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gobigorgohome2016 · 6 years ago

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All the Cliches

When I started writing this post in my head, I was going to title it something like Out of Hibernation, yet make it known that I wasn’t planning to bore you with a 1,300 word soliloquy comparing myself to a Bleeding Heart (which is apparently a Spring perennial and, you know, we’re all about cliches here) blooming through the last remnants of Winter frost.

Then I thought, no, do I really need an intro to tell everyone I’m back on my bullshit after a few steps forward and another step back?

Then I realized...isn’t running really just the epitome of a giant cliche?

TL;DR I had a big accomplishment in the fall and thought the momentum would carry over super easily into the Spring. I ignored some symptoms, realized I was anemic, felt really sad, and now I’m starting to feel like myself again. aka, the simple, common, cliched journey of every.single.runner.

Even though this experience is the embodiment of what it means to be an endurance athlete, why do we act surprised every single time? Leading up to Philadelphia, after my year of mystery illness [which, it turns out, had another plot twist. Remember how I was having a massive immune system reaction and pretty terrible quality of life? Well, after we found mold in the house the problem went 90% away. The remaining 10% was still driving me crazy. Long story short, the installation of a whole-home water filter has returned me to a fully functioning human being. Hello, my name is Anna and I’m just your local canary in the coal mine] I vowed I would do a better job about just letting life go with the flow and not try to fight the current every step of the way. I guess I got too big for my britches because - lo and behold - I found myself avoiding what I pretty much knew all along.

After Philadelphia, I took 2 weeks off and really enjoyed my down time. The highlight was a day trip to French Lick, where Dave and I hit the casino (I won $25), ate all the sweets, shopped, split an amazing kobe beef burger, got day drunk, and took the scenic drive home. The next day I started running again and, much to my surprise, felt way better than I normally do after two weeks of zero exercise. This felt like a big win.

December turned out to be extra crazy, then at the end of January I co-hosted a women’s running retreat, BAnna Camp. Any fatigue I was feeling during December and January I just chalked up to stress and the typical things you do when you’re in that awkward in-between period from one race to another: less sleep, less healthy food, less fitness.

^have to make sure this post never dies

The first day I was in Austin, Becki and I did a workout together. It was my first “real” workout back (other than some fartleks and strides), and it wasn’t even supposed to be hard: 3 x 7 min @ 6:00 pace. I STRUGGLED. I couldn’t breathe, my quads were heavy, and the paces felt much more difficult than they seemed like they should. But, there were plenty of excuses: it’s windy, we were running a net uphill, I was dehydrated from travel, I was stressed about the upcoming camp, etc. etc. Midway through that workout I had a very distinct thought of oh shit, this feels very anemic right now. That night I texted my friend who would be joining us later in the week and asked her to bring some iron pills, since I had forgotten my supplement.

The following week my workout didn’t feel great, but again, it was easy to make excuses. I was on a treadmill. I was still catching up on sleep from camp. Maybe I’m more out of shape than I thought.

Longer efforts didn’t feel great, but I was getting them done. My paces felt quick, but, winter training never feels amazing. Plus, it seemed like every workout I did was into a strong wind, so how can you really judge pace and effort?

In early February, I had my first race of the season which was a 5 miler in downtown Indy. I had told Dave I was going to hold 5:30 pace for as long as I could and see what happened. My first mile was 5:54, and Dave said he could hear me breathing before he could see me. I was 3rd that day in just under 30:00. Again, there were plenty of excuses. It was windy. We had celebrated Valentine’s Day the night before, so maybe steak, lobster, buttered mashed potatoes, and wine wasn’t the best pre-race meal?

During my sulking about the race I had an aha moment. In December, prior to realizing we had an issue with our water, I was trying to figure out what was still causing skin rashes and GI issues. The only thing I was taking every day was ferrous sulfate, which is an iron supplement that is gentle on your stomach but has some suspect ingredients (food colorings, sorbate, etc.). I decided to switch my supplement (one that had worked for me for YEARS) to something that seemed “cleaner”: ionic iron. While I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what could be wrong, it occurred to me to check my iron dosage.

I was taking ~10% of my normal ferrous sulfate dosage, and honestly don’t even know how absorbable ionic iron even is. That day I made the switch back to ferrous sulfate, but knew that if my iron/ferritin was low, it would take about 6 weeks before I felt a difference.

If at this point you’re reading along and thinking to yourself, it’s not expensive to just go and get a blood test to find out whether your iron is low - you are absolutely correct. I should have just scheduled an appointment to take a blood test and find out. But, I’m stubborn.

Two weeks after my 5 mile race I flew to Atlanta for the Road to Gold, an 8 mile race on the 2020 Olympic Trials course. This is a whole other post in and of itself, but I will say that the hype is real. That course is going to be hard.

While the experience was great, my time was not. My goal had been to run 5:45 pace through the first 4 miles and then pick up the pace. While I did go through the first 4 miles in 22:50, just under my goal, I went through the next 4 miles in 24:20ish, and again felt as though I couldn’t breathe. I finally conceded it was time for a blood test.

The results were pretty much exactly what I thought they would be: low ferritin, high CO2 in my blood, and borderline-low Vitamin D. After weeks of agonizing over whether I was out of shape I finally had an answer (albeit one I should have just figured out sooner). So, I upped my iron supplement and looked ahead.

Nowhere to go but up, right?

In the following weeks I paid better attention to meal timing (i.e., if I was having a steak for dinner I wasn’t pairing it with red wine or other iron-inhibiting foods). I cut out my second cup of coffee in the afternoon so that my body could have a better chance at iron absorption. I focused more on sleep. I got back on nutrient tracking to make sure I was getting everything I needed from my diet.

and it paid off

6 weeks after my miserable 5 mile race where I could barely run faster than 5:58 pace for 5 miles, I ran 1:16:37 in the Carmel half marathon on a less-than-ideal day with rain and wind.

During race week I cut out all caffeine and red wine to hopefully give my body the extra boost it needed to absorb iron. I meal prepped early in the week so that I had nutrient-rich options readily available. I said no to a couple work-related opportunities that popped up in favor of less stress, and I gave myself my best chance to succeed.

In truth, sometimes setting yourself up for success is scary. What if you do everything possible and you don’t succeed? I have seen so many talented athletes give up because they went all in and it didn’t immediately pay off. But, that’s probably another post for another day, too.

Come race day we had 15 mph winds, pouring rain, and puddles on the course. It will sound sarcastic when I say this, but that truly is my favorite racing weather. Going into the race my A goal (not accounting for weather) was 75 min, B goal 76 min, and C goal 77 min. My plan was to run the first 10 at 5:45 effort, then see how fast I could go the last 5k.

Starting off, I was very pleased to find myself in a pack of men and through the first mile around 5:40. I NEVER trust my GPS, so all splits I give will be those from the course. I went through 4 miles in 22:50 - the exact same time I went through 4 miles in Atlanta, only this time I felt so much better. I went through 6.55 (again, as marked on the course, not my GPS) in 37:26 and felt like I really had a chance at sub 75 still. Through 10 miles I was right at 58 min. I felt strong for the first time in a long time.

Around mile 11 I started to get tired, and just focused on getting through 0.5 miles at a time. T last couple miles were definitely the toughest, as they were mostly uphill/into the wind. 76:38 is my fourth fastest half [74:03, Houston, PERFECT weather; 75:20, ‘17 US championships, goal race full taper, 75:59, Columbus half, 4 weeks out from Philly], and this gives me a lot of encouragement considering some sub-par months of training.

Now that I am feeling the effects of higher ferritin, I’m beginning to wonder if I wasn’t a little bit low during my Philly build up. I have had some of my best long runs and workouts the past couple weeks - ones that would have blown away what I did leading up to Philly. It also makes sense, given how I felt the last half of my Philly race, that my ferritin may have been low. Moving forward, I’m going to schedule blood work much more regularly so that I don’t have preventable problems like this occur. Definitely kicking myself, but, as with all failures in life it was a great opportunity to learn and grow.

