Mary Eggers

We have happily arrived in Florida and guess what? we are in the Central time zone! WOO HOO!

Luc’s first time ever on a plane…

He got to sit in the cockpit for 30 min before take off while we waved from the gate window.

He wore the pilots hats and got to play with the controls.

Then they upgraded us to first class.

The Pilot announced that Luc had helped set up the plane.

On the second plane there were Ironmen and women everywhere. My bike made it too.

What a kid in a walker gets to do. I was so proud of him. He and Curt are out right now playing in the ocean. This is exactly how I imagined it to be. I am up on the 5th floor overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and assembling my bike.

Pictures to come.

Mary

The bags are packed, the tickets are printed and very soon we will be at the beach. Panama City Beach to be exact, the home of hotels upon hotels and beaches upon beaches. Yes my friends it is time already. The Ironman has called and I am on the way. It’s a good thing because I feel ready.

As cheesy as it sounds, there are so many people to thank. I am absolutely the sum of all my parts. Read through any tri bloggers blog and before their big day many do the same. We do it because it is true. We realize this is a privilege and we realize that while our parts think we are nuts, the support you give to us makes so much of a difference. And know we support you in your quest the exact same way.

To every person who has read, written, sent a note of best wishes, a thought, I thank you.

The one person I really need to thank however is my husband Curt. A year ago he asked me if I signed up for Ironman Lake Placid and Ironman Florida. I attempted to pretend that there was another Mary Eggers who lived in Henrietta NY. His reaction was to laugh, and while this was one race I didn’t communicate with him about signing up for, as always I was immediately given his 100% support. Along with a good luck with that one you freakball laugh.

It has been an honor, however cheesy that sounds… to step back while I am training, to give him due support. Curt’s dream is an ITU medal. I got to go to Germany where he did damn well bit missed the medals. We got to travel to Richmond where we got to see a dream realized. I know how hard he worked for it. I know how much he has dreamt of it. It felt so damn good to see him run down that chute, I knew he was silver but he wasn’t sure… just yet. It was so great to see him on that podium as a silver medalist.

More important than sport… I have been in absolute awe of Curt in his role as a father. Over 10 years ago I remember sitting in East Side Mario’s, in Canada. The night before the Guelph Lake Triathlon in the Subaru Triathlon Series. It was before we started dating and we were with another friend. The topic was things we still wanted to do in our lives. Goals, aspirations.

I will never forget Curt telling Ryan and I that he … more than anything … wanted to be a father. I remember thinking he’d be a great dad. And we hadn’t even started dating yet.

Then the day came when we found out we were in fact pregnant. I will never forget that look on his face. “I am going to be a Dad.” he said with tears in his eyes. When they set Luc into his arms seven years ago next week, it was an expression I did capture on film, but a look of absolute gratitude.

Three years ago this month our little Luc underwent open heart surgery. The night before the three of us lay in bed, Luc sleeping and Curt and I awake. Nothing to say but fear was thick in the air.

Four hours of agony as Luc was in the hands of the best heart surgeon on the face of this earth. Like always he sailed right through it. So well that he broke his foot 8 days later wrestling with Curt. Fresh chest incision and all.

To watch Curt evolve through these moments, these experiences… to endure these events with him has been wonderful. I have learned so much from him as a person. As a parent, and as an athlete.

When I see him on the sidelines cheering me on it is gold. Absolute gold.

At Ironman Florida I asked Curt to please stay at the hotel with Luc. Drop me off, I will call when I am done. It is not that I don’t wish he’d be out there cheering. It’s that I know how long of a day this is for a little boy and his Dad. These hours are much better spent looking for seashells, swimming in the ocean, or in the pool. We got a beachfront hotel for a reason. In my heart I will race in a better place knowing they are getting a sunburn.

Besides… I know Curt will be checking online where I am at. I know he will be with me. I know they will be cheering me.

He’s given me the go ahead to reach for this goal. He’s supported me on the days when training was hard… celebrated with me on the really good days. During times of doubt, Curt always says to me “You are a three time Ironman finisher Mar… what’s there to worry about?”

I have strived to mirror the confidence that Curt has in me.

So Curty I thank YOU so very much. For supporting me. For loving me. For reaching for the stars with me.

Again I quote:

Mary Eggers

People keep asking me if I am nervous. Which is then making me nervous because I am not. Should I be nervous? Maybe I should. I can’t think of anything to be nervous about. I can however find a lot to be excited about. The first being getting my silver bracelet on Wednesday. Running into Graham Fraser in the Ironman Store like I always do (no matter where I am….). The starting line with 2400 people. Ironman’s awesome. It’s just an awesome extravaganza.

