Narrator: 0:10

Welcome to the athletes in motion podcast from race to recovery. With your hosts, Tom regal and Kenny Bailey.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 0:28

Hey, Tom, how are you?

Tom Regal: 0:29

I'm fantastic. Kenny, how are you?

Kenny Bailey<br>: 0:31

I am fantastic. We have Elizabeth with us, the proud Finisher of Ironman California. In the house regulations. Yes. In the house. There it is. It's awesome. So

Elizabeth Simi: 0:52

yeah, I feel like I could hardly hear you guys, but I don't know. With all my technical difficulties over here, who knows?

Kenny Bailey<br>: 0:58

Okay, we can share. I'll just start talking and then we'll just

Elizabeth Simi: 1:01

Yeah, it's like I can hear you but not as clearly as I normally can. So different computer but that's okay. Okay. First off, how

Kenny Bailey<br>: 1:08

do you feel?

Elizabeth Simi: 1:09

Um, everything feels great. Except for issues from the rain. Let's

Kenny Bailey<br>: 1:18

not expected up.

Tom Regal: 1:20

Oh, my brain in California.

Elizabeth Simi: 1:23

Yeah, well, let's just say there was a point where Kenny's name became a very bad word. And I think I said dammit, Kenny dammit, Kenny because he said, I would rather have rain than when right Oh, I

Kenny Bailey<br>: 1:37

did say that, didn't I? Oh. Sorry.

Elizabeth Simi: 1:42

Let's just say Kenny's name was in my mouth. Oh.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 1:47

Whatever motivation you need to get through it. That's okay with me. So I need to use me as that damn Kenny. Then the brain likes the rain. Well, first off, congratulations. We got across the line. Absolutely. I was tracking you all day. Your your swim was ridiculous. Your bike was solid, and then we hit it. So we want to go through the whole thing. But first and foremost. We know you got across the line. We know you didn't get across the line on the allotted time. But nobody gives a shit because you've got the medal. You did? One 40.6 You are absolutely the embodiment of an Iron Man. So you

Tom Regal: 2:34

did the mileage you did it. And well that's beautiful conditions. Wow, they

Kenny Bailey<br>: 2:38

did a really nice you see I got that's mine. That's

Tom Regal: 2:41

a cookie cutter one. I guess I just didn't work for him.

Elizabeth Simi: 2:45

I really do think mine's better than I do

Kenny Bailey<br>: 2:47

to that.

Tom Regal: 2:48

Kenny, you're gonna have to go back now. Saying

Kenny Bailey<br>: 2:52

I have to say it. So. Rachael Ray just just to recap the three years in a row for Sacramento right. Beautiful weather the day before?

Elizabeth Simi: 3:01

back okay. All right.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 3:04

Beautiful weather the first time they do it bomb cyclone. Beautiful weather when the day before they do it. 4050 mile an hour winds beautiful weather on Saturday. You guys get rain and nasty and it's beautiful on Monday. So California is absolutely doomed when it comes to races. Yeah. Okay, so let's start. You got there. You're feeling good. Obviously, the swim was ridiculously fast. Were you expecting the swim to be that fast? No, I

Elizabeth Simi: 3:29

figured it was going to be what I was expecting from the prior few weeks. I was told the water was going to be colder, which so I expected that to be a little more, you know, and what was the temperature? I don't remember what they ended up deciding it was I think they said 61. And I think was like 60 to 63. Before that. So and I know a lot of people were concerned about the cold. I wasn't particularly because I swim in cold water all the time. So

Kenny Bailey<br>: 4:01

do you wear booties or do you? Damn slow. I heard there was a big debate online beforehand. A lot of people were FedExing booties, you know, right before the race. Yeah. You know, it's tough people.

Elizabeth Simi: 4:16

Yeah, I did see people on Facebook going by where my booty is, you know, him. I mean, for some people, some people run really cold. So yeah, I'm sure that booties would be and I did see a few people the neoprene caps on and but, you know, it's what you're used to do, too. I mean, if you're coming from a warmer water area, it would probably be shocking and I'm sure the temperature the water probably did affect some people out there. But me personally, it was it was fun.

Tom Regal: 4:49

Sure, you're flying along. I mean, that's that's uh, that river was moving.

Elizabeth Simi: 4:55

Yeah, and you know, I tried to stay more focused this time and not let this stuff around me distract me where the first year I did a lot of sightseeing down the river. This time I was Yeah, it's cool to see stuff from the river that you never saw me.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 5:14

This year you had a job to do?

Elizabeth Simi: 5:15

Yes. Yeah. So it was you know, concentrate on the swim went in with the group that was an hour 10 hour 2010 minutes suggested I go for the hour 10 Mark and with the knowledge that I don't have a lot of problems in the water, I don't care if people kick me and climb on me and all of that, that doesn't bother me. So he was pretty confident that I'd be fine with it where I know some people freak out with that kind of stuff. So yeah, it was a it was a good spot for me to be for my start so

Kenny Bailey<br>: 5:50

and so for folks on the line. 57 minutes, right, like insane. Right when you got out of the water Did did you look at your watch and go with that? That's not right. 57 minutes Yeah. Well, the pros and why he was doing like a 56 Minute. I know they're they're doing it notion, but just to put in perspective for people, you know, 57 minutes on a normal normal body of water is pro level like, speed like this is

Elizabeth Simi: 6:25

fastest guy cuz he got out before we started, and they said like, 34 minutes. Sounds

Tom Regal: 6:32

about right. Yeah.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 6:35

I'm sorry.

