What a adventure this past few days has been.

I am going to attempt to write a race report for Sunday. I have never been very good at this stuff but I honestly made a conscious effort to take in everything on Sunday and try to remember what was going on around me so that I could tell everyone about it.

4:00 am - The alarm went off and I just sat there thinking today is the day. I am going to become a ironman. Then I thought wow - it is going to be a long, long day. I got up and ate my first meal of the day ..... pulled together my final stuff and we headed to the race start. When we pulled out in the car my good friend Heidi emerged from the motor home with very sleepy eyes and a huge sign to send Al and I off with good wishes....thanks Heidi ~ I think we both needed the tension breaker even then.

5:00 am - walked to the Olympic Oval where transition was and stood in line to have our bodies marked. At that point I was really getting nervous. We had to go into transition and put the final touches and nutrition in our gear bags and on our bikes. I must have gone back to my bag at least 5 times feeling like I was forgetting something. (I didn't). Once we finished in transition we
walked up to the Team Z tent where everyone was getting ready to go. That's when really started to get emotional ( scared ) I found myself crying from all the nerves. I kept looking out at the water doubting my ability to swim 2.4 miles with 2,400 people around me. For those of you who have never watched a ironman on TV or in person. The start is really amazing. Also, a bit intimidating. I was lucky a few of my close friends Katie especially gave me a hug and calmed me down ...... assuring me that I was ready for what lie ahead. When we started to work out way to the beach I was calming down ...... I can only remember looking up on the hill and seeing my friends and family ...... and yelling out to them that I was on my way to them. I was so happy to see them before starting but that too made me cry again. My dad came up to the start shoot to give me a hug and I couldn't look at him because I was afraid I would fall apart again and the race was starting in 3 minutes..... The National Anthem was sang and I was in the water moving to a position that I felt comfortable starting in. ( way right and in the back ) I was with my team mate Siri at that point and she was the only thing keeping me from total breakdown. She has that way about her.... just makes you smile and tells you it will all be OK. When the cannon went off we said our goodbyes .... Siri told me to have fun and off I went. I tried my old count your first 30 strokes to calm down and just keep moving forward but with over 2,000 people all starting at once time in a not so big lake ..... my first 30 strokes were not so continues... I had to stop a few times and find a line to swim in. I think it was probably about 15 or 20 minutes into the swim before I was able to relax and start just thinking about my own race. I got beat up a bit on the first loop of the swim but it was not nearly as bad as I anticipated so I came out of the water on loop one feeling much better, ran over the timing mat and got back in the water for loop number two. I don't remember if it had started raining on my first loop or if it was the second but at some point while we were swimmimg the rain started and as you will read it didn't stop for the next 14 hours. Anyway, I was out of the water in 1:33 right on target for what I thought I would do. I let the wet suit strippers take do there thing and I headed up the hill towards transition. I saw everyone.... Stef, Dave, Jay, Julie, Karen ( thanks for taking my wet suit KP) Heidi, Katy, Steve, Danielle my dad all of them yelling and cheering my name - hooting and hollering. It is such a cool feeling running to transition. I got to T1 changed my clothes grabbed all my stuff and headed out to get my bike..... ( fyi - I packed a raincoat but it was in my special needs bag that I wouldn't see until mile 56. The weather man said chance of showers late afternoon. I think he got fired yesterday by the way) Anyway ... I ran out of the tent and around the corner and I saw Jenni ~ i think she was more excited than me.... she grabbed my bike and handed it to me and told me to go have fun. ( Jeni was a bike in/out volunteer that's why she was in transition )

