What a fun weekend and race. It was a weekend of crazy funny moments, great relaxation, and good times with good people.
Nazi Security Guard
Got into town on Thursday afternoon. Thursday night we were about to head out on the town for dinner when Shaun suggested I try out my new bike shoes and clips. Since I hadn't tried them at all and he thought it would be good to just give it a go out in the parking lot. They were amazing... Nothing like my old egg beater clips that I had before. Clipped in like a dream! Unclipping was a different story. They were a little stiff to get out. It was dark outside and we were quietly just circling the building when a security guard said as we approached... "You can't ride your bike here!" Shaun told him that we were staying there at the condos. The guy tried to tell us that it was against the rule and we need to stop right now... but we continued riding past him towards our building. We were going to head back in when rebel Shaun said, "And one more lap because we're American." I agreed! We thought we were funny and continued on to do our little "we live in a free country and we can ride our bikes if we want to" lap. I then saw the security guard and he was mad. He said, "I said no riding bikes here!" Shaun told him again that we were staying there. He said, "Show me your room Key!" Shaun circled to stop and talk to the guy, I slammed on my breaks to stop and panicked because my feet weren't unclipping. I started yelling, "Shaun Shaun!" because I couldn't un-clip and was slowing down really fast. He said, "It's OK! It's OK!" thinking that I was yelling at him to not confront the security guard. Right then... Crash! I was down... Knee first and then the rest. It hurt like a beast! Both Shaun and the security guard just looked at me like "what the crap!?" I was SO mad that I crashed all because the security guard made us stop so quickly.... And because I'm retarded at unclipping... Oops! I was laying on the ground and was still clipped in and so I couldn't get up. All the while the security guard was still demanding he see a room key. I'm laying there attached to a bike while I'm afraid Shaun is going to freak out on this guy. Shaun helped me off my bike and got me up. Then it was on! We showed the key... All the while I was hobbling holding my bike while I kept trying to pull Shaun back from this guy afraid that they were both going to start dukin' it out. Some words were exchanged and once the security guard realized he was an idiot and we actually were staying there and not hoodlums rolling around his precious parking lot, he tried to be nice and offer to get me some ice. I was not happy about that at all! We basically told him he's done enough damage for the night as we headed back to the room to check out the bodily injury. Nothing to major... Phew! As we recapped it ... I couldn't help but just laugh! No riding bikes? Since when and why!!! Psh! But it was a great freedom lap!
So the next morning we decided to go for a ride... a real ride...at least it was supposed to be. We headed out and I immediately thought I was dying. My GOSH my legs were burning. I couldn't even kind of keep up. Shaun would be waiting for me, barely pedaling at all and I would be dying pedaling as hard as i could just thinking... "Oh crap... Tomorrow I have a race, and I can barely ride my bike." It was the biggest confidence crasher ever. Finally Shaun said, "I can tell you're biked out". A nice way of saying "Why the crap are you so slow?"...so we decided to head back. When we got back to the condo Shaun said, "check and see if your brakes are rubbing." I picked up the back of my bike, spun my wheel and it BARELY turned! My breaks were rubbing my whole ride! I was so annoyed but SO relieved that I wasn't just a complete big wuss! Shaun adjusted it and I was good to go. I would have died doing that race the next day with my bike like that.
Open Water Swim
We headed to the resort that we were staying in for the race. It was beautiful there! It reminded me of Spain or Italy or something that doesn't even resemble
Las Vegas. It was The Montelago resort. They have this awesome lake that the hotels sit right on. It is a beautiful lush and green oasis surrounded by desert mountains and hills. I checked in for the race and checked my bike in. I've never done a race that you check your bike in over night. It was weird leaving my bike. We had planned to try to get an open water swim in prior to the race in order to get my nerves calmed since I am
terrified of open water! We headed down to the lake... Shaun of course jumps right in. I sit there for a while thinking of getting in. He says patiently, "How long are you going to make me tread water before you get in?" That was my cue to get my butt in that water. I slowly inched in off the dock and panic immediately set in. I was terrified of what was underneath me, around me, basically anywhere that I couldn't see. Completely freaking out. I doggy paddled to Shaun panicing the whole way. He said, "OK let's go" and started swimming. So I followed him... Scared out of my mind with every stroke! He could hear me freaking out and stopped and said, "OK, what are you scared of?" I didn't want to say... because to say it out loud sounded retarded! He said, "Just tell me". I said "Alligators and sharks". Yep! It sounded even more retarded coming out of my mouth than I thought. He said "Amy! There are no sharks or alligators in
Las Vegas! Just concentrate on your swim... Right arm, left arm..right arm, left arm." So I started swimming saying that in my head and it worked. I ended up cutting our swim short because as much as I was getting better I was still scared. By the time we got back to the dock... I was OK... Sort of. Race nerves had definitely set in all day with a crappy ride and a freaky swim.
We had a great dinner at claim jumper.... I had to get boring spaghetti and meatballs (carb loading apparently) while Shaun got some amazing turkey dinner. Luckily he shares pretty well!
Race day!
Got up bright and early...5:30 to be exact. And got ready in a flash. I was excited and felt good. We headed out... Did a good deed along the way and gave a girl walking a ride. Now the thing about all women's races is that they are more than a race... It's a competition of how cute your gear is and most importantly a fashion show.. And if you know me, you'll know I love every minute of it:) It was a very girly event... Girl power every step of the way which can be a little much at times. Got body marked and headed to the swim start. I got in and swam a little to get used to the water and to help avoid a freak out. It worked. The owner of Irongirl got on the loud speaker and basically said "I know you all made major sacrifices to be here today. Remember to leave all your crap behind, this is your day to just enjoy and clear your head of everything except to just race." Nothing was more perfect for me to hear right then. I decided that I would just totally enjoy the whole event.. No stress... No heartache... No worries... Just thoroughly enjoy the moment and have fun. And I did! I may have taken it a little to much to heart. I lallygagged in the water for too long. It wasn't tiring at all in the water... I just didn't want to push it and panic. When I got out I felt a little too good! Ha! Then came the bike... I am a slow poke getting going. But once I got warmed up I felt great and had an awesome ride... Again feeling a little too good:) Along the way I really started to get reflective of how thankful I am that I have a healthy body and am able to do these races. I feel so lucky and so blessed for my ability to finish a race... No matter how slow or fast. I said a little prayer along they way and said thanks. Then came my favorite.. The run! I had an awesome run! It was a hard one... Lots of big hot rocky dusty hills. It was pretty much like leg 5 on Ragnar aka Avon pass. But with some down hills. Not much flat at all. It was VERY dry and hot. Not a single tree shrub or indication of life to be seen. The aid stations were awesome! At mile 2 they were dumping ice in a cooler and I asked if I could take a chunk. I basically had them dump ice down my shirt. It was my own personal cooler of ice and it came in handy for sure! There was so much support and encouragement from all the ladies. Everyone was chatty along the way. I loved it. As I came down off the trail I saw Shaun at the end on his bike. I knew I was getting close. There were 2 chicks in black that I had been trailing and was set out to beat. As I came off the trail I passed the first one... Then the blonde was next. As I was running a guy said to me, "Go get that girl in the black!" as if he was reading my mind! I came down the shoot just dying to pass her. And about 25 feet before the finish line.. Got her!!! That was my big victory of the day!
An annoying part of the race...as girls would come across the finish line the announcer would say "Amy Perez! You are an Irongirl! So and so, you are an Irongirl!" It was honestly a cheap rip off from the Ironman. It was bugging Shaun as well. I have a HUGE respect for the Ironman distance and one day hope to have someone say as I come across a finish line.. "Amy Perez! You are an Ironman!" But I better have just busted out 140.6 miles.... Not my 32.2.
As I came across the finish line, I was soaked from all the ice water I had dumped on me to stay cool. So drenched that I was sloshing in my shoes. At one point I dumped Gatorade instead of water. Oops!!! I ran back to the aid station and they dumped a bucket of water on my head to get rid of the Gatorade.
A great part of that day was Shaun.. He was there at the finish line... And along the course cheering me on. He was the most mobile spectator! He would pop up out of no where along the course because he was rolling around on his bike. It was awesome! I was really happy that he was there to support me and was so grateful for all the work he put into helping me get ready for that day. What a fun race! It was a great experience and even though I wasn't super speedy I sure was happy;)
Great day!
--Amy's 2 cents--