I don’t get caught up in the “what if” scenarios. There is a lot you can control on race day, and a lot you can’t control on race day.

Here are the potentials;

What happens if I flat? I have a spare, so I change it and / or wait for tech support. Stretch my legs, pee and cheer everyone on.

What if I crash? Then I duct tape myself back together and get back on my bike. Or I ride the ambulance to the other finish line

What if I lose my nutrition? I will take from the course.

What if I feel sick? I will slow down.

What if my Power Meter or Garmin die? I go without.

The above are things I can’t control too well. Things happen out there. What I can control is my reaction to them. I will roll with the punches and make sure I laugh through it all. Why get upset? What good does that do? It just burns another Ironman match.

My race plan is set. My bike is still not packed and I have a few workouts left to do. Most importantly I have a 6 year old boy who is dreaming about his first airplane ride. Stories of late have been about what it is like to fly through a cloud. What it looks like on top of those clouds. What the ocean is like and how big is it?

When you can see the world through the eyes of a child you start to lose the clutter. Like what could go wrong. Children are like that, they naturally look at possibility rather than look at the potentials for disaster.

How did we lose that in ourselves? When did that excitement for life become replaced with cynicism, dread, and anxiety?

It’s something I have been working for a while to lose myself.

When I step up to the line at an Ironman, or any race for that matter, I see possibility. The promise of a new day.

Don’t be afraid to dream, or reach because of what might happen. I think we sometimes become so self protective that you don’t allow yourself the chance to dream just because of the possibility of disappointment.

I tell you this friends…. if I bomb Ironman Florida… I bomb it. If I nail it… I nail it. I will live to see another day. I will live to see another starting line and my little boy and my husband will still love me.

More important than that though… is that I will absolutely be able to look at the woman in the mirror with love and respect. Care and grace. I will look her in the eye as I always do and know that what matters most is not what other people think of me based on a race, a number, a score……

But what is in my heart and in my soul. That’s the key to everything.

Time for some packing and getting Gu off my frame. And settling down a wide eyed 6 year old who wakes up every morning wondering….. if today is the day.

Not yet my little buddy….. but soon.

Thank you for stopping by.

mary

While all eyes were in the Hawaii Ironman last week, my friend, my associate coach and athlete Erika was over in India. She was representing the United States in the Military World Championships. Olympic distance ITU style racing here. She came out of the water in the lead pack and remained in that lead until the final mile of the bike, when her day was cut short by a few other cyclists.

If you saw this little creature on the course at Long Course Duathlon World’s last weekend… that was Luc! You don’t often get to see the Grimm Reaper with a walker at a race! By the way if you heard him BOOO you he was trying to scare you… we changed BOO to ROAR as soon as I realized it! And below is a picture of Luc with Ronald McDonald himself. What’s a race without a Big Mac and French Fries? Did I mention they handed out the pre race bags in the McDonald’s drive thru bags?

It was an absolute shame I did not bring my camera with me on my long ride through Ashland on Saturday. Virginia was just stunning. Even downtown was beautiful and I swore if I wasn’t doing the Ironman next weekend the Richmond Marathon would have been a nice choice for races. But who runs straight marathons anyways? I need a warm up!

Even a silver medalist gets to meet Ronald himself! Below if a shot of Warren Elvers and Curt. Back in the day I used to swim with Warren’s daughter Jen. We even went to the same college.

To the right we have Dad and Luc. At this point Luc ditched his walker for a little bit. Hooray!

To the left is the silver medalist himself. He might be still wearing this medal. In fact he might be out on a mountain bike ride right now with Coach T wearing this medal.

But wouldn’t you? Look at it. It’s a cool medal.


Thank you for stopping by! Mary

I can’t believe I am even posting this. But Elizabeth asked. I wouldn’t feel right knowing she and Sami Brady parted ways 15 years ago. Plus you might also be wondering but not brave enough to ask. So with my head in the sand here is what I learned this week…..

Sami overcame Bulimia. Turned really evil. Lucas is Will’s Dad. Will is now 13 or something. Sami is left at the alter 3 times. Marries Austin twice I think. finally turns good falls in love with Lucas. EJ Wells (aka Elvis from Kristen way back then…. he’s a DIMERA!) rapes her, she gets pregnant, a whose the daddy scandal ensues. EJ and Stefano are forcing Sami to annul her marriage to Lucas and marry EJ to end the Brady vs Dimera Vendetta.

What started that Vendetta? A hundred years ago Granpa Shawn’s sister Colleen (resembling Sami) and Stefano’s father Santos (resembling EJ) fell in love. Colleen was in the convent… had an affair, found out Santos had a wife or something and threw herself off a cliff.

