12:10am, 6.29.15: 21 hours in to the day, and it's take to call it quits. Ben's probably going to kill me for this one, but here's the post race truth - he couldn't even get both eyes closed before passing out! Good night from Coeur d'Alene!
11:59pm, 6.28.15: It's officially over. No one else is allowed to endurance after the seventeen hour cut of time. Well, of coarse you could, but you wouldn't get the medal, or technically be able to call yourself an Ironman. The race started an hour early, so this year's cut off was 11pm.
After going back to my aunt's, showering, and eating dinner #1, we headed to Crafted - (which I would totally recommend): to drink a celebratory beer, and order dinner #2: Chicken and waffles and a warm pretzel.
With thirty minutes left to go, we headed down to the finishers shoot to cheer the last few people home. The crowd was having a big party! I don't know who these finishers are, but they are amazing!
5:27pm, 6.28.15: Race Bling! *and for the record, Ben's sign language pre bike and during the run, were apparently him being funny. I wouldn't have guessed that one, but I'm glad to hear it!
4:49pm, 6.28.15. He's been found. Sitting with his feet up and chugging his water. He must still be recovering. I got a wave, but he's not in good enough shape yet to come over and say hi;). Unofficial results are in:
4:33pm, 6.28.15: I lost Ben near the finish, so I thought I'd share that he's done. Tenth in his age group! More updates to come.
4:10pm, 6.28.15: I just got a high five as Ben raced by to finish up his last mile!!!
Sorry about all the crumby pictures today, these athletes are fast!
4:03, 6.28.15: Should have less than two miles, maybe even less than one. I'm on the look out. Blogging and looking is a difficult task. Like walking and chewing gum.
3:55pm, 6.28.15 ...And then there was the guy that I mistoke for Ben at the last mile (similar kit, hat, shoes, and build).
Hope he appreciate my enthusiasm as I screamed, "Go Ben!!! You've got to chase a few guys down!!!" Then I realized his head was shaved bald. I put my head down as quickly ran away.
3:46pm, 6.28.15: The pace is getting slower, but I know he's got less than five miles to go. The clock is at 9:59, so this won't be a sub 10 hr finish, but as of now I only see three people in Ben's age group that have finish! He was twentieth when he started the run. With three done, I hope he can find those last 16 to pass!
3:07pm, 6.28.15: I just watched Heather Jackson, the leading female, sprint down Sherman on the way to the finish line. She finished in 9:23:27. Comparatively, Andy Potts, the leading male, wrapped up the finish line in 8:20:35.
It's so hot out, that just standing in the sun is making my black sand led burn the bottom of my feet. I finally took shade in a restaurant with a view of the final run stretch.
Ben's crossed over in to the twenties now. An hour or less until he reaches the finish. If I were him, I'd dive right in that lake that is right next to the finish line. That would be about all that could motivate me at this point. I've done plenty of races in the heat, And it doesn't seem to get any easier. I can't speak for the entire course, but anywhere I've been, there hasn't been the slightest glimpse of shade. Ouch!
2:20pm, 6.28.15: Finally spotted Ben on the run course. Thankfully I was near the half way point where the athletes turn around, so I got to see him twice. The first time he passed I got the same sign language as I did this morning when he finished the bike. I tried to think what he might be wanting? Then it hit me, he probably wanted an update on his ranking in the race. The racers can track all their own individual numbers, but the way the race works, it's hard for an age grouper to understand where they rank during the race. In the past I had an awesome tracker that gave me updates at every split, in terms of rank. I'd tell that to Ben, and he'd use it for motivation to press a little harder. Unfortunately that app isn't updating right:(. I didn't have the heart to tell him, so when he ran past the second time, I yelled, "you started the run in the top twenty!" That seemed to work. I finally got a smile.
Temps have officially reached triple digits. I've seen a lot of athletes walking, but I've also seen a lot of people bringing it despite the circumstances. It takes a lot to be an ironman. If all plays out as expected, Ben will be a four time ironman in less than two hours.
