I began writing this report just before Christmas. But, life got away from me and I am finally realizing how much training for and racing Ultraman took a toll on me, both physically and mentally...
Much of my life in 2008 was centered around training for Ultraman, a three-day triathlon, on the Big Island in Hawaii over Thanksgiving weekend with ten of my closest family members & friends there to support me. As most of you are aware, I finished this race and was very pleased with the outcome. However, as I was so focused on my training and then the traveling/racing, many of the activities I would normally get done during the year, did not get accomplished, including sending out Christmas cards. So, now that the hub-bub & craziness of the Holidays is behind us, my email greeting to you won't get lost in the shuffle. In addition, as so many of you followed my progress throughout Ultraman through Michelle's INCREDIBLE email updates, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to let you know that I've FINALLY written my race report (it is attached as a Word document & also in text format below. WARNING - it is exceptionally long)! I'm also coming to grips with the fact that Ultraman is finally behind me (for now), something I think I was holding on to & thus the extended delay in publishing my race report. Sorry it's taken so long, but I think I'm finally "ready" to move on.
My racing & travels will scale back a bit in 2009, although I plan to race Ironman Cozumel over Thanksgiving & expect to have Mern & P along with me. As I finish writing this, I realize how crazy my lifestyle really was in 2008 and how lucky I am to have the friends and family that continue to support me! A very heartfelt thanks goes out to each and every one of you!!
Katie (& Quincy)
Pictures are here:
Slideshow:
http://picasaweb.google.com/TriFilly/Ultraman#slideshow
Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/TriFilly/Ultraman?feat=directlink
ULTRAMAN 2008 RACE REPORT
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
* Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900 - 1944)
When I first started writing this race report, I was on a plane, on my way to my Grandfather’s funeral and it was exactly two weeks after I'd started Ultraman. It was almost two YEARS ago that I started thinking of attempting this “race.” It is called a race, but it is really billed as an event. Speaking as a first-timer, this was not really a race against the other participants, but a race against the clock…
Ultraman – The Event:
“First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.”
*Aristotle {BC 384-322 Greek Philosopher}
For those of you who don’t know, Ultraman is a 3-day, 320-mile (515-kilometer) individual ultra-endurance event which takes place on the Big Island of Hawaii. Entry is limited to ~35 participants and is by invitation only. Founded in 1983, the event is held annually on the traditional Thanksgiving weekend. The event attracts individuals who not only thrive on personal challenge and enjoy the thrill of victory, but who come to understand, as did the ancient Hawaiians, the importance of aloha (love), ohana (family), and kokua (help). I have to agree that the importance of each of these was evidenced many times during my Ultraman. If you’d like to learn more, visit http://ultramanlive.com/.
Pre-Race:
“It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.”
* Robert H. Goddard (1882 - 1945)
My training leading up the race had been pretty much on track and I’d gotten in all my long workouts. Although I knew I was a bit short on long swim workouts, I consider myself to be a very efficient swimmer and knew I could make the distance. About five weeks out from the start of the race, I’d gotten new running shoes (a newer model of my prior shoes) and had some Achilles pain during my long runs. I was able to limp through my last long run and finally went to my Ortho for the diagnosis – partially torn right Achilles tendon. I was pretty devastated when he told me that if I continued running, it was unlikely I’d make it to the start of Ultraman, let alone the finish line, before it was completely torn. So, for the next three weeks, I did not run- not one mile, not one step. The Sunday before the race, I went out for 5 miles & although it was tight, it was not painful. This was definitely a much-needed confidence builder. The day before, Todd had come over & helped me pack the bikes into Michelle’s double bike box. I decided to take both the Trek road bike & the LOOK tri bike figuring that if I had a major mechanical problem, it would be better to have an alternate bike, than to attempt a major repair while on the road. Once the bikes were packed, reality began to sink in. My parents showed up from Austin on Sunday afternoon, as we were flying out the next day together from Dallas. HOLY COW - I was really going to Hawaii (for two weeks, no less) and going to race this thing called Ultraman!!
Michelle drove my parents & me to the airport where we met up with Cari, JP & Cale and got the bike box checked in ($100 charge, which was an unexpectedly reasonable fee). Grabbed a bloody mary & the vacation had begun in earnest. Our flights were through LA and then on to Kona. In LA, we’d stopped in Chili’s to eat & noticed a group wearing Ultraman crew shirts – they were from Brazil & it was Alberto “Beto” Lopes and his crew. Once on the plane, I couldn’t help but overhear the two guys behind me talking about the race. I asked if they were racing & no, they were the photographers, although one of them, Rick Kent had raced Ultraman many times & later I learned is a well known Ultra distance athlete. Yikes, small world. Eventually we land in Kona & met up with Todd, Kym & Traci, who had spent the prior couple days seeing Pearl Harbor & the sights of Oahu. We headed off to pick up our vehicles (two cars & a van) as all of the luggage arrived, even the bike box unscathed. Loaded up & head to the rental house. As luck would have it, there was construction on the road we were supposed to turn on to get to Ali’i Drive, so the street sign where I was supposed to turn was missing. As I was leading the caravan of cars, we proceeded to drive aimlessly for at least an extra half hour before Google maps on the Crackberry finally got us down to Ali’i and to our house at about mile marker 4, for those of you familiar with the area. By now it was almost 11 PM (3 AM Dallas time), as Todd & I set out for a few groceries, so we’d have coffee & something to eat for breakfast. We eventually found Wal-Mart (our first trip of MANY), back to the house & settled in for the night. I didn’t get to sleep until after 2 AM & was still up around 7. The house was interesting, as it could be rented as an upper unit w. 3 bedrooms, a lower unit w. 2 bedrooms, or both together, which is what we did. However the upper & lower units were not connected internally, so the downstairs occupants had to go out the lower back door & up to the front door or out the garage & up the back steps to get to the upper level. It worked out fine, but not the layout I would have preferred. Oh, and it didn’t have air-conditioning. This was not a huge deal, but I was a bit surprised, as when I looked back at most of the other rental houses in this price range, they did have it. But, it wasn’t listed on the website & I just assumed it had it, so live & learn.