Tom Regal: 6:37

jet engine. I mean,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 6:39

just Yeah, would just be like this. It'd be like, you know, yeah, yeah.

Elizabeth Simi: 6:43

I don't even know if you've made the turn. I don't. Yeah, so it was crazy. So

Kenny Bailey<br>: 6:51

one of the things you were concerned about also was a new transition for T one, because they had carpets and everything else. And I think it was about 15 minutes you had between the swim and the bike. Just, it was just just get through all the stuff.

Elizabeth Simi: 7:04

Yeah, it was it was really nice. I mean, you would have loved it because you didn't have to do that run up the hill and the whole ballpark basically came up the ramp. This swim was a little bit shorter this year, because they had an issue where they wanted to put the ramp in that there was no eucalyptus trees. Couldn't get it out. So they just moved the ramp in front of it. So it made this one tiny bit shorter. I mean, not significant. So you have a look, you had a little more of a run on the dock than normal, but or walk because yeah, run on the dock, you could end up back in the water. But right up the ramp, and then they had the wetsuit peelers

Kenny Bailey<br>: 7:49

peelers. Yes, sir.

Elizabeth Simi: 7:52

And my guy, he's telling me take it below your hips, and I don't know what the heck he's saying to me. I just sit down on the ground. He's like, it's okay. Well

Tom Regal: 8:05

hang on to your suit and let them pull.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 8:07

Exactly there. So that is such a small thing that you don't think about, but it's such a big deal to be able to, you know, you just lie down and like, you know, like a turtle in there. Just rip that thing off. And you're like, here, you're like, God bless. Next

Elizabeth Simi: 8:21

is the best thing ever. I recommend anybody's ever gonna do one of these things. Make sure that there's somebody that appeal off.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 8:29

Yeah, so much nicer. Alright, much time it does. And it's just yeah, and cramps because your cat like I get a calf cramp. If I tried to step out of my day.

Elizabeth Simi: 8:40

No matter what you do, when you're stepping on it, for some reason, it decides just gonna hang on to that one.

Tom Regal: 8:45

super goofy at that point, not going anywhere.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 8:49

So you got on the bike, you're feeling good about it and rock and roll and

Elizabeth Simi: 8:52

run over to you know, transition went through transition did a good job of not talking to people. Got my stuff on and off and headed over to the bike.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 9:06

Did have How was the weather at that point? Was it windy? Was it it was overcast was yes. Like

Elizabeth Simi: 9:10

sprinkles on our way to the venue. And it was overcast? It wasn't bad. There. I think there was a little bit of sprinkling before when we're waiting for the best swim. But everybody's like, that's not a big deal because you're in the water anyway. Who cares? So it was it was nice. I mean, it was a pleasant, overcast day, you know, get on the bike and head out. And it's nice. It's me. I guess there was a little bit of a headwind. I always get confused if I'm the only way I can tell if it's a headwind or a tailwind. I have to look at my watch. Oh, I'm going a little slower must be.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 9:51

But it wasn't I mean, the good news, how are you feeling? I mean, when you're getting a few miles into the bike, you're kind of settling in and that kind of thing. Did you feel you know pretty comfortable with that? point

Elizabeth Simi: 10:00

I did, I was very comfortable. I was fueling like, crazy. I was taking in my, you know, nutrition. I was very happy with that. And then, you know, in my head, I just kept thinking about the segments, you know, doing it in quarters. What? And beans, I knew the route that made it even better. Yeah, you know, I knew when I would be coming up on the turnaround and when the you know which terms were which and all that. So that was really nice. I was passing some people, which was unlucky for me. I know, people were passing me too, but I didn't care about that part. I like, I'd actually come up behind somebody. And I'm like, okay, watching that gap thing. And then I'm like, Huh, I'm gonna think I need to pass them. Okay, that means I gotta pedal hard.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 10:53

Did you get to say on your left? Yeah, yeah. That's the best, isn't it?

Elizabeth Simi: 11:00

It's so funny, because I'm so used to being past people that I'm like, Okay, I think I can make it past them. I don't want to mess them up. So

Kenny Bailey<br>: 11:10

it seems like I mean, just just from your short time that you've been talking, it's been it's been an interesting way that you talked about it last year, as you're talking about it this year, to your point you are focused on you know, and it's almost like, it seems like your Your state may have been last year, you're not quite sure if you're gonna be able to finish this thing. Right, where it sounds like this year, you had confidence that you were going to get it done. Right. So because of that you kept you kept sort of there is there's more of a focus, because you know, you needed to do that, because you had a chance where it seems like last year, you may have felt like you may not had a chance. So this one like you had a shot. So it seems like it seems like the way you're talking and tell me if I'm wrong. But like you're this focus was the idea of like, look, I'm going to get this thing done. Right. Well, I

Elizabeth Simi: 11:57

think last year, I had no doubt that I'd be able to do it. But I didn't know what I was doing. Either I had anything at that big of a scope. So in my head, of course, I was going to finish because I'm that's just the that's my personality. But to this year, I definitely had a stricter zone plan, I knew what I needed to do to get off the time, I knew that I needed that padding for the block, because I knew I wasn't going to be able to run right. So it's definitely much more focused and just having the other one under my belt. But I'm just kind of naive, where I'm like

