Country Music {Half} Marathon

For the last few years I've had to be in Nashville the weekend of the Country Music Marathon for my job, promoting the Powerstep products I love at the marathon's Expo. Each year I had the little voice in the back of my head saying you're already here, you should be running. 

This year my sister Angie nudged me into signing up for this race, and I'm so glad I did! It hadn't been too long since my last half marathon, but it had certainly been a long time since I really trained for one. 

The Country Music Marathon & Half Marathon are part of the Rock 'n Roll race series. I had never done a RNR race before and looked forward to the live entertainment along the race course. Truly, every mile and half or so there was a stage with a live band playing country music. And I don't know if it's because it's a RNR race or if it's just because Nashville is a friendly, fun-loving city, but there were spectators throughout the entire course.

We ran through a college campus, and students were out early with music, signs, and offers to take a selfie with them (or a keg stand). We ran through residential areas where neighbors were having picnic breakfast with other neighbors. We ran down streets where people had set up their own water stations or offered orange slices. Everywhere there were signs, funny ones, encouraging ones.

Really, the people make this race.

I was a little concerned because Tennessee is a hilly state, but the course was mostly rolling hills. There was a fair amount of downhills for all the uphills, including a long, gradual downhill as we headed back toward downtown. 

Wait. Not miles 10-12. There were no downhills. Or maybe at that point in the race it just felt like everything was more of a struggle.

But overall the course was really great, especially the start down the middle of Broadway and the finish is always fun (though I was disappointed there was no clear Finish banner, just the timing mats. We finished and the lady next to me asked, was that the finish? Wasn't really clear.)

Three of us ran the race (me, my sister and her friend), and all of us finished within 10 minutes of each other. It wasn't a PR for me but I was only off my personal record by a couple minutes.

Half Marathon #6

Finish Time: 2:25:04

Avg pace: 11:04


I'd definitely do this race again!

Autumn Wrap-Up

When you look outside and see this....

you know you're behind on updating about our Autumn. It was a really pretty Fall this year, and we did so many things to enjoy the weather.

Evans Apple Orchard

With Aunt Amy and family and Grandpa Dave on perhaps the hottest day of the season -- Adam was a sweaty, dirty mess by the end but had so much fun. We never actually left the play area to go to the orchard itself.

Horse-Daze

This is a really neat event annually held by the county parks system. It features all kinds of horse-related activities and games, including horse rides, horse grooming, an equestrian course for kids to jump themselves, face painting, a hayride, food and more. The event raises money for the public horse trails around the county.

Pumpkin Run & Fall Festival

We'd been looking for a 5k for Adam to do, as part of the mile-per-year plan Michael has for Adam. Last year, when Adam was 3 years old, he ran his first 5k. Three years, three miles. This year we needed a four mile race, which don't really exist, but we found a small community 5k that also had a 1-mile family walk. The Pumpkin Run is sponsored by the local YMCA and was held in the quaint river town of Franklin, Ohio.

First up was the Family Walk, and Michael and Adam headed out quickly. Sam was itching to get out of his stroller so I let him loose on the course as well and he pretty much completed the distance all on his own.  Following this race was the Pumpkin Run with several costumed participants. Aunt Angie and Kevin joined us for this race. I pushed Sam and Michael ran with Adam. Four miles completed all on his own!

Following the race was the town's Fall Festival with street food, craft vendors, kid rides and presentations by local groups. It was a perfect Fall day to be outside enjoying the event, and cousin Jake was able to come play with us.

Halloween

Halloween snuck up on me this year, and once again I was staying up late to finish Adam's Halloween costume. He'd wanted to be a mummy for a long tim but the closer the day came he kept changing his mind. I made the final decision for him and threw together a mummy costume using liner fabric I had on hand, ripped it up and dyed it with tea, and attached it to a t-shirt and pants. For Sam, we recycled the frog costume Adam wore at the same age.

We had tickets to go see Garth Brooks in concert Rupp Arena at 10:30 Halloween night, so we drove down to Lexington to join the cousins for trick-or-treating before the show.

Mother Nature didn't tell Autumn that her season was over before the first snow fall came mid-November (4 inches!), and we lost a tree in our yard due to the weight of the snow and ice on tree branches that still had leaves.

Our November ended quite busy with Sam's birthday (2!) and an active Thanksgiving week with friends from Florida. Posts on those to come!