So off I was for 112 miles on the bike. At that point the rain was coming down pretty steadily and I realized that it was going to be a long wet ride. I had hopes that it would let up so I just dug in and made the first of many climbs and kept going. The first loop didn't seem all that bad ~ the fast downhills were hard because the rain was hitting your face so hard that it was really hard to see ... at one point I looked down at my cyclomotor and saw I was going 43 miles per hour on wet pavement and I couldn't really see the road in front of me so I decided to slow down a bit on the downhills. As for the climbs, I am just not a great climber and even though I am better now than I was a year ago I still struggle but I do OK. The spectators and race volunteers were so great out on the course... the best part of the first loop was the Team Z tent at about mile 40 ... I could hear Linda R. when I was coming up to the turn and that really gave me a boost. The out and back is great because I was able to see so many of my teammates most of them coming back when I was going out because they are all pretty much faster than me but it was still great seeing them and hearing all the go Z cheers. At the end of the out and back you have a 11 mile climb to get back to the village and start loop 2. The climb isn't the hardest thing in the world but it isn't easy either and all I could think about was damn after this I get to do it again !! ye he can't wait. Again - the first loop 11 mile climb there were spectators out all over I saw a ton of Z'rs and they were amazing. At the top of the last climb refereed to as "Big Bear" it was like the tour deFrance the hill was packed with tons of people cheering and bringing you up the hill. It was great. Coming into the village is totally awesome .... I could hear the Z nation at least a mile out... I was so excited to pass them and see everyone braving the rain to cheer us on. Team Z you are the best.

Loop 2 on of the bike...... it was still raining .... and not lightly I think that was when I started getting a little frustrated with the whole being wet thing. I felt like a damn raisin. However, I didn't really have a choice so off I went to do loop 2. Not much different than loop one still pelting rain and a bit more tired but I was feeling good and once I realized that it was pretty clear I would make the bike cut off I enjoyed it much more.

The run - Ok most of you know I hate to run and I am not fast by any standard so when I got off the bike I can not say that I was excited to start running however, just getting off the bike was nice. So I came into transition and again Jenni was screaming my name - very excited to see me making the cut off ...she grabbed my bike told me I was kicking butt and I ran pick up my clothes and change for the run. Needless to say I was drenched and getting out of my wet clothes was not all the easy. My dry clothes went on wet due to the fact I didn't have have a towel and it was so muddy in the changing tent thatany towels they had were on the ground to try to keep you from getting muddy feet. The towels didn't help all that much but I put my barely dry clothes on and headed out on the run. I have to tell you that 26.2 miles seemed like 100 from the start. I had never done a marathon. My longest run prior to the race was 20 miles. I just took off and decided that I would run as long as I could and then walk if I needed oh yeah and on the hills.... so the run and the ride obviously had hills - several so I did walk a lot but for the most part I ran 5 minutes and walked 1 minute for the first 15 miles then I hit the wall.... the last 11.2 miles was pretty damn hard. I was just moving as best as I could forward - one step at the time !!!! Going from aide station to aide station. I think it was mile 23 when I thought for sure I had it in the bag. My friend Steve was out there and I was so thankful to have a friend to chat with for a bit and as we entered the village and the last big hill I could hear Heidi yelling "GO TIMRA LU " and I was grinning from ear to ear at that point. Heidi, Danielle and Steve walked me to the turn around and once I turned the corner to do the last 1.2 mile out and back - I could hear the Z Nation going wild. It was so awesome..... Team Z you are great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't remember who all I saw but it seemed like 100 people with wet green clothes screamin' my name. I got past the Z'rs and went about a 1/4 of a mile and my two oldest(time not age) friends Stef and Jules were waiting for me to walk the the rest of the way to the village with me.... we were laughing, telling jokes and Stef was telling me about all the cute boys that she had found for me....... funny the last thing I was thinking about was a date but leave it to Stef to remind me that when the race was over I might have time for a date ??? Anyway, I got about 1/4 mile from the Olympic oval where the finish line was and decided I could run to the finish.... I heard them say my name over the speakers when I entered the oval and I was so excited to round the corner and see the finish line. The greatest thing is that every participant gets to cross the line with the IRONMAN ribbon and then you hear them say - TIMRA STUMP you are a IRONMAN.... that was such a great moment. All I could think about was I DID IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I crossed the line and once again
everyone was there for me.... it was the best !!!!!

I finished !!!!!!

Ipromise to update with a official - Race Report- later ~ but for now .... I wan't to just
wind down drink some beer and enjoy my family. It was a amazing experience !!!!
It rained from 7:00 am until 10 pm but I did it !!!!!

Sat. Night 13 hrs to go !!!!!

I am officially freaking out...... it is amazing how much tension you can feel before one of these events. I can't even imagine how I am going to feel when I get up at 4am tomorrow to start this
journey......

