I am an Ironman

First of all....THANK YOU everyone! I am truly amazed and humbled by all of you following my Ironman journey. It was an amazing experience, one that I will not forget, and I sure to repeat!

This morning, I feel good...not great, but I did put in 140.6 miles in yesterday (10,700 calories!!!) The balls of my feet hurt (which is causing me to walk a little funny) and my knees are a little tight, but besides that I feel pretty darn good. I am going to go for a swim a little later today. The results show that I was 96 (over-all!) out of the water...and 116 (in my age group) off the bike. I ended up finishing 114 out of 127 in my age group. Not too bad for my first Ironman. There was a full page of DNF's (did not finish) the bike!

The day...my perspective

Woke up at 5:00 am after an amazing night's sleep. I was really surprised that I slept so well. Corey woke up with me and made me pancakes. Met Kelley at 5:45 and we walked down to the race center. Got my bike totally set-up and got body-marked. Got a ton of "good-luck" hugs from staff and friends and yes, even fellow athletes (that were strangers). At 6:30 am we headed down to the water...

The Swim

My projected time for the swim was 1:45 - 2:00 hours. I have found a love for swimming, but didn't realize how fast I was. (Those dumb, do nothing drills really do something!) The pro's started at 6:50 am...and the rest of us age-groupers started a 7:00 am. Once the gun went off, I walked into the water and across the LONG sandbar (probably about 50 yards into the water...no exaggeration.) Took a dive in and started the swim. My goal was to be done with my first loop in an hour; knowing that I have a tendency to do negative splits on the swim.

The first loop was crazy. I was lucky, since I was passing people, I didn't have a ton of people crawling over me, elbowing me, or kicking me as they went by. I was able to pick my line and go for it. To properly picture the swim, picture putting 200 people in a standard pool and telling them all to swim. It was literally the agitation cycle of a washer! My only casualty was a kick in the nose by a guy whom was Breast Stroking, instead of Freestyle. VERY ANNOYING! And getting kicked in the face by someone wearing FINS! Can you say illegal???

I rounded my first loop and saw that I had done it in 46 minutes!!! SWEET! AND I felt GREAT! Back into the water my second loop, which was much easier. I decided to swim on the inside of the buoys, and then head out to round the corner buoys. I was able to swim 100 -200 yards at a time without anyone getting in my way. It sure does feel nice to be able to open up and swim. During my second loop, I saw Katie Burke, and was able to say "HI" and she promised me a Margarita after the swim. Informed me that the boys were behind me and to "Keep Swimming!" Around the second to last buoy I saw Tim, the Swim course director, and I said Hi. He too said no socializing...get to swimming.

I got out of the water in 1hour 26 minutes! An amazing time...I could have swam more. It was incredible.

The Bike....

The bike was NOT the swim. I was thrilled that I had gotten onto the bike course an hour ahead of time. When I first got onto the bike and pedalling down S. Thomas, I was nailing my race pace, and my legs felt great! THEN...the winds hit. I can't even express to all of you how strong of a head wind we had. It slowed me to 14 mph, and I was giving it all I could give. It truly hurt. The winds were a NE wind. The first half of the bike ride STUNK.

If it weren't for all of you that were cheering me on and support me for the past 6 months; for my husband who has put in so much time (and $$$), my children whom were very understanding, for my parents and in-laws that have given time to watch the kids, my coaches for pushing me and always filling me with positive thought, my friends and their encouragement, my team-mates and making the long trip, and not letting down the NAS Staff...I would have called it a day around mile 40. The first 40 miles I had the following repeating in my head "This is a really stupid idea..."

At mile 48 we picked up our special needs bags. My bags had all my nutrition needs; Hammer Gel, more sports legs, additional salt tabs, and most importantly FOOD. With my crazy stomach, I had to make sure I had the right foods (very planned out) for the ride. Well, the volunteers couldn't find my bags. SO, the last half of the race (62 miles) would be done without food, gels, salt tabs or Sports Legs. I was scared...then I remembered what Paula Newby-Fraiser said to me; "If something doesn't go right....deal with it " So, that's what I did. I couldn't do gels, but the aid stations had oranges and I knew my stomach would tolerate that, plus the Vitamin C and natural Sugars would give me the boosts I needed. 62 miles of oranges....

