Ironman Lake Placid 2016: #LPpartee

Where do I begin? How about I start with the fact that our house had the most prime location and included fun toys like kayaks for the boys to get in trouble with? Or, maybe you want to hear about how Mark and I ran into Mike Reilly walking down Main Street and he stopped and had a casual 15 minute conversation with us like he knew us? Perhaps you'd rather hear about the pipe that burst in front of our house, forcing all 11 of us to move houses on Friday, 2 days before race day? What about the exciting new RyBread Racing gear that was delivered to house #1 on Thursday that we were all able to wear as a team on race day? Wait.. more importantly, what about the RACE!? Fasten your seat belts. You're in for a fun lengthy read. 

In case you missed out on my Lake Placid preview, Mark and I signed up for Ironman Lake Placid back in August of 2015 with a group of friends that we now call the #LPpartee. Mark, Rob, and I arrived in Lake Placid on Tuesday afternoon after driving through the night and immediately met up with the rest of our group. We weren't 100% complete without Lauren and her boyfriend Matt, who couldn't arrive until Friday morning due to grad school obligations. We unloaded cars, got settled, and went our separate ways after 14+ hours in the car together. Rob napped (he was our night time driver), Mark bummed around, and I took a little dip in Mirror Lake with Jacqui and Ryan. We were all beyond exhausted so we decided a nice relaxing Taco Tuesday at the house was in order. The next day called for no alarms and some exploring!

The House!

Wednesday

We spent our Wednesday morning driving the bike course to check out what we had all signed ourselves up for. We also quickly realized how GORGEOUS this place was and stopped a few times to explore the area. Of course the ladies of the group had to keep the boys under control, considering they were all acting like monkeys and insisting on climbing every rock imaginable, only days before race day. Spoiler alert: maybe the kid who won the race ended up falling in the water? 

Self timers on unstable rocks are really fun.

Self timers on drop offs next to the highway are even more fun!

Because this makes me smile so big.

If you look closely you can see ski jumps behind us!

Wednesday afternoon consisted of a little ride around the run course to shake out our legs and then back to the house for a dip in the lake! Our house came complete with kayaks in the garage which meant more trouble for the boys to try and get into. The comic relief of Rob, Ryan, and John successfully capsizing John's boat was extremely welcome. All of us had some heightened nerves, especially our first time Ironman athletes in the group (Mark, Lauren, and Trina) and welcomed a good laugh.

This. Was. Hilarious.

Dinner out with the group on Wednesday night!

Thursday

Thursday morning, Mark, Jacqui, and myself decided we wanted to ride out to the Keene descent and then down the Keene descent. Keene is a little town on the bike course that includes a 7 MILE DESCENT and can be EXTREMELY dangerous if you're not careful. Ryan rode the descent the day before so he could tell us what to expect and hit 53mph at one point. Holy shit. I get some white knuckles once I hit about 35mph. So to say I was nervous is definitely an understatement. But I also needed to ride it before race day so I could get all the jitters out of my system. We made it to the top of the descent and Trina and Brittany joined us for the 7 miles of roller coaster without a seat belt that we were about to embark on. Ryan decided to drive in front of us in case traffic got a little crazy, while Nate and John drove behind us to slow down traffic until we reached the bottom. They definitely pissed off a few cars, but it was well worth it to ensure our safety. Mark took off like a bullet (making me absolutely crazy and not helping my uncontrollable nerves) and I promised myself I'd take the descent nice and easy and just experience it the first time. Less than 14 minutes later, I was at the bottom. (Yup, 7 miles in 14 minutes = to fast) My top speed was just shy of 40mph and I was shocked at how not scary it was. I'm always a ball of nerves on the bike, but I was expecting the descent to put me over the edge. And somehow, I was ready to do it again! 

No turning back now!

After we finished up our ride for the day we came home to do a quick change and headed over to the Ironman Village for check in! I could tell Mark was starting to get anxious and check in was only about to make that worse. We went through the motions, showed our ID's, signed our lives away, and got weighed in case we needed medical support while on the course. I made sure to keep an eye on the BFG. He stayed calm and collected. Much calmer than I was during my first Ironman experience. He made sure to ask all the questions. "What do I put on this line? Do I need to sign this paper? Why do you have 2 swim caps and I have 1? What if I want to take this bracelet off?" He was an Ironman sponge and was soaking up absolutely everything. And I couldn't have been happier for him. 

We MIGHT have told him how to pronounce our last name..

In between check in and meeting Rob to grab a quick lunch, Mark and I ran into Mike Reilly walking downtown Lake Placid. For those of you who don't know, Mike Reilly is the voice of Ironman. The one who announces your finish. "Megan Hode, from Crystal Lake Illinois - You are AN IRONMAN!" I've done it 4 times now and it never gets old. He stopped and chatted with us for a short while. He remembered us from the year prior as peelers at Ironman Wisconsin. Mark's smile continued to grow as the day went on and I know for a fact that our 10 minute conversation with Mike Reilly got Mark even more excited for Sunday. 

You know you want a RyBread singlet

Thursday afternoon the group kind of split. Ryan, Nate, and myself laced up our shoes for one last run workout around the lake while Jacqui, Mark, Rob, Trina, John, and Brittany headed to the lake for more swimming and kayak shenanigans. The 3 of us stopped our run at the lake and immediately jumped in the water to cool off and get a glimpse of John cruisin' his kayak while wearing his wet suit. He wasn't taking any chances after he and his kayak almost ended up at the bottom of the lake on Wednesday.





Friday

REST DAY. Or so we thought.. Shortly after our morning coffee, Mark and I wandered to the Ironman Village so that I could return a shirt that I had purchased on Thursday. While I was in line, I got a text from Ryan. "You're not gonna want to know what's happening right now." Doesn't he know that texts like that are enough to send me in a tizzy? Long story short, our plumbing in the house was malfunctioning after a pipe had burst at the bottom of our driveway. We were being forced to move houses. 2 days before race day. After we had completely unpacked and filled our fridge full of food. On our REST DAY. We had that house packed and cars were loaded an hour later. We were relocated about 3 miles away (ugh, we were used to being able to walk to EVERYTHING) in a MANSION (Alright, maybe I'm OK with driving everywhere now) complete with a screened in porch and hotub for our muscles. Thankfully Lauren and Matt had JUST arrived so they didn't even unload the car.

Packing up your life during Ironman week is apart of the taper, right?

Cars ready to be loaded 

The new MANSION!

After the move was complete (albeit, uber sweaty) the whole group (YAY! ALL 11 OF US TOGETHER!) put on our Rybread Racing tshirts and hit up the town for a couple of group shots in front of the Lake Placid rock and the Olympic Ice Arena. While we were roaming the downtown area, Mom, Dad, Aunt Bev, and Uncle JB were making their way into town and happened to drive down Main Street and I immediately ran to the car to give them a half hug as they drove by. Later that evening, Mark and I went to their house and to say a quick hello before we made sure to get to bed early. Sunday was quickly approaching and we needed all the rest we could get. 

And we're the 11 best friends that anyone could have!

Girls rule

Boys drool

Saturday

The house began to rise by 7:30am and soon enough, the whole group was ready to rock the pre-race shake out ride and run in our brand new RyBread Racing kits! It has been such an experience to work with Ryan for as long as I have. And to see everyone sporting the awesome new kits just warmed my heart. Tubes were changed, bikes were double and triple checked, and our legs were ready to go. Next stop, bike and gear check in! 

Hode's ready to race!

This picture can be found on the Ironman Lake Placid Facebook page ;)

#RyBreadRacing

We made sure to make this process as quick as possible so that we could rest and be off our feet the rest of the day. After a quick little rendezvous with the family at the expo after we dropped off our bikes and gear, the pre-race meal was ready to be made! I went to the store and grabbed some beef for burgers and chopped up some fruit and steamed some fresh broccoli. Burgers and veggies and beers with the group and the family. DINNER OF CHAMPS! All that was left to do was wake up and race. I'd be lying if I said my nerves were under control though. It had been almost 2 years since I raced on a "hilly" course. Yes, I knew my hard work over the past 2 years was nothing I should doubt, but I was wondering how my body would react to the terrain. It wasn't easy to sleep that night knowing what I had to face once I woke up.