We’d heard about this great spot for snorkeling that was only about a mile up Ali’i Drive, Kahaluu Beach (also known as Turtle Bay), and we headed up there after breakfast on Tuesday. The snorkeling was fabulous & I swam with two turtles that day – woohoo. There wasn’t much “beach” at this bay, as it mostly volcanic rock, and despite all the running I do, I have very tender feet. Well, when my feet hit the volcanic rock, they got a bit torn up. By the time we left there, I had two significant cuts on my left foot - one on the ball of my foot & one along the outside of my big toe. Yeah, this did not bode well for the extended riding & running I was facing in just three short days. Neosporin & blister blocker band-aids were in order and got the healing process started. Todd, Kym & I went to an Ultraman meeting at the bike store & learned a few things about the bike (like once you switched bikes, you couldn’t switch back), we had not heard that rule before & this got us freaked out. Were there other rules that we didn’t know about?? Later that night we cooked out, pork chops, sweet potatoes, and salad – it was a good day.
Wednesday morning was packet pick-up. I’d asked Jane (the Race Director) if I could do my packet pick-up with the morning session, as our gang wanted to drive out to Volcano that afternoon & do some sight-seeing. As I understood it, the drive itself to Volcano took several hours, so there wasn’t any way for us to do it earlier in the day & still make the afternoon packet pick-up. She said that was fine, so I showed up bright & early and was the first one checked in. I paid for my double kayak rental, signed up for a massage after each day’s stage, got my Gatorade & cooler, race numbers, and picked up my crew t-shirts and a few souvenirs, etc. All went flawlessly until I tried to pay for the crew breakfast/awards dinner and shirts. The credit card machine read “CALL”. Well, they couldn’t get through, so I put it on my debit card & figured I’d deal with Citibank later. Actually, I was surprised I hadn’t heard from Citibank, as I’d bought $500 worth of groceries in the last three days, in Hawaii. I don’t think I spend $500 a year TOTAL on groceries when I’m at home. So, I called Citibank and yes, they HAD put a stop on my card for that very reason, and they had tried to contact me ZERO times. Nice, apparently there was a glitch w. the system and Citibank had not actually tried to reach me to tell me… Needless to say, I told them all was well & didn’t have any more issues the rest of the trip. So, we head to Volcano, which happens to be the first day bike route. If you’ve not been to Hawaii before, these are actual MOUNTAINS… I was pretty freaked out. It seemed as if we just kept climbing and climbing. Finally there would be a nice downhill l& then the climbing would start all over again. Finally, I hit the last 4,000 foot climb and ascent up the volcano. By this time, I don’t think that this section is as bad as the first 30 miles were, but after 75 miles, that last 4,000 foot climb was going to be ugly and that’s the end of the ride for Day 1. It’s cold & rainy at the volcano (very common from what I understand) and we can’t see much into the crater & sections of the road are closed to vog (volcanic fog). Yeah, this is a bit disconcerting to me, as I don’t think breathing in SO2 containing vog is going to be conducive to my biking. We hiked around through some steam vents & lava tubes & decided to head out to where the lava is flowing to the ocean. Day 2’s ride starts at the top of Volcano and head’s down along the area where the lava flow is, along Red Road, through Hilo and then up to Hawi. So, we’ll get to experience most of Day 2’s ride on our sightseeing adventure. The area where the lava hits the ocean is a good ¾ mile walk on lava from the car. My dad has had some spinal nerve damage & therefore, has no feeling in his feet & is not the steadiest walker. Well, we got out there & all of us, including Mr. P (my dad) traipsed across the lava field to the viewing location. The lava flow location was slightly behind a point, so it was unlikely that we’d be able see the actual lava flow hitting the ocean, it was blocked from view. Since my dad is so unsteady on his feet, we knew we needed to get him back to the car before dark, although the most spectacular viewing occurs after dark. So, Mern (mom) & I escorted him back to the car & then we headed back out to the viewing area. As darkness is approaching, I don’t think we are going to have a great view & I’ve made that trek across the lava field three times now in the light & am quite concerned about how difficult it is going to be in the dark. And when it gets dark, it is DARK. Yeah, I had a flashlight, but I’m not known for my gracefulness & I sure as heck did not want to trip and fall or twist my ankle two days before the race of my life. As dusk approached, Mern & I headed back to the car. It doesn’t sound like the viewing was that fabulous & we could see a lot from the trailhead, so I was really pleased with that decision. By now it is about 6 PM & we head north to Hilo. As we head inland it feels uphill, but there are no killer climbs, so I’m feeling a bit better about this section of Day 2’s ride. We arrive in Hilo & realize that the town closes at 8. Even the IHOP closes at 8. Pizza place - closed. Panda Express, here we come. Wasn’t the tastiest dinner, but at that point, we were happy to any find food other than McDonalds. We head north again towards Waimea and through the three gulches that I’d heard about at packet pick-up. Oh my – those were going to be tough. After that, the climb before Waimea was pretty brutal – it seemed to go on forever. Finally, a downhill into Waimea and that’s when I had to turn the wheel over to Todd – I was beat and about to fall asleep at the wheel. Probably the stress of seeing the course that just had me so freaked out and mentally beat-down. At Waimea, we turned towards Kona & did not continue on the Day 2 bike course to Hawi. Later I’d learn, that the part we’d missed was another 4,000 climb, over the Kohala Mountains, followed by a screaming 13 mile descent into Hawi. It was midnight by the time we arrived home & although I enjoyed seeing the volcano & the lava, it was a very long day.
