So today is Jan 13, 2017....yes Friday the 13th even.... I have not posted anything here in almost two years. I think my last post was April 2015...Man how things have changed.....
I have traveled and presented at several conference all over the USA since I posted last in 2015. I have even been to Alaska and Australia. I completed all kinds of races. My relationship with Snowman grew stronger and stronger. He has stood by me and literally had to hold me up at times since that horrible day in June, 2016...The worst day of my life.
June 19, 2016, I was out riding my motorcycle with Snowman. When we stop to get some refreshments, I checked my cell phone for messages. I noticed I had missed a couple of calls. One of the calls was from my sons father asking me to call him ASAP. He never calls me and leaves that kind of message so I was concerned and called him back. That was when he told me that we had lost my youngest son Alexander. I then called Alex's wife and she confirmed the news. He was 25 years old. He had only been married for 6 months and his son was not even two years old at the time. His death is the hardest thing I have ever day to deal with...and I have had a lot of shit go on in my life.
The last time I saw Alex was a week or so before. He had stopped by the condo to pick up some paperwork he had there. It was late as he had just gotten out of work. I woke up startled as i felt someone was in the house. I think I must of let out a blood curdling scream when I saw a dark figure in my hallway outside my bed room. He said "Ma, Ma it is OK it is just me....." I remember yelling at him and calling him a "turkey butt". I told him to call me, the next time so he did not scare the crap out of me again! We both laughed. The night before he died I had spoken to him on the phone.
I do not really remember too much details of the next couple of days. I remember a police officer coming to get me to take me home as I could not drive my motorcycle. I remember talking to my mother in the back of the police car and telling her Alex was gone. To this moment, I remember the police officer voice when he came back to confirm the news that my son had died and that I could not go to him.
I remember my family coming over, Angela and Robi-Ann and my niece Kristina. I remember my friends Sue, Rob, and Kara being there that afternoon. I remember a couple of "angles" comforting me when I was on the floor of my garage. I still have no idea who they were, but two women came into my garage and asked to pray for and over me. I know they were real and were there cause Snowman and some of my friends were there at that time and they told me yes they were there. At Alex's services there were over 300 people who came to pay their respects. I was so amazed and touched and honored. I remember being surrounded by them all and those that could not physically be with me that day reach out in many ways....THANK YOU ALL!
I already had planned a mini vacation to go to my nieces wedding in AL in July. When I returned from her wedding I made the decision I needed to go back to work. It was about two and half weeks since Alex's death. I look back now and wish I had taken more time to recover/heal before going back to work. But the people I work with were extremely gracious and supportive. If I was having a day where I was not able to handle being there I could leave and go home. Some days are good and some are bad...but recently the bad ones are becoming less frequent.
It took me a couple of weeks to be able to even think about a run. And a couple of months before it become a "routine" again. The first few runs were so hard as they seem to open up the flood gates of so much emotion. I could barely run at all cause I could not breath. Every breath seemed to cause pain to just shoot thru my body. I would call out to God and ask him why and scream at the top of my lungs on the trail in the woods and beg Him to please make this all a bad dream and just let me wake up.
My Coach Luis helped me train for the 2017 Disney Dopey Challenge. Which I completed last weekend.
It is 48.6 miles of running over 4 days at Disney World. This was the second year I did this challenge. I had a goal of completing all 48.6 miles and a goal of having a better marathon time then my four other 26.2 distance races (4. Dopey in 2016 7+ hours, 3. run portion of IMFL2013 6:34 (ish) 2. Disney Marathon 2010 6:45 and my first marathon in 2008 6:02). I had not run for two weeks prior to the Dopey as work was crazy and I was moving into the new apartment and going back and forth between the new and old places.
My 5k, 10k and Half was all an average runs for me. Time near my average for the last year... I ran the 13.1 the afternoon before in the rain cause the official race was cancelled that morning due to thunder and lightening..Coach told me to skip doing the 13.1 in the rain and I agreed with him on Saturday Morning but by afternoon I had to go out and do the miles. I made commitment and a promise to do all 48.6 miles!