Bourbon Chase 2014

So for the last couple of years Michael has done this relay race called the Bourbon Chase. It takes place in Kentucky along the famous Bourbon Trail; it is a 12-person team, 200-mile continuous race. Last year my sister Angie participated and kept telling me how fun it was and that I had to join the team this year. I didn't know which sounded worse -- the idea of running in the dark along country roads alone in the wee hours of the morning with a headlamp or enduring broken sleep in the back of a van. But hey, they are all fun people and I can be talked into anything. Sign me up!

This is how it works -- Each team has 2 vans of 6 runners. Van 1 (ours) runs 6 legs, then Van 2 takes over while Van 1 rests and recovers. We cheer our runner at the start of the leg, drive the 5-7 miles to the next exchange spot and waited for him/her there. Then we sit and talk and check emails and take a nap and hydrate and eat and use the port-a-potty and debate the weather and running apparel, and then our next runner gets warmed up and prepped. When we see our runner we are there to greet him and cheer the next one of us on the start of the next leg. And we do it all over again. After 5 or 6 hours of this we meet up with our other van and pass off to them for the next 6 legs.We alternate 3 times with each runner running 3 legs over the course of 200 miles.

Van 1 consisted of me and Michael, my sister Angie, Michael's brother Kevin and his wife Jenny, and Michael's cousin Matthew. Our teammates in the other van consisted of my sister Kim, dear friend Rich, 2 running friends of Rich, and our last-minute replacements that, God love them, volunteered to participate and spend 36 hours with complete strangers! They were awesome and a fun addition to that van.

Race morning (Friday) started out at the Jim Beam Distillery. It's a staggered start with 10 teams going off every 10 minutes. Team Maker's Made Me Do It (that's us!) was one of the first teams at 7am.

Starting from Jim Beam Distillery, much of the run is along remote country roads that go between the distilleries on the Bourbon Trail (the long way around) through some of the most picturesque landscapes Kentucky has to offer. And, oh, Kentucky has hills to offer as well! Some legs have rolling hills and others have steep inclines that are so sharp that you can't even run down them. There was a disadvantage to every leg, whether the hills or distance or random dogs or traffic and city sidewalks. And rain. All of us had at least 1 run in the rain.

At the end of the first 6 legs we made it to Maker's Mark, which is so beautiful and fascinating and worth the visit even if you don't drink the stuff. Maker's is also a highlight because it's the first Van Exchange point and one of the few times we meet up with Van 2 and have our whole team all together.

Our second set (legs 13-18) began after 7 at night and wouldn't wrap up until 1:30 in the morning. Our bodies ached as we donned reflective vests, blinky lights and head lamps and opted for the best wet-weather gear we had, which was pretty futile because we were all soaked to the skin by the end of our legs. Fortunately, though, the temperature was perfect for running and even with the rain we weren't cold during the outings, just while waiting for them to begin.

click to enlarge

The course is marked with signs signaling turns and designating 1 mile to go, but take it from me, it's best to study the course prior to your leg so you don't, hypothetically, take a wrong turn and end up on another leg headed out of town at 12:30 in the morning and run an extra 1.5 miles trying to get back to where you're supposed to be. Just saying.

During our breaks from the race we try to get fed and rested as much as we can. The first break we found an Applebee's for lunch, then tried to nap in the van until it's our turn again. During our second break in the wee hours of the morning we actually drove back to Lexington to crash at a house for 2 hours and dry our clothes before heading back out there. After our final set we grabbed lunch, a shower and much appreciated and needed nap before greeting our team at the finish line to run it in together Saturday evening.

I'll be the first to admit that it wasn't alway fun. My runs were challenging, my quads ached and my body was stiff, and waiting around in a van for hours made me question what everyone else saw in this race. But sometime along those 34 hours my opinion changed. Maybe it was the drama and excitement (and later hilarity) of me getting lost, or my 7-mile final leg along horse farms into Woodford Reserve, or maybe it was the race finish atmosphere in downtown Lexington.

Whatever it was, it's enough to have me already committed to next year's race. But maybe with hill training next time. And van decorations. And coordinated costumes. And a finishing stunt.