1:47pm, 6.28.15: We're at least 8 miles in to the run. I've lost Ben out on the run course, but I've now planted myself at the corner of lakeside and 5th, and hope we'll see each other soon. I need to consult the course map to determine when I should see him next, but I can tell he's ready for the encouragement. I see the heat is getting to him, and everyone else out there. His pace is averaging about 8:45 per mile, where he'd typically be clipping at 7:30 per mile. The race is long from over, and this roller coaster ride still has some twists and turns. I hope he's able to take in nutrition. The heat, or dehydration, has a way of making you not want to take in calories. Ben, I ate a kiddie ice cream cone in your honor. Hope you could feel that little jolt of energy.
12:45pm, 6.28.15: I was trying to entertain myself while waiting for the bike leg to end. I've been up since 3am so please excuse the following: I decided it would be "cool" to take a selfie with some of the bikers in the background. This proved a little more difficult than expected, because of their speed, and trying to time the camera right. After about the 8th attempt I finally got it! As I spun around I saw Ben whizzing by me as he finished the bike! Luckily I noticed while he was still in ear shot, so I was able to yell a "Go Ben!!!" from behind. Darn selfies, always getting people in trouble.
The best part is that I later checked the pictures and I happened to get the front end of Ben in the pic! Redemption.
5:27:05 on the bike, and the run begins! According to the tracker, he finished 20th in his age group. The run is where it gets interesting. Stay tuned!
11:52am, 6.28.15: I finally got an update! Ben should be wrapping up the bike within the hour. Twenty or fewer miles to go now, I'm sure he's ready to check that box of the day's list. I see his pace slowed a bit in the most recent segment to about 19 miles an hour. Could have been a flat tire, heat, fatigue, or a hill. I just hope he's mentally in good spirits. You really have to be when you start that run, because there's still a lot more to endure at that point. Go Ben, Go. You've got this. In heat like this, I have to believe that doing well, means you held your *hit together better than everyone else. Because today is not a PR kind of day.
*finished 19th in his division on the swim
11:12am, 6.28.15: I finally found a corner where I can spectate the bike and run at the same time (corner of northwest and Lakeside). I may, or may not have, taken a short detour down to the lake for a swim. Unfortunately I don't know exactly where Ben is one the bike right now. The tracker is telling me he's somewhere between mile 70-90, which is an hour difference!
A guy just went by that they announced is an officer in the military, lost his sight while serving, and is doing the ironman race as a blind athlete. No Limits, No Excuses. That's why this sport is always awesome to watch!
9:54am, 6.28.15: The most recent update I've got is through mile 63 on the bike. It looks like he's averaging about 21 miles per hour. I found his detailed race plan, and he seems to be on pace for his goal of 21.67 miles per hour.
Yes, he calculates down to the .67 of a mile pace...but any Triathlete reading this wouldn't find that noratic. The rest of us? Well let's just say, if I get out of the house within ten minutes of my plan, I consider that on time.
Hoping that things continue smoothly on the bike. I assume a lot could happen out there in the heat with tubes expanding and the pavement scorching rubber. No one wants to blow a tire on race day.
Ben always tells me that his favorite part is the run, because once you get to the run, you know any mechanical issues are behind you. Then it's just up to your legs not to cramp up. Sounds easy enough, right?!
