IRONMAN COUER D'ALENE 2005

The Tuesday before the race mum, dad and I took two short flights from Vancouver to Seattle and Seattle to Spokan before hiring a car and driving the 40mins into Idaho and the beautiful town of Couer D'Alene.

On our arrival the temperature was hovering around 35 degrees however, that night we were also greeted with a severe tropical storm bringing lightning and gale force winds which ripped a number of roofs off houses.For race day, who would know what to expect.

The days leading up to the race were very relaxing with a few small training sessions and alot of sight seeing. During my numerous visits to the swim start I met a couple of other Australians racing and they were also planning on making the trip to Busselton for the Ironman in November.
I also met a great group of people who were taking part in what was known as the CEO Challenge. This involved various CEO's from countries around the world competing against each other in 3 Ironman events during the course of the year. They welcomed me into their group for the week which included swimming sessions with Paula Newby Fraser, cycling the course
with Paul Huddle and information sessions with Chris Legh and Simon Lessing for the small group of 15 and an Aussie!

The day before the race my two girlfriends (Harbinder and Claudia) from Vancouver made the 8 hour drive to Couer D'Alene to cheer me on. They were both Ironman Virgin Spectators and just as excited about the day as I was. There was definitely no sleep the night before as I was far to0 nervous, excited and the mind was going crazy, have I remembered everything?

When the alarm went off at 4.15am I couldn't have been more ready! Transition area, the swim start and the finish line were all of couple of minutes walk from the resort we were staying at and perfect for mum, dad, Harbinder and Claudia to get around. By the time 7am came round and the gun was ready to go off, the American National Anthem was being played and I was feeling all those emotions that come with being in such a position. The journey had been fantastic! I had
loved the training and made it to the start line. Today and now was meant to be the fun part. Like they say "A long training day with 2000 of your friends!" I would make sure that I enjoyed this!

The only negative aspects of the race I had heard from the past was the swim start and how crowded it was with all the athletes running into the water from a beach start. The officials had taken on board the feedback and reversed the direction of the swim, opening up a larger portion of the beach for the start. It made a huge difference!

After the first lap I ran out of the water up on the beach and around the marker, locating my support crew on the sea wall and giving them a big wave before diving in for the second lap. Exiting the swim, I looked at my watch and was excited to be under the time I anticipated! (Thanks Tony, all that extra work at swimming training had paid off!!)

It was then met with a group of "Peelers" where you sit down on the ground and they rip your wetsuit off for you before you run into the change tent! A new experience for me! Grabbing my bike from the racks I was frustrated to find it had become caught in the spokes of the bike next to me and an official had to come over to help me remove it! But before I knew it I was heading out of transition for an 180km ride!

The bike course took included a 45min loop through town before heading back past transition and out into the hills. It was unique as you traveled from the state of Idaho into Washington State and back again 4 times during the course. As tough as the two largest climbs were, they were also entertaining as hundreds of spectators lined the road dressed up in various costumes with their stereo's pumping. They were having a party! But were also encouraging every single athlete all the way to the top. It was awesome!

On the second lap and back into town I easily found my parents and Harbinder and Claudia in the crowd yelling and waving the Australian flag. I knew I would be seeing them again soon. It is always a relief to get off the bike until you realise the task in front of you - 42.2km! Exiting transition onto the run again my parents had the prime location and I waved to the camera before mentally relaxing and focusing the next stage.

The marathon included a short 20 min loop past the University of Idaho before coming back past transition and the finish line and running through the centre of town and local suburbs before turning onto Lake Couer D'Alene Drive and following it until the turn around. It was a very scenic course, but I wasn't thinking too much about that during the race! Completing the first lap I was running past the finish line to cheers from the crowd as the first pro male finished, I had to refocus and remind myself I still has 21.1km to go!

The support crew was once again well positioned and I was able to draw energy from them knowing the next time I saw them would be at the finish. A quarter of the way into the second lap, spectators started yelling at me that I was catching third place and she was only just in front of me. I hadn't been able to tell, due to the nature of the course. But once I turned onto Lake Couer D'Alene Drive for the last time I could see her just in front. By the time I had reached the bottom of the first hill on the run, we were side by side. We had a little chat (Sheri was her name!) and she told me I could have the bike (referring to the guy who was riding the mountain bike with "Third Place Female" on front of it) because she was hurting and slowing down. By then I think we all were!

Oh my god! Once the pass was made and that bike was in front of me, there was no way I was letting it go! I had 8km to go and I knew I had to give it everything I had left. It would all be worth it in the end! On the turn for home I saw a number of guys from the CEO Challenge and they were all yelling "Go Aussie, Go!" Chris (who was the guy riding the bike in front of me) kept chatting to me wanting to know where I was from, what I did at home in Perth, how I was feeling? All I wanted to know was how close 4th Place was! It was fun getting the "royal treatment"! As we came to an aid station, Chris would ride ahead and move everyone out of the way; making sure the first volunteer had the coke, sponges and water I wanted as soon as I got there.

Those last few km's seemed like they went quick now, but I know out on the course they didn't! But as I rounded the corner and headed downhill for the finish line, the grin was from ear to ear. Chris left me for the last few hundred metres and I found my parents in the crowd to grab the Aussie flag and cross the line with it waving above my head!

I DID IT!!! 10 Hours and 16 minutes! 3rd Female Overall and 2nd in my Age Group!

Claudia and Harbinder were right there at the finish with the video camera in my face, but I had nothing to say. There were too many emotions! The smile said it all!

After a short time in the medical tent I found mum and dad and hobbled my way back to the resort for Pizza and Pringles. I get so much enjoyment and inspiration out of going back to the finish line and watching those crossing the line between 15 - 17 hours and this was no different. There were 5 Visually Impaired athletes who were legally blind and the last one made it with 9 minutes to spare. It was amazing!

The Ironman Journey had again delivered a life changing experience. Not just the race, but the entire program from start to finish. One that I will cherish and remember those feelings forever!

It is awesome to cross that finish line but just as exciting is the fact that there is another adventure around the corner just waiting to happen!!

Kate Bevilaqua