White Lake Half Ironman 2010

By: Stacey Hien

The day began at 4:45 am!!  Wow, that’s early.  I was staying in a house with my parents, Tim Friederichs & family, Erik Johnson & family, Jeff, and  Michael.  The house was a buzz by 5:00 am.  No one was really talking, just in the kitchen making breakfast and filling water bottles for our bikes.  Surprisingly I was not nervous.  I knew I had trained hard and today was the day to prove to myself that my training had paid off.  The only thing that I was concerned about were things that were out of my control at this point – ie – a flat tire, throwing up, cramping, dehydrating – and how my body would hold up over the next 7 hours – that was still a mystery to me.  My parents and I left the house at 5:30 to walk the short distance to the transition area.  I rode my bike and they walked over.  Once there, I set up my transition area in the dark.  Laying everything out according to the order that I would need it.  Hoping at this point I didn’t forget anything.  I must say that it was very inspiring to be there in the dark with such amazing athlete’s getting ready to race.  It was very quiet except for the music which was a nice distraction from my thoughts. Everything was laid out, I went to get my number and get body marked – still not nervous.  I ran into Tim on the way to chip pickup and I asked him if he needed anything and he said he forgot his wetsuit back at the house but Coleen was bringing it over.  Anyone who knows Tim well, knows how funny this is.  He was as calm as could be, I probably would have freaked out at that point.   I put on my race belt to go and get body marked and realized that my race number belt was broken!  Ugh!!  “Uhhhh, Dad do you have your wallet with you?  I need a new race # belt.”  Dad to the rescue and into the expo we went to get a new belt.  Thanks Dad.  Tim also needed a race belt so Dad to the rescue again. Okay, all body marked, back to the transition to make sure one last time that all my stuff was in order.  Time to get the wetsuit on and head to the water for a warm up swim.  After my body was sprayed with PAM and my parents looked on with laughter I was all ready to swim.  Down to the lake which was a balmy 68 degrees!!!!  Yes, I made the right decision to have a long sleeve wetsuit.  As I was walking out onto the pier Chris Daughtry’s song Time of My Life came over the speakers.  I looked at my mom and said “Do you hear this song?”  I got the chills b/c this was the time of my life.  I was still not nervous, still so excited to be living out my dream.  Into the water – wow, it was cold!  The water was crystal clear,  shallow and simply beautiful.  I did a little warm up and it was cold but not as cold as Lake Norman was last weekend so I knew I’d be okay.  I was in the first wave which started at 7:00.  Over the loud speaker I heard “5 minutes until the start of the 2010 White Lake ½ Ironman.”  WOW, was all I could think of.  Up to the starting line of the swim planning out my swim leg, strategizing, looking at the buoys and realizing that they are far away.  “30 seconds”  Okay, my first moment of panic.  I was so thrilled at this point but finally nervous.  The gun fired and we were off!!!  About ¼ mile in I thought to myself, “what did you get yourself into?”  It would be easy enough to put my feet down and walk back to shore at this point.   I started to think – wow, 7 hours is going to be a long time from now.  I had to squash those thoughts and only focus on the swim so that’s what I did.  I got in between two other swimmers and we swam side by side by side for a long time.  We were in such a rhythm right squashed up next to each other but it was almost comforting.  The 3 of us swam together for a very long time like that.  First buoy, turn make sure it’s on the right so you don’t get a penalty.  Okay, past that onto the second buoy.  The swim was feeling long but I felt strong. I knew I was not swimming as fast as I could but I was in a good rhythm so I just kept up with that.  Around the second buoy and now onto the home stretch.  An overwhelming feeling came over me that I was going to be finished the swim leg in about 10 minutes.  I kept my eye on the dock and the inflatable guy at the end and enjoyed the swim.  Enjoy the moment, I kept telling myself. Climbed out of the dock and the clock said 37 minutes – not what I was hoping for but had to put that past me, it was time to bike.  As I ran down the dock I could hear my parents, Coleen and so many others yelling “Go Stacey, good job Stacey”. That was amazing and inspiring.  All the way up to the bike spectators were cheering me on.  Okay, at the bike – helmet first!!  Ready to roll and off I went.  I was told the bike was flat but I did not anticipate that it was as flat as it turned out to be.  This was the absolute flattest course I have ever ridden.  I sunk into my aero bars, put my head down and spun.  It was amazing.  I am not a cyclist and do not really like riding.  Saturday my bike and I became one – we were finally friends.  After 150 mile weeks of grueling training rides I realized it was finally paying off and I was finally loving my bike.  Mile 10 and up ahead I hear a crash and a see a body in the air.  2 guys crashed!  I could not tell if it was just one bike or two, it looked like a pile up.  