Tonight on The Patti Vasquez Show with Andrea Darlas! Iron Woman Champ Mary Kate Callahan joins us to tell her amazing story and the journey she took to get become an Ironman Champion and Elite Paratriathlete all before the age of 23 years old.
Click here to listen.
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To have a voice is one of the most powerful things you can do: Stand up for yourself, stand up for your community. I try as much as possible to integrate myself with able-bodied athletes, and I think that’s what we’ll see more disabled athletes doing. You still have the Olympics and the Paralympics, but I train with an able-bodied running group. I think that’s when you push yourself to be the best you can be.
One of the things I love doing most is going out and speaking to kids and really educating people because knowledge is power. When you give kids the opportunity to ask questions, whether they’re about being in a wheelchair or using a racing chair or the equipment I run in, you’re really just providing knowledge. That’s going to make these kids much more aware, so the next time they do have an encounter with someone who’s a disabled athlete, they’re going to be comfortable around them.
Everyone asks, “What’s your key to success? How have you gotten to this point?” I always say that I really just have fun with it.
Callahan credits much of her success to the joy she feels while training and racing, but she’s also aware that sticking up for herself is part of what made her journey possible. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things,” she advises. “No one knows you better than you. When you speak up, you’re not only speaking up for yourself—you’re likely educating someone else.”
2018. Unapologetically Living.
From personal growth, milestones accomplished, and my growing curiosity for whats happening around the world – 2017 taught me more than I could ever imagine.
I learned that you will be right…but you will also be wrong. Many times. Accept it because it is in those times where we are wrong that we throw ourselves into a learning experience…and what more could we ask for?
I’ve learned that comfortable isn’t always good. Comfortable is usually a safety net. What is good? Taking that step. Whatever it may be. Big or small. That step usually leads us into the world of growth. Not only will that step teach us but it will teach those around us to do the same.
I learned to surround myself with GOOD people. Not just any people for the sake of doing so. People who are inspired by small acts, motivated by hard work, enjoy the entire journey, and who dream BIG. The people in 2017 taught me to take risks, share knowledge but to also listen, and that it is OKAY to dream too big. These people showed me how hard work can take us anywhere we want and that people really do make this world go around.
I’ve learned to lean on others every once in awhile. When we lean on others, it is not a sign of weakness, rather a time when we are just asking for a different perspective on life. I think this lesson will be written on a separate blog because it may have been the greatest lesson of them all. So stay tuned…..
I learned that it is OKAY to watch priorities shift. It doesn’t mean anything needs to take back burner, it just means we are growing, learning, and finding other parts of life we are passionate about. It doesn’t mean you have to drop something that was once on the top of your priority list it just means you are looking at that same list with a different point of view and a few other additions.
I learned that we live in a world where diversity is not appreciated as much as it should be. Think about this? What if a book was made up of a bunch of blank white pages? Pretty boring, huh? Just because someones beliefs are different, they look different than you, or they live in another part of the world doesn’t mean we should not appreciated or look down on them. One of the greatest gifts we are given is the ability to have an open mind and man, do people not use that gift as they should be using it. I learned that the greatest lesson is taking the time to listen to others, research, and experience things outside OUR life. Try it, I dare you.
I learned as humans we do not take enough time to BE. Instead, we are too worried about DOING. Think about it. We have “to do lists “ compiled of places we want to go, chores we need to get done, things we need.. etc. Now think about how many times did you take time to BE in the moment during those times. Did you go on vacation for the perfect instgram picture or did you go on vacation to enjoy the time away from your normal routine, to talk to locals, enjoy the culture, to make memories with friends and family, and most importantly – to live. I learned what it means to be a human BEING.
So whats next, 2018? Unapologetically Live. Say how you feel. Travel where there is adventure. Live with intention. Surround yourself with people who are passionate. Continue to dream too big. And do what makes YOU happy.
I challenge you all to do the same.
I know it’s been awhile since I wrote last. I’m sorry. I’m hoping in 2018 I’ll have an easier time putting my thoughts and ideas to paper.