Olympic Oval used as transition

Sunday - RACE DAY!

Considering my alarm clock struggles for Ironman Texas, I was prepared this time around setting 3 different alarms. I was up and out of bed by 3:15am and had the coffee pot brewing for the house by 3:20am. Slowly but surely the house began to stir and shortly after, the toilets began to flush. 4:40am and we were all headed to transition! This is where we were not so pleased with the new location of our house. Originally, we planned on walking to the race. But now we had to leave a little earlier and somehow snag a parking spot as close to the start as possible. Rob was able to drop off Mark and I at transition and then he fought the 5am traffic for us. 

Mark and I immediately got body marked and made our way to our bikes to prep our nutrition and pump our tires. I tried to get done with my prep as quickly as possible so I could run down and check on Mark. But he was done before me! I even asked if he wanted me to double check everything for him. "Nope, I'm good." Damn, this is kid more confident than I am. We said our hellos to some McHenry County natives, Jon Crane, Andrew Killinger, and a few of their friends, and wished them the best of luck. Over the last week, Jon would refer to our house as "Camp RyBread" and even insisted that we host the celebrations on Sunday night if Ryan won. We joked about the very high possibility that we would need to find an available liquor store on a Sunday night in Lake Placid, New York.

About this time, Mark and I ran into Jacqui and Ryan and did our best not to lose them before the race. And if there's one thing I can gurantee about racing with Jacqui, it's that she will have to use the bathroom just before the start of the race. (You know, when the porta potty lines are long enough to ensure you'll miss the start of the race.) But this time, it wasn't just her. All 3 of them were about to burst and the next thing you know, they disappeared into the woods. Meanwhile, I stood patiently waiting for the 3 little bears to make their way back to me so we could head to the starting line and meet up with Rob. 

When we found Rob we had more than enough time to relax and get our wet suits on (no need to hop any fences this time around). We also started to find more of our group! John and Brittany! We snagged them up and wouldn't let them out of our site. We were missing the Tomato's and Lauren. Unfortunately, we were about to lose Jacqui too as she made her way back to the porta potty. Soon after, Mark, John, Brittany, Ryan and myself said our goodbyes to Rob and made our way close to the beach and the start line. Starting off all my Ironman races with a kiss from my Spectathlete has a way of putting me at ease and relaxed just before the swim. 

SWIM
Goal: 1:15 

Rob FOUND US!

Swimming in Mirror Lake offers the luxury of having a rope lining the entire course about 6 feet below the surface. It can be a blessing and a curse. Everyone has the same goal: get on your bike as quickly as possible. The fastest way to do that in Mirror Lake: follow the line like you're swimming in a pool. It can make for an aggressive swim, but I was ready to see what I was made of. Even though Texas was a non-wetsuit legal swim, I still showed great improvements in the water. But now I was ready to see how well I could swim with some neoprene keeping me on top of the water. The rolling start of this swim is also supposed to keep things nice and uncrowded. It was anything but. There was very little time throughout the swim that I did not feel like I was being attacked by limbs that weren't mine. But I was determined to make sure I swam as close to that line as possible. And I was ready to take a punch in the goggle or 2 to make sure it happened. 

Serious fog

We all entered the water and fog hung so low it was difficult to site any buoy in front of you. I did the best I could to make sure that line was in my direct site the entire time. It didn't take long for me to take a nice little punch to the nose. I've been hit plenty in the water. But this hit was hard enough I was sure my nose was bleeding. I took 10 seconds to make sure there was no blood pouring out of my nose and then continued on. I reached the halfway point of the swim, which also happened to be the beach. Yep, that's right. This swim makes you do 2, 1.2 mile loops in the lake. And to avoid any cheaters in the group, you have to actually get out of the water and run over a timing pad on the beach, and then re-enter the water for lap 2. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, and I'm still not sure honestly. All I know is that when I got to the beach for lap 2, the crowds were wild and all I could hear was "Sweet Home Alabama" playing in the background while Mike Reilly entertained the crowd. 

As I dove back in for lap 2 I looked to my right and saw my first familiar face since the gun went off: Brittany! I stayed stroke for stroke with her for a few minutes and tried to get her attention by making funny faces at her when we would breath. I later found out she never saw me at all. Just before the turn around and final .6 mile stretch to the finish I saw another familiar face - Jon Crane! He's hard to miss with his gorilla arms and very animated facial expressions when he breaths. I did the best I could to stay with him until the very end but I lost site of him in the crowds of people trying to swim the line. The next thing I knew I was approaching the beach and I could hear the crowds and music playing, this time "Come With Me Now" by Kongos. The beat of the song got me pumped and ready to cruise the decent quarter mile run I had waiting for me to reach transition. I took my first step out of the water and glanced at my watch: 1 hour and 15 minutes on the dot. Damn, spot on. Time to ride. 

Transition 1

I found the first available peeler and he had my wet suit off in seconds. As I took off running to transition, I noticed the carpet that was laid out for us was quite narrow and could only fit 1 person wide on it. So that meant running at the mercy of the person in front of you. Yea, no thanks. I took off running on the pavement to left of the carpet and immediately started flying by everyone. At one point I heard someone yell, "HEY!" I turned my head to see Brittany! I snagged my bag from the fancy transition racks that were set up and took the first chair inside the women's change tent. As I was getting my last shoe on and about to place my helmet on my head, Brittany comes in and takes a seat in front of me. I said my hello and goodbye all at once and hit the road. Official transition time: 6 minutes 26 seconds. Considering the quarter mile run out of the water, I'll take it. 

Bike
Goal: Come off the bike with something left in my legs for the run and as close to 6 hours as possible

The last time I raced a hilly bike course was my first Ironman in Madison, Wisconsin. I finished the bike that day in 7 hours and 11 minutes. I know I've made GREAT improvements since then, but I also knew that managing hills is NOT my strength. A year later I biked the Ironman Maryland bike course in 5 hours and 59 minutes. Extremely flat, but MORE than enough wind to make up for it. So it was hard for me to pick a true "goal" for the bike. I knew a 6 hour bike split wouldn't happen, but I wanted to be as close as possible to that 6 hour mark. And considering the mountains we were about to ride through, it wasn't going to be easy. 

As you take off from transition you are immediately greeted by a wicked aggressive downhill that actually has hay bails at the end of it to keep people from flying off the road into the house at the end of the street. Once you make your way out of town you immediately start the climb up to town of Keene. Considering the rest of the course, this wasn't to bad but can be a quick way to kill your legs if you take the climb to aggressively out of the water. I made sure to put my bike in the lowest gear and just pedal. I didn't look at the speed, just get to the top of the hill and then make my way down the descent safely. I found Jon Crane in the middle of the climb and he promised me he'd see me soon. Before I knew it I was flying down the Keene descent and I realized that my bike computer was no longer of use. My sensor slid down the spoke and I was left to bike 100 miles without any sense of speed. I do know that I hit 42 miles an hour on the descent after checking my watch later that night. Sure enough, Jon Crane flew past me and I promised myself that I'd find him on the run. 

Once I made it to the bottom I was much more comfortable. I had yet to see any of the group on the bike, but I had my eyes peeled. Surely I would see Mark on the 6 mile out and back section coming up soon in the town of Ausable Forks, whether he was in front of me or behind me. If he exited the swim behind me I knew for a fact he'd catch me on the bike, especially with the descent. His dare devil ways wouldn't allow for anything else. 

Did I mention it was a little warm that day?

