Chattanooga 70.3 (69.1) 2025 -- Part 2

I slept ok Saturday night, probably because of the crying. So at least there was that. 

I had set my alarm for 5:50am. I got up and started getting ready. Eating was a chore. I had a banana and few bites of plain bagel with peanut butter and continued packing up my stuff. There wasn't much prep work to be done since I had laid everything out the night before. I was able to go to the bathroom and then I took what I thought would be a "just in case" Imodium since I hadn't had any issues the few days prior to the race. I grabbed my nutrition from the fridge and left the hotel around 6:30. It was a 15 minute drive to downtown. I finished the rest of my bagel on the drive over. I found parking 2-3 blocks away and walked to transition. 

Once in transition, I laid my stuff out, made friends with a woman racked a couple bikes over doing her first 70.3. I added air to my tires. Michelle eventually found me, gave me another half a banana. I was drinking a bottle of tailwind and ultima electrolytes throughout the morning. Then I went over to where my Cupcake teammates were racked to see if I could get my watch charged up at all. Something with the connect was struggling and if I wasn't holding the cable just right, it would lose connect. I went from 48% to 60% and called it. I headed back over to my rack and just hung out. I applied my first coat of sunscreen. So much waiting. 

At some point in the waiting, my insides were trying to be my outsides. I rushed to the porta-potty. It was not pretty and immediately made me sad and frustrated. All weekend I was fine, eating plainly, going to the bathroom like normal. Why did I even take that Imodium if I was still going to end up rushing to the nearest outhouse? UGH! I texted my boyfriend and my coach to lament. He told me it was probably nerves/stress related. She told me there was still a good bit of time to relax and let it settle.

Time ticked away and I eventually felt like I needed to go AGAIN. I was able to get one last trip in before it was my turn to start. All I could do was hope that was the end of it. Michelle had an earlier start position than me and started saying something along the lines of have a good race or it's going to be fine and I started to cry.  I put on another coating of sunscreen right before starting. I have gotten some nasty sunburns during long triathlons, so I am pretty cautious about it now. 

Because of the cancelled swim, the race was a time trial start. The age-groupers started at 7:45. Initially, they were sending 2 or 3 athletes every 5 seconds. Then they sped it up to evert 3 seconds. It was basically clip-in and go. No issues there thankfully. Some people are not great at getting clipped in and moving. Even the announcer was noting people's bike handling skills (or lack thereof). 

I don't think I was smiling in a single bike photo. It was definitely survival mode. Ride up this hill in front of you, worry about the next one when you get there. There was huffing and puffing and cursing. Part of me was concerned about how hard I was working and how that would effect the rest of my day. The other part knew this was the only way forward. I enjoyed every downhill and tried to use any momentum I had to help me up the next hill. I stayed on top of my nutrition. Photo evidence: 

There is one "notorious" hill on this course, Andrews at mile 26. I got off my bike almost immediately and walked up it. There was a second short steep hill around mile 43. I walked that one too. I stopped at the mile 30 aid station, as planned. I peed - a good sign hydration was on point. A volunteer helped me refill my bottles. Then back at it. Miles 38/40 through that hill at 43 felt like they took forever! A false flat section of the course for sure. The reward was worth it in a longer downhill. Then I was at the mile 45 aid station. I stopped again, this time just for sunscreen and to pour a little water on myself. The day started out overcast but the sun decided to join the party. 

I did my best to just keep riding steady. I had hoped the downhills might bump my speed enough to hit the 4 hour mark for the ride but I passed that and thought, ok how about 4:05? Well I kept pedaling and eventually made it back to transition in a time of 4:11 and about an extra half a mile. 

My coach was there to cheer me in, later telling me I looked strong coming off the bike. I felt fine physically. Mentally, I still knew my day could end before the finish line, but I was going to go out there and do my run-walk for as long as they would let me. I switched shoes, got my run bottles out of the little lunch box I had them in, reapplied sunscreen, put my race belt, vest and hat on. All the things. I was happy to be off my bike and onto the run. 

