No pictures yet...

But, I do now have a functional keyboard with an internet connection, so I can at least write semi-regularly until I get back to the States next Friday...

I spent last week in Rome, where we were hard core tourists...we saw all the sights you're supposed to see, and more. The Collisium, the Vatican complete with Bassilica and Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, and moremoremore. Sightseeing is exhausting, and even though we had a great time, it was a relief to no longer have the responsibility of doing something with every second. I ate SO much pasta and pizza...I don't want any more for a long, long, LONG time.

Monday night, I arrived at my Aunt's house in New Haven, England. It's gorgeous. Nice was beautiful, Rome was amazing, but I definitely feel most comfortable here...and it's not only because I have a real house (with a functional, stable-temperature, normal-sized shower), but it really is just about the atmosphere. The English Downs are just awe-inspiring, in a totally non-confrontational way. They're just there...in the background, not overtaking, but just simply there...and I love them.

Yesterday, my Aunt and I went for a 20 mile bike ride through the English country side, and I had a blast. I was riding an old mountain bike with normal pedals, but it was the most fun I've had on a bike ride in a really long time. No pressure to go fast or long, and I could just ride and enjoy myself. That's what it should be all about, right?

Now I have a week and a half to just relax in England. I kind of feel like maybe it's too long to be in someone else's house and intruding on their life (What's the saying? Something like...'Fish and house guests go bad in 3 days.'?), but I'm trying to just fade into the background whenever I can...because I'm definitely done with museums for the time-being. We're going to go into London towards the end of next week (which will of course be great), but other than that, I'm totally glad to just be relaxing.

Pictures to come soon, guys. I've got some amazing ones...I just have to get back to the States so that I can download them to my computer (and so that other people from the trip can forward me theirs). If you want some to tide you over, they have the race photo thumbnails up at www.ironmanfrance.com. I'm (still) bib-number 1003. They turned out really well, I think. I'll probably break down and order the finish line one...

And so back to the race. I'm still kind of digesting it, I guess. It was a week and a half ago, but it feels like a lifetime has past. I guess that's normal?

I freaked out before the start. I was leaning over the railing in the transition area, dry-heaving, thinking that there was no way in hell I was going to be able to do this. I didn't even properly train. I don't know what the hell I was thinking. Freaking out is not the way to descibe what I was feeling...it was more of a full-fledged panic attack, complete with thoughts of locking myself in the porta-potty for the duration of my life (thanks Liz, for helping me come up with that vision!).

Then, this really nice German girl that we had met at the pasta party came over and started talking to me, saying that she had felt exactly the same way before the start of her first IronMan, and then she kissed me on the cheek...and somehow it was just what I needed, and I was fine.

And so we started. My God, 1200 people starting to swim at the same time? It's insanity. They had us spread out along the beach according to ability, but it was still complete and utter madness. I have never experienced trying to fight for space to swim like that. I swallowed huge mouthfuls of salt water and thought for sure I was going to die. It was really very crowded for the whole first loop, and it wasn't until the second loop that I finally felt comfortable in the water. The salt and wetsuit must have helped though, because I was VERY happy with my swim time...I couldn't believe my watch said 1:15 when I got out of the water...I was expecting more like 1:30...

So then the bike. This bike course was hard. At first I felt great--aside from my stomach protesting from the saltwater meal I had just had, I felt strong and totally confident. The first 30 miles went by quickly (for me, at least), and I was really enjoying riding through the French countryside. Then came the 12 mile incline up a mountain. Argh. That's all I have to say about that. It took me 2 and half freaking hours to get up the mountain. I did it, but it was hard. It was never that steep, but it just just this constant incline that never stopped...and if I looked up I could see cyclists WAY up there, still weaving up the mountain...kind of hard to accept. But, it was absolutely beautiful, which definitely helped. I finally got to the top of the mountain around noon, and the next 20 miles or so were downhill and some flats, which went by relatively quickly.

Then came the second set of climbing. I knew the end of the course was all downhill. But, I thought the downhill started at mile 70...nope...mile 80. I know that's not much of a difference in the grand scheme of things, but damn those 10 miles messed with my head. I just kept thinking that around the next turn it would start going down...and it seemingly never did. I was about to give up, realizing that at the rate I was going, I was never going to make the bike cut-off...and then we started careening down the mountain. It was a blast of a trip down. I wasn't scared...I really let myself go most of the time...slowing around turns, but really just cruised down for the majority of the next 20 miles.

Then the last 12 miles or so were back in the flats of Nice, which should have been easy...but of course I was tired by that time, and OF COURSE I was having to fight against the wind...why does the wind always seem to blow in the wrong direction?? The last few miles were along the run course, so I got to see all of my friends who were already running...

My bike time was 8:50...very slow, but I finished with 40 minutes to spare...

I felt great on the run. I tried to be smart about it...my heart never went out of control, and I mainly just tried to monitor my stomach. I had enough time to finish the marathon in less than 16 hours (why only 16 for this race?? All the other Ironman races get 17...hmph), but I knew that if I started feeling sick and crampy stomach-wise, I was in trouble. So, I just ate whatever I could, SLOWLY, and kept plodding along. By the last loop, I was still feeling good, and so I finally allowed myself to push, and I sprinted to the end...maybe I shouldn't have had so much left in me by the end, but honestly I'm glad I did. At this point, I'm still figuring out my body, and how far I can push myself. Chicago taught me that there are limits, and so I just need to be mindful of them. As long as I pay attention to what is going on, I'm fine...I just have to make sure I don't start ignoring signs of breaking down.

My run time was 5:18, for an IronMan total (with transitions) of 15:38:49. Finishing was one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced. I'm glad I finished in the dark, because it made all the cameras have to use flashes which made me just feel like a movie star. And, I don't know if cheerleaders were doing flips in the front of the finish line for everyone, but they were for me...the whole thing was just totally surreal...I know it only lasted a few seconds, but it felt like such a long time...it was truly amazing.

So now I'm an Ironman, and I have the necklace to prove it. No tatoo, but I'm not planning on taking the necklace off any year soon, so it'll do the trick for now.

And the trophey, right? Yeah, there were only 3 people in my age group, so it's not that impressive to come in third...but, I was only 15 minutes behind the 2nd place person, and I had gained 4 and a half miles on her throughout the marathon...and besides, it doesn't matter. It was a total blast to be up on the stage, standing on a freaking podium, for crying out loud. I've never been on a podium before, and I must say I never expected to be on one...

I still can't believe I did it. It's ME, you know? I'm not an athlete. I'm just little ole Curly Su...but now I'm an Ironman. You're probably not supposed to, but I actually feel different. It's changed me, this Ironman has...

I want to do another one, for sure...I'm thinking maybe Johannesburg? But, it'll wait for now. I need to get better at the bike. My swim and run were both in the complete middle of the pack, but my bike time was SECOND TO LAST...hmm...

I also want to get my running back up to speed again. I'm probably going to do the Philadelphia Marathon in November...but for now it's just a bit of time off. I'm feeling itchy to start exercising again, but it's nice to have some non-event time to just relax and remember why you do this stuff in the first place...it's not about a race or a time or placing; it's about being healthy and finding out what you're capable of, and mainly just enjoying life...