Thursday was Thanksgiving!! I had gotten up and got in a quick ride on Ali’i Drive. While riding, I noticed that my rear bottle cages were rubbing & when I returned, I moved them a bit. Well, later I realized that I should have moved my whole seatpost/saddle, not the bottle cages. So, I did this later but did not ride my bike again before the race to know if the adjustment was good – hoped for the best on that! There was an Ultraman breakfast & crew meeting that we all attended (except Traci & Kym – they went whale watching). The food was just okay, but it was a great chance to meet other racers & their crew. We sat with Cory Faulk – 14 time Ultraman – WOW. He was very insightful, funny and genuinely a nice guy. His crew was super supportive & also consisted of prior Ultraman athletes. I also met Suzie and Warren and Shannon and Jason and so many of the other athletes. Several were first-timers like me and many were multi- Ultraman finishers. For the crew meeting, there were overviews by the head of the swim, bike & run courses, a quick discussion about the rules and a final talk by Jane.
(FYI - it will be four weeks ago tomorrow that Ultraman started and I’m finally getting enough free time to get back to finishing this darn report!)
Once back at the house, the turkey was cooking & starting to smell tasty! Everyone pitched in and we went all out for our Hawaiian Thanksgiving. We had turkey, potatoes & gravy, sweet potatoes, broccoli salad, macaroni and cheese, rolls, four pies and ate until we thought we’d bust. We had previously hoped to do a Luau instead of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but decided that since the Luau wouldn’t start until ~8 PM (when I should be going to bed) and would consist of many native Hawaiian foods which I’ve never eaten before, it probably wouldn’t be the best to do this the night before the biggest/longest race of my life, so we nixed the idea. Say nothing about the fact that it was priced at $130 a head. Once we finished our own Thanksgiving feast, we finished packing the car, making our game plan and just hung out and got ready for the next three days. My brother, Craig, flew in from MN about 8:30 so we headed out to the airport to pick him up. That meant my whole family was going to be there to support me! I took my typical two pre-race Tylenol PMs and was in bed by around 9 PM. I think I slept until about 2 AM and from then on, it was nothing but tossing, turning & stomach/brain churning.
Friday – Race Day 1: 6.2-mile Swim from Kona, 90-mile Bike up the Volcano with 3,500 feet of climbing
“He who jumps into the void owes no explanation to those who stand and watch.”
*Jean Luc Godard {Influential French Filmmaker}
My alarm was set to go off around 4:45, but I was up and out of bed well before then with a very grumpy tummy. I was able to choke down my oatmeal and only had two gag-episodes where I thought I’d toss it all back up again, but luckily, it stayed down. The rest of the gang got up & going & we were rolling to the start line by 5:45. Got parked, found our kayak and I struggled into my wetsuit. It was dark & chaotic, but with only 40 athletes (including 3 relay teams) starting the race, it was much different than an Ironman with 2,400 athletes. We entered at Digme Beach (the same starting point for the Hawaiian Ironman) and the kayaks were sent off a bit before the athletes. As we waited for the start, there were hugs & lots of good luck wishes all around from both the veterans and first-timers. The traditional conch shell was blown & we were off. I knew the ocean currents could be unpredictable for the 6.2 mile swim to Keahou, but depended on my kayakers, Todd & Kym to get me though. We exited Kailua Bay and traversed the coastline until I eventually hit the strong current as I entered Keahou Bay. I’d stuck to my plan of stopping every 30 minutes for a GU or cereal bar and drink of water/Accelerade/G2. Somewhere along the way, I’d seen someone paddle up close to my kayak and have a chat with Kym & Todd, but wasn’t too concerned. They’d kept me informed of my position (I was never last) and then when I’d passed several other competitors, I was feeling okay. However, that’s about when I looked at my watch and realized I was 3:30 into the swim and the finish line was nowhere in sight, I’d hoped to be done by 3:45 to 4 hours. I stop for my scheduled break and Todd & Kym let me know that there had been man-o-war jellyfish spotted (at the time, they didn’t tell me that one guy had been pulled from the race and was in the Emergency Room due to anaphylactic shock). I was wearing a sleeveless wetsuit and had been stung quite a few times already on my arms, but only by super small ones & wasn’t concerned about those, although they did burn a bit. Finally, we hit Keahou Bay and the washing machine current really kicked in. It took me about an hour to swim that last mile and although I was working, it literally seemed as if I was going nowhere. I don’t normally mind the swim, but I have never been SO happy to see a turn buoy in all the races I’ve done! My swim time was 4:37:33, 28th out of 33 athletes.
When I was in shallow water, I put on my crocs (they were in the kayak and as I’d cut my feet on the rocks earlier in the week, I was not going to take that chance again), I waddled onto shore and into the helping hands of my brother, Craig & JP. I was a bit shaky and at one point stated that the swim was the hardest thing I’d ever done. They helped me out of my wetsuit, got showered and it took Mern, Cari & Kym to get me changed into my bike clothes. Once at my bike, I tried to band-aid the cuts on my feet, but after being in the water for four and half hours my skin was so shriveled, cold and moist, it was pretty much a losing battle.