Until next time
MK
Running. When we hear the word run, many times we associate it with running from something bad, someone we want to forget, or a situation we wish we weren’t in. But how many times do we associate the word run with running towards something?
In 2 weeks, I will run The Chicago Marathon for the second time- my fourth marathon. This past Saturday was one of my last long runs before the race, and while it was hotter than hot out on the trail- I found myself thinking about why I crave running so much and how my purpose to run has changed over the last few years. It goes beyond the hours spent training, the miles logged, the finish time, the qualification standard, or the ranking.
Let’s rewind to the beginning:
If you were in the March Kairos group that I led senior year of high school, you may have heard some of this in my talk – if you weren’t- here it is:
In 2009, my brother Jack suddenly died the day he was supposed to graduate from high school. It’s something I don’t talk about a lot but it is something that has definitely played a role in the person I am today. I was young (8th grade) when this happened. Nobody is suppose to lose their brother at that age, there is no hand book about how to live life after such a traumatic event, you just learn how grieve and find the strength to continue on with life. As an 8th grader, while I missed my brother beyond words; I also missed that “normal life” that our family once had. Our entire family and extended family was grieving – how could life go on like this? Would we ever be “happy” again? I was worried.
I’ll admit, in the weeks and months following the death of my brother- I too used running to “run” away from what was happening; sports became an outlet for me to feel some sort of normalcy in my life again.
Then something clicked in my head; whether I was in the pool or out on the trail running or biking- I seemed to let go of every thought that was in my head. I was able to be present and just live in that moment. It was also a time when I felt closest to my brother, Jack. His presence was missed on a daily basis but for me I feel closest to him when I was out there choosing to embrace this life. THIS WORLD.
I’d be lying if I said running cures everything. It doesn’t. There were times after Jack died that I would have tears streaming down my cheek while I was running, just wishing life played out differently. I would wonder why this deck of cards was handed to our family. However, I’d still put one foot in front of the other and run, why? Because I could. I get to pick how I want my life to be and running ALWAYS reminded me of that during this time. Yep, that “runners high” everyone talks about after they run? It’s real. Very real. I’d finish the run feeling grateful. Grateful for everything this life has given me. I have one of the best families, my friends seriously rock, and I believed. I believed in myself- I believed in a life. A good life.
Forever thankful for every smile we shared, Jack.
Why do I enjoy my 5am runs the most? You’re running towards the sun. There is something so special about being awake before most people. Breathing in the air of the new day. Then you see this light start to grow brighter and brighter, the sun. Every single day we have the opportunity to be stronger than we were yesterday. As an athlete; it is about being physically stronger. As a person; mentally stronger. While neither living life without my older brother or running those long, hard workouts get easier; we get stronger with every day that passes by. I get to run towards a sun that symbolizes HOPE. I take a second during every run to just look at the sun and smile; in that moment I know Jack is chasing this life right next to me.
“Running is about your freedom to be you;” damn right is it. People think you can only be considered a runner if your “fast.” Well guess what? That’s not true. It doesn’t aways have to be about running towards an actual finish line in a race. Why not run towards life? When I run, I’m running towards the person I want to be, the experiences I want to have, and the difference I hope to one day make in this world. I run to be me.
There are people in this world that will sit around and complain about their life but then make no effort to get out and change the things they don’t like. People that become dependent on other people to make them happy. People that always look at life as half empty instead of half full. Well guess what? There is an entire world out there! A really BIG world. Each and everyone of us has the power to go out and run towards a life we want to live- and no, you do not have to be an actual runner to listen to this advice. There is absolutely nothing stopping you. Yes, there may be obstacles that come up but who says you cant conquer those too? Nobody.
But then you see the another group of people. The people that crave life. Those are the people you want to surround yourself with. You get out on the trail and run and without having to say anything; you nod to a fellow runner that’s sweating just as much as you but with every drop of sweat, you know they are chasing something out of this life, just like you. It is then that I can’t help but smile. This IS the running community. It really is a special community to be a part of. When we run; we are choosing to put one foot in front of the other and run towards the life that is right in front of us. We chase the life we want, together.