Marathon Morning 2017..it was 30 degrees out with a wind chill of 22 YES IN DISNEY WORLD, in FLORIDA....we were in the corrals for over an hour trying to stay warm before the race started. I was averaging my pace as I thought I would in mile 1 and 2, mile three included a 10 minute porta potty break...I know but when you have to go you have to go!, mile 4 and 5 were good, mile six was tough thoughts of Alex came flooding in and I could not seem to catch my breath, 7-10 were back on track and mile 11 I hit the wall. I would run for a minute or two and then have to walk for a few. Mile 23 I realized if I started to run a little more I may be able to have a time between my two best marathon races. I knew getting a PR was not realistic but if I could do better then my IMFL time, I would be ok with that..I finished in 6:24. I cried all they way from the finish line thru the medal line and until I got to the photo line. Cause we we all know Kellie has to have a good Photo OP!
It has been almost 7 months since Alex died. My oldest son, Craig and his wife Emily and their boys have moved home and they have started new jobs. They bought a house here and I have moved into the in-law apartment. Now I have all three of my grandsons near by. Craig's kids downstairs in the main house and Alex's son just across town... I am one happy Grammie!!!!
I know that Alex would never want me or any of us to stop living cause he is no longer with us. I am sure that he would want all of us to continue being who we are and living our lives.
Alexander, Ma loves and Misses you so much...Until we see each other again in Heaven....
"Hugs and Kisses and Safe Choices".....
I am, Kellie, and I am a former "fat chick with great legs" that after weight loss surgery and losing 125 pounds I now do endurance sports...Marathons and Triathlons!!!! I may never win a race but I am winning the WAR AGAINST OBESITY!!!
Friday, January 13, 2017
Saturday, April 18, 2015
2015 RACES!
2015 Race
2/1/15 Super 5k 30:14. (30:28)
2/28/15 RI Cycles for ALS (4 hrs reg)
3/8/2015 Oceans Run 1/2 Marathon (reg) 2:30:02
3/15/15: New Bedford 1/2 marathon (reg) dns
3/28/15 : Spartan Work Out, Canton, MA completed with Hayley
4/4/15 Jamestown Bridge Run 10k (reg) 1:08
4/12/15: RIDA 5k (reg) 33:28
5/3/15: Prov 1/2 marathon (reg)
5/30/15: Foxboro against diabetes 5k (reg)
6/20/15: Patriots HIM relay (reg)
6/21/15: OMG TRI Volunteer (reg)
6/28/15: Bristol 1/2 Marathon (reg)
7/3/15: FINISH AT THE 50 10k (reg)
7/26/15. Crab Man Sprint TRI (reg)
8/23/15: Warrior HIM Tri (reg)
8/30/15: Spartan Boston (reg)
9/13/15: TriNEWPORT Sprint (reg)
9/19/15 Jamestown 1/2 Marathon (reg)
9/20/15: The Bat Run Middleboro, MA (reg)
9/26/15: Rugged Maniac I nobstacle/mud (reg) 1230 pm
9/27/15: Color Run Providence (reg)
10/11/15: Newport 1/2 Marathon (reg)
11//15: RI 6Hr Ultra Marathon Relay (need)
Thursday, April 10, 2014
2014 Races
SWEET AND SIMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feb 15th, Undie Run, Boston MA
April 6 : Jamestown Bridge 10 K. Rt 138 Narragansett, RI
April 13: RIDA 5K
Goddard Park, Warwick, RI (Run Anniversary)
April 19: JORTS RUN at Scott Carlson Memorial ALS 5k, Goodard park, Warwick, RI
May 4: Cox 1/2 Marathon,
Providence, RI
May 17: Tuff Scrambler, Rehoboth, MA
May 31: 14th Ann. Foxboro
again Diabetes 5k, Foxboro, Ma
June 14: PATRIOTS Half Iron Triathlon, East Free
Town, MA
July 3: Finish at the 50 10K, Foxboro, MA (Gillette Stadium)
July 12:
Jamestown Half Marathon, Jamestown, RI
July 27: Crabman Sprint Tri, South
Kingstown, RI
Aug 9: Spartan Race: Boston Aug 23-24: Cranberry Tri Fest (both
days), Lakeville, Ma
Aug 10: Volunteering at Ride Round Rhode, North Smithfieldm RI
Sept 28: Ruggard Maniac 11 am Heat, Southwick, MA
Oct 12:
Newport Half Marathon, Newport, RI
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
IronMan Florida 2013: I AM AN IRONMAN!!!!!