My next race is in 6 weeks and I’ll be at the 25k championships in Grand Rapids. I’m looking forward to seeing what another 6 weeks of quality training and (hopefully) warmer weather can do for my fitness!

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mytennisdiary · 3 years ago

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US Open 2021 - Day 1

Temperature is in the 70s to start the match, but so is the humidity. The tightest net cords in the world. BG thinks the courts are playing quick this year.

Halep vs Giorgi

Played on the Grandstand before the official start of the broadcast. Giorgi’s dad with his crazy long hair and headband are in the crowd. Giorgi won in Montreal a couple of weeks ago. Heavy forehands for Giorgi to start. Giorgi is coming in to shorten points. Halep only comes in as the 12 seed after losing time to injuries; right thigh is taped, left calf was torn. Giorgi goes for massive returns, body serve is effective on her, Halep serving pretty well to start. Giorgi hit a 120 mph ace. Giorgi is winning a lot of 2nd serve points, Halep not getting enough returns in play. Halep is pressured to go for a lot off the ground, just making some errors long. Giorgi is letting considerably more errors creep in, but Halep has 9 errors to Giorgi’s 7. Halep doesn’t quite have the timing on returns. Giorgi is up to 36 in the world from being ranked in the 70s at the beginning of the the year. Halep is 11 for 11 on 1st serve points. It’s 4-4, no break points yet, although the last 2 games were 30-30. Moving Giorgi around is key to drawing errors. Double fault, 15-40 on Giorgi’s serve. Nervy first serve for Giorgi and Halep breaks, 5-4. Halep has just gotten steady at the end of this set. She is killing it with the 1st serve, 2 aces to close it out, 6-4 Halep. What Giorgi is doing well is dominating in terms of court position. Halep is down 0-30 on her serve. Halep digs out with good serving, Deuce. First double of the match give Giorgi a break point, Halep showing frustration after saving it. Giorgi holds at love twice to start the set. Giorgi losing the thread with some errors, 15-40. Halep gets it, 3-2 in the 2nd. Giorgi regrouped with some big first serves, but she’s only getting 50% of first serves in. Commentator thinks Halep looks a little slow stretching to her left on the backhand. Giorgi is getting all the returns in play in this Halep service game at 5-4, 15-40, swinging freely. Giorgi breaks on a short ball winner. A few too many missed 1st serves from Halep. Halep buckled down and broke right back, Giorgi missed a crucial volley down 15-40, 6-5. Nervy unforced error from the middle of the court on match point for Halep. Too many missed 1st serves. Break point Giorgi after saving 2 match points. Lucky net cord for Halep as she saves a 2nd break point. Giorgi gets it on the 3rd, just big hitting that’s too much for a nervy Halep, 6-6. Halep is missing first serves, double faults to go down 1-2 in the breaker. Halep finds the 1st serve, up 4-3 on serve. Giorgi is getting impatient, two big errors give Halep 6-3.

Muguruza vs Vekic

Mugu saved 2 break points to get it to 1-1 in the first. Every game is hard fought early. Vekic running forehand passing winner to break, 4-2. Mugu breaks right back. Grueling, 45 minutes to get to 4-4. From what I’ve seen Vekic has been more in charge, but also more inconsistent. Giorgi is pressing now and Halep isn’t giving her as much pace to work with on the groundstrokes. Vekic finally gets and easy hold, 6-5. Mugu wins 1st set 7-6, too many Vekic errors, 73 min set. Mugu races to 3-0 in the 2nd. Mugu serves for the match at 5-3 in the 2nd, but gets a bit nervy and Vekic breaks. 2nd set goes to a tiebreak. Vekic down the line shots are wreaking havoc on the fast courts. 18 to 6 in terms of forehand winners for Vekic. Epic finisher for Mugu 7-5 in the breaker, 7-6 7-6.

Stephens vs Keys

Sloan looks like she will win the first set behind impatient Keys errors. She does, 6-3. Keys breaks to start the 2nd. Keys had 2 points to go up a double break and threw in some bad errors. Keys does get the 2nd break though, 3-0. Keys dug out of a 15-40 hole at 4-4 in the 3rd to go up 5-4. Keys dug out of 15-40 at 4-4 and 0-40 at 5-5, but then hit a nervy drop shot to get broken. Sloan served for it at 6-5. Sloan is too passive and Keys breaks back, tiebreak. Keys is running around the backhand and crushing the inside-in forehand. Wow, just painful short forehand errors from Madison, Sloan gets the first match point at 6-5, saved by Keys with a big forehand. followed by another forehand into the net. Keys saves another. Wow, Keys hits her way out of it. Sloan wins 7-6 in the third.

Rublev vs Karlovic

Rublev breaks immediately to go up 2-0.

Monteiro vs Evans

Evans won the first set 6-3 but is down 4-2 in the 2nd set tiebreaker. He gets it 8-6.

Brady v Radacanu (Walkover for Emma)

Auger-Aliassime vs Donskoy

Donskoy is a Russian qualifier. Felix got the 1st in a tiebreak but then Donkey got the 2nd 6-3. 3rd set is in a tiebreaker, Felix takes it 7-1 to go up 2 sets. Donskoy cracks the forehand, but Felix comes up with a big forehand himself to get a 2nd match point. Felix’s forehand is breaking down again and now Donskoy has a set point on his racket. Felix takes it 10-8 in the 4th set breaker, a 4 hour match.

Humbert lost to Gojowczyk in 5 sets.

Anderson vs Vesse;y

Anderson wins a 4th set tiebreak to send it to a 5th. Anderson served well to take it in a 5th set tiebreak.

Isner v Nakashima

1st set tiebreaker, Nakashima got it after Isner lost a few uncharacteristic points on serve with errors. Pointing out a point where Isner didn’t run down a ball, something is up with his body. Nakashima played one season at UVA. Nakashima gets another tiebreak, Isner unable to finish points at net. Isner isn’t running at all on return games. Isner broken in the 3rd, he’s gonna lose. Nakashima has been impressive. 7-6 7-6 6-3

Tsitsipas vs Murray

This is the first meeting between these two. Murray beat Gasquet in Cincy before losing to Hurkacz. Murray’s ability to hold up physically is the question. BG points out Murray’s struggles moving to his backhand. They want Murray to be more aggressive and rush Tsitsi on his backhand. Some loose errors from Stef at 1-1 to go down 0-40. Murray puts pressure on Tsitsi’s backhand to get up the break. Murray has served big to start, Stef is trying to test his movement and Murray looks ok so far. They are questioning if the fast courts are hurting Stef, especially on the returns. Stef is going to the drop shot a lot and it hasn't worked so far. Tsitsi hits an overhead in the net to go down a double break. Tsitsi is finding his form down 5-2. He’s dropped back and is forcing Murray to try to hit through him, Tsitsi is grinding and has saved 2 set points. Murray comes up with an awesome low volley and gets the first. Murray saves 2 break points early in the 2nd at 1-2. Backhand to backhand rallies are benefiting Murray, when Tsitsi is able to go up the line with the backhand it is working for him. Tsitsi is now serving well and holding with ease. He just isn’t doing enough with his returns even as Murray’s serve has dropped off just a little bit. Too many unreturned serves. Murray is making his push at 4-4, Tsitsi is missing 1st serves after serving so well all set. Murray really moving well and playing D. Tsitsi saves a couple break points, finding the 1st serve again, coming in (he had been reluctant to do so this game). Stef had 0-30 and then made 3 straight errors to keep Murray in it at 4-5. Murray is struggling to make 1st serves, but winning enough on his 2nd to still be in it. 2nd set tiebreak, both players grinding, Murray hitting big serves. Costly mishit returns from Stef. Stef got tight, but then Murray slipped and fell. Murray with set points at 6-4, saves them both on a couple extremely nervy points. Tsitsi had a look at a backhand pass on his set point and couldn’t execute it, 7-7. Murray double fault, 7-8. Stef serves it out, 9-7. Costly errors early, Murray up 2-0 in the 3rd. Serving well again he goes up 3-0. Tsitsi is blowing some break point attempts at 1-3 to get back on serve, 4 now. Still this problem of taking too big of a swing on the returns. Long game that Murray gets out of, up 4-1. Stef is grabbing at his knee. He’s just not doing enough on his serve return, especially on Murray’s 2nd serve. Murray is serving just a bit harder than usual on the 2nd and he is just playing aggressively, looking to get into the court and attacking his forehand. Murray takes the 3rd, still no breaks for Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas now up 5-0 in the 4th, totally taken control, gotten more aggressive. Murray’s serve has lost some sting. Murray saves set points 3 games in a row, now its 5-3. Tsitsipas took the 4th and got up an early break in the 5th. More errors from Murray and a general sense that he ran out of gas a bit saw Tsitsipas able to put it away 6-4 in the 5th. Very high quality first round match and one for the history books considering they never played. Murray was very frustrated down the stretch, it seemed mostly to do with Stef taking an extended break between sets 4 and 5. (Worth remembering the part where Murray wanted new shoes and didn’t have them and then Tsitsi changed his).