“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
*St Francis of Assisi {1197-1253}
About 20 minutes after exiting the swim, I was finally headed out on the bike. We had driven the bike course on our sightseeing adventure to Volcano and I knew this first day of biking was going to be very difficult. I was seriously concerned about making the 12 hour cut-off time and that was when I’d anticipated swimming for 3:45, NOT the 4:45 I did… Immediately upon leaving transition and for the first 4-5 miles it is straight uphill and it was hot – I started the bike at about 11 AM, just as the day was heating up. All I could do was keep pedaling and hope to make it through the first 1500 meters of climbing before the road eventually leveled out. My race crew consisted of Mern, P & Craig (mom, dad & brother), Todd Patterson (crew chief), Cari & JP Ossenfort & Kym McDaniel. They did a fabulous job of keeping me fed, watered, healthy and informed throughout the three days. In addition, we had Cale Ossenfort (Cari & JP’s 3 year-old) and Traci McDaniel (Kym’s 17 year-old) along for the ride too. Due to the big ascents and descents the weather was ever-changing this entire day, & on my second descent, it rained quite a bit. Of course, when I wanted to let-her-rip and go as fast as possible to make up some lost time from the brutal ascents, I had to rein it in a bit for safety’s sake. The road was only two lanes, with a relatively narrow shoulder and Todd did an excellent job of keeping the crew van behind me to hold up traffic and let me go as fast as I could safely without having to worry about passing cars. At the bottom of this descent, I stopped and hung out with the crew for a bit, ate some solid food, gave up my jacket and prepared for the section near Kae Lae point (the southernmost point of the USA). Luckily, the winds down here were not nearly as strong as they had been on the previous day when we’d driven through here and this was a relief. The scenery through here was amazing, but I could see the volcano ahead of me and knew that the 3,500 meter climb up to the top was going to be a true test of my ability to suffer. I’d been passed by a few other riders in the last 70 or so miles, but knew that there were still a few behind me and was still playing leapfrog with a couple of their support vans, so I knew we weren’t far apart. I’d been calculating the distance, time and my speed for a while and knew I was going to be cutting it very close to that 12 hour cut-off. I mentioned something to Todd about mile-marker 29 and he said I only had to get to mile-marker 32. We “discussed” this for a bit as I continued the never-ending ascent (at 6 mph, I truly think I could have walked my bike faster). Eventually, I conceded that if the cue-sheet said mile-marker 32, that it was likely correct. It was starting to get dark, cold & misty, but I did not want to stop and take the time to put on my jacket or put my light on my bike, knowing I was only a few miles from the finish. I trudged on and eventually turned the corner into the Namakani Paio campground and crossed the finish line at 11:29:53 for the day, 26th place (my bike time was 6:52:20, 24th out of the 34). I was probably as emotional at the end of this day, as any of the days, as I was very concerned about making the cutoff. Although, even if it had been at mile-marker 29, at 6 mph, I probably still would have made it, but when you are in the moment, and the time seems to be ticking by and slipping away and I am going so incredibly slow on a climb that seems like it will never end, it is not very reassuring.
Once off the bike, I am freezing, but my crew gets me some dry, toasty clothes and I got a massage while they checked into the Volcano House hotel & cabins. I then got a warm shower & we headed off to the Kiawe Kitchen for a great dinner (along with everyone else from the race). Having never done a stage race before (in an Ironman, you race all in one day & then are done), it was nice to have a good meal and sleep in a comfy bed after racing. Although, Kym, Traci, Mern, P & Craig were all stuck in the cabins and they were primitive cabins to say the least. It was cold that night, and there was no heat in those cabins, and they were only given a set of sheets and a flimsy blanket. I’m not sure Kym will ever forgive me for making her rough it that night. As soon as we returned from dinner Todd was out in the van, getting my bike prepped for the next day. Since it had rained, it needed to be lubed and some of the handlebar tape was coming apart. He got the bike taken care of, along with the countless details of preparing bottles, food, maps and everything else needed for the next day of racing. By the time he got back to the room, I had downed my 2 Tylenol PMs and was already fading. I think I was asleep before 10 PM and did not stir until the alarm went off around 5:15 AM. This was probably the best night of pre-race sleep I’d ever had.
Saturday – Race Day 2: 171 mile Bike with 4,000 feet of climbing
“Your opponent, in the end, is never really the player on the other side of the net, or the swimmer in the next lane, or the team on the other side of the field, or even the bar you must high-jump. Your opponent is yourself, your negative internal voices, your level of determination.”