Well if you have been following my occasional blogs..(I know I have not posted anything since June 2013). You know that for the last year I have been training for IRONMAN FLORIDA. This last weekend November 2, 2013, I completed that GOAL!
Grab a cup of Coffee, Water and some Fuel it is going to be a long RIDE!!!!!
Grab a cup of Coffee, Water and some Fuel it is going to be a long RIDE!!!!!
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THEIR LOVE, SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, ENCOURAGEMENT, KICKING ME IN THE HINEY WHEN I NEEDED IT, HOLDING MY HAND AND PRAYING FOR AND WITH ME WHEN THINGS WERE TOUGH AS WELL AS LAUGHING AND SMILING WHEN THEY WERE GOOD.
THIS IRONMAN JOURNEY HAS BEEN TRAINING FOR OVER A YEAR. BUT TO BE HONEST, IT HAS BEEN A LIFETIME IN THE MAKING!
I am going to start with:
Wednesday October 30…
6 am: Been up since 4 am time to get ready to go to see Dr McNally and get my right shoulder and left foot taped before I leave for Florida.
9 am: pick up Sue and head to TF Green Airport..of course I take wrong entrance to the airport and Sue says I have to go the other way, so as we drive "all away around the airport again", I say to her no you can drop me off over here and she says NOOOOOO…you have to go to departures!!! OK OK so I go to departures and I see Debbie there ringing her COW BELL!!!!! I love these girls…
1110 am: The flight is off to Florida. Plane has several people on the way to #IMFL. Deb P. is on the plane even though I never actually see her…LOL but we did chat via FB.
3 PM: Arrived at PCB Airport, gather bags and rent car…..Head to venue to do Athlete Check in and and picked up PIPPI and gear bag…missed ya Pippi! then off to Condo
5 pm: OMG this condo is amazing….hot tub and cool spa and two pools right outside and the beach…I am taking pictures when a nice gentleman comes up and offers to take my pictures with the beach behind me….The rest of the evening is unpacking and walking the beach going grocery shopping….
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| Sun Set Wednesday Night after I arrived in PCB |
Thursday Oct 31:
8 am to 12 pm: Been up since 4 am and went for a walk, had coffee and breakfast, and got dressed to meet the BAZINGA CREW for a easy 30 minute ride…
I found a guy to retape my shoulder and foot on Friday!!! YEAH!!!!
830 pm: Setting up transition and special needs bags… making sure Pippi is all ready to go!!!!!
930 pm: Watching the storm clouds roll in!!! Wind picking up and they are expecting a really bad storm on FRIDAY possible into Saturday!!!!
Friday Nov 1, 2013.
Rain, winds crashing waves…yes sir all day and night before!!!!! 430 am: up and having coffee listening to the waves crashing on the shore and the rain is pelleting the windows Wind is ripping on the pool deck…..
9 am: Double and triple checking my bags for race day...Melissa is arriving today….Thank God!…Melissa is one of my best friends and has been so supportive…Love her and THANK YOU MELISSA!!!!! SPARKY!!!!!!
10 am : I get a visit from a new friend Scot and his wife Barbara. Scot has been doing tri's for over 30 years and they wanted to make sure I was ready to go…. Thanks Scot... Great advice and loved meeting you and Barbara! They tell me that will be at the mile 5 water stop for the day on the run and Ill get to see them tomorrow as well…..
530 PM (ish): Melissa and I are hanging out, had dinner at one of the local restaurants down near the venue. I order GATOR..yes alligator and pasta. We enjoyed our dinner as the sun was setting on the Gulf Coast….It was so beautiful! Then we go to see Laura and her crew….Pippi is all set and I say good night to her…transition bags are dropped off…head back to condo….
830 pm: restless playing on the computer, looking at the weather and outside HOPING and PRAYING this is all going to clear up!!!
9 pm: Sparky tells me to go to bed…yeah right!!!!! I try but lay there and fidget for a while then watch TV with Sparky.
SATURDAY NOV 2, 2013
IRONMAN FLORIDA
430 am: up and having coffee…and water and peanut butter on an Arnold's round….(I know same thing as always, but it works!) Melissa is up and we grab the special needs bags and my morning cloths bag and head to venue to get fluids on bike and into transitions bags!