Kenny Bailey<br>: 12:43

why that's a beautiful thing. I mean, you need to be naive. So maybe it's maybe the other way to think about it is is everything was new, like you said your lens was really wide last year because you're trying to take everything in where since you know most of it, you can be like here so

Elizabeth Simi: 12:57

right in I mean, for me, it was just I wasn't even thinking about like my speed on the bike. It was more about this is the amount of time I need. This is when I need to be off the bike. So I wasn't even looking at the time that was ticking away. I was looking at okay, am I going to make it by the five o'clock that I want to be off the bike? Yeah. Holy cow. I mean, even with the rain and everything. I mean, I've done cooking, but I was moving I guess on the bike. Everybody was shocked that you know, they're watching the little dot thing and yeah, they're like, Hey, you were so fast. Even in the rain. I'm like, oh, no, it's just I was just

Kenny Bailey<br>: 13:41

pedaling. So when did the rain start? I mean how many miles in did it start the rain?

Elizabeth Simi: 13:47

I think it hit on the second loop because we came through on the first loop I don't think and then Tim was at my bag. Thanks go and help me get my special needs stuff and then got you know what back out for the second part and then it starts raining but that it's like, you know, because we're all all of us are thinking yeah, chance of rain. Oh, it's gonna sprinkle. It's not going to be anything. Holy moly. The sky opens up your god this just it I was so wet. I couldn't believe how wet I was. And I'm watching my front wheel and the waters just doing this strain. Yeah. But it was my first time ever really riding in the rain. Wow. Because I just thought Why would I ever go out and ride in the rain on purpose? So I was just like, oh my gosh, this is actually kind of nice. I don't mind

Kenny Bailey<br>: 14:49

it's not if it's a warm rain. It's not terrible, right because your body core temperatures, you know,

Tom Regal: 14:54

you're wet anyway. Yeah, it

Elizabeth Simi: 14:58

was it was I Of course, you know, I don't know, I'm just probably one of those people that thinks a lot about things and feeling stuff and all that. And while I'm writing, I'm noticing the water that's coming up off the asphalt is kind of warm. So it's like, there's this heating of that coming from the bottom to keep you warm. Like, that's not too bad.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 15:22

You can get on the bike and nobody knows it. Okay, do

Elizabeth Simi: 15:26

not do that.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 15:29

If you want it to.

Elizabeth Simi: 15:31

Yeah, cuz you're already wet. Nobody's gonna.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 15:35

So when you get to mile 99, it has to be something in your head. Yeah, right. Yeah. Did you mark it when

Elizabeth Simi: 15:41

you I know exactly.

Tom Regal: 15:44

That point? Yeah, you got to that point,

Elizabeth Simi: 15:47

it's not a hard point to miss. Because where it is, there's actually I don't know if it's a winery or there's something there with a big sign. And it's right before you make the turn on the babble slow, so there's no way I'll ever forget that. So of course, I've seen it a few times before, you know, practices and stuff. But when I, the first time I came by it, I'm like, yeah, there's that spot. You know, let's go around again. And then as I went by said, by mile minding,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 16:20

you're no longer part of my my story check.

Elizabeth Simi: 16:24

And then okay, you come as you come up around babbles slew they have the 100 mile sign there. So it's like, Yes, there it is. 100 miles that I've never ridden before in my life, right. So yeah, that's awesome. A lot of first.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 16:42

So when you when you got to the tee to transition, and hopefully you you sort of gave yourself a cheer. What What was that kind of feeling? Like as he got off the bike, you're like, I can't believe I just did that.

Elizabeth Simi: 16:51

I'm actually, you know, I was just so focused, like, get

Kenny Bailey<br>: 16:55

you focused.

Elizabeth Simi: 16:56

I you know, it's just like, in there. I don't, of course, you know, when I came into T two, there's family around and I mean, gosh, there's so many people out there, it was so awesome. But as you're coming up to the line, the dismount line, one person there, and they're not slowing you down ahead of time. And you know how you're trying to watch to see where the dismount line is. Yeah, poor lady must have been like so hoarse by the end because she's yelling out it's like, Oh, hello, you know. You know, you don't do that when you're Clifton.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 17:36

Yeah, no, yeah, I didn't want to my life almost

Tom Regal: 17:40

is so raining at this point, or as it stands.

Elizabeth Simi: 17:42

Now, the rain has subsided, which was okay, that's awesome. I had packed an extra pair of dry socks. So I was like, Okay, get it. My initial idea was I was going to take off my bike shirt and leave on my sleeves that I wore on the bike, because I figured that would keep me warm on the run. Right? In case it was cold out there. Well, they're drenched there. So I'm just like, okay, so peel that all off. Take off my bike shorts, and I wear my try shorts under my bike shorts. So I have my try shorts still on, which is a good thing. Bad thing, because that's where some of the issues have come in because yeah,

Tom Regal: 18:23

too. Little too little. Yeah, a little bit of shaving.