Slowed down, asked if there were okay and kept going.  They were holding their heads and arms, I hope they were okay I never did hear.  The miles clicked away and before I knew it I was at mile 18, the first water bottle hand off.  The course was beautiful.  I had been told about the head wind and they were right.  There was a head wind for most of the ride but it wasn’t too bad, there were no hills so that was a major bonus.  I saw several guys on the side of the road changing flats, 2 guys carrying their bikes, and all I could think was please don’t let me get a flat.  I knew I needed to eat so I’d have energy for the run.  So electrolytes, water, turkey rollups, and cliff shot blocks were my lunch over the next 3 hours and 24 minutes.   I kept thinking – wow, this is real, I am actually doing this and I feel good.  I hear & see the crowds and knew I was almost to the transition area – 35 minutes before I thought I’d get there.  I knew my parents would be there and I couldn’t wait to see them.  I knew they would be proud of me for finishing 35 minutes early.  All of a sudden I hear Coleen screaming for me!!!  What motivation that was!  She was yelling “oh my gosh, you did so good.  Your time is amazing!”  That pumped me up even more.  My parents were on the side yelling “Good job Stacey, you are doing so good.”  It’s amazing how much those little words can mean.  I rack my bike, now time to change shoes for the run.  I look over to my parents and yell “2 more hours!!!  Dreams really do come true!”  Off I went.  The clock said 4:09.  I’ve been exercising for 4 hours and 9 minutes.  Wow, and I still feel great.  First mile on the run was great – 8:24 pace and my legs felt fantastic.  It was 11:00 by this time and it was sunny, hot and humid.  I was told that the run is typically hot and there is no shade, well they were right again.  Mile 1 ½ and my body stopped.  I had to walk.  It was so incredibly hot – I felt like I was burning up.  I tried to run again, ran for a little and had to walk again.  Everywhere I looked there were people walking.  Some were limping, others had horrific looks on their faces and everyone looked tired.  I never got into a running grove.  I tried and tried and tried but my body just could not keep running.  I actually felt okay muscular wise but I was so hot and felt like an oven.  Was my body frying from the PAM I put on it earlier??  My feet were sore and I was hot.  I saw my time slipping away but I could not worry about that.  I was still out here, doing a run/walk just like the rest of the athletes.  There were aid stations every mile.  The course was flat and I just kept my sights set on the next white tent.  Water, heed and ice towels at all water stops.  I had the towel draped around my neck for a while, dropped that towel, picked up another cold one at the next stop.  I knew my parents would be just around the corner so I picked up the pace and was excited to see them.  Off in the distance I saw the GO STACEY sign and I smiled.  I knew my support team was just ahead and I could count on some motivation.  Just as I expected they were cheering me on telling me how great I was doing.  Again, that little bit of encouragement goes a long way.  Okay, only 6 miles left – I can do this I thought.  The run back (it was an out and back) seemed a bit long but I was grateful that I was not going in the other direction and that I was on my way to the finish line.  Mile 12 and I say to a guy next to me – okay, let’s just run it in.  You motivate me, and I’ll motivate you.  I was going to try my hardest not to walk the last mile.  Off I went and the guy stopped once again.  I kept going.  I could hear the music and the crowds cheering.  I knew I was almost there.  Saw a guy with an orange flag leading runners to turn to the finish line.  WOW, I’m almost there!!!!  I hear Coleen again screaming, then I see my dad holding my sign and yelling for me and cheering me on and I see the finish line!! Ahhhh, what a site for sore legs.  Then I see my mom clicking away on the camera.  I set my sights on the finish line and ran!!!  Crossed the finish line in 6 hours and 34 minutes and I was smiling!!!!!!!!!!  I was so thrilled!  My mom comes running over and gives me the greatest hug, then I get the same great hug from my dad!!  I had done it!!  A 2 year dream was finally a reality.  I completed a ½ IRONMAN!!!!

What an amazing experience!  I could not stop smiling.

I am so grateful to my wonderful parents who are the best support team in the world!  They travel long distances to be there and cheer me on and I could not do this without their love and support!!

Thank you to Tim and Coleen.  Tim – for letting me talk you into doing this race so I wouldn’t be the only UCRR out there and to Coleen for your amazing personality and inspiration along the way.  Your cheers and words of encouragement race day meant so much.

Thank you to everyone else who helped me along the way.  To those of you who endured slow rides with me, swam with me in the pool and lake norman, challenged me to run farther and faster when I didn’t want to.  I could not have done this without the help, love and support of this group.  You are all an amazing group of athletes and I am so proud to say I am part of the University City Roadrunners!!!

You all rock!!!!

I’m off to go for a run……………………….