As we entered the town of Jay I spotted Rob and Matt (our Spectathletes!) on the side of the road screaming at us! I made it to the out and back and a few miles before the turn around I saw Nate heading in my direction! And then Lauren! Just after the turn around I hear someone from behind me yelling, "HEY RYBREAD RACING!" I turned my head to see John! We hung together for a short minute and joked, telling each other to eat turds (I love watching other athletes look at us like we're nuts) before he took off. It wasn't long though before we met again. And this time we saw Matt and Rob as we started the climb into Upper Jay. My parents house was only a mile up the road and as I passed John for the final time on the bike, I knew it was going to be a long mile knowing I was barely moving. My dad stood about 100 yards in front of the house waving a white flag and wearing his RyBread Racing T-shirt and immediately started screaming when he saw me. Just ahead of him in the driveway was Mom, Aunt Bev, and Uncle JB. All waving their arms and yelling for me. It did my heart good to see them. But shortly after that, I realized I had yet to see my brother at all. He should have passed me if he was behind me. And if he was in front of me I would have seen him on the 6 mile out and back turn around. He's fine. He's fine. Race your race. 

My mind was moving a mile a minute as I made my way up White Face Mountain back into town. Lemme tell ya, that 10ish mile stretch is for the birds. This road is flat. It's definitely flat. Why am I barely moving? Psych. It wasn't flat. It's what you call a "false flat." Essentially, it was a 10 mile climb that appeared to the eye as... not a climb. I finally approached mile 50 and I knew the 3 Bears (3 hills at the end of the loop) were next. There was a lot of hype about the Bears leading up to the race. Most people compared them to the 3 Sisters from Ironman Madison's bike course. And I'll be VERY honest with you, the 3 Bears are speed bumps compared to the Sisters. No, they weren't easy at all, especially after that nice little section through White Face. But Madison wins when it comes to bike course difficulty. 

Yep, I'm done with this bike.

Making my way back into town and starting my 2nd loop gave me a quick burst of energy. The crowds were heavy and cheers came from all corners. Just what I needed to tackle this one more time before I lace up my running shoes. This time while on the descent, I had a deer run in front of me. I was convinced I was about to hit a deer on my bike. Thankfully, he was more scared than I was and moved just in time. All the hills were still there the 2nd time around and my legs grew a little more fatigued as the miles passed by. This time I did see Mark on the 6 mile out and back! He was behind me but wasn't looking so happy, and that's ok. He was upright. Passing my family the 2nd time around was a blur. I was around mile 90 and I was ready to ditch my bike for the day. Matt and Rob popped up multiple times on the 2nd lap, giving me a little bit of hope that the end was near. And after 6 hours and 24 minutes, averaging 17.5mph, I was back in transition. I couldn't have been happier. 

Told ya Mark wasn't happy.

Transition 2

The first 3-4 steps off the bike are always scary for me. And this time around, I was fearful I'd be dead from all the climbing. But.. I wasn't! I had enough life in my legs to actually run to my run gear bag and then B-line it to first porta potty I could see. Once inside the tent, I ripped off my helmet and shoes, grabbed my belt and running shoes and took off. This time, it only took me 3 minutes and 36 seconds to get in and out. 

Run
Goal: Just.. run. 

I had no idea where to put my goals at for the run. Essentially, it was going to depend on how I felt coming off the bike. And I was definitely feeling better than anticipated. So off I went. I know I'm biased and have been running ALOT longer than I've been swimming or biking. But you have to admit, the run is SO fun, especially on a course like this that allows you to SEE all the competitors. This course offered a 6.5 mile out and back that is done twice, so I was ready to see what the rest of my #LPpartee was up to! 

The first few miles of the run take you outside of town and you have 2 pretty decent downhills. So if your quads aren't destroyed already from the bike, they're about to be here. I started to sip on my handheld bottle right away. It was a hot day and I needed to make sure I kept my sodium levels at a non-bonking level. Just about mile 1 and right after the first aide station I heard my name from a familiar face. Jon Crane's wife - Laura! I gave a wave and a smile as I was about to tackle my first hill of the run. Once at the top, you immediately start the 2nd of the 2 big downhills. I was just about to the bottom of the hill I spotted a girl charging up towards me, wearing a green and black EGO Sammy's kit. JACQUI. I couldn't control my excitement. I had yet to see this girl RUN during a triathlon this year, and here she was absolutely DESTROYING this hill! If you remember correctly, I found her on both the Ironman Texas and Grand Rapids run course as she was walking her way to a DNF due to injury. Today she was all smiles as I practically burst my vocal cords while I yelled and screamed at her. I was worried though. She had started both Ironman Texas and Grand Rapids with a decent run and was unable to complete the course. I prayed so hard that the next time I saw her she'd still be running. 

I chugged along and around mile 2.5 or so I saw another fast moving individual wearing a green and black EGO Sammy's kit. But this guy had a bike escort. I'll give ya one guess. Ryan was well on his way to yet ANOTHER win for the 2016 season, his 2nd overall Ironman win of the year. I waved and yelled at him and I got nothing in return. Stone cold. At the time I was convinced he was in some serious pain and just needed to get to the finish line. I later found out he never even saw/heard me. The next 8 miles or so the hills continued to roll and I started to see my friends! First, Nate. Then, Jon Crane. He laughed when he saw me and joked about how soon I'd be making the pass. I reached the turn around and about mile 8 I saw Lauren moving at a brisk pace! She was only 4 miles into this marathon and for her first Ironman she had me worried about how much she was going to make me work to find the finish line before her! Not long after Lauren I saw John and the first thing he said to me was, "Hey, eat my turds!" Ah, yes. This time the looks from other athletes was more enjoyable.

Most of the run was spent making this face.

As I made my way back into town I was greeted by the 2 awful hills that I had the pleasure of running down in the beginning. Making my way up the first hill I saw Trina on her way down! Shortly after that I saw that little powerful girl charging towards me again. Jacqui was STILL RUNNING. My heart was so happy. And this time, I yelled even louder. However, I still had not seen Mark at all and was getting a little worried. Even if he slowed down on the bike and took a decent amount of time in transition, I should have seen him by now. Right before I hit the transition area I saw Rob and the first thing I did was scream, "WHERE'S MARK!?" He hadn't seen Mark either and that only made it worse for me. He also had some bad news for me. Lauren had fallen on the run and Matt had to go pick her up. Her race was over with a broken foot. My heart broke. I couldn't believe it. 

At least he looks happier than when he was biking!

I ran down Mirror Lake Drive and past our old driveway and reached the turnaround. When I made it back to Rob and was about to start my 2nd lap he was there and ready to tell me that the athlete tracker had Mark at mile 7. Thank God, I must have somehow missed him. Fortunately I didn't have to go much farther before I finally found him! I asked how he was doing and of course he told me he wanted to be done. I made sure to remind him, "All you have to do is GET THERE." He agreed and we went our separate ways. 

Making my way out of town I heard my name. Not uncommon considering our bibs have our names on them. But this was different. Someone was yelling, "MEGAN HODE!" My last name was not on my bib. I turned my head to see a spectator standing in the grass waving his arms. I couldn't believe it. One of mine and Mark's gymnastics coaches from PEORIA, IL had spotted me, recognized me, and made a scene to get my attention. The last time I saw Greg Johnson I was maybe 10 years old. And lemme tell ya, the guy looks the EXACT same as I remember him. I later found out he was there watching his wife tackle her first Ironman. I've said it before, but this sport simply AMAZES me. I never would have guessed after 18 years I'd see Greg Johnson on the Ironman Lake Placid run course. I made a mental note to look for him on my way back into town.

A mile or so behind Mark I saw Trina again! And then shortly behind her, Brittany! Each familiar face I saw reminded me of why I was here. This day was truly a party, a celebration of all the hard work we all put in for a year. And let's not forget, somewhere in the mix (my memory fails as to where) I saw Jacqui heading back into town. She had less than 4 miles to go and she was KILLING IT. Little did I know at the time that she was about to WIN her age group obviously snagging a Kona slot as well as take the 2nd place prize for overall females. Talk about a comeback. 

By the time I hit mile 16 my body was getting very tired. Nothing specific hurt to badly, my legs were just not moving as quickly as my mind wanted them to. I walked more than my usual at every aid station, more than I'm proud of. But I needed to get over this hump. By mile 17 John had snuck up behind me and made the pass. I tried to keep him close but he was surging and I was slowing. Just before the turn around I saw Jon Crane again and this time he decided to give me what I needed. "What's takin' you so long Hode??" And just like that, my legs came back. I made the turn around and quickly found him. He ran with me for a short while. We saw Mark heading out for his final miles and I said my goodbyes once we hit the big hills heading back into town. Jon took the hills a little easier while I did my best to run them. I was so close and all I wanted to do was find that finish line. 