Elizabeth Simi: 18:26

Yeah, so and I didn't go to the changing tent. I just did all my stuff right there by the way. And then I put my shoes in my dry socks on which that was a challenge because the carpet it's on top of really like big gravel rocks. So yeah, so it rains so hard that as you're stepping down you're seeing the water go Yeah, and so you're trying to balance and stand on a shoe while you're trying to put your socks on and not put your foot down into the wall

Kenny Bailey<br>: 19:02

after 112 mile bike ride

Elizabeth Simi: 19:05

was was probably the most comical thing

Tom Regal: 19:09

anyone has videos please send them our way please. stuffs in a bag your your your run run gears in a bag and it's hanging up now it just got rained on. Was it dry? Did you have any kind of cover on it besides or did it get a little bit of wet?

Elizabeth Simi: 19:26

I was lucky my bag did not get wet inside? I don't know how because I mean they had us having our run bags right underneath our bot where our bikes would be Yeah, I had it tied but not like super tight or anything because I seriously did not think we're gonna have this race. I got really lucky that my stuff wasn't that wet. I understand some people weren't as lucky that they got some stuff coming out of there.

Tom Regal: 19:52

Yeah, cuz that's always an issue because the bag is kind of open on a top and there was ways that if you knew it was gonna rain, you duct taped or you taped or You put a plastic bag over that to kind of seal it off. So I was wondering if yours had gotten wet. So you got lucky with that good. That's fortunate.

Elizabeth Simi: 20:08

I got very lucky. And so, you know, go and get out of tea to come out. And of course, there's everybody. Yeah, you know,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 20:18

What time was that? What

Elizabeth Simi: 20:20

it was I got in off the bike. I think it was 445 447. So I was out onto the run. Probably about two or three minutes after five. So I was I was

Kenny Bailey<br>: 20:34

like, you hit your goal that you already got it on.

Elizabeth Simi: 20:38

I was I was so on track on my swim and run a little ahead. I mean, my bike a little ahead that I was feeling actually really relaxed. Hey, I learned how to eat my Smuckers on crosstable with out getting it all over me and righty you get the bag and you bite on the bag and it pushes up into your mouth. mazing if anybody Wow.

Tom Regal: 21:04

There you go. That's new. Another first. Yeah.

Elizabeth Simi: 21:10

Very proud of myself way too.

Tom Regal: 21:11

Oh, no, that's fantastic. Without good, well, I

Kenny Bailey<br>: 21:15

was gonna tell you the one thing I saw on people on the on the transition bags that I thought was the coolest thing ever is they get Dixie cups. And they put the string through the Dixie cup. And that covers the whole reel. Yeah, and then they tie it and then you untie it peel the Dixie cup off. And I'm like that's the smartest damn thing you've ever seen. That's like insanely smart. I think

Elizabeth Simi: 21:36

you need to do a whole show on hacks on how to surf jet No

Kenny Bailey<br>: 21:41

kidding, right?

Elizabeth Simi: 21:43

I distance thing

Kenny Bailey<br>: 21:44

here, right? Yes. Yeah, I mean, because I put all mine in a two and a half gallon. Ziplock anyway. Yeah, even if it's dry, because then it keeps it separate. So I have like, because I'm really anal retentive. So like, my pre packing is probably, you know, 15, two and a half gallon bags that are full of, you know, cycling gear, running gear, you know, you know, and I'll put it in a separate bag, like, Okay, if it's cold, this is going to be my cold weather stuff. So when I peel it out of my transition bag, I'm not peeling everything out. That's that's the, that's the Ziploc that has just the, the arm warmers. And then, but the Dixie cup thing I saw in Oregon, I thought that was most brilliant thing ever.

Tom Regal: 22:21

That's awesome. I like that one.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 22:24

Anyway, so we're on the we're on the walk, run, run, walk, run? Well, I'm pretty good. It's five o'clock. How'd your body respond?

Elizabeth Simi: 22:34

I'm fine. I mean, transfer transferring over onto my feet was fine. I mean, it's amazing to me, I'm gonna give all credit to coach Tim on my conditioning. Because I my legs never got tired on the bike. That's great. I, I felt good. So getting onto my feet, obviously not happy to run, it's nice. Started the walk. And the course was really cool and different in that as you're going out for your first you know, start everybody who's been out for a while, you've got the second timers coming by. And there were so many people doing this back and forth. There's so much energy, it's absolutely amazing. So like, you know, come out, see my family and then start heading down in there. There's Tim Of course, you know, jumping up and taking pictures and Michelle's there and so you know, that's all been Yeah. Head out. Get going. They had. So, you know, I was kind of worried about the under the bridge and all that stuff. Yeah, they had us going down a hill that was kind of like this instead of there was another that they would have. There's another gradual one. It was further. Yeah, my I think my husband stuff is like dinging on me. On his computer. Sorry, guys.

Tom Regal: 24:04

Oh, we're not hearing. Perfect.

Elizabeth Simi: 24:08

Perfect. So you go down this like he'll thing and then go under the bridge. And then. So the course is, I would call it rolling hills spread out, not flat, okay for because there's a lot of ups and overs and things that you go through. So you go down, you're, you're heading out and there's people all over the place and you're heading down through West Sacramento and everything's great. I'm feeling good. I'm probably not walking as fast as I'd like to. But it's all going good. You go out to the turn around and come back and then the rain hits again. Oh, no. It was

Kenny Bailey<br>: 24:57

spectacular. You start cussing me. You got it. Oh

Elizabeth Simi: 24:59

spec haters were flying and running. And everybody was like, it was monsoon rain. It was. It wasn't California rain it was let's see how wet we can get the place. So at this point, you know, you're like, so happy that you changed out of your bike stuff. And you've got dry socks. Yeah. And guess what? You don't have dry, dry socks hanging down lucky I did choose to wear a hat because I thought it might rain. So I figured keep the rest of your I did not put my glasses back on. Because I had taken those off during the ride. Like right blind, but for me, I can kind of see right. Yeah. I didn't hit anybody. Good. That you know of? Yeah.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 25:54

What was that? Squirrel? I don't know. Anyway, moving on.

