^{PLACE & TIME:}  Robin 5th (9th Overall) - 11:08:13*

 (1:08:53-4:10-6:05:32-2:42-3:46:57)

Previous PRs or Personal Records:

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Iron Prayer - Troy and I have been a part of this wonderful ministry since 2000.  I had the honor of being one of the speakers this year.  Click on the link to read the report.

Anna's Race Story

"It's 3 days before mom's big Ironman race. She's been swimming, biking, and running. All I can do is run so I've been doing that up and down the sidewalk at this cool house we're staying at. Now we're standing in a long line.. with lots of other kids! A lot of big kids, too. Hey, Daddy's putting a real Ironman race number on my shirt. I can't help but start moving my legs. Oh, and an official wrist band! No longer a spectator, I'm really in this thing.

  Mommy is tying my running shoes. I hear someone say "1000 meters" Must be a joke, no one's ever gone that far! I have a plan - I know Daddy will carry me, so I'll just run when I feel like it.  And I feel like it right now! I don't know where I'm going, just running around in circles and screaming because I got this cool bib number on my shirt. Daddy's saying, "Anna, don't waste your energy, you have a race to run".  Come on, Dad, I've got energy coming out my ears, I'm just having fun.

  We're at the start now. It looks like a 100 kids!  Mommys and daddys, too.  Can we all fit on this little path around the park?  Mommy's got the camera out.  She better be ready because I'm quick.  And who's this "Mike Riley, The Voice of Iroman" guy anyway? What's that? I heard "GO!" Come on dad, put me down, I see kids running and I feel the need for speed! All right! I'm running now, gliding across the pavement, effortless in motion, straight as an arrow, eyes on the prize... Daddy, pick me up! Whew, that was a good 20 yds. Just gotta get my bearings again. Way to go, Dad, keep walking the same pace so I don't lose position. Ok, I'm ready. Down! ....gliding across the pavement, wind blowing through my hair, relaxing the hands... ok, Daddy, up! This is a great system we got going. Ok, get ready mom, more action coming at you.  Down, Daddy! ....Gliding across the pavement... hey, I passed someone.. mommy, did you get that on film!?

This is so fun! Turn left? What's this guy think? I can't turn at this speed. Whoa, where'd the course go. Daddy, up! From up here I can see better.. I've got 2 more turns to the finish! Down, Daddy! ...Gliding across the pavement, feet barely touching the ground, cheers getting louder... suddenly... I'm tired again. Up Daddy!  But there's the finish! Daddy, Down! This is it! Running faster than ever, finish line approaching, I think they're going to give me something, must keep going, feet don't fail me now... by the way, Daddy's doing pretty good keeping up... ok, lunge for the finish, lean like Eric Little... am I done?  Yay!!! A medal! Am I an Ironman? I'm not even tired. There's Mommy! 'Mommy, I run!'"

Anna ran almost 1/2 of the race and was very proud to wear her medal and bracelet.. at least for the first day.  She competed with her Ridder buddies, Robbie and Joshua.

Robin's Race Story

It's race morning.  I roll out of bed at 4am, get dressed and make toast.  It's windy… I was hoping that it would finally quit this morning.  The water will be choppy and we'll be battling headwinds on the bike.  But everyone has to race in the same conditions so no need to focus on it.  I'm feeling good, and nervous.  I'm anxious to get going.  The finish line is so far away it's overwhelming.  I continue to turn to God for comfort.  I know He wants me to do my best and to trust that His plan for me today will be for my good.

Troy drops me off at the transition area at 5am.  I get body marked and then check on my stuff.  Yesterday we all dropped off our bikes and gear bags for the bike and run.  I check my tires as sometimes they can go flat overnight.. for whatever reasons.  All my stuff looks good.  I add some decorations to my bags so they'll stand out when I transition from one discipline to the other.

Now I drop off my "special needs" bags for the bike and for the run.  These are for anything you think you might need after half way in the bike and run.  This way we can stick to our own nutritional preferences instead of being restricted to what is on the course.