This feeling NEVER gets old

With less than a mile and a half to go, I saw Andrew Killinger, only a half mile ahead of me. He spotted me and flagged me down. "Are we going to have a kegger tonight!?" When I told him yes, he knew that Ryan had won the race. The McHenry County hero strikes again. I finally made it to the part of the course that has the sign "To Finish" and boy did it feel good to enter that Olympic Oval. The emotion that comes over you at this point of the race is indescribable. And the emotions only grow once you make it inside an arena that had once held some of the worlds greatest athletes from past Olympic games. I spotted my parents and Aunt and Uncle on the curve. The joy coming from this group was overwhelming. I rounded the final corner and found myself a little teary eyed. I saw Rob in the crowd and took my final steps to the finish line. A final marathon time of 4 hours and 27 minutes left me with a 12 hour and 16 minute day. I was ecstatic. I was convinced I would be struggling to finish in the daylight. But that was far from reality today.

Reunions with friends and family post-Ironman are always extremely emotional and bittersweet. No one ever says it out loud, but there's always that chance that something will happen out on the course. I made sure to hug everyone a little longer and a little tighter. The first familiar face I saw after I crossed the finish line was Ryan. He hates tears more than anyone I know, but today he welcomed them. The happy tears he can handle. Jacqui showed up minutes later and the 3 of us had the reunion we'd hoped for in Texas. My heart was bursting with joy for Jacqui. For the 4th year in a row, these 2 were Kona bound.

I made my way out of the athlete area and up the hill to Rob. Like I said, reunions are always so meaningful after an event like this. Tears welled up in my eyes once more when I hugged him. Of course when I found the family it only got worse. We all rehashed part of the day while we waited for Mark. It didn't take to long because the sun was still up when he made his way inside the Oval. He rounded the final corner and my heart soared. As he made the last turn to the finish line, I bolted from my family and took off towards the finish to greet him. I heard Mike Reilly call him an Ironman and I instantly screamed and jumped in the air. People around me saw the medal on my neck and I'm sure they wondered how my legs were able to move the way they were. By the time I made it to Mark (which was less than a minute after he finished) Ryan was already there to meet him. Before I knew it the BFG had me hoisted in the air as we celebrated his victory. It only took him 13 hours and 40 minutes to find that finish line, almost and HOUR faster than my first Ironman.  

So proud!

The Hode Family now has 2 Ironmans!

Omaha cheerleaders!

Ain't she just the best?

Ugh, sorry I ruined it

Long lost twin 

RyBread Racing Founder! 

My Spectathlete -  4 for 4

This entire experience was one I'll never forget. A year ago I threw caution to the wind and signed myself up for one of the most amazing journeys. Most of the people in our LP Party were strangers to me. Today, I have an phenomenal group of friends. An amazing support system. And a group of people that we can call a team. The list of thankyou's are endless. First, the town of Lake Placid, New York. The history and beauty that this town has to offer is simply amazing. And they continually share that with Ironman once a year. My amazing aunt and uncle who traveled over 1500 miles to watch my brother and I basically workout for 12+ hours. My parents, who are less and less surprised when I approach them with different races to add the calendar, but never question me. Jacqui, for giving me a truly amazing role model that also happens to support me 100%. Ryan, for the workouts. For lending me gear when I'm clueless. For being my around the clock bike mechanic. For keeping my sanity to a tolerable level when training takes up more hours in the day than I sleep. For literally being one of the kindest humans I know. And Rob. My biggest cheerleader. The one who will will always be waiting for me behind the camera lens. The one who reminds me that goals can never be to scary. The one who lets me have my meltdowns when I'm convinced that this Ironman stuff is just to much. He's always there to remind me that I CAN and I WILL.

Lauren WILL be an Ironman one day!

And that's a wrap.

It's been a hell of a ride. And I wouldn't wanna do it with any other group than this. #LPpartee out. 

Until next time. Cheers.

Ironman Lake Placid: The Lineup

We've reached the official 10 day countdown for Ironman Lake Placid. This race hasn't happened yet, but I can already tell you that it's going to be one of my favorites. It has a history and some serious anticipation. Let's dive in, shall we? 

Back in April of 2015, I volunteered Rob and myself to help out with a race that Jacqui and Ryan were directing in Schaumburg on Easter weekend. Our job was most important: pick up coffee for all volunteers. (And then actually volunteer and help with Registration/Athlete Check-in.) Alas, Rob and I walked away with a few new friends that day. John and Brittany Atchison. At the time, un-married, but none-the-less joined at the hip and obviously meant to be. John and Ryan were long time high school friends and could practically finish each others sentences. We also met Lauren Schorsch. She had dated Jacqui's brother Nic way back in the day (who I graduated high school with) and remained very close with Jacqui over the years. Little did we know that this day was going to be the start of something EPIC.

The day it all started! Any guesses who hides inside the chick and bunny costumes?!

Fast forward to July 2015. Mark and I were registered for Half Ironman Muncie 70.3. We arrived at dinner the night before the race knowing that Jacqui and Ryan would be running late. Jacqui texted me, "John and Brittany will be there soon, save them a seat too?" But of course. What actually ended up happening was this: Mark and I ate dinner with John and Brittany and their friend Oscar. Jacqui and Ryan showed up as the bill was arriving. But during that time, friendships were solidified. We all raced the next day (some well, some not so well **cough cough ME**) and headed home after raiding the Albanese Candy Factory in Indiana. I rested my head on my pillow that night with a smile on face. 

We're all about those post-race recovery calories ;)

Let's fast forward again to August 2015. Sometime around noon on August 13th, 2015, John had sent out a mass text to myself and a few others demanding our participation in Ironman Lake Placid in July 2016. What's up with this guy? I promised my brother that I would do his first Ironman with him, which was potentially planned to happen in 2016. However, the location of his Ironman of choice was undecided. I kindly told John that I was not going to commit to any Ironman until my brother decided where he wanted to go. 

"OK can I have your brother's phone number?" - John

JOHN. NO. This went on all day. I left the office and hopped in the pool. When I returned to my phone I had been blown up by John. He wasn't letting down. When I got home I sent Ryan a quick text, "Your friend John has been harassing me all day. Please make him stop."  Ryan's response, "Just sign up already." OH GREAT. RYAN'S BEHIND THIS TOO. 

So I did what any good sister would do. I laid it all out for Mark. Your first Ironman could be in the amazingly gorgeous Adirondack Mountains. And you'd be able to say you raced in the same location as the 1980 Winter Olympics. And you would be racing with me and 7 others, that's a HUGE support system! It didn't take long. By 8pm that evening, Mark and I both burned a hole in our credit cards and were officially Lake Placid bound for Ironman Lake Placid on July 24th, 2016.

So it would be an understatement to tell you that Mark and I made one of the best decisions that day. At the time, Mark and I had only met 3 of these people twice (at most). And there were 2 that we had never met. Yet, we agreed it was a good idea to share a house in the Adirondack Mountains for an entire week with mostly strangers. But we've had a year to get acquainted. It happened pretty quickly too, thanks to our "LPPARTEE 2016" group text. Which is crazy. Obnoxious. Hilarious. Not suitable for children. Insanely supportive. In all honesty, I could be having an absolutely terrible day. And when I pick up my phone and see 50+ messages from the group (yes, most times more) and I can go back and read the shenanigans that went on while I was MIA from my phone, I almost always end up in a better mood with a smile on my face. We've got one of every kind in our group. The personalities are on all ends of the spectrum and I think that's what makes this group's appeal so wonderful and addicting. Wanna meet them? Of course you do. 

