YOU ARE AN IRONMAN! Part 3

I hit the run down the boardwalk area, and I was feeling good. Spectators lined the walkway and were cheering your name as you passed. We went down a bit of a hill to the turnaround, crossed a mat and came back up the hill. As I crossed the mat, I thought about the people at home watching - they would know I was now running. woohoo! We passed the spot where we dropped our special needs bags earlier (much earlier) that morning, and I thought about how exciting it would be to see those on my second loop. The boardwalk area also ran along the lake, where the race started - again, much earlier in the day. It didn't seem possible that I had been out there swimming hours ago. I was still feeling good, and actually couldn't believe how great I felt. Everything was falling into place and I was having an incredible day!
I ran back past my family and all of Troy's family. Everyone was SO great with cheering for us all day long! I passed 1 mile and headed through town where the streets were just lined with people - lots and lots of friends, families, loved ones, volunteers...just a lot of people. As I came up the road towards a hill, I saw Steve again. He says, "here's Dawn...go Dawn...". I think he was with the husband of one of the Denver athletes. He flew in to surprise his wife at her first ironman. Pretty cool, eh?
I passed mile 2. Still running, people still cheering. This was going well. As I neared the aid station, I reached back in my pocket to grab my baggie of pills (endurolytes, race caps)...I can't find them. Uh-oh. What happened? Did I not shove them into my pocket? Did they fall out? Did the volunteer not know I wanted them? I don't remember and it really doesn't matter - all that matters is that I needed those pills. Anyway, I grabbed gatorade and water at the aid station and filled up my bottle of recoverite (on my fuel belt). Yes, I realize this is an after workout drink, but I used it in the St. Louis marathon and it worked great, so I wanted to use it today. Plus, you get pretty sick of perpetuum after 6+ hours on the bike! I continued to run. I didn't quite make it to mile 3 (a secondary goal for the IM was to run 3 miles off the bike without stopping. It just gets harder to get moving again when you stop, and when you walk once, it's that much easier to walk again). Anyway, I didn't make it all the way to mile 3, which was disappointing. All of the sudden, I was running along and thought - I think I'm gonna be sick. And, sure enough - I was. Alright, maybe now I'll feel better. Nope. As soon as I started to run, I just felt like I could vomit. I was so naseous. I started walking a pretty brisk pace, hoping my stomach would settle down and I could run some more. This is gonna be a really long marathon if I walk the whole thing!
Other thoughts that hit me, however, were around the fact that I had 8 hours to finish the race. I'd almost have to crawl or break my leg on a curb to not finish. That was a relief too - but, after the good start I'd had, I didn't want to take 17 hours for the race. I wanted to get this marathon done and cross that finish line!
I continued to walk and reached this point in the course where you wind through a neighborhood and out onto what seems like the LONGEST stretch EVER - it runs along the lake and up a hill...As I'm walking quickly and every once in a while trying to run - getting sick - back to walking - feeling gross - being bummed - trying to be positive - seeing lot of people coming back towards me...wondering where the turnaround is....I saw Jeff T (works at AmCen too - out of our Mtn. View, CA office), coming from the other direction. I gave him a bit of a cheer. He stopped and talked to me, asked how it was going and encouraged me on. Just a little bit later, I heard Trish (another Denver athlete) comin' up behind me...hey girl. how's it going? I had seen her several times on the bike, and now she was passing me up on the run. She looked good. Go Trish! And, just a tiny bit later, I hear Troy coming up behind me - yeah Troy! He's going strong! He stops and speed walks with me for a bit. We kinda recap the days events and I find out that he had to get in the hot tub to warm up after his swim. Now he looked good and we were super excited that we knew we were going to be IRONMEN! We took a couple pics of each other running (Troy was carrying a disposable camera), and at the next aid station, he took off. GO TROY!!!