I had no idea how many people were behind me at this point. The heat of the day was revving up. I marched forward. I started throwing in some 30 second running intervals. Nothing too crazy. I have been doing 1 minute runs in training with either 4 or 9 minutes of walking. My plan was to try to start with 1 run - 4 walk. I didn't want to set up the interval on my watch both because of my precarious battery situation and because I knew there was a good chance I would have to alter the interval. I mostly was just going by feel. 

Again, nutrition was a top priority. A gel on the 15/15, tailwind on the 30/60. Prior to the race, I lamented to my coach about having to wear the vest at all, especially if I were to have a bathroom emergency. It would just give me another obstacle to get through. On the flip side, given my GI issues, I couldn't risk relying on untested aid station items. Sigh... Ok. Well obviously I ran with my vest. 

Little jog intervals here and there the first 2 miles. 17:38. 16:25. I knew 16 minute miles were a stretch but that would give me a 3:30 half marathon time. I have been able to get 16.5-17 in trainings so I wasn't too far outside the realm of possibilities.  Although that still wouldn't be fast enough for the 7:10 finish time limit that was expressed. Shortly after mile 2, my intestines were hurting. A cramp? Needing the bathroom? I wasn't sure and I wouldn't be able to go to the bathroom until the next mile. (There is an aid station approximately every mile on the run course, including porta-potties.) I mostly walked not wanting to risk any kind of incident. I spent 5 minutes in the john with no success really. 

I'm sure you are learning more about my bowel habits than you care to know. Sorry - that's just the reality I'm currently dealing with and a big part of my mental energy is spent on it. 

Mile 3 was 22 and change with that stop. Around mile 4, I somehow picked up a buddy. He wanted to walk together and I said ok. So we walked and chatted. I tried to run but the GI cramp was hurting and made running uncomfortable. Plus I REALLY did not want to have an accident in my suit. I took a gas-x chewable and kept walking. We were moving but at a slightly slower pace. Miles 5-10 were all 18-20 minutes each. We made the course cutoff for starting the second loop before 3:30 in the afternoon. 

There were fewer and fewer people out and around. There was talk of calling it after the first lap. We took the right and kept going. The clouds came back and the overcast definitely helped make that decision. Ice at every aid station to stay cool. Keeping on top of my nutrition plan. Doing what I can until they tell me to stop. But that never happened. We looked behind us and no one else is there. Are we the last ones? There is a good chance. 

Another guy catches us and walks with us for a bit before taking off. The final woman catches up and moves right along. Somewhere along the 10th mile, a staff member said we had an hour to get to some street (that I didn't know where that was) and said if we could we should probably pick up our pace. At this point I also start getting followed by the sweeper cart and cop. I realized my cramp had settled enough. I picked up the pace, not much but some. I felt pretty good actually. I pass someone! They are fading and I am hanging in strong. 

I got my pace back closer to 17 minute/mile. Chatted with the other 2 guys out there with me. One was dealing with a muscle cramp. The other was just in a miserable state and did not want to converse or be cheered on. I kept asking any staff member I saw if they were going to make us stop. The last one I asked said that unless someone tackled me I should keep going. Ok guy! Will do! 

The muscle cramp guy was able to jog it in and finished ahead of me. As I crossed the pedestrian bridge, there as Michelle!! Who selflessly walked back up a hill to come meet me and bring me in. Around the corner, my coach found us as well and was a total hype woman. A little ways down from there I could see The Cupcake Cartel waiting to cheer me in. #NoCupcakesLeftBehind through and through. As I entered the shoot, I am the second to last finisher for the day. All the high fives please. Super grateful for all these wonderful people. There were even a handful of regular spectators left cheering for the last few of us. 

The finish line. Always a beautiful sight. People were asking me how I was feeling, and truly I felt fine. I felt like I could keep going. I think I ran more in the last hour than the first 3. I was so happy they let me finish. There was so much anxiety before and during this race. That was really tough. I wanted to have a better race than Ohio 2019. Did I? By what measure? Times? No. Attitude? Maybe. I did consider calling it after the first lap. Strength and pain and fueling? Yes. Despite a gas cramp, a blister, and some bra chafing, I felt good out there on the run (walk). While I frustrated by a lot of the uncontrollable circumstances surrounding this race, despite struggling to feel excited or confident, I still SHOWED UP. I kept going even when it was hard, uncertain, a little painful, uncertain some more. I showed up in the body I have right now, and kept moving it forward, over 69 miles, to find a finish line that I haven't seen in 6 years.

