IRONMAN WISCONSIN is here!!!

Wow, it is finally here. This has been a journey like no other, one that I couldn't have imagined completing, let alone loving, in a million years. Exactly one year ago, I came to Madison to cheer on my good friend, Joe Lotus, at Ironman Wisconsin. I had 3 olympic distance triathlons and a season of training, but not competing in, a Half Ironman as my entire triathlon repetoire. These races over the course of only 1 year were a far cry from considering doing an IRONMAN. I drove 3 hours to Madison last year on 2 hours of sleep after the U2 concert in Chicago and ended up spending the entire day wrapped up in all that was Ironman. I had planned on staying for a few hours, but I didn't leave until after he crossed the finish line.

There was something that drew me in, something that was bigger than I was capable of ever imagining. I had only one year of experience in this sport but this one day changed my perspective forever. As the day went on, fellow spectators would ask, "Have you ever done one?" or friends would ask me, "Are you going to sign up next year?" NO! was my first response. By the end of the day, when I was driving home over 12 hours later, it's all I could think about.

"WOULD I ever consider signing up?"
"How would I even fit this in!"
"Maybe I would love it."


"I know I need to do this. Now is the time."

The next day, I went to work having decided this was it. Everyone considering signing up knew that the only way to possibly get a spot for Madison is to start by volunteering. Only a few hundred spots would be left for those who were lucky enough to get through on the website at exactly 12 noon the day after race day. I had 4 computers going at work and 3 friends ready to help pull the trigger. After feverishly typing through various screens of USAT numbers, credit card numbers, addresses, medical form waivers, INSURANCE CARD INFO (! WHAT! They need my insurance card information even?! This is serious!)...

"CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE REGISTERED FOR THE 2010 FORD IRONMAN WISCONSIN."

By 12:01, the race was already closed.

I was IN.

Here I am, 12 months later, ready to conquer this course. I have been transformed as an athlete, 180 degrees from where I was a year ago. My coach extraordinaire, Elizabeth Waterstraat, is where it all started. She coached a Pre-Season group that I was in starting November 1st and after the first week, I knew I was in the best hands possible. I never looked back.

Liz prepared me better than I could have ever imagined. I knew that if I just trusted her and followed the plan day in and day out, I would do this. Somehow, along the way, I was running a 5K in 22 minutes at a 7:11 pace and a half marathon in 1:51. Somewhere else along the way, my long rides became weekends in Madison, 8 to be exact, training for 5-6-7-8 hours a day on the bike. Somewhere along the way, I realized after the fact, that the "marathon training" part of this would be taking place as an afterthought...on almost always what turned out to be Wednesday nights as opposed to the traditional saturday or sunday marathon training long run day. Our long runs were intentionally placed on the day after our 3-hour intense bike computrainer workouts in the middle of the week, on a work night. We needed to simulate fatigue on the run after riding like it would happen in Ironman. We weren't running 8 or 10 miles on these Wednesday nights, but 16, 17, 18 miles. We would have 4 more days of each training week after that before a rest day.

All year long, week after week, hill after hill after hill, I never looked back or questioned why I was doing this. I realized that I love doing this, especially in a world where so many cannot.

Tomorrow will be the biggest day of my life so far. I will be scared, nervous, excited, emotional, strong, and weak. I will manage it all like a skilled athlete who trusts the plan and doesn't waiver. I have prepared to succeed, and I will race as I've trained. Strong and steady, controlled.

I will think about my family, and especially my mom. She has been with me the whole way and these last 2 days have not been easy with me :) I will think of my family and my friends here with me from hundreds of miles away and I will also feel the push from friends and family across the country who are wearing the same tshirts my family is wearing in Madison. I will think about how lucky I am to be here. I work in a world where people cannot feed themselves or think for themselves. I will think of my patient, Mike, who told me on Wednesday in his soft african accent, "Lori, I will be thinking of you. You will feel me push you to the finish line." He is 52 years old, a father of 3 with his fourth on the way who is married for 30 years to love of his life. He had a severe stroke that left him with severe paralysis and much difficulty with the most basic problem solving and attention. I will hear his voice on G, and 92, when the wind is pushing me sideways around 2 pm and I get weak on another hill. His words will give me strength.

I will think of my young 19 year-old patient, Jessica, who has fought her own race this year. During a time when life seemed impossible for her, she managed to support ME in my racing and it will be her sassy smile that I think of when I want to walk instead of run.

I will think about how this is only the beginning and I will thank God for showing me a way to make the most of my body and mind for decades to come.

My time is estimated to come in, hopefully, under 14:30. I will be very proud of that accomplishment. Anything less will be icing on the cake.

For the final Facebook status update,

"MADTOWN."