Cilic just retired in the 5th set against Kohlschreiber

Gauff v Linette

Magda saved a few break points to keep it on serve at 2-2. Linette is coached by Aga Radwanska’s husband (she’s in the box). Linette fights off another break point, 3-3. Too many errors from coco, needs to know when to use her speed and play D. Linette has 9 winners to Coco’s 4. Another break chance at 3-4 for Coco. Coco’s depth is causing Linette problems. Linette double faults the break away, 5-3. Linette just not doing enough damage on Coco’s serve, too many unreturned. Otherwise she has the advantage in practically all stats. Linette breaks back, 5-4. Linette called the trainer for the left foot. Linette is hitting through Coco who is making too many errors, Linette breaks, up 6-5. She wins the set easily behind errors from Coco. Coco has won 5 games straight, Linette’s level has dropped, more errors. Coco gets the early break, 1-0 in the 3rd. Coco gave back one of her two breaks in the 3rd, but won it pretty comfortably in the end as Magda lost her edge.

Kerber won a crazy match where it looked like she was down and out in a 3rd set breaker.

Osaka v Bouzkova

Osaka has been pretty shaky in the first set. She’s overhitting and not getting much net clearance on her shots. She’s also not serving a great percentage. The one plus is that she’s come up with big serves to save the 5 or so break points she’s even down. Bouzkova has been really good, more winners than errors. The big thing with her game is how early she’s taking Naomi’s serve. She’s reacting to naomi’s power well and redirecting it, forcing her to go for too much. Bouzkova’s serve has been solid too, particularly the kick which Osala is not quite timing right yet. Osaka managed to sneak out a break at the very end to win the 1st. Despite Osaka’s attempts to save it the ball kid just stepped on a bug... She was a bit wild, but Naomi won a missive game at 2-0 and now she’s firing on all cylinders. Bouzkova’s level has dropped. Naomi on cruise control to get the 2nd 6-1.

Tiafoe vs Eubanks

Eubanks is lanky and tall with a massive serve. Tiafoe got the first in a long tiebrank but then Eubanks got the second.

Sabalenka vs Stojanovic

Stojanovic was able to get a 2nd set tiebreak to send to a 3rd.

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beardedwinnerobject-blog · 6 years ago

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Hey there, I just wondered if someone could help me with a query on car insurance. Does anyone know how much I could end up paying for Insurance for a Vauxhall Corsa? I'm 23, and passed my test in January and was thinking off buying a car in a month or 2. Ive tried various sites for insurance quotes but they all ask for your number and I don't want to get hassled. The details of the type of car I'd like is as follows: Transmission: manual Fuel: petrol Engine size: 1.2L Doors: 5 Not much I know but this is the site I got the details from: http://www.arnoldclark.co.uk/detail.html?ac_reg=blk_u31kotjueau0i8uc&$ac_sr=0&$ac_pp=10&$blk=1&$franchiselist=vaux&$model=Corsa&$franchise=vaux&$model=Corsa I realise I probably wont get an exact amount but even an idea of how much I might end up paying a month. Thanks for any help :)""

How much is motorcycle insurance for a teenager?

Im 17 and want to get my motorcycle license but i have a speeding ticket and an accident on my record. Anyone know about how much insurance would be?

First time car buyer...getting car insurance.?

i am about to buy my first car and of course i will be getting car insurance. i won't be getting on anyone else's policy. what should i expect when getting insurance? do i have to pay a bunch of money up front?

Car Insurance Policy - Registration and insurance in different names - Married couple?

New car insurance application had both our names listed but when we got actual policy it only had my name on it. Cars are registered under my husband's name. Would that cause any problems if we are stopped?

Car insurance cover query?

I have had an ongoing problem with a succession of worn ignition keys that are a pain when trying to start or open the bonnet on my Ford Focus.Will standard fully comp car insurance cover the cost of a replacement key/barrel if i take it to the dealer?

When renting a car are you expected to provide your own insurance or is it included in the rental price?

I am thinking about renting a car for a few days. I no longer maintain car insurance since i got rid of my car 6 months ago. When renting a car do they provide your insurance for the time your renting it or are you expected to provide your own? it been a long time since i ever had to rent a car.

Cheapest car insurance?

I understand that car insurance rates will vary from person to person, but I really need to know the names of at least one or two companies that, in general, have cheaper auto insurance. I mean, who had the cheapest auto insurance for you?""

Do I need insurance to drive my father's car?

recently i have passed my driving test and my father have a comprehensive car insurances!!! i can't effort to buy a car or car insurance? do you think is legal to drive it? thanks

Does it cost anything to switch the car thats on insurance?

I have a car onmy insurance and i just got a new car does it cost anything to switch the actual car thats on the insurance? like just to take the one off thats on now and put the new one on but keep everything else the same?

Barely tapped a car I have no license or insurance I checked the kids car nothing even happened to it not eve?

A scratch...my mom had an emergency so I had to pick my little brother up from school. As I was about to park I got a little close to just tap his front bumper. He said it was fine nothing happened I had asked him about a little piece of plastic that looked like it latched off and he told me he wasn't sure if it was like that he asked for insurance I didn't have any he called his mom and my mom spoke to her. The lady is asking for 200$ (never even got an estimate she just came up with 200$) and she won't report it to her car insurance. I know I can report her to the cops for trying to extort money from me and it's also a felony in the state of California.. This happened yesterday... So can she really do anything?

Car insurance for 17 year old male?

hi can anyone help me i have been looking round for car insurance for a 1.0ltr corsa 2002 and my cheapest quote i have had is 15,540 per year and i am wondering if anyone could tell me if there is anywhere i can get it cheeper or is that the cheepest i am gooing to find thanks ant""

State Farm insurance?

I have my own insurance and it was. 230 a month now I am getting a new car and I need collusion I am getting a Honda civic sedan 2012 white can anyone tell me an estimate on how much my insurance will go up Ps the car is financed . I have State Farm, I am 20 years old I reside in ny and I have had no accident""

Car insurance for a 19 year old?

Ok about a few Weeks ago I was involved in a wreak, I had no license and was not under my parents insurance. Luckily i didn't go to jail cause I was rear ended. Now I'm attempting to get A drivers license after SO long I've been begging for one, The only thing that's held me back from getting one was my parents because they said i would be tagged on into the insurance, and that I had to go under another address. Now after the wreak they said I cant get one, because once the insurance finds out im driving, they'll automatically add me on, is this true? I want to get back on the road and walking is pretty bad knowing i have a car ive been paying for the [ast two years for. BTW I live in Texas and under state farm.""

What is the difference between life insurance and health insurance?

