Boilerman 2010 recap.
NU Team: Mitch, Lisa, Mondor, Alissa, Naomi and Justine
Olympic Relay: Swim-Alissa, Bike-Mitch, Run-Lisa
Olympic Individual: Naomi, Mondor, and Justine
Our adventure began in the parking lot of the Howard St. Dominicks where Lisa and Justine loaded up with cliff bars and athletic tape, and made a quick stop to the John. We get to the parking lot and drool over Alissa’s siick new NU Purple Nike running shoes. We team chant and we’re off to the races.
Car one: Pilot-Mitch, Co-pilot- Justine, Lisa and Mondor backseat
Car two: Pilot- Alissa, Co-pilot Naomi.
Mitch had this fantastic idea to bring walkie talkies to stay connected during the ride, as if all our cell phones weren’t enough. Naomi entertained us with her wise cracks so it was well worth it.
While getting off the highway Mitch developed this awesome ability to pull u-turns almost every time we had to turn or make a decision of any sort. I mean we must have pulled U-ies like at least 12 times in a 24 hr period. Well that being said, we pitched a tent in the dark and we did NOT pitch it upside down. (Maybe because this tent is not the fortress green one.) Although before we pitched it, it took me at least 25 minutes to convince the riders of our car that this indeed IS THE PRIMATIVE site, “……guys did I say primative, it’s ‘primative’. So yeah, we should pitch our tents.” Did they listen NO. “Guys it’s SO SO primitive it must be for tents. PRIM-A-TIVE”. Finally they listened and got out of the darn car we were in for like hours. Well we all snuggled like sausages, all 7 of us in a row and I took an ambien to go to sleep, as if the vicodins on the entire car ride there for my ankle were not enough. As we were trying to fall asleep Alissa reminds we of how she tried to kill an ugly scary man under her coat last time she took an ambien. Good thing everyone shut up quickly. SO I took another ambien.
We woke up after like 5 minutes of sleep. And its off to the races!!! Packet pickup, pretty smooth, except I think they forgot Alissa’s tee shirt. The morning was really cold. Alissa, Naomi and I went over to the pond/lake to check water temps and it felt like a lukewarm hot-tub. Mondor and I went of for a warm up run around the countryside, while Mitch took a ride on the bike. Not sure what Alissa and Naomi did for their warmup?
We had a great group chant “Go U , NU” before the swim start. We were LOUD AND PROUD!!!
The water was warm I had a freaky swim start as usual, hyperventilaitng all over the place, forgetting how to swim. I managed to get back in my game once it was half way over and find my pace. I don’t think it was too bad since I was pretty much on par with Alissa and like 2 minutes behind Mondor’s time. The transition was somewhat of a female dog, especially with my ankle. I had to gimp up a steep hill like 5% grade barefoot in my wetsuit and the terrain was less than awesome for my ankle, all bumpy and lumpy and stubbly.
I got to transition and took like 4 hours doing my makeup and trying to make my pores look smaller. Got on my bike and forgot my arm warmers. I am wet and it is cold. “Whatevs imma tear this road UP!” I thought. 26 miles of corn row country. Great ride but windy as heck. All I want to say is these Michigan State girls and this one NIU chick were monsters on the bike. Great competition for sure!!! Not too long ahead say about mile 10, Mitch passes me. I passed Mondor sometime before the Mitch sighting and got great performance bumps off both appearances. Shout out to you guys for the cameo. I never saw Naomi but she lived to tell a glorious tale of sucking face with a corn row. Naomi crashed, but she is thankfully okay but she anhillated her helmet and took out some corn. She finished with a PR shaving 6 minutes off her time at Chicago WAY TO GO NAOMI!!!.
Well off the bike having conceded to Michigan state and NIU girls who were way too awesome. Onward to T2: This time I opted for a nice facial and a peddy. On to my ankles #1 fav, the 6 mile run . I have not gone past 4 miles since I shattered my talus bone. By this time the sun was partially out and I was praying so hard core for a miracle. I had no idea if I would be able to finish considering the 5k at Tri-the-illini KILLED me. By mile 3 I was feeling pretty good. Pain for certain, but the kind I could ignore for a while. BUT by mile 4 the devil decided to show up and give me off -roading terrain with moguls and razor blade grass that I had to limp-gimp on, over, and around. Was great, freaking awesome, by mile 5 tears rolled down my cheek when I realized I was probably going to finish this race, I mean I was going to actually finish this. For the last mile T2 images of the team were holding me up. I mean I was doing this for NUTRI, I was doing it!!!! I crossed the line and headed right for the EMT to pay homage to my ankle for the GREAT job he did. The EMT guy was hot and he iced and wrapped my ankle. I got out of that steamy ambulance and hobbled around for some GREAT after race food like pizza and bannaers and kick awesome bagels.
We were ready to pack it up and tear outta’ Boilerman country after all the damage we created, but then I thought, “oh shoot I never checked my times?! “ SO I hobbled over to the table to get my stats and the dude is like, “you placed 1st in your division” I am like” WHAT WHAT”?!! I mean WHAT WHAT?! Yup! Wow!!!! SO we stayed after for a nice awards ceremony picked up a little medal and we tore down our tent thanks to Eric the professional straddler, made a few more u-turns and headed back to the Chi.
No running (or any cardio) for a while until this chest cold clears up. I thought it would be OK if I rode my bike to school and back today, but on the way home I htink it was a bit much for my lungs to handle. I came home after the ride and blew my nose to find a ton of yellow/green mucus. Up until now my mucus has been very clear. This was alarming! My chest was also tight and I had somewhat labored breathing. I called a physician on call for my school and she said that it sounds like bronchitis and I should go see a doctor tomorrow AM.
