After all, it would be my first road race in 18.5 MONTHS.
While I had attempted 5 Ironman races over this time (Kona 2015, Texas 2016 DNF, Lake Placid 2016, Kona 2016, Cozumel 2016), I had yet to simply lace up my shoes without doing a 2.4mile swim and 112 (or 95) mile bike beforehand.
I mean…total rookie questions, but I legitimately felt like I was running my first road race ever all over again.
The night before, we naturally went to Dukes in Crystal Lake for a bison burger. Except their online menu lied. So I had a grass fed burger instead. NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.
I made Megan come to the porta potty line with me since she knew about my nightmare… and we made it to the start line before 8:30am. Every year I’ve run this race, I have been lucky enough to be right around the same pace as Jonathan Cain. I told him I wasn’t fully back in run shape yet, but that my goal was to stick to him as long as I could.
It was at this point where I lost Jonathan and the big pack he was with. I was super bummed, but also remembered how lucky I was to simply be running 13.1 miles since I could barely run 3.1 miles at this time last year.
- Becky, you definitely got the biggest smile out of me every time I heard you cheering and made me forget that my legs were on fire for a minute. (and thanks for the pics!)
- Lauren and Megan for keeping the mood light and for the pics before/during/after the race.
- Hillstriders, thanks for always supporting me and making me feel like a celebrity running this race.
- RyBread Racing friends, thanks for keeping me relaxed and happy before, during and after this race.
- And Ryan, thanks for keeping my body healthy. I wouldn’t have made it to the start line of this race without you.
HUGE thanks to everyone who has supported me and kept me motivated to return to road racing. With less than one month until Ironman Texas, I am the most excited and confident I have ever been to toe the line of an Ironman….reasons to come in a later blog!