Does filing a claim raise auto insurance rate?

My car was vandalized while I slept. Luckily my car shut itself off when it did not recognize the key. I filed a claim with the insurance. I had comprehensive coverage. When it was time to renew, my rates increased. What is the point of having insurance if you are discouraged from filing a claim? I thought if it was not my fault, my rates do not increase?""

""So my father has car insurace in Spring Valley , Ny which causes his insurance to be cheap...?

He wants to add me as a driver and Im 19 yrs old. I live in Brooklyn. Me and him have two complete different addresess. When he adds me should I give them my brooklyn address or it doesnt matter. Note that I dont want the different address the increase his insurance

Would this car make my insurance go up?

I'm thinking about purchasing a 97' Cavalier LS Convertible, would this car make my insurance go? and by how much? Also does anyone know anything about these cars? Are they good cars? Mechanically wise and gas wise. By the way, I'm 16 in case that effects your answers.""

Car Insurance Questions?

How Much Would Car Insurance Cost Approximatly For A 27 Yr Old Male With An Owned Vehicle? Do You Pay Every Month Or How Does It Work?

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Motorcycle insurance in Cleveland Ohio?

Im currently living in California, and i own a small 599cc Street bike. I am curious as to how much insurance would be in Ohio. I am looking to go to either cleveland state or Ohio State. I am just looking for a ball park figure, i have a flawless record and i have had a bike for just over 6 months now""

What is a good cheap first car to get?

Ok so I'm 17.. learning to drive and want to know what would be a cheap to run but good car to have, whats cheap on tax/insurance etc.. I really have no idea about cars thanks""

How much would i pay for car Insurance?

How much would i pay for car Insurance for cheap car that cost me honda accord 2000,I am 28 Years old, never been in any accident,I got my license 8 years ago""

Can anybody help me find the Greyhound Bus Auto Insurance ?

2 week ago I was in auto accident in NYC but I live in New Jersey a greyhound bus hit my parked car door as I opened it, I had a clear of view when i opened it, my car is beyond damaged (97 Honda Accord) thank god I didn't lose my hand, I finally got a official police report, I have the greyhound bus driver licence plate #'s and insurance policy #'s and the insurance code Texas Liability Insurance (not the insurance company name) I called Grey Bus company customer service and corporate office based out of Texas, both phone numbers keep giving me the run around and is a complete waste of time. I called my insurance, and they cant help me , i try google, waste of time as well, please help, all i am trying to do is file a claim and fix my car ASAP!!""

How much is your car insurance?

Just trying to get an idea of how much everyone pays...all my friends seem to pay less than me. I am 26, female. One speeding ticket and one DUI (in the state where I'm licensed)...both from 7 years ago. No accidents. I live in an urban area, a midwestern city with probably 200,000 people. I have a 2007 suzuki reno, base package, I have not made any insurance claims. The cheapest I've found is progressive at $110/month...I can't use places like The General or Safe Auto because my state doesn't allow it. When I get quotes from big companies, like state farm, the monthly cost is about $200...my coverage is probably fairly standard, if not on the low side, but meets state guidelines.""

Which company provide online health insurance?

I want to buy health insurance online without any agent. Will you please suggest me the best online health insurance plan? Thanks in Advance

How much would insurance cost? (motorcycle)?

Hey guys, I was just wondering how much approximately insurance would be for a starter that just got his license, with the training course. This would probably be with a CBR125 (lol, just want to get used to it first) in Toronto Canada.""

""Moved out of state, Can I still be on my parent's car insurance?""

I just graduated college and moved to California. I bought a new car in Iowa before I left and my parents cosigned the loan. We registered the car in Iowa, saying my name first or my father. Since then, they have brought the car out here. Am I able to stay on my parents insurance (Farm Bureau) even though I am no longer a resident of Iowa or their house? Also, am I required to register the vehicle in California even though he is on the loan and the current provider of insurance?""

Temporary car insurance?

i am trying to get my boyfriend insured on my car for 1 week. there are many companies that do tempoary car insurance but i have been told that you can not have 2 policies on one car? i have Fully comprehensive car insurance but my insurers will not insure both of us on my car as we are under 25 so if i went with another insurance company who specialises in short term cover would this cover my boyfriend on my car?

A question about compulsory auto insurance?

When I insured my car last month, I told the agent that I want basic insurance, and I thought that was what I purchased. I never any information about my policy, all they sent me was the monthly bill. So today I went to the agent and notified them of this, and they gave me a Coverage Selections Page paper, and I noticed that on part 4 of the compulsory insurance they set my limit to $50,000 while the minimum is only $5000 here in Massachusetts. Apparently the premium for having the $50,000 limit is $503. Since the car is no longer operational due to an accident last Sunday and I want to keep my insurance for four months until I can replace the car, I was wondering how much I would save if I lowered the limit to the state minimum of $5,000?""

How bad would my insurance rates be?

I have the money to buy a used 04 S2000 now, but my parents are paying for the insurance and I don't want to make them pay a lot. My father is 47 and wants to put the car under his name if I buy it. If it matters, I'm 18, straight A's in high school if (GPA matters), two years of driving experience, and I live in Indiana. Would the insurance rates for this car be a lot? If possible, does anybody have an estimate?""

New driver looking for cheap insurance?

Can I drive in the USA on UK car insurance?

We are taking our vehicle to the USA and travelling around for up to 12 months, can we use UK car insurance or do we have to insure the vehicle when we get to the States?""

Health insurance.......... ?

I live in illinois i'm18, turning 19 in july. I got all kids insurance. I got ppps, i have to get them surgicaly removed. and i need to get circumcised. Will the insursance cover all that?""

What is the Average cost for Horse Insurance?

My mum has nearly agreed with me getting a horse! :D And we are trying to work out prices. The only cost we haven't got is horse insurance. I just want the Average cost for Horse Insurance? They age of the horse will be 6 - 10 years old? Thank you.

Car Insurance?

Can a candaian get car insurance in ark. as long as your candaian license is current?

Is it legal for me to drive my friends car with my own insurance?

So my friend and I bought a car, however he does not have insurance yet, and I have comprehensive, liability and theft insurance for my own vehicle which is a Honda, now while I use his car, would it be legal for me to drive the car using my own insurance card? I have a notarized letter from my friend that I am allowed to use the car.""

""Insurance renewal, same company, new quote?""

Hi, my car insurance has just come up for renewal and my insurers sent me a renewal quote, 704. Now if I get a fresh quote from their website (all the same terms, car is unmodified, 3 points on my licence, etc), the quote is 520! If i take the 520 offer, are they going to complain? They want proof of my no claims, and I'll send them their own renewal document!!!""

How to upgrade my current auto insurance?

I'm currently looking for a financed car, but I don't want to make a purchase without first understanding how much my insurance will cost to upgrade to full coverage. I contacted my current auto insurance (GMAC Insurance/National General Insurance). I was told that in order to be quoted for a new car, they would have to delete my car from my policy & put the new car on. I'm not understanding why my car has to be deleted just to get a quote for something I haven't purchased. I'm constantly getting the run around with this. Shouldn't I just be able to be quoted the new car without it affecting my current policy?""

Can i get affordable baby health insurance?

ready to have a baby soon but husband insurance would go from 250 to 700 a month (can't afford 700) if we have a baby but if me or the baby gets our own insurance somewhere it would be 250 but i have some health issues so i can't get my own insurance (i get denied everywhere, my job doesn't offer health insurance) so when i do get pregnant and have a baby can i get affordable insurance by it's self?I live in Colorado, will not use government help PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BACK IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT OR SAY SOMETHING DUMB OR USELESS THANKS!""

How would one categorize those who will not have health insurance after Obamacare officially starts?

Considering that it will be law that everyone must have health insurance. What of those who will not have insurance and did not for whatever reason sign up for the government plan? How will Obamacare address them?

Insurance under Obama care?