We always hear that “everything happens for a reason,” I don’t think we will ever figure out the reason why Jack was taken away from us but I know he has been behind me every step of the way. I look back now and wonder; what if I didn’t use sport as an outlet of normalcy when Jack died? I would have never had half of the opportunities I have experienced, I would have never met half of the people in my life today. I would not be the Mary Kate many people know today. So thank you jack, thank you for chasing this light with me and leading me through this life. One step at a time.
I challenge every single of of you. Set your alarm, get out there, and chase the sun one morning. Just one. See for yourself what I’m talking about. What are you running towards? Run towards what sets your heart on fire. And then keep running.
And next time, when you see me smiling while I’m running, you know why.
Thank you running.
See ya in 14 days CHICAGO MARATHON!
I run because long after my footprints fade away, maybe I will have showed a few to reject the easy path, hit the trails and put one foot in front of the other, and come to the same conclusion I did; I run because it will always take me where I want to go.
Until next time,
MK
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Like any other middle schooler, Mary Kate Callahan just wanted to fit in, to not appear different. That was tough, being the only kid at her suburban Chicago school in a wheelchair.
Competing on the swim team provided a social group and gave her something to talk about in homeroom instead of having to explain—again—how a disease she could barely pronounce (transverse myelitis) had rendered her legs useless as an infant. She had spent plenty of time in the pool doing physical therapy, and had started swimming competitively at age six.
Effusive and enthusiastic, Callahan wasn’t someone who liked sitting still. She was also competitive, so it seemed natural to her that she would be a swimmer even if she couldn’t use her legs. “I loved the water,” she says.
Then one of her swim coaches, Keri Serota, a triathlete, invited Callahan to a summer triathlon camp in 2011 when she was 15. The camp concluded with a mini-triathlon. “The moment I crossed the finish line, I was hooked,” she says.
Today, the 20-year-old Callahan is one of the world’s best athletes in her field. Last May, she won the London triathlon, part of the ITU (International Triathlon Union) World Triathlon Series, and attained her elite status on the international circuit. This past January, she won the Arizona Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon in Phoenix. She is ranked No. 3 worldwide in her paratriathlon division going into this weekend’s ITU World Triathlon in Yokohama, Japan, and now is gunning for the 2020 Paralympics.
Callahan originally had her sights on competing in the Rio Paralympics in September (which will follow the Rio Olympics in August), when triathlon will be included as a medal event for the first time. But in 2014, she was disappointed to learn that only three of the five different classifications for disabled athletes would be included for triathlon and hers—PT1, the most severe disablement, for athletes who do not have any use of their legs—was not one of them.
She rebounded with the resolve to complete her first Ironman, the grueling mother of all triathlons: a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a full marathon. Last July, she took first place in the PT1 division in a half-Ironman in Muncie, Indiana; in October, she again won her division in Louisville, Kentucky, at her first full Ironman.
Callahan finishing her first full Ironman. Courtesy Mary Kate Callahan
That sort of success culled from the seeds of disappointment befits Callahan’s personal motto, “Never never never give up.” Her parents, Jack and Joanne Callahan, drilled that belief into her when she was growing up, repeating it often to her and pasting it on signs all over the house. She uses it in her email signature, brandishes it on her website, and embodies it. She hung onto it during the tough days of a lawsuit she filed in high school so she could compete with her teammates. And she repeats it to herself now when she’s enduring a tough training session or simply having a bad day. “If you believe in something so much, and keep pushing for it, you’ll get there,” she says.
Callahan has had to push for years. As a high schooler, she excelled at swimming, placing third in her division at the USA Paratriathlon National Championships in Austin, Texas, and getting invited to represent the United States at competitions in New Zealand and the Czech Republic. Yet back at home in Oak Park, Illinois, she was not allowed to compete with her high school swim team in the state tournament because the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), like 31 other states, did not have competition standards for athletes with disabilities. It was as if those athletes didn’t exist. That didn’t seem right to Callahan.
