21 June 09: Tough Day at the Office

Today was a tough day at the office. Actually it was quite a lovely and enjoyable day, as Ironman Japan is a beautiful race, my body was doing as I asked, and I was generally having a lot of fun–until I attempted to run. I led the race out of the water and had, I think, a lead of 5+ minutes off the bike. This was a pleasant surprise. But it turns out that my run legs RSVP’d for this event with a “decline.” Or “cannot attend event.” Not sure where they went because I am pretty sure I did not kill them off on the bike. I have done that before and I know what that feels like, but today, my legs just kept feeling stronger until the last kilometers of the ride. So I am not sure where that strength went when I asked them to run, but they did not want to move. I ended up fifth. As you can imagine, then, this was not real pretty. In fact every moment of the “run” was pretty much torture. Luckily–or not–I have had a lot of practice with the old “death march” in my day, so I got through it and didn’t violate my “no walking in ironman rule.” Although walking might have been faster than what I was doing….The good news is that this was my first decent ride of the season–first time leading off the bike this year–which tells me that all three pieces are back. I just need to figure out a way to put them together, and I certainly am disappointed that I couldn’t do it today.

I am now lying in my bed totally starving, yet physically unable to get up to do anything about it. So instead I will post some pics of the happier times during what has been a great little trip–except for the last 3:50+ minutes of the race!

Today’s highlight was my dear friend Lukey, or Luke McKenzie, successfully defending his title here in Goto. He had a tough men’s field to contend with, not to mention the not-insignificant added pressure of being a defending ironman champ for the first time in his career. For this reason, I have all the more respect for what he pulled off today. It was awesome.

My reunion with Lukey and his other half, Amanda, here in Goto was something that I’ve been looking forward to for months. I miss my friends so much while I am in Germany, so my reunion with the “adopted fam” was very eagerly anticipated. My first morning here in Goto began with being awoken (at 10AM, since I had been up half the night with jetlag issues) here at my homestay by the kids jumping on me. I can hardly find where I “live” here, and the kids had found my homestay and my bedroom! They are the best. We then set out for a day of course reconn, etc….

Tomie Beach, swim site

Their homestay has even adopted me as well, and took us to a traditional Japanese restaurant where they grill your food on the ground right in front of you.

Close-up…No I didn’t! See the cabbage and other veggies–those are mine.  My new Japanese friends entertain themselves by trying to watch me use chopsticks…I am useless with them!

With my very own homestay family, Yasuka and Yukio, who have been a highlight of my Japan experience. Today was their first-ever ironman, and they were beyond enthusiastic, cheering on the course with handpainted signs with my name on them and all…The people in this town have been just incredible. I was overwhelmed by the people from all walks of life who were out on the course cheering their hearts out for us–even in the rain.

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