Kathy Morrisson’s IMCDA Race Report

Where do you start a race report for an Ironman? Does it start the first time you sign up for a triathlon or when you sign up for Ironman a year before or in January when you start training? Whenever it starts, I have to say it has been a challenging, rewarding, tiring and amazing journey.

Race day: Up at 4 AM to eat and get to the transition around 5 AM. When arriving, RTB IronFans and teammates are all beginning to gather around the body marking. After the team picture, I went and set up my bike and check my transition bag locations, transition exits etc…

All wetsuited up, I head out of transition and somehow run into Karen, Heather and Linda. There are zillions of people all over and we all end up together. The beginning of a perfect day! Once the pros head out, we head down to the beach. While waiting for the start, most of the RTB’s 23 athletes meet in the same area on the beach. The funny thing was, no one had talked about this and so there we wait. They did not let us warm up but we could get in to our waist, so after a quick dip and goggle check, I was ready to go.

The swim was messy! From the cannon to the final exit, there was a swimming crowd. My first few strokes and breaths had me looking straight into the face of Heather. I found out later that she was keeping an eye on me since I had such a hard swim on Thursday. When we (it seems the entire field was swimming as one solid group) got to the red turn buoys, everyone would go vertical, turn as a group, then slowly go horizontal again, quite the experience. As I headed in from the swim, I was smiling. I kept thinking I made it, I think I will be an Ironman today. I knew I could ride and run (or walk) the course but the swim with 2,500 of my newest friends seemed like a big road block. That was conquered and I knew the rest would happen.

Into transition, I heard my name called by one of the wetsuit strippers. It was Julie G. a past RTB member. All stripped, I grabbed my bike bag. I noticed many people were not in the changing tent, so I joined them on the grass. I was not taking any clothing off, just adding and the changing tent had looked really dark in the morning so this seemed like a better choice for me. With help from a volunteer, I got arm warmers, socks, shoes, race belt on… I was going to wear gloves but only could get one on and decided to take my chances on being cold. Headed through the changing tent to get my bike and saw Karen, Linda, Pippa and Michelle.

I had ridden the bike course loop 6 times since the Fall, so I could recite the entire thing from memory. I headed out and being cold was never an issue and rode. I loved seeing the RTB IronFans out on the course. As I rode, I watched for RTB teammates. My family was on Government and Ironwood on my way back from the first loop and seeing them for the first time that day was… well it made me cry with tears of happiness. Note- crying and riding is challenging, so I do not recommend that. At special needs I picked up my PB&J, took two bites and gagged. I threw that into the bushes for some little critter to enjoy later. Otherwise I stuck to my nutrition plan, stuck to my cadence, PRE and heart rate goals and rode.

Heading into transition for the run was mentally challenging. I was done with the bike and ready to get off it but when I got off it, I knew I would have to run a marathon. I hit the dismount line, my bike was taken away from me and I headed to my run bag. I decided to change into tri shorts and a shimmel as I get hot in the skinsuit. So a total change, new socks, running shoes, race belt and a couple of gels and I hit the road.

The first couple of steps off the bike felt hard but after that, my legs felt really good. So good in fact that I took off under 8 minute miles. So I spent the next few miles trying to find the 8:40-8:50 pace I was supposed to be at. I think the best thing about the run was the 23 RTBers on the course. Don’t get me wrong IronFans, I loved you too but there was something about being way out on the course and seeing a fellow teammate working their way to the finish just like you. My challenge on the run was the salt tablets. I was supposed to take two at special needs. I had them and tried to swallow them but started gagging. I put them back in my hand and carried them the next aid station and tried again but just could not get them down. So I threw those into the bushes and just hoped that the drinks, previous salt tablets, Tums and gels would keep me cramp free.

And finally it was time to head to the finish; that turn onto Sherman is an amazing sight. I locked my eyes on that finish, smiled and ran. And finally those words that all Ironman wait to hear were said, “Kathy Morrisson from Kent, Washington You are an Ironman!” (Well maybe they want their own name and location inserted in that). And to add to an amazing day, my catchers were PK and Caitlin! Nothing like seeing a friendly face or two at the finish.

The race was complete. I was an Ironman!

But wait there is more…  I had swam, rode and run hard enough for a 4^th place finish in my age group. In the morning, I found out that meant a Kona slot was open for me. As much as I wanted to move on from Ironman, I could not say no. I am headed to Kona.

And a race report would not be a race report without thank yous J! Thank you to my family- Matt and the kids for being patient, understanding and supportive through out my training! Thanks to my girls Linda, Heather and Karen for being wise counsel through out the journey. Thank you to the Thursday ride crew for heading out on crappy days to keep me company! Thank you to family and friends for their words of encouragement and support leading up to the event! Thank you to Patty Swedberg for a much needed conversation somewhere in the midst of my training (and you were right)! Thanks to Cliff and George for holding my body together with PT and stretching- I almost long for another elbow in my glute right now. Thank you to fellow RTBers who raced Ironman in 2011! Thank you IronFans- you rocked that course with support!

And thank you to Kainoa, my coach who listened to my goal of wanting to finish an Ironman, saw something more and pushed me to reach higher then I expected. And thank you to her team Pauola Sport who has been welcoming and supportive.

I had two mantra’s through out the day. One was “strong, determined and focused” (Thanks Kainoa) and the second was “seize the moment in your heart”. (Thanks Catherine Anderson- you are a wise young lady!) Those two mantras will be traveling to Kona with me!