The Lineup

John Atchison

Let's start with the ring leader. He's the guy that started it all. A Physical Education teacher in the Chicago Public School system, John has the heart of a kid. He enjoys racing just about as much as he dislikes the training. But this kid has some serious talent. He's been racing with Ryan for quite a long time, tackling his first Ironman circa 2010. He's the one who we find swimming UNDER us during our group open water swims. He's the one you can find dressed in a Chubacca onsie in the winter months. He's also the founder of the famous GREEN GUYS that you may or may not have seen at events like the Shamrock Shuffle and the Chicago Marathon. He's the only one of the group that has tackled Ironman Lake Placid in the past and he has nothing but good things to say about it. He's been a pretty amazing advertisement for this race over the past year, adding to the excitement of this trip. Long story short, this guy is all about the fun.

Brittany Atchison 

John's wife! (AKA - John's keeper) Bred a soccer player through college, Brittany turned to the triathlon world around the time she met and fell in love with her husband John. Brittany spends her days advising people about healthy life choices that they should be making. Between her and her husband, they're tying to make America healthy again. She's also extremely competitive, making her and John's training days super entertaining when John would rather float in the hot tub than swim. I was able to watch Brittany take on her first Ironman back in September in Madison, Wisconsin. And to say she crushed that crazy difficult course would be an understatement. I was able to run next to her while she attacked one of the 3 worst hills during the race (nicknamed the 3 Sisters) and scream obscenities to her. I probably made her go faster, for sure. And laugh a little. 

Ryan Giuliano 
(Aka - SpeedyGiuliano, Speedy, RyBread)

When I asked for a picture of everyone, this was the best he could give me.

DA COACH. You've been introduced to Ryan. He's the mastermind behind the hours and hours of workouts we all put in. He's the reason we wake up every Monday morning and fear that first step out of bed. But if you could see his racing resume, you'd know why we all keep coming back for more. His expertise and talent in this sport is beyond admirable. He might also be one of the most humble humans I know. If you met him on the street he'd never tell you about his success in this sport. I might also brag about him and say that he is the Founder/CEO/COO/Treasurer of Rybread Racing. That's right. Over the past 7 months he's taken his knowledge to the next level and decided to share it with us all. Interested in a coach? CHECK IT OUT! Want more info on triathlon? CHECK IT OUT! Wanna see what he's all about? CHECK IT OUT! Such a talented guy like this, he's gotta be all about that clean eating right? WRONG. This kid has a sweet tooth for candy like I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. He puts away POUNDS of candy at a time. The day after the race I anticipate a living room floor full of candy wrappers. All because of this kid.

Jacqui Giuliano (Mrs. Speedy)

If I'm being honest, the only reason I know ANY of these people is because of this girl. Jacqui and I grew up only a few blocks away from each other and found ourselves in college together. Never super close, we have always shared a passion for running and have consistently encouraged each other over the years. The day I called her and asked for Ironman advice was the day I opened my own door into such an amazing triathlon community. A simple random phone call. Let's see what this super fast girl has to say about my crazy idea of signing up for an Ironman. Today, it'd be an understatement to say that we can finish each others sentences. I've been with this girl when she's PR'ed on the best of days. I've also wiped her tears as she DNF'ed on the worst of days. This past year has tested her mental strength more than anyone I've ever seen. And she hasn't given up. Determined to find that finish line in Lake Placid (among other things), this Junior High Math teacher has a drive deep inside her heart that I envy. All I have to say is, if I see her on the run course in Lake Placid, it better be as she zooms by me with a smile on her face. God knows she's well overdue. 

Lauren Schorsch

Lauren has been friends with Jacqui for quite a while. She's as sweet as they come with the perfect amount of spunk. (Necessary character attributes when you're a grade school music teacher.) Albeit, semi challenged with directions, Lauren has a way of always bringing a smile to my face. She runs with the best of 'em and can be found at the front of any swim pack. To date, she's raced 2 triathlons. Last summer she trained for Steelhead 70.3 (half ironman) but couldn't compete at the last minute do to a back injury. (Stay off those slippery stairs Lauren.) Most people would give in and go back to just running. Not Lauren. Who needs to do a Half Ironman when you can just sign up for the full Ironman? People like Lauren. The go-getter. Only a few days after she wasn't able to start Steelhead, she pulled out her credit card and decided to bite the bullet and signed up for Ironman Lake Placid. Talk about balls. She's had a very trying winter while nursing her back injury and getting her head on straight so she can tackle 140.6 miles.  She's also currently juggling her master's degree classes which wrap up only hours before the start of this race. You gotta be kidding me. This girl is like superwoman. Her plate is more than full, but it'll all be worth it soon.

Nathan Tamayo (Mr. Tomato)

Nathan and John go back a ways meeting in the race community. Nate and his wife Trina (who you'll meet next) live in a totally different world. That is, they live at night. Nate is an endurance Vampire and can truly say he sees the sun rise as he ends his shift at work more than he sees the sun set (because he's asleep when it sets, duh). As an EMBALMER (yep, you read that right), you have to be ready whenever the clients are ready. And this guy PREFERS the night shift (you know, when all the crazy stuff happens). But that has to make training super hard, right? Right. Nate laces up his running shoes, hops in the pool, or jumps on the trainer just about the time the rest of this group is heading to bed. And then around midnight he makes his way to work. And as the rest of us are about to enter that dreaded 10am conference call, Nate heads to bed. Literally, he lives the complete opposite schedule. But he's made it work. With years of practice and COUNTLESS donuts (his personal favorite) to fuel his long workouts, this guy makes this schedule look EASY. When I first met him in our group text (actual first face to face meeting was a month later) I thought to myself, "Anyone who can train for an Ironman on this schedule has to be a badass." And guess what, I wasn't wrong. 

Trina Tamayo (Mrs. Tomato)

So we like to nickname the Tamayo's "The Tomato's" for the obvious reason. Their name is fun and sounds like Tomato. Trina, Nate's wife, is also a creature of the night. (Not by desire, but because she just loves her husband that much.) Trina is a critical care nurse and works the night shift so that her and Nate can be on the same schedule. This mermaid has a love for fitness in general. Considering she came to the endurance world from the body building world, I'd say that's quite the 180, wouldn't you? And food. This girl CAN EAT and makes me so proud. Sometimes she'll send us a picture of her and Nate grilling massive steaks at 1am on their days off... because that's what you do when you work the night shift. You stay in the night routine, even on your off days. Ironman Lake Placid will be Trina's first 140.6 and there's not a doubt in my mind that this Mermaid-Vampire will give us all a run for our money and show us who's boss.

Mark Hode (BFG)

Mark and the man who will soon call him an Ironman - Mike Reilly, the voice of Ironman

In my opinion, I'm saving the best for the last. The "little" brother. My best friend. The biggest pain in my butt that there ever was. Future Ironman. Standing at a whopping 6'4" we've nicknamed him the BFG (Big Friendly Giant, for all you Roald Dahl fans). For the first 22 years of his life, Mark didn't know athletics outside of throwing a baseball and running from pole to pole until he dropped after he threw a game. During his 5th year of college he had more time to kill in the Smokey Mountains. So he snagged a road bike from Craigslist and bought a pair of running shoes to fill his time. He had run a few races with me over the years, but this was his chance to get serious. He graduated in May of 2015 and 2 months later he crossed the finish line of his first half Ironman in Muncie, Indiana. And the rest is history. He's the ONLY reason I'm racing Ironman Lake Placid. I promised him I'd be right next to him for his first full Ironman. A woman of my word, here we are only 10 days away from the big day. If only he could truly grasp how excited I am for him. How high my emotions have been over the past few months leading into his big day. I know exactly what it feels like to cross the finish line and I'm ready to share that moment with him.


So there ya have it. That is our 2016 lineup for Ironman Lake Placid. Better known as..

THE LP PARTEE

And a party it will be, damn it. We've rented a gorgeous house on Mirror Lake in the middle of the Adirondack Mountains less than a half mile from the Oval (used for the 1980 winter Olympics which will also be utilized for transition during the race). This trip is pretty much like Christmas in July for this group of athletes. 

But Megan, who will spectate all 9 of you!?

I'm so glad you asked.  