As for Jenny, well, this pretty much sums up her decision to return:

Interval	Start Time of Day	Split	Split Pace	Overall Rank
Legs 1-6	7:30:16AM	06:01:18	10:50 min/mi	375/386
Legs 7-12	1:31:34PM	05:40:22	09:36 min/mi	305/386
Legs 13-18	7:11:55PM	06:18:52	11:42 min/mi	359/386
Legs 19-24	1:30:47AM	05:05:41	09:34 min/mi	278/386
Legs 25-30	6:36:27AM	06:12:13	11:15 min/mi	378/386
Legs 31-36	12:48:40PM	5:00:39
Total	5:49:20PM	34:19:05		379/386

12 Runners

200 Miles

7 Distilleries

October 10-11, 2014

Bourbon Chase

Jim Beam • Four Roses • Wild Turkey • Heaven Hill • Woodford Reserve • Maker's Mark • Town Branch

Least Prepared-for Half Marathon Ever

Have you ever been asked to do something that seems wildly crazy and not the smartest to consider doing but kinda really want to do it anyway?  Yep, that's how I got pulled into my recent half marathon.

I had been trying to get back into running here and there, knowing I was committed to the Bourbon Chase relay team in October. I completed my first 3-miler in way-too-many months and was feeling really good about myself when I got a call two days later from a friend telling me he had an entry in the Air Force Half Marathon in Dayton. Spot was for a female, free of charge, mine for the taking. Oh, and the race was in 9 days.

What?

Could I? Should I? Crazy enough, I kinda wanted to! I knew I could finish, that wasn't the question. It was more about how smart it was to try running it, and I was curious to see just what kind of running shape I was actually in.

So of course I did the obvious: threw on my running shoes, ran a complete 5 mile training run and agreed to the challenge.

My race approach -- keep it at a 5/2 split.  Run for 5 minutes, walk for 2 minutes and alternate for as long as I could.

The race was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. It started at the museum and ran through the base's back roads and residential areas. As an Army kid, I've been on my share of military posts/bases and really enjoyed exploring this one. Air force or Army, they really have the same feel, similar style. And I really appreciated the park-like (and relatively flat!) course.

The gun went off and I stuck to my plan. 5/2, 5/2, etc right from the get-go and the first few miles ticked by.

I started to fade (but kept pushing) around mile 5, miles 6-7 were a struggle, and when I got to mile 8 I gave up on the plan. (This is where actual training would have been helpful!) I took a goo pack (bleck!) and plenty of water and ran when I could for as long as I could (which wasn't very long each time); I walked the uphills and kept a close eye on my overall pace. I stopped to stretch -- wow, that's another reason to train! My body was not used to such activity and my legs, back, even my arms were starting to complain.

As I hit mile 10 I started to realize that I was almost on the same pace as one of my previous Halfs, which I thought was around 2:45, and was determined to beat that!

Finally, fewer than a mile left, I see the museum and finish in the distance, and more wonderfully was this:

He wrote the sign himself.

Go Mommy, From Love Adam

That last half mile was the toughest, longest part, but it was pretty cool to finish down the runway between all the AF planes and old bombers.

Mission complete! I finished in 2:42:56, which is actually not my slowest Half time ever. (Only 2 minutes slower than my very first Half and 1 minute faster than my slowest time... and those were with training!)

Not bad for only having a 3-miler and a 5-miler to prepare me! Which makes me wonder now how well I could have done with proper training. My PR still stands at 2:23 (and even that one I know I could have done faster) so I'm feeling the itch to sign up for another one next spring and bust that time.

And maybe with training I wouldn't be so sore for the next three days. Ouch! Yes, quads, you have my attention.

I've done the Marine and now the Air Force... maybe I need to look into a Navy or Army race next. Any race suggestions?

27 Hour Race

Leave it up to Michael and his friends to sign up for something this crazy -- the Tri 4 Freedom 27 Hour Triathlon. 27 hours. It's a team event, capped out at 16 teams. Perhaps the guys missed the note that said there was no limit to the number of team members on a team, which makes it all even crazier that Michael's Team "Swim, Bike, Run. Beer" managed with just 4 people. Four. Other teams spread out the distance and hours over 10, 12 people... nope, not these guys.

The race had no set distance, just go as far as you can in the allotted amount of time, and theoretically the team who covers the most distance in the time wins. That is, wins if anyone was actually keeping track of such things. No race numbers, no timing mat, no GPS to hand off from athlete to athlete. The only rule we could figure they enforced was that bike helmets must be worn during the ride.