*Grace Lichtenstein {American Author & Editor}
As we arrive at the start of Day 2, it is dark and chilly & I put on my armwarmers. And then my vest. And before I head out, I’ve put my jacket on too. I know that the first 20 miles is a full-on descent and I’ll be going fast, despite not working too hard, so I’ll also be cold. The Day 2 ride starts at about 3,500 feet, descends back to sea level after 46 miles. Although I’m one of the heavier riders (maybe the heaviest of the four females racing), I somehow got stuck behind a few slower riders & ended up getting split from the main group on the main descent. I was a bit disappointed in myself for letting this happen, as this is the only portion of the bike where drafting is legal and it could have really provided me with an advantage to be with the bigger group. But, I ended up in a small group of three other guys and we had a nice ride into the small town of Keeau. The first 20 miles were a “no-feed zone”, which meant the crew was not allowed to stop to provide any support for the racers, so once we got to Keeau, I stopped and gave up my jacket to my crew & got fueled up for the “Red Road”, another “no-feed zone” and probably the most gorgeous place I’ve ever been. I wish my crew could have gone out on this road - the crystal blue ocean waves breaking on the black volcano cliffs - it was literally breathtaking. We were now down at sea level, and although it was getting warmer and humid and there were some good rollers through here, I didn’t mind so much, as the scenery was a great distraction. As we left the coast and headed back uphill, there must have been a tailwind, because I’d been dreading heading towards Hilo, but it really wasn’t that bad & I even skipped a crew stop once, telling them that I was feeling good & to leave me alone… What I really meant was that I had not been in a good groove on the bike yet (in two days) and I finally was in a good place - I wasn’t sure if would last 10 minutes or 10 miles, but I wanted to stick with it for as long as it lasted. As I head into Hilo, the largest city on the island, I knew there would be lots of traffic, lots of traffic lights (which we had to obey) and we’d also been warned that there was a park with a gate that is usually closed and needs to be navigated and also a bridge that EATS bike tires. Around this time, I also hook up with Warren, Cory and Duane. I knew that Cory had done this race so many times before that I wanted to hang with him as long as possible, since he knew all about the park gate and the bike-tire-eating bridge. The four of us ride through town together and just as I anticipated, Cory does a great job of navigating us through the obstacles. I thank the guys and know that I’ll soon be off the back, as the climbing is about to begin again. I felt good after about 100 miles with eating, drinking & bodily functions all on target. At this point, I’d eaten three Uncrustables (pb&j sandwiches), trying to get a bit ahead on calories, before I started the climbs, since I know that I would not want to eat once I had to start working hard again. Somewhere in here I made a pitstop with my crew & ask for a small baggie of ice. Kym happened to be running the video camera at the time & it officially turned into a porno video as I took the baggie & placed it in my shorts. Aahhh, my crotch was on fire & this was exactly what I needed! Off I went (after removing the baggie) climbing several gradual grades up the Hamakua Coast with lush rain forests and beautiful views of the crystal blue ocean. I headed into the three coastal gulches, each starting with long, beautiful descents and 300- to 400-foot sheer cliffs down to the ocean. Each one bottomed out with a turn into a climb up and out the other side, at a tough 7-10% grade. I got through the first two gulches fine, but the third one had a much longer climb of three or four tough miles back out. Then, after a bit of flat riding, there’s another long, steep climb to Honokaa. This one isn’t so scenic, just a long, steady climb and it was just before this that I stopped at the van for a break & complained about my front wheel. Todd went to check it, put the pump on it & it showed 40 psi (normal is 120 psi). Not a problem, I’d just switch out my current wheel with my race wheel and Cari & Todd could change the tube/tire and would give it back to me before I hit the big climb over the Kohala Ridge. At times, it seemed like I was going uphill faster than I would have been if I had been on a downhill & others when I felt like I was working my ass off on what should have been a downhill. I think after 130 miles of riding (not including the 90 the previous day), one’s judgment becomes a little “off.” I never doubted that I’d finish this race and wasn’t nearly as concerned about making the cutoff today as I had been on the previous day. However, there were definitely times when I questioned if I’d done enough training & whether or not it was all worth it. Just before I start the descent into Waimea, I grab my rain jacket from my crew, as I could see it was raining up ahead of me. I am now racing downhill into Waimea and it has just rained, so once again, I’m flying downhill and trying to bank as much time as possible, but also trying to keep upright and not wipe out on the slick roads. As I turn on the road towards Hawi, I’m now in new territory. We didn’t drive this part of the bike course & I’d heard we’d have to climb up and over mountains, but since I hadn’t seen the route, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As I’m starting the climb, a race official indicates it is about eight miles of uphill and there is a big crosswind. Uh-oh – where’s that wheel they were working on?? My race wheel is not good in strong crosswinds. I see my crew van, stop & they change out my front wheel & I’m good to go (as far as I know). Little did I know until after I’d finished the stage, that they’d gone through three tubes & located a bulge in my front tire on my front wheel. Todd & Cari were able to use a Clif Bar wrapper to keep the bulge in check & allow me to use that wheel as I headed up the ridge into the strong crosswinds. . The climb is slow and steady, but with amazing views, including a rainbow that my brother was able to get a perfect picture of me riding under. Finally, as I’m battling the brutal cross winds and just creeping along, I crest the climb and passed the sign “3,500 feet – Crest.” WooHoo – now it was time for the perilous 15-mile, 2,000 foot descent down to Hawi. I’ve heard this is the most dangerous part of the race, with speeds over 50 mph, strong crosswinds and sometimes rain-soaked, slick roads. There have been several crashes here that have put people out of the race. I go as fast as I can while still holding on to a modicum of common sense, but I’m sure it was more dangerous than I realized at the time. My crew was racing Indy 500 style to keep up with me, and eventually pass me in order to get to the finish line before I did. Not to mention that they had their fingers crossed that the Clif Bar wrapper would hold out as I was flying downhill! I take one last hard left for the last downhill into the finish in Hawi. I cross the line at 10:03:19. I had hoped to be around 10 hours each day, so I was right on target this day & felt great. I finished 23rd of 33 for Day 2 and was in 24th place cumulative for Day 1 + Day 2. After another quick massage, we head out & locate the little house/bungalow I’d rented. I got a shower as the crew readied the van for the next and final day of Ultraman. We then head back into Hawi for dinner at Luke’s Place, the food was fine, but the service wasn’t fabulous and as we were pretty cranky from our second day of racing, we just wanted to eat & get back to the house. As the fatigue builds as the days go on for both the racers and crew, the need for sleep is critical. Once back at the house, we go out in the backyard to watch the stars a bit and then it is off to bed. Despite knowing that I need to sleep well tonight, my body is starting to whack out a bit after the last two days and I’m sleep isn’t really happening. During the night, as I attempt to “hustle” (remember, my legs aren’t exactly in the best shape, so there’s a lot of shuffling & not a lot of hustling for anything) to the potty for the third time during the night, I begin to think I may have a problem…
“If you start to feel good during an ultra, don’t worry you will get over it.”
