Ironman Coeur d’Alene Race Report June 2006

My first ever Ironman was in Coeur d’Alene (CDA) in 2003, so I was excited about returning to Idaho and to take on the race again. Idaho is absolutely beautiful and people there are so darn friendly, too.

Since I spent 2 years at University for my Masters just 2 hours south of CDA, and chances of bumping into some University of Idaho Alumni were pretty good, and it certainly didn’t take long for me to settle in and right at home. It seems I am not the only one to feel at home here, as CDA is a fast growing town with lots to offer … including this Ironman.

I was a tad nervous before the race as it was a star-studded field with Hawaii podium finishers and Olympians in the race, not to mention a very high density of the best swimmers in the sport.

CDA was the USA Ironman Woman’s Championship event with the prize purse that would normally be split between men and women, but is was only going to the Top 10 women. We got a 35 min head start on the rest of the field for a not-so-fast swimmer (that’s me by the way). The mass start would be just as you finished lap one of the two lap swim, so it was actually pretty nice to have someone to swim with and was a lot less lonely out there.

6.25 am Gun signals the start for the Pro Women.
I was happy to see that not everyone disappeared beyond the horizon but one or two stayed a tantalizing 15 meters a head for most of the first lap. It was great to have something to aim for and I kept working hoping I could catch the tail end. Alas after lap one, we got a bit muddled as the 2000 Age Groupers had set off too, and I lost them. But, it didn’t matter as I now had a whole bunch of new folk to swim with.

7.37AM INTO T1.
I get into transition after a 1hr12 swim. My hands and feet were pretty cold, but rest of me felt great. I had been a bit worried about some tendons/ligaments or something that runs along your thigh on my right leg, and it tends to play up when I wear a wetsuit (as I tend to kick more in the swim especially while sighting). But, today it was good.

As I struggled to get my wetsuit off I had a swarm of volunteers eager to help me, being the only person in transition. I was impressed, but also somewhat overwhelmed, as one would be grabbing a leg and the other an arm and each tugging in opposite directions, while I tried not to fall on the floor. I tried to recover myself enough to pull my hands and heels out of the wetsuit, and it seemed like and age in there (and, yes, the clock backed that up) … it was a good long 5 min transition.

ca 7.42 Head out on the bike.
I had a real blast on the bike there was so much great spectator support. Some friends of mine suspected I’d not be the first out of the water and we’re patiently waiting for my emergence from the swim and onto the bike. So when I finally came through and got my bike (yep, last on the rack easy to find) I got a huge cheer, as I started the bike leg. It was a really good feeling … and a lot of people we saying ‘you go get them gal.’ It was nice as these people seemed to know this is when my race was really starting.

The bike leg initially sets off next to the lake and I had to concentrate not to be distracted by the awesome scenery too much. My legs had to wake up a little on the first little incline, and a local cheerleading group gave me a rendition (which kind of looked like a Mexican wave) as I went by.

I smiled and waved and said ‘thanks’ - and before I knew it the volunteers and spectators on both sides of the road went nuts cheering and clapping. It gave me so much energy as I was laughing. I really enjoyed the whole 180km, and it was so nice not to be worried about overtaking Age Groupers, which is the norm as my swim leaves me with the back markers.

Now I was just hunting down the away from where I had started out after the swim … yep last! I really had a blast and the QR Ti-Phoon does indeed live up to all the hype. Once in a while I’d catch a glimpse of the shadow of the bike and the psychedelic Bontrager disc wheel, and it almost give me goose bumps to be riding top-notch equipment.

I was alone for a lot of the bike and I was constantly catching and passing some of the other Pros and steadily working my way through the field. I kind of like the solitude in a way because every time someone cheered or clapped there would be no one else around, and it was just for me. It felt kind of special, personal somehow.

I tried to say thanks or at least give people a smile or thumbs up. I took the last 5 miles a little easier than I wanted because my spare tubular had come loose and was swinging from side to side, and I was scared it was going to fall off and get caught in my wheel.

Ca 12.59 Finished Bike Leg.
After a sub 2 min transition, it was out on the run course at about 6hrs40 into the race from 28^th to 13^th on the bike. I hoped to catch a few more during the run.

Boy was it hot out there. I had waves of feeling good and waves of feeling crappy, almost everyone I talked to felt the same though.

One of the first people I caught was Hillary Biscay, and we had a little chat. She told me we were in 11^th or 12^th place but that the girls up front were dying. She reckoned we were about 5 min from 5^th. She was real sweet and said, “you go get them.”

Later she said it was a real de ja vu from the 2003 race, where I caught and passed her on the run. Luckily for me it wasn’t de ja vu from my last Ironman in Arizona 2006, where she kicked my ass.

As the marathon progressed, it was warming up further still, and I was still passing people. Before long, I could see Gina Kerr in 5^th. I took my time and overtook her, and now had a 5^th place lead. As a bike person, I felt happy.

Already I was placed higher in this race than I thought I could do, given the competition … but that wasn’t to be the final girl I caught. As I soon saw 4^th place, Kim Loeffler battling was along. She is normally a strong runner and she was finding the going tough. I tried to cheer for her and tell her to ‘hang tough’ but as I overtook her she started walking. You can only feel for someone taking strain. As much as I wanted to stop and help her … the finish line beckoned.