So, this endeavor kicked off on a beautiful morning outside of Lexington. The swim (in a 25m pool) lasted from 6am to 8:30am, wherein one teammate must be on the course at all times but they can switch racers as frequently as they desire. Following the swim was the bike on a 10 mile public trail... for 12 and a half hours, ending at 9pm. From there, in the dark, the runners headed out with head lamps on a one mile loop. If you're keeping tally, this would last for the next 12 hours, ending at 9am the next day.

If you haven't guessed already, it was a pretty low key atmosphere. The transition area was filled with team canopies with their food and supplies, tents and hammocks spread around the grass, some courtesy food for the athletes and a DJ.

I went to the race site after work with Sam and Adam to check in on the guys as they were wrapping up the bike portion. I popped in again around 11pm to find Michael catching some zzzz's in a hammock. (They broke up the run into four 3-hour runs so that the could all get some rest overnight. Michael's run was from 3am-6am...)

Saturday morning I came back over with Sam for the big finish! (It was pretty uneventful.) The race director asked all the teams to do the last loop together in solidarity.

Sam running it in.

Finished! Bet you didn't know the timing clock could go so high.

Supporting Michael and the racers in training and racing is a favorite thing for me. And we love having our kids with us in the race environment.

Get used to this, kids, this is what we do. (or did... need to get back to doing.)

Sam has been a part of a few 5ks but this was his first big race.

There's talk that they will do this again next year, and who knows? Maybe I'll just be crazy enough to join them. I've already committed to the 12-member team, 200 mile Bourbon Chase in October with Michael, my sisters, brothers-in-law and friends. I'm told it is "so much fun." 

Have to admit, this Tri kinda looked fun, too...

--------

Footnote. What I love about his race is what it benefits -- human trafficking. A few years ago I had the privilege of hearing Christine Caine, an Australian pastor and activist speak about The A21 Campaign and her work to fight human trafficking. Some of her stories still stick with me today. Then last year, after seeing part of a documentary called Half the Sky, I read the book (with the same name). The book and documentary raise awareness of how widespread these atrocities are and are mostly related to female inequality, whether through slavery, forced prostitution, educational rights, denied access to medical treatment, or socially accepted abandonment. It's appalling on what "modern" society still turns a blind eye to. I highly recommend the book. The HTS organization itself works to provide China with model programs and caregiver training to the child welfare system in that country. We have friends who are currently in China adopting a little girl who is partially blind and was abandoned as an infant. She has benefited from the improvements brought about by HTS.

It's Really Hard to Get to the Finish Line

A few weeks ago we signed up for a small 5k in Georgetown, KY, and Michael thought this would the perfect day for Adam's first real race. He's been in races before before as a participant, like the Fastest Kid in Town Race, and he's ridden others in the jog stroller. But this -- We're not talking a 1-mi kids' run or a 1.5 mile family walk here. We're talking over three whole miles on small 3-year old legs. By himself, no help from us.

We checked him in and he was the youngest competitor by many years, and only one of two kids in his 10-and-Under age category.

I took Sam in the stroller and set off with my sister, with Michael and Adam in the rear. I passed them just past the first mile marker, and he was still hanging in there.

Once I finished (certainly not a PR for me), I met up with Angie and walked back to see how our little guy was managing.

He and Michael had about a mile to go, and he had done it all on his own. He had done so well, and twice along the way told Michael, "It's really hard to get to the finish line."

As soon as he saw me and the stroller he wanted to ride or be carried, so Angie took Sam and I walked the last leg with them. We didn't pick him up. We didn't carry him. Every step he took on his own.

As we approached the last turn toward the finish line I wondered how he'd do if we asked him to run it in. I feared he'd be too tired, too whiney to run, or worse, start running only to trip and fall and cry and have to be carried across (because we've been there before on another kid race).

And then the time came, and he took off! 

Many of the other participants were still waiting around for the awards and cheered him as he finished. He was clearly so proud of his accomplishment. I heard one spectator say, "That's really far for a little guy!"

And, to make his endeavor even more special, he finished in second place in his division! He medaled!

And so did Aunt Angie!

And so did Daddy!

Three out of 4 isn't bad, right?!

Spectating 101

We love race mornings! Oh, you thought I meant 'We' the athletes? I'm sure they do, too, in their own way, but I mean 'We' the spectators! Spectating is not simply a matter of going to the race site and watching your racer go by -- especially not for an Ironman event, which can take up to 17 hours to complete. Ironman events start before dawn and go til dark and well after.

