TURTLES CAN FLY! I AM AN IRONMAN, now tattoo or no tattoo is the question?

Seven hours ago, I became an Ironman.  The day finally arrived after signing up exactly 1 year ago for this challenge of a lifetime when I decided WHY NOT instead of WHY!  After 1 year of committing to complete a 2.4 mile swim, 112 bike ride, and a 26.2 run, I earned the sacred title of an IRONMAN.  My goal was to make all the cut offs in order to beat the time limit of 17 hours.  When I first started training, my abilities would put me close to those marks.  I was a strong swimmer, weak on the bike, and running would be questionable with years of chronic back, hip and leg issues.  For some reason, I wanted to accomplish what my brothers had already done as when I was actively running marathons, I used to joke that maybe by the time I was 65, I could qualify to go to Kona and be an IRONMAN when less people are active.

To complete this far out goal, I asked for my family's blessing, joined a team, found a bike expert to help find a bike that fit and to teach me how to ride it, and surrounded myself with people with the same goal.  My life changed a lot over the past year.  I gained a whole new family and I learned a lot about myself.  The training results in a strong mind and a strong body and a higher level of fitness.  Throughout the day, I felt confident that I could achieve this goal.  It almost seemed easy, but it progressively became harder.  I was slow and steady though my teammates still argue about the word slow.  I was steady.  I was strong mentally and that is how I got over the obstacles that appeared on the course.

My brother posted U2s song in the morning, "It's a Beautiful Day"! and that is what the day turned out to be.  I woke up around 2:40 am to start my morning rituals and my brother picked me up after 4 am to get me to the start on time.  We arrived 2 hours before the race to do final preparation for the day with our bikes and bags.  My family came shortly after and staked out a position on the bridge above the swim start.  Our team stood in a circle while our coach gave a speech and we ended with a "racelab cheer".  Then we hustled to the swim start line where everyone jumped into Tempe Town Lake (all 2500 of my new friends) right after the pro start.  By the time I hit the water, pink and green caps filled the lake with boats and kayaks right along our sides for support and a few words to pump us up were shouted out and THE CANNON WENT OFF.  It was most certainly a test of survival for the first 40 minutes as you fought for your own space in the water.  I questioned again why they start as a mass groups as this is part of the 140.6 tradition.  People of all skill levels starting side by side i s just the beginning of this insanity!  I kept a cool head and lifted my head and regrouped when I got punched, hit, kicked or pulled on and kept moving forward.  Our docile lake turned into a turbulent ocean.   The sun was in our eyes.  My goal was to swim along the sighting buoy line, but part way through one of the kayak volunteers was yelling to swim right.  It was a bit of a challenge to see each yellow buoy on the way out.  Once we got under the bridge to swim toward the first red turning buoy, I was able to enjoy the swim.  I was thankful the water was chilly in the low 60s to numb my arm that has been sore for the past few months from overuse.   I was able to push a little and just enjoy this first part triathlons that make some others so uncomfortable.  I reminded myself to take it all in for this part would quickly be over and then we would get on our bikes.  The orange buoys were easier to spot, however, they did not appear to make a straight line, but more of a curved path to the last red turning buoy.  I am usually a little sad when the swim ends, but I had a big day ahead.  I mentally checked off 1 event and was relieved to survive the mass swim and the cold water temperature and come out of the water ahead of what I expected.  Getting out on the steps and trying to re-orient to a vertical position is an interesting experience in itself.  The crowd makes it even more exciting.  You start running on a path filled with hundreds of cheering spectators, stop for the wet suit strippers to pull off your supersuit (wetsuits feel like they do give you super powers, at least I swim much faster with one on), and continue running into the transition area, grab your T1 bag with all your bike gear and head into the changing tent.  There were volunteers to help you get into your bike stuff which is a great big help when your hands and feet are numb and your body is shivering.  One of my teammates was sitting right next to me and we had another teammate volunteering in the tent helping us.  As fast as you can get out of your swim suit, put your bike gear on including warm shirt, bike jersey, bike pants, helmet, gloves, glasses, helmet and bike socks, you then run into the sea of bikes to your bike rack and grab your bike.  I had to stop a few times to adjust my shoes with my numb hands and then I grabbed little Scottie my bike and ran to the mount line.  It is an exciting time and again the entire transition area is lined with people cheering on their athletes.  The first half mile of the course is also filled with spectators, so gives you a boost of energy on the bike.  My job was to get my heart rate down and go easy on the first lap.  The course was an out and back loop that you had to repeat 3 times.  Our team has trained on it many times, but November brings more wind and today was no different.  The weather forecast had predicted 2 mph winds, but it felt much stronger to me.  The hardest part of the bike course, was the crowded course and having to leave 4 bike lengths between athletes.  The course officials were handing out penalties on the first loop.  I did not want a 4 card for drafting so every time someone passed you, you had 20 seconds to drop back.  Going out to the turn around was tricky to pass others, because you had 20 seconds to get ahead and then stay ahead, so I limited passing to when I knew I could overtake and maintain the pass.  There was a lot of drafting and blocking going on due to the narrow course, but if a reference was not present, no penalty was handed out.  After each loop, you got to ride through the beginning of the course with all the spectators and refuel on energy with the loud roars.  I waived each time I passed the racelab tent.  It was hard to know exactly who was there, but I felt the love.  For some reason today, my aero position that I have been training in did not feel so comfortable and I rode on the top of my bars a lot instead of aero much of the time.  I also needed to stand a lot to relieve the pressure on my bottom and my back.  Despite that, I still felt strong and find my space with a few others going back and forth.  I was thankful for all the great aide stations on the course and was successful most of the time grabbing water bottles.  Again I thought about how this was such a doable event and Ironman no longer seemed so big or out of reach.  As I was fatiguing, I told myself I can't wait to finish and go run a marathon.   I was actually going to be very happy to get off the bike.

