I went into Ironman Maryland with much different expectations than with previous races. I had a time goal, but it was a loose one. And one that would not define success. My goals were to have fun and feel strong. I began training for this race after I recovered from my 50K last fall. Kettlebell and suspension trainer strength workouts, short distance running, swimming, and indoor cycling. I made a race calendar that involved longer rides and runs early in the season but staying at low intensity. I worked with Mary Eggers at Valor Project for the last 10 weeks or so. I entered race week feeling strong and fairly rested. I did not feel beat up like I have in the past. I was excited and ready.
I got to Transition a little after 5 am. This was a "clean transition" which meant that all my gear was already there and organized in bags. I had a few things to add to my bike and to the bags, but I was mostly ready to go. I had planned a warm up swim so that I acclimated to the water, decrease nerves, and be ready to go! I quickly got to the point where I was ready to do my practice swim, however it was announced that the swim was delayed, by an hour, and cut to 1.2 miles due to a combo of tide and wind. We were told it would feel like swimming in an endless pool. It would put racers and the rescuers in danger. At this time I walked over to the edge of the Choptank River, where we'd be swimming and watched the sunrise and chatted with a fellow athlete, Frank. He was a veteran 140.6 athlete and had been playing with trail running. We had a lot in common and bounded over crazy races. We said our good byes and walked to transition. A bit later it was announced that the swim would be 0.57 miles, would start at 8:30, and we'd enter one by one. The day changed rapidly. My only concern at this time was the timing of my food. I had eaten my PBnJ at 5:30 am. I had one gel with me to intake a half hour before the swim. But I didn't have an extra food with me, other than what was in my gear for the bike and run. I was feeling hungry and a little dehydrated standing in line. The plan at that time was to front load my bike nutrition to make up for this delay. I stood in line for over 90 min before I entered the water. I was roughly a two hour delay. This is significant. But I stayed calm and tried to enjoy the beautiful clear morning. Standing in line with 1300 athletes.
Finally at around 9 am it was my turn. Time to play. Time to see what I had in me. Beep beep beep GO! I ran into the water and dove in. First strokes felt fine. The water was a perfect temperature. It felt calm, however it was very murky due to churning waters. First left....OK its a little choppy, but this is not bad. I felt strong. Final left turn, I lift my head to sight....what felt like a huge wave went directly into my mouth. I probably swallowed a cup of water. OK don't do that again Kristi....keep your mouth closed. I'm pretty sure I laughed at this moment. As much as you can laugh while swimming. At least one other time I swallowed a good deal of water. It was here that I realized it was the right decision to cut the swim. Ironman does not make these decisions lightly and I know it was for everyone's safety. I believe that if it had been the full 2.4 mile swim that there would have been A LOT of DNFs and quite possibly something tragic may have occurred. Even in the tumultuous water I felt strong. My stroke was solid. I wasn't over rotating and my pull was long and strong. My core was engaged. At one point I realized that the safety kayaks were herding us. I found out later that the buoys were moving around with the current and they were making sure we stayed on course! In all of my years racing this has never happened. I got to the boat dock, hopped out and onto wetsuit stripping. I saw Amy, kissed her and went off to T1.
I ran into the changing tent with my little bag of bike goodies, changed into my gear jogged to Speedy. OFF I went. I felt fantastic immediately. For the first quarter of the course I was averaging over 16 mph I think. Then we hit Blackwater Wildlife Refuge. The wind was very strong. It was hard to stay in aero safely, but I gave it a go when able. There were about 20 miles of this. It was a flat course, but I truly felt like I was climbing at some points due to the headwind and cross winds. It got to me. I was not having fun. I typically love the bike portion of the course. But the wind was making it very challenging in a way I didn't have experience with. I was working very hard on a flat course. It was beautiful but difficult to appreciate because I was concentrating so much on the wind and not falling over. I came up to the last aid station on first loop so I pulled in to refill my bottles. The three young men and one young women were so awesome and so enthusiastic. They helped me and got me back on the bike in a couple minutes. Those kids elevated me and got me excited again. A smile for the first time in a couple of hours. Now were were exiting the Refuge and the wind was a little less. On to the second loop. This time I knew what was in store. I got into a rhythm of being in aero OR alternating 8 seated and 8 standing revolutions. Thank you Mary E. This got me through the second loop. I experienced a bit of nausea at mile 80 of the ride, but it subsided. It was not my fasted Ironman bike leg, but it was faster than I have been riding. I believe without the wind I would have been much faster. I didn't have a whole lot of experience riding in wind like that. Rain yes. Heat and humidity yes. Strong head and crosswinds no. I had a little more fun on that second loop, but I was excited to be off that bike!