Correction: For some of us on the support crew, Ironman events start as far back as the initial decision to commit to the race. We (or maybe I just speak for myself) are genuinely thrilled that our spouse has dedicated himself to training his body to endure the distances. It's awe-inspiring to watch him get in the mindset, make sacrifices, and commit to 7-hour workouts on a Saturday morning, and we are more than willing to do what we can to support them -- everything from watching children to purchasing Body Glide or Vaseline to carrying/retrieving equipment to mapping out our spectator plan to be as many places as possible on the course to cheer on our athletes. (Though less willing to tackle the IronLaundry.) My favorite term for this supportive commitment, when it comes to Ironman races, is IronSherpa. Here's a funny article that pretty much sums up what that's like as IronSpouse/IronSherpa:

Advice from an IronSherpa by Debra Vinikour

http://www.xtri.com/features/detail/284-itemId.511707419.html

Now, in years past, the extent of my pre-event preparations has been making t-shirts and then heavily relying on other people for the itinerary and spectating locations. This year I stepped up my IronWatching! This was going to be our biggest spectator event ever!

Here are a few things we did and a few things we learned -- and a few things we can't wait to do next time!

1. Choose Your Friends Wisely

Spectating with a bigger cheering section is loads more entertaining than being the sole fan for your athlete at an event. Fun in numbers! There's a lot of time between when you see your athlete to the next time you see your athlete, so having additional IronFans with you makes the wait more entertaining. (But be aware that too many people can make the logistics difficult.) This year our support crew was the perfect size -- 3 IronWives, 1 IronSister-in-Law and 1 IronGirlfriend -- such a fun, fun group that all fit in one car! We didn't even plan to have any kids there until later in the day, if at all. Honestly, they are just too young right now to be out in the heat and stuck in a stroller all day. While we love them immensely, we love them more not to put them through that (and selfishly, it's easier on the rest of us. It's also easier on fellow spectators -- we were often blocked by others' strollers in crowded areas just trying to see our athlete. Don't be that person.) Some day, the kids will be there with us. Until then we are grateful for their Grandmas and Grandpas.

2. Become a Team

Practically everyone cheering at these events have customized t-shirts made up for the occasion to show their support and team unity. We saw shirts screaming Iron John, IronMate, I Married an IronMan, IronBaby on Board (I could have used that one this year), Team Dori, and lots, lots more. My sister requested an IronMauney shirt for her husband, which led to an IronMoreland shirt for Michael, an I Am An IronFan shirt for the rest of us, and My Daddy is an IronMan shirts for the wee ones (with appropriate TeamMauney or TeamMoreland designations on the back). Future shirt ideas may include IronWidow or IronSpouse or IronKid.

3. Share the Love

>>Put it in Writing.

Sure, we had signs personalized for our racers. Most people do. But it's also a joy to bring a chuckle to complete strangers who have been on the grueling course for the last 5 hours. We made a couple fun ones, including:

• Go Strangers, Go!
• WTF? Where's the Finish?
• Cars, slow down! Our boys are racing!  {roads were open to traffic and some are so inconsiderate!}
• Don't Stop, Get it! Get it!  {sing along!}

Let me say, the Go Strangers, Go sign was a big hit, bringing a lot of comments and smiles from athletes. We'll definitely use that one again!

And always eager to improve for next time, here's an even longer list of those that would be fun to do in the future:

• Whatever! I can do Half of this.  {for sister Angie to hold, who is a Half Ironwoman.}
• Bet you went out too fast.
• <blank> miles til Beer
• Making these signs was really hard, too.
• Bet you were off your bike now {for late on the bike}
• Bet you had your bike back {for late on the run}
• We think you're 90% mental
• Smile if you peed on yourself  {surprisingly a common, intentional occurrence on long rides}

We brought the markers with us so we could make up new signs on the spot when a need arose (like the Slow Down sign). We stapled our signs to long sticks to hold them higher above the crowd (which also made it helpful in finding each other if we got separated), but next time we should cut the sticks into pointed stakes and bring a mallet (or use dowel rods) to stake them into the grass along the course. Too many signs in one place are hard to read, especially to bikers whizzing past, and the funny ones should be reserved for later in the day when racers need a pick-me-up.

>>Light Up the Night.

If your racers are night-time finishers (meaning, 12+ hour finishers, which ours are), race volunteers will start handing out glow-in-the-dark necklaces for the runners to wear on the last leg. Bring your own glow sticks to light up yourself, too. This year we had planned to use fun LED-light-up balloons I found at Walmart. We were going to tie them to dowel rods to carry them around and help our runners see us along the course. Well, unfortunately, we never got to this fun spectating accessory, but I can't wait to try them out next time!