It was another happy moment dismounting the bike and handing it to a volunteer who returned it to the rack as once again I ran through transition grabbed my T2 bag with my running gear went into the changing tent and had 2 volunteers help me get out of my bike gear and put on my calf sleeves, socks, tri shorts and top, race belt,running shoes, hat, and stuff my pockets with food.  I ran to the bathroom outside the tent and then was off on the run.  I tried to take it easy and remember how many times we had run on Sundays after being tired from a long bike ride on Saturday in training.  I knew I could go slow and steady!  That is what I do best.  And, that is what I did.  My goal for the marathon was to run the entire way which was big in itself because my running has been very inconsistent and sometimes non existent over the past 10 years.  I had brought the jelly beans I usually take on a long run, salt tablets, and some extra food and used the supplies provided at each aide station beginning with water and Ironman Perform.  The jelly beans and Ironman Perform were not agreeing with my stomach and I started taking shots of cola by mile 8 for the remainder of the race.  Coke is my new best race drink.  It settle my stomach temporarily and gave me a surge after each aide station stop.  Every now and then I tried to eat a piece of fruit or a pretzel, but my stomach really was protesting about putting more solids into it.  I felt thirsty a lot but had trouble quenching my thirst despite using a lot of salt sticks.  I knew the caffeine and water might be cancelling each other out, but I felt it was the only way to control my stomach and it worked.  The other things that made the run more fun was that many of my teammates and a few good friends were volunteering at the aide stations so that gave a needed boost.  The course was a figure 8 loop where you crossed by the transition area 6 times (It was really more like a 3 leaf clover pattern).  This helped break the run up into different parts and I got to pass by my people 6 times along with many other cheering fans.  The course was never lonely.  By the second loop many people were walking.  I was able to sustain a run with my coach's words in my head if you follow your heart rate zone, you will be passing a lot of people during the run!  This was not a typical scenario for me on a run because it is my slowest event and I have earned my turtle title here, but an IRONMAN is about endurance and being slow and steady is a definite advantage.

When I rounded the corner  for the finish the clock said 12:58 which took me by surprise.  I had no idea what time it was because I had to reset my Garmin a few times, so when I saw that I could break 13 hours, I sprinted to the end.  I got a quick "Elizabeth Kozura, You are an Ironman" because there were several athletes finishing close together.   As I crossed the finish and screamed "YES, I DID IT".  One of my teammates was volunteering as a "catcher" and she literally reached out for me, covered me in a blanket and I held on and cried a few tears of joy as she kept me upright while they handed me my IRONMAN finisher hat, shirt and medal, removed my timing chip, got my picture taken and found my family.  One of my coaches also came to take over and held me up and escorted me to my family.  I went briefly the the medical tent for the nausea and had some chicken broth.  Then my family and I found a area with a folding chair and I changed and sipped on clear soda.  My husband and son went and retrieved my bike and gear bags while I recovered more and then we went back to the finish line to wait for some of my teammates to finish.  It was a sweet celebration with lots of hugs.

Though I moved slow and swiftly for just under 13 hours, once you stop, you lose that ability.  That is when the post IM shuffle takes effect.  You walk like you just dismounted a horse and you look like a penguin.  You need help stepping on and off a curb and you would dare take on steps.  Sitting in a chair is not an easy task either.  We made it home and I checked all the hub bub on facebook, got a shower, a drink and a few crackers, and worked my way into my compression gear.  It was hard to turn off and shut down especially after drinking shots of cola all night!  I talked until my husband passed out and then finally closed me eyes.  I slept solid for a few hours, but I am sure I will be taking many naps to catch up over the next few days.

This morning is the post race celebration and award ceremony and the stores puts out finisher gear for purchase.  Many of my teammates who trained along my side this year are heading down to Tempe this morning to sign up for 2013.  I call them the CLASS OF 2013.

So eight hours after finishing my first IRONMAN I do not feel strongly compelled to do another just yet.  It was a joyful experience and everything came together well for race day.  I am one happy turtle.  My biggest question is not what race I will sign up for next, but to get an IRONMAN TATTO like I have promised myself as as symbol of belonging to the club!  I guess I will just sleep on it for now.

If you believe in yourself and you do the work even a turtle can do the unexpected.  I am living proof that TURTLES CAN FLY!