So, with the backing of the Chicago-based disability advocate group Equip for Equality, 16-year-old Callahan sued the IHSA, getting pulled out of classes to give depositions. She did not think the lawsuit would be decided before her graduation, but she wanted to make sure those who followed her, at least, would be given the opportunity to compete in sections and state for their schools. The suit settled shortly before the swim season started her senior year; by then, Callahan had been named captain of the school swim team. The settlement allowed Callahan and six other girls able to compete in the state tournament. Callahan won the 100-meter breast and finished second in both the 100- and 200-meter freestyle.
For Callahan, an important part of the settlement, which covered disabled athletes in swimming as well as track and field, was the inclusion of qualifying standards. That validated those who made it to the state tournament as competitors, not simply disabled students granted entry out of sympathy. “We wanted competitive standards because we are athletes,” she says.
Callahan went on to the University of Arizona, where she is now a junior psychology major and a sociology minor. She quickly joined the school’s TriCat triathlon club and, after the NCAA approved triathlon as an Emerging Sport in 2014, she advocated along with USA Triathlon for the inclusion of para-athletes. This time, the governing body was supportive and no lawsuit was necessary. Callahan was the only woman competing last year (a blind student from University of California, Berkeley also competed in the men’s division), but it was the chance to be included that was more important to her than the size of her field. “Racing with your classmates adds to the college experience,” she says. “Being out there with my team was super-exciting.”
Callahan with family—and a medal. Photo by Brian Berman
Callahan currently logs 15 to 18 hours a week training, divided between the pool, wheelchair “runs,” the hand-crank bike, and the weight room. On top of that, there’s time spent stretching, wheeling around campus, and lifting her bike and chair in and out of her car. Her workload focuses almost entirely on her arms and shoulders. “When I’m ready to go to bed at the end of the day, they’re ready to go to bed, too,” she says with a laugh.
Despite all of the hours devoted to training and all of the laurels she has to show for it, sometimes others still look at Callahan and only see a young woman in a wheelchair and not a world-class athlete. When she tells people who don’t know her well that she’s going to Yokohama the week after finals to compete in the ITU World Triathlon, they’re like, What?“It can be hard for them to wrap their head around the concept of me going to Japan to compete in an international event,” she says.
Callahan has accomplished more athletically than most able-bodied folks, but don’t tell her she’s an inspiration. She gets that all the time. “That’s great,” she says, “but we want to be considered athletes before we’re considered inspiring. I’m just doing this to live my life; I’m not trying to be inspiring.”
The media has contributed to that, reporting the overcoming-a-disability angle instead of emphasizing the athleticism of para-athletes. Yet with organizations like USA Triathlon promoting Paralympic participation in events since 2010, the number of participants has increased, the times have become more competitive, and awareness of the athletes as athletes is growing. In London last May, Callahan observed a definite shift with the coverage of the World Triathlon Series focusing on the competition and USA Triathlon staging press conferences for the para-athletes. “We’re getting more respect as athletes for our accomplishments,” she says. “Sure, our disabilities are part of who we are—I may not be competing on an international level if I weren’t in a wheelchair—but foremost I’m an athlete.”
At the same time, Callahan does want her athletic accomplishments to show others what’s possible. She embraces her place as a role model and speaks to groups of younger disabled students. “My hope it that someone will tell a friend in a wheelchair, ‘Hey, I just saw this person in a wheelchair doing triathlons,’ or the parent of a child with a disability will realize what’s possible for their child,” she says.
Callahan hopes to make another podium appearance in Yokohama this month. Courtesy Mary Kate Callahan
When she isn’t competing on the international stage, Callahan is like any college student. She trains with her TriCat teammates, she’s a member of the Alpha Kai Omega sorority, and she goes out on weekends. After graduation she wants to go to law school. She had watched her father, a judge, at work in the courtroom, but the lawsuit that granted disabled students the right to compete in the Illinois state swim meet solidified her career ambitions. “After seeing what went on behind the scenes, I decided I wanted to do that,” she says.