510 am: In the car and head to the race site….We park about 1/2 mile away…closest parking available… walk to special needs drop off and head to T1 and T2 area to check on Pippi….All looks well….
530 am: Go to Laura room and say MORNING!!! Check out the Ocean...not too bad…FIRMMAN 2012 was much worse!!!!
6 am: We are staying warm in Laura's room and changing into wetsuit…LOL Yes I am still a stuffed penguin!!!
655 am: PROs GO OFF!!!
7 am: AND WE ARE OFF!!!!!!! Surf is a little rough but doable,,, Lap one I stay out to the right I was not about to fight the rest of the athletes… I had a great first lap..out of the water and short runt to he second lap start.. I hit the water and just catch it between waves beautiful.. no fighting to get out at all.
Lap 2 of the swim is done 1:34….Yahooooo one of my fastest swim to date at that distance!!!! 2.4 miles and no SHARKS!!!!! Just so you all know my Garmin said 2.85 miles….
835 am: Over to wet suit stripper….they had that suit off in 2 seconds after laying me on the ground!!!! They hand me my suit and help me up!! Off to the T1… another volunteer hands me my bag and off to the changing area…which is a giant room full of other women all changing and getting ready for a little spin around the NW part of Florida!!! I had decided to make a complete change of clothes, I swam in my bathing suit and did not want to ride in salty wet cloths. Hardest part was putting the socks on. I had calf compressions which I LOVED
A GAINT SHOUT OUT TO THE VOLUNTEERS!!!
They were Great ALL DAY!!!!!!!!!!
853 am: Out of T1 and off to find Pippi..
Try running in bike shoes…LOL…it was so weird….someone calls out my number and Pippi is waiting for me in the aisle of the T1 section… as I go to add more fluid to my aero bottle on the front of my bike, another volunteer comes up and offers to open the bottle for me and pours the fluid into the bottle, which allows me to switch sides and get on the left side of my bike (cause that is the side I always mount the bike on and wanted to be on that side before getting to the mount line….
Great start: nice flat and fast..
Mile 10 of the ride and I was looking into my bento box for some fuel and took to long to look up again and all of a sudden there is NO MORE ROAD!!!! I am off roading on my beautiful PIPPI!!!!! I start to yell and I think I may even of SCREAMED…"OH SHIT!!!!!" I was going "fast" enough to be able to correct and get back onto the road with out losing total control or crashing….The other racers around me all checked on me to make sure I was ok… THANK YOU!!!! Never had to actually come to a full stop but my heart rate sure went sky high for a few minutes there!!!!
446 (isn) pm: I am off Pippi someone takes her from me and points me in the direction of T2: another volunteer hands me my bag and directs me off to the changing area. I reapply the chamois butt'r and sun block, eat part of a PB sandwich which is about the only thing I can get down but had to take small tiny bites and chew chew chew. The pain in my side is getting better but still there. The nausea is starting to clear.
I grab my running shoes and see the note Sue left for me to remember to take my watch and I start to tear up, the volunteer asks if I am ok and I say yes just so happy to know my family and friends are cheering for me and have been there for me thru this who journey….
Running shoes on and fuel belt ready to go… 26.2 miles here we go…….
Leaving T2….
Rocking the TRINE Race Kit…..
The first three miles of the marathon I walk with Deb P. We encourage each other. I am sure she will leave me behind soon. But she is very gracious and listens to me babble for about three miles. I stop to use the port a potty, I tell her not to wait, I'll try to catch up.
Uhmm did I happen to say that I would be passing my condo FOUR, yes FOUR, times while doing the marathon….What a mind game that was!
After the potty break, I start to trot and feel like I am getting my legs back. I run for a couple of miles and then do a run walk for the next ten miles. I figure if I keep it at or less then 15 min miles then I will be good to finish in time. I meet a lot of wonderful and inspiring people along the way. several who like to talk as much as I do! I wish I could remember their names..but if any of you are reading this THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO KEEP ME SANE while out there!!!!!!
This picture is taken just before mile 13 where Melissa, John and the rest of Laura's Crew are waiting and watching… I all of a sudden hear them calling out my name and the words "GO GATOR GO"…I start to laugh cause it takes me a minute to realize they are talking about me…cause I had gator for dinner the night before!!!