The Spectathletes

Mr. & Mrs. Tamayo

Parents of Nathan Tamayo. I've never actually met Mama and Papa Tomato, but the more people who want to come out to the course and cheer us on the better!

Matthew Morhman

Boyfriend to Lauren, Matt is sure to add a decent amount of humor to our house for the week. A triathlete himself, Matt prefers his super fast running shoes. And he may be able to give a lot of us a run for our money when it comes to eating. He may not look like it, but this kid has never missed a meal. Sometimes he adds meals in between the standard 3-a-day. Our goal before we leave Lake Placid: convince Matt that he should sign up for an Ironman too. 

Jack and Vickie Hode

That's right, Mom and Dad are making their way all the way to Lake Placid to join in on the fun! Dad made some last minute plans to join me in The Woodlands for IMTX in May. But this trip has been in the works for a long time now. And to have BOTH my parents there on race day is beyond special for Mark and I.

JB & Bev Scott

My aunt and uncle. The Omaha cheerleaders. They were in Madison, Wisconsin for my first Ironman. So why not make the trek for Mark's first? No reason not to. They are staying with Mom and Dad in a little cottage on the bike course in the middle of the mountains. All I can picture is Uncle JB standing in the driveway with a fluffy bathrobe and big mug of of coffee in his hands as I zoom by on the bike. And I hope that's how it actually happens.

Stand back ladies, he's mine

Robert Sloan

My other half. The man who coined the term "spectathlete" and is the reason there is such a word. He watched me cross the line of my first marathon in Champaign, IL just before I graduated college. He navigated Disney World relying on trams and theme park buses for the Disney World Marathon in order to find me. He chased me around Cambridge, Maryland for all 112 miles of the bike course. (Literally, he was able to drive the whole course. And he did. No food stops all day.) He fought some serious weather for me in Houston, Texas. He's been there for all 3 Ironman's and he's coming back for number 4. All in the name of love. I've truly won the lottery with the best support system.

Starting Monday afternoon, the caravan to Lake Placid starts. I anticipate some serious laughs, a lot of amazing views, quite a few un-wanted bodily functions within the group, and an AMAZING race from everyone. How could it go any other way with a group like this? Let the 10-day countdown begin.

Backyard Fun: Lake In The Hills Triathlon

Don't you just love those races where you can roll out of bed and literally ride your bike across the street to transition? Oh.. you don't have one of those? Well.. I DO. 

The Lake In The Hills Triathlon is quite possibly my favorite triathlon of the year for a variety of reasons:

• It's the cheapest triathlon entry I've ever seen.
• The finish line is less than a quarter mile from my house. 
• It's a SMALL local event.
• It's the only race of the year I can count on seeing (and racing against) almost all my local triathlon friends and it truly gives a "backyard triathlon" feel. 

This race is a touch longer than a sprint. {15.5 miles on the bike compared to the normal 12.4, and a 4 mile run compared to the normal 3.1} But it's anything but easy. There are some significant hills on both the bike and the run that can leave you panting like a dog the entire race if you're not careful. 

Coming off of Leon's Triathlon and the Grand Rapids Half Iron only a week before, my body was anything but rested. Ideally, a weekend of relaxed mileage might have been a better idea. But I just can't help myself. The thought of waking up on Sunday and stepping out my front door for a long ride and watching the race fly by my house made me sad. And, it was another chance to race next to my brother.

By 5:01am, the Strugglebus {Todd, Russ and Shane} and Brittany started to make their way to my house and used my street as their parking lot. The transition set up for this race is also a little funky. There are separate transitions for T1 and T2. So parking is kind of 0 fun if you don't live within a quarter mile from T2 like myself. Just before 5:30am we hopped on our bikes and road the treacherous quarter mile to T2 so we could drop off our run gear and get body marked. From there, we hopped back on our bikes and road to the lake and T1 to set up our bikes and prep for the water. 

The "no girls allowed" pre-race photo

As we were setting up our bikes I begin to hear the familiar voices. First, the loudest and deepest voice, Lance Lane. I look up and he's standing with the 2 quietest, Bill Gagne and Terry McKenna. Today, these 3 musketeers were having some fun as a relay team. Our conversations in transition were all triathlon based along with some healthy competitive banter. It wasn't long before I turned my head and Stephen Lynch had joined our circle. These guys all might have kids that are practically my age, but man do they offer some excitement and laughs in the triathlon community. {When I say they have kids my age, I actually graduated high school with Terry's son.} Not to mention, they are all pretty great athletes. Any day I've ever spent logging miles with these guys, I always find myself chasing the pack. 

With each passing minute the familiar faces kept coming. Jon Crane! I happened to run into him the weekend prior on the Grand Rapids run course. At the time he was practically bent in half and having a rough day in all 3 disciplines. Today, he looked like he was ready to roll. Julio Zuleta! Another Strugglebus member who recently had a new baby boy. His life revolved around 3am feedings and diaper changes making him unavailable for a lot of group training over the winter. He worked out on the babies schedule. The John's! Mielnikowski and Ogden. John Mielnikowski also competed in IMTX for his first Ironman and was ready to rock again today. 

Pretty soon we were all lined up (self seeded) for the start. Two athletes entered the water at a time, 3 seconds apart. What was the lineup? Of the Strugglebus members, Todd and I entered the water first {as Russ calls us, the whipper snappers}. Right behind us, Russ and Mark {alpha and omega}. Then, Shane and Julio {the sherpas}. 


The Swim: {1/2 mile}

I laughed as the William Tell Overture played over the sound system when we entered the water. Since the swim is only a half mile, I wanted to really test myself! My usual swim on this course is about 15 minutes and some change. My goal today: 14 minutes. Almost instantly I started to choke as I took in a mouthful of water when Todd and I dove in. You rookie, what the hell is wrong with you? The first turn came pretty quick and thank God it did. The sun was deadly and once you made the turn it disappeared. Just before the final turn I noticed a guy in front of me wearing Zoot wetsuit that had yellow lettering on the sleeves. Mark. He was probably 2-3 strong strokes ahead of me. I did the best I could to make the pass but his gorilla arms are just to long compared my stubs. I stood up to exit the water and saw him 15 feet ahead of me ripping off his swim cap. I was only pissed that he had beaten me out of the water for a split second because I quickly realized I had just swam the half mile in 13 minutes. 

THE BIKE: {15.5 miles}

I chased Mark out of transition and was about 5 seconds behind him. IMMEDIATELY exiting transition you have to climb a pretty decent hill. I remembered to set my bike gears before the race so I wouldn't crawl up the hill with 0 momentum coming out of the water. As I chugged up the first hill I noticed Ian and Lindsey out of the corner of my eye. My posse made it! I made it to the top of the hill and Mark had already gained enough speed that there was no way I'd catch him. I was hoping to maybe sneak up next to him within the first mile and then let him go. But, I'd have to wait until I found him on the run. 

We weaved our way out of the lake area and crossed Randall Road. Less than a quarter mile up the road stood Mom and Dad at the end of our street! Like I said, we practically live on the course. Just after I passed them, I noticed a guy behind me about to make a pass. This guy was.... 1. Older. 2. Riding a 1980's Trek road bike that looked to be made of steel that he put aero bars on. 3. Wearing hiking shoes. 4. Wearing a helmet that resembled an over sized packing peanut, pretty much just white foam. 5. Was FLYING. I could not believe it. I was holding a steady 20mph on a gradual incline and this guy passed me like I wasn't moving. Me and this guy were not over. 

I made my way through the next couple miles and continued the cat and mouse game with this fellow. Soon I started to see the cyclists on the way back to transition. First, Bill Gagne, cyclist for the 3 musketeer relay team. Then, Stephen Lynch shortly behind Bill. And then, my starting buddy, Todd. He had made some solid ground, clearly leaving me in the dust. The hills kept coming and so did the competition! I saw Mark was ahead of me by maybe only a minute or 2 at most. Meanwhile, my old-man-Trek buddy wasn't letting me relax. It wasn't until mile 12 that I made my final pass and didn't see him the rest of the day. 

You can almost see our house in the picture..

