Okay...here goes my Ralph's California Half Ironman Race Report...

FRIDAY, APRIL 4
Headed down to Oceanside from LA at around 12:30pm...Mer and I had a nice leisurely morning (I slept late, which was a treat!)...woke up, had some breakfast, got my bag together for the race...then we went to meet some of the girls for "tea" for Trish's birthday...I had some decaf chocolate tea...mmm mmm. Anyway, we then stopped at Trader Joe's so I could get some lunch and water and hit the highway...

We arrived in Oceanside, a pretty little beach-y town in San Diego county, around 2:30 or so. We went through the expo, where I saw C___ and we got free samples of stuff. Then I checked in at the registration tent and got my race packet and then met up with A___ T____, who was lounging on the beach! It was pretty windy, but late enough in the afternoon that I didn't worry about it for Saturday's race. Anyway, I went back to the Expo to find something to wear during the race (nothing like waiting until the last minute) as well as some water bottles for my bike (somehow I managed to forget to bring any with me).

Then we went to A____'s hotel in Carlsbad. I went for a short 20 minute bike ride to make sure everything was in working order (the bike and my legs). It felt good to be out there, but it was a little windy for my taste! The three of us went to dinner at Vigalucci's - some little Italian bistro in Carslbad. It was actually really good food - I got some penne with scallops concoction that Mer dreamed up. It was the perfect combination of carbs and protein that I needed the night before my race!


Then, Mer and I headed back on the road to drive to Cote's place in San Diego where we would be spending the night...

I regarded it as a good sign when we arrived at Cote's building and one of her neighbors was BLASTING, "Beautiful Day" by U2. Okay, so it was a bad sign that the music was so loud, but that song holds such positive associations for me (Ironman training and race day), that I decided it was a good omen for the next day...

Cote's place was super comfy...I got all my stuff together and realized I left my race belt in LA...but I found one in Cote's office...luckily I didn't have to snoop around too much to find it! Anyway, I put all my numbers on everything - bike, helmet, race belt - made my Sustained Energy, sorted out my Endurolytes and peanut butter pretzels and hit the sack...one brief scuffle with Mer about which side of the bed we were going to be sleeping on was quickly resolved and we went to sleep.

I couldn't fall asleep right away...I was visualizing my race and then reading (yup, Truman...still reading that thing!)...I finally fell asleep around 10ish and woke up at 4am...I was actually pretty well-rested. I didn't feel especially nervous for this race and I bet that helped me sleep soundly! It's not that I was feeling especially confident...I think I was just feeling so out of sorts about the whole thing that nervous didn't even really occur to me!

SATURDAY, APRIL 5 (RACE DAY)
The alarm went off at 4am...I don't care what you are doing or what time you went to sleep the night before, waking up at 4am is never fun! So, I got up, brushed my teeth and started making my oatmeal...while the oatmeal was cooking, I put on my race outfit underneath sweats, made my peanut butter and jelly sandwich (okay, it was almond butter and apricot jam) for the bike, made one for Mer for lunch and we were soon on our way.

We arrived in Oceanside around 545am or so...we got a great parking spot right near some porta potties, where I made my first of several stops of the day! I must say, I was glad to get that over with...

Then I got my crap out of the car, took my bike down off the rack and rode to transition (about a mile or so away). Mer was going to meet me there soon...she wouldn't be able to get in (not without the magic bracelet!) but she knew my number (1744) so could find me from outside the fence...

I got to the transition area, and found my row...it was a great spot, just about in the middle of the transition area. It was the last row of bikes on the left hand side so it would be easy to find...And I got the spot at the end of the row (there were no designated spots...the row was for a certain range of numbers and the rest was up to us to figure out!)...so I had plenty of room and would not have to worry about people bumping my bike or messing up my stuff...

My wave - women 30-34 - wasn't going off until 7:33 am, so I had plenty of time before I had to get my wetsuit on. I went to find Amanda for some pre-race comraderie. She wasn't too far away (and right near the bathrooms!)...While wandering around, I also ran into Marc Lauzon and Sara Harris. I tried to find Ginger, Kurt and Crash, but didn't see them anywhere. On my way back to my spot, I hear, "There you are!" and it's Mer, IN THE TRANSITION AREA (of course)...she mouths to me, "your pill," and winks...so I know that the story she concocted for the poor volunteer who let her into the transition has something to do with a pill...Then, when I got closer, she said, "So, I put your pill in the pocket of your bike jersey." I wanted to laugh...she is too much sometimes! Anyway, we hugged and she wished me well and she went on her way...to the spectator area, I guess.

I was about ready to put on my wetsuit...it was 7am and the pros had already started (and nearly finished!) their swims...and the first wave of men was about to get going. I ran to the porta potty one last time before donning my wetsuit (even though I knew I would pee as soon as I got in the water!) and then pulled it on. I HATE the wetsuit I was using...I much prefer my sleeveless...it fits better and I swim better in it. Oh well, this water was too cold for a sleeveless...