I am 22 years old and graduated a week ago. My parents have insurance through trustmark insurance and I've been recently hired on full time for a management position. Being a full time employee, I have the opportunity to get my own insurance or waive it. I've heard that I should be able to stay on my parents insurance until I am 26. However, I've also heard that I would need to be a student in order to continue on staying on my parents insurance. So essentially I am asking whether I should be able to stay on my parents insurance until I am 26? If my wage is needed for this, I make 14$ an hour. My parents are more than willing to keep me on their employers insurance.""

How does car insurance work when making a claim?

What happens when a claim is made after an accident? If a car is written off how much does this insurance company pay? If a car is repaired by the insurance company what happens then? I guess they pay for the damage, but do they pay any extra? If the car is repaired then the value of the car will drop, therefore leaving the driver out of pocket even though the damage was not the drivers fault. How does it work? Cheers""

What is some good cheap car insurance ?

I live in california! I'm 18 & my first car is going to be a used one.help n advice plzzz:)

Can you have your name on the insurance if you dont live at the same address?

I am looking at car insurance, if i do it under my name it will set me back about 2,000 to 2,500. If its under my mothers name, but I am down as the MAIN driver it will cost me about 700 - 1,000. Can my mum legally be the insurance holder if she lives at a different address? I don't want to commit fraud""

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Car insurance question?

Last week, I had my husband's car parked up at work and I was notified that our car was broken into. The passenger side window was smashed and the thief took our GPS unit. The repair for the window cost 240 and the unit itself would be about 500. My husband call our insurance company and they said they wont cover it because we have a 500 dollar deductible for auto insurance and the GPS is considered home insurance which is 1,000. Is there anything that can be done to have insurance pay for this? I mean we want my company to be responsible for it but they are saying this isn't there issue. Any help would be great Thanks""

Insurance for my Car??

my parents have full coverage for Nissan Altima 2006 from AAA. now i would also like to be registered for that same car. I'm 16 yrs. old. How much do you think AAA will charge me??

How much for car insurance for a 2002 nissan xterra?

I'm thinking of purchasing a used 2002 nissan xterra and would like to get some feedback regarding the insurance rates for this car.

Does color of car affect insurance rates?

In the market for brand new car. Does color matter with insurance? I've heard red is most expensive.

Which company can provide me good student international insurance?

student international insurance

Where can i find a cheap auto insurance in los angeles for a 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX?

I own a 2004 Subaru Impreza Wrx (sedan). Vehicle has a clean title, not salvage, and payed off. I'm looking for the basic (state law requirement) type of auto insurance. I am also 19 years old with a clean record - no tickets, no accidents, etc. *I called a few insurances and so far Inifnity Auto Insurance $182 while Titan Auto Insurance $111.00*""

""Will my insurance rates go up if I got a ticket for driving in the HOV lane on I-95 in Broward County, FL?""

I was just pulled over for driving in the HOV lane on I-95 and got a ticket for $165 (kinda steep in my opinion, but the cop said he wasn't giving me a ticket for speeding). The cop said that I won't get points on my record and I verified that with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicle's web-site. I know I'm guilty so I'll just pay the ticket. Will my insurance rates go up if I do that? Should I plead no contest and go to traffic school? I'd still have to pay for my traffic ticket if I did that, but if going that route would stop my insurance rates from going up then it will financially worth it in the long run.""

In California does it state anywhere in family law divorce forms that a spouce has to have insurance !?

cont..... -----------> on the other party ? (do i half to have my ex. on my Ins. policy (health)

""How can i get umbrella liability insurance,without home insurance?

I only have fire insurance.please help.urgent.AAG

I'm 17years old how much would it be to insure a Volkswagen Golf?

""How much is car insurance for a 25 yr,female primary driver-Owning and being insured for the first time-Canada""

This will be the first time, I own and insure a car. It will be a new model, either 2006 or 2007 sedan or SUV. I am 25 years old. I am a female. I have had my DL for 3-4 years now. I've only been insured under my mother's insurance (for short times, while visiting her in the States!) Upon, buying my own new vechile, in Canada, I was wondering, what the range would be for: A.) Myself being primary driver B.) Additional, second driver, boyfriend 24, new first time driver! C.) A + B If someone could help me out, I would be greatful on any information or links pertaining to Canadian information. Cheers, Jennifer""

""What is the best health care plan for student while attending medical school, like nursing?""

I'm a student nursing and ASAP need some health insurance, including Emergency Room coverage. Does anyone know any type of Health Insurance for medical student like that, ...show more""

Auto insurance question?

I am looking into financing a 2007 honda civic coupe ex. It is a 1.8 liter inline 4 motor. Front wheel drive and automatic with almost 68,000 miles on it. In florida, you have to get full coverage until you finish paying off the car. I am 23 with 2 traffic tickets. One for a stop sing violation and another for no proof of insurance. Both tickets were given to me at the same time almost 3 years ago. Thats the only 2 tuckets ive ever had. I live in the country as well because i know that matters for a quote. But with this information, what would be a good estimate on how much full coverage insurance would be on this vehicle? Thanjs in advance.""

How much more would insurance cost if I bought a used 2005 VW beetle with a convertible top versus a hardtop?

Thanks!

How much will my insurance increase after two at fault accidents?

I was in an accident at the beginning of the year and six months later I was involved in the same kind of accident. I was at fault for both accident. I was wondering how much would my insurance would increase. Thanks!

Health insurance part time work ?

how to get coverage?

How much will insurance be for me per month for a used nissan 350z yr 2003-2004?(full coverage)?

I am 19yrs old and this will be my first car. My credit score is 662 and I work full time earning 9$ an hr for 2 yrs now. Will insurance be a lot for me? How much averagly? 200? 300? 400$? I need to know before I buy it from the dealer... thanks!

Cheap insurance anyone know?

Explanation for Insurance quote in Oregon?

Hi folks, I just moved to Oregon from CA. I got a quote from State Farm which suits my need. I just got a quote from an agent. She mentioned something like this in the quote. I have me and my wife as drivers. Automobile liability with W/P $25000 50/100/50. I mean to ask what does W/P $25000 mean? Is it mandatory to have PIP in Oregon? Thanks for your help.""

What is the cheapest car insurance for me?

i am 18, had a DWI in dec 2006 what would be the cheapest liability only car insurance for me? thank you""

What is some cheap full coverage insurance alabama?

Please help!!! Auto insurance question?

I'm having trouble trying to get under my dads insurance policy. I've just gotten my license and found a car I was going to buy so I called my Dad's insurance company to try to get under his policy. However they said I cannot go under his policy because she knows that I will be the primary driver as well as the fact that my dad is already the primary driver for two other cars. Without my dad my insurance rate is around $4500/yr. My dad does not speak english very well so I have to do the calling and talking. What should I say and do so I can get under my dads insurance policy? 11 minutes

Where can I find car insurance prices?

I'm doing this project in my class and we chose the procedures if someone was texting and driving and crashes another person. I got car insurance and I need to find out how much it cost for car insurance and all the procedures it will take and how much it will cover for the accident and by how much the insurance is going to raise. I tried looking on google but it keeps saying sending me to cheap insurance. Does anyone know of a good website that can help me. Thanks a lot

What is the best car insurance company?

I need to know what the cheapest car insurance is and is also reliable and still covers almost anything...(if such a thing exists) can someone help me?

I am looking for a company that will help me sign up for dentical and healthy family insurance as a provider?

Can anyone help me sign up for dentical. I would like to provide service to dentical and healthy family patients in my area. I am a dentist in northern california. I am looking for a reputed company that will help me with this process. I really want to help the children in my community.