GENE THIBEAULT
Sunday – Race Day 3: 52.4-mile Run through the lava fields from Hawi to Kona
“How badly do you want it?”
*George E. Allen {1832-1907 British Publisher & Author}
I’m up and grumpy at 4:30 AM for a 6:00 AM start. I didn’t sleep well and am now pretty sure I have a urinary tract infection, but keep this little secret to myself for now. It is lightly raining as we load the cars. I happen to reach in the trunk to put a suitcase in next to my wheels – both front wheels are flat – THANK GOD I did not have to climb back on the bike today!
I don’t eat oatmeal on run days, so I choke down my PowerBar on the way to the pre-dawn check-in and meeting. After the meeting, we climb back in the cars to head down the road about a mile to the race start, just as the rain stops. All the athletes gathered in a circle, joining hands while Jane led the pre-race benediction, followed by a Hawaiian blessing and blowing of the conch shell, just as we’d started the past two race days. This was really a cool, emotional moment.
Ready, set, go. Off we go into the dark and although my stomach is a bit crampy, I’m feeling okay. I eventually get settled into a steady pace and pretty much confirm that yes, I DO have a urinary tract infection. At one of the stops, I got the crew to get on my Blackberry and call my doctor (although it was only about 6 AM in Dallas) and request they call in a prescription. Notwithstanding that issue, I had a lot of trepidation about my right Achilles tendon, but it seemed to be holding up okay. The first 18 miles of the run were against traffic (I normally run with traffic, as it seems to keep my over-pronating right ankle from aching too much), and running on this side of the road seemed to be stretching/straining my left Achilles (my GOOD one)! To my knowledge, Ultraman is the only sanctioned triathlon which allows racers to have outside assistance, both from their crews and with pacers on the run. When I started the run, I figured that I’d run a couple 50Ks (31 miles) so I wouldn’t be needing a pacer. Wow, was I ever wrong. By the time I’d gotten through about 12 miles, Kym had started with running me which was nice, but I didn’t realize how dependent on having her by my side I’d become. You know you’ve reached a new low when the continuous thin stream of pee running down your legs doesn’t even phase you (by this point, I’d been drinking cranberry juice and had completely lost control of my bladder, so I just peed at will and kept on moving). Once Kym climbed back in the van for a break, apparently my walk to run ratio cratered (Todd told me this later). From that moment on, Todd decided I would not be on the course alone. Although my crew was set to stop & provide me a hand up of fluids every mile (along with a cheer & dose of encouragement), I also wore a fuel belt with water, Accelerade, Clif Bloks and salt tabs for those spots between aid stops, crucial for a ten-twelve hour run through the lava fields during the heat of the day. Day 3 is much slower paced and much more intimate for both the racer and crew. The crew stops about every mile to hand up fluids and food, then waits a bit for me to head out, then rolls on down the road for the next hand up. As we made the turn at Kawaihae, we finally got to run with traffic, but I think the damage was already done to my Achilles. In addition, the balls of my feet were very tender. It felt like they were on fire & probably developing blisters. I stop several times, put on Body-Glide, put on Aqua-phor and eventually even changed socks, but nothing seemed to help. Eventually, the blisters got so bad that I used duct tape to try to relieve the friction. By this time, they hurt like hell, but I think the duct tape did help. My pace through the first marathon was 5:05, right on target of my estimated 5 hours, but, based on the condition of my blisters, I knew the second marathon would be nowhere near as fast as the first one!
“The human body can do so much. Then the heart and spirit must take over.”
Sohn Kee-chung
At this point, I’m taking it one mile marker at a time, one step at a time. Kym has run at least 15 miles with me. Todd and Cari (six months pregnant) have both put in several good legs. Mern is walking the uphills with me. Both Craig & JP have taken turns running with me (neither are athletes and they didn’t have any problems keeping up with me). Going into this race, I’d have never imagined opening up my soul and letting my friends and family see me in such a needy state, but during the race, the three tenants of Ultraman, aloha (love), ohana (family), and kokua (help) really hit home for me. I was reduced to “running” to the next street sign or stop light. My ability to check the mile-markers on the highway, count down the miles back to Kona, and check my watch to see if I’d make the 12 hour cutoff was waning. At one point, Kym told me that I had three hours to finish nine miles. Typically, nine miles would take me about 1:30. I knew I could make the three hours, but I’d been on the course for eight hours at that point and did not want to be on my feet for three more hours!! We continue through the lava fields (Mern thinks they truck this stuff in), closing in on the Kona Keahole Airport, and only eight miles to go. JP is keeping me company as we pass a sign for a POLICE station - we have a good laugh about getting “stung” by Sting and that keeps me amused for several miles. Finally, as we are almost to the turn towards the starting line, the two cars head to the finish and the van stays with me. Todd is running with me and Cari & Kym are still with us in the van and let us know we have 0.8 miles to go. They head off again & the next time we see them, tell us it is 0.4 miles to go. Holy Cow – surely I’d gone longer than 0.4 miles since I saw them last. They zip off to the finish and Todd and I can now see the finish line. I take the Texas flag that Todd had been carrying for me & unfurl it. I see the clock as it reads 11:14:43 – surely I can break 11:15:00. Although I want Todd (and all my crew) to cross the finish line with me, Todd tells me to go in on my own. I am pushing it across the sandy, uneven green carpet while proudly holding my Texas flag overhead. I hear Steve King announcing my name and I finish in 11:15:10 (29 of 34). Crossing the finish line with your entire crew waiting there for you is an awesome experience & I was grateful for each one of them! Jane gives me a hug, puts a fresh orchid lei over my head and I am congratulated by several of the other racers that have already finished. It’s an honor to even be in the same race as all of the other truly talented athletes. Once finished, I was sore - sore as only a 52.4-mile run (following the prior two race days) can make one, and glad to be off of my feet. Although I knew I shouldn’t sit down, as I may not be able to get up again, I couldn’t help myself & would have done anything to get off those blisters!! Finally, my crew helps me to the massage table for that much needed rubdown. My crew continues to surround me and check on me and verify that I’m okay. Total Time: 32:48:22 (29 of 34)
(FYI – For those keeping track, it will be six weeks ago tomorrow that Ultraman started and I’m finally going to finish this damn race report if it kills me!)