Amanda and I headed to the swim start area...she was in the wave before me (despite being older...for some reason, 35 - 39 women went before us) but we had a lot of time before our turn. I finally saw Ginger and gave her a hug...she promised to say hi when I saw her out on the run course! She is always such a great spirit, I love that about her...she is so bad ass yet so gracious, too. I think it's rare in an athlete and I really do admire it about her! Then Amanda and I separated with "good luck" and she was on her way!

As I waited for my wave to get in the water, I had an opportunity to watch the earlier waves come out of the water...I saw Crash, which I was very happy about...I cheered for him and then headed down the ramp and into the water...my wave was about to start.

THE SWIM
As I was walking down the boat ramp to get into the water (it was a water start), I heard Mer screaming my name...."LULUBEEEEELLLLE"...She was right on the dock ready to cheer me on. "Mommy loves you," she said, so I guess she had reached my mom on the phone...what an awesome way to start!

I got in the water...Brrrr. It was colder than I wanted it to be. Not as cold as Aquatic Park, but colder than Paradise Cove...I wasn't thrilled about that but, oh well. I will say that this was the first time starting a swim that I wasn't terrified of getting kicked and beaten. I think that's because after Ironman, I feel pretty good about the mass swim start...Anyway, I got in the water, waved to my sister and then the horn went and I started swimming...It took a few minutes for me to get into a groove but I did...all the while thinking, "I can't believe I am doing this right now." It was kind of a surreal experience - doing a race on my own, with none of my training partners or good friends there...I didn't feel prepared...it was kind of weird...The beginning of the swim felt decent, though I was hating the wetsuit in a big way! Then, all of a sudden, I noticed that when I would lift my head to sight, I didn't see much of anything besides vast amounts of water...I couldn't see any bouys to mark the direction I was heading...all I could see was swelling water. Great...waves. That means it's windy. Not good. I swallowed a bunch of water and continued on my way, certain that this swim was not going to be my personal best! I was still hoping to be out of the water within 45 minutes but that hope went away when I turned around to head back in and had nothing but sun in my eyes...I couldn't see a thing so I had to trust the people around me for directional guidance!

Finally, I was nearing the end of the swim...I swam as far in as I could and right before I stood up, I predicted my time..."44 minutes" I thought...then I stood up and glanced at my watch: 43:56! I heard my sister screaming for me again and I looked up, smiled and waved...I didn't know that while I was out there swimming, she massaged the leg and feet of a man who got such a bad cramp when he started to swim that he was screaming in agony and had to drop out of the race!

So I ran (I use that term loosely) from the water to my transition area and saw Kate along the way, "YOU GO GIRL!" she yelled as I ambled past. Once a coach, always a coach!

I got to transition where I chatted for a minute with a spectator. I took my time getting my biking gear on because I didn't want to forget anything...plus, what was the rush anyway? I ended up having a 6 minute transition...not my fastest...but not my slowest, either!

THE BIKE
In a word...Oy.

I really can't say I enjoyed any part of the bike...okay, well, there was one point at which I was going 38mph but that didn't last long because it was in a 25mph zone and once I passed the speed clock (like the kind when you are driving) and it registered that I was going 38 by flashing red, I had to slow down before getting penalized! Other than that brief feeling of going downhill fast, I hated the bike ride. I don't mean to be negative but it SUCKED!

First of all it was windy as hell. Now, I don't think I am that much of a wimp but wind on a bike ride really gets me down. I find it so frustrating and defeating. It takes so much energy to push through...and it's a total mindfuck when you are on flat road but working as if you are climbing up Camino Alto!! So that was utter misery for me and I contemplated quitting, crying, or both. The only thing that kept my mind off the wind was the fact that I could NOT stop peeing on my bike!

I don't know what the problem was but at mile 15 or so, I decided I had to pee but since I was already going fairly slowly due to the wind, I would just let loose on my bike, clean off at the next water stop and that would be that. I've done it before...no big deal. Well, I peed. And once the seal was broken, that was it. I could not stop! It was actually pretty embarassing. Not to be gross but I had these streaks running down my legs from where the pee had dried...and by the time I got to a water stop, I need the water to drink, not wash, so it just stayed on me! This was especially embarassing as I passed through the water stops staffed by Marines from Camp Pendleton, where our bike ride was happening...I couldn't look them in the eye - I was too embarassed!

I did a lot of thinking on that ride...several times I dropped out of Wildflower, resolved to lose 10 pounds by Alcatraz, re-wrote a line of the song Mer was working on (Shock and Awe - sung to the tune of Chaka Kahn), thought about graduate school and sent lots of good vibes to Charlie, who was in the midst - or at least the start - of his very first Ironman down in Australia...