It's a waiting game now.  I have over an hour until the start.  I run into several people from the Iron Prayer service.  It's comforting to know that we are all praying and pulling for each other.  It's also nice to know that friends and family at home are doing the same. 

The "cheer squad" (Troy, Anna, and my Mom and Dad) meet me at 6:20am.  Mom and Troy helps me put on my super tight wetsuit!  He sprays Pam on my legs and arms so it will peel right off.  Troy and I pray and ask for the glory to go to God.  I then join the herd of triathletes going to the beach.  There are over 2100 athletes covering about a ¼ mile of sand on Lake Coeur d'Alene…the crowd is huge!  In a mass start things can get interesting!  I place myself ¾ of the way down the beach.  This puts me farther from the course buoys, but away from the main sea of athletes. 

We are all looking at the very choppy water ahead of us.  The chilly south wind has churned up white-caps across the lake and the kayaks and boats are being pushed toward shore.  I get in the water to warm up 15 min before the start although most don't.  They are asking us to get out of the water.  5 min before the start we are surprised when the announcer tells us that, due to the rough conditions, we have the option to skip all or part of the swim and race a duathlon instead.  This is highly unusual!!  If you skip the swim you have to wait till after the swim cut-off to start the bike… and you're ineligible for Hawaii qualifying slots.  I think about it for 1 second and say "no".  It's worth getting in this choppy, soon to be crowded lake.  Then the announcer tells us, "If you need help out there, take off your cap and wave it in the air!"

THE SWIM

I'm not wearing my watch so I'm caught off-guard when the cannon shoots off at 7am.  I jump in and it's crazy from the get go.  I'm trying to swim through the waves, not get pummeled by a foot or fist, and looking for the main buoy a ½ mile out all at the same time.  I feel a sense of panic.  Images of getting pushed under and drowning cross my mind.  I just keep praying and ask God to give me peace and confidence.  I get into a good rhythm and soon I'm at the buoy. 

All 2000 have to go around this left-turn buoy. It's getting pretty crowded and congested.  I anticipate this and head to towards the right.  Good move, but it's not over yet.  Just a short distance, there's another left-turn buoy.  I get around safely and now it's back to the beach.  It's much easier swimming this direction with waves to our backs.

Robin's Dad & I are scanning the lake.  I'm shivering from the wind and Jan has taken Anna to a warmer place to play.  We see a boat bringing a dozen athletes out of the water!  But surprisingly we notice the rest of the swimmers are making good time.  Dad spots Robin, "There she is!"  It's so great to see her make the run across the beach and dive back into the water.  She's doing great!

After the first lap, we have to get out, run across a timing mat on the beach, and jump back in.  I look and see my first lap split of 33 min.  I breath a sigh of relief…I'm on pace!  Jumping back in, I find myself with a little more room.  I'm having more trouble sighting this time.  I ask God for help and suddenly I see yellow arms coming out of the water.  Another swimmer ahead has distinctive markings on his wetsuit…great!  It looks like he's making a beeline to that first main buoy.  Thanks God!  I follow him out and around the two buoys and then I'm home free!

I get out the water at 1:08.  Off goal pace by 3 min.  Not bad for a nutty swim!  Thanks God!  As I tear the wetsuit off my arms and run up the beach I trip and fall.  I get up with sand all over me but continue to run into the transition area.  There are tons of volunteers waiting to help us strip off our wetsuits.  I lay down and 2 gals rip it off.  I get up and dash for my bag.  In the ladies changing tent a volunteer assists me with putting on my bike gear… socks, helmet, and pink arm warmers.

THE BIKE

I'm on my bike and out on the road.  It's a brand new 2 loop course;  much hillier then the previous 4 years.  The wind will make it tougher.  I want to average 18.6 mph for a 6 hour finish but we'll see if that is possible.  112 miles ahead of me - this is the longest and toughest part of the race for me.  Troy will be trying to keep track of the girls in my age group by checking race numbers (they're grouped by age categories).

My legs feel strong which is good news!  The last three weeks I've trained less but my legs continued to feel sore and tired.  I turn on my Garmin GPS bike computer and wait for it to lock on satellites.  My back up speedometer isn't working so in the meantime I have no idea how fast I'm going. By mile 3 the Garmin kicks in and now I have some information to work with.