Elizabeth Simi: 26:00

Yes. So anyway, so that. So at that point, we're wet, you know, and we head out towards discovery, Discovery Park. And the cool thing was when I started the run, it was still light out. Nice. This is weird. It even like on the ride near the end, because there was you know, the clouds were coming in and out. It would get dark and time is it's getting dark. So I'm not gonna make it. But oh, and I forgot to tell you out on the ride. After the rain went away, there was an incredibly beautiful rainbow from one. That's neat. That was absolutely gorgeous.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 26:41

That's awesome. It's a sign. It was a sign.

Tom Regal: 26:43

It was a it was a sign that just said, this is beautiful. And we're going to rain on you again. Yeah. Just a warning.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 26:52

The other half of this rainbow was more rain.

Tom Regal: 26:53

Yeah, it's over here. It's alright.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 26:57

So the rain hits you. And you're just like, did it did it significantly slow you down at that point? Or was it like just more?

Elizabeth Simi: 27:05

I'd say it slowed me down. Plus, I was having some I needed to stop at the bathroom a few times, things going on. So that was kind of slowing me down a little bit too. Because let's face it, the porta potties aren't the best. And they decided to put in there as a bad idea getting your tri shorts up and down.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 27:29

challenge especially when they're wet. And it's gross. Yeah. So you know, well, and I know it's gross to sound but this is a real, I mean that that's what happens, right? Yeah, distress you got to deal with with that. It's just a fact of endurance training. It's just

Elizabeth Simi: 27:44

Yeah, it's so good. I really put some thought into what could I be done different besides run? That could have gotten me through that quicker. And there really wasn't anything that I could have changed to make a difference because I did not screw around. So but the rain, I would say slowed me down the shaping that was occurring because of the wet shorts and being so

Tom Regal: 28:10

totally sorry, down. That will totally slow you down.

Elizabeth Simi: 28:14

And that hurts.

Tom Regal: 28:17

It does. Yeah, it wasn't at all. Yeah.

Elizabeth Simi: 28:20

But so as you're going into Discovery Park, because we've had this pouring down rain, there's a certain area on the trail that has flooded completely over. Great, big puddle. And so everybody's trying to negotiate the puddle it kind of the trails here and there's grass up. You can see my trails here and the grass is over here. So even if you wanted to go to the grass, it's all mushy too. Yeah, no matter how hard I tried to like find the high spots, I would kind of was the lowest

Kenny Bailey<br>: 28:57

point you just gotta go, you know, just

Tom Regal: 29:00

like, I can't get any

Elizabeth Simi: 29:03

water. Right. And so you get through that part. And then you go up into Discovery Park, which it actually went up further into Discovery Park than I thought it was going. And there were some really dark areas, which is you know,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 29:15

did you have a headlamp with you or

Elizabeth Simi: 29:16

I did, I had two lights on me. I knew the situation. They did have some overhead lighting, but there were still some dark areas. And for me being a local, I know where people are and what things are going on in Sacramento on the trails. So I'm not like freaked out about it where I'm sure if you weren't a local, some of the sounds in the bushes might freak you out. Yeah. Yeah. What was that?

Kenny Bailey<br>: 29:47

It was amazing. Last year on how many people didn't have headlamps in in an area that doesn't have lighting and there was a giant I forgot which company but there was a pretty major sponsor that had a bucket full of headlamps. People weren't taking them. And I'm like, we're in the dark. Like, this is a trail. This isn't like, yeah, it was. Yeah. So I'm glad to know that at least you were safe. And you had to headlamps and

Elizabeth Simi: 30:09

yeah, and the thing was, I saw a lot of people too, that weren't didn't have lights, and they did not give out headlights this year. I didn't see them anywhere. Yeah. So I there, especially late when I was coming back on the second round. There was somebody running out there. I almost didn't see them. It was so dark and that they had no light or I mean, I had a reflective thing on I was like, Hello, here I am. You know? Yeah. So

Kenny Bailey<br>: 30:39

when you're coming back on the second loop? I mean, when you started doing math, when when did the math not add up? I guess, when did you? I don't know if we're gonna get this.

Elizabeth Simi: 30:50

I thinking I'm coming back from the second. I'm coming back out of Discovery Park on that first loop. And my husband's up at the top of where you come into Old Town, Sacramento, and he is checking on me to see if I'm okay. He kind of walks the edge with me, you know, and I'm like, I'm doing okay, I said, you know, I, I was starting to feel like, hey, this

Tom Regal: 31:20

time, yeah, that sounds appropriate. That's a perfect spot for that to be coming into your head.

