Toyota Challenge Half Ironman on Sept. 24, 2006
It rained and rained Friday night and Ken and I debated Sat. morn whether to even go up to Ohio for this Half Ironman, but call us Stupid heads – we did . We stopped at PF Changs for some yummy carb fuel and headed up to Mt. Sterling, OH to the Deer Creek State Park. After picking up our packets and driving the bike course we headed to the lodge. If our adventures at the lodge were any indication of our next day triathlon adventures than I was scared! (And it was a foreshadowing of the next day! Says Ken!) First our room at the lodge was a smoking room and they had to put a machine in our room to take the smell out. (which it did not) We had to open the balcony door and let fresh air (and numerous mosquitoes) in. They told us we had to stay out of the room for an hour but us hard heads went back in and I got really light headed so learned a lesson there! There were tuxes and bridesmaid and fancy outfits everywhere (3 weddings going on) and it really confused me until I asked how many weddings were taking place because the color schemes were awful if it had all been the same wedding!
We went to the lodge’s restaurant and ordered pasta and then the fire alarm went off and they made us go outside. We hung around the entrance until we were allowed to go back in. Though our dinner was delicious we did not get any bread even though we had bread plates so I asked for some, received none and had to go find it myself, then asked for butter and you would have thought I had asked for the waitress’s first born child. After some time she threw down the bill and Ken commented that doesn’t look like butter!A good night sleep – NOT .We could hear the wedding parties and cheers for downing shots all night long!

But luckily there was no rain the next morning. JUST Wind! I went from happy about rain (and am still happy cause tri was not cancelled like LBL tri in Western KY that we had considered doing) to miffed about the wind. The water was the roughest I have ever been in and I see that I am stronger than I thought because I made it thru. Luckily I could breath on the side where the waves did not pummel me too much though I had to turn my head completely around to my back to get air and not water. I looked like the girl in the Exorcist! Even the strongest swimmers, agreed the conditions were brutal. Both Ken and I made it out of the water (with a lot of the lake water IN us).
The first lap of the bike was not too bad until I had to turn around on a narrow road and I unclipped on one side and fell on the other! Pride hurt and skinned up knees. I got up and back on and then hit the headwind - a stiff 15mph wind blowing in across the fairly exposed bike course with regular gusts going 20+. I felt like I was on my trainer - going going but not moving! But I thought, well it is only about 5-6 miles of this on the 18.6 mile loop so I can handle it - but no - the wind increased thru out the day and what happened was there was no headwind/cross wind on only about 5 miles of the 18.6 mile loop. I was really happy that I had aero bars and practiced trying to be stable on them! But I rode slower than last year, but I hope I was stronger than last year because of the wind this year. Ken caught me at the beginning of the second loop and took off as he can since he is strong on the bike (He averaged 16.6 in this tough wind!)

The run was better this year as I did not walk. I did stop twice to loosen my laces as my feet were becoming numb and I peed once in the bushes. This was hard to do in my cute new one piece trisuit. And it stung so I had to pull the crotch way down so I could continue to run. I did pass 3 of the big bottom gals that passed me on the bike. On the last mile coming over the dam - wind about knocked me over - I was so over that wind. I saw Ken at the finish (poor guy has to wait over an hour for me) and started tearing up! I came in 2nd as a late registration robbed me of first place! I was the only one in my age group on Friday! But I will take 2nd! And I think I AGAIN was the VERY LAST one in on the bike. Humbling again! So I am going to re-assess my goals and try to be next to last on the bike at my next tri!

Scott Erdman, the race director did a great job and Ken and I started off the day with prayer with other participants which was a special touch.
Scott hangs around to the very end and was there as the last participants came in. I would recommend a HFP event, very professional and organized, good volunteers and a race director that cares.

On the way out of Mt. Sterling we stopped at the local Dairy Freeze and ate a bacon cheeseburger, fries and a big ole soft drink! Best part of the day!!!!!!