That's a lot of miles for a tattoo....: July 2008

Well...I did it...I am an IRONMAN!!

On Wednesday, July 16, I left for the airport at 4:30am to head to Lake Placid, NY to see my dream come true of becoming an Ironman. Julie and I were on the same flight so I met up with her at the airport. We arrived in Albany around noon and got the rental car and then waited for my parents to arrive on their flight from Charlotte. Once everyone was there we jumped in the car and headed north to Lake Placid. The 2 hour drive was beautiful. That area of the country is so awesome and my parents had a great time reminiscing about growing up close to there. We got to Lake Placid around 6 and found the lodge I had rented for the week. It was about 1/2 mile from downtown Lake Placid which was great and it had lots of space to spread out and relax. That night we just went to the grocery store and went to bed.

Julie and I got up on Thursday and headed down to Mirror Lake for a swim. All of the transition area was set up which was and awesome site. We were definitely at a different level of competition. We met up with Rob and Nick at their hotel room to wait for our bikes and bags from the Bike Sherpa guy. Once we got all of our stuff we swam for a few minutes, biked the run course, and then ran for about 15 minutes. It felt good to look at the course and get familiar with what we would be doing that Sunday. After our quick workout Julie and I headed back to the lodge to change and then went back to the Olympic Oval (where the transition area and expo where set up) to meet up with my parents. They had been walking around downtown doing some shopping and checking out the area. Lake Placid is a very cute town and all of the Olympic stuff is still set up. You can see the huge ski jumps in the distance, the Olympic Center where the "miracle on ice" took place is right downtown, and the speed skating oval is where all of our race stuff was happening. We walked through the expo and bought some Ironman Lake Placid logoed gear...because that's the most important stuff really. I got tri shorts, a bike jersey, and a hitch cover for my car. After that we headed up to the high school to go through registration. At that point it was real. They make you sign all of these releases...which is smart I suppose...ha. Then you get weighed in and you pick up your packet of race numbers, swim cap, 5 plastic bags, etc. It's a little daunting but luckily I left Nashville overly organized. We dropped Julie off at her hotel Thursday night and then mom, dad, and I headed to Saranac Lake to have some really great pizza for dinner...I love food in the northeast!

Friday was a low key day. I was going to go swim but when I got down to Nick and Rob's room (which was right by the swim start) Nick was going over to the Active Release Tent for a free session. I was all about that so I threw my wetsuit in the car and headed over with him. It was amazing! It was pretty painful but I left feeling so much looser in my hips and in my shoulders. I went back to the lodge after that and picked up mom and dad to show them the run course and the great view of the ski jumps from River Rd. which is the out and back portion of the run. Grandma and Grandpa arrived that afternoon which was great. After they got there I organized all of my bags for the race. There are 5 of them so there is a lot to think about but I had organized it all before I left so I didn't have to worry about it much. That night I went to the welcome dinner and mandatory meeting for the race. The dinner was very motivating and inspiring...kind of made the reality of all of this set in. The "voice of the Ironman" Mike Reilly hosted the dinner. They brought up the oldest and youngest competitors, people that had done all 9 previous IMLP races, and a woman that had lost 97 pounds leading up to this Ironman. They also acknowledged the first timers....which was pretty much our entire group and felt really awesome to stand up as future Iromen. Paula Newby-Frasier also spoke at the dinner which was very cool...she's a legend at this distance and it was pretty neat to see her in person.

On Saturday dad and I got up and went for a run down to the Olympic Oval. We stopped at the Active Release Tent to be adjusted one more time before the race and we also stopped at the Tanita body scan scales. They told me I was pretty darn healthy which is good considering all the training I've just done. We ran back to the lodge and picked everyone else up. I threw all of my race bags in the trunk and rode my bike downtown to check everything in. At this point I was getting pretty excited. I wasn't really nervous at any point...more anxious I think. I found my spot on the bike rack...row 42...and then I hung my bags in my spot. That was it...I was all checked in and ready to rock! Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, and I then got in the car and drove the bike course. We stopped for lunch on the way where we ran into Julie and her sister and brother in-law. I'm so happy we drove the bike course because I could see that the hills weren't at all as daunting as some people had made them out to be. I also took note of the potholes in the roads and the big downhill where you can get up to 50 miles per hour. At the end of the driving the bike course I felt great. Those hills were not as bad as I had anticipated and I was well trained for them! Linda and Dan arrived that night and it was so great to see them. Linda cooked dinner that night...pasta!! I talked to Meghan that night and she wished me a big "good luck." We all missed her and were sad that she couldn't be in Lake Placid but I'm glad I got to talk to her before the race. After dinner I showered and mom braided my hair for race day. I went to bed around 10:30 but didn't sleep much that night.