Elizabeth Simi: 31:25

He said, You know, I said, I'm gonna head over, you know, under the second loop. And, you know, the one part is all there's a lot of people still around, when you go over into West SAC, it's not so bad. But I had said to him, I'm a little nervous about going back into Discovery Park with less people. Because, you know, it's the tail end of people at this point where before, there's a lot of action, so you're not as worried about it. So he says, Well, I'll, I'll catch you when you get back from the other side. And when he, when I got back around at that point, I'm just everyday is like, what it is. Just like, I really don't want to go back. And he said, I'm going to walk out there because I don't trust you out there by yourself. I just don't want it. And I want a good man. Yeah. And I actually had mentioned to him I haven't seen a lot of official people out on the trail other than you know, your aid stations. So it really kind of did feel a little isolated out there. So yeah, he walked that part with me, which Thank goodness he did my feeling was terrible on the running parts.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 32:43

Just because of the rain and everything and

Elizabeth Simi: 32:46

rain and every time I ate something my stomach kind of wet. Oh, yeah, we're done. Like, what even like I I ended up with doing coke and water mostly. I started with like the potato chips. Those works so good. The first two times the third time.

Tom Regal: 33:03

He's done with that. Yeah, everybody said, okay.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 33:05

Yeah, this is such a thing. You can't train for it. Right? You don't train for me. You know, that's a very, very difficult to do this kind of thing. You only find out when you find out and it's through experience really not through training.

Elizabeth Simi: 33:16

Yeah, so you know, I did the bananas which I love bananas. And I think bananas are the best food that was ever made. So I did some bananas and those were good. I tried to slice orange which that kind of my stomach when Hello What do you do? And I had some grapes. Those were good. And that was fine. One time I tried your chicken broth Kenny was disgusting thing ever.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 33:43

I love that stuff. Oh my god. It was so happy. That's hilarious. So many people brought the rain and I told him so don't listen to me. Right so rain is not better. And chicken broth sucks. Got Yeah,

Elizabeth Simi: 33:59

buddy, because a lot of the athletes out there were like, there's chicken broth. They were all excited. But I took like three sips of it. I was like oh, no, no, no, not

Kenny Bailey<br>: 34:11

Yeah, for me, it was just it was it was not sugar, right because everything's bananas and grapes and and the broth is savory and it's got a bunch of salt in it. So

Elizabeth Simi: 34:21

yeah, did the chips for the salty part. Yeah.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 34:24

Well, I'm sorry that the chicken broth didn't hold up to expectations. I know.

Elizabeth Simi: 34:28

I was really lucky in the first the first few sessions that I passed that had chicken blocks brought up I kind of missed I missed the chicken I was like

Tom Regal: 34:43

you missed it then. No,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 34:45

yeah, no. But so you came back on the second lap. Your husband's with you. It's it's it hurts. Everything hurts. You just want the damn thing over with at this point. And so you kind of slog it in and I understand. Tim caught up with you A few miles before the

Elizabeth Simi: 35:01

Yes. And luckily he did because Jim was really happy to keep convincing me to keep moving because I had finally got to the point where I was like, You know what, I don't even care. I don't care if they say I'm an Iron Man, I don't care about any of this. Yeah, my pants are so wet, everything is nasty. And it wasn't that I was tired. I was just over the whole situation. And so when we finally before we get to Tim, there's first a police officer on a bike who was the nicest man ever and was encouraging me and telling me it's not your body still going, your body's fine. It's all in your mind. I've done some of that light down there. Just go a mile and a half. And I might, I'm trying to be nice to this gentleman.

Tom Regal: 35:53

You punched you in the papers about that. Just

Kenny Bailey<br>: 35:59

great. Elizabeth gets in the car. beautiful story of not even nine miles and NZ cops at 100. Domestic Violence, punching her husband and battery.

Elizabeth Simi: 36:16

I smiled at him and thanked him but I was just like, Shut. Up, be quiet. So as we're coming along, then, about that time is when we see you know Tim's showing up into the picture and somebody else says, Oh, just a mile and a half. How many times are they gonna tell me it's

Tom Regal: 36:41

half to the next aid station to finish, right?

Elizabeth Simi: 36:45

It's lying to me. So at that point, Jim kind of dropped to the side because he was happy that Tim was there to take over because nothing Jim was gonna say that was going to help me adapt. Yeah. And Tim, you know, took the reins. Have you got it? What do you got in there, you got the gas that we got some extra fuel. We this is where you got to dig deep. You got to do this. And I was just like, I feel like I'm gonna throw up. I was not the happy camper. I know.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 37:20

We found Elizabeth's edge, right. So but I understand though they kept they kept it open, the finish line kept open for you. Right. So you turn that corner and you saw the lights? And you're here. And that has got to just be an adrenaline rush.

Elizabeth Simi: 37:33

Yeah, I you would think so.

Tom Regal: 37:40

She was completely. I guess that's good.