I ask for the "pink cape" and they both start to smile and ask what it is for… I tell them it is because have amazing grandchildren and I am wearing the cape in their honor cause they think their "Grammie is a super hero and she can do ANYTHING"… I will say this it was the thought of my grand children that kept me going forward in the last few miles. It was cold and windy and I was hurting. I had started to develop blisters on both feet around mile three of the marathon and knew that my stride was off cause of trying to prevent landing on the blisters.
Coming around the bend from special needs is Melissa and the Crew again… cheering and encouraging me…
Coffee in hand I go off… yes I said COFFEE… Did you really think I would not have some during a 16+ hour race???? I had packed a bottle of black coffee in each special needs bag…I will do this again!!! (I can not drink the soda they offer on the route.)
The next 13 miles were walk/run/trot/walk…meeting new people and saying hi to others I meet on the bike or run earlier…around Mile 18, I see Scott and Barbara and they encourage me and Barbara gives me a big hug….EXACTLY what I needed at that moment!!!
As we get close to the 23 mile mark we can hear the announcer calling out names… I start to speed ups and even trot a little more…I can feel the emotions start to weld up cause I look at my watch it is not 11 pm yet…I have just about 3 miles to go...I shout out loud…I GOT THIS!!! I think I scared a couple of the others around me!
The chips, pretzels, and chicken broth and GU and GU chomps and my peanut butter sandwiches and crackers as well as the Kind bars got me thru wonderfully!!!! I had brought my own G2 and Powerade zero cause I could not use their sports fluids w/o getting sick….
I can feel the crowd as I take the last left hand turn toward the finishers chute… I can see the finish line.. I start to run!!!!! I am going to finish and faster then I ever thought in my wildest dreams… I told everyone my "goal was 16:59:59…I just wanted to finish"… but a few people knew that I was hoping for a little more then that… that my best time wish was 16:30:00….
I look down at my Garmin and I am running down the chute and it says 16:26:45…
For the last 12 months I have been training for this moment. I hear people shouting my name and I start to high five people along the way…
The announcer says :" From Johnston, RI, Lets welcome First Timer Kellie Armstrong…hey Kellie has on a cape….Kellie YOU are an IRONMAN!!!!!!!!
file
More WONDERFULL Volunteers that helped me out at the finish line!
Recovery drink of IRONMAN Chocolate Milk!!!
See SHARKY you did not get me!!!!
My newest Tattoo : Sparky found one similar and I used it as a basic design and had the tattoo artist change the colors to make it PINK!!!!
My stats for #IMFL 2013
Kellie Armstrong
Overall Rank: 2616
Div Rank: 106
Gender Rank: 651
| General Info | |
| BIB | 967 |
| Division | 45-49 |
| Age | 45 |
| State | RI |
| Country | USA |
| Profession | --- |
| Points | 1000 |
| Race Summary | |
| Swim | 01:34:41 |
| Bike | 07:53:33 |
| Run | 06:30:53 |
| Overall | 16:27:15 |
SWIM DETAILS | Division Rank: 85
| SPLIT NAME | DISTANCE | SPLIT TIME | RACE TIME | PACE | DIVISION RANK | GENDER RANK | OVERALL RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2.4 mi | 01:34:41 | 01:34:41 | 02:27/100m | 85 | 509 | 2253 |
BIKE DETAILS | Division Rank: 107
| SPLIT NAME | DISTANCE | SPLIT TIME | RACE TIME | PACE | DIVISION RANK | GENDER RANK | OVERALL RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 112 mi | 07:53:33 | 09:46:46 | 14.19 mph | 107 | 664 | 2649 |
RUN DETAILS | Division Rank: 106
| SPLIT NAME | DISTANCE | SPLIT TIME | RACE TIME | PACE | DIVISION RANK | GENDER RANK | OVERALL RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 26.2 mi | 06:30:53 | 16:27:15 | 14:55/mi | 106 | 651 | 2616 |
Transition Details
| T1: Swim-to-bike | 00:18:32 |
| T2: Bike-to-run | 00:09:36 |
Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/florida/results.aspx#ixzz2k5TSfDiP
Sunday, June 16, 2013
2013 Patriots Half Iron Race Report and Ms. Scarlet
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| Coach Tara and her 2013 Patriots HIM Ladies!!!! |
This race report will actually start on Friday the evening before. I got our of work around 330 pm. Pippy and all my gear was already packed from the night before in Ms. Scarlet.
