Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas - TriathlonFull Ironman

I am a slow swimmer. Endurance however is not a problem. I felt great throughout the entire swim. I decided not to check my watch and just kept going, knowing that soon I will hear Mike Reily's voice on the microphone. The hardest part of the swim was the canal where I felt like a frog in a bucket of 1000 other frogs all trying to get out at the same time. The canal was very narrow and shallow for a few hundred yards. I banged my knee and scraped my toe on a log on the bottom of the canal. The separate wetsuit start was ten minutes after the swimsuit start. It was at this time in the canal that I encountered the wet suited swimmers who were much faster.
I started near the middle as opposed to out to the right as I usually do. I found that I had many wide open areas as I swam by the yellow buoys, and was actually bumping into a few of them. I was pleasantly surprised by this. I felt good, and my goal was to get out with a decent time, with lots of energy for the bike.
I have learned how to swim defensively, eg. fight for my spot when needed which helps when the areas get congested. I still got kicked more times than I can count, and I'm sure I kicked lots of people as well.
I wore goggles that were shaded and it was a great choice as the sun was beaming down.
There is a white mansion on the way out on first swim segment, which is an excellent landmark for sighting!

Not much.

A little slower than I had hoped but not bad.

Sit in a less crowded area in the transition tent even if it meant spending more time trying to find this area.

My best IM bike ever!!! I kept telling myself over and over "don't push it". So many times I had to fight back the urge to go all out and do extended passes. I knew I needed to save this energy. My plan was to take it easy until about mile 80, then push it if I felt I could. This worked out well.

At about mile 25 on the bike I knew something was wrong. I had to pee about every 5-10 miles and this is very abnormal. I began to get nervous that maybe I was in afib. My cardiologist explained that Atrial Natriuretic Peptide is a natural diuretic. Sometimes the only way I know I'm in a fib is if I have to pee ALOT. I peed so much that it burned so bad and I actually yelled out in pain. The last 25 miles I rode with a full bladder as it was too painful to pee and waited until I could get to the porta jon to pee in agony. At least I knew I was hydrating well.

I had a solid bike, with equal splits. I felt well prepared for this part of the race.

It was awful. After I got off my bike, I felt a bit wheezy and lightheaded. I wanted to throw up but dry heave was all that I could manage. I went to the porta jon and agonized having to pee with all the burning. I'm a wimp with pain in that area, and it hurt like hell. Not sure why. I screamed in the porta jon as I went. Enough details for the purpose of a race report....
I was so angry as this was the first time I've been in afib (at least that I knew) in the last 6 months. My electrophysiologist (cardiologist) wants to do an ablation but I am hesitant to do so just yet as this occurs so infