I have been a runner for about 35 years and in June of 2007 recorded my 40,000th mile. You know, a car is just getting broke in at 40,000 miles.

Through the years, my friends would encourage me to do the entire Spudman Triathlon in Burley. But instead I’d just run on a great team. That is until about four years ago. Four years ago, my ‘Spuddy Buddy Trophy Collection’ took a nosedive. I’d earned 14 of those cute ceramic men in team competition. I’ve yet to earn one solo.

After doing three Spudman’s, I signed up for the Oklahoma Redman Ironman Triathlon and finished under the cutoff to receive the coveted finisher’s medal. Two days prior to Redman tornado warning were posted in Kansas and Oklahoma. Race day was windy with whitecaps visible on the water, but the race was incredible. It was definitely and unforgettable day.

“I have never done a ½ Ironman,” I said to my friend and mentor, Randy. “Well, it’s only half as long as a full Ironman. Therefore, you only have to go half as far; it should only take half as long; and you should be only half as tired. As a side benefit, you should recover twice as fast”.

With encouragement like that I signed up for my first full ½, the Burley Vikingman.

Coming out of the water at the Vikingman I was so focused on having a quick transition that I did not even see my husband standing almost right in front of me.

I had been so concerned about the water temperature that I had taken Randy’s advice and ordered both a neoprene cap and booties for my feet off the Pro Motion website. When they arrived they were both the wrong size. So I sent them back and reordered one size larger. Wow. When that package came I got a wetsuit and a shirt! So I sent them back because it was the right thing to do and because the lady who received my cap and booties wanted her more expensive items.

When my cap and booties finally arrived, the booties did not fit! So I re-ordered them and they arrived the afternoon of the morning we pre-swam the cold river course.

On race day, wanting to have a quick transition time I had my wetsuit down ½ way and ran to my bike removing my cap and goggles enroute. Trying to step out of the wetsuit…it got stuck. Trying to pull it off my feet did not work either. Oops. I had not even thought about removing the booties first! So I pulled the suit back up, pulled the booties off and still struggled to get off that darn wetsuit!

Rule # 1 Practice removing (mentally if necessary) all items used during competition BEFORE race day.

Now the last time I had on the wetsuit was during training for the OKC Ironman. I think that as it hung in the closet those past months it dehydrated & shrank. It barely fit. I was thank-full to get it on let alone take it off again.

It either shrank or sadly but more honestly, I grew a size since September of 2006. Drats.

Rule # 2 Be honest about actual weight gain and fight back.

One lady in the bike transition was saying, “I’m so glad to be out of that water.” I said, “I’m so glad to be out of that wetsuit.”

I was pleased with my bike ride to Murtaugh. Excited to be ahead of Lisa Taylor and pedaling strong so she would not catch me. Gina B. and Bonnie W. caught me in their car as I headed to the frontage road and they chatted a bit. I was struggling some and Bonnie, bless her heart, reminded me that my best event was yet to come! Then she took the wind right out of my sails by stating that Lisa was only about 2 miles ahead of me.

Now the main reason she was ahead of me was that after I exited the wetsuit… I hit that blue commode before biking out of transition. Someone else did not. My friend caught a trail of it on the overpass.

Rule #3 Maintain your dignity at all costs. Use the blue commode instead of the bike.

I really struggled over the last few miles on the bike. The heat, hills and wind took its toll. I even had my own private police patrol following me part way on his bike! (I think this was also because I was about the last competitor on the bike course). I realized much later that I did not drink nearly enough on the bike.

Rule # 4 Hydrate faithfully

At the bike to run transition I put my running shoes on, took the wet washcloth I’d sat in a baggie to wipe my face, and Yuk…it was hot! I grabbed a drink from the water bottle I’d left sitting there and Yuk! Hot water! Did I mention the temperature was in the mid 90’s? Heading out on the run I saw my husband by the fence. And I know it cost me a minute but I ran over and kissed him!

Rule # 5 Never take your spouse for granted!

I’m a runner. I was so excited about the run and looking forward to relaxing over the next 13 miles. Not the case at all. The 1st two miles I felt rather depleted and could not run much. I thought, “I’m not sure that if I continue to feel this way I can run, let alone walk 13 miles.” At the 1st aid station I stopped, got a drink and as I stood there I started to feel dizzy. “I think that I am going to faint,” I said as blackness danced behind my eyes. They let me sit in a chair and offered to call the sag wagon. You know, they have lots of cups of water on their Aid Station table so I poured about 8 of them on top of me and drank two or three more then headed