Coral helped me get my stuff from transition and Michelle made sure I got my food box. Seriously was well taken care of by these 2 awesome ladies. I drank my recovery mix that Coral help put together. I went back to the hotel for an ice bath, a shower, and a change of clothes. I grabbed a burrito bowl and head back to chill with team BABE before the weekend closed out. It was interesting to hear some of them retelling their day.

I never mind being a back of the pack athlete (someone has to come in last, or second to last). But, it is telling just how different of an experience it can be. Sometimes it's lonely on the course. Sometimes aid stations are out of something or packed up completely. Big shout out to all the volunteers who stuck around and made sure we still had access to supplies. The sweepers follow you. The amount of bike bottles on this course that get ejected from the railroad track crossing is always high. Now imagine you are in the top 500 athletes to start the race, ok only 500 some chances for bottled. When you are the 2000+ athlete to start, the pile of bottles on the course have grown. Hearing someone say how nice it was to have the aid stations and not have to wear a vest. When I really didn't want to wear mine and yet don't exactly have much of a choice both because of my GI issues and the length of time I'm out there. 

Just know, that your races is yours, whatever that looks like. And what it looks like now, might not be the same as what it looks like a year or 5 from now. I am trying to remind myself of that. This year's training is not going to be the same at 2018's and I need to stop expecting it to be. 

Thank you to everyone who tracked, cheered, read this long race report. I feel really grateful to have so many people in my corner, none of which care what my finish times are. 

Chattanooga 70.3 (69.1) 2025 -- Part 1

Let's review a few things before we dive into the race day recap... 

• I started this season with the intention to SHOW UP - whatever that looked like on a given day. 
• I've been in PT since March for some hip pain (tendonitis --> tendinosis? getting an MRI next week). 
• Since 2023, I've had on-going GI issues. It caused signification weight gain after my weight had already crept up from depression. Thankfully it's no longer constant like it was when it first started, but at the same time, the episodic nature makes it very frustrating. I have yet to figure out what triggers episodes or what to do besides ride it out when one happens. It feels like hunger and nausea at the same time. It sometimes causes back end issues if you get my drift. Athletes joke "never trust a fart" and I never understood this until recently. I could have gone my entire life without being a victim to my own body like that. 
• I have MDD (major depressive disorder) and have since I was 16. It's mostly well manage by daily medication and therapy when needed. I am currently on my 11th different medication from over the years. While being active is a piece of managing depression, depression also can make it hard to be active.

The last time I did 70.3 was 2019 to celebrate my 30th birthday and it was my worst race to date. I never have wanted to quit while racing but I did that day. I was in a lot of pain (hip? hamstring? - I don't remember now and I don't think I wrote about it anywhere). At mile 10 on the run I stopped to get some ibuprofen from medical and was just over it. But a incredibly kind and stubborn volunteer basically wouldn't let me quit and walked like half a mile with me until she knew I wasn't going to stop. I crossed the finish line over the allowed 8:30 time limit, but I finished. 

Naturally, in 2020 when no races were happening due to COVID, I was in great shape. In 2021, I was trying to find a new antidepressant when mine stopped working. If you know anything about that, it's trial and error and tapering on and off  which takes time. Nothing new I was trying was working. In 2022, I had my sights set on full Ironman #2, Maryland. Then I got COVID early summer and it wiped all my fitness. 2023 was a battle with my GI tract. Last year was a slow comeback year, had some personal life things going on and training was inconsistent. I did a few local races and volunteered with a local group that helps women finish their first triathlons. So I was READY to truly get back at it this year. 

I felt pretty confident coming into this year. Determined. As the spring wore on, that confidence faded. Stomach episodes. My paces slower than ever. My hip pain not getting better and limiting my running. Way too much mental energy spent being concerned about my weight when I know I am not in a position to do anything about it. (Dieting/restriction and endurance sports don't really mix). I came into the year telling myself I can do this in the body I have right now, and I do believe that. Yet, I still find myself wishing it was smaller, the way it used to look and be, that finding workout clothes and specifically triathlon clothes wasn't a struggle.