Monday – The Day After
“There are powers inside of you which, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become.”
*Orison Swett Marden {1850-1924 Founder of Success Magazine}
As usual (or at least, as usual following an Ironman), I don’t sleep well and am up by about 5:30 AM. My urinary tract infection got me up a couple times through the night & walking to the restroom was definitely a painful experience. My legs & core were both sore, but the biggest problem by far, was the blisters on the bottoms of my feet. Muscle soreness I’ve dealt with before, but the screaming rawness of the soles of my feet was killer!! Trying to find the least painful pair of shoes/sandals to wear for breakfast was a major ordeal. Went down to Java on the Rocks for some tasty coffee and breakfast (although it was a lot smaller portion than I would have preferred). I do have to say that we did find this place on Ali’i Drive, Splasher’s, a couple days later that had a huge breakfast burrito and since I was still making up calories, I ate it & didn’t feel an ounce of guilt! We walked around the shops near Digme Beach, where we started the race, for a couple hours, which I know was good for my sore muscles, but eventually I cried “uncle” & we headed back home. Hung out there and then took Kym & Traci to the airport & we spent several hours at Wal-Mart awaiting my prescription for Cipro. Although the waiting sucked (I think they operate on island time), it was worth it, as it kept the rest of the week enjoyable, instead of the very painful, non-stop pee experience, it could have been. That evening we went to the awards dinner. It was great to see all the athletes & the food was actually tasty. Little did I know that every athlete had to talk… First, I don’t do public speaking and second, that takes a REALLY long time for 40 athletes to talk, even if they each only take a couple minutes. My feet/ankles started to swell during the evening & it became a little disconcerting, but I spent a bit of time w. my legs elevated & that seemed to help a bit. Eventually, I went to the podium when it was my turn & didn’t have a lot to say. I admitted that I was very naïve coming in to this race, that is was the hardest thing I’d ever done, that I felt completely out of my league in the presence of the other athletes and that I was eternally grateful for my crew – that there is NO way I could have finished without them. And then I started to tear up & was done. I got a great plaque with my name & overall finishing time engraved along with a finisher’s polo. In addition, Shanna Armstrong, as the overall female winner received lots of stuff from Zoot, which she donated to the other females in the race & I received a certificate for a free pair of Zoot shoes! The awards went quite late into the evening & for a while JP, Todd & Cale were MIA. When they returned – they had a bottle of wine – WOOHOO! Since the bar at the dinner wasn’t cheap & I needed wine! I’m glad we stayed for the entire thing, but it was a long night.
The Rest of the Week:
“There is no man living who isn’t capable of doing more than he thinks he can do.”
*Henry Ford
Tuesday was a day of snorkeling for everyone. Cari, JP, Cale & Todd all headed off to Kaloko-Honokohau, which is a national park known for great snorkeling. But, the beach is at least a mile hike from the car. I knew there was no way my torn up feet could handle that hike, so off they went. Craig, Mern, P & I all headed off to Turtle Bay again, for some more great snorkeling & turtle watching. A couple other Ultraman athletes were there, including Alexandre Ribeiro (the winner) & the lifeguards even recognized me as an Ultraman athlete. I asked how they knew, if it was the tan line or what, they said it was the shuffle & intrepid way I walked J. Neither of my parents are great swimmers (ok, they could maybe swim enough to save their lives, but it’s questionable), but I was able to take each of them out individually for some snorkeling. I “drove” (meaning I did the swimming/steering) & they just hung on for the ride. I think it was a great experience for all of us. That night, after we all had all had our fill of sea turtles, fish & sand, we headed to Huggo’s for a great dinner!!
Wednesday, my parents, my brother & I headed to Laaloa Beach (also known as Disappearing Sands), and did some great boogie-boarding & body surfing. My body was contorted into positions by the pounding waves that I definitely would not have put myself into voluntarily, but when I was done, I felt really limber & stretched out – definitely the best I’d felt since I started the race. We hung out here for a few hours & my brother met some local girls who he played some game with involving a very heavy rock they would move under the water. I didn’t get the details, but apparently it was hard and fun. Mern & P spent most of their time on the beach reading their books &taking pictures, as the waves at this beach would have them knocked on their ass & drown them in one fell swoop. Heck, I practically drown a couple times...
The only item of note during the week after the race was learning on Monday afternoon that my grandfather (my mom’s dad) had been in the hospital since the Tuesday before the race. My mom’s family did not want to tell us before/during the race and since his admission, he’d been doing okay. Grandpa was 96 and had been living in a nursing home, since breaking his hip last Thanksgiving. Prior to then, both he & my grandmother (95 years old) had lived on their farm house, alone in southern Minnesota. Since he broke his hip, they’d both moved into “town” – he in the nursing home & her in the assisted living portion of the same building. By Wednesday after the race, he wasn’t improving, so I was able to get my parents on a plane for Minnesota late Wednesday night. Needless to say, they didn’t have the proper attire & it was quite an ordeal getting their cold weather clothes shipped to them in Minnesota from their house in Austin, but they eventually got there (both the clothes & the parents). As much as it pains me, I do have to give some kudos to American Airlines. As I had flown my parents & myself over on AA miles, I was able to reroute them to Minneapolis – leaving the same day I called - and then back to Dallas a few weeks later, at NO charge!! They did have some issues with AA trying to charge them for checking for their bags, but as they were flying on my Platinum/Gold status, they should have been free – and eventually, AA relented & they were not charged. In addition, I did not have to pay for my bike on my return to Dallas. I anticipated paying $100 if not more, but apparently the travel Gods were smiling on me (and realizing I’d already dropped some serious coin on this trip).