Vendetta begins.

Carrie left Salem, came back, married Lucas, divorced Lucas… married Austin and moved away. Thank God.

Hope and Bo still together.

Marlena and John, still together but John just got killed again. Likely the work of a Dimera.

Did I mention Stefano is ill and stole John’s kidney?

The pirate looking man Steve is back…. apparently was in captivity by the Dimera’s. EJ will show Steve a tarot card and Steve falls under his control.

Victor and Kate divorce… Kate sleeps with Stefano….. at one time she was married to Roman… she slept with EJ too.

Now I am getting confused. And now I am getting horribly embarrassed. But it beats hanging out on slowtwitch.

Just for kicks I turned on General Hospital to learn that Sonny, Carly, Jax and Luke are still around. And Robin is all grown up.

I turned off the TV today and vowed I would not be thinking of John Black next Saturday morning. One week of taper has been completed (almost). Now it’s time to focus. It’s time to make the lists of what to pack, create my plan for race day.

As I have said before the Ironman and I have a date. Luckily it is a Saturday race as I can’t compete with the Buffalo Bills for the attention of my father. Whew!

Thank you for stopping by.

mary

When my friend Jen read that I was filling the void of training time here in taperland with Days of Our Lives. She was horrified. “Read some good blogs” she wrote me. I begged her for some. So she obliged and I spent the better part of the day reading through some terrific reads.

Now I don’t know what happened with Sami and her twins today. But I do know that I am feeling very good. The Ironman has still not come, but I am being patient.

I am so honored to be able to share this terrific list of fellow bloggers that I was so happy to spend time finding yesterday. It’s so neat to see what an amazing triathlon community we have out there. Please keep posting because taper means time. And unless you want me to wallow in the feud between the Bradi’s and the Dimera’s, then keep writing.

Here is the list in alphabetical order, and scroll down on the right later today because they will be on the blog roll. Have a good blog? Send it to me because I would love to add it. I poked through other’s bloglists and found more good ones. I love the tri blog community…….

Amanda Lovato pro triathlete

Alicia Parr a great read from the girl who has raced more than anyone this season.

Andrea Fisher I love the Fish

Bri Gaal If we were neighbors I am sure we’d be friends…..

Chuckie V he is the man

Beth from PA excellent read

Cindy Jo I finally found your site sister, thanks for all your kind words!

Courtney Crutcher also doing Ironman Florida.

Courtney Green Ironman Louisville Finisher and Go Go Dancer in Training

Desiree Ficker pro triathlete.

Ed’s Type I Blog Ed is a Type I diabetic that I coach training for IMLP 2008

Elizabeth Fedofsky whom I vote “Most Likely To Do Another Ironman Soon” no matter what she claims.

Gordo need I say more?

Jennifer Harrison the suggester of most of these blogs!

Jenni Kiel I think I watched her race last weekend in Richmond…. I remember the pigtails!

Jasper Blake fellow Canadian

Lisa Bentley my hero

Simply Stu awesome… just awesome

The Outdoor Journey How this guy has time to breathe is beyond me

The Daily Grind who doesn’t love this one?

Travis Earley needs to post more!!!!!

For now that’s the big old list. I appreciate your words, I appreciate your insight, humor, wit and willingness to share your lives.

Blog on, I am still tapering.

Thank you for stopping by.

mary

I am certain the Ironman is going to call me. Check on me, or at least taunt me. Nope. He’s nowhere to be seen. Hasn’t called. Hasn’t emailed. Hasn’t in any way said hello. I hope he hasn’t forgotten about me after our little rendezvous back in July.

It’s like the Ironman is about to happen and no one seems to KNOW!

And I think I have figured out why.

Each July nearly every person in Western New York makes the pilgrimage to Lake Placid for the Ironman. In every conversation…. “You goin to Placid?” is the theme. “What day are you going to be in Placid?”

If you are or are not competing in Ironman Lake Placid…. at Ironman Lake Placid is the place to be in July. I am so used to organizing swims, bikes, runs. Checking in on this person, that person. I never go to Placid alone, I take the whole Army, Air Force Navy and Marines with me.

On the eve of the week before Ironman Florida…..

A little bit quiet round here. Nothing to organize, nothing to plan… nothing at all. Hmmmm. It’s like we will quietly step onto an airplane next Wednesday morning and slip away to Florida.

Yikes… that’s exactly what WILL happen!

Perhaps I should go out and drum up some excitement. See if I can arrange a caravan.

“Let’s go to Ironman Florida everyone!” I will call out from the megaphone as I drive thrugh neighborhoods… “Fall break! It’ll be like spring break min the fall!”

