Ironman Boulder has to be one of my most memorable Ironmans and the most rewarding ones yet. This was my 11th ironman. I signed up for Boulder because I had planned to move there in 2014 but instead took a turn to Austin, TX instead. Training for Ironman Boulder was tough and I had no clue when I moved in April how I was going to do it in a new place and solo, but quickly found my way. I found great friends to train with and every Saturday they kept me going on long bike rides. I couldn’t keep up with “my boys” but I pushed hard every Saturday to stay close to their speed. They never let up, never dropped me and always made sure I was okay!! If not for them I may have never made it to the Ironman. My original goal was to work hard, be consistent, get to the gym and get stronger on the bike and qualify for Kona!! That slowly changed to a goal of just getting to the start and cross that finish line!
During taper and the weeks leading up to Ironman I always feels pretty bad, until about 3-4 days before the big dance I start to feel the turn and “Okay, I’m ready” kind of feeling. I was ready to rock this race and in the back of my mind I wanted to podium. It was show time.
Race morning the friend I was staying with dropped me off at Boulder High School at about 4 am where I took a shuttle out to the Boulder Reservoir for swim start. Once on the bus I sat down next to a guy who was doing his first ironman. We chatted to keep our nerves at bay. Once at the reservoir I started to feel the jitters and had about a 90 minute wait before the race started. I got my bike ready and tried to relax, chatting with a few women in my age group who were together on the same bike rack.
The swim this year was 1 loop and a staggered start. This was new for me as I’m use to the mass start. A friend who was racing told me to line up in the wave that is a quicker time than what I would expect to do and so I followed suite. The gun went off and you leisurely start walking into the water and Bam… show time! Wow, I kept thinking, I can’t believe I’m actually doing this again. What was great about the swim in Boulder was the buoys changed colors at the halfway point so you knew you only had 1.2 miles left to swim. With a 1:07 swim split I was shocked and so happy! I ran up the hill, grabbed my T1 bag and into the change I went. Once out of the tent I grabbed my bike and ran up the small hill to the mounting area. I was on my way and just thrilled I did so well in the swim!!
The bike course was challenging but not as hard as I was thinking. I always try to enjoy the journey to Ironman and then enjoy each part of the race. Once on the bike I made sure to stay hydrated. I try to settle in on the bike before I take any nutrition and I only take little sips of my electrolyte drink for the first 20 min.
First half of the bike I was riding 18 mph and that was awesome for me. I was waiting for my friends Rob and Patrick to pass me. I kept thinking “ just like our Saturday rides, push hard to keep up and this time, don’t let them pass you” I had a good lead out of the water so I was pushing hard not to let them pass me, but knew at some point they would! The course was beautiful with many false flats and few rollers. At about mile 90 something I realized not many women in my age had passed me. I usually get passed a lot in my age group but this time it was different.
I remembered my friend Lida, who lives in Boulder and was also racing, told me at mile 100 make sure to get in your low gear down the hill because at the bottom you’re going to take a quick turn left and hit three massive hills. At this point Patrick passed me just as we made the turn up the 3 hills. Once I got past them it was down hill most of the way to the finish.
The bike ended in town where I dismounted on the street and ran my bike in along the walkway of Boulder High school, over a small bridge where they took your bike and you ran the straight part of the track to get your T2 bag. Wow, that was a long transition and a tough one to run after riding 112 mile. The first few miles of the run are always tough and I tried to just relax and let my legs settle in. It takes me a few miles to get going and at about mile 3 I started to walk the water stops. At mile 6 I started taking the coke and by mile 7 the coke was doing its job and Look out… I was ready to rock this marathon. The run was 2 loops of 3 out and backs. On the first loop I settled in. the crowds along the path were wall to wall people. I had friends there supporting other friends and cheering for me all day. On the 2nd loop Patrick caught me and I was shocked to realize he had been behind me.
At the half way point I just said to myself I must be doing okay because I haven’t seen many women in my age group and I want to podium!! Talking to myself I said lets do this, you have 13 more mile and you can do anything for 2 hrs. Lets run this home. I ran strong each mile and walked each rest stop, taking in coke and water. I never eat anything on the run. I depleted my caffeine 2 weeks before Ironman so when I start taking in the coke on the run it kicks in strong. Now I am on the 2nd out and back on the 2nd loop and I started to climb this hill on the bridge and I catch this woman in my age group. She looks at me and says that I’m running really strong and she is hurting. She says “your in 2nd place.” At this point we start descending the hill and she gets a little ahead of me and I try to just stay with her and not let that little tiny lead make me give up. As we start to run a bit further she starts to fade and I pass her… now I’m thinking “Sue, once a pass, always a pass, don’t look back and just run to the end.”
At mile 25.5 you see a sign that says 2nd loop left and finish right… Finally, I get to go right to the finish line. Once I took that turn I saw the crowd and the finish line and I ran my heart out knowing I had the podium. 5th place!!! Wow, I was thrilled when I crossed that line. I had no idea I would do as well as I did having just picked up my life and moved it across the country!! What a great feeling and that one was for you SS! I had you in my thoughts all day and you were watching out for me. I know you’re smiling and proud of me.
The next day we went to the awards ceremony. Mike Riley called my name “ and Susan Fegelman from Austin, TX”……I was more proud of mike saying I was from Austin, TX than my award. He said I’m from Texas….I’m from Texas!! How cool is that? Okay,I was also proud to have done so well and podium. Thank you to all my friends support and support of Austin Bodyworkers. Its been a great ride and onto the next Ironman!!