Towards the end of the ride I was passing some guy on his left when he muttered something about the wind..."This took me 45 minutes longer than it did last year because of that wind," he said. This actually made me feel better. Because the ride was going to take me about 30 minutes longer than I expected...I mean, it took me longer than Wildflower has ever taken me and Wildflower is a much more difficult bike ride (though this one is not as flat as everyone says it is!)...

My legs were hurting...I considered not running at all because my hips were feeling pretty worked...I didn't want to quit, though...I didn't drive all that way to drop out. And I could tell my heart rate stayed pretty steady all day and though my legs felt tired, I wasn't HURTING, so I decided to suck it up and start running and see how it felt...

So, I finally made my way through to the transition area...and though I wanted to stop peeing, I just couldn't. So when I got off my bike, my shorts were SOAKED! Luckily I had run shorts in my transition area in case I decided to do a deck change...So I did...just wrapped my towel around me and yanked off my tri shorts, pulled up my running shorts, threw on my shoes and my hat, grabbed my hammer gel and was off.

THE RUN
As I headed out of transition I continued to pee in my pants...not sure what the hell was going on but I resolved to stop at the first porta potty I saw and just take a minute to pee as much as possible so I could be done with it...As I started to run out I saw Mer...she said she would meet me out there on the course...she is such a good spectator! She supports me so well and has so much fun supporting all the other athletes, too. And I was surprised to see her hair in a cute little pony tail! It made me smile.

So I was running...and I was feeling pretty good. My legs weren't too tired, though my feet hurt a bit...And with my socks so wet from all that peeing, I knew I was in for some blisters later! Just before the first water stop I saw a porta potty. Someone had just gone in and I considered running on to the next one, but I didn't know where the next one would be and I just wanted to stop and pee in a toilet!!! So I waited and finally he came out and I went in and I peed...WHAT RELIEF! When I came out of the porta potty, I looked at my watch, which I had re-started at the start of the run...10:39...not bad...since I wasn't yet at the first mile, I could tell that my pace at that point was 10+ minute miles...pretty good for me at a half Ironman and I hoped I could keep that pace for the whole run.

I just kept on running and the course was beautiful. It was along the beach and it was so beautiful out. I had the wind at my back for the way out and it was nice not to have it in my face for the first time all day!! As I ran, I looked on the other side for familiar faces. I saw Ginger, Sara, Amanda and Christian...We all cheered for each other (I love that...once a team, always a team!)...I passed a guy with a prosthetic leg and told him, "Good job." People are amazing.

I was having an awesome run...I got to the first turnaround and headed back and was looking forward to seeing my sister. I finally saw her around mile 2.5 or so...she was ready to run with me..."Have you been running this pace the whole time?" she asked me. I told her I had...she started panting..."I don't think I can keep up with you," she said. Now, she isn't a runner...she is in great shape but NEVER runs...and so when we got to the bottom of a hill she said, "I am not running up that with you...I will wait here." I ran up the hill, got to the next turnaround point and headed back. And there she was again. She ran with me some more and then I kept going and she stayed put. I kept checking my watch...I was pretty much maintaining my slightly-over-ten-minute-miles pace. I slowed a tiny bit because I decided to walk through a couple of water stops so that I wouldn't spill the water all over myself or choke on the pretzels...

As I neared the end of the run, there was Mer again...waiting for me..."I have seen you finish so many of these things," she said..."I would rather run with you." So we ran together for a bit...Coach Kate was on the side of the road yelling to me, "Go Marcy! You're a sprinter now!!" "I am?" I said. "Yes you are!" she replied. So I picked up the pace...I was about a half mile away from the finish...I finished strong, worked my way through the crowd to the finish chute...I could hear Amanda Tucker yelling for me (her race long over!) and I was so happy to cross that finish line and be done with that thing! And I crossed, got my medal, and there was Mer (undoubtedly she talked her way in again)...I was so happy to see her...so happy to be done...

I found out that while I was out there she was, as usual, cheering for everybody and making friends left and right. As we made our way through the transition area to get my stuff together, all sorts of people were thanking her and telling her how great it was to have her out there..."You are a great rooter," someone said (we had to laugh at the word rooter!)...

I sat on a curb while she got all my stuff together (and wrapped my pee-shorts in my towel so they wouldn't touch anything else! what a good sister for even handling those things!)...And then we headed out. Into the expo to get the last of the free stuff before getting back into the car and going back to LA...

As we walked back to the car, we kept cheering in the runners who were still out there...people of all ages, including the 16 year old girl who was the youngest participant! We were hooting for this one woman who was so happy to see my sister..."How did your sister do?" she asked..."She is right here," Mer said. "She did awesome." And the girl congatulated me!! Can you imagine? With only a half mile left to go in her own race she was congratulating me...some people....

The car was close by (thank goodness she moved it so I only had to walk about a half mile to it)...We loaded it up and got on our way.

We called our mom. And that was that.