Ok, where the heck is the turnaround??? Finally, I see it. It was midway up this hill. I had seen it on the bike ride we did Sat., but just couldn't remember exactly where it was. I was pretty happy to be heading back the other way now. I started to run again. Even downhill was difficult. My stomach was just not having any part of this run. I kept running down the hill and onto the straight part. I hit another aid station and tried drinking some chicken broth, which I promptly saw again. I'm sure I got some of that on me...I'm thinking - cool, I'm gonna smell like sweat and chicken. Mmmmm.

Oh yes, and somewhere in here (before the turnaround) I also saw Jared from KC! He came up behind me too - only he was on his 2nd loop. Awesome! We talked for a little bit too about his race. It was so good seeing all these folks on the course! He was also encouraging me that I would for sure make it - I think he actually said, "you got like 8 hours to do this!" (see, I told you it's hard to remember all these details after the fact - your brain is fuzzy enough after 10,12+ hours out there!)

On this stretch of road, they also had the Ford Motivational Mile. They set up a big archway with a mat under it. When you cross the mat, heading back towards town, it reads your race number. If someone has typed a message for you, you'll see it on the big board up ahead. Well, my brother typed in the following, "D. McPherson, YOU ROCK THE IRONMAN!" It was pretty cool seeing that. I knew I'd be even more excited seeing it next time around!