Elizabeth Simi: 37:48

I did start to run because it was the way the finish line was there. You ran down next to it. And then you turned around, and then you came back into the chute. Yeah. So Tim, you know, was talking me through best part. And then he goes, you know, go down to the turnaround. And then I'll catch you on the way back. And I did start to run wasn't a very good run. It wasn't successful. It was faster on the little time thing. And then I came back around and you hear that they're counting down and there was a guy in front of me with his friend, oh my gosh, that poor gentleman. He was sideways for so many miles in front of me. He was holding on to his friend shoulder. I was just, I was dying for him. So they go through the chute before me but they're counting down the time. That poor guy I think they it was like seven seconds or after the 17 hour mark doesn't get your an Iron Man either. Good job. And so then I'm just a few seconds behind him. And I was trying, but once they were starting, they got to a certain amount of seconds. I was like, There's no way there's no way in time. So it was like, All right, we'll make a good show with this app with the arms in the air. And of course, they were telling all you know the story. Oh, the 99 mile thing and all that which was very sweet. They were very nice, you know, with the announcement. But once I went over the finish line, I was really I wasn't expecting a medal. I wasn't expecting any because I had made the cut off. You know, so I and I hadn't got to hear you are and again, you know, so. But as I come across, I had done the interviews with a BCC live, and they were there and but there's nobody really around catching because I mean, this is it right? Yeah. They put the guy on a chair that was practically dying. And I'm standing there and the guy one guy is talking to me and I start to walk away he goes, where are you going? I said I want to sit down. I'm sure I'm gonna go get that Ironman distance,

Tom Regal: 40:12

for crying out loud, give me a chair.

Elizabeth Simi: 40:16

Once I sat down, they actually did come over and gave me the medal and the shirt and the hat. You know. So that was that was all really nice that they did. Because I really, I was like, I didn't make it in time. And I know everybody's been all over me about for me. I didn't make the cut off. You know? I didn't do it. But everybody else like, Yes, you did.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 40:43

Well, and I, I'm probably going to echo that. Because before we got on, I was talking to Tom about this. I mean, you get somebody that's 35 years old, that's in relatively good shape that goes and does this and gets a middle of the pack. And they say you're an Iron Man. It's like, you have no business being out there. Right? I mean, you look at your age, you look at your, you know, your meniscus tear you look at, you know, the speed you're going, you have no business doing that. None whatsoever. You swim faster than I can ever swim. You nailed the bike. You took that 99 miles and you slay that dragon. You did the complete distance, you have a medal. You are the definition of Ironman. No question. There's no question. Yeah. They said, No, I understand inside. You're like, but I didn't hear the words. Yeah. So I don't want to ask you. It's almost like asking, you know, a woman that just gave birth like a day after she gave birth? Is she gonna have another one? But do you feel like you need to hear that? Is that is that sort of like something you got to sit down and think about? Or is it like, that hurt too much? Let's, let's not talk about that.

Tom Regal: 41:51

Check that box. Let's go. Yeah.

Elizabeth Simi: 41:54

So the ridiculous thing about me is, you know, when at the finish line, I'm sitting there and I'm being you know, interviewed. And then they turn off everything. And the two, there were three guys that worked for the video production company. And they one of the kids even jokingly turned to Jim and said, yeah, she's gonna do it again next year. No, I am not again next year. But now that the these days have gone, what Tuesday's got your

Kenny Bailey<br>: 42:29

whole days? Yeah.

Elizabeth Simi: 42:32

I will not do it. Next year, I am going to get my knees looked at see what kind of work would be done on those. Because even when I was out there, dying. All I kept thinking was if I could run this, I could do this. There's no question about it. And if I could get somebody to teach me to run faster and be an efficient runner, I could really do this. So in the back of my head, I don't think Jim really realizes this yet.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 43:06

Okay. We don't tell him we will. Yeah. Yeah,

Elizabeth Simi: 43:09

he won't watch this. Anyhow. I'd like to try again, if I can get my knees where they need to be in 2025. I would like to try to do California one more time. And I want to hear you are an Iron Man. I know. It's ridiculous guy. No, it's

Kenny Bailey<br>: 43:30

not ridiculous. It's

Tom Regal: 43:32

no, it's

Kenny Bailey<br>: 43:35

no, it's not. I mean, it's it's the first one I did in Arizona. The only thing that kept me going in the last six miles was hearing Mike Riley. Tell me on an Iron Man. Yeah. And if you look at one of the photos of here, that one I'm literally jumping across the line. And when he said it, I looked straight at him. I said, You're goddamn right. I am. God, I'm kind of an asshole. I did a yell did you know I was like, Okay, I'm aggressive. I get it. The security took me away. Mike's like, Hey, man. So you know, I never got to get within 300 yards of Mike Riley, but still. I get that idea. But don't go ahead. Just don't discount what you did. I mean, it's incredible. You aren't. Yeah, it's just now you need to get it on the record books. Right.

Elizabeth Simi: 44:25

Right. And I have to brag. I've been very close to him. I got my bought his book and had him sign. You know, he may never said my name.

Tom Regal: 44:39

At least you're allowed near him. I mean, that reached Yeah. 2030

Kenny Bailey<br>: 44:44

court order says not

Elizabeth Simi: 44:46

Yeah. He has a restraining order.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 44:48

Yeah, it's just one. Just one. So well, just one. There's a statute of limitations coming up too. So that's good.

Tom Regal: 44:54

I think 2030 is when that expires, isn't it?