My alarm went off at 4:30am. It was race day...Ironman day! I got up and put on my race gear...this was it...I was going to become and Iroman today. I choked down 800 calories of breakfast which included a banana and two Baker Breakfast Cookies, one with peanut butter. As soon as everyone was up and dressed (in their "Marne's Ironfans" t-shirts...love it!) we jumped in the car and headed downtown. Mom and Dad dropped me off at the transition area so I could put food on my bike and check my Dry Clothes bag in as well. I saw Bert, Rolf, and Lisa in the transition area. I got my bike set up, clothes checked in, and headed over to body marking where I met up with my family. I ran into Dana in that area. After body marking we all headed over to the lake. I had to check in my Special Needs bags so after that was done it was time to say our goodbyes and then head to the lake. I ran into Rolf and Nick at the swim start and also Coach Kathleen and Rod. Coach Kathleen gave Rolf some pointers on the swim start and then to me to "get in the middle of it" which was fine with me! I was ready to rock! At this point it started to sprinkle...

The swim was by far the most ridiculous part of the race. There were bodies everywhere...arms flying...legs flailing...it was like salmon spawning. The first loop was rough with all 2300 racers starting at the same time. Luckily I'm a strong swimmer because I can't imagine that swim if you weren't very confident. After the first loop we got out of the water and ran across the beach for about 12 feet and got back in the water. The second loop was much better since it had spread out a bit. I found the cable that runs the entire loop of the swim so I didn't have to sight much at all which was nice. On the second turn of the second loop I got kicked in the face which hurt pretty bad but I just checked for blood and carried on. I got out of the water and headed over to the wetsuit strippers which a very interesting experience. You pull your wetsuit down to your waist, sit down on your butt, hold your legs in the air, and two people yank your wetsuit off for you. We then had to run a block down the road to the transition area where you grab you "Swim to Bike" bag which has everything you need to bike. I ran into the women's changing tent which was very chaotic and dark. I just stood right by the door since it had the most light and changed into my bike gear. I packed up my swim stuff and put it in the bag and headed out to get my bike. At this point it was raining harder...

As you are running out of the changing tent they yell out your number so someone can get your bike for you. No one heard my number so I had to get my own bike but that was ok. I sludged through the mud and started my first loop. The bike course wasn't that bad in regards to the hills. The only iffy thing was the rain. It was pouring. I had to be very cautious on the first loop because I wasn't sure how slippery the roads were and exactly where the pothole were. I felt like I rode the first loop strong but with enough left in me to push the second loop. I stopped at my Special Needs bag after the first loop and my parents had put my arm warmers in my bag...thank goodness! It is chilly going down those hills at 40 miles an hour in the rain. I swapped out my food, put my arm warmers on, and headed back out for loop number 2! The second loop was definitely a little harder but I pushed it a little more on the downhills and in certain areas where I felt like I knew the terrain from the first loop. The last 15 miles of the bike were the longest. The last hill before you head into Lake Placid is called Papa Bear and it was lined with people just like the Tour De France. It wasn't that wide because of all the spectators but that was so awesome...I needed every ounce of their cheering. The spectators and volunteers were incredible on the bike course. They were very motivating and were having so much fun even though it was raining all day.