...but not this one.

Just before transition I saw my family again and this time with Jess, her dad, and dog Onyx! The whole crew made it out! I was a little worried my bike legs wouldn't be alive due to back to back race weekends plus a long ride the day prior. But I surprised myself and ended up finishing the bike in 45 minutes with a 20.3mph average. Now I just needed them to get me through 4 miles on foot!

The Run: {4 miles}

Transition 2 took less than 60 seconds and I was on my way. I saw Brittany's mom and dad as I turned into the neighborhoods. And then I took a look at what was ahead. There were only a few athletes ahead of me but it didn't take long for me to make my way past them. Within the first mile of the run I heard simultaneous foot steps behind me. In unison. I was about to get passed by 2 GIRLS, age 13 and 17. But they looked far younger. I was convinced I had just been passed by 2 pre-teens and considered asking them if they were old enough to be left home alone. As they passed me they yelled, "Go Sammy's!" It took me a second, but I realized I was wearing the Sammy's kit I had received when I raced Leon's. How do these little girls know me? They really didn't, but they were so sweet that they acted like they did. They were holding a pretty solid pace and I tried to match them, but their long legs (they obviously hit a growth spurt that I never did) were always a few strides ahead of me. Thankfully I was able to keep them in my site until the end. 

It didn't take long for the turn around athletes to make their way to me. First, Lance Lane, the runner leg of the 3 musketeer relay team. Then, Stephen Lynch, movin' at a brisk pace. Immediately behind him, Todd. Todd cheered me on but there was no way I could respond. All oxygen was being used at the moment. I made my way up the big hill to the turn around and I see Laura Crane (Jon Crane's wife) on the corner cheering, camera in hand. My lungs were on fire and I still had a half mile climb up the big hill before it was smooth sailing. As I'm 3/4 the way up the hill I spotted Jon Crane and Mark immediately behind him. "Mark, here comes the assassin!" Jon yelled. I was able to muster a smirk but that was about it. 

I made the turn around, relaxed on the downhill, and finally let loose. I could see Mark. I could also see Russ making his way up the hill. And shortly behind him, Shane and Julio. Finally, I made my way back to Laura and she yelled, "Mark is literally 100 feet in front of you!" Yea, I see him. I dunno what my legs have left though. At that point I had less than a mile to go and the gap was closing between Mark and I, but not enough. My only saving grace was that he had no idea I was behind him and that he might relax a little. Unfortunately he was looking pretty strong and my mini surges weren't doing the trick. Maybe 200 yards before the finish line he turns his head to check behind him and spots me. "Oh shit!" he yells. Damn it, I'm done. His daddy long legs took off and left me in the dust. I did the best I could but he was long gone. The trail opened up and spectators emerged. I heard my name from all over the field - Ian, Lindsey, Jess, Todd and his wife Lindsay. 4 miles complete in 30 minutes flat. I crossed the line exactly 16 seconds behind Mark with a total finish time of 1:32:39. A 9 minute course PR from last year. 

Mark takes the cake this weekend in 1:32:23

Everything burns. I prefer longer races.

Post race was spent mingling and laughing with the group. Now a days it's hard for us to get together. Families, varying schedules, and lives take precedence. That's why I love this race. No matter what, it brings us together. 

The 'bus!' (Todd snagged a 3rd place age group finish!)

RyBread Racing athletes had a SOLID showing!

Mark walked away with a 3rd place age group finish, and I finished 1st in my age group (8th overall). We walked home with our hardware and dreamed of a shower and some shut eye. But of course, we had more miles to log. We laced up our running shoes and took off. 

I'll let him think he's cool for now.

The 3 Musketeers Relay Team wins!

Stephen snags 2nd in his age group! (what's he looking at?)

Mark's first triathlon podium finish!

It's been a pretty crazy 3 weeks. My body was able to heal only 3 weeks after Ironman Texas and then carry me across 3 separate race finish lines, back to back to back, setting a PR in each of them. So for now, you won't be hearing from me for a while. I'm going to log some serious miles. Spend some more time with my better half now that I'm not racing every weekend. Go visit some family and watch one of my favorite cousins get married on top of a gorgeous mountain in Colorado. But don't worry, Lake Placid is right around the corner. I'll be ready ;)

    

Grand Rapids Half Iron: Sibling Rivalry

My brother has had a pretty rough go with his training for IMLP (Ironman Lake Placid) coming up in just over a month. He works 11-12 hours a day, 5 days a week, and most Saturday's for about 4+ hours. He's always exhausted when he gets home and can easily be talked out of any workout he has to do. But with less than 6 months until race day, he does it anyways. I knew he was going to want a couple races under his belt before IMLP, specifically a half Ironman. It's a good way to measure where your training is at and how much work you have to do before the big day. Since IMLP is in mid July, the number of half Ironman races beforehand are limited. But the Grand Rapids Half Ironman was on June 12th, exactly 6 weeks out from IMLP. Winner. 

"You mean my first triathlon of the year is gonna be a half Ironman?" - Mark

"Yea, so what. You want your first triathlon of the year to be Lake Placid? Mine was Texas" - Megan

SILENCE

Mark and I were invited to stay with Jacqui and Ryan's teammate, Alex, at his families lake house the night before the race. Unfortunately my lucky charm, Rob, couldn't make this trip. We arrived late afternoon and had just enough time to unload the car before it was time to hop on the boat for a small cruise around the lake. We dumped Ryan, Alex, and his wife Dani in the water so they could get in some strokes while Mark, Jacqui, and I cruised with the rest of Alex's family. After our little outing, we headed back to make dinner while the boys played with the bikes in the basement and got everything prepped for race day. There were some science experiments going on in that basement and they were way over my head. So I hung out with the ladies in the kitchen.

Beautiful Sunset on the lake

It was a pretty short night. We were up later than we should have been and our alarms were set for an awful time. My alarm started with 2. And don't forget, we were in Michigan, Eastern time. So in reality, our bodies were waking up at 1:45am on Sunday morning. Woof. It was about an hour drive from Alex's lake house to the race site and our goal was to be on the road at 4am. The cars were packed with bikes, athletes, and spectators by 4:01am and we were officially on the road. Once we got there, Alex's wife, mother, and aunt dropped us off at transition and then grabbed our keys to go park the cars. (These people were absolutely amazing. I mean, I had JUST met them and they housed me, fed me, and were now valeting my car.) 

Once inside transition we immediately began to unpack our bags and set everything up. It didn't take long for Mark to freak out. 

"Sister - I forgot all my bike nutrition in the car!"

Just to put this into perspective for you all, bike nutrition might be most important in a race like this. Coming out of the water your body needs calories ASAP. And continuing the calorie intake throughout the bike is critical to making it to the run in any sort of good condition. And Mark had left that bottle in the car. The car that Alex's family was parking for us in an undisclosed location. I'd freak out too if I were him. Thankfully his family was still with the car and was able to obtain the bottle in enough time and get it to Mark. I had already decided that if the bottle didn't make it in time to transition closing I was going to give him my nutrition bottle (even though it probably wouldn't be enough calorie-wise, but better than nothing) and I'd take real food on the bike and make it work. Thank God plan B was unnecessary.

Please note the green shirt hanging from the tree - Alex engineered this idea to help us find our bike racks ASAP out of the water

Pre-Race Jitters!

Ready to race!

We made our way to the water and said goodbye to Mark, Ryan, and Alex since they started 10 minutes before the women. Jacqui and I hung out with one of her other teammates, Lauren, and waited our turn to enter the water. Those 10 minutes between the men's start and the women's start had my stomach in knots. I love to race. Absolutely love the thrill, the adrenaline, all that comes with it. But when I know my brother is out on the course too, my nerves skyrocket. I want nothing more than for him to do well, but my slightly overly OCD mind has me thinking all the not so good stuff. You see, I've seen some pretty gnarly accidents in the triathlon world. And when Mark and I share the course together and I pass an ambulance on the side of the road as they take away an athlete, my heart literally drops to my stomach. "Omg, is that Mark? No it's not. Good. What if that happened to him somewhere else on the course? Megan calm down, he's fine. BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE!" Call me overprotective, his second mother, whatever you want. But I can't help it. He's the only brother I have. So when I had 10 minutes to wait for my start after the boys took off, I knew exactly why my body was so anxious. 