After a short out-and-back by the lake, we head north.  I'm averaging over 19mph and feel comfortable.  My heart rate is hovering around 145bpm which is good.  Thanks God!  I know I'll probably slow down a bit on the second loop but as long as I'm comfortable that's great!  I'm thinking of Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight".  I know that adversity is ahead and I need to rely on Him more than anything else.  I don't want to take this race into my own hands and leave Him out…that spells disaster if I do that!

I see the cheer squad at mile 14 and I smile and wave.  I haven't seen a single girl in my age group, but I've seen a lot in the group above and below me.  I wonder where I'm at but just try to focus on God and my heartrate. 

We see Robin fly by at mile 14!  Mom's got Anna, Dad's taking pictures, and I'm recording bib numbers in the computer.  It looks like she's in 7^th place!  I try to tell her but don't think she heard.

The spectators have such great energy!  I see a 5 ft. Elmo dancing in the street.  People are ringing bells, flashing signs and yelling words of encouragement.  They're just so excited to see us.  A couple of kids are sticking their hands out and I cannot resist riding over to give out high 5's.

Mile 20: The hills start to creep in.  The race plan is to keep my heartrate below 160bpm while climbing which forces me to be conservative.  And when the downhill comes, to use the "free speed" and pedal hard!  The heartrate never goes too high when descending.  Most of the athletes are doing the exact opposite, hard up the hill and easy down, so I'm getting passed going up and I'm passing a lot going down.

Mom, Dad, Anna & I are driving to checkpoints throughout the course to cheer for Robin.  We want to get to Mile 28, a perfect uphill cheering section, but are blocked by road closures.  We buy a map and find an access… Boeker Rd.  We finally find the road.. with "No Trespassing" signs on it.  But it's the only way through.  Very slowly we creep along the gravel road, ready to apologize to anyone we disturb.  We're almost to the other end when the road turns to a forest trail.  I run up ahead and determine our rental van just doesn't have the clearance.  We abort the mission, much to Mom's relief, and slowly head back for Plan B..

Mile 45:  I see the cheer squad and Troy tells me I'm in 6^th place.  Great news!  There are 4 Hawaii Ironman slots in my age group. This pumps me up and I praise God.  As we head back on the flat section to town, there's a significant headwind.  The aero bars are really great for times like these!  My average now dips from 19+ to 18.7.  I’m still ahead of pace but concerned about my sore hamstrings and completing another loop. 

Moments later, 2 girls in my age group pass me.  One is wearing a red shirt.  Oh, boy!  I need to try to keep them in my sights, but not over do it.  It's not until the second lap that I need to make it hurt… coach's orders.

I start the second lap with a little less energy and enthusiasm.  I know it's critical to remain calm and to plug away.  It's harder to focus on God when negativity pollutes my mind.  I know I made a commitment to have fun and smile so that helps me to keep looking to Him.

Mile 57:  I see the cheer squad, minus Mom and Anna.  Troy tells me what I already know that I'm in 8^th place.  My average is now 18.6.  At this point I'm thinking, "I'm slowing down and they're getting faster".  Thoughts like "I'll never see them again" and "this stinks" pop into my head.  I feel God answering those thoughts with "hang in there", "keep pushing", and "you never know what lies ahead". 

Heading North, I see the same spectators cheering with the same enthusiasm!  It's been 3 hrs., how do they do it!  The same kids stick their hands out and I give high 5's again.  They look so happy!  I think about Anna and long to hold her in my arms.

I catch up to a girl in my age group in orange…alright!  We start to go back and forth.

Mile 70: I see the cheer squad again.  Troy tells me I'm in 7^th.  That might not last for long. 

We hit the hills again.  I watch my average drop to 18.5. We're still going back and forth.  Each time she passes I tell her good job. 

Mile 87:  There's the squad again!  Man they really get around!  The girl is ahead of me so I'm in 8^th. I'm heading back towards town now…yeah!  Again, another girl in my age group creeps up in gray.  I remain calm even though my average has dropped to 18.4. 