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https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/can-you-get-rental-car-insurance-without-having-regular-moses/"

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lleodavis · 7 years ago

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2017 HITS Palm Springs “Ironman” Race Report

It’s been on my bucket list to do an Ironman distance race for some time. After completing the half-distance race at this location in 2013 with a friend (Carlos), we both agreed to come back for the full distance the following year. Unfortunately, it was not to be for either us. Carlos succumbed very quickly to cancer. One month he was my training partner, and the next he was gone. Around that same time I was overtraining, and ended up with PF. I rolled over my entry to the following year and vowed to complete the race next year for Carlos. However, a year-long deployment to Afghanistan meant a 2nd straight DNS (Did Not Start). In 2016 I dedicated the 2nd half of the year to the goal of finally finishing this particular race for Carlos, for myself, and all my friends who had supported me in pursuit of this goal. Instead, I made a series of little decisions that resulted in a DNF (my first and only). Fast forward again to 2017, and you can begin to understand the importance of completing not just any Ironman, but this particular race.

This year I’d have company on the long course with my good buddy Freddy as I had convinced him to upgrade to the full in 2017. He may or may not have been drinking at the time but I was happy he agreed as Freddy and I trained all summer and fall. Diana was also back to improve on last year’s first-time half-distance finish. The three of us departed after LA traffic cleared up on Friday and arrived in time to hear the RD’s mandatory race briefing. The course had changed back to the flat route that it was years before. I was disappointed, as last year’s route through Box Canyon, while difficult, was beautiful and a great way to break up the monotony of farmland surrounding Lake Cahuilla. Another new wrinkle was that there would be two different transition areas, but we were starting and finishing at the lake. Otherwise, the course was 2 laps in the water, 4 laps on the bike, and 4 laps on the run. Some of my friends can’t stand loops; however, when trying to conquer a new distance or keep track of your pace, the confidence of knowing the terrain makes racing strategy and adjustments easier. After the participant briefing we quickly set up our things in T1 and took off for our hotel. Despite a few beers and a soak in the hot tub I found sleep elusive most of the night. Perhaps it was race anxiety. Nevertheless, I had been banking sleep all week, and woke up at 0500 feeling well enough and got things going.

We arrived back at Lake Cahuilla a little later than desired (~0615), and had less than 20 minutes to get into our wetsuits, tires pumped up, and make any last-minute adjustments. This would later factor into my bike ride as I had failed to premix my electrolyte powder (Tailwind) into the water in my water bottles. Instead it was left in the back pocket of my bike jersey that I would put on after the swim. In no time at all it seemed as if we were being kicked out of transition and towards the water. The water this year was perfect: low 60s and calm. After last year’s low-to-mid 50s water temperature we were bracing ourselves for the worst. I later said to Freddy and Diana that what we were most worried about turned out to be the best part of the race experience. There were less than 200 participants combined between the half and full distance this year. I’m sure last year’s cold water temps and 20+ mph wind gusts through Box Canyon discouraged a lot of folks from coming back. Too bad for them, but good for us as it meant a whole lot less people at the swim start. Freddy, Diana, and I were almost ready to go when we spotted a photographer and got a group picture. About 30 seconds later it really was go time and Freddy and I were out of position for the start of the race. However, this would prove beneficial as we didn’t have to fight as many people while swimming, staying on the very outside of the pack for the first leg. We stayed parallel to the shore going into the sun. I had just purchased a new set of ROKA mirrored goggles which worked perfectly without any fogging, leaking, or pressure marks on the face. The buoys were a combination of small and tall yellow cylindrical and orange triangle, shapes spaced about a tenth of a mile apart. Except for the fact that we were in fresh water instead of salt water, I’d describe the course as perfect racing conditions.

Given how great the swim conditions were I was free to focus on my strategy, which was as follows: 1. Stay relaxed as long as possible, 2. Stay as long as possible (maximizing distance per stroke), 3. Follow through with every stroke, and 4. Kick only as much to keep your hips up (I’m not a strong kicker). This would be key as I didn’t want to race against the pink hats (half distance male racers), but stay focused on my own strategy. When I turned the first “L” of the first lap I caught my time as ~17:53 and thought, wow I hope I can maintain that. A quick check of my technique and breathing, and I realized, yes, I think I can. Having made the turn with the sun at my back I could see better the line of buoys and realized they curved to the left. I decided to do what I usually do in the ocean and focus on the target farthest away, which took me away from the closest buoys but put me on a more direct path to the last buoy. As a result, I encountered only one other swimmer. He was alternating between breaststroke and freestyle. During freestyle he kicked way too much and would be faster than me during that portion, but then I would pass him during breaststroke. After a couple of times of leapfrogging each other, one of his kicks caught my forearm and I got pissed. While any type of stroke is legal in triathlons it’s really inconsiderate to do it in close proximity to anyone. Still, I’m pretty sure I caught up to this guy and he was swimming away from everyone else so he could do his own thing. I quickly went back to focusing on my preferred swim mechanics and was happy to realize we were close to the final turn (for him). I finished the first lap (1.2 miles) in about 36:13, which I realized would put me on a crazy PR if I could double that. As I come from a trail running background a quote popped into my mind, “It’s not about who’s the fastest, it’s about who slows down the least.” I set my mind to not slowing down and getting my time under 1 hour and 15 mins. The 2nd lap was easier going back into the sun as it was a little higher, and there were very few swimmers in front of me. I found myself trying to catch up to a few of the swimmers ahead of me, and slowly but surely caught up before the 5th buoy and other end of the lake. I’m not sure if it was because I swam a more efficient route (I’m better than average at sighting), picked up my pacing, or if they were tiring. When I turned the “L” for a second time at ~55:26 I knew I had slowed down some, but I was going to push to the finish. I again lined up for a straight shot on the final buoy and had not a single swimmer in front of me as they again stayed closer to the buoy line. The only difference on this final leg was that I encountered a little bit of debris in the form of twigs, but nothing like the kelp that one encounters on a regular basis in the ocean. Last year at this point I was fighting wind and chop in the water. My hands wouldn’t properly close to catch the water on my stroke and my ears were starting to hurt despite the neoprene cap with chin strap. What a difference a year makes! This year I was passing people at the end instead of getting passed. When I stood up from the water I was at 1:14:33 and ran up to T1 for an official time of 1:16:05.

I was 12th out of 37 full-distance participants on the swim. Not bad considering I used to be in the bottom 25% on the swim. Normally, I would compare against my age group and gender, but there were only 4 of us dudes aged 40-44. However, for those of you that love metrics (like I do), I maintained a really strong swim cadence for me (27 strokes per minute avg) throughout, even pushing to 29 SPM to finish. By comparison, on my last three long swims (2 miles, 2.4 miles, and 3 miles) the stroke rate was 24 SPM avg.

I averaged 150 bpm heart rate, max of 174 bpm, which put me right in my Zone 5 heart rate, yet surprisingly I felt like I could have gone another couple of miles. Maybe not at the 1:48/100yd pace that I averaged, but certainly another mile or two would have been easy. Perhaps I’ll eventually get to that 10K swim I’ve been saying I’ll do one day.

T1 was about half the time as last year. I took my time first eating a macadamia nut cookie from subway and drinking some water, then toweling off, mainly my legs as I wanted to keep my socks somewhat dry. Moisture-wicking socks are more effective if they’re mostly dry to begin with. I zipped up my bike jersey over my tri suit (which had my nutrition, a 2nd spare inner tube, and my phone), grabbed my aero helmet, and took off. Total time 5:28.

