CS: Let’s get the most important question out of the way first, while in Boulder, have you ever run over a prairie dog with your bike?

LT: No, but I have slayed three (!!!) snakes while riding my bike. I really feel like it is my duty in Boulder County to protect the masses from snakes. However, I am yet to slay a prairie dog.

CS: Your loyal supporters are hoping you have recovered fully from your recent accident on the bike. How many swear words came out of your mouth at the person driving the car? Any obscene finger gestures?

LT: No, I was too unconscious for that. By the time I came to, I was immobilized on a board thingy. All I saw of the woman who hit me was that she was wearing patterned wool socks and crocs, and I remember thinking, “oh dear, she needs a little help with her style!” As for hitting me, driving accidents can happen to anyone.

CS: Are you a natural blond?

LT: Nah, my mom is Native American and my dad is Swedish, which left me with redish hair- go figure. I have been dying it since, oh, elementary school.

CS: When attending the “speed sessions” led by Simon Lessing, have you ever wanted to trip him?

LT: Oh sure, the thought crossed my mind. He had enough injury problems that I didnt want to be responsible for the one that did him in, hee hee. I did however enjoy running next to Marek Dvorak, another pro in Boulder, and when we would run past bushes or trees I would try to body check him off the trail into the nature. As for Simon, I occasionally got in his lane before swim workouts started and would swim the opposite directions, like the aussies. This usually ended when he would dive in and swim straight down the middle with his 10 foot wingspan, it was such a helpless feeling because I had no where to go. This usually ended with a “geez, watch where you are going!!!”

CS: The “Beer Mile” has become a highly reported event in Boulder. What are your feelings on such an event, and do you plan to train & compete in the next one?

LT: Yes, I plan on attending. In 2006 I participated in a beer-olympics in Kentucky. It was basically an obstacle course with a Keystone between each event, there were 7 events…I placed 11th out of 11 competitors, even though I resorted to pouring the last 2 beers on me, instead of in me.

CS: When was the last time you went skinny dipping? Feel free to elaborate.

LT: 2005, I am pretty sure if I give any more details, the police will be knocking on my door before I can put the (.) on the end of my sentence.

CS: Anything else you would like to add?

LT: Oh yes, last night I was at work and I folded all of the clothes on six different tables, this took a long time, and then I took a 15 minute break. When I came back all of the clothes were EVERYWHERE, all over the floor, hanging from racks, everywhere. Apparently a man was looking for a wallet. If that man is reading this, THANKS A FREAKING LOT, MISTER!!! Other than that, I would like to say I am a very thankful for where I am in life. I have super supportive parents, really fun friends, a coach with a hard exterior and a big heart, and a sponsor (TIMEX) who goes the extra mile for me, regardless.

After nursing a stress fracture, I decided last minute (errrr, like 4 days before the race) I was doing it. More info on this ordeal can be found via my race report on my website in the journal section: www.carole-sharpless.com

But I’ll include a portion here:
“I was incredibly sore and was NOT fit for the last miles of this marathon. I was giving it everything I had but couldn’t feel my legs. At mile 24, Mariska caught me. I held out my hand as she went by and she squeezed it honorably. Though my heart was broken to lose 3rd so close to the finish, she had fought well and earned her place. I will always display the best of sportsmanship I can to my competitors and will be pleased when it is given back to me. Once she passed me, I completely blew. I was hunched over and hurting, and had a run gait which resembled a praying mantas. As I finally approached the finish line I forced a smile because I had PROMISED myself, no matter what, I would have a good attitude about the day. Just finishing an Ironman is what still matters the most, and I wanted to represent Timex well as a positive athlete amid one of her worst professional performances. I got across the line and doubled over, complete muscular failure. I couldn’t even stand and a wheel chair had to bring me to the medical tent. I was dizzy and exhausted to my core. I had absolutely given everything and could have done no more…”

Fun, huh?

So why do I love being a part of this team?

1) My teammate, Kyle Marcotte, has become such a good buddy of mine. He, Jordan Rapp and Andriy Yastrebov were among the Pro men racing at Canada the day I was racing Louisville. Yastrebov finished 4th & Rapp finished 5th (yea, baby!), and Marcotte finished right behind them. That was a hell of a field racing that day in Penticton… my boys are STRONG. Marcotte and I had been texting regularly in the months leading to our respective races, and he was so supportive with my stress fracture situation, checking in on me, etc. After I finished I got word on the boys’ results, and sent a text to KM to congratulate. The first thing he wrote back was inquiry about my leg and how I was. I can’t explain it — but it was just such a “teammate” feeling. It was really awesome……

2) Having teammates Luiz Alvarez and Emily Herndon also racing IML was so great…. and to have Keith Meyer and Tammi Moses from Timex was like having my family there. Keith gave me a bike split at mile 15, “Sharpie, you’re 2:30 from Gollnick. Hang in there!” Just seeing him on the course felt like seeing my brother. Knowing he was out on the course made me feel like I had protection if something happened and I needed it. He was on a motorcycle doing splits during the marathon, and his loud, echoing, “C’mon Shaaaaaaaaaarpie!!!!” as he buzzed by on the opposite side of the road was just so helpful to my wounded spirit.
But most of all …..

3) Tammy Moses was my guardian angel. (!!) She was at the finish line when I collapsed and never left my side for even a minute when I was in the med tent. There seemed to be some hesitation in giving me an IV. I felt like death. After what seemed like 30 min, I looked at Tammy and pleaded pathetically, “I really need an IV. Can you do something?” Some sort of devil child unleashed from that sweet soul. (Thank God for me!) As protective as a mother bear over her cub, she looked at one of the medical volunteer’s and sternly said, “Carole needs an IV. GET HER AN IV.” The medical team jumped into action, and FAST. I didn’t blame them, I was afraid Tammy was going to beat someone up if they didn’t listen to her. :) As I was being a bit of an over-dramatic baby, Tammy held my hand while the nurse tried (and failed) to get my vein, and blood shot out everywhere. Then, as if Tammy hadn’t done enough… my complete muscular failure prevented…. how should I say this?? …. optimal “hovering” over a toilet. It wasn’t happening, people. I could barely stand much less bend my legs and I lost control of a couple other “functions”. I was still in my Timex racing outfit - you can put two-and-two together (pardon the pun) as to what happened. But Tammy is a PROBLEM SOLVER. She helped me hobble behind the port-o-johns in the med tent for a little bit of privacy, and helped me strip off those nasty things. I asked if she wanted to wear gloves …. my outfit was SOAKED in every type of thing that can come out of one’s body. Even I was disgusted. She wasn’t fazed (but did hold my shorts with the very tips of her fingers and made a face). Then she helped me get into some dry clothes… I smelled like I had been bathing in raw sewage …. but she didn’t seem to care. What she cared about was getting me more comfortable and getting me some food.

I can’t tell you how much she did for me — the GROSS stuff, people. WHO would do that??! Only a team that cares about the athletes as people first would do this.

Since then I have been inundated with emails from my Timex teammates, all checking on me and congratulating my day amid some “not ideal” circumstances.

I have been on many “teams” in my life…. but NOTHING is like being on the Timex Team. I feel so lucky…

Word.

Sharpie

You rock, Kyle!  The coolest dude EVER.