Mile 93: I see the cheer squad.  I'm currently in 9^th with the two girls just ahead.  All three of us battle it out for a while and finally the orange girl falls back.  Amazingly I see the girl in red who passed me on the first loop!  You're right God; I never know what will happen!

Now I'm battling it out with the girls in grey and red.

Mile 101: There's Troy and Dad.  I'm currently in 9^th.  The 3 of us approach town and I push hard to pull away.  I get a good lead on them as I finish up the bike.  My time is over 6 hours but I know I'm pretty close.  Thanks God!  I jump off my bike as a volunteer whisks it away.  Yes, I’m done!  Now I get to do my favorite part!

(mile 0) I run to the gear bags, look for the stickers I added to it, grab it, and run into the change tent.  A volunteer greets me and follows me to help.  I dump out the bag to see white shoes fall out.  But mine are yellow.  Confused for a moment, I realize I put the stickers on the wrong bag!  I stuff the gear back in, ask the volunteer to wait for me, and run out to switch the bag for the right one.  I'm fumbling around now.  I put my shoes on before I change my socks.  I put one sock on wrong.  The whole time I'm not panicking but I'm just focused.  I know God will make it work out.

THE RUN

I exit the tent.  The grey and red girls are ahead.  I pass the grey girl and we both encourage one another.  I hone in on the red girl and work up to her.  I see her dodge into a porta-potty.  Alright, I'm back where I started!   I have two laps of the run ahead of me and I'm pumped up again.

I've put on my Garmin running watch.  It's taking a long time to load the satellites.  I'll give it a mile.  I have no idea if I'm going too fast or too slow but I'm trusting God.

(mile 2) I see the whole cheer squad!  The watch still isn't working.  I ask Troy to pray that it will.  It's hard to run blind but I wait.

We're so excited Robin is on the run, the part she is the strongest, and off the bike without a flat or other technical.  We see her at mile 2 and she's moving fast, but her watch isn't working!  It's very difficult to run a good marathon in an Ironman without time splits because your sense of speed is off.  Too fast can be disastrous.  I pray that her watch works.

Watch still isn't getting signal.  I decide to put it in manual mode.  I'm not able to get my average pace, but I find I can record splits.  That's good enough!

I see friend, and pastor, Tod Hornby, his wife Patty and some folks from his church.  They cheer me on and I smile.

(mile 3) I hit the split and wait to see what pace I'm doing.  In the meantime, the girl in red passes me.  I try to match her pace.

(mile 4) 8:05.  That's a little too hot!  Slow down and let the red girl go.  I need to average 8:35 for a goal time of 3:45.  Even though I've gone out too fast, I trust God.  He was my eyes for those first few miles and it was nice that way.  I know He has my best interest in mind.

I'm loosing interest in the drinks I'm carrying on my belt. I'm hungry and I'm craving salt.  I take in some pretzels and it really hits the spot.  Nutrition is critical now.  I can easily start to bonk or get sick if I'm not careful.

(mile 5) 8:21.  I've slowed down the pace.  The cheer squad drives by and I hear Troy tell me I look good.  I flash him 8 fingers to let him know I know I'm in 8^th place.

(mile 6) 8:30…better!  Soon after, I see the cheer squad waiting for me ahead.  I flash everyone a smile.  Troy tells me what I know, "You're in 8^th place".  I tell him my watch is going now.

(mile 7) 8:36.  I'm not feeling so great now!  My hamstrings are getting tight and I'm wanting more pretzels.  I struggle to get up the hill on mile 8.  I want to walk.  I feel God telling me to just keep running.  I make it to the turn around and get to run down now

(mile 8) A 9:19 even with the downhill.  I see the cheer squad in the same spot on the way back.  I muster a smile and tell Troy it's getting tough. Just keep running, just keep running!  It's getting harder,  I'm getting slower, and farther behind the other girls.  The cheer squad goes by.  I tell Troy, "It's not going to happen today.  Everything hurts!"

