YOU ARE AN IRONMAN - part 2

I mounted my bike just past the line and started to ride. I heard my dad yell at me and waved to him as he snapped pictures. My family IS AWESOME!!! I was almost giddy as I headed out on my first loop of the bike. Bill, Kim and Bailey were screaming and cheering on down the road, and a little further out I heard Steven yell at me...you really can't know how fantastic it is to have all this support out there!

I was feeling great, happy to be into the 2nd leg of my day. I was comfortable. Immediately, I started my fueling - race caps, endurolytes, perpetuum, water - this will go on all day long. It's a must for keeping it together. It was a gorgeous day too - the course heads out along the lake for a stretch, and I was still smiling. Steve told us to always take a bottle at the aid stations - even if you have some left, dump it and get a fresh bottle. Great advice. I did this at each station. I would typically also grab a gatorade and suck down a bit of that until i hit the bottle drop zone and ditch what was left. I had a system going and it was working. There were definitely some climbs out there, but nothing terrible. And, we had plenty of downhill/flat sections to kinda regroup if needed. I was just taking it easy, cruising along. Again, just trying to keep my own pace - not spend it all - fresh for the run.

There were several out/back stretches, so you were constantly seeing other riders, which was nice. I spotted Troy on one of these stretches...I actually didn't realize he was behind me. I was sure happy to know he was out of the water and hoped everything was ok - he looked good on the bike, and he smiled when I yelled to him as we were passing. I saw him a couple more times out there on the course, so that was great!

I couldn't believe I was already wrapping up the 1st loop of the bike, but I was coming back into town. It was great seeing everyone again as I rode through town and back out to the 2nd loop. I was eager to get to my special needs bag, which was at mile 60-something...mainly 'cause I wanted the chamois butter and my Coke. ;-)
I hit the special needs station and grabbed my bag - this was the only time I actually stopped on the bike. I quickly re-filled my perpetuum, grabbed the Coke and drank a few swigs, and used the chamois butter. I was off for the remainder of my ride. It seemed like the wind had picked up a bit, but maybe I just didn't notice it the first time out. It was also getting warmer out there. I still just took it easy and tried to spin up the hills and continued to feel pretty good throughout the ride. I can't remember exactly when, but somewhere after mile 80, I spotted my friend, Chris Vincent - he and his family recently moved to CDA, and I knew he'd be volunteering somewhere on the course, but I wasn't sure where. I yelled his name and it was pretty exciting to see him. I was getting ready to get my hiney off the bike. I started thinking about the run and was thinking - this is really turning out to be a great day.
As I came back into town, I saw/heard my family whoopin' and hollerin' for me...I had the short down and back to do, and while it was flat, I tried to just hold off and spin it out so the legs wouldn't be cooked for transition to the run. I dismounted my bike and a nice fella took it from me and pointed me toward the bags/tent.
T-2
I got to the tent and a nice gal (I think her name was Chris too) helped me get ready for the run. I changed shorts, and put on my tri tank in place of my jersey. I grabbed my fuel belt and thought i shoved the baggie of pills into my back pocket. I put on my visor, rubbed some vasaline on my feet, put on my socks and tennis shoes and headed out the tent. I walked past a line of volunteers who were there SOLELY to apply sunscreen to all of us stinky, sweaty, nasty athletes. Yummy. I appreciated it very much, 'cause I could tell I was already a bit burned from the bike. My family was all there cheering and taking pictures - they were really fabulous!