I was so happy to get off my bike and start running. I gave my bike over to a volunteer, got my "Bike to Run" bag, and headed to the changing tent again. This time it was a lot less crowded. I had someone helping me with all my stuff which was nice. She packed up all my bike stuff and rehung it on the rack for me. I threw on my run stuff and headed out for lap number 1. It was really an uneventful first lap which is a good thing. I just kept a good pace and knocked off the miles one by one. As I came into Lake Placid at the end of my first loop I started to get a little choked up but then quickly realized that I still had 13.1 miles to go and that I needed to pull myself together. The second loop was as good as the first loop. Miles 18-21 were tough but I had seen a sign that someone had made and it said "Pain is temporary, Ironman is forever." I just repeated that over and over and over for the last 10 miles and that got me through. I stopped taking Hammer gel around mile 16 and went with pretzels and chicken broth which were awesome. I held off on the Coke until mile 22 and I'm glad I did. It gave me just enough energy to get into Lake Placid where I knew the crowd would take me the rest of the way. It is amazing how adrenaline takes over. As I rounded the corner of River Rd. that lead back into Lake Placid I had four miles to go. Four miles and I would be an Ironman...and it wasn't even dark yet! Those last four miles were the best. I made it up to the last out and back part of the course (which was probably the toughest because it passes right by the finish line) and at the bottom of the hill there is are two arrows. One arrow says "2nd loop" and the other says "finish." I happily headed towards the finish. I entered the Olympic speed skating oval to lots of cheers and excitement. I don't think I've ever smiled that much in my life. I saw my family right at the finish line and gave them a high-five and at that moment I heard the words that I had been waiting my whole life to hear: "Marne McLyman from Nashville, Tennessee...you are an IRONMAN!"

After I crossed the finish line I got my medal, my finisher t-shirt and hat, and got my picture taken. Then I headed straight to the medical tent. I didn't really have that much wrong other than really tired legs and some numbness in my arms and hands. Someone told me it was very warm and dry in the tent. That was all I needed to hear! In the medical tent they weighed me, took my temperature, and my blood pressure. They also went and got my bags from outside and helped me change into my dry clothes. I think the second I got those dry clothes on I was a new person. I also got a cup of hot chicken broth and a banana which helped tremendously. They put a very large garbage bag on me, gave me my bags, and I headed outside to reunite with my family. Everyone was so excited and Mom was especially happy that it was over...haha! On our way to the car Meghan happened to call so I filled her in on all the details of the race. She was watching my progress in Richmond, VA with Aunt Judy.

It was an incredible journey. I finished in 13 hours, 25 minutes, and 15 seconds...twenty minutes faster than Coach Kathleen's anticipated finish time for me. I couldn't have asked for a better day. My family was incredible as well. I saw them at every point that I crossed through town except for after the first loop of the run because I was too fast...haha. They stood out in the pouring rain all day and cheered me on. There's nothing like seeing a familiar face when you really need it. Coach Kathleen and Rod were out there all day as well and every time I saw them their jaws were on the ground because of how good I looked and how well I was doing...very cool! I ended up finishing 7th out of 20 in the Athenas 39 and under which is pretty darn good for my first attempt at this distance. I was also the youngest in the group so that makes me think big things are to come.

I found out the next day (which was blue skies and sunny) that we got over 2 inches of rain on race day. Thank goodness I love to race in the rain!! Stiff and sore would be an understatement for how we all felt on Monday but none of that mattered. We were all Ironmen! Linda and Dan had to leave early but the rest of us went down to the Olympic oval on Monday morning to buy some "finisher gear" at the Ironman store. It was pretty wiped out but I got a few things to remember this awesome experience. I also ordered my race photos which ended up being really awesome. The rest of the day we checked my bike back in with the Bike Sherpa guy and just piddled around town. That night I went to the celebratory dinner and told stories about the race with all of my friends.

Grandma and Grandpa left Tuesday morning and Mom, Dad, and I went to the top of Whiteface Mountain in a gondola. It was an incredible view! We also stopped in the Olympic Museum which I loved, of course. That night we hooked up with Julie, Rob, and Nick for one final dinner in Lake Placid.

We headed back to Albany on Wednesday morning for our flights back home. I can't believe that it is over. It's amazing how fast 13 hours, 25 minutes, and 15 seconds can fly by. I couldn't have asked for a better race, a better group of spectators, or a better group of people to do this race with. My dream of becoming an Iroman has come true! I see an M-Dot tattoo in my future!

The most beautiful words: "Marne McLyman from Nashville, TN...you are an IRONMAN!"

Photos from the race: http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=234473870/a=53714308_53714308/t_=53714308