At the moment, though, she’s focused on Yokohama and after that the World Championships in the Netherlands in July, where she hopes to secure a spot on the U.S. national team with a strong showing.
Callahan has come a long way fast in the five years since that first triathlon. And the future seems wide open. For now, she’s reveling in the community she has found in sports that she craved in middle school. “I’m grateful to have met so many people from all over the United States and around the world. I have so much fun doing this,” she says. “In the para world, we have different disabilities, but we have in common a love of sports and competition.”
Here I am, writing from the best writing spot there is; third row, right side, window seat. I’m on my way back to Arizona after a quick weekend trip home to Chicago. It was one heck of a weekend though… and this is why.
Back to the beginning
Some of you may know, some of you may not but 20 years ago, following the onset of me contracting Transverse Myelitis, my family started The Claddagh Foundation. The Claddagh Foundation has been around for 20 years now and it is still going strong.
The Claddagh Foundation helps assist those conducting research on spinal cord injuries in hopes of one day finding a cure. The Claddagh Foundation also assists organizations that help those living with spinal cord injuries, showing them no dream is ever to big. Over the last 20 years, the Claddagh Foundation has put on a variety of events including: 3 on 3 basketball tournaments, wheelchair basketball tournaments, and 5k races. The one event that has been going on for the last 20 years and the one that is our largest event; the annual golf outing. To date, The Claddagh Foundation has been able to raise over 1.5 million dollars to help people across the country.
What is so special is that: so many cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends have grown up to hold the Claddagh Foundation so close to their hearts. Sure we have grown up to looking forward to riding around in the golf cart during the golf outing when we were little, finding out what the next color shirt will be for the 5k, and having one of the greatest days and nights of the year surrounded by friends and family (singing and dancing our hearts out). But what we get excited for most, is knowing that each and every one of us will be able to have an impact on someone’s life because of the support the Claddagh Foundation gets at each event. And that is what it’s all about. What makes our organization stand out? The people. We are stronger than ever because of the people that continue to believe in us and what we do.
This past weekend, after years of looking up to the original leaders of the Claddagh, the next generation kicked off the 1st Annual: Final FOUR A Cure. They truly did an unbelievable job. They introduced a new generation of people to everything the Claddagh Foundation has been able to accomplish in the last 20 years as well as what we hope to continue to be able to accomplish in the many years to come. We saw young people all come together for one cause. We saw people who may not be effected by someone with a spinal cord injury come together because their friend or coworker knows someone who is. This is the friendship, loyalty, and love each and every one of our supporters possesses and continues to show us, year after year.
Having such a successful event like this brings so much hope to a world that has a lot of evil things happening in it. It shows how much power we have if we all come together. We can make a difference. The Claddagh Foundation is part of a fight: fighting for a cure to one day be found. Fighting to give other individuals living with spinal cord injuries the opportunities to go out into the world and do big things, not letting their chair hold them back. We know we have a whole new group of people joining us on this journey. My wish is that one day, I will be standing on my own two feet thanking each and every one of you for never giving up on what the Claddagh believed in but until then, we continue to stand together.
I could not have been more proud to be a part of this family last Saturday night. A family that continues to rally around this foundation because they have seen how much of an impact the Claddagh Foundation has been able to have on so many.
Cheers to all of you! Cheers to the original leaders of the Claddagh Foundation for teaching our generation that we have the ability to make a difference. Cheers to everyone who helped us organize the event on Saturday. Cheers, to every single person that joined us Saturday night or at any Claddagh event. Cheers to a bright future for the Claddagh Foundation!!
Saturday night definitely gave me a little extra inspiration to run a little faster in The Shamrock Shuffle on Sunday. Why? Because I got pretty lucky to be a part of a family that is second to none and continues to let me chase so many of my dreams.
This is a personal invite for you to be a part of this one of a kind organization. Be a part of the change and I promise, you’ll have a good time doing it.
Until next time,
MK
“People who need people are the luckiest people in the world”
I think for once, I’m not sitting on a plane as I write this blog….instead I’m sitting at my desk procrastinating finishing unpacking one bag only to pack it right back up again. Time flies when you’re flying, right??? But first, let me rewind.