I have a feeling that my cheers will fall to deaf ears.

Around these parts people are hopping on mountain bikes, hiking, trail running. Wrapping things up. Preparing for the NYC marathon.

Which leaves me hanging on Slowtwitch. And that’s a pretty frightening place for triathletes when they are tapering. I am humored by reports of jellyfish, sharks and RED TIDE!!!

OH NO!!!!!

One can get pretty freaked out hanging out there. I promised Coach T I would stop.

I am delighted that the soap opera I used to watch in high school…. Days of Our Lives…. is still ON TV!!!!!! I have spent a few afternoons and I am already caught up in the occurrences of those who live in Salem. That’s the beauty of those shows…. you can take a 15 year break and be caught up in 3 days.

So rather than listening to what will happen to you is a shark eats you….. here’s a hint…. you will probably die…. I am entwined in the drama of who is the father of Sami’s twins? Is it evil EJ or Lucas???? Or perhaps Lucas fathered one and EJ another!!!! What will happen today? Did they really kill off John Black? Any how many lives does he really have?

For now, I will take these thoughts to occupy my mind. Because I can’t put out the wildfires. I can’t get anyone to join the Ironman parade. I can’t convince Jill on Slowtwitch that she’ll be fine in the water at Ironman. I can’t check the weather report more than eight times a day.

So I shall sit back in Curt’s man chair, and wait to find out what will happen to Sami today. But know this my dear friends…. the Ironman is going to get in touch with me. Maybe by phone, maybe by email, maybe even snail mail. He and I have a date next Saturday at 7am…. and one thing is for sure…

I will be there!

Thanks for stopping by. mary

I have been asked this week how I am doing… by everyone. Like I have some sort of disease. They ask with a worried look. “How are you doing Mary?” they say “Is there anything I can do?”

Did someone steal my teddy bear or something? Did someone die and no one is telling me?

Oh… I get it! Mary is without her endurance fix and the breakdown must be coming, right?

Well fear not my friends… I will not break down. I am following Coach T’s orders to a T (get it?). My feet are up, I am in the man chair, and I am waiting for November 3rd to roll around. I have so much work to do here at Train-This that resting does not even become a problem.

I also have so much to be done in the laundry and housekeeping department… but we will save that for after I return. I will have plenty of time to get that done between Nov 4th and Dec 3rd

On tap for today…. writing programs, finishing a newsletter, getting directions form the airport to hotel to race printed. Creating my list of packing for myself and for Luc (thank God Curt can handle himself.) Creating the playlists for my classes this week, creating the classes for my classes this week.

And most importantly I will be dreaming about the Ironman.

So what’s the goal? So what’s the time? So what’s the theme for the day?

The goal is to have a good day. If you have ever done an Ironman you then know that so much can happen. I would like to roll with any punches with a smile and with some grace. I would like to handle the highs and the lows with humility and again humor and grace. I respect this distance to know that anything can happen on race day.

If the water is good I’d like to be out of the ocean in about an hour. If I see Jaws plan on me breaking the swim record. And then plan on me having a very long marathon.

I would like to ride between 5:30-6:00. I have wattage goals that I will stick to. The bike will be the hardest part for me because it will entail holding myself back. I am riding a disc wheel and I love to hammer. That usually buys me a near fastest bike split with a near similar run time. And if you know triathlon you know that’s not good.

Conservative on the bike will be the theme. Let the trains go by, get in all of my nutrition, and stay within myself. Those are my bike goals.

Running… this is where we’ve done the most work. I am aiming for a 4:00 marathon. I know that at mile 18 it becomes mental. I also know that nutrition on the bike will show up here. So those calories and mg of salt must be perfect. Earlier this year at Ironman Lake Placid about mile 15 is where I fell into outer space until Doug Bush saved me with a lot of salt tablets.

In the end I will be very happy to finish the Ironman for a fourth time. I will be over the moon if I finish below an 11:23.45 which is my previous best. Am I aiming to qualify? If I do, great, if I don’t, then that’s great too. Then I get to hang with my friends at Ironman Lake Placid 2008. Kona isn’t the end all be all for me.

Those are the goals. Broad, yes. Unrealistic? No. I know that the longest distance I will travel will be from ear to ear. I know that I am very well prepared. I know that what will happen out there…. will happen.

And whichever way this day rolls…. I am excited and I am ready.

Thanks for stopping by.

;-0 Mary

It’s a first! We have our first Train-This engagement!!!!! Congrats to Kevin Chartrand and Kitima B, ’round here we refer to them as Kevtima…… well they went to Paris and got themselves engaged!

CONGRATS!

mary