I've been so excited today watching Robin doing so well!  She's followed the plan and she's a strong runner… I'm sure she's going to catch more girls ahead.  We're so optimistic and rush off to the next checkpoint.  When we drive by I am shocked back to reality. She looks at me, holding back the tears, and says, "It's not going to happen today".  She's totally exhausted and hurting all over.  I was so excited I forgot about how hard this race is.  Her pace had slowed down a lot an the other girls were getting farther ahead.  I stop and pray for her.  Doubt floods me but I feel encouraged to remain hopeful.  I tell Robin's parents, "I feel God is going to do something amazing today."

I know I need to keep the calories going.  I keep grabbing more pretzels, Gatorade and even a cookie… anything to appeal to my appetite.

Mile 9: 9:20.  The squad drives past and I hear Troy say, "no matter what happens, we love you!"  Soon after, I run by a big billboard spitting out earlier messages from family and friends.  I look up and see Troy wrote, "God wants you to win".  I start to cry.  Our good friend, and pastor, Lincoln Murdoch, had referenced the phrase "I want you to win" from the movie, Rocky II.  It doesn't mean I have to win first place, it means He's fully behind me and I can go for it and do my best, knowing I have His blessing… like Rocky new he had Adrian's full blessing.

(mile 10) 9:12. I feel dejected but I keep trying to smile and wave to other athletes and spectators.  I need to practice what I preached at Iron Prayer.  It's so hard to do it but I know it's what God wants and I know it helps others around me. 

(mile 11) 9:31. I see the squad and stop to walk and tell Troy I'm hurting.  He asks, "What's hurting?"  "My hamstrings".  He says, "You can take the Ibuprofen now and you can start drinking coke at Mile 14 (instead of mile 21)".  "Really?"

He continues, "Yes, really… and the girls ahead of you are coming back."  "Really?"

"Yes, one of them looks like she's speed walking. You can stop and stretch your hamstrings and still be in it."

With a little bit of hope in my step now I keep pressing ahead.  (mile 12) I take my ibuprofen and get a little stretching done.  I keep running even though I want to walk so badly!   I see Tod Hornby again.  He can tell I'm struggling.  He comes alongside to tell me, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".  Good reminder!  (mile 13) I see the squad again.  Troy tells me there's a girl just ahead and to go after her.  I'm not itching to catch her but if I just keep running, maybe it's possible. He also tells me to run an 8:30 mile.  I turn around, look him in the eye, and tell him I can't.  At the moment I'm in survival mode and just focusing on continuing the running motion. He reminds me about coke at 14. A little later, I see the girl Troy was talking about and pass her.  Alright, I'm in 7^th now! (mile 14) I was so out of it that I missed my splits at miles 12 and 13. I hit my watch and it says 28:05.  My barely-functioning brain realizes that's over 9 min. per mile.

I take coke and feel a tiny lift. (mile 15) 8:59.  I'm surprised that I cracked 9!  I take in more coke and try some warm chicken broth too. I get to my run "special needs" bag and only grab my Espresso Hammer gel.  I take in 3 oz on the spot in hopes to get a boost.  When will the caffeine kick in?  I stopped drinking coffee 2 weeks ago so I can really feel the effects today.

A friend, Rich, from Iron Prayer goes by and encourages me. I encourage him back.  I really needed that!  I've started the 2^nd big loop of the run.  I see Tod again and he reminds me of the same verse…."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".

(mile 16) 9:42.  I've fallen back again! As I'm struggling a girl in my age group passes me at a good pace.  I feel God tell me to go with her and get 7^th place back!  A fire is suddenly lit inside me and I actually pick it up.  She's running faster but I'm not loosing much ground to her.  I take in more coke and broth and try not to take my eyes off that girl.

(mile 17) 8:37.  I'm getting excited again!  I catch up to Rich and we run together a bit.  We encourage each other again.  I'm determined to catch the girl.   I'm definitely reeling her in now!

