Katie's Korner

After a hiatus to recover and move across country [as if the Ironman wasn't enough] our newly crowned IronGirl Katie checks back in with a recap of her race. Kudos to Katie's father for all the images below.

Message to my dear friend Katie: We'll get you to love that bike yet, even if I have to sick my crazy California biking friends on you.

Two and a half months Post-IRONMAN COEUR D'ALENE
Well, I'm still alive. Wanted to write in and touch base on my Post-Ironman status. To be honest, I probably started back to working out too soon. No injuries though, thank goodness. My body was pretty sore 2 days after the race but not as bad as I imagined. I could still walk without too many gait deviations!

I could not even think about running for a good 2 weeks after. Just the thought made me sick to my stomach!

My overall experience? Awesome! Of course it is easy for me to say that now. It was hard as hell. I wish I would have done better time wise. But I am so glad I did it.

On that same line, I must say I could not have done it without the support of my parents (on the side line ringing the ole cowbell), my family, my wonderful fiance, and the best friends anyone could ask for.

The most common question is: Would you do it again? I have no freakin' clue. I want to say no, but part of me knows there is a darn good chance I will...with a friend...with my dad and brother??? Who knows? As for now, I think I will just plan my wedding! I do plan on running the Boston Marathon in April...and who knows what else.

Ironman Breakdown
Swim: Nuts! I cried...let's be honest...I cried. I was so freakin' scared! It was 50 degrees, the wind was blowing so hard that the flag in the distance was fully horizontal without ever going limp. The sand was freezing. I had tube socks on my arms, legs and a shirt wrapped around my head like a babushka! I looked like a goon but was finally warm. All I could think was, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKNIG YOU CRACK HEAD!

Nontheless, I lined up next to all the other crack heads to plunge into the coldest and choppiest LAKE I have ever seen! That is when the race official offered the option for those who weren't "strong swimmers" to skip the swim and just do a duathalon. Although I thought about it for a moment...I decided that I trained for an Ironman and I was going to do an Ironman (even if I died trying).

Turns out, the swim was my favorite part! Although the water was very chilling and choppy, I found my stroke and took my time. It was great.

Bike: I hate the bike. Have I ever mentioned that? Especially > 7hrs on the bike. And, oh yeah, thanks for the update that the course had been changed from the originally flat industrial course, to a hilly course. Yeah, thanks. I hate biking!

I had a headache about 5 miles into it. My chain locked up going up hill at about mile 55. My [pedal] clip broke at about mile 80. My headache was still there at mile 90. But on the brightside, the weather was PERFECT! It really was, and the scenery was beautiful!

Run: Ah the run, my favorite event...ON ANY OTHER DAY. I got off the bike, happy as a clam to be done with that....and then the run. Oh man! Again, the weather was gorgeous. I just went really slow. Walked more than I have ever walked in a marathon.


Bless their hearts, my parents were so encouraging the entire race. They had to sit around all day and wait for the 30 seconds when I went by. Bless their hearts. I don't know how people do it without fans.


Well, that's it. My overall time was 13:38 -ish. I wanted to finish under 14...so I guess that counts for something. Maybe someday I will return to the Ironman world. Until then, thanks for all your support and comments.

Signing off with the final update,
Katie, Ironwoman 2007