9:07am, 6.28.15: Well, it's 9am and already 86 degrees out. I just checked, and by the time Ben starts the run between 12-1pm, it will already be 100 degrees! I'm on a 4 mile walk along the lake. It's beautiful here, but I forgot how blah walking can be! To a non runner, I understand how ironic this might sound, but it takes so long to cover tale same amount of ground as running! Normally I'd have gone for a run, but I didn't want to sit in sweaty clothes all day in this heat. Fitting that we paid good money for Ben to do just that. Those athletes are gonna be EXTRA ripe by the finish line. gross;). Here's a view of part of the bike course, over the bridge:
7:43am, 6.28.15: The bike is always that strange large block of time, that as a spectator, it's hard to watch because it's Long and spread out. It's 112 miles the athletes are riding, and as spectators-leaving town isn't really feasible with all the roads blocked off. So this is when I like to get in a workout (typically a long run-but today I'm opting for a hike along the lake), find a coffee shop, and read a good book. So far Ben's probably about 20 miles in to the bike. His average pace shows about 21 miles an hour. The course supposively gets hilly in areas, so the pace will likely fluctuate. The faster he bikes, the sooner he gets on to the run...and the sooner he can get on the run, the more he can avoid the heat of the midday sun. I know they will be keeping an extra eye on all the athletes today. 108 degrees is no joke, people go down in that as they push their limits. Praying everyone remembers to drink up, and knows their limits. It's a fine line with these athletes, as they've trained to endure pain.
6:53am, 6.28.15: He's on to the bike! Official swim time looks to be 1:01:53, close to his goal. I'm interested to see where that will place him for his age group. In the past, he's been top 10 on the swim, but minutes can make a huge impact.
I snapped a picture as he came throughT1. I feel like I should understand what he's doing in this picture...but I don't. Do his hand gestures mean, "wtf, that swim was rough!", or "boom, I just crushed that!", or "why are you embarrassing me in the middle of my race?" It could have even just been a freak thing in light of all the race emotion:)...all are possibilities..but I won't know for HOURS yet...
6:39am, 6.28.15: I couldn't find a good spot to get up close to the swim, so I couldn't see Ben's exact start, but I estimate he's been in the water about 55 minutes. Unfortunately the ironman tracker that is supposed to give me a read on his half way point, isn't updating. I have to believe that's the issue, because the alternative would be that he's 55 minutes in and not even to the half way point yet. Which would mean something went VERY wrong.
For now it's a waiting game. It's the story of all ironman spouses! Thank goodness I find fun in exploring the town. Coeur d' Alene is a beautiful place.
5:50am, 6.28.15: The race is off! Age grouper's started at 5:45am with a rolling start from the beach. You had to line yourself up by estimated swim finish. Ben typically swims the 2.4miles in an hour. This is one area where the heat won't play in to the performance, so I'll be looking for him to finish on schedule. *extra points if you can spot Ben:
5:03am, 6.28.15: Anyone else thinking about dessert at 5am?? My cousin posted this picture on Facebook, and I really wish I had time to bake up a batch of chocolate chip cookie cones for the big finish. Ben's been turning down sweets (except super dark chocolate:) and alcohol for a few months now in prep for the race. Where most of us would use 20+ hrs a week of training as a reason to indulge, it's actually when he's trying to eat the best. I know he's looking forward to beer and ice cream after his body gets itself back together tonight. But chocolate chip cookies are actually his favorite, so this cone would have been the ultimate post race treat. Maybe next year - or next week. The post race indulge season usually lasts about a week, that's about all he can handle!
4:15am, 6.28.15: Arrived on time, which is good, because racers don't like when things don't go according to plan:). Now it's time look through all the gear one last time and mentally prepare. How do you mentally prep for a 9:30-11hr full intensity workout in 108 degrees? Hell, I have no idea. That's why I'm not out there!
6.27.15 7:45pm. My ironman is already fast asleep. The race got moved up an hour because of the heat, so our alarm is set for 2:50am. We stuck to our traditional prerace dinner of turkey and sweet potato shepherds pie with roasted carrots. We've done it for countless running and triathlon races and never had race day stomach issues, so that's a win! The sweet potatoes offer good carbs, the turkey adds lean protein, and the carrots contain a good amount of natural sugar!
Live Race updates every thirty minutes on Race Day, Sunday 6.28. Save the link now so you can refresh the page all day as the story unfolds!
