Ironman Coeur d'Alene Race Report: T1

T1: 33.52 minutes.
Once I stood up from the water I was pretty dizzy and weak. Disoriented, shaky, and shivering all over. It seemed as if I was shivering from my inner core. I couldn't feel coldness anymore, my skin was past that point. A volunteer quickly grabbed my arm and hauled me up the beach, directing me to another volunteer who also grabbed me (it might have been even 2 volunteers) and pulled me to the warming tent. I'd heard of these before the race and decided I didn't want to end up in one. But there was no choice here, I had no protest as I was brought in, seated in a plastic lawn chair, and wrapped in a scratchy gray wool blanket. My Bike Gear bag arrived at my feet. I checked my watch again, I didn't want to stay long. But I couldn't move!

I looked around and was reminded of a war zone medical tent. Athletes in various stages of cold surrounded me. I saw TH and was surprised, I knew she'd be way ahead of me. She looked fazed but awake--how long had she been here? She was dressed for the bike, so I figured she was OK. She left after 10-15? minutes for the ride. I wanted to follow so badly!

But was I OK? I just shivered...and shivered. Time passed so fast, the first 10-15 minutes just disappeared on me! The volunteers said we shouldn't leave until we stopped shivering. But there was a cut-off for T1--I think we had to be out of there by 2:30? And it was 1:55 into the race! I had time, but I had to focus.

Then to my surprise, JP came into the tent. She's one the strongest of our group, experienced and great attitude. If she was here--after me--something was going on out there. I gave her my chair and blanket. Her skin was ice cold, her eyes a blank look. I realized this is how I looked when I came in. I had to get out of here.

Once I stood up, my head came into warmer air (duh, heat rises) and it helped. I had to get out of here.

I'll be perfectly honest here--I don't remember when my wetsuit came off. I don't remember getting dressed for the bike. When did I take off my swimsuit? Put on my cycling clothes? In the warming tent? Or did I go to the changing tent? I think the warming tent, because I recall handing my gear-filled bag to a volunteer outside the warming tent, so I must have changed there. Right?

Once outside the warming tent, I started shivering again. I had on my windbreak vest and arm-warmers, and I knew I'd warm up on the bike a la Savageman. So I hit the bathroom, gingerly walked across the space to the bike, took Frea from a volunteer, and rolled out for the long ride ahead.

CP always said T2 was hell. This time it was T1.