(mile 18) 8:34. Troy drives by and tells me, "Anna says go Mommy!"  I wave and smile but also keep my eyes on the girl. (Mile 19) I'm so close to passing her that I miss my split.  Finally I make the pass at a fast pace and she doesn't match me.  Thank you God for bringing me back from the dead!!  I cannot believe things have turned around 180 degrees!!  I'm still in this race and Kona isn't out of reach!  (mile 20) My split is 17:04 which averages out to 8:32 per mile.  Yes!  I see Troy and Anna having fun up ahead.

Mom and Dad are stationed at the finish.  Anna and I are at Mile 20.  It's easy to be anxious right now and hard to know what to tell Robin.  I pray for her and feel a reminder from God that the outcome won't be determined by what I say, but what He has already willed. I feel comforted and start playing with Anna who is trying to imitate the Ironmen running by.  They laugh and ask her to take their place.  Here comes Robin.  Anna watches her intently as Robin calls her name.  Seeing mommy go by so fast makes Anna start running even more.  We're having a great time and it puts smiles on runners' faces, too.  Robin's stride looks good.  She's in 7^th place but the 3 girls she needs to pass are way ahead.  Still, I will encourage her to run, every minute still counts.

I'm feeling so good now!  I'm climbing that hill again but this time I'm pushing hard and running faster!

(mile 21) 9:02.  I'm happy with that because it includes the hill. (mile 22) 8:34. I see Troy and Anna.  He tells me that every minute counts now. (mile 23) 8:20.

Driving ahead we see Michelle Ridder.  I know she's suffering bad stomach problems.  She has an amazing attitude and flashes a big cheerful smile and tells me her desperate situation remains but that she's looking forward to seeing Robin when she catches her.  We drive farther and see one of the girls has really slowed!  I take a split and stop the car to wait for Robin.  23 miles into an Ironman run, most people don't want to hear anything, so I make it quick, "Robin, 3-1/2 minutes ahead; 6^th place is struggling." When Robin turned around and asked, "What color?" I knew it was "Game On", all systems go!  I yelled, "Pink!" and knew this was really going to be exciting.  Before rushing off to the finish, a spectator pleads with me, "You've done this before… please, what do I tell my brother.  The wheels have come off and I don't know what to say".  I tell him, "Your brother probably knows what to do but needs help identifying it.  Ask him where it hurts and what he normally does for that.  Ask him what he's eaten and what he should be eating.  Ask him what his body needs".  I sure hope they were able to help him.. it's a long day when you can't get the wheels back on.

Troy tells me she's in pink.  Being on the 2^nd loop,  it's hard to tell which girls are on my lap.  But now I know who to look for.  I am totally pumped up and running my heart out.  Less than 3 miles to go and  I'm determined to get 6^th.  

(mile 24) 8:19.  Woo-whoo!  Thank you Jesus!!!  (mile 25) 8:21.  I feel so much excitement to get to the finish line.  I told Troy to have him and Anna finish with me if the coast is clear.  I hope I can get by that girl and have a little bit of a lead.  Just before mile 26, coming around a corner, there she is!!  Poor girl is really hurting and moving slow.  I pass her, turn the last corner and head to the finish.

(mile 26) 8:20. There it is.  I'm pumping my fists in the air and shouting "your number one Jesus"…"thank you Jesus!"  I see Troy and Anna waiting for me.  The coast is clear!!!  We run in together. This is such an awesome moment!  I didn't get fourth but I did my very best…I'm so happy and content with this race!  God helped me fight back from the dead!

We cross the finish line together and embrace!  We pray and thank God for this moment.  What a day!

 It

I found out later that they increased the number of Hawaii slots in my age group from 4 to 5, which meant I was 1 away.  Then the posted results showed I was 5^th while the online results said 6^th.

We won't know for sure until the next morning, but I was totally content because I gave it my all.  Monday, we prayed before looking at the official results and told God we would be happy with His will.  The results showed that one girl was in the wrong age group and that I was indeed 5^th place!   That means Kona here I come!  PRAISE GOD!!!  Thanks to all of you who prayed, watched me online and sent encouraging emails beforehand.  It all helped and kept me going!

Crazy Facts:

**Qualified for the Hawaii Ironman

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