Thursday & Friday, it was down to me, Todd, Cari, JP & Cale. We hung out, did a bit of exploring and found another snorkeling beach (Pu’uhonua o Honaunau) and then enjoyed another tasty dinner on Thursday night at Jackie Ray’s. Friday, the waves were really up & after a bit of shopping, we hung out at Disappearing Beach & talked with some locals who’d taken the day off work to surf. They said the waves that day were as big as they get on the Kona side of the island all year. This was the same beach where my brother & I had bodysurfed just a few days earlier and it was GONE – nothing but rocks on this day (hence, why it is called Magic/Disappearing Sands Beach).
I did not end up getting to Oahu to see Pearl Harbor (third time to Hawaii & have yet to get there) and didn’t do any organized tours or sightseeing either. But, I really enjoyed myself.
I told myself so many times during the race, at least on the 1st & 3rd days, that I would NEVER do this again. I can think of no other experience, where I’ve been forced to splay out my soul and become so needy on others and face yourself and question why you put your body through such pain & keep going. As Suzy’s kids said, “just get in the van, mom”… What forces me to keep going? Why don’t I just get in the van and call it a day?? 99% of the world doesn’t know what an Ultraman is and of the less than 1% that have ever heard of it, can truly appreciate the distances, let alone the physical and mental challenges that the race poses, let alone the amount of sacrifices experienced through the year of training that leads up to such a race. This is a race that is selfish, all about the racer, but at the same time, can only be accomplished with the unending support of a crew. Almost a dichotomy that I can’t quite explain.
Again, although I said it was the hardest thing I’d ever done & that I would never do it again, the pain is fading. I’ve proven I can make the cutoffs… Now, I’d like to go back & try to improve a bit on my swim and run Day 3 without the blisters. I would love to think I’d like to go under thirty hours, 10 hours each day, but just having the chance to come back & do it again, no matter what my finishing time would be a great experience. I’ve already got a friend that trains with my team in Dallas, asking about it. I’m betting he’s got an application put in by 2010. And, well, I wouldn’t want to have him face the race alone, really, it would be my duty to go along & show him the ropes – wouldn’t it??
If I haven’t made it clear by now, this is a race that I could have NEVER done completed without the help of so many people. My on-site crew of Todd – UtlraCrew Chief, who was awesome & I couldn’t have asked for anyone who knew me, my racing needs/skills better, Cari, Kym, JP, Mern, P, Craig, Traci & Cale. Michelle, who was the Ultra Updater! Apparently she had loads of people, the majority of whom have never ever seen a triathlon on the edge of their seats awaiting the updates. Coach Chuck – who got me through a year of training leading up to the big day, relatively injury free. You are one in a million (and only a very select few coaches in the world that can say you’ve coached an Ultraman Finisher). The rest of my Fit2Train team and other training partners for going the extra mile when I needed company. A special thanks also goes to Donald (my masseuse), who helped me recover every week from my workouts and provided an hour of pure pain/relaxation. All of my friends who’ve dog-sat Quincy, my boss & co-workers who picked up the slack when I need to leave at 5 o’clock on the nose to get to a workout or had to take a long lunch to get in a swim. Finally, I must again thank my parents for their non-stop, never-ending, never-wavering support. I know there are times they worry that I’ll tear up my body & won’t be able to walk when I’m 60, but at the same time, they support me in every way they can & probably have more confidence in my ability to meet my goals than I do. Thank you for instilling the work ethic in me that I needed to get through the training & the hard-headed stubbornness to not quit the race when it hurt so much that I saw stars with every step of the run. You truly have made me into the person that I am and I’m thankful. Ultraman is the experience of a lifetime and one I hope to be lucky enough to experience again…
Thanks to all,
Katie
(Catherine Paulson, #454 Ultraman 2008 Finisher - 32:48:22)
PS - I’m a huge fan of motivational quotes & have collected quite a few over the years. I’ve tried to pare down the ones that meant the most to me & incorporated them where appropriate. There are a few more that I felt I had to include – enjoy & I hope they inspire you!
“Those who do not create the future they want must endure the future they get.”
*Draper L. Kaufman, Jr.
“Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.”
*Fred Shero, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers hockey coach
“Being your best is not so much about overcoming the barriers other people place in front of you as it is about overcoming the barriers we place in front of ourselves. It has nothing to do with how many times you win or lose. It has no relation to where you finish in a race or whether you break world records. But it does have everything to do with having the vision to dream, the courage to recover from adversity and the determination never to be shifted from your goals.”
*Kieren Perkins, Aussie swimmer & winner of 1500m gold in 92 & 96 Olympics
“No man ever achieved worth-while success who did not, at one time or other, find himself with at least one foot hanging well over the brink of failure.”
*Napoleon Hill (1883-1970 Author - Think and Grow Rich)
“Suffering is the sole origin of consciousness.”
*Dostoyevsky
“Racing is pain, and that’s why you do it, to challenge yourself and the limits of your physical and mental barriers. You don’t experience that in an armchair watching television.”
*Mark Allen
“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”
*W. M. Lewis
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