When all else fails, climb another mountain

So....most everyone already knows Jason and I didn't finish IM CDA. We both dropped out after 1 loop of the run/death march to mile 13.1 where we could turn in our chips. One thing I have learned about the IM distance is that is is humbling. You can go into a race 100% ready to go and something else totally unexpected can happen. We knew Jason had serious stomach problems and were both hoping that things would just remain calm on race day, which unfortunately, they did not. For me, my body was more ready than it ever has been, but I don't think my mind was in the right spot. I had burn out leading into the race and that is never a good thing. The last two months prior I had little interest in the race and even when Jason and I went to the pre-race meeting, which is meant to pump you up, did very little for either one of us. In our eyes, the IRONMAN almost seemed like a cult.

Jason had some cramps on the swim and then belly issues during the bike and he knew going into the run that it wasn't going to be pretty. For me, I felt great on the swim and then 5 minutes into the bike had a super strange feeling in my stomach that I haven't had. I was worried about going into the run and I remember our nutritionist telling me if I felt the onset of belly issues to back off the intensity and try and calm things down, which I did for the second loop of the bike. I actually felt fantastic coming off the bike for the first 7 miles of the run. I started off too fast, so purposefully slowed down and then all of the sudden, my upper back started cramping in spasms, which quickly went to the bottom of my feet. I started to walk around mile 8 or 9 and that was a huge mistake. Never start walking on an IM. From there resulted in the death march to finish the loop and making the decision to quit. I had no desire to finish an IM in 15 or 16 hours and walk 13.1 miles and neither did J. We did the race last year in respectable times, and I think once is enough.

Thanks for all the notes and concern...we are good. Things happen for a reason and today is a new day!

I am doing the most hyped up race in Alaska tomorrow, Mt. Marathon. It is a huge event and draws tens of thousands of people to Seward every 4th of July. It is a 3 mile running race to the top of Mt. Marathon (3022 ft) and back down. It is the single most difficult sprint race that must exist and I love it! I can not go fast, but I am so mesmerized by how quickly these people can go up and down the mountain. My goal is to just walk it slowly tomorrow, but regardless, it is gonna hurt. I don't think I have hiked a mountain since last 4th of July due to all this triathlon training. In order to participate in the race, you must win a slot (through a lottery, which is very competitive)and you have to do it every year for 10 years or you lose your spot. I am only on year 3, but I can't lose my spot!!! This is one of the races Elizabeth has been training hard for and she is always near the top- GO ELIZABETH!!!!

Let the fun begin!

Race day is tomorrow! Funny how our worries have changed in a week. First, I was freaked out by the cold water in the swim....then I was freaked out by the hilly bike....now I am freaked out by the warm temps. It literally warmed up 20-25 degrees since we have been here. The good news is that the water has warmed up and my worries on the bike have shifted to a very smokin hot run. All in all, we are excited! It will be fun....so no worrying about us, Moms! :)

To track us online, go to www.ironman.com. It will be active tomorrow morning when the race starts. You will select athlete tracker and either enter our race numbers, or just our last name (#542 & 2193). The race starts at 7 am.

Thanks to all our awesome family and friends for your support and encouraging words! Say lots of prayers for us and send us good thoughts tomorrow, we will sure use them all!

We have lots of cheerleaders this year, so it will be fun! Neil, Shannon, Hawk, Beaker & Brendan, and Jason's lifelong friend, Chris, surprised us and came in today from Oregon! My only hope is not to embarrass my coach tomorrow, hope we make you proud, Beaker!! ;)

Holy Hills

Today, Jason and I rode the most hilly section of the bike course of the race. It reminded me of how hard this bike course is.....at least in my opinion. It is absolutely beautiful and a very fun bike ride, but it is hard! The race advertises rolling hills, but even being from Alaska, I would not call it that. The heat also cranked up today, I think it was at least 81 degrees and felt mighty toasty. I'm not sure what is better, last year's frigid temps, or 80 degrees. I guess we'll just see what Sunday brings, there's nothing we can do to control the weather!

