Ironman Lake Placid, July 28, 2019 -- my goal: To finish the race with a smile on my face!!
Well I did that but there were so many emotions in between. I don't want to get ahead of myself so I will start from the beginning. Prior to race day I was so emotional. I was nervous and stressed all at the same time. At some moments I couldn't even think straight. For example on Thursday I picked up my friend Mary Lou and headed up to Lake Placid. I cut through Watertown like I normally would and the next thing I knew we are pulling into Fort Drum!! I have no idea how that happened. Of course Mary Lou and I were laughing but the Military Police were not as amused. Once they straightened us out we were on our way!!
We made it to Lake Placid on Thursday evening and the next few days were spent getting my race packet, attending the athlete's meeting, completing a few workouts, packing my transition bags, racking my bike, and just being a bit nervous. When I picked up my packet I tried to control the tears as the volunteer explained to me everything that was in the packet. I was also able to celebrate the fact that I was part of the class of 2019 and Ironman reassured me that I would be an Ironman! BTW, they weigh you in at packet pickup...I totally disagree with their scale...ha ha!!
On Friday I had dinner with my friend Meghan, her family, and friends new and old. It was nice to get together with them before things got too crazy. We were able to share stories and encouragement prior to race day.
On Saturday it was time to rack my bike, hang my transition bags and meet Mike Reilly. I was so excited to meet him, have him autograph his book, and tell him how much I enjoyed his stories. By the time I got up to meet him I was a bit star struck, and when he pointed out that I was a first timer...my response was, "Yup, I am a Virgin"!! Classic move by me!! Either way it was an honor to meet him!! Sometimes in the midst of all this, you just need to laugh!!
Following this I racked my bike and and hung my transition bags. I was quite pleased where my number landed in the transition bag area...I was right at the end of my row so it wouldn't be difficult to find during transition. I saw this as a good sign that things will go smoothly. My race number was 1121 and my bike was racked in the 11th row. When I was racking my bike, a race official, USA Triathlon official, was in my row checking bikes. I was standing in the row looking around to see where bike out was etc. She actually helped me to notice signs and things to look for the next morning. Thank you ma'am, much appreciated.
 |
| There she is!! |
Now that all that is done it is time to head back to the house and put my feet up. I need to do my nails (yes, it relaxes me), pack my special needs bags, and try not to stress.
Prior to dinner my sister and I went to church at St. Brendan's in Keene. We were staying in Keene and the church was about 3/4 of a mile from our house. It was the cutest little church and it was busy that night. When the mass started the priest asked anyone who was doing the Ironman to stand and be recognized. There were 5 of us in the church. Then he asked the volunteers to stand up too and there was a large number there. At the end of the mass the priest asked all the athletes and volunteers to come forward for a special blessing. It was really nice and added a bit of peace to someone filled with nerves. Now we were ready for dinner and sleep.
I thought I wouldn't sleep much on Saturday night but thankfully I had over 8 hours of sleep both Thursday and Friday night. But surprisingly I slept pretty well and when my alarm went off at 3 AM I jumped out of bed. I dressed, ate breakfast, made a cup of tea and the whole house was ready to go at 4 AM...we were off!!!
We made to the village, my friend Mary Lou, my sister Ann, and my friend Jessica went and parked the car. My friend Cheryl and I headed to transition to put my bottles on my bike and add things to my transition bags. I also had to drop my special needs bags and get to body marking. I had put TriTats on but I needed some special artwork added to my legs by my dear friend Shawn. He did a great job and after that I was ready to jump in the port-a-potty line. The first of two stops!! Too much info? I am holding back.
Now it is time for words of encouragement from your coach, family, and friends. I purchased these shirts for everyone to wear on race day. "I race for pancakes" is so true!! I get excited when it is pancake day the day before of a race. My go to carbo loading meal. My coach truly believes I sign up for races just so I can have pancakes.
 |
| So lucky to have these people on my side!! |
 |
| Yeah I am ready to swim!! |
 |
| Sporting the shirts |
 |
| Yeah Coach I think I am ready!! |
Well I started the swim with a smile on my face. I was lucky to see two friends before I headed into the water that working the swim start, Mary Lou and Lynn. It put me at ease to see these two wonderful women, get that last hug before I hit the water. During this race I
remembered to start my watch but at some point throughout the swim I got kicked and during the second loop I noticed it said I was in T1…so I just shut it down. I never knew my time until after I was done with the entire race (1:17). During the swim every time I sited and turned my head to breathe green caps (men) surrounded me. I never felt like I was pushing or kicked too hard plus I was doing it right back. I just swam along within the crowd of swimmers surrounding me. I did not fight for the cable but I will admit I ended up on the cable and that was awesome. At one point when I was, sighting I noticed no one was on the cable so I jumped on and then no one bothered me. After all of that I was out of the water…still with a smile on my face. When I was running to transition, I thought to myself, I am doing the Ironman!
That 1/4 mile run from swim to transition goes pretty quickly when you are greeted with cheers from your friends and family. I felt great coming out of the water...and I was still smiling.