There were some training hiccups along the way and I felt behind where I thought I "should" have been. After a not great outdoor hill session, my coach and I decided to pivot my training to have a little more bike focus the last few week leading into the race. Given that Chattanooga has a rolling hills course and I train primarily on my trainer and on flat trails here near Charleston, she added some more simulated climbing and big gear work. April did not build any volume over March because life. 

Because of a combination of where I felt my training was and my experience from the last time I did this distance, my anxiety was HIGH. Probably higher than I realized. This does not help my GI issues of course. I didn't want to have a repeat of 2019. I wasn't feeling excited for the race. I was mad at my body because these GI issues suck and I had a bad incident on one of my last long runs. I knew I would be chasing cutoffs all day, more than normal. All of this is not my ideal racing scenario. It felt like nothing was coming together. 

Then race weekend rolls around and guess what, the swim is cancelled. Heavy rains the 2 weeks leading into the race cause river flow rates to be more than double the safe limits. I found this out while I was driving to TN. Since I already wasn't feeling too excited, this didn't really cause me any distress UNTIL they said that the entire allotted time for the swim would be subtracted from the day. Meaning, that instead of having 8.5hrs to finish the race, we were told we would have 7:10 (4:10 for the bike and transition and 3:00 for the run). This does not work for me. As a 8-8.5hr finisher, this felt like the final nail in the coffin for my race. I am a mid-pack swimmer and need that extra time for my back-of-pack bike and run. And just like that, all that time was gone. 

I checked in on Friday and was assigned a bib number, 2715, indicating a 4 hour estimated bike time. I sat for the athlete briefing where I found out the timing details. Then I met up with my friend Michelle who kept me company most of the weekend. We went over to the QR factory tour where I got to meet some Cupcake Cartel teammates for the first time. We got free dinner. I didn't actually end up walking through the factory as the first group came back and said how stuffy and almost suffocating the heat and stagnant air was. I am still a little bummed about that, so maybe next trip. 

Saturday morning, Team BABE had a planned meet up at 830 for a quick group photo. Only a few of us made it but that's ok. I got to meet my coach in person for the first time.

I dropped my bike off at the QR tent for a free tune up. Although I am skeptical they did anything since it seemed like there were a couple times I shifted and my bike didn't actually change gears. Also, my bike is making a creaking noise and it's both annoying and concerning. I am worried I am over the weight limit for my bike. It's 13 years old and has held up but I seem to be inching towards a new one.
 

915 was The Cupcake Cartel team meet up. They had a great spread of bagels and other snacks but I already ate a waffle from the hotel breakfast. I had some fruit and one mini cupcake. We hung out and cheered on the kids races which was a lot of fun. Then we got a group photo. 

Then I went back to pick up my bike and rack it. It is required that you rack your bike the day before. Easier to manage the flow of 2700+ people over the course of 7 hours the day before vs 2 the morning of. After that, Michelle, Peter (her husband), and I went to get breakfast (second breakfast/lunch for me). I was trying my best to keep everything super plain and easy given my on going stomach issues. Anything I could do to not have an episode. There is another layer of frustration here from not being able to eat whatever I want, not be able to enjoy new restaurants while visiting somewhere different because I can't trust my gut. I ordered an extra side of toast thinking they were the small slices you usually get when you eat out, but to our surprise, they were sizeable. Whoops. Still ate most of them. 

It was at this point that we went our separate ways for the day. I was ready to go chill in the hotel room. I hung out and played Rollercoaster Tycoon on the Switch. I finally decide to lay my stuff out for the morning, recalibrating for a later start. I go to charge my watch and can't find the cable, which I swore I packed. Cherry on top of every other shitty feeling I was having. That's when it just all came spilling out. I was upset that I couldn't feel excited about the race, that the new course cutoff pretty much guaranteeing I won't finish, that I apparently forgot my charger and didn't check/realize til a few hours before bed. I was mad that my financial situation makes racing a rarity and that I can't afford to stay downtown where everyone else was. Both Michelle and Cuppies were kind enough to offer some time of charging in the morning in transition while we waited for the race to start. So at least that was one problem solved. 

Race day coming in part 2...