I immediately felt better on the bike portion compared to last year. I was in far better shape after the swim this year and knew for certain I was a better conditioned rider. The route was 4 loops starting at Lake Cahuilla and ending at T2 only 2.6 miles away. One of the things I did throughout this ride was do math aloud. 112 miles minus 2.6 miles is 109.4 miles. Divide that by 4 and that’s 27.35. Divide that by 2 and each length of a lap is about 13.66 miles. Break down the lengths of each turn. Ok, that length was X miles.. so many miles until the next turn. Ok, my last 5-mile split was 19.9 mph.. let’s see if we can keep it above 19 mph avg for the next 5. I mean really, when it’s you and there are only so many other riders you have to find things to occupy yourself. I’m pretty sure I sounded like a less gifted “Rainman” out there at times (definitely, definitely a good rider) until things got worse, and then I switched to cursing out loud at times. My goal for the race was under six hours. I had completed two half-distance tris where I was able to maintain 20 mph for 56 miles and did that without race wheels. However, since then I had bought super light, super aero race wheels and figured that they would help me combat the ever present wind that is inevitable in the Palm Springs area. If you were to have any doubts about whether or not there would be wind in the Coachella Valley, pay attention to the ever- growing number of wind turbines on the West end of the valley. They’re growing like tumbleweeds in the Mojave Desert. So the answer is, wind is always a factor, but at least for the first couple of laps it wasn’t that bad. Excuse me for saying it again, but certainly not anywhere as bad as last year. The course also had only a combined 1080’ of gain/loss this year. Nothing like the sustained 3% avg climb for 12 miles through Box Canyon with 15-20 mph wind gusts. Yet monotony has its own price to pay. Later on we’d later comment that we missed the hills as the change of pace gave us a chance to coast on the downhills. Granted, that is coming from 3 individuals who have completed 100K or more distances who value the variability that hills provide. The course reminded us a lot of a trainer ride where there is no such thing as coasting. I would like to say that I knew exactly how fast I did the first 56 miles, but I mistakenly forgot to turn off auto pause for the bike portion of training. Moving time was about 2 hours and 51 minutes, which, despite the short breaks I took to grab water bottles of Heed (the electrolyte drink from the aid stations), I was well on the way to a 19 mph avg finish. Now let’s talk about where I F’d up.

If there’s one adage that you should always follow, it’s don’t do anything new on race day. That includes nutrition. That includes making sure whatever bottles they’re handing out will actually stay in your bottle holders. That includes making sure your stomach will accept what you’re putting down. That includes making sure there’s enough calories to keep your body going. Well, I learned that the arrowhead water bottles that they were handing out are likely to slide through my bottle holder because they’re TOO SQUEEZABLE and you’ll have to keep riding until the next aid station in 13.66 miles! I learned that if I’m rushed in the morning I should remember for the LOVE OF EVERYTHING GOOD TO STOP AND ADD THE TAILWIND ELECTROLYTE MIX IN YOUR JERSEY POCKET TO THE WATER BOTTLE THAT’S ALREADY FULL OF WATER. I learned that waiting to eat your shot blocks, or your ingenious snickers with almonds bar until it’s much later in the day, it WILL BE TO LATE BECAUSE you’re going the distance AND for speed. And why or why didn’t you just use the same stuff you did in training? Yeah, those wonderful homemade sandwiches (sometime with PB&J, sometimes with Nutella and ohney) that you used with the OFFICIAL UNCRUSTABLE SANDWICH CUTTER sealed up nice and easy inside of individual sandwich baggies. NO, you had to get all fancy and stupid with the “I ONLY NEED ONE HAND FOR SHOT BLOCKS AND THEY HAVE CAFFEINE WHICH WILL MAKE ME FASTER.”

Anyway, mistakes were made again. At least I didn’t lose my vision this year. OH, on that subject, I stopped twice at aid stations to remove the visor from my helmet and completely wash my face. The interesting thing is that sweat only accumulated in my left eye twice, which resulted in my closing my eye for a few minutes until the eye generated enough tears to flush it. Later on when I started the run, that same left eye was just slightly blurred. I’m thinking last year’s vision problems were a combination of factors, but perhaps the key one might just be the amount of salt taken into the eyes. I’m a very heavy sweater and I was thankful that while it did get hot at that point, I wasn’t grinding up Box Canyon with both wind and sweat to irritate my corneas. But back to the 3rd lap.About halfway through, the wind patterns did change as it was the hottest part of the day. I started slowing down on my 5-mile splits, and when I finished the 3rd lap (about mile 84,) I decided I needed to sit down for a minute and drink more fluids. I moved my sorry self over to the curb and sat down and thought, what’s wrong with you. This is about the distance you stopped last year. Certainly you’re better than this. You’ve gone through dark times on the trails. You once were counted out and then got up and hiked all night. Your legs still work? Ok, get your ass back on the bike and slug it out. I’d like to say that things got easier after that, but at that point the damage was already done. I could feel both lower quads start to cramp when the leg was fully extended. Being the problem solver that I am, I decided if my quads weren’t going to cooperate, then I use more hamstrings. Well, that worked well enough for a while. The aid station support was actually at the half-distance turnaround. At that time of day only the porta potties remained, and they had moved all support 1/3 mile up the road to the full-distance turnaround. When I pulled in and swung my leg over the seat I immediately felt my hamstring cramp up. Not like someone gave me a Charlie horse, no. This is the scream-out-loud, don’t-fall-over, don’t-pass-out kind of cramp that comes with dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and high intensity exercise in heat. It’s a special kind of pain, and honestly, I was glad no one else was there to see me. It took about 30 seconds before I stopped clinging to my bike, afraid that I would drop my baby, and moved it over to the bike rack that was thankfully still there, and slowly lowered my butt to the ground trying to stretch out my right leg. As I sat there watching my leg quiver uncontrollably, I again turned to dark thoughts. In times like those you try to fight away the negativity, but inevitably fear of failure creeps in. The idea that I could DNF on the same race two years in a row was lurking, and I quickly turned to assess my options. I had remembered to bring my black “fanny pack” which had a variety of “when things go wrong” options. I quickly took a salt pill, Advil, and salt chewable (digests the quickest). I also finished the other half of Tailwind and sat there. People I had passed were riding by now, one actually asked if I was ok, which was appreciated. I kept massaging my hamstring and quads, hoping to bring them back to life. I needed less than 14 miles to get back to T2 and walk things out. I started psyching myself up. Carlos would keep going if he were here. There was a one-armed guy that did the half. You still have use of ALL OF YOUR LIMBS. Get your ass moving. Slowly at first, and take it mile by mile. Use one leg, just keep going. I managed to pick myself up and get moving. I shifted to the small ring up front to test things out on the bike. That seemed ok. Luckily the wind was now at my back or crosswind. No more aero, just let it push you. I saw that Freddy, who had been about 5 miles behind me earlier, was now nearly caught up. Made sense as I spent about 15-20 minutes sitting on the ground at the last 2 aid stations. As I slowly pedaled my way back to T2 I started thinking about how the salt tablets would affect my digestion. I still had a marathon to get through, and remembered what it was like to walk the last 3.5 miles at LA Marathon with double leg cramps, or trying to finish the last 2 miles at Silverman 70.3 in 2014. It’s one thing to have confidence in the face of the unknown. It’s another thing to have experienced pain and know that if you’re going to finish that there will be no easy way. To quote the movie 300, “This will not end quickly, you will not enjoy this.” But again, I was letting the negativity creep in. I thought of the 400-lb sumo wrestler that did LA Marathon each year. He had power walked it in 8 hours. If he could do that at his weight, certainly I could as well. When I finally finished the total bike time was 6:54:35, a 16.2 mph avg. I finished 20 out of 37 finishers, which was very surprising to me considering how much time I had spent on the ground. I also had an average cadence throughout the entire ride in the low 80s, even when I was cranking out 5-mile splits at 19+ mph, which is very unusual for me. I’d like to say what my average HR was, but it cut out on me very early in the ride.