Ms. Scarlet's FIRST RACE!!!!!
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| Ms Scarlet is packed and ready to go...Pippy is ready for her ride to the race! |
Drive up to Cathedral Camp in East Freetown, MA. Packet pick up was the first on my agenda. After I received my packet, I noticed I was registered as an Athena. I am pretty sure I registered as an age grouper this year. I did race as an Athena for the last several years, but I do not qualify for that Category any longer. When I went to the "race help table" to let them know "legally" I could not race as an athena, I am under the minimum weight requirement. The very nice lady says.."Congrats, good job". I then reply to her,"Thanks but I did not loss weight the USAT changed their numbers." She then replies "Oh sorry then." I am not sure how to take that...I was honored to race as an Athena. I was almost last in the Athena category at almost every race just like I was almost last in my age group yesterday. I used to be over 265 pounds I am THRILLED just be able to race at all.......
Waiting for Leslie to arrive at the venue I meet up with a few friends who were also racing, it is so great to see a few faces I have not seen since the end of last season...
Leslie and I meet up and she talked me into a "evening swim". Yes that women is DANGEROUS!!!
OK so the swim was an easy two times around the first buoy.
(ok so you really can not see the buoy here but you get the clue)
After our little swim, we head out to go check into the hotel, after checking in. We run out to the grocery store and there is a Marshals right next to the store, so of course we stop in.
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| Leslie with her BOWLS! |
For those of you who have been following my blog for at least the last year knows that I went into this race last year right after I ended a 13 year relationship. That race was very emotional for me. There was one point where I actually thought I was"going to die" out there. I remember crying at mile ten, trying to figure out what was going on in my life. I felt lost and uncertain of anything at that moment. When I got to the finish line of last years race I knew I had conquer one of the toughest things I would ever do and I have learned so much over the last year.
OK Back to the RACE...
500 am: Up ( Leslie up at 4 and taped me snoring, thank god the video did not come out good!!!LOL)
530 am: On the way to the venue and parking. The very nice young parking attendant wanted me to park Ms. Scarlet under a weeping pine tree. One look and I am like no way, so they he directs me to another spot where the branches are all sticking out....I start to think IF Ms. Scarlet is going to get her first SCRATCH it will come from 4X4ing not parking at a race...
545 am: unpacking Ms Scarlet and go into transition. Set up everything and I keep thinking I must have forgotten something...My bag felt so lite... a trip to the port-a-johns (TWICE) Damn morning coffee!!! I just finished eating my peanut sandwich.
615 am: Hanging out talking with the TRI-NE Crew. We are all racked together. SO AWESOME...I knowing that I would probably not see any of them again till the end of the day.
700 am: the elites are off and swimming. Then wave after wave of Tri Athletes are off every 4 minutes. I am in the second to last wave the women 45-49 y/o with did I tell ya PINK swim caps.
728 am: We are on deck to go into the water as the group before us goes off.
732 am: OFF WE GO!!! Swim goes ok. Not my fastest but done in 51:11 (my Garmin read 51.07). I had a difficult time staying straight and probably added 0.15 miles (according to my Garmin Link -->) 2013 Patriots Swim.
823 am: T1 takes me 6:44 minutes. I had a hard time getting out of the wet suit off again. One of theses days I will just go into a race with a shorty or a sleeveless. switched into my tri top and bike shoes, helmet and sun glasses on. Switch watch from wrist to bike and off to run to the mounting line.
829: Off om the Bike...56 miles of peddling here I come. My longest ride since last September was about 32 miles,,,this was going to be interesting! I do well with my ride. I was able to get all my nutrition in and lots of fluids.
