MED EXPRESS...The unfiltered version...

Just to let you know, my husband (head honcho of Lovato management) sends out (or has every intention of of doing so...) race updates or reports to all of my sponsors. His reports are somewhat boring....He doesn't talk about how many poops I take race morning or how my lady lip occassionally comes out for a uninvited visit at mile 35, etc. However, I enjoy sharing my unfiltered account of what happens during race day...Here is how today unfolded....

So I have to admit, I had been a little tired coming into this race. I laid in bed all day Friday, turned off my phone, and prayed to sweet Jesus that I would come around before race day.
Becky and I did a pre-race warm-up yesterday. We talked about mostly Becks nutrition and her race as Becky is only 23 and this was her first half ironman. Becky is in Siri's group and races ITU and is a bad ass swimmer....come to find out, she is a bad ass half ironman athlete too:)!

Anyway, my pre-race run yesterday was ok, but biking just sucked. Again, I prayed to Jesus that my legs would come around. After all,I had found out during the race briefing that God had answered my prayers about there being an in water start (this ended up not happening...we dove in off of the docks).

In any case, I didn't have much of a problem waking up at the early hour of 4;30 this morning. I had a cup of weak hotel coffee (not even strong enough to make me poop!). I had a nice breaky of oatmeal, banana, almond butter, gatorade, and water. All was good except the morning ritual. I had been pretty good the past few weeks, not missing a day. I made sure that I took my high powered fiber pills the night before to make sure that I would go...Thankfully, they didn't disappoint. I had to drop the kids off at the pool twice this morning...and they were lush and perfect pre race poops! I was so pleased!

After dropping off my bike, running my pre race warm-up, I had a few words with Becks and we walked over to the docks where we would DIVE!!! Lately, I have been losing my goggles quite a bit when diving. I was so nervous! However, as soon as the gun went off, I was in the water, goggles in place, swimming my heart out! I knew that I was swimming with women that were faster than me. And because the men went off 3 minutes earlier, I knew that I would have the possibility of a lonely swim....until the elite age groupers with wetsuits started swimming over me...not fun! The water was rough today, however, I was pleased to find out that I was only 4 minutes behind Becks and Laurie. That's a great non-wetsuit swim for me. I didn't know it at the time. In fact, in that moment, I was a bit disappointed, however, I have to believe, now that I know the facts, that the swims with the girls are paying off...THANK YOU SIRI!!!!

Off to the bike:
Today I felt like SHIT! The first 45 minutes were torture. My heart rate was average, my bike speed was average, and my legs seemed sick. After about 45 minutes of feeling like ass, I took the all mighty caffeine pill...Yeah for caffeine! I resort to this when I am feeling desperate. In any case, after about 20 minutes, it was game on! I started to feel good. All the sickness in my legs disappeared and I was riding pretty fucking good. It was raining out, the roads were fairly slick, and I was definitely "safely sally" out there as I watched a few of the the pro or elite guys with huge balls bombing the descents and crashing. Guys, It's just not worth it! Even with me being "safe" out there, I think I bettered my split by 3 or 4 minutes from last year...not bad.

On to the run:
I started the run with a full bladder, if you know what I mean. My legs did not feel good. In fact, again, they felt like shit. I couldn't seem to get my heart-rate above 152 no matter how hard I pushed. I had already taken my allowed caffeine pill, and I was thinking focus, focus! Every aid station, I took water and HEED. Finally at mile 5, I had a gush of piss as I ran! I was so excited. I had never been able to run and piss before...Finally...I DID IT!!!! Yeah for me! In my euphoria, I somehow started to run a little faster. I wasn't able to raise my HR, but i had a better turnover. I saw the girls at one of the turn arounds. I thought to myself, ok..they are about 7 minutes back. I didn't stop pushing, but I have to admit, I was a little glad they were back there.

I finsihed the race in first...my first win of the season! YEAH!!! Despite, being a little tired, and a little grumpy (I think this goes with being tired), I won! I am totally excited and elated!

A major thank you goes out to Shannon Kurek and Daniel of HFP racing for taking exceptional care of me and having me at this race. It is one of my favorites!. I won my first race in 1999 where Shannon was the race director and I am stoked to win another one of his races!

Thank you to SPLISH and Brand Betty for my gorgeous outfit. I had tons of compliments...once again. Thank you to FSA for all all of the lightweight components on my perfect SCOTT bike. Thanks to SCOTT Bikes for the best bikes ever. It's no coincidence that I had the fastest bike split once again. Thank you to BLUE SEVENTY for my new point zero that enabled me to swim fast! (By the way, John Hirsh: If you picked up my Blue Senenty by accident, I want it back! Somehow it, along with my favorite goggles were swiped). Thank you TEAM SIRIUS for not only giving me great swim workouts, but also giving me the camaraderie and support that I so needed in training. Thank you too Siri for the Jedi mind tricks during the swim that carry me over to the bike and run. EVERY SECOND COUNTS! Thank you to Lifesport and Dan Smith for giving me tools to win! Thank you to BRC for my pink NIKES...no blisters! A big thank you to Inside Out Sports for my race day triathlon needs. And thank you to Justin's Nut Butter. That stuff is the BEST breakfast food ever! I can not forget TRAKKERS! I am so looking forward to (hopefully) using the TRAKKER at IM CANADA this year so that my family and friends can follow me without having to rely on the unreliable ironmanlive website!

Lastly, I cannot forget my husband who is the CEO of LOVATO management. (I woke him up at 3:30am this morning...I broke my bike computer. He was not grumpy at all when I was frantic trying to fix it while he gave me directions over the phone).
My husband inspires me every day to be a better athlete, a better person, and to never settle for anything less than the best...and that is what I have...the best husband and friend...ever!

Happy Training!