Race Result

Racer:	Gwen Corley
Race:	Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island
Date:	Sunday, July 13, 2008
Location:	Providence, RI
Race Type:	Triathlon - Half Ironman
Age Group:	Female 45 - 49
Time:	6:07:31
Age Group Place:	12 / 35
Comment:	Most fun ever, until the run

Race Report:

Rhode Island Race Report

Better late than never. This report is overdue, but I wanted to get it done before my next race lest I make some of the same mistakes that occurred in this one.

My son, Matt, and I drove to Rhode Island the Friday before race day. We got bogged down in traffic in Connecticut which I expected. My room mate from college called as we were approaching New London. Lori and family were at their beach house in Charlestown and not their home in Exeter. Sweeeet! Matt and I reminisced about the debauched boat ride we had with Lori last year and wondered what adventures were in store for us this year.

Lori and her husband Ray, are phenomenal hosts! Lori, a native from Cumberland, R.I., directed me to packet pick up on Saturday which was in Providence. She busied herself with checking out the expo while I stood in line for an hour to get checked in. Fortunately I had met fellow RAT, Gresford, (a newbie) at the athlete lecture and we exchanged race stories until we got our packets. A quick look around the expo proved that they had very limited selection of gels and no Cliff bloks which is what I was really hoping to score for the bike ride. I settled for a couple of Luna bars that we picked up at Safeway in Naragansett later that day.

Lori and I left Providence to check in my bike at the beach. ARRGH! Beach traffic! No worries, Lori is a pro at navigating the back roads. Nice quaint country roads typical of New England with rock walls and wildflowers, we were at the opposite end of the state in less than an hour. Checked in the bike at the State Beach, enjoyed the beautiful scenery and weather.

Thanks to my R.I. Connection I didn't have to take the bus down from Providence, as many of the other athletes did the following day. Lori was a real trooper and got up before the sun with me to get to the race start. Lori has two speeds: fast and off. She is the life of the party wherever she goes. I have always admired her for her bubbly disposition and although I have tried to emulate it, she IS the Queen of Hospitality. Usually I am a bundle of nerves before a race but Lori's energy was contagious, and this was a new venue, so I was determined to just enjoy the day. The race organizers and volunteers were great! No lines at the potties or body marking! I looked for Gresford but didn't see him.

When I saw an athlete who was a very high double amputee being carried down to the beach and waiting to start the race, I was more determined than ever to just be grateful for what God had given me and to glorify Him anyway I could that day.

I made small talk with a woman in my wave who had traveled from Kentucky. Our paths would cross again on the run were Robin would become my angel of mercy.

SWIM 34:29

The swim was a counter clockwise horseshoe shape behind the breaker wall at Roger Wheeler Beach. The beach is just around the corner from an ole watering hole I used to frequent during college. Two left hand turns at the big triangular bouys and head back to shore. There were some swells after the second turn but nothing really choppy. Friendly wetsuit strippers awaited us as we passed under the Swim Exit sign. There were also several kiddie pools to splash through to get the sand of your feet. These Ironman folks think of everything. The music was festive and I was all smiles as I exited the transition area.

Bike- 3:05:59

I was giving high fives to the early morning joggers along route 1, and various other spectators. The terrain is fairly flat but lots of bumpy/patchy asphalt. This section of the route I was very familiar with since I had lived and worked in that area for four years. I fondly remembered the ole Datsun 510 wagon that I had inherited from my boyfriend, the SputtleCraft, also dubbed, The Gansett Guardrail Grabber. Just visualize this car: primer red covering multiple dents partially banged out the only original paint left is on the roof, half a telephone pole for a front bumper and 2X4 for a rear bumper. Sputtle had safely carried me home along these roads from many a late night party.

We departed from the beach area and wandered through countryside on our way to Providence. I took a quick potty break at the second aide station. As I came through intersections or neighborhoods with spectators I would give an arm pump and hoot. I would yell, “Thank-you Rhody! I love you Rhode Island!” The motorists seemed to be in a good mood. At one intersection, they spontaneously started tooting their horns. I refused to believe that this was out of annoyance. I thanked as many of the police officers as possible. I had finished one Luna bar and took a gel. I drank water and watered down gatorade. Tummy started to rumble but felt o.k.

Then at about mile 35 my shifter cable failed and I was stuck in the small chain ring. DRAT! I was determined not to let this malfunction spoil my mood. I remembered all the bike malfunctions that the legendary former RAT, Guzek, endured several years ago. I held on to those previous race reports about how Guz would never give up, so I adopted that attitude. There was one challenging hill and then it was mostly down hill towards Providence. I kept playing cat and mouse with another woman, Andrea. Our names were on our race numbers so I acted as though she was a training partner that I had known for years. Since my bike was crippled I decided to have as much fun with Andrea as I could. I would rib her when I caught her on the turns and some of the streets in Providence. She was clearly not very confident about her bike handling skills. I caught her for the last time as we entered T2.

RUN – 2:21:25

My spirits were still high as I came into T2. The music was blasting and I was skipping/dancing my way through transition. As I exited transition, WHAM! My stomach immediately seized up and I had sharp pains in my gut. I was reduced to walking. Every time I tried to run my stomach would seize up. I felt like a pinball machine that kept being Tilted. If I began to run too fast....UGH. At about mile 4, Robin came up behind me and offered me some electrolytes. I wasn't sure this was going to help but I took the paper wafer thingys that she offered. It took several minutes of conversation before I realized that this was the Robin from Kentucky that I had met at the swim start.

By mile 5 I was feeling somewhat better. I picked up the pace a little and left Robin behind. The run is a two loop course, that takes you up the hill to Brown University and RISD, said hill known as, College Hill was fairly brutal. I was able to shuffle up the hill the second time slightly faster than the first time.

Finally, I made it to the finish line! The spectators were fabulous! Got my medal and finishers hat, had my picture taken and wandered around looking for Lori who was going to pick me up. After about 15minutes I ran into Ray and reconnected with my friends.

I was walking around in my socks because a blister on my little toe had burst and was aggravating me. I swore I wouldn't pay 200 bucks to suffer this race again, but reality is... if it fits into the calendar and Lori is willing to cart me around, I'd definitely do this race again. Too much nostalgia and camaraderie with old friends to pass up.

Lessons learned (Most of these you seen before):
1) Don't take mercy on those sleeping in on race morning, crank up the blender anyway and make the smoothie.
2) Luna bars are not good race food even if they work in training.
3) Don't expect the expo to have the nutritional supplements that you want on race day. Go prepared.
4) Hanging out at the beach with friends is ALWAYS a good idea!