I have an new hero of the Arrowhead 135 (sorry Justin)
Facebook post:
WE DID IT! This Arrowhead 135 I called "against stereotypes"
Arrowhead 135 have special place in my life. Last year I told Dan that when I finish this race I will able to have baby. After finished AH in 2015 3 month later i get news that I am pregnant and doctor said that baby will born at the end of November. In that moment I started to dreams about AH 135 2016 . Every day during the pregnancy I rode my bike and dreamed.
In September (2 month before Yeva was born I asked Dan "Can I will registered for the race?". "Yes ". It was the best YES from my lovely husband.
I rode my bike by the last day before baby was born. I started to training (1 day after Yeva was born. I am very good remember my first training - all my body hurts.... result of running was terrible.... But every new training was better than before. I run half marathon with a baby in a stroller. I did 2 short races on the bike. Mentally I was ready for AH135. When Yeva was just born I freeze enough milk for baby. I made plan that Dan will show up with Yeva at the 2 check -point for the breast feeding. I realized that it will be one of the biggest adventure in my life. My lovely husband never said to me "you crazy". He was agree about all and let me do it . That is WHY I love him , he know what important to me. Next question - how to pumping milk? My breast pump to heavy and big.And you need to keep all your stuff with you.
One of my Russian friend gave to me portable pump. Thank you Anna Gomelsky a lot. Pump worked wonderful.
Now no more questions and no more reasons DNS and DNF to me.
Before start I am nervous. DO I thinking about all and prepare all ?
I do not planning to racing in this year . Main goal to finish. With breast feeding and pumping during the race (each about 15-20 minutes ) you could not thinking about racing. I relaxing during the race. DO not worry about my place , just keep going. Only at the 3rd (last) check point when Christina Julian told me that I am 3rd women - I do not finish my coffee ( upset) and go to the finish, only pumping milk ( in that moment racer inside me woke up again).
I did it . I mean WE did it . Without Dan i can not to do this. He is hero of this race.Stay with 7weeks baby 30+ hours without so long practice. He is awesome man, husband and dad.
Race was hard mentally . When you push your bike in many hills , many times... when your middle speed most the time 5-6 miles per hour...its is hard. But you realized that this is Arrowhead - always will something hard (that is why this race one of the hardest of winter race in the world).
Thank you everyone who said good support words (during the race it is really helping). Thank you for cheering. Thank you everyone who believed in me. I love you all.
Special thank you Roberto Marron for the sleeping bag .
Thank you Carol Vold for keeping Nadia all this days .
Thank you Alex Oenes who one day opened to me world of endure race
Than you organizers and volunteers of the race (you all so sweet and awesome)
Thank you my *****goose Race Team for support
THANK You DAN! I love you!
I hope my experience can help for women who scared to have baby and thinking that you can not to do what you doing before. This is stereotypes . You can , if you WANT and have right partner with you.