My Redman Experience

140.6 miles. 12 hours 34 minutes.
2.4 mile swim 1:11
112 mile bike 6:16
26.2 mile run 4:54

I DID IT!

Ok, so now I think EVERYONE should do this, and like I have said before, If I can do it, anyone can do it. Just 2 ½ years ago I could not even run down the street so it is not like I had some kind of advantage going into this. It is so neat to push your body and see what it will let you do. I needed to know that I could do this race, and now I know I can!

So here is how my day played out (NOTE: this will be long!)

I had the best swim! I never dreamed I would have a time under 1:20. Secretly my only goal for the day (aside from crossing the finish line) was to beat Pete’s swim time from last year. I will never bike or run as fast as Pete, but I stand a chance on the swim :) Here is the funny thing. I got out of the water and went into the changing tent (remember, no public nudity!) and guess who were the volunteers in the tent…..Soren and Reese! It was wonderful! They were awesome volunteers. They got my bag, handed me my clothes, got me water and even fed me my blocks. That was so special for me. While I was changing, I could hear the announcer outside reporting as each swimmer exited the water. He called my name and then said “Sara Underwood from Burleson, Texas is our first female out of the water!” No way! I was floating on air. I jumped on my bike and took off.

As I headed out on the first loop of the bike I was so high from that swim announcement that I was thinking no matter how the rest of my day went, they could never take away from me the fact that I was the fastest female swimmer that day. So I am riding and riding, happy as can be and about 2 hours later a biker passes me coming the opposite direction heading back into town and it was a female! I knew that she had not passed me so I realized that the swim announcement had been a mistake. And so they DID take that away from me. Oh well, I was still very happy with my swim. (That girl ended up being the overall female winner at a full 2 hours ahead of me!)

The bike went very well. It was a pretty flat course, so not too tough, just VERY long. When I was heading out on my second loop, around mile 70, I realized that a large part of ironman is mental. I have always heard that, and it is very true. If you stop and think about how long you have been out there and how far you still have to go it can really mess with your mind! I am very blessed, though, to have family who worked just as hard as me yesterday by jumping in the car to drive out and see me at 6 different points on the bike course! At the same time they were volunteering. They would drive to an aid station and work it until I passed and then move on to another one. At the half-way point you can access your special needs bag and Soren was again the volunteer to bring me my bag. Loved that!

Getting off of the bike was the best feeling in the world. I did not care how far I had to run as long as I got to get off of that seat! I took my time changing and then took off. My race plan called for water and Gatorade every aid station (every mile) and my energy drink every 3rd mile. I stuck with that for the first 3 miles and got VERY bloated. My stomach looked so funny; it was all puffy. But I trained to stick with a specific plan and I was afraid to deviate from it, so I plodded on. I was hurting pretty bad and my legs were weak and tired. When I made it back to the 13 mile turn around I told Pete how I was feeling and he told me to ditch the plan and stop drinking, just to sip. I also gave up the energy drink. I just did not want any more fluid. He encouraged me that if I could make it through the next 2 miles (14 and 15) then I would feel much better. It turns out he knew exactly what he was talking about! Two miles later I felt much better and it lifted my spirits and I was able to finish with a big smile. Completely elated. 12 hours and 34 minutes is so great. I am so pleased.

To top it off, I finished as the 3rd overall female! This was the first time that I have received an overall trophy rather than an age group medal. That does a lot to an ego, let me tell ya. Yea, I am pretty happy with my day.

Overall an amazing experience. Pete also told me before the race that there would be a point at which the race would hurt and would not be as much fun as I thought it was going to be but to just push through. Funny how he always knows what to say to get me through. I could never have done it without him. Having my girls there to cheer me on meant so much to me. They are such troopers; that was a long day for them! And, as usual, my parents came through. Pops takes the best pictures and they are so fun to have when it is all over. Thank you guys!

And thank you to all of you who called and checked on my progress throughout the day. I knew that you guys were watching, and that made me even more determined!

Woo Hoo! I am an Ironman! Here are LOTS of pictures for you to enjoy.

lined up for the swim

no turning back now!!


that is my little white head bumping into the buoy
made it!!



starting my ride. only 112 miles to go!
half way there!
one of our wonderful police escorts who made our ride safe
Reese cheering on the bikers

my own special team of volunteers / cheerers

I was surprised to see my family here. it was out in the middle of no-where!

FINISHED with the bike!!!

ahhh, it felt SO good to get off of that seat!
taking off on the run. 26 one mile jogs to go
some side line fun
coming in to the half way turn around




waiting for me to finish

Soren and Nana watch expectantly

I did it!
an IV to replenish my fluids