Swim Bike Run Survive: Journey 140.6: I AM AN IRONMAN!!!!

Warning: Long race report because the race was long, and I never want to forget the details of this day!

The wonderful thing about journeys is that they take you to unexpected places that you never could have imagined. This is my story of the day I became an Ironman, but the journey started long before today….

I remember when….

I couldn’t swim a length of the pool

It took me nearly 20 min to complete my first 450 yard open water triathlon swim

I was afraid to clip into my bike pedals

I sat in a triathlon educational seminar and listened to the topic “Is this your year to do an Ironman” - and never imagined I would do one

I spectated Ironman Lake Placid and declared I physically could not do an Ironman

I bought a watch with battery just enough to get me through my half Ironman – because I couldn’t fathom that a year later I would be doing an Ironman

The moment on September 23, 2018 when I crossed the Atlantic City Half Ironman finish line and realized I was capable of so much more

The night I hit the registration submit button for IMMD…and then woke up with trepidation

Everyone has their own their story. Some people miraculously decide to start the triathlon journey and complete an Ironman within 1-2 years. For me, it has been an 8 year journey that led me to this day, September 28, 2019, in Cambridge, MD. My Sherpa Diane has given me the advice to be present in the moment and to do that, to identify and remember 6 moments -- 1 moment on the swim, 2 moments on the bike, and 3 moments on the run that I want to hold onto.

My alarm goes off at 4am. I’m surprisingly asleep and dreaming of getting my hair cut, but once awakened my Garmin tells me I had 6h38 min of sleep with only 39 minutes of that being a deep sleep. Good thing I followed the advice to bank sleep earlier in the week. I go through my pre-race routine of eating a bagel with peanut butter, applying sunscreen, mixing my UCAN nutrition, and checking my list to make sure I have everything and then at 5am, off we go to the Gerry Boyle Memorial Park.

Getting ready for the jellyfish swim

All is going to plan as I pump up my tires, drop off my special needs bags, and put a few things in my bike and run gear bags that I dropped off yesterday. And then I head over to the porta potties and the lines are insane. There is much discussion about number 1s and 2s, but given the amount of time it’s taking people and the fact that people aren’t giving up for the pee in your wetsuit option, I’m pretty sure we’re all there for the latter. I’m still in line as they play the National anthem and begin the race and fretting that I won’t be able to kiss Mike and wish him well on his journey.

SWIM

I run to the swim start and I’m attempting to put on my clothing including a TriSerena long sleeve covering that has become all twisted up. Two nice spectators see my distress and help get me untangled, pull up my wetsuit, and put on my newly purchased wetsuit sleeves. I’m trying to take every precaution against jellyfish stings while still wearing a sleeveless wetsuit for shoulder movement.

Oh, those jellyfish!!! I opted not to do my practice swim because everyone was reporting getting stung and it seemed like it would only add to my pre-race anxiety. I prefer to be blissfully ignorant of what’s to come because I believe the race day adrenaline will neutralize the stings. As I make my way forward, I’m slathering myself with SeaSafe, Body Glide, and then Vaseline.

At 7:00:41am I’m off! The water is warm, not too choppy and I calmly begin my swim. I’m relieved I’m not stung right away so there is hope. I do feel a sting before I get to the first buoy turn, but it’s not so bad, just annoying.

Moment 1

I’m just getting into my swim groove and as I breathe to my left, I see 2 jet skies. I’m immediately pleased to see a familiar face – the local who welcomed me into his neighbor’s AirBnB. He had stopped by the house to pick up his life jackets and told us he would be supporting the swim. A very friendly and welcoming soul, I feel such comfort seeing him on the jet ski at that moment and I’m reminded why I picked this event as my first Ironman – because the community and people welcome and support the event.