By the time I hit the final 4miles, I was told by spectators 3^rd place was 15minutes up the road. I had a fairly comfortable gap on 5^th place, so eased off the gas a bit and simply enjoyed the cheering crowds and I cruised toward the finish line. Man… I was in 4^th. I was excited, it really was so much better than what I had dared hope for. I ran down the finish line smiling and high-fiving people, and nearly tripped over when I went to high-five a little kid (well high-five for him… a low one for me!).

I crossed the line after a 3hr15 marathon and ended the day in a time of 9hr54 in 4^th place. Needless to say was one very very happy bunny!

As per usual, I had the worst swim in the women’s pro field, but I had a solid bike claiming the 3^rd fastest and the 2^nd fastest run. As much as I always dwell on my swimming, I could not complain with the other two disciplines. The girls that beat me were all quality performers and to be 4^th here has given me renewed confidence. If I can improve even more on the bike and get back to running a sub 3hr marathon, then I could possibly get closer to them.

I am really grateful to my Timex Team sponsors for lending me top-of-the-range equipment, it makes me quite giddy sometimes looking at these awesome QR bikes and Bontrager wheels, Profile aerobars, etc. Even got an Aero Rudy Project Helmet and glasses. The Spenco Gloves and New Foot fitting orthotics are for when I’m not using my Spenco insoles. I’m so spoilt.

All during race week the Timex crew, including Doug and Ben looked after us - giving us Zorrel T-Shirts (really nice ones as well) and Powerbar Fuel for the race. Doug even serviced the bike (QR Ti-phoon) to get it running all nice and smooth.

I calculated out where I need to be at to be able to race more or even go ‘proper pro’ and do it full time. So I am working on that, and I am hoping to secure some air miles and a good deal on a RV, so I can go and really race =0). So it’s an exciting time.

After this race coach Tom Manzi, Joe Friel, and Deeann Bonnell had a chat and contacted a swim coach in Scottsdale called Joe Zematis. So I’m excited about having the opportunity to work with him. I’m hopeful we can sort it out as 2 of the 3 legs of the triathlon are so good but just not quite good enough to over come the deficit of swim. I f could just swim a 1hr2 or 1hr5 that be so awesome.

Next race Powerman Zofingen in Switzerland.
It’s the Powerman World Championships I am lucky enough to have the best home stays in the world when I go there, and Wayne will come out to the race for the 3^rd year running.

This year I might be part of a Swiss TV program all about the race and the awesome hospitality (being spoilt) we athletes receive there. I am already looking forward to it.

Now isn’t it funny how we react different to different animals! Personally petrified/hate snakes but love spotting coyotes.

Seen 2 in the last 3 nights, a boy the first night and a gal the second. I would stop and so would they, and we would be about 7 meters apart. We would just stare at each other till they would trundle off, and the dogs I’d be walking would go bananas. For some reason, the dogs wouldn’t see them until they moved.

The first night was Sunday, and it was real hot and sticky out. The coyote looked in no hurry to run off, as he stood 10-20 meters from the house - I half expected him to follow us home for some water.

OK, so now the snakes have freaked me out royally and there’s cleary tons of them round here. I wanted to run one evening, but it was dark and that’s when they come out. Where I live, there are no street lamps and the roads are Kona black, if you catch my drift.

Was very scared re snakes. Knew had to run and stamp productive vibrations/tremours so the ol snakes would go away. I ran on the center line and would have a fit when ever the line was broken. Made it to the main street, but often saw dead snakes - wasn’t feeling too secure.

A dude biked passed me with no lights and for some reason his squaly wheels made me think of a “rattle” so lept in the air. HR now 194. Along the side of the pavement, “they” have lined with bags of sand - only it just looks like sand with the odd black line showing. Where there is a bit of plastic showing, it looks just like a snake when you have snake fever. Got back to the dark roads near my house and “stamped” my way slowly up the road. HR at 90 and was going granny pace.

Yes, my fear is irrational, but I have seen 2 live snakes with in 1 meter of me within a week.

OK, so am now know as a complete freak.

As I ran on some trails on my own, I thought I’d found a nice short cut - it wasn’t and it turned out to be a nightmare and I was stressing over the rocks and cravasses and … I felt sure this was prime snake habitat. I kinda needed to keep moving, so I’d try to jog, scramble up this dessert embankment. When I could I would shout out “la la” at regular intervals to make sure the snake had heard me, once in a while I would add a “no snakies” to the dialogue.

Was a tad embarrassed when spotted in my scramble back up to the road (abandoned short cut and retreat) and this lady said to me, “Are you ok?” She looked at me a little concerned but also a little apprehensive as though talking to a interesting, but violent, mental patient.

I tried to explain that “la la” was for the snakes to know where I was. Tried to make it sound like a handed down bushman’s secret or something. She stared at me and said, “It sounded like an injured animal” and then “by the way snakes don’t actualyl hear very well, they feel vibrations/tremours.” Oh crap. How dumb did I feel stupid foreign bird in snake land.

OK, so finally met my first rattlesnake and yes it did rattle and it was 100m from my new house. There were 3 of us and 7 dogs you’d think they’d be able to hear you hmm.

It didnt seem in a hurry to go away but quite content with sitting at the side of the road ‘rattling.’

Have to admit if it was gonna bite someone I hoped it was one of the dogs or someone else before it would get to me not very nobel, eh?

Unfortunately, I was walking with one of those mental curious people who’s reactions is, “Wow, rattle snake not seen one up close before lets go back and look at it.”

I decided let’s not.