SWIM:{1.2miles}

I'm all about an uneventful swim. And that's exactly what this was. Super smooth water. Kinda like swimming on glass. Not an overly crowded wave start. The entire swim seemed to go by so quick for me. I made it to the turn around and then it hit me. I was blinded by the light. The sun was out for blood today. So I did the best I could to swim close to the buoys and not follow the blinded swimmers. I got to the swim exit and glanced at my watch - 38 minutes. Not where I wanted to be in the swim, but it was still under 40 so I'm good with it. I look up as I'm running out of the water and the first person I see in front of me: Jacqui. We made our way to transition and it wasn't until we were in transition and I could tell she was looking for our bike rack that I said something. "Keep going Jac, a few more rows!" 

"Oh hiiiiii!" - Jacqui as she tries to run to her bike with her head on a swivel.

We made it to our bikes and almost simultaneously pulled down out wetsuits to our ankles and grabbed our bikes. I noted that Mark's bike was gone, meaning he had hit the road already. I knew he was (slightly) worried that I'd pass him up on the swim, but I was confident with a 10 minute lead that he'd be long gone by the time I exited the water. I watched Jacqui take off about 10 seconds before me and it was time for some fun. 

BIKE:{56 miles}

This bike course is mostly flat. There is a small 5 mile stretch where the hills roll a little, but other than that, it's smooth sailing. It's also 28 miles out and 28 miles back on the same road. So essentially, you are doing the same 28 miles twice. The Half Iron athletes also share the beginning of the bike course with the Sprint and Olympic athletes, meaning their turn arounds happens in the middle of our course. Dangerous? Perhaps. 

I took off and found my sweet spot and immediately noticed the scenery. Whoever said farmlands and countryside isn't beautiful doesn't know what they're talking about. I absolutely enjoyed the entire course. I took in some calories and sunk into aero right away and was ready to cruise. Just before the Sprint distance turn around, I see 2 athletes in front of me. One was slowing down, clearly about to turn, while the other is heading straight. I can tell this from about probably 15 yards behind them. But somehow, the guy going straight paid 0 attention to the lady making a left hand turn and completely crashed right into her back wheel and they both bit the pavement. HARD. There were 2 police officers on the side of the road that immediately started to run towards them and I had to yell and put my hand up so they wouldn't cross the street. Otherwise, I would have taken them down too and we'd all be screwed. "So we're 6 miles into the bike and already I'm watching accidents and preventing them at the same time. I'm sure this is a good omen." 

After that, I constantly had my head on a swivel. There was a group of athletes that insisted on passing me and then IMMEDIATELY cutting me off every time. Of course I re-passed them every time. The 3rd time this happened was the last. I made sure to dig a little deeper and pull far enough ahead that I was out of their reach. 

Right about mile 22 I saw the lead cyclist pass me. (My mile 22, his mile 34). Guess what, it wasn't Ryan. Neither was the 2nd cyclist. Or the 3rd. I took notice of the time on my watch when the first cyclist passed me and when I saw Ryan approaching me in 4th place, I saw that he was behind about 2.5 minutes. Piece 'o cake. This ain't his first rodeo. Alex was immediately behind Ryan in 5th place. I had 0 worries for these guys. 

Only a few miles before I hit the mile 28 turn around I saw Jacqui pass me, looking pretty strong. I had been saying my prayers for her daily in hopes that her body would hold up for the run. Only time would tell. And RIGHT behind her was MARK! He saw me and gave me a little "HEY-O!" I didn't think I was at all nervous until I saw him. Because once I saw him, I felt a like a weight had been lifted. He's kickin' ass and takin' names. Now it's your turn. 

I made the turn around and hit some nice little head winds. I stayed low and let my legs take control. I was making more passes than I'm used to and by the time I hit the last 5 miles, I was pretty much riding alone. 2 hours and 52 minutes later (19.5mph avg), it was time to run!

Run:{13.1 miles}

I took off and one thing was for sure, my legs were definitely warmed up and ready to run. My first mile was way to fast and I knew it, clocking in at 7:45. Let your legs have fun for a mile and then it's time to settle in. Psych. Mile 2: 7:57. Mile 3: 7:49. So ummmm maybe this is gonna be a REALLY good day?

I was well on track to PR for the day, but until I hit the road on the run I never like to get my hopes up. You just never know how your legs will respond coming off the bike. But today it looked like I was well on my way. Just as I was approaching mile 1 I saw a motorcycle crawling on the other side of the road. Who is he ushering to the finish line!? The gap closed between myself and the motorcycle as I saw Ryan just behind. And he looked like he was hurting. But he had less than a mile to go and that W was his. Just another day at the office for that kid. Shortly after that the course turns left and you run through a long cul-de-sac. As I was about to make my way back onto the main road, I see Alex cruisin' along to the finish line. Yep, boys. Makin' me look all slow over here. 

I started to really find my groove after I saw Alex when all of a sudden I hear someone yell, "Go Megan!" Jacqui. On the other side of the street. Walking. On the sidewalk. 

"What are you doing??" - Me as I extend my arm and point at her walking.

"Oh, it's ok. I'm done."  

It was like deja vu. We had been in this exact position only 1 short month prior in Texas and it still hurt my heart knowing that this girl wasn't able to compete the way I know she can. I sent my love via a blown kiss and told her that I was almost positive Ryan had just snagged another win. 

I kept chugging along and it wasn't long before I saw Mark heading my way as he was rounding up his first loop. {His mile 4.25, my mile 2.75} He was moving faster than I've seen him ever move on the run. And he looked damn good too. Damn, you're gonna have to do some work if you want to catch him. Now you have to remember, he had a 10 minute head start on me. But passing him KNOWING he had a lead was just what this sibling rivalry ordered. 

I did my best to pick up the pace. It wasn't easy because just after I saw Mark, the hills started to come into play. And I had to pee. Like, really bad. Go ahead and stop in the porta potty if you want, but you're gonna lose time and he might pull ahead of you. I'll wait. Time to test out what my bladder muscles are really made of. As I was nearing the end of my first loop {mile 6.25} I saw Mark heading out for his 2nd loop {mile 7}. He still had a fresher look than I cared for, but that just meant he was getting stronger. Good for him. I had closed the gap a little, but still had some work to do if I was going to cross the finish line before him! And he wasn't going to make it easy on me. 

Every step I took I could feel my bladder SCREAMING. Just before mile 10 you hit an aid station followed by the turn around. Mark was leaving the aid station as I was approaching it. He didn't look so happy this time. The fatigue was starting to hit. Less than a quarter mile. I made the pass just after the aid station on one of the nasty hills and gave him a little love tap on the butt as I plowed past him. 

The last 3 miles I got my 2nd wind. I made sure to put some space between Mark and myself. I managed a 1:46:59 run split (8:10 avg) with an overall finish time of 5:23 - a 25 minute PR. I rushed back to the finish shoot to wait for Mark. I had no idea if he was right behind me or not. 7 minutes later, Mark crossed the finish line - with a total finish time of 5:40 - a 30 minute PR. I rushed to find Mark past the finish line and Ryan had already beaten me to him. My heart was so full. I couldn't be happier for Mark. He deserved every minute of that PR. He immediately ripped off his watch and asked me to go through his splits. It was obvious - he was pretty damn happy too. 

We met up with the rest of the group, grabbed our gear and headed out to the most anticipated part of the day - BREAKFAST! 

Mark's cinnamon roll fed the whole table

For every 10 minutes you PR, you are allowed a meal

He made me pay for breakfast. Ugh.

Being the "big" sister that I am, I paid the bill and we hit the road. Of course, I ushered him around all weekend (he didn't touch the steering wheel once). And in return, he made sure to keep me company on the ride home. 

....

It's ok though. I anticipated such an exciting ride home. Plus, now I get to make him drive home from Lake Placid ;)