#69: My Unforgettable IMWACO 70.3 Journey

The IMWACO 70.3 will forever hold a special place in my heart. I truly believe that God had his hand on me throughout this incredible experience.

Race Day
The alarm jolted me awake at 4:30 a.m. I fueled up with coffee and breakfast before heading to the transition with my trusty sherpa, Steve.

Swim — 1.2 Miles, 1:07:40
After transition, Steve, Ron, and I began our 1-mile walk to the start. That morning, we were informed that the water temperature was over 80 degrees, and wetsuits were strongly discouraged. If we did wear one, we would have to enter the water last. I initially planned to wear my wetsuit and start in the back, but after chatting with friends, I decided to forgo it altogether. I wanted to start as soon as possible, especially since it was shaping up to be a hot day.
With a quick prayer for strength, I jumped in!

Almost immediately, my heart raced as I felt my body sink, leaving only my head above water. A rescue skidoo arrived with a floating mat, and I held on, struggling to calm my heart rate. They stayed for a moment before departing, and I tried again, only to feel paralyzed by fear. The skidoo arrived again; however, it took off before I could get my heart rate down leaving me in the water.  Just when I was about to give up, a young woman in a kayak appeared. She stayed with me, encouraging me to focus on my breathing.  She stayed with me until my heart rate came down.  I explained to her that I did not think I had enough time to finish because I was 20 minutes in and only at buoy two.  She encouraged me to do my best and not focus on time.  That is what I did.

Despite the chaos around me—being hit in the face and pushed under by other swimmers—I persevered. I finished the swim with just two minutes to spare!

T1 — 8:01
As I stumbled into transition, my friend Brandy was there, counting down the time to ensure I could make it out without a DNF. I slipped on my cleats and helmet, fueled by her support, and raced out just in time. Thanks, Brandy!

Bike — 58 Miles, 3:45:27
I started strong on the bike, but at mile 10, a pack of fast cyclists shouted at me to move to the right. The next thing I knew, my bike veered into a ditch. I woke up in the road with a kind triathlete praying over me. I don’t remember the fall or how I ended up there. The medics arrived quickly, but I felt sore and confused.

As I picked up my bike, I realized my front tire was blown, my left gear shifter was broken, and my hydration system was wrecked. After a 20-30 minute wait for a sag vehicle, a kind gentleman offered to help.  He asked if I would like to try and continue or sag back.  I told him I would like to try if we can get my bike in some kind of working order.  He had no experience with tubeless tires, but I had a tube and convinced him to assist me. We went by feel, unsure how much air to add but we guessed, and I was back on the road, albeit without a proper hydration system and a bike in disrepair. I knew there was a rest stop in 5 miles, so if all else failed I would sag in from there.

I knew I had 46 miles to go and just had to focus on finishing. Despite the pain and my broken bike, I made the cutoff! My friends cheered me on as I passed, and all I could say was, “NEVER AGAIN!”

T2 — 7:42
I took my time preparing for the 13.1-mile run, knowing I needed to pace myself. My plan was to jog slowly and walk if necessary.

Run — 13.1 Miles, 2:26:51
As I started my jog, a pounding headache and hip pain hit me, and sweat stung my wounds. I encountered Sheila and James, and my emotions welled up—I just wanted to cry. After a heartfelt chat, I pressed on.  I then spotted Steve, who told me he loved me and would support me if I decided to stop or press on. I told him I would listen to my body and go at my own pace.

During the run, I encouraged many first-timers, which helped distract me from my own pain. It was hot and I was hurting, but giving words of encouragement to others helped me in overcoming my own pain. 

Finish Time — 7:35:39
Crossing that finish line, I offered a prayer of thanksgiving. I felt without a doubt that God was watching over me, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.

The only way to prepare for challenging moments is to face them head-on. Throughout my life, I’ve learned to adapt, adjust, and overcome, and that’s exactly what I did on this day. That is what pushed me through the finishers line.

Final Thoughts
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported me along the way. Thank you to the race organizers and volunteers, and especially to Mary for inspiring me to show up. A huge shoutout to my amazing support crew: Stacy, Brandy, Allison, Sheila, James, and my love, Steve.
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Also, a big congratulations to my friends Mary, Ron, Charlie, and Patty for an unforgettable 70.3 finish!

What’s Next?
My bike and cleats are wrecked, but I’ve prevailed. As for future Ironman events, I’m not sure. For now, it’s time to heal and reflect on my incredible journey.