I am stressed. I carry mitts everywhere and had placed a pair in each of my gear and special needs bags in case they became to soaked to be effective. I also had hand warmers I could add to keep my hands toasty. I added the warmers to my mitts in T1 knowing I'd thank myself. I had more offers of cash for them and comments if envy from racers than I could recall (lost count at 10). So many others battled to grip their handlebars or grip their brakes in the rain during the steep 10k descent into Keene.
The sky during that first storm gave the impression that it would never be sunny again - it was that ominous. It lasted for 3 hours. It followed us through the Adirondack mountains until we were in the valley on the way back to the Hamlet of Jay on the way back from Ausable Forks.
I was more fearful of other cyclists who were inexperienced at riding in wet conditions. I passed so many not just because I could but for my own safety as it was obvious that even experienced cyclists were riding their brakes. That so many began the bike at the same time meant it was crowded and drafting distance was impossible to obtain and was waved until later in the day. Human error and inexperience scared me more than cycling in an electrical storm!
Storm 2 - at 165 km approx 15h00 climbing after Whiteface Mountain. The lightening and thunder weren't as dramatic as the morning but the rain was colder and turned into ice pellets and then hail stones like large pebbles. That time I actually burst into laughter which made the two guys I'd been with most of the day also laugh. One guy said something to do with a storm of biblical proportions and predicted pestilence would follow shortly - I howled while climbing mama bear that honestly felt like a piece of cake!
Storm 3 and 4 - happened during the run... Brief and refreshing though loud thunder and a drenching but the sun shone I right after and between and it got so hot sweat stung my eyes
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