These kids were excited during school visits in Cayman.
Push Across Cayman: At the end of February I had to opportunity to head back down to the Cayman Islands with Stay Focused. Stay Focused is the organization I had been down to Cayman the last few years with to scuba dive and this past summer, I was able to go down for their mentor training trip. However, this time- we were heading down to Cayman for one of their big events of the year, Push Across Cayman. Push Across Cayman is a 55 mile run (in our racing chairs) across the BEAUTIFUL Cayman Islands. We headed down to Cayman a week before the event to spend the week talking to the schools around the Cayman area about adaptive athletics. It was pretty neat to see so much enthusiasm came from the kids when we talked about our sports and the event. The actual day of the event couldn’t have gone better, and again Coach Mark prepared me so well for this event. My body felt great the entire time. We spent the month leading up to the Push Across Cayman logging many miles on the racing chair, avg. 50-65 per week. It was so much having both Arielle and Ryan out there pushing as well! I never thought I would say that my legs have been sore in a race, but I proved myself wrong. After sitting on my legs for almost 5 hours, I was a happy camper to jump out of the racing chair at the finish line. When we came across the finish line, along with the cyclist who rode the entire 55 miles with us, we were greeted by so many people from all around Cayman. This was a true testament to why the Cayman area is so special, they continue to welcome us back with open arms year after year.
I’ll be honest, when I got back to Arizona following my trip back to Cayman, I had a hard time getting back to the reality of school. I had two weeks that stood between me and spring break…those would soon become the longest two weeks of my life (maybe I’m exaggerating a little??). I knew I didn’t have much time to get my act together though because I would be leaving for Continental Championships in Florida before I knew it.
Continental Championships: After surviving those two weeks with school and some more training, I packed my bags ( & bikes, & wheels, & racing chair) and headed down to the sunshine state to meet some teammates before Continental Championships. This race was BIG for a lot of my teammates, this would be the last race they could try to get their provisional spots for the Rio Games. I was super excited to not only race but to be there and watch some of them chase down a dream thats been 4+ years in the making.
My classification, PT-1 women, had two new girls from different countries that neither Kendall (USA) nor I had ever raced. It’s always exciting to see our numbers grow, especially for a classification thats not even Rio bound. The numbers are growing and so is the competition…our classification might be one of the smaller ones for now but our finishes are getting more and more exciting as the numbers grow.
USA
THE RACE: The venue was Nathan Benderson Park (Sarasota, FL) – let me tell you, this was an amazing triathlon venue. It is known for its rowing facilities but it was also an ideal match to host this triathlon event. My pre-race routine went pretty normal: make sure we were there before equipment check in even opened, set up transition, triple check equipment, swim warm up, and then wait….. the PT-1 classification is the last wave to go off during ITU races so we usually have a solid hour between when warm up closes and the start of our race.
Swim: I had a great swim, this swim was one of the first swims I was able to find a group to draft with and woahh does it make a little bit of a difference. A good difference. I was out of the water 2nd, I knew I would be chasing Kendall and that the other girls from Brazil and Columbia would be right behind me. Bike: This course was flat, fast, but windy. I knew I had no time to redline when I had a tailwind. I kept a higher cadence during the headwind to ensure I gave everything in the tank approaching the tailwinds. I knew my bike skills would come to an advantage on a course and on a day like this. I rode hard and came into T2 still holding that 2nd place. Run: I felt good and fast, I knew it would be a head down and GO run as we ran into the headwind and that is exactly what I did. I ran across that finish line as number 2 and I could not be happier with how the day went.
I think I now appreciate short course a little more after racing long course for most of last season. A 9+ hour race compared to 1.5 hours, I knew my body had absolutely no excuse to not be pushing as hard as it possibly could for that short amount of time. I think the hardest part about coming off a long course season last year is finding that run speed right away. In this short of a race, you have no time to mess around with pacing because by the time you realize it- the run is already over. We have been working hard on run speed off the bike and it was definitely nice to see it start to come together again during this race. I love racing this early in the season because after months of off season work, I finally have to opportunity to execute it and see what needs a little more focus leading into the next race.