I get about 2 or 3 miles into the ride when i notice a women riding the opposite way and she has a bike number on her bike...I start to think that is strange. About 1/4 mile later i see why she was riding back. There is a lady on the side of the road holding her face and blood on her legs and face. Her bike is laying its the side and her sunglasses are broken and shattered. There was a nice crush mark on the front of her helmet. Another racer had handed her some tissues and was staying with her while the other racer who I saw going the wrong direction went back to get help is with her and people are stopping their cars to check on her. When I identified my self as a nurse, she said she was glad to see me there or something to that effect. Several racers stop and check, I tell them to keep racing she was doing fine. A very nice gentleman offers to drive her to the hospital , I suggest that is not a good idea. Some one else hands me his shirt off his back and I hold the lady hold pressure on her nose while I try to stabilize her head and neck. That same gentleman then calls 911 to have an ambulance come.
The lady is alert and oriented times three. I do a quick trauma assessment. No pain in neck or back, but I try to keep her as still as possible. The home owner brings me gauzes and water to wash the sand and dirt from her forehead wound and eyes. I continue to hold her head still. A few minutes later the rescue is there. I give them a quick report on the lady, name, age, medical history and allergies, list of evident injuries, and pain levels. As soon as the rescue arrived and took over , I jumped back on my bike and was peddling again. I was not sure how much time I was there but I did not think it was more then 10 minutes, I had to wait till I downloaded the Garmin to see it was just about exatly 10 minutes.
As I am making the second loop on the bike, I start to think if I had not gone back into the registration the night before and exchanged my Athena for my age group, I would of been about 20 minutes ahead of her and not come up on her. I thank you GOD for allowing me to be where I needed to be and to be able to help someone in their time of need.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO STOPPED TO ASK IF THEY COULD HELP, Thanks to the three gentleman (the two in the cars and the home owner). Thank you to the several racers who stopped to check and see if she was ok or if we needed help. Thank you to the RESCUE who came rapidly and took care of the lady. I remembered her name and that she was from another state, I did check after I finished my race to make she was ok. She had been seen at the local facility and was on her way home....THANK YOU GOD!)
So I am finishing up the bike I get to almost the top of the hill and the TRI NE'rs are all passing water out at the bike water satin. Thank you for all your support and being awesome friends, athletes and teammates! 3 hours 25 Minutes 13 Seconds Again according to my Garmin link -->2013 Patriots Bike
1205 pm: Off the Bike and stripping off my bike shoes and helmet, adding my baseball cap and running shoes, grab my running belt and race belt. I start to run out and a volunteer stops me i forgot i had my phone and headphone in my running belt and the headphones cam out and were tangling around my legs. SHe takes them for me and goes to put them back into my bag for me. THANK YOU, for helping me and preventing me from getting disqualified. I am almost of of the transition area and i realize I do not have my watch on. I head back to my bike and grab my Garmin and attach it back to my wrist band. Out of T2 and on to the run.... I see Luis and Beth on the side of the road and they are yelling out my name a quick wave and smile to them. Luis is taking pictures of course he gets one of me after i run by him...way is there always a ughhh that is my butt picture in al my races????
1210 pm: Out onto the run, stop at the Port-a-john near the transition area....of course. I hit mile one and feeling good, mile two not bad, mile three good and another potty stop, (I guess I drank enough fluids on the bike...LOL), mile four good as well. Nothing fast or furious but getting it down. I stop at every mile water stop for a drink and piece of fruit and a glass of water or ice over my head. Mile 5, I start to get what feel like a achey jarring muscle pain with every step and I can feel the start of a blister on my left foot near the base of my great toe. So starts the walk/trot cycle..Mile 6-9 is trot/walk/trot/walk...just one foot in front of the other...Mile 10: where I lost it last year. I stop look around and yelled out loud "EAT THAT MILE TEN. I got you this year!" I am sure anyone who was near me must of thought I was NUTS!!!
Miles 11-13 are allot of walking and little trotting...I get to the top of the last hill and start to run again...then there is the last road to crossover and I can see the entrance to the camp... the last quarter of mile is thru the camp across a foot bridge and into the shoot..I hear my name from Coach Tara, Leslie, my Cousins Robi Ann and Ciara, Cheryl and Amy. I hear others calling my name but I am not sure who they were..BUT THANK YOU TO EVERYONE! Your encouragement and support help me push thru till the end. Garmin Link --> 2013 Patriots Run
7 hours 36 minutes 27 seconds I cross the FINISH LINE at the Patriots Half Iron Triathlon! Below is the official results from the RACE!!!!!
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