Transition One went smoothly…the volunteers in the tent are AWESOME! My friend Lauren's mom (Gail) was volunteering so she helped me. And I was off!!
The first loop of the bike (56 miles) went really well. In fact, it was flawless, for me, in my book! I felt great and all went well. I climbed the hills, passed some people, went in and out of aid stations without any problems. When I got to the top of the Bears I had a huge smile on my face that my friend Nikki captured. I was back at the special needs bag location in 4 hours! I had a huge smile on my face at that time!
The first half of the second loop went well too. Throughout the bike, I often reminded myself, you are doing an Ironman! Nutrition seemed to be working for me and I was happy with how things were going.
The last 25 miles is when the struggle got real and looking back on my times and average speed it was the truth. I started to get into my head. At that time my friend Meghan caught up to me, she shared with me that she was struggling too but I don't know if she realized how excited I was when she came up from behind me. It put me at ease a bit and I knew I couldn't quit just yet.
I knew I was getting close to the climb out of Wilmington…and the wind was picking up. At this point of the ride, we saw sun, heat, rain and now the wind was going crazy!! As I was approaching the bears, I started to get leg cramps. The first one happened in my right leg (hamstring) and I stopped to stretch that one out. The second one happened in my left leg not in the quad or the hamstring but the inside of my leg. It was weird. By the time I got to transition, I was a bit of a mess…but trying to stay positive. I made it before the cutoff, which was my goal, but I was hoping for a bit more of a cushion of time.
Transition 2 was not too bad. Once again the volunteers were awesome and Gail was waiting for me!! I had a bit of a struggle trying to stay focused in order to figure out what I needed to take off and put on. For example, 6 miles into the run, I realized I still had my bike gloves on! Yeah, I am a rookie!!
Just to let you know...now the shit is getting real and this is where I had to dig down deep in order to pull it off. I am so grateful for my friends and family who would not let me give up!!
As soon as I started the run something happened that I have never experienced on a run before, I felt dizzy and wicked light headed. This went on throughout the race, it would come and go in waves. At mile 4.6 mile friend Meghan was heading back from the 6 mile turnaround. It was so good to see her once again. We stopped for a moment to give each other words of encouragement and send each other on our way. At the same time my friend Matt Gow showed up. He was on his second loop and about to finish his 5th Ironman. But he took some time to encourage me. He told me to start drinking coke and take in some chips at the aid stations. He also reassured me I would be ok and I had plenty of time. Matt those little words of encouragement went a long way. I did what Matt had suggested and for a few miles I felt better but as I stated earlier the dizzy feelings would come and go.
When I got back into the village I was struggling. I told my friend Cheryl that two things could happen, they could pull me from the course or I would cross the finish line and hear Mike Reilly call my name. No matter what I was going to still keep moving forward!! At this point, I was off my game plan and I was just trying to survive. At this point my feet hurt so much. And not just the bottoms but the also along the top too but I couldn't focus too much on that.
After I passed my friend Cheryl, my friends Shawn and Mary were waiting for me. They started running with me and I thought they were just going down the hill with me but no they ran the next 13 miles with me!! They stayed with me out on River Road and when the sun set it got pretty dark out there. Once again I saw my friend Meghan and her husband Geoffrey was with her at this point. We hugged and kept moving. Geoffrey looked at me and said one foot in front of the other!!
Shawn and Mary were still by my side. They continued to encourage me every step of the way. Even at the darkest moment out on that road they wouldn't let me think the worst. At one point I quietly said I didn't think I could do this. Shawn's response was, I didn't hear that, lets run a bit more!
At the last waterstop on River Road my coach appeared out of the shadows to join us. The tough love was about to begin. At about mile 22 four more of my friends joined us too. Elyssa, Beth, Little Jackie, and Laurie Ann with their flip flops on decided to join in on the run. At this point Kristen turned to me, as we approaching the hill after you turned off of River Road, and said, "You have four miles and less than an hour...MOVE!!! She wasn't going to take any shit at this moment. For the next two miles these beautiful women and Shawn talked, told stories, and kept me moving. At this point we were approaching the hill at Lisa G's (the restaurant). Up to this point I always referred to it as the hill at Lisa G's . It is now affectionately known as "the Effin hill at Lisa G's". Pretty much everyone running with me, myself included, has always walked this hill...it is a tough one. Not tonight, I didn't have time and my coach reminded me of that one. After I was done my friend Elyssa said to me, I have never run that hill!! So glad I could change things for you Elyssa ;-)
After that hill ...there is one more before we get to the end of Mirror Lake Drive. At this point my friends Nikki, Dom and Eric joined in for the run. I had 2.2 miles to go. An official from Ironman looked at me and said I had 25 minutes to get to the turnaround and back to the finish. They had me tagged to finish the race before midnight but I had to do it in 25 minutes. Keep in mind I had been holding a 15 minute mile pace on this race and I had 2.2 miles to go...can you do the math?? So off we went with my entourage. At this point as my coach saw more and more people join the run, she said to me, Maura you are like Forest Gump people just keep jumping in.
