Thursday, July 9, 2009
Back To Training...
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I am an Ironman….Coeur D’Alene Race Report

First let me just thank any one and everyone that supported me in the past year during my training. I also would like to thank my sponsors for their support.
My trip up to Coeur D’Alene began on Saturday 6/13. My mom and I loaded up the car with my bike and our two dogs. Our trip up the country was very scenic. We arrived in Coeur D’Alene on 6/14 just in time to have a quick dinner in our new home. During my final taper week I was able to do some exploring on the roads that lined the lake, as well as get in a few swims to test the waters.
The final days leading up to the race were a roller coaster of emotions. I had some great moments: interviewing Paul Huddle, participating in the 1st ever Coeur D’Alene underpants run (I’ll post pictures later), spending some time in our new boat, and hanging out with the Trigger Point Therapy crew. And there were times that I would rather forget about: totally freaking out the day before the race, developing two minor injuries two days out from the race, a few restless nights, and finally our boat not starting race morning which resulted in a hair-raising race in the car, after which I realized that I may be a good rally car driver.
All of this was tuned out race morning as my mindset became focused on the “here and now”, a little tip Paula Newby-Fraser gave me to help manage such a long day. After going through all the last minute checks for the bike and gear I slipped on my Blue Seventy Helix and headed down to the beach. The weather was not on our side for the swim as we had strong winds, which created rough conditions on the swim as well as cold air temperature, but we lucked out in that the water in the lake was in the 60’s. I was able to find my dad and we gave each other some words of encouragement before the gun went off.
The start of the swim at an Ironman event is one of a kind; just to see close to 2,000 people hitting the water at once was amazing. Although it may have been visually appealing having to fight with that many people made the swim a bit difficult as I was never able to find a rhythm because I was constantly having to change direction and push away from other swimmers. At the end of the first lap of the swim I was feeling very fresh with a time of 36 or so minutes, I knew that I was pacing my self well. The second lap was much like the first but I was glad to be coming out of the water at the end of the 2.4-mile swim. Upon exiting the water it was a quick jog to transition and I geared up for a long, cold bike ride.
The air temp was still in the 50’s when I started riding so I had decided to throw on an extra layer along with arm warmers and full finger gloves. Before the race I chatted with Paul Huddle and he stressed that the bike needed to feel easy so I kept it one gear easier than usual. Much of the bike ride went according to plan although I did not plan on having to hit the porter-johns 5 times during the ride. I was able to have a few quick chats with some of my fellow competitors although it seemed that all we talked about was the headwinds and the cold. I came off the bike averaging 17mph, which was right in my target range, and I felt pretty fresh. But things took a huge turn for the worse once I hit transition.
I was in high spirits coming in to T2, but those were quickly squashed when I entered the change tent. As I was putting on my shoes and preparing to head out on the marathon one of the medical staff asked me how I was feeling and as I stood up I got very dizzy. He told me that this was a serious problem and that I needed to take the first few miles easy and eat a lot because I had burned a majority of my caloric stores. He ended his advice with its better to go slow than die. These last words almost scared me to death, during the first 4 miles I was convinced that I was just going to drop dead so I made a point to eat everything I could. The run wasn’t too bad until mile 15 when the fatigue and cold rain started to beat me down. I had started to employ a strategy of walking at every aide station so that I could eat and give my self a mental and physical break. When things got tough I tried to find someone to run with to help distract my mind from the pain. I ended up running with a few great people one of them, Hilary, who was doing her second Ironman after taking a 10-year hiatus after having a few children. Hilary was in good spirits and we paced off of each other and kept one another distracted from the pain. My feet felt like they were going to snap in half at mile 20 but I found that if I ran on the dirt rather than the paved road that I could keep going. When I got to mile 21 I told my self that I could run the final miles in my sleep and that the last mile didn’t even count because it would be a celebration mile.
With 4 miles to go I was hurting pretty bad and was barley able to run, I was just biding my time until I found that motivation to surge into the finish. This came with 3 miles to go, I passed a house that was throwing a party and they were playing some song that really got me moving. I picked up my pace and started rockin towards the finish. No longer was I stopping at aide stations and with each person I passed I went a little faster. At the 24-mile maker I stated to get a little emotional because I realized that I had done it and that all that hard work and dedication in the last year was going to pay off. As I rounded the final corner I could see the finish line about a half-mile away and I could barley keep my emotions in check. In the final quarter mile I passed my mom who was jumping up and down with a sign cheering for me. At this point I started to sprint because I was on cloud nine high-fiving people as I passed. In the finishing shoot I let out the loudest yell I have ever uttered and without thinking shot my arms up in excitement when over the PA I heard “Hunter Reed: YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!”