It will be fun to do this race for the second time, we are both hoping that it will be easier than it was for us last year....it couldn't get worse could it?!?! Somehow, I have a feeling they keep getting harder the faster and faster you try to race them! I am preparing for the worst, hoping for the best!

The most stressful part of an Ironman for me is the swim start. Once I am over the first 15-20 mins of the swim, I will be so glad and the nerves will settle! Jason said he doesn't get nervous, just excited. I wish I was Jason, ha! ;)

4 Days & Counting

Holy cow, time is going by so fast! I can't believe we are almost to race day. I forgot to bring the cord to upload photos, so the blog will be boring for awhile. We have been having lots of fun in WA/ID with Jason's family. Jeni and Aaron were here for the weekend and it was good to see them. The weather had been really rainy two days in a row, but the other 2 days were really nice. It is supposed to keep getting warmer....tomorrow reaching 80 degrees. That will be perfect lounging by the lake weather, but I hope that it cools down on Sunday. The water was so incredibly cold yesterday, but miraculously it warmed up significantly today with a bunch of sun. I was not sure I could swim in that cold of water, but it is getting better, so I am very glad.

We have had a few shorter workouts and I am feeling very sluggish and like a tubby tiger. All this being lazy and eating lots of food is probably not the best pre-race idea. Jason is feeling like a different person, he is finally better and back into he swing of things. I hope his belly can stay settled on race day. I am tired. I took naps two days in a row and I never ever take a nap.

Beaker and Brendan are coming from Anchorage to cheer us on this Thursday! They are one amazing couple and we are excited for them to get here. I bet that Beaker will be more nervous than we are on race morning/day. :) It's more difficult trying to watch someone race than it is doing it yourself!

This evening, Jason and I went to visit my Grandpa. He lives about an hour away and it was great to see him, he is the best!

Hope all is well with all of you. Thanks for the good thoughts and well wishes!

The Kerstens (Jason #542 & Kim #2193)

I forgot to mention race numbers are posted! I am totally superstitious about race numbers. If I have a good number, I feel good about the race before hand. I love Jason's number. I do not love my number, so be sure to send it some good vibes. Everyone thinks I am crazy....but I am not! ;)

Idaho/Washington Bound!

We fly to Spokane today! I was having heartburn over leaving my little blonde baby, so what better to do than take a new puppy to your in-laws house! That's one good way to never get invited back. :) Ha, ha....only kidding, I hope! Hopefully Stella will be on her best behavior and not make Jason and I look bad!

Jason's sister, Jeni, and her boyfriend, Aaron, are also flying to Spokane today from Denver. They were our cheerleaders last year on the race!

I am worried about Stella on the plane! At least the puppy makes me forget the entire reason I am flying and about to torture ourselves with 140.6 miles.

Did I mention how cold Lake Coeur D'Alene is? Hawk was supposed to give us water temperature reports, but all I get is that it is COLD. Today, I researched the water temps and it ranges from 57.7-61 degrees. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! That is super cold even for Alaskan kids!

Puppies are more fun than triathlons

We are 1 1/2 weeks away from our race. I hate the last two months leading up to an Ironman. The month of May was a monster. The month of June is when we started to taper for the race, so it should generally be fun. By this point, I am just sick of all of this and ready for it to be over. I am having much more fun playing with Stella. She is turning into a very good little dog, she has already learned to sit and shake hands and she is only 9 weeks old.

My motivation for doing much of anything is pretty low. Hopefully, I will get a spark in then next 10 days! Jason has been the one that is concerning me the most. He has had belly issues for the past month and has reduced his workouts in order to try and recover. We're not really sure what was wrong with him, but the good news is that he is slowly starting to feel better. I hope he feels 100% by race day. He has worked way too hard to go to a race not feeling good. He is the sole reason I signed up for this race and I would be really bummed if he didn't have the best race possible. He has been pretty frustrated and I can't blame him. Hopefully everything will fall into place for him! Send him good thoughts and prayers!

We leave on Friday for Spokane and are excited to see Jason's family! Hopefully I will be better at updating when I get more time.