Thanks so much to all of you who are watching me and rooting me on from near and far.
I can't ever begin to tell you how much I appreciate all of you and your encouragement.
Without you I would never had made it this far. I will do everything possible to cross that
finish line tomorrow evening and hope that if any of you aspire to do something you think is
impossible that you will just go do it !!!!

Pain in temporary. Pride is FOREVER !!!!!

Well were here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeni, Al and I arrived at around 3pm today ..... easy drive from DC - good weather and
good conversation. Jenni tried to reassure the two of us....not sure about AL but it
didn't do a lot for me. I am so freaked out right now.

We made a nice dinner at our house tonight and just relaxed. It was nice but I am
wondering if I can sleep.... my nerves are all messed up !!

Anyway - I have posted a photo at registration and one of AL and I at the turn off
into Placid. When I saw that first sign it totally freaked me out !!!! I will try to update with
photos and anything good between now and Sunday. Less than 3 days to go ??????

Check this out on UTUBE - then if you really want to be inspired watch any of the others that
will be listed.... it's pretty amazing to watch !!!
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=Bh1yMnrby3w

1 WEEK to go !!!!!!!!!!!!

As I sit here the countdown is officially on..... 1 week and 18 minutes until the start ......

I have a 40 mile ride today and I opted not to ride with the team. Long drive expensive gas and just wanted to try to sleep in a bit. So I am getting ready to put in my last longer ( funny 40 miles no longer seems long) ride before the race and trying to stay calm and keep to the plan.

The plan is - Have FUN - enjoy this experience and feel the accomplishment !!

I am having fun - yesterday Team Z went to a local Olympic distance race and had about 15
relays as well as 10-12 participants... new Zr's is what we call some of them. For some it was
there 1st triathlon ever and let me tell you how amazing you feel when you finish - no matter how long it takes you you just feel great..... The relay teams were made up of many of out IM
folks... just getting in a last workout and for me trying to remain distracted. I did the swim
part of my team and had a great time. Good distraction for a few hours.

I just looked for race results from my 1st race in 2004 and couldn't find them.... I can't believe
that I didn't keep that time in my scrap book ... there are photos and I know it took a long time ... I also know I was the very last person to cross the finish line .... I just don't have the time ???
I'm guessing that I didn't really want to remember it. Anyway, not a big deal it was just a
curiosity... I know I have come a long ~ long way. I don't need to see my times to prove that.
To date this journey has been amazing. I have made friends that will last me a life time and I
have gained confidence in myself that I may never have found. I know that I can accomplish
anything. I can do it in a triathlon and I can do it in my life. Next Sunday will be the beginning and end of a great journey ~ one that will lead me to new challenges, new triumphs and I am sure new pains !!

" Pain is temporary. Pride is FOREVER !! "

It's official I have a number #2325

Wow - not that it has not seemed official for all this time but when you see your name with
a number next to it - it is so real.....

#2325
that is my official IRONMAN number ..... let's hope that that is my finish time as well.

I got this today ~ it makes sense what more can I say ????????????

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!

40 yrs old and still kicking !!

I thought today would be a good day to reflect on being 40 and doing this event.


I obviously believe I am capable and in my heart I know I am more capable than I was at 30 but I will be the first to admit that some days I feel every muscle in my 40 year old body and question the age thing big time...... Not today ~ I watched the Olympic trials this weekend and Dorra Torrez rocked the pool at 41 ~ she looked amazing and I have to tell you I'd give anything to look like her. More than anything she said something that really hit me. You just have to believe. I promise "I BELIEVE !!"


I'm dealing a lot with the emotions of the event ~ I'm scared, I'm nervous and I am doing everything to stay calm between now and the 20th.


At this point in the game it's all about emotion.... how to keep that emotion in check. I have tried each day to just stay positive and believe in the training. To believe in what I have done and how far I have come. Less than 2 weeks to go ...............

To drink or not to drink ??

I had aspirations of not drinking in the month of July ???? I changed them to not drinking from the 5th to the 19th ........ 1st off who can go to a concert with Heidi and Barry and not have a cocktail or two. Not me !! 2nd - I figure the 4th will require a beer or something.... so my plan now is to strart the no drinking on Sat. the 5th.....

Oh and the 19th - I need a beer or two the night before the race ~ it's tradition!! I've had a beer or two prior to any triathlon I've done so I can't change now.....