Kenny Bailey<br>: 44:57

Like that? Well, we are are in awe and super, super proud of what we have been. I mean, we've been following you both what February? Yeah. Was it? I spent? Yeah. Just watching the highs and lows of just getting to the line. And then the exuberance I was feeling for you when I'm on the tracker, and I'm like, Oh my gosh, that that swim is insane. And then she's keeping a consistent pace on that bike. And then when I saw that, I think was 102 mile check in I'm like, she did it. I mean, past the 99. Now let's get her to the line. And then the sort of like, watching you on the tracker as you're walking, I'm like, Oh, crap, or like, Oh, crap, right. And then hearing from Tim, that, you know, torrential downpour hit. He's like, it's raining. He went to the car. He's

Unknown: 45:46

like, great coach.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 45:48

You may be suffering I don't have to

Elizabeth Simi: 45:50

every day

Kenny Bailey<br>: 45:54

but just watching you do that and and hear it. I mean, I love your spirit. I love that. It is a dichotomy. You did it. You did the distance. You're an Ironman, but I know what you mean by that. That's still there's a itch there that hasn't been scratched yet. And that's that may be the fuel you need. Right. And but and I liked the fact you're waiting till next year to just kind of or you're waiting a couple years like get your knee healed get healthy. Yeah. Good, healthy, get where you can feel comfortable with a with a decent run or at least a run, walk kind of deal and, and get at it and 25 Congratulations.

Tom Regal: 46:27

Yeah, I mean, congratulations completely. It's been a blast following him along. I mean, this has been a he was texting me and I was driving back from from a trip and we're following on the tracker. And yeah, but we were we were back and forth watching what tracking you and he was sending me text back and forth. So it was like, it was exciting on our end to, to follow along on that. So

Elizabeth Simi: 46:50

I do have a question. Were you actually awake when I was going to cry? No. Okay, no. Okay. Good.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 46:57

Luck. I'm on Central Time now for a couple hours. I gave up around 11 o'clock our time. There's about nine o'clock. I'm like I'm out of here. Yeah.

Elizabeth Simi: 47:07

I'm glad because I wouldn't have stayed off.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 47:10

Well, Tom has an excuse. Yeah. I mean, Tom ran 100 miles. On Saturday. So we still sore but I'm talking to you. I feel great. By the way. You have no had a whiskey. I was watching football. I was good. Yeah, you were you were good. I was dry. Comfortable. On that note, anyway, so yes, congratulation, we've we we are blessed to we are blessed to have been part of this journey. And I hope people online have enjoyed it as well. I know. I know that we have I hope the BBC enjoys it as well. Those jerks. We didn't have a film crew, Tom.

Tom Regal: 47:51

Next time we didn't get we're gonna work on that. It's

Kenny Bailey<br>: 47:55

quite for the film crew. So

Tom Regal: 47:56

maybe next year, we can we can pinch for a film. Film.

Elizabeth Simi: 48:01

You, ya know, that whole situation was really interesting in that I did not know what that was.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 48:12

They just contacted me and said,

Elizabeth Simi: 48:13

hey, yeah, you know, that was, you know, at first I Googled to see who this company was, was this real? You know what's going on. And then I thought that they were just going to interview me and I was going to be part of a montage with other athletes. And then at the opening ceremony, suddenly it's and our spotlight athlete, Elizabeth Sumi, from Fair Oaks, California. And there's a whole like thing on talking and on this big screen, and then it finishes. And of course, you know, people who know me are turning around like, yeah, yeah, get out. There this

Tom Regal: 48:59

point, everybody knows you.

Elizabeth Simi: 49:02

And then they had me stand up, you know, is Elizabeth shimmy here. And of course, somebody I know, right in front of me. And they're like, pointing at me. I'm like, I have to stand up. And I mean, it was really cool. But it was so damn I think about Yeah, well, and it was because they were there before the race, which was really unnerving for me, because I was like, I need to get my stuff where it needs to be. I need to get on the bus. You know? Yeah, you know how you are. In the race. You're just like, I need to get my stuff done. You know, this is all cool, but guys, I gotta get moving type thing. But if it was a little more than I anticipated, I thought I was part of a little group thing. I didn't know that. I was like, you know,

Tom Regal: 49:53

your star spotlight. Or you're famous,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 49:57

just like the pros.

Elizabeth Simi: 50:00

Hey, just so you guys know that's what happened to me. I did an Iron Man but this other

Tom Regal: 50:08

thing. My day job my actor star.

Elizabeth Simi: 50:15

I have to say you guys, this has been such a blast. And I look forward to talking to you guys all the time and I talked to you guys about you guys like you know, the guys the guys my husband's like, Who are you talking about? You're talking about the podcast. Can you talk?

Kenny Bailey<br>: 50:35

It's funny the podcasts people find those guys. I like that's so

Elizabeth Simi: 50:41

great, guys. I've really enjoyed this.

Tom Regal: 50:43

Thanks. Yeah, thanks for sharing all of this stuff. I mean, thanks for sharing the highs and the lows. And and, and that was the thing that we talked about in the very beginning is we want to know the loans because that's what I know we relate to and everybody else can relate to is like, it's not all perfect. And never goes the way you really want it to go. It's very rare for that to happen and to be able to follow along where it was going great and where it wasn't going great. And it was going great again and all of that stuff. I can't it was I think thank you for being willing to share all of that with everybody because I think that's important. I think that that's what everybody needs to hear sound. And thanks, everybody for your comments and your thumbs up star five stars, all the ratings and that stuff. Please keep doing that. Subscribe. Subscribe to the audio version, subscribe to the our YouTube channel as well. There'll be a button floating around here someplace. And yeah, keep keep posted because we'll have we'll have more athletes next year. We'll follow some more athletes as they do their triathletes journey and go through but yeah, thanks again, Elizabeth. And Kenny as always, it's fantastic. So for everybody, we'll catch you on the next one.