Into T2 to change into my running gear and off I went. At this point in triathlon I always breath a sigh of relief. There is less room for error in some ways. No chance of drowning. No chance of panic. No chance of crashes or mechanicals. Worse case scenario....walk. My legs actually felt pretty damn good immediately. "Fucking Perfect" by P!NK was playing as I came through the first aid station..it was my JAM! I felt good, I felt strong. The first couple miles is a loop into town, past the finish line, past restaurants....SO much energy and excitement. I was eating it up. I felt great! I was about to ramp up my pace; as I came to mile 3 I tried taking a gel . Immediately I gagged and almost vomited. CRAP. I slowed but kept walking. Then I was able to run a bit. The nausea faded. I tried my Nuun Endurance and water...nauseau ramped. OK Kristi time to change things up. Lets try COKE and small sips of water. Then coke, water, one chip and a tiny bit of banana. OK this is working. No lets add a little Gatorade. I had to intermittently walk. The nauseau faded but I was seriously lacking in energy. I was a little dizzy. This was at mile 13 or so. After dark I added chicken broth. Small sips at each aid station. I ran 20 steps, walked 20. The ran faster 10 steps, slow 20...repeat... then walk 20 steps and repeat. I made small goals. I talked to other athletes. I danced (sorta) at aid stations. Nauseau seemed to be a common theme. I am blaming the water. I also think that a late start and timing of "breakfast" played a role. My stomach was actually growling on the bike. That's not a good sign. In retrospect I should have grabbed a banana or cookie an aide station on the bike.
We had to hit the 19 mile point by 10:50 pm. When I had this confirmed I felt a load come off my shoulders. I was at mile 17 when I learned this and it was 8 pm . I knew at this time I would finish. The nausea was gone but I was weak. I estimate that I consumed at most 300 calories on the 26.2 run. That is NOT enough!!! There was no increasing my pace. I ran-walked but did it in a calculated manner. I saw Amy around mile 21. This boosted me. I just needed to complete 5.2 miles. I can run 5 miles in my sleep. The last loop of the course I thanked every single volunteer, cop, and Ironman staff. I thanked the spectators who were still waiting for their athletes and had been cheering me on. I thanked the Cambridge residents where were still out there cheering us on in the dark!
I entered the coral for "finishers" with another athlete; he and I gave each other an awkward hug while running. We'd been running together for most of the marathon. I accelerated a little and entered the finishers shoot. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. An Ironman finish is special. They all are. The longer you're on the course the harder it gets. I'd been up since 3:30 am. It was almost 11 pm. I was on fumes and adrenaline. SO many people had helped me get there. I had raced all day with no pain, except the normal discomforts of racing. I had established a calculated path to this finish line. And it fucking worked! I crossed the line and went back to do my one push-up at the line for all of my patients that we lost this year. Then I walked back to the volunteer smack dabb in the middle of volunteers and got a huge hug and medal from the one and only Amy Wilson. My person. This is the second time she has caught me at the finish. It's so very special.
This was my fourth 140.6, my fifth long distance triathlon (counting Sea to Summit here). They're all different. My first was a dream. Literally everything went right. The other four have had there own hiccups. Ironman Maryland had a lot of hiccups. I navigated those hiccups like a champ. Nothing rattled me. I felt strong most of the day. Even when I was nauseous my body felt strong. I know that I had a faster marathon in me. Going in I established my definition of success: have fun, be strong, and finish between 14-15 hours. I accomplished all of those things.
I can't thank enough everyone of my friends and teammates who trained with me and cheered loudly each week. Amy who supports me in this thing I call fun. Who took time off work to travel to Maryland, volunteer, and support me. Serious rock start partner status. Mary Eggers who coached me through the last 10 weeks or so and helped navigate training when I had the covid-19 to get me ready for the start line. Who got it when I said "work sucked today I need to run harder and longer tomorrow" and encouraged rest when she knew I needed it. Because, like most of us triathletes and runners, I am bad at resting. My co-workers who listened to my stories of weekend training, handed me coffee and snacks and dealt with occasional grumpiness. This season has been awesome. A few more fun things ahead before tying a bow on 2023.