Crossing that finish line is probably the most rewarding experience I can think of, to know that I actually did it. After celebrating with my mom for a bit and having the best piece of pizza I have ever had I went back up the road to watch my dad finish, which he said was the greatest fathers day present he has ever been given. My race was: the best, worst, most painful, nauseating, amazing 13:13 of my life and if given the chance I would do it again, in fact ill do it next year! My dad and I signed up for Ironman Coeur D’Alene 2010, why…..because we’re crazy or we just love a good challenge.
As I fly back to San Diego I will have some time to finally relax for a few weeks before I start training again for my next race (Coeur D’Alene Olympic Triathlon), and might just take advantage of the fact that I turned 21 last month. That’s all for now I will post race pics and splits later in the week. And if you see a young guy hobbling around like an 85 year old at the expo for the San Diego International Triathlon this weekend that’s probably me.
And I will leave you with this quote I heard on an Ironman Video……
“Swim 2.4 miles…….Bike 112 miles……Run 26.2 miles…..Brag for the rest of your life”
Happy Training/Racing!!!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Last Week In San Diego Before IRONMAN
These last weeks have been very busy and eventful. I have been really enjoying the time back in San Diego; especially the long rides down PCH with old friends. Ironman CDA is fast approaching and will be here before I know it. I leave for Coeur D’alene on Saturday and will be driving up with my mom and the dogs. We should be arriving on Monday, which will give me time for a short swim before dinner. The nerves are starting to build as the days fade away. There are a lot of last minute items that need to be checked off the list before I head out, my bike is in the shop right now for a full make over. I hope to post at least 2 more times before race day but you can follow my daily training and triathlon related updates on my twitter account (trihuntertri) or just check out the scrolling updates on the top of this page.
RACE NUMBER 297
Huge Congratulations to Alexis on finishing her first marathon 2 weeks ago, and big ups to Chris Berg for a great showing in Hawaii!
Happy Training/Racing
Thursday, May 28, 2009
New Job... Old Stomping Grounds

Post Florida 70.3 has been very busy. The night after my race I was a bit too tired to go out for my 21st, so I had decided to throw a bash after Ironman CdA. I have started getting back into my regular training program after easing back into things post Florida. Today marks my first week working for Triathlete (Competitor Group Inc.) and it has been a blast. I love being immersed in the sport: chances are if you are a pro or in some sort of a triathlon club you have received an email from me some point in the last week. I don’t think it has hit me yet that Ironman Couer D’alene is right around the corner because I have been in anticipation of racing since last summer and its finally here.
Its been great catching up with some old training buddies and being back in the san diego sun, I was able to crank out a ride up PCH to San Onofre last weekend and will do the same this Saturday.
A lot is going on this weekend: Alexis will be competing in her first marathon (San Diego Rock N’ Roll), Chris Berg will be kickin A*s and taking names at Honu Half Ironman, and my brother will be graduating form high-school. Best of luck to everyone! Oh and I finally BOOKED A DATE FOR THE WIND TUNNEL 8/
7!!!!! That’s all for now: check out the pics of me goofing around on my training rides this last week.
Happy Training/Racing!
PS if you will be at the Rock N Roll Marathon Expo this friday come swing by the Trigger Point Therapy Booth and say hi.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Race Report
Happy Racing/Training!!!
Pictures and Exact Race Splits To Follow.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Summer......Orlando 70.3
So i have been off-line for a bit so here is a quick update! The last week i have been training and tapering for the big race tomorrow! It looks like it is going to be a fast/hot race. Heading over to the TP Therapy tent again today to hang out and spread the good news! I am feeling really good and getting stoked to get things started. Got to have a chat with Paul Amey at the Ironman Village yesterday, looks like he may head back down to San Diego for a bit this summer so it will be nice to see him back in the shop again. That seems to be it for now, i am soooo stoked to race! You can follow me on Ironman.com i am race number 373. Not sure what number my dad is rocking but you can find him as well i think we are the only two Reed's. Thats all for now: i hope to post a race report sometime tomorrow. Best of luck to all racing this weekend.