Speaking of next??? After spending a few extra days in Sarasota I headed back to Chicago for the rest of my spring break + St. Patricks Day.
Grandma’s favorite day of the year.
I had the opportunity to speak to my cousin Molly’s classroom, saw some family and friends, and just enjoyed being home. Next thing I knew, I was on a plane back to Tucson…but not for long.
I spent a majority of this weekend getting WAY ahead in school because I’m flying back to Chicago towards the end of this week for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k. I love this race, mostly because it combines my three favorite things: Chicago, running, and my love for St. Patricks Day.
It’s almost April, which means I have just a little over a month left of school. YIKES! As always, my schedule picks up right around this time because of school ending an my race season being in full swing. After I finish my finals, I fly back to Chicago for a few days before then flying to Japan to race in ITU Yokohama. I’m super excited to be heading back to Japan again, this was one of my first international races back in 2014. I’ll be flying right from Japan to another super exciting opportunity…. more on that in the next few weeks.
So for now, I’m trying to wrap up school, get some solid training in, and enjoying the last few weeks in the Arizona with my friends before I head back to Chicago for another fun summer.
Until next time,
MK
“the starting point of all achievement is desire”
Click picture to view segment from Jan. 28 2016
Yes, I AM AN IRONMAN
For some reason I alway find that extra motivation (or extra time) to write while I’m at the airport. So here it is. I’M AN IRONMAN!!
It has taken me awhile to write about Ironman, it was one of the greatest days and I really wanted to be able to take it all in before I wrote it down. I feel like it was yesterday….but it has already been 5 weeks.
Pre-race: I was a wreck, YES A WRECK. I don’t normally get THIS nervous about races so I kind of freaked myself out even more seeing myself like this. After making sure my nutrition was set on my bike and my tire pressure was good we headed to the swim start with about an hour before the start. I found myself laying on the concrete (real comfy) with my hood up, eyes closed, and tears rolling down my face. I wasn’t doubting my training but I was just scared. Scared for the next 14 hours and scared of the dark moments that could possible come at some point. But I knew deep down I was physically and mentally ready to tackle 140.6. At this point, I gave myself a little pep talk, put on my cap, gave my parents a hug and was back to my peppy pre race self. I told myself out loud that “yes, you are going to be an Ironman at the end of the day.” And the gun went off….
Swim: I knew the swim was going to be crucial, the faster I swam- the more time I would get on the bike! We had been swimming really well over the last year leading up to Ironman so I knew I was capable of a sub 1:30 swim. We got in the water, the gun went off and I shot up the rive like a cannon, literally. As we came to the turn around to head down the river (yay current), I glimpsed at my watch and saw that I was a little a head of where I was expecting to me. PERFECT. I smiled, put my head down, and swam as hard as I could to the swim exit. Total swim time 1:24 && a very happy MK.
I wore my helmet for almost 12 hours but I became an Ironman so the helmet hair didn’t matter.
Bike: The longest part of my day. We worked so hard on the bike over the last 10 months that I knew I was so ready to ride this course. However, I knew I had to stay very consistent on the ride to be able to make the bike cut off. The Louisville course has rolling hills with a few larger climbs within the first 40 miles. I was climbing strong but on the way up I saw way too many crashes from people descending on the other side. After seeing how many people crashed out going down, I took those downhills a little more conservatively than I would have liked but by mile 60 I was right on target. I knew there was a possibility heading into special needs that I wouldn’t have time to take my bag, but doing the math (triple checking it too) I figured I would have time for no more than 7min in special needs. I knew if I didn’t stop my body would regret it and to be honest, my stomach was a little tired of eating GU for the last 5 hours. I stopped, had some apple sauce that I put in my bag (trust me, at the time it was the best thing EVER) and then off I went. Although I know I scared everyone who was tracking me because I slowed down due to my stop, it was the best decision ever! I got a second wind, waved to my parents around mile 70, and then kept cranking through the course. The course gets pretty quiet by 4pm since most riders are off their bikes by then, so I may or may not have started singing out loud to keep myself sane 🙂 I came into T2 at 6:08 (bike cut off is 6:30)- as I came into T2 I saw both my parents right at the entrance. I was a little loopy when I get off my bike, but I managed to change, eat, drink, and head out on the run in under 8 minutes.
