EPIC Woman Camp – Day 8

EPIC Woman Camp – Day 8

Just a couple more blogs to go and I should have written this one last week, but here goes……

Morning came early today and we set out for our double loop swim for our 6k open water swim. It was another gorgeous morning in Kona and I was already sad that the camp is coming to an end. I was pretty excited about the swim and just relaxing into the distance as it will be the longest I have swam in ages….really!

The first 3k was moving along easily and I just focused on a nice long stroke. It was great to have Suzanne next to me and we stayed that way for pretty much the whole swim. It’s comforting to have someone there especially in open water.

On the way back in something started to happen and I wasn’t sure if I was losing my mind or getting sea sick cause the water was coming at us from all directions and it was a battle for the last 300m. I tried to keep my head still and kick a little more, you know the usual things to adapt to open water conditions but I was in such a good rhythm that it felt all wrong. We exited the water, touched the wall and headed in for the second loop.

It was as much a battle to get back out so that at least put me at rest that I wasn’t getting sea sick and to expect that same feeling on the way back in. Once we were out past the bouy’s we had big but gentle rollers which I don’t mind at all, much easier than the crazy chop by the shore. The fact that you can see the fish and coral allows me to sight and its a lovely distraction. No need for snorkeling tours out here, you can see everything!!

Round two, same as the first with a little pick up at the end. It was overall a wonderful swim that we completed in 1hr and 28min. After that I was ready to eat a yummy Aca’i Bowl and down a delicious Lava Java Americano, mmmm!

Great morning so far, but the pending 20k run was still on the horizon. It was the last day of camp and I wasn’t sure what my legs would bring, but after all the running the 10k’s and the “surprise” 15k I was actually feeling pretty positive about this run! Initially I wanted to start earlier that the other girls, but we all ended up starting together.

I was dressed and ready, had my bad ass Fuel Belt on which carried my GU Brew, water and a GU Gel that was to last me until the aid station at the 10k mark. It was a straight out 10k, down Ali’i Drive on the Ironman course and up onto Queen’s K Hwy. I was dreading a couple of the hills up to the Queen’s K but they ended up not being so bad….Tara was right my run was actually feeling better at the end of camp! As I made my way onto the Queen’s K I thought the girls should have long been past me by now and they hadn’t. I was having a really good run and feeling strong.

In the distance I could see them coming, some in groups, some solo and each one had smiles, words of encouragement and high five’s as they past. The spirit of this sport moves me and this team was awesome!!

I made it to the 10k mark in my fastest of the week by like 4-minutes!! I re-filled my Fuel Belt and took a couple salt tabs for the last 10k. What happened next was truly the spirit of the Kona Ironman, or at least that is what I am telling myself. I took off running, not in the direction of the house, but rather towards the Natural Energy Lab. I couldn’t come all the way to Kona and not run into the Energy Lab where Ironman Champions are made or broken. I have watched the Ironman since I was probably close to Madeleine’s age, maybe a little older and the dream was born at that young age to complete that distance one day! I have done it three times and this year will be my 4th and hopes for one day completing Kona, the ultimate dream….anyway, I digress.

It was the first time in a longtime that I didn’t have to will my legs to run, they just did. I was maintaining a good pace and my HR was relatively calm. As I approached the left off the Queen’s K Hwy into the Energy Lab, Joey rode by asking “what are you doing way out here?”, it was a simple answer “I had to run in the Energy Lab.” As I entered I started to get the same feelings and emotions I felt in the last 5k of my first Ironman, knowing that the finish line was so close I could taste it. Joey rode in as well and snapped a couple pics of me that I hope to get because for this whole run I was alone and capturing a moment in time will speak a thousand words.

I had this run, I owned it, it was mine and I wasn’t stopping at 20k, I was getting my full Half-Marathon. I ran into the heart of the Energy Lab past the turnaround and all the way into it’s depths onto the gravel and lava roads at the end until I couldn’t go any further, turned around and ran to complete the distance. It didn’t drain me, it invigorated and energized me. This was the moment I am the most proud of at EPIC camp….this was what I came for, not to find my “mojo” but to CREATE it – and I did, I was within 5 minutes of PR on the Half Marathon!!

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