epic photo - alta lake 6am pro warm up - taken by holly |
Wow. What a summer.
I don’t even know where to begin. Perhaps where I left off…. Broken “stress fractured” femur. Ugh. The plan was to switch from IMCDA to IMC, build up running, do a few races swim-bike and hope for the best. I stuck to the plan, did Shawnigan lake Olympic as a swim-bike-DNF… then the Oliver half ironman I did as a relay with Chris Young, I did swim-bike and he did the run for me.. not much to say about that, I had breakthrough swims and bikes at both races, swimming at around 1:45/100m and biking averaging between 34-35kph…. Splits were beyond what I hoped. I wasn’t sore, I wasn’t tired, I was right where I needed to be, except for running. Building building so slowly on the run, run-walk for about 6 weeks and we were just moving up to 30-40 min runs when all my femur pain came back. I failed the hop test, couldn’t sit on the edge of a table, my bone scan came back just as bad as before
and when I
called Dr. Mike I heard some sad words “Lise, I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’ll
be able to do ironman Canada” (4.5 weeks from race day).
I don’t even know where to begin. Perhaps where I left off…. Broken “stress fractured” femur. Ugh. The plan was to switch from IMCDA to IMC, build up running, do a few races swim-bike and hope for the best. I stuck to the plan, did Shawnigan lake Olympic as a swim-bike-DNF… then the Oliver half ironman I did as a relay with Chris Young, I did swim-bike and he did the run for me.. not much to say about that, I had breakthrough swims and bikes at both races, swimming at around 1:45/100m and biking averaging between 34-35kph…. Splits were beyond what I hoped. I wasn’t sore, I wasn’t tired, I was right where I needed to be, except for running. Building building so slowly on the run, run-walk for about 6 weeks and we were just moving up to 30-40 min runs when all my femur pain came back. I failed the hop test, couldn’t sit on the edge of a table, my bone scan came back just as bad as before
bone scan 4.5 weeks out |
Well I would be lying if I said I didn’t take this… poorly…
put my bike up for sale on pinkbike and stopped training for a few days…
indulged in things I had been not indulging in and felt generally pretty crappy
as one does when they pour a year of their life into this race. I talked about maybe getting through the run
somehow or just doing the swim-bike for experience but I had so wanted to place
in my age group that I didn’t even feel the race was worth doing if that wasn’t
a possibility. Then I got a letter from a friend. This letter was hand-written
, photographed and sent to me by email, because this particular friend was
suffering from a concussion and could not look at the computer screen. This concussion came about because she was
hit by a careless driver while warming up for a race, a race in preparation for
Kona for which she had already qualified.
One of the most dedicated and talented athletes I know, first shot at
Kona had been compromised by a situation completely beyond her control. I feel
the letter is too personal to repeat here but long and short of it was it made
me immediately stop feeling sorry for myself, realize people have done this
race in far worse circumstances and that not trying was simply not an
option. With that I got back to training,
did the last of my 6 hour bike rides and 6am open water ocean swims, replaced
my runs with pool runs… again… and did anything I could in hopes of being
better for the race. Stayed off my leg, didn’t take pain killers so I could
monitor my discomfort, knew I would kill the swim and bike and just hoped
beyond all hope I could find a way to finish the race, even if I had to walk
the whole damn marathon. I was prepared
to pull out if the pain was dangerous or not manageable, but no matter what I
was going to try.
OK now fast forward to race week.
I first of all have to say I often feel like one of the
luckiest girls around. The people in my
life, past and present are simply incredible.
This race was in NO WAY done alone by me. I want to start my race report off with a
list of thank you’s…. to people who undoubtedly got my through this year, this
race, and who will surely get me through the next leg of this adventure.
Family always – the support I have had from you has been unprecedented,
encouragement and belief… and of course reed booking a flight out two days
before my race so he could be with me, he came to my first short triathlon and
having you at ironman was unbelievably memorable.
