Race Coverage

Katy's Cozumel - Part III - Body Management & Maple Syrup Shots...

Wednesday, 11 December 2024 00:10

By Katy Bloomquist Freitag

Bike to run transition - 5:43

Again they put my bag somewhere and I didn’t know where, and  as it was not marked individually and the categories were hard to see, many besides me were struggling to find their bags!. A bunch of us were running around trying to find the numbers and our bags.   In the changing tent I remember looking into the bag trying to figure out what I was supposed to do. I was a bit out of it. Changed my very wet socks. Did not do a good job tying shoes laces as I had to stop again later to re-tie and knot them.  Overall given how I felt it wasn’t a bad transition time.  Everyone was commenting on how rough the wind was, especially for the third lap.   
 
Run -  5:19 

This is what I am most proud of, an Ironman marathon PR for me by 10 minutes.   I started off ill.   But I eased into the run with slower pace to let my heart rate calm and my breathing improve. I trusted that it would improve after a couple of miles. It took more like an hour, but it did finally improve, and so did my stomach, allowing me to move along a bit more. I stopped at every aid...

station to pour water at myself, and I put ice in my hat, down my shirt and back.    This took time but I wanted to manage my body and keep it cool. I kept up on nutrition (maple syrup shots) and coke to settle my stomach, and salt.   I drank a lot of water too, but mainly I was dumping it on me.   Eventually after the sun went down it was much easier to keep cool.   It helped that I was acclimated to hotter temps and more humidity than we had on race day.  I did eventually have a banana and orange on course too.   The aid stations did great with keeping ice and water available.  

I also had to again manage my asthma.    I did inhale on my rescue inhaler and kept my pace, heart rate in check,  to ensure I would not have asthma problems. I walked through each aid station which helped this issue too.   

I did feel a couple of toenails move due to wet feet, and blisters forming, but I am used to that, as well as the usual soreness.    My stomach was nauseous or hurting off and on the entire run. I didn’t get too tired and until the final loop. I stopped at special needs just for the treat of Pringles. I did not really have to do so, as it cost me a few minutes, and in retrospect probably should have skipped it.   But I didn’t know where I was at as to the clock or fellow competitors, so I figure why not!     

Overall was super proud of my marathon as I finally had a steady one - which has not happened in 1/2 or full marathons.   I also smiled ALL Day even during the run! My non IM marathon in cool conditions is much faster, so I know I have more room for improvement for IM marathons, but I was happy.  My final time was 13:42, so not a PR, but again I executed my plan and was content with that.    

A huge highlight all day was seeing my husband who was awesome to yell out, and my friends Cindy and Bill, and Tiffany, who flew from MN to cheer me and Julie on.    They were so very encouraging and were great about cheering me on, especially to keep running in the end: STRONG LEGS STRONG MIND KATY!   It was also great to see Julie on course, also wearing her ZERO prostate cancer  Zoot race kit.   

I was SHOCKED that I finished 3d and earned a World Championship spot in Kona, Hawaii.     They had announced at various times pre-race how as this was a "Latin American Championship" so the women had 75 Kona slots and Men had 85 to Nice. But this information had not translated into me doing the math to see what that meant for my age group.      

My goal was to 1) stay out of medical tent 2) have fun, smile and if possible,   3) place on podium ( 1-5).     Very pleased with result, but also the process.   Many thanks to my now retired coach Neil King, and my new coach Shyanne McGregor, my sherpa husband and love of my life Scott Freitag (number ONE fan award for how he yelled loudly for me),  my friend Julie Halvorson for racing IM Coz as a ZERO fundraiser, and my friends who flew all the way from MN to cheer for us, Cindy, Bill, Tiffany,  NOW bikes with Mike Bieber, and our Cozumel friends Mark Lindsay    and also Bike Box who helped us with our bikes.  The support was incredible and really made it all the more special.   
  It is a dream come true to know I am qualified for, and I am going to Kona.    Scott is equally as happy that he gets to see me do this - as he was there for my first and knows how far I have come, and how hard I have worked to get here.       Meanwhile, Scott and I continue to appreciate and be grateful for each day. He heads back for his next tests and treatment at Mayo in January 2025 (still on the quarterly plan,) and then in February he is doing the Birke, a LONG marathon cross country ski race. Go Scott Go!  As always, we appreciate your support and remind you to have the men in your life get their PSA tested. Giving Tuesday  ZERO has a match going on, so if you are so inclined we always appreciate donations which will be matched on now   through Tuesday... milesformoney.org.