I have to admit that I walked WAY more than I ran that first half of the marathon. I came back into town feeling sick and a bit disappointed that I was struggling with digestion. I saw Steve walking up the middle of the road. He says, "It's hard, huh?"
I thought that was a funny thing to say. He asked how the stomach was and I explained what was going on. He commented on my pace and just said it was good that I was moving quickly and still moving forward. I think he also said that my family was just a few blocks down the road. So, I continued walking. I think they thought I was mad when they saw me, but they cheered their guts out again! I don't even think I said anything at that point. Just a wave of the hand or something like that. I headed back toward the boardwalk area (or whatever that's called!), down that long stretch - I didn't remember how long it was, 'cause when I passed the special needs folks I told them my # - they were probably thinking, "hello, idiot, you won't be back around here for another hour!" Well, it wasn't an hour, but it was long enough that they didn't need my # so soon. ha ha At least I could laugh about that stuff. I wasn't too mad about the situation. I was just excited to be hitting the 2nd loop and getting my pills!!! I went down the hill and crossed the mat again - I thought, wonder what the folks at home are thinking...did they think I was EVER gonna cross another mat?
I came back up the hill and was so excited to get to my bag. I pulled out the extra baggie I put in there, I took the extra pair of socks and got out the notes I wrote myself (instructions from the coach - put a note in your special needs bag to read when you pick that up). One of my notes said, "Keep moving forward, ALWAYS move forward!" I carried it in my hand. I got out 2 endurolytes, 2 race caps and 2 ibuprofen...now I just needed some water. Bill had walked back towards me and I saw him coming my way. I think he asked if I needed anything, but I'm not sure how much I said...maybe just a shake of my head. Then, he yelled to me - "You're a hero, Dawn...You're MY HERO!" It was pretty cool hearing him cheering for me like that. You don't feel like much of a hero when you've had to walk and when your stomach feels like it's up in your throat. Spectators, family and friends - you just don't know how certain words will just echo with a racer. You definitely do make a difference out there!
As I continued running down that stretch, a tall gal jogged past me. She said, "I've never been called anyone's hero!" and turned back with a smile. I said, "it's my brother..." not meaning anything more than just to let her know it was my brother out there cheering for me. She says, "I would DIE if my brother said something like that to me!" That was just a good reminder (as if I needed one today) of what a great support system I have out there. Yes, it was cool to have so many people out there cheering and pushing me forward. I saw Kim, Bailey, Mom and Dad again, and all of Troy's family.
Then, I hit this section heading out of town where there weren't many spectators. There was Steve, leaning over the railing. I walked over toward him. I was still holding that note I wrote myself and I handed it to him. These were really his words and they had become the mantra for my day out there. He hands me this trial size Secret and says, I thought you could use this...I laugh and say, i know I wreak. We're still walking by the way, and he's a few steps behind so I say, "are you havin' trouble keeping up? Some spectators laughed at that. I asked if he really brought that deodorant 'cause I smell that bad? He admits he just found it on the road and thought it would be funny. Isn't it funny the things that you think about out on a race course? Would I really care if I smelled that bad? I'm doing an Ironman for crying out loud. We talk about my pace again and how if I keep this pace up, I'll be done by 10pm. It's also noted that I'm still sweating, and that's a good thing.
Ok, I'm feeling better. I have some race caps in me, I've seen all my family, friends, etc....I'm good. I start to run a little more. Of course, by this time, my legs are pretty well done with the day. No trouble, we keep moving forward - walking some, running some, walking more, running a bit. Doesn't matter - we're moving. I see Jeff, Theresa, Troy, Trish, some guys I'd been out on the bike with...all coming back the other way. I was excited to see Troy - he looked like he was having a good run and knew he would officially be an Ironman soon!
I got back up the hill to the turnaround and started running again. I felt pretty good, and this time, I think I ran the longest stretch. I grabbed more chicken broth at the aid station and it stayed down. I could see the motivational mile up ahead. I started jogging towards it - wanting to hit that mat so I could read my message again. Now the sun had set and you could see folks heading out on their second loop with glowing bands around their necks. This was what I have watched so many times on tv - and now I'm doing this!
As I got back into the neighborhood that kinda winds around, people are still playing music and cheering for the runners. I hear, "D. MAC!" from up ahead. It's Steve on his bike...coming out to get me. I'm about 2.5 or 3 mile out at this point. No question, i'm going to make it. I'm starving and my legs feel like they're going to fall off, but I'm going to make it. He calls my bro to let the family know where I am. I think they were worried since it was taking so long. I mostly walk, try to run a little. Oh yes, and here's something pretty funny - we're cruising along, chatting off and on...Steve gets choked on some pretzels or something he was eating and starts coughing, coughing...stops his bike and like throws up right there on the road. What? Are you trying to show me up here? See, Dawn, your coach throws up too and he keeps going - is this the moral of the story? That was pretty funny - at least in the state I was in at the time. (I mean, I did make sure he was ok, but don't you find that ironic that i would be asking my coach if he's ok when I'm the one who's been "racing" for 14 hours?!)
I was so happy to get back into town. It was just around the corner and down the road into the finish chute. There was a huge light you could see in the distance. Smarty pants says, "run towards the bright light, dawn" I'm saying, I wanna make sure I have enough gusto to make it up to the light...not really kidding about that part. how much would it stink to run into the chute and stop right before the finish line. We joked a lot, but at that point, Steve says, "you're gonna be an Ironman" - reaches back and grabs my hand - "congratulations! I'll see you behind the finish!"
I know these are lots of details, but these details are what make the entire Ironman experience what it is.
I'm excited! I have chills! I'm beaming ear to ear! I start to run down the stretch. Now there are lots of people lining the street. The sound of the announcer and the music is getting louder and louder. I can hardly believe that this moment is real...am I really getting ready to cross the finish line of my first Ironman?! Just up from the finish chute, lined with bleachers, I hear a voice off to the left side - "Alright Dawn - Kansas City - come on, hunny, just down the chute...you did it!"
Are you kidding me? It's Ben...yes, the Ben I just met yesterday - the Ben who finished his own race FIVE+ hours earlier - he's back here cheering me into the finish chute?! This, my friends, is another classic example of why I LOVE triathlon!

Clearly, there's no stopping now. I'm coming into the section of road, lined with bleachers and bright lights. I can't stop smiling. The roar of the crowd is almost deafening - people are leaning over with their hands stretched out - beating banger sticks together - ringing cowbells - I hear the announcer (kind of) and the music...it's so surreal. Then, right in front of me is the banner - that banner I've seen so many people break through when watching these races on tv - the Ironman banner. I'm running across the mat, the banner hitting my torso, my arms are in the air - DAWN MCPHERSON, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!!!