Just over a year ago, this “crazy” guy I know, Rob, suggested that a bunch of us do the Louisville Ironman. For as long as I can remember, I have thought that someday I wanted to do one, so my interest was tweaked. Although I saw the benefits of training with a great group of people, some with valuable experience to draw on, I really didn’t think the timing was right. (At the time of the suggestion I had an 8 month old baby) Oddly, my husband, William Johnson seemed seriously interested in signing us both up. I say oddly because at that time Bill was strictly a duathlete, never having swum for anything more than play. I remember sending out my response to Rob’s suggestion: “Are we crazy for even contemplating this, Bill has never done a tri, and I have never done anything more than a sprint distance and we have a baby”… In honesty I just didn’t think I would be able to get ready to go the distance in time. Although I would consider myself a good swimmer, I never much enjoyed distance freestyle. I had done one ½ marathon about 3 years earlier and disliked it so much I was sort of turned off running other than I had to do it in some sprint tri’s. I also suffered from what I coined “1 hour syndrome”, where it seemed to be right on the hour mark into a race when I was finished! And this was something which they give you 17 hours to do! And how would I find the time between work, a baby, very busy 10 year old daughter, etc. Well the feedback from the group (even some people I had never met) was convincing, a little more persuasion from Bill that we could do it, and it would be a fun adventure together and we took the plunge. What an anxious day signing up was. I came to work to do it, worried that if we did sign up on the same computer it might sell-out before the other had registered. Funny, I think I was more nervous on sign up day then race day. There was no turning back. I will thank Rob for suggesting it, and to him, Bill and others who helped convince me to go for it.
The training:
Bill and I did the time. It was a juggling act to do it, but we managed. It was hard for both of us to fit it in, but at the same time it was nice to have the same goal. We bought a treadmill and a computrainer. Both proved invaluable through the winter and in the evenings/nights, which was often when one of us (or both) were up training. I actually started to like running again, did a few longer races (chilly ½, around the bay 30k, waterloo marathon) and realized if you were prepared they weren’t that bad. I swam through the winter with BMSC as usually, so here I will thank my swim coach Dave and my team-mates who should already know how much I like training and socializing with them. Finally summer (I was going to say decent weather, but well it really wasn’t) and we got together with more great people for LOST (Lake Ontario Swim Team) swims and bike rides. There were numerous people who provided us with Ironman insight, thanks! I will also say a special thanks to my family, who certainly made the training possible by helping with the kids, including my oldest child, Cadence, who watch her baby sister at the pool while I swam or in the playroom while I was in our make-shift home gym (the old dinning room). And then my bike coach deserves a big round of applause, he got me to spin my legs; he gave me tons of tips from biking to nutrition, and even washes my bike. Some of you might know, and yes I am talking about my hubby, you really helped me!!
The race:
3.8k swim:
The start of the race was abit unusual in that it wasn’t a mass swim start; it was a time-trial start, meaning we started one after another (everyone had a different start time). So we were in a long, long line. It was crazy how long we had to walk to get to the end of the line (and we were about ½ way) and then waiting for the line to start moving. Bill and I held hands as we ran down the final ramps to the docks and jumped in. The water was warm and I think that helped me feel relaxed. I stayed off to the side, out of the crowd mostly and even enjoyed the dirty water swim in the Ohio River. I came out of the water, and right in front of me was John Strang (who started after me) but I was comforted by the reminder that I had friends out there doing this too. 
180k bike:
Transition to bike: can I say volunteers and thanks! They helped pull my top on, put on my socks and sunscreen, and even had me chuckling. On to the bike, 6+ hours on that seat, butt I don’t even really know what all I thought about. I fed off the crowd in La Grange (small town where fans lined the street) I was evening whooping right back! I got off my bike at about the ½ way and got my pre-packed food bag and had a little picnic. And then I got back on to ride home.
Time = 6hrs and 15 min.42.2k run (a marathon):
The run was an out and back on the bridge over the Ohio River and then a double out and back. So we saw people up to 5 times. This was when being part of the IM LOST team really was fantastic. Seeing each other (in our fancy new outfits) really kept me going. I smiled most of the way through the day (yes my jaw was sore when I was done the day along with just about every other inch of me), but the last 10k it was getting harder to smile, my muscles were seizing, my tummy was playing tricks on me, etc. But having our names on the race bibs meant fans and volunteers would say “Go Melanie” etc, and it helped me to keep going and keep smiling! There was that great feeling when you realize even if you crawled your way to the end, you knew you were going to make it to the end and that was all that mattered! And then there it was the finish-line…I kept looking up reading Ironman, because I really couldn’t believe it. I was an Ironman. And there right when I finished was my daughter Cadence and my dad and we hugged (there were a few little tears maybe). It was so amazing! Time = 4hrs 35 min
Total Time = 12 hrs 13 minPost-race:
I think my endorphins were on overload, I basically fainted. Recovered in the med tent just fine, but a bummer not to see others finish and celebrate.
Summary: This was an amazing, amazing experience and event. All of the IM LOST group finished and having them out there was icing on the cake! I had a really good day, and I don’t really know where that came from, but I did ask friends to send me their energy and well you really came through for me! Thanks for all the support, encouragement and well-wishes!
The future:
Another? Definitely! Bill is excited to do another next year, currently thinking Wisconsin. We will not do the next one together due to logistics with the kids at this time, but I want to do a ½ next year and it sounds like there will probably be a good group together again. And then we are thinking Lake Placid in 2011, its a little closer and the kids will be a little older, so currently think we would both do it… but who knows what “crazy” things Rob will suggest next??? All I know is I can hardly wait!
Thanks everyone,
Melanie Price
P.S. If you are sitting on the fence, take the plunge! You won’t regret it!
P.S.S. I also want to mention some friends who have "tri" related business, who helped me out:
- Mike Hetherington at Grand River Cycle was my bike and bike part supplier and an old friend from swimming and also the leader of my 1st group rides. Mike got me all fit up on my 1st tri-bike.
-Petra Haneberry my USANA supplement consultant, had me feeling strong and healthy as ever, another swimming friend
-Tom Schopf my wedgie supplier (not quite what it sounds like). The wedgie is the tool kit holder on the bike and waterbottle cage all very aerodynamic. I was one of the 1st to showcase it in an Ironman, what an honour, thankfully didn't have to open the toolkit during the race, but I did find the access to the waterbottle easier than with the old cages and my small bike frame! Tom I met at swimming but is also a tri training friend too.
-Julie Redford/Richards my massage therapist, for the first time in my life I started going for massages, and Julie having done an Ironman herself, was exactly what I needed, and I can't figure out what took me so long to start having massages!
My race photos: http://www.asiorders.com/estf.asp?EVENTID=45833&PWD=&BIB=1384
Bill’s race photos: http://www.asiorders.com/estf.asp?EVENTID=45833&PWD=&BIB=1179
