Aloha, Hawaii! by Karin Bivens This was my 4th time competing at the Ironman World Championship in Kona.  I was so thrilled to be there again.  It is a reunion of sorts.  One of the best parts is seeing friends I have made through racing and whom I often only see at these events.   We arrived a week before the race. This was great as it gave me time to acclimate, practice swim in the ocean, check out my bike, get settled in and participate in many of the Iron Week events. I swam every morning! It was so much fun being with all the athletes down at Dig Me Beach! Lots of socializing.  Kayakers monitored the swim.  I told them "Thank you for being there!" to which one of the kayakers replied, "Is that Karin from Arizona?" When I responded, "Yes!”, she replied, "Shelley and I were wondering if you'd be back this year!!"  How cool was that!    Race Day - Early up!  Headed down for body-marking a little after 5AM.  Luckily, I know the logistics of all this and knew just where to go and how to wander through the maze of people in the dark early morning hours.  Headed to my bike; pumped up tires; added nutrition, water & electrolyte drink.  Then waited as the sun came up and watched the professionals start at 6:30AM.  Headed into the water about 10 min. before our start (get too cold if I get in too early).   Swim - Last year I had the slowest swim of my age group!  Thanks to Geoff Glasser's Sunday coached workouts, I swam 5 minutes faster and was 5th out of the swim in my age group; felt good and ready to bike!   Bike - Not as hot this year as last, but windier, especially around Hawi with 30MPH wind gusts. Luckily, all those training bike rides up to Oracle, Arizona in wind helped as I felt in control on the bike.  I learned quickly that the only time to take a drink was when biking next to a hillside; once in the open, I had to hold on tight, even leaning into the crosswinds.  Some athletes were blown over!  Two women in my age group missed the bike cut-off! Tailwind and gusts coming down from Hawi, and then crosswinds on the return.  The wind did take it out of our legs, though!  I was pleased that I biked 11 min. faster than last year under tougher conditions Run - So hard to get going!  My legs were feeling it!  By then I was out of my electrolyte drink  and had to use the new drink on the course, Ironman Perform, which I had used some in training w/no real issues.  Later my stomach was not happy especially when jostled when I tried to run! I even had to heave in the bushes; so I settled into a fast walk rather than risk bonking!  As the sun set a little after 6PM, most of my run is in the dark, especially dark out on the Queen K Hwy. The only lit areas were around the Aid Stations.  The common question asked is, "Are we almost at the Energy Lab?" It is dark there, too, with the exception of the Aid Stations and the turn-around where a big light shines right into your face (Now I know how a bat feels coming out of a cave!).  The electronic message board is in the Energy Lab area and it was a real perk-up to see "Go Kona Karin" which my husband had sent! As I neared town, I could hear Mike Reilly calling out names!  Once I got to Palani, I could pick up the pace and once on Alii Drive into the final stretch, it's as though my body was carried across the Finish Line by all the cheering spectators! and then Mike Reilly said those famous words, "Karin Bivens from Tucson, AZ, YOU are an IRONMAN!"  My husband Rodger was there to greet me and put the lei around my neck!   Post-Race - As I headed to the Athletes' finishing area escorted by Rodger, I happened to see Bob Babbitt.  He asked why at age 66, I did these things.  I told him that I didn't want to be a "folding chair person!"  He looked puzzled and I explained how every morning I did the practice swims and sometimes the cruise ships would be out there.  Then little boats would bring in the cruise ship people to the pier and out would come the folding chairs.  The people would then sit in the folding chairs awaiting directions as to which tour bus to get on, etc.  I noticed that most of these people were "my age!" and then I looked at all the athletes swimming in the water and decided I preferred to be with the athletes and not on the folding chair!  Would you believe at the Awards Ceremony they had my finish photo and Bob Babbitt told how I did not want to be a "folding chair person!" and that's why I did these things.    Results - In checking the results, I found that I was in 5th place (podium position) coming off the bike, but I could not hang onto that place during the run. I am not sure, if the new drink contributed to my stomach distress or just the long day, but still I was thrilled to have finished yet another Ironman and my 4th Kona ending up 7th in my age group and my 9th overall Ironman finish, not bad for an old gal!   Of course, now I want to go back!  The Ironman World Championship becomes addictive!  I just love it there and feel like I am part of this extended Kona family!  I am hoping to get a slot next year!  We'll see!  Swimming, biking and trying to run have become a lifestyle for me!  At my age, I don't dare stop.  I may never get going again! So I just keep at it!