As I headed down down Mirror Lake Road, I saw my sister and my friends Jessica and Cheryl one last time. I held a good pace during the next mile. My friends kept talking to me and encouraging me. My friend Dom let me know that when I cross the finish line he would be crying. And over my shoulder this entire time was the Ironman Official on his bike, letting me know I was still on track to finish. I have to admit having him behind me was calming but also added some anxiety. And at this point I am thinking .... WHERE THE HELL IS THAT TURN AROUND???
Finally we hit the turnaround and one more person joined my entourage. He was a volunteer I had met Friday on the beach. His daughter, Grace, had done the race and he ran with me until the oval and like my friends giving constant words of encouragement. This sport is amazing, strangers very easily become friends.
After the turnaround something inside me clicked and my pace increased. I had 1.2 miles to go and I told everyone, when I see the Lake Placid Pub I will be so excited. I never let up after the turnaround. I kept pushing harder and harder. I finally saw the Pub and then there is a slight downhill before you turn right and a quick left into the oval.
Lake Placid is magical...Miracles happen here and on this night this place did not disappoint. Can I tell you I don't know why anyone would want to finish early...there was a party happening. As I entered the Oval my friends continued to run along the outside of the Oval. Aria Brown was also there waiting for me screaming my name and running along side the fencing. As I turned the last curve of the oval...the red carpet...the crowd was screaming...the lights were bright...fireworks were going off...I huge smile on my face as I searched for Mike Reilly. I purposely slowed down in front of him as he yelled, "Maura Donovan...YOU ARE AN IRONMAN" and I crossed the finish line...the clock read 16:58:51!!! I did it!! I was the last athlete that Mike Reilly called an Ironman that night! Thank you Lake Placid for making my dreams come true.
I finished the race with a smile on my face and my friend Mary Lou was there to give me my medal!!
There were tears when I finished but funny thing was I wasn't the one that cried. As I entered the finish line area, I looked over at my friends and family and tears were falling down their faces. I was told I had just completed an epic Ironman. I finished the race about 30 minutes later than I wanted to do it but the official on the bike did not kick me off the course and Mike Riley called my name!
This finish would not have been possible without the love and support of so many. Thank you never seems like enough and I am truly grateful for the encouragement I received. My sister Ann for being there for me and always supporting my crazy dreams. Throughout the day my sister shared with me that my brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and cousins were checking in with her. When I was done I saw messages from them on Facebook. I truly am thankful for their support.
Jessica, your first Triathlon and I made sure you saw every minute of it!! Thank you for joining me!!! To my coach Kristen who knew exactly when I needed tough love but encouraged me and believed in me every step of the way!! Meghan, Geoffrey, and the Brown/Irvine families it meant so much to me to have you out there cheering so loud for me at so many points of this race. Meghan thank you for your encouragement and support throughout this entire process. So glad we shared this!!
Elyssa, Beth, Little Jackie, and Laurie Ann seeing you out on River Road brought a smile to my face. You kept the stories coming throughout those last few miles and you ran up those damn hills with me. Nikki, Dom, and Eric B, Ironmen in your own right, you made sure I was able to earn that title too!! Mary Lou and Cheryl two of the best Sherpas around!! I couldn't imagine this experience without you. Your friendship means so much to me. And to Shaw and Mary, I could never repay you for what you did for me out there. You stuck with me for 13 miles. You encouraged me, supported me and never let me quit!! I love you two so much!!!
So as I shared earlier my average pace on the run course was 15 minute miles but some how I pulled out an 11:26 pace for the last mile and the final .2 was a 9:45. The night before the race I shared a list of individual names and inspirational quotes I would use to get me through the 26.2 miles. I had someone listed for every mile. For example, mile 2 was for my mom and mile 13 was for my boss who is fighting stage four lung cancer. I dedicated mile 22 to my coach Kristen. At mile 22 was the point she told me, "I don't care if you hate me we have four miles and less than an hour to go...MOVE!! Perfect timing Coach. I dedicated the last mile of the course to Brendan Jackson, a person who touched so many lives and is missed immensely. Brendan coached me through my first marathon in 2005. Was he looking over me during this race? That mile was my fastest mile and I needed to kick it in at that time...Thanks Brendan!!
As soon as I finished my friend Dom asked if I was ready to sign up again tomorrow, we both laughed and he said ok I will give you until Tuesday. Well Dom, I am not a "one and doner", I enjoyed this journey way too much. However, knowing that this is a full time job, my next 140.6 will be 2021. I have a doctorate to earn!!
I can't say enough about the athletes and volunteers involved in this race. Every athlete I came across on this course were so encouraging. We cheered each other on and wanted the best for each other, especially when we realized we were not making it to Kona. Also, the volunteers are amazing!!!! This race could not happen without them. I can not say enough or thank them enough.
Well after all the tears I shed prior to the race I never cried the day of the race, not even on the finish line. However, on Friday, five days after the race I sat in my car and shed some tears, ugly cry, I think it finally hit me. I also cried as I recreated the day during this blog. Of course I am sitting in a coffee shop and I had to control myself a bit.
Looking back on this day...this journey...this dream come true. I am truly blessed. I am surrounded by love and support. I am the luckiest person in the world!!!
I AM AN IRONMAN!!!