Run– I headed out on the run saying, “it’s just a quick little marathon.” I guess I wasn’t kidding either- I found my arms by mile 2 and off I went. If you have seen me race, I smile A LOT, even when my body hurts so bad. All I know is I could not stop smiling during this marathon. I was moving much faster than we had predicted. I was anticipating I would hit “that wall” at some point, but I never did. I came across the finish line 13:54 later and hearing the words, “Mary Kate Callahan, you are an Ironman” made every single part of this journey worth it.
Post Race- Holy Cow, I’m not sure how I made it through the airport and back to Tucson on Monday night. My body was exhausted and I still did not have much of an appetite but somehow I landed in my bed later that night and I laid there for almost 24 hours. I avoided getting in my chair as much as possible but 2 days later, my body was feeling back to normal.
Only in Chicago for 2 hours post Ironman but welcomed back by the best family!
What’s next? Well I had a solid week after ironman of absolutely no physical activity. I’m not sure how I liked it? My body (REALLY) needed it but when we spend so many hours training and then eliminate it completely, the mind starts to want to go craaaaa! I was pretty excited to get back to some easy workouts and start brainstorming for 2016. I actually raced a half marathon last weekend, just for fun 🙂
I’m slowly figuring out what the 2016 season is going to look like. I really loved the 70.3 races but Ironman was an absolute blast. The only thing we officially have on the calendar at the moment is the Rock N’ Roll Phoenix Marathon in early January.
Don’t worry, it the midst of it all- I’m still at school! I’m figuring out graduation plans and whether or not I want to try to graduate early in December of 2016 or wait until Spring of 2017. Part of me has been exposed to so many aspects of the “real” world that I want to get there myself and have a little time “off” before I possibly head to law school. The other half of me knows the real world will always be around so there is no reason to rush it. That’ll be a decision I’ll make in the next month or so but for now I’m just enjoying it all.
“Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.”
Until next time,
MK
IT’S TAPER TIME!!!!! This also means Ironman week is here! I feel like it was just yesterday I was standing in line at 3am signing up for this race. All the work is done, so from here on out I promised myself I would just enjoy everything about this week.
They say you learn a lot of things while training for an Ironman and….. you sure do! I’ve had plenty of stories over the last year but I thought these were some of the note worthy ones.
10. You become obsessed with training data and graphs. You’ll even analyze it during class (SORRY TEACHERS)
9. There will be bad training days….. but you’ll survive
8. ALWAYS wear sunscreen….especially during century rides. It takes a lot of work to fix a sunglass tan line. (I’m sorry nose, it’ll never happen again)
sunglass tan lines are so real.
7. Stay alert during long rides, you never know when a little dog might start chasing you (I won)
6. Whitney Houston or Lion King Music works great when you have 0 motivation to get out of the car for a workout.
5. Carry a bottle opener in your BENTO box, you never know when you need a MEXI COKE during a century ride. (FYI- you cannot twist off a glass bottle top, no matter how tired you are or how much sugar you need. If you try, make sure you have multiple band-aids with you. Also the foot plate of a wheelchair makes a great bottle opener in desperate times)
4. I will always have nightmares about port-potties. I rode my bike an extra 10 miles out of the way to avoid using one. (I need to get over this fear sometime in the next 6 days).
3. 8:30pm bedtime becomes an usual occurrence… even on Saturdays.
2. The world is a pretty cool place via bike.
I’ve got a pretty great team that has been behind me from day one. Next Sunday when the gun goes off at 7:30am to begin the 140.6 mile journey, I’ll be thinking of all of you as I make my attempt to finish Ironman Louisville.
LETS DO THIS!
MK