After I make my way around the first buoy, the number of swimmers picks up as the fast swimmers are now on their second lap. It’s not the washing machine swim that Atlantic City was as they are giving us plenty of room to swim wide of the buoys, but it’s an odd swim with people all of sudden stopping, presumably as they encounter a sting, and some swimmers who cannot seem to hold a straight line and suddenly angling in front of me. I feel the down current kick in as I round the second buoy and before I know it I’m at the 3^rdbuoy. I can see with the downstream current now perpendicular to me that I have to angle in to stay on course. I turn at the 4^th buoy and the kayaks direct me to the timing chip arch. I hit 2100 yards and I’m happy to see I’m holding my fastest pace as I’m 49 minutes and half way there. I repeat the loop, notice the current is picking up a little more so I angle in as I make my way down the home stretch. I feel some more stings, perhaps more than the first loop.

I make my way up the boat ramp with nice volunteers helping to pull me up and out. At 8:43:37am I exit. I’m elated with my time of 1:42:56 and surprised to see that it even included an extra 400 yards according to Garmin, which puts me at an open water swim record of 2:13/100 yard pace. I hear the cheers of my sister Barb and friends Diane and Eric.

The wetsuit strippers do their magic removal, a volunteer sprays my stings with vinegar, I grab my bike gear bag, and I’m off to the changing tent for T1. It’s a flurry of activity and knowing I gained some time on the swim, I don’t rush it. I put on my bike shorts and make sure I have everything. A volunteer kindly gives me a glass of water and is very helpful putting everything else back in my bag. I head out of the tent, grab my bike and mount at bike out, ready to settle in for the longest continuous ride of my life.

BIKE

I ride past our AirBnB along the scenic riverbank and once I’m out of all of the turns and on a straightaway, I settle into my aero position. I go at a good 16 – 17.5 mph pace for the first 15 miles. I drink my whole Torpedo UCAN water mixture in the first hour so at the first aid station I take a quick break to refill the Torpedo.

My awesome support crew!

Moment 2

I approach a corner and out of nowhere see some friendly faces. Diane is yelling my name at the top of her lungs! Barb and Eric are cheering me on. They are a welcome and fun sight, and I feel loved.

I forgo the special needs at the first high school stop, continue and then, boom, a big headwind slows me down to 14.1mph. I pedal through the beautiful wildlife refuge and navigate some fishermen who don’t seem to be phased by the onslaught of cyclists. As I hit the 3 hour mark, my body is telling me it’s ready for a pit stop, which takes about 5 minutes as I wait for the porta potty and refill my water. It does wonders as for the next 15 miles I’m back to my top speeds. And then I begin to slow.

Moment 3

I’m starting to drag and then I hear a young girl’s voice and the beat of a drum. There she is, diligently keeping the beat and repeating, “you can do it”. I’m uplifted to continue on.

I see my cheering squad at another corner. How great to have them finding me out there in surprise spots on the course! The 2^nd loop of the high school is nowhere in site and not what I was expecting since it was supposed to be at mile 58, but I’m now over 60 miles. The change in course due to standing water is causing unexpected mental expectations and making this stretch seem even longer. I see the 100 mile marker for the second loop – oh, how I wish – and then people guiding us first loopers to the high school special needs stop again. This time I stop to reapply sun lotion and refill my water bottles and in the process I’m treated to the energetic Chesapeake College Skipjacks Baseball team volunteer squad.

Ugh, that headwind again! For the next 15 miles, I can’t keep a pace above 13.5mph. I take another porta potty break, and like magic I find renewed energy for the final 30 plus mile stretch. With less than 10 miles to go, I’m heartbroken to see a woman carrying her bike in one hand and her wheel in the other. It’s not clear what has happened but to make it that far and have a mechanical issue is tragic. I get closer and closer to town and transition. With less than 3 miles to go, I’m relieved to know I could always walk it in if a mechanical issue arises! But all ends well and I arrive back after 7:26:29 to the bike-in arch and my cheering squad.

I slowly walk my bike back to its rack, stop at the porta potties, grab my run bag, and enter the tent.

Moment 4

I’m struggling to get my Philadelphia Tri Kit on and a volunteer comes over to help me. And then, I hear and see Barbara, from my tri club, running over and giving me a big hug. She is volunteering and goes into action to help me get dressed and my bike gear back into the bag. She tells me she and her husband will also be volunteering at the finish line so I tell her I will see her on the other side!