4. Make Some Noise!

>>More Cowbell.

Cowbells are hugely popular at races. They create excitement and noise to cheer on the athletes. In fact, at Michael's first Ironman event the race volunteers were handing them out to spectators. As the saying goes, you can always use more cowbell.

>>Pump Up the Jam.

Next time, though, we'll be bringing music to rev up the racers. Playing Eye of the Tiger, Living on a Prayer, the Rocky theme, We Will Rock You, (What Doesn't Kill You Makes You) Stronger, etc. would get everyone going. (I'll leave the song list up to someone else; music is not my thing.)

>>Louder is Better.

Another "Next Time" item to add: a megaphone. Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to call out over the crowd "MICHAEL, HERE BY THE YELLOW FLAG" or call out 50 yards down the course to your cyclist? Hmm, maybe I should check with our racers to see if they'd think that was awesome or if it's just me.

5. Map it Out

The Race Map is a crucial element to spectator planning. You've gotta know where your athlete will be going, and you need to find the easiest routes to get there with the best vantages. (I am still given a hard time for not seeing Michael on his first Ironman Run a block away from the restaurant where I was eating. I didn't do my research.) Oftentimes, you're not going to know where these places are if it's the first time you're doing a race in a new city (or if you haven't done your research). Since we've experienced Ironman Louisville before, we had a much better handle on the lay of the land. We figured out the quickest way to do our own transition from Swim Exit to Bike Exit and then from Bike In to Run Out in less than five minutes while having cameras and signs ready to go.

Race organizers will sometimes designate viewing areas for different points on the course. They may even offer shuttles to these places. These get crowded. In Louisville it's the town of LaGrange where the bikers do a couple of laps. Shuttles takes forever, and if you drive yourself, parking is difficult -- making for longer walks with chairs and coolers, and it's likely all the shady spots are already taken. Don't be afraid to take your own car and find your own viewing areas. We heard about another spot about 5 miles before LaGrange in the town of Buckner, where cyclists also do 2 laps. We parked at the high school which was right on the bike course. We simply had to walk across the street and find a shady spot in the grass. It was so convenient to go back and forth to the car as needed. Spots like these are great for the racers, too, since it helps spread out the fans and provides diversions in more places along the course. But also note -- You must be informed of road closures and how long they'll be closed. You must know where you'll be able to go and how to get around to where you want to be.

6. Know Your Athlete

>>Be Fashion Forward.

By race morning, you need to know what your athlete is going to be wearing for each leg of the race. Does he run in a visor or sunglasses? What color is his bike frame and helmet? Does he swim bare chested or with a tri top? What color is his swim cap (if the swim start has waves)? Does he wear compression socks or sleeves? All of these things will help picking out your racer on the course. Believe me, other athletes tend to have the same body frame/build, and bikers really start looking alike. Digital cameras are really helpful for this, too. We were able to look back at photos to remind ourselves and show other IronFans what apparel to look for.

>>Get Estimates.

Consult with your athlete before the race to approximate his expected pace for each leg of the race. This will be your key to timing your day and knowing when to expect to see your racer. This will also clue you in as to how he's doing that day. If he's near his expected time, he's feeling good. If there's a delay, you'll start to worry that he had a bad swim or bike problems or lacking proper nutrition.

7. Be Prepared

Have these on-hand:

3 phones charging at once

• Cooler with cold beverages
• Snacks
• Sunscreen/Chapstick - Bug spray, too, if sitting in grassy areas
• Blanket and/or chairs to sit on
• Car phone charger - we were constantly using our smart phones to check athlete's split times, to text each other our locations, and to follow-up with other IronFans
• Extra markers and tape for last-minute signs (see above)
• Cameras, fully charged
• Course maps and smart phone map application
• Athlete tracker application (on website or on smart phone app)
• Bike/gear pickup tickets - so you can collect their belongings for them while they continue racing
• Flip-flops or alternate pair of shoes - switching your shoes can revitalize your feet

8. Take a Break

Whenever you come across a public restaurant, store, hotel lobby, gas station, etc., hit up the bathrooms! Likely the only restrooms around the race sites are port-a-lets, which, if you think are unpleasant, wait til you experience a race day port-a-let after thousands of athletes have used them. Actually, don't, and just take my word for it. You'll thank me later.