At around mile 55 we hit our only tail-wind. AHHH the glorious tail wind. It lasted 10 short miles, but enough to make you think "I can make it". We made another turn, and we hit the worst portion of the course...40 miles of head-winds and roads that were so rough, you thought you were riding cobble stone. It took so much out you physically, not one athlete was doing GREAT. We were all tired of the winds, the rough long boring roads.

Ironically, miles 75-95 were my best. I loved being on my bike, and knowing that I was DOING an Ironman. The thought of not making the cut-offs were behind me, as I took in the moment. (Many moments.) I was already planning my next IM...maybe Canada, maybe Madison???

Got off the bike earlier than expected (thanks to the swim), but spent more time on the bike than I thought I would. My over-all bike time ended up being 7:48:48. We had anticipated a 6 hours / 30 minute bike time. But, with the winds and lack of nutrition...I was fine with the time.

Finally, the Marathon...

Had a very fast transition. Took in some Hammer Gel (thankfully I had some in my T2 bag.) and off I went. Corey and Dee were both there cheering me on. I informed Corey that I had not had any food and just had my first Hammer Gel (similar to Gu) in 62 miles. BUT, I was going to do this run!

I felt good coming off the bike; but it only lasted a short while. I kept a decent pace the first 13.1 miles. I walked / ran and kept a 16 minute mile pace. I attempted to eat some solids (cookies and bananas), but my stomach was not having any of it. I threw up what I attempted to put in it. (This was not good...)

The second half marathon, I had enough. BUT, Corey was there to cheer me on, again. As was Katie Burke (she was working the Run Special Needs), and of course my wonderful CDA Iromman Director, Andy. All of them had smiles on their faces and cheers telling me "I was going to make it!" I had 4 hours to do the second half.

I was in tears, my body was shutting down, I could only sip Chicken Broth, and more than a few ounces and it too would come right back up. It was at this point, that I started to allow myself Cola. Every aid station, the Cola went in...and didn't come out. It kept me going.

Corey walked with me off and on, cheering me on and at times, just being a silent partner. My right hip was hurting, my head was pounding, and I was having dry heaves. PLUS, I was starving. My pace dropped to 20 minute miles...but I kept pushing on. I started to set mini-goals. I would walk for 10 minutes, run for 5...then push myself to run to the next aid station...or maybe just 5 more minutes. Then entering the park, the goal was to be out of the park no later than 10pm. (That would put me at mile 21 at 10pm...giving me 2 hours to do 6 miles.)

I made the goal of 10pm. I was out of the park at 9:55 pm. Then, the port-o-potty hop started. How could I have to go to the bathroom so often with nothing in my stomach??? AND, I could barely hold myself up, non the less, hover over a potty. But I managed.

The end result???? A Marathon time of 6:44:13

The FINISH

I ran down the mile long shoot. Andy Emberton was the first person I saw standing there cheering for me. He had tears in his eyes, and I could tell I made him proud. I quick HI and a Hug and I was off. The next person was Sabina Milbrath...she came out and started running with me, telling me that Kelley (one of my training partners) was at the end waiting for me. I was almost there!

The next thing I heard was Mike announce Steve Fraser from Post Falls Idaho...Steve finished right ahead of me...

Then came the song..."Sweet Home Alabama". One of my favorites...then the announcement

"From Post Falls Idaho, your Coeur d'Alene Ironman Volunteer Director, MICHELLE HAUSTEIN....You are an IRONMAN"

The crowds were great, at the finish line was the North American Staff....Several friends from companies that rep (Fuel Belt, Zoot, 2XU, Base) friends, and of course...Corey.

The finish couldn't have been more perfect! Final Time - 16:18:49