When I got to T2 I asked for help dismounting. I had someone hold my bike at an angle so low it was only 1 foot high. It made it a lot easier not to test my hamstring by having to swing it high over my seat again. The volunteers sprang to work and took care of everything else. They racked my bike for me, they went and got my T2 bag that I had dropped off at T1 at the start of the race, they were kind enough to take my helmet to my bike and get me fluids. I felt like it was a VIP experience. At the time I didn’t think about how unusual that was for a race, but when you only have 37 full distance finishers (don’t know how many started) and it’s getting late in the day, a half-dozen volunteers makes for an amazing transition area. I’m curious to hear how T2 went for the half-distance racers, but I thought it was amazing. I sat there slowly changing my shoes, putting all my bike stuff back in my bag, and before I knew it, someone had taken that away too. Freddy soon showed up and I was so very happy to see my friend. I could tell he wasn’t having that much fun on the bike. I knew at this point forward Freddy would be ahead of me. I really didn’t care that much anymore about beating Freddy. I had hoped to at least push him on the run, but I knew I didn’t have the legs anymore for sustained running. Nevertheless, we headed out together to walk the first mile of the run. Time in T2 was 14:43.

The aid stations on the run were the opposite of the aid stations on the bike. I will make it a note to write the RD a note saying can we PLEASE, PLEASE have bananas on the bike course. Anything besides Heed and water. But I had been promised a cornucopia of fruit and snacks at every run aid station. At this point that was my primary mission on the run. Get to mile 2 and eat high-sodium and potassium foods; whatever I could stomach. Knowing that my stomach would be imbalanced from having so little solid food on the bike and then adding a bunch of salt I figured I was in for a tough time. Getting to that first aid station and assessing how much I could take in would be everything. I grabbed a handful of pretzels, green grapes, Ruffles potato chips, and bananas, taking my time to chew each as thoroughly as possible. From my experience on the Backbone race earlier the year where I took in too much salt, I knew that from that point forward, the ability to take in fluids and nutrition would determine if I were doing run-walk intervals or walk-run intervals. I asked how far until the next aid station, and was told about 2 miles. I wanted to eat more but was having trouble keeping down everything I had just subjected myself to. Walk-run intervals it would have to be. At that point I was really happy that I had put my jacket in my T2 bag instead of my special needs run bag (which wouldn’t be available until about mile 6), as the sun was already setting behind the 10,000’ peaks of the San Jacinto Mountains at 1600. The run course was 4 laps along the neighborhood roads and leading back to the lake. There were three total aid stations, with the first and third ones being the turnaround points for each lap. It was a completely unexciting race course for the initiated among trail running. The best thing I can say about the course is people driving by and honking horns, yelling at us to finish strong, and of course seeing everyone else out on the course. Considering how empty and quiet the bike course was, this was constant noise by comparison. I won’t complain about the course design, but it had occurred to me that it would be cool if we ran around the lake at least once. Of course, the problem with that is running in the dark, or getting lost. No, they designed a good race course for people who, like me, would be shuffling along in the dark for hours. We were like zombies; mindless, in search of nutrition, driven by the need to keep moving but forgetful in our purpose of why we existed. Some of the runners were pure joy to encounter as they overflowed with positivity and encouragement. I tried my best to do that with every runner, as I believe in karma. And when it wasn’t returned, I sometimes said a small curse under my breath and wished a small curse upon them. I wasted my precious breathe in my state to wish you well and you ignored me. The race gods will strike you down with FURIOUS ANGER for having not honored this sacred code among endurance athletes. But, like a cat’s memory I moved on to the next thought in front of me.

One of the pretty things about the run was that we were one day short of the super moon. Although the course provided us with head lamps, we really didn’t need them to see. The moon was gorgeous and the night was far from dark and full of terrors. No, the head lamps were so that we could be seen among the cars trying to pull in to their gated communities. It didn’t happen very often, but sometimes I’d have to check for a vehicle waiting to turn. That section of the road was the long, boring part of the race that I came to dislike, even though that’s where the most encouragement happened. I preferred running near the lake, which, at above sea level, radiated both humidity and air that was warmer than the desert air around us. During the 2nd lap I discovered they had chicken broth, and forced myself to keep taking that in, knowing it was loaded with sodium. For real, a bowl of that stuff and you’ll have almost your entire recommended sodium for the day. For us ironmen, it was just something to keep us moving. I stopped taking in solids for the most part during the 2nd and 3rd laps. The ability to digest food meant losing blood from the limbs, and I wanted to keep the walk-run intervals up. At least ¼ mile of each mile I would run. At one point during the start of the 3rd lap I ran for a half mile and that made up for walking the entire first mile. By then Freddy was 3 miles ahead of me, and I was realizing I would be out here for too much longer. I started stopping at the aid stations to sit down for just a minute to get off my feet. That hot foot that had started developing on the bike in my right foot was starting to come back. Truthfully, I had done more trail running than road miles, and even though I had a thicker shoe than the Vibrams I trained in, I could feel my feet swelling up and getting angry with me. I decided to switch to a very pronounced heel to toe stride with less pronation to ease off it, and that seemed to keep it from getting worse.

When I got to the start of my fourth and final lap, I ran into Diana, who was back from finishing her race and driving back to the hotel to freshen up. She had her jacket, beers, and vegan food for Freddy and I and was getting ready to catch us crossing the finish line. I was so very pleased to see her. Between Freddy and Diana they’ve pulled me through some very, very long races. They know what motivates me, when I’m not myself (I stop talking), and when I just need to be told to “stop being a little bitch” and keep moving. Ok, they didn’t really say that to me. She told me she was proud of me and that I just need to keep walking and that she would see me soon. 6.7 more miles and I would be an Ironman. About a mile into the last lap I saw Freddy. He too offered up encouragement and told me, “I’ll come get you if that’s what it takes!” I let him know it wouldn’t take that, and to be ready when I got to the finish line. I started running more after that. In fact, I caught up to a few people, passed them, and stayed ahead for the next several miles. At this point I wanted more energy, so I switched to orange slices and water. I love simple sugars, and with less than 10K to go, I didn’t want to waste time trying to worry about the next lap. No, at this point it was finish time. I noticed on my 4th lap that about half the runners had cleared out. Those of us who were left were mostly walking. You’d think that the tall skinny guys would have finished or the really old folks would be last, but there was no rhyme or reason to those who were behind me or in front of me. When I got to the turnaround point I sat down again, this time for a few minutes. My right foot was flaring up again, angry from the run-walk intervals I had switched to. I decided to not push injury and just speed-walk the last 3.3 miles. I could average a 16 min/mile pace on flat ground with no problem. Less than an hour to go. I stuck with the oranges and water, making sure to thank everyone still out on the race course for their support. I have volunteered very few times, but I’m always extremely appreciative of those who take the time to enable us to do crazy feats of endurance, or masochistic behavior (depending on your point of view). With about a mile to go, Diana found me heading in. I was able to forget about everything for a while, which was nice. We got to compare notes on how the race had gone, and I was pleased to learn of her finish and Freddy’s. We kept messaging Freddy to let me know how close we were to finishing. Once we got about 500’ out Diana ran ahead to join Freddy, and I got to muster enough strength to pretend that I was still a runner and not some poser who was out here pretending he was a triathlete. I crossed the finish line just a little after 10:30 pm, over 15.5 hours after I started. It was the longest marathon I had ever done, and the first in which I started in pain. In the end it took me 7:03:12. By comparison, I’ve down a 50K with 4000’ of gain/loss in 90 less minutes. I finished 35 of 37 overall in this category, clearly the hardest part of the day/night for me.

Overall, I finished 26 out of 37 finishers. Considering the downward spiral of cramps, nausea, and moments of sitting, I’m shocked I finished where I did. I was thrilled to have finally finished for the night. Not for the pride of accomplishment, but because I wanted my bed. I wanted to be resting. I had threaded the needle between pushing my body just fast enough to avoid throwing up and succumbing to cramps for nearly 8 hours. Not exactly the most fun way to complete your first ironman distance race, but I’m already thinking about how to improve and getting another shot at it. But mostly, I’m just super thankful to my friends who were there to see me through this, yet again after doing stupid stuff on race day. Super thankful that we get to share in these moments and keep going. People wonder why I’m so faithful to this particular race. I’ll tell you, it’s not the race, it’s not the place, it’s the faces staring back at you when you finish. May you find those moments in your life too.

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