Bottom line, it's going to be a looooong day. And you're going to get tired and bored and ready to go home. This is when you have to remind yourself that your athlete is feeling like this, too. Well, probably more so. Ok, a lot more so. And when you realize this, you know you can't quit now! So, whenever you have a chance, hit up any place with A/C and a comfy chair (better yet, a hotel room where you can take off your shoes, lay down for 10 minutes and maybe take a shower). You'll feel refreshed for it and ready to make it to the finish line. You're almost there!

Not the Day We Planned For

The day held such promise! Beautiful (if not warm) morning, four Ironman-hopefuls into the water, four of them out and smiling. Great start!

Perfect viewing location for the bike course, under the shade and close to our car. Our spectating crew was having a blast, cheering on other bikers and waiting for our athletes. One, two, three went by smiling. We laughed with them, took pictures, and sent them back out there.

Then Michael came through, and he told us he was done. We knew this wasn't going to be his day, but unexpected nutrition problems had him baling out earlier than he'd hoped. He was sick and smart enough to quit when he did, and I am relieved that he knows his body so well (having already been an IM finisher twice before) to know when to stop. I was disappointed for him, but he seemed genuinely ok with his decision, and I respect him for it. It took him a couple hours to get his body recovered, but all the while he was battling his dehydration he was standing with us, cheering on the rest of our riders.

Another loop for the bikers, and we get to see them all again. One, two went by smiling. We laughed with them, took pictures, and sent them back out there. Everyone's looking good.

Then we wait, and the wait becomes nerve-racking. All we have to go on are the checkpoint updates every 20-30 miles. We have no other way of knowing why our rider is delayed. Medical issue? Bike problems? There were so many riders that succumbed to the Kentucky heat and hills and couldn't go on.

Finally. Finally, we see our rider coming down the road. He doesn't stop, just yells out Two flat tires. They were throwing tacks on the road. Obviously (and deservedly) angry, he was still out there determined to make up the time. So many thoughts and emotions coursed through the rest of us. Who could do that? It's despicable, and ultimately incredibly dangerous to the riders.

We load up Michael's bike and our supplies and head back to transition to see our 3 come in and head out on the final run leg. We park, eat and sit in the A/C for a bit, get re-energized! But we're quickly deflated when we get a call that our two-flat-tire rider was out after his gear cable broke. With all the time lost, he would miss the bike cut-off time, and they pulled him from the course. It wasn't his day, and it was supposed to be. Of our group, he was the most prepared, the most energized for his very first Ironman. He was ready, pumped, and feeling awesome. And then circumstances way beyond his control stole that from him. {You can read about his day here.}

It's hard to describe the emotions associated with an event like this. Athletes who finish are often overcome with tears of exhaustion and pride. I can remember my eyes welling up when I saw Michael at mile 13 of my first half marathon. And I cried when I saw him finish his first Ironman with his brother. ("Here come the Morelands!")  If we cry in accomplishment, we certainly cry in defeat. Josh cried when his race was taken away from him. I cried a little when Michael pulled out. Kim cried a little when she got that phone call. It's not just on the athletes, but so much of it is on the families too. Because we know. We know the sacrifices our loved ones have made, how much they have dedicated themselves to the training, how much they want this. It's literally a year commitment (and a lot of money) and all they want at the end of the 17 hours is to have that moment: running down the finisher's chute with loud cheers and music on both sides of you, your family's eyes welling with tears, and hearing your name and You are an Ironman.

Two of our four athletes had that moment again. We saw them come in from the bike, head out on the run, and we saw them at the halfway point of the run. One didn't look so hot, and I was sure we'd be another man down.

I didn't stay for the finish. I drove home on my own that night but stayed up-to-date with text messages on their progress. Our last two athletes finished together. And became Ironmen again.

And though they finished, they'd say it wasn't the day they planned for either -- poor nutrition/hydration for one, and less than ideal training for the other.

I later asked Michael what happened. He's usually so smart about nutrition and hydration. In fact, there's only one time in all his years of racing that I have seen him dehydrated. He didn't have a substantial enough breakfast, and by the time the race started he was already hungry. A diet of liquids and gels on a near-empty stomach didn't help. He told me afterward that he didn't respect The Distance/The Training and that won't happen again. He can't go out that way, so I know there will be another Ironman in his future.

And, honestly, I can't wait.