Day before race with Reed and Leanne at Olympic Plaza |
Friends – where to start. Holly my friend, colleague and
throughout training year roommate. Encouraged me, got excited for me and put up
with my super insane training schedule, 5am mornings and yowling Siamese through
this whole process. Was amazing to have you there on race day.
Leanne – introduced me to triathlon 3 years ago and did my
first try-a-tri with me. Then flew out, took care of me before and after race
day. Has been an amazing friend through everything, this week wouldn’t have
been the same without you!
Noa – my friend and coach, got me to the start line and I
know will get me to another, stronger and faster…. And with her all the amazing
athletes in pacific triworks – so inspiring training with people as motivated
and dedicated as this group… no better in the city or probably anywhere else…
R.J, R.S, V.G, J.M, D.G, S.K and others.
6am angry ocean - dedicated training partners never miss a workout |
Anyone who did any workout with me, especially long rides,
encouraged and believed in what was going to happen – especially Winston and
Andrew, indoor spins, long rides…. Sunday night whirly pool sessions at
hillcrest, just spending hours talking triathlon shit before and after the race.
Awesome to have you both there on race day as well. Winston running along
beside me on the course, and Andrew for yelling at me during his own race about
how pumped and happy to was that I was going to finish the race as strong as I
did every time I saw him on the bike and run.
All the other UBC Triathlon Club members who are always encouraging and
inspiring, racing with me this year at IM and others…. N.C, B.N, T.B, C.H, M.M,
S.C, T.W, D.L, E.W, D.S and so many others…..
My friends outside of triathlon who kept me grounded and doing other things... J.K, L.W, M.B, J.M, J.F and the whole crew
Christopher – always encouraging and helping me with my
athletic and personal goals in any way I might need, and quite frankly putting
up with a whole lot of BS.
Austen and other friends at work for getting me through this
year and again.. amazing encouragement
Girls at work for volunteering at IMC and being there, hugs,
cheers, amazing sign and the BEST chalk drawings on course – Marna, Heather and
Chelsea, you guys are hands down amazing.
Race morning with the ladies, 5:30am never looked so hot |
Daphne and David for letting me and 100 of my closest
friends stay at their Whistler palace for the weekend.
Dr. Mike for helping me at no personal gain with this
persistent injury.
Sugoi apparel for making me a brand champion, providing me
with race and training gear, inviting me to the pre-race BBQ and all the cheers
and support. An amazing company, best training gear and race gear and fantastic
people.
transition race morning |
swim start |
going strong at km 175 |
anything I have ever experienced 226kms of unchartered territory. The swim start was one of the scariest moments of my life, I was ready for it, but it was scary. I started strong, got run, over, ran people over, took 500 or 600m before I could even swim properly or breath, so the first emotion of the day is fighting for air, fighting for space…. The rest of the swim I was ready for without question and it came easy. Getting out of the water and having my wetsuit stripped by friends volunteering was a special moment, the volunteers in the tent who help you get into your bike gear and off on the bike. The bike I am in love with, the whistler course is so hard, 1900m of climbing and it was hot….30 degrees and yes there was wind in pemberton… not an easy day, but I hydrated like crazy, took salt, took as many gels as I could handle and had the ride I wanted, finishing in under 6 hours.
Then the run… the white elephant in the room. Since the Victoria marathon in October I have had a grand total of 8 weeks intermittently where I was able to “land run”, and nothing more than a 40 minute run, and no runs 5 weeks prior to IMC. I had no idea what was going to happen, all I knew is I wanted to finish.
fake it till you make it |
finishing photo screen capture from live feed |
Celebrating over the fence |
I’m hoping my second ironman experience will be very
different, I want to be in the race in a different way, I want the run to be
like the bike and swim, where I am prepared to fight for my placing, fight for
a podium spot, give everything in a totally different way. But I have learned along this journey that if
that doesn’t happen, that’s ok. It’s not going to stop me from trying and it definitely
won’t stop me from competing one way or another.
Now time to rest and recover, heal my muscle and heal my
bones, have fun with friends, do normal stuff, not watch everything I eat, go
out late and sleep in. Then…. We begin
again J
My splits and averages are all available on sportstats for
interested parties!