Profile: The Irongeezelle of the Month (Ten Questions with Apologies to Proust and Vanity Fair) WHO ARE YOU? WHO? WHO? Deborah Cooke and that’s who we really want to know. …  and that’s who we really want to know…you! 1. What three adjectives describe you? Funny, offbeat, determined.   2. What is your motto? How hard can it be?   3. What has been your greatest athletic accomplishment? Finishing my first triathlon.  For someone who used to say that the only reason to run was to catch a bus, it felt like a pretty big deal.   I didn't know I had it in me! 4. What has been your greatest challenge? Staying motivated through the heat of the summer.  And riding the bike, which is not something that I'm particularly comfortable with... or on! 5. Who are your role models? Until my recent foray into triathlons, I didn't have any athletic role models.  I come from a long line of non-athletes.   6. Who is/are your training partners? My dogs. I jog with three of them most mornings.  It looks a bit weird, but I've learned to run with my arms at my sides, holding on to the leashes of a cumulative 170lbs of dog.  My run splits are generally faster than I'd imagined, as I'm unfettered by leashes during a race.   7. What motivates you? The dogs are my motivation to get running.  On days they don't get an outing, they are restless and unsettled  8. What is your greatest splurge? The time and equipment necessary to pursue triathlons.  Both ended up being more than I'd imagined.   9. What is your idea of bliss? A day in or on the water - preferably the Caribbean or the tropics somewhere.   10. What is your biggest unrealized dream? To one day be ineligible to compete in the Athena group!

Irongeezelle's Profile Ten Questions with Apologies to Proust and Vanity Fair: WHO ARE YOU? WHO? WHO? Tatjana Grzenia-Eggink …  and that’s who we really want to know…you! 1.     What three adjectives describe you? Eclectic, curious, stubborn 2.     What is your motto? What’s next? 3.     What has been your greatest athletic accomplishment? Finishing Ironman Switzerland in the dark, slugging through the pouring rain. 4.     What has been your greatest challenge? Overcoming loss. Grieving. 5.     Who are your role models? All the can-doers no matter what their circumstance. 6.     Who is/are your training partners? The Irongeezer, one of my role models 7.     What motivates you? Self-knowledge. Knowledge in general. 8.     What is your greatest splurge? Having control over my time.   9.     What is your idea of bliss? Ah, a great lunch al fresco, eating an antipasti meal, drinking champagne, and most importantly sharing great conversation with interesting people I adore. 10.   What is your biggest unrealized dream? Being a physician – a dream that will stay unrealized. Other than that, there are no dreams – I have a great belief that anything I truly want to accomplish, I can, if I am willing to commit myself to the goal. Invitation: Ticket to Ride, Ladies! http://theladiespac.blogspot.com/ Ladies’ November Ride Calendar by LaVerne Lindsey Happy November: Happy Thanksgiving, Ladies!   Wow, what a great two months are behind us: In September, we did some long flat rides to work on cadence (The Art of Spinning) and learned to understand how correct cadence gives us that little extra zip and zest,  when climbing, for instance, when wanting to pick up your speed, and how cadence will keep the legs feeling fresh when on a long steady bike ride, or recovering from a climb. All of this was in preparation for October. In October, we went out and climbed; we started out with a few .5 to 2 percent climbs that covered 35 to 44 miles. Then, we combined the distance and added a few more climbs as we set our goal to ride 9 mile hill. The last challenge for the month was to go into Mummy Mountain.  This was the most challenging ride of the month. Well, what can I say? Except that YOU did it. Thank you all for hanging in there these past 2 months. You have asked what is in store for November, so here we go:  This month will be a recovery month, a time to relax, just ride and enjoy the sublime climate of Arizona.  To all the Ladies who will be doing the Tour De Tucson, “Good Luck and Have Fun!”   November 2010 Ladies Only Bike Ride Calendar   All rides will start at 7am. Sat  Nov 6     Awhatukee                Bagel nosh Sat  Nov 13   Usury Pass                Patricia Place Sat  Nov 20   Tour De Tucson         Tucson Sun Nov 21   Ironman*             Tempe Town Lake Fri   Nov 26   BFNST*                      Pacos Park Sat  Nov 27   PV ride                       Tribe    *Black Friday: The No store Tour Bike Ride - This will be a fundraiser put on by some of the Ladies who will be partaking in the Multiple Sclerosis two day bike ride at the end of March. So, if you ardent planning on going shopping the day after Thanksgiving, and would like a way to burn off some of that great Thanksgiving feast, please come out and support The Ladies MS Group. http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=11847. November 21st Ironman Arizona The Ironman will be held on Sunday, November 21st and the Ladies will be Running Bike Aid Station #, which will be located on Beeline Hwy, 1.5 miles south of Shea Blvd. This will be the primo place to be; you will get the chance to see all the participants and you will be in the midst of some of the greatest athletes from around the world. YOU, as a Volunteer, will be handing off water, Gatorade, coke, Gu, food, etc to riders. The Volunteers are the pulse of this event. Bike Aid Station #3 will have two shifts:   Shift #1 6am to Noon Shift #2 Noon to 5:30pm...   If you have a preference on which shift you would like to work, please let me know. We need a minimum of 100 volunteers!  If you know anyone who would like to join us, please have them go to www.ironmanarizona.com and sign up! For the event, we also need a few items for our station. We need a sound system to play music, and we also need canopies to cover our tables. Please let me know if you have either of these for us to use during the event!Thanks for volunteering! Please contact Ruth Condon, rconbox@yahoo.com     Again, we invite you to join us each week on Saturday  for our early morning Ladies’ Only Ride, please contact me, LaVerne, with questions and to get on the mail list: rastainred@hotmail.com or 602-565-1839. I look forward to riding with all of you and sharing my love for this sport. http://theladiespac.blogspot.com/