And then I run out of the tent, and who do I see but Mike! It’s the first time I see him on the course. Our support crew told him I was in the tent so he slowed down to be able to greet me.

RUN

Wow, that heat and humidity! Where did it come from?! Barbara had commented on it and somehow I’m only taking notice of it now. After just one mile, I’m in need of water at the aid station. I run by our Philly Tri Club tent in the front yard of our AirBnB, greet the Captain American Iron Fan on the corner, and run through the residential area. Once again, the aid station can’t come fast enough. I continue running and approach the subdivision area. I can see an aid station and think I’m going to round the corner and arrive at it only to find out this a cruel horseshoe that requires turning back around and going to the other side of the horseshoe. Now I understand why the mileage on the course charts supposedly didn’t look to scale. I’m so happy to get out of horseshoe hell.

Barb gives me a high five! Our AirBnB is right on the run course!

I pass our housemate Shanti who yells an inspirational, “you are going to be an Ironman”! I pass Mike now on his second loop. I’m happy to see my cheering squad back at the Philly Tri Club tent. The neighbors are an energetic, dancing and older crowd blasting music and I give them high fives. Front lawns are filled with enthusiastic fans spraying water, playing music and giving high fives. My favorite one is 3 girls who are high fiving passerby’s. I’m back through Gerry Boyle park, and towards Long Wharf Park.

Moment 5

A young, likely 3 years old, blond haired and barefooted boy runs out onto the course. He sprints down the street as fast as his little legs can take him and faster than I can go at this stage. Probably also faster than his parents can keep up since they are nowhere in sight. He is finally captured by a volunteer.

I pass Long Warf Park, and I can hear our announcer Tony Lugo bellowing, “You are an Ironman”. I hear it all the way as I run into town and turnaround. People are lining the streets and the RAR bar is a scene with alcohol flowing and no shyness of that crowd. But I’m so thirsty that take the aid station water and walk the turnaround rather than running for show for the crowd.

Now it’s back past Long Warf Park and through Gerry Boyle Park to begin Loop 2. I decide a need a porta potty break. I’m starting to feel my legs but at least the sun is going down so it’s getting cooler. I psyche myself up to run past the AirBnB again and into Horseshoe Hell. At least this time I’m mentally prepared and know where all of the aid stations are. People are fading and even passing out as I see multiple medical personnel attending to fallen runners. I tell myself, just keep your slow pace and fuel and hydrate at each aid station.

This time my support crew is not at the AirBnB so I figure they are seeing Mike finish. The neighbors are still going strong though so I high five them, and as I make my way towards Gerry Boyle Park, I see the same 3 young girls and their father. “You’re still here,” I exclaim. “You’re still here, so we’re still here!” responds the father.

This 2^nd loop back through the park, past Long Warf and into town is getting long, but hearing more “You are an Ironman” finishes keeps me going back through town, and now I know I’m on my 3^rd, shorter loop.

Moment 6

I’m so excited to reach the third loop turnaround that is right in front of our AirBnB. I’m even more excited to see the full contingent of our cheering squad AND Mike, who has finished and showered and not moving from the comfort of his chair.

I’m in the home stretch now! Only a few miles to go! The neighbors have gone in but still have their music blaring. It must be the 3 girls’ bedtime by now. In fact, it’s past my bedtime! As I make my way into town, I hear my support crew calling my name. One mile to go!

This time I run through town, rather than walking through the aid station. I know I have a chance of breaking 6 hours on my run. I’ve even outlasted many at the RAR bar! I run back down the cobble stoned street, being super careful not to catch a foot. I see the finish area and lights. I start to soak it all in. They are playing one of my favorite songs,

I'm not afraid of getting older
I'm one less day from dying young
I see the light go past my shoulder
I'm one less day from dying young

I hit the red carpet.

Tony Lugo announces,

Catherine Mayone, You are an Ironman!

I cross the finish line at 15:41:35, having done the run in 5:59:21. Barbara, my tri club volunteer, is there to put the medal around my neck. Mike, Barb, Diane, and Eric are all there waiting for me. Barb has tears in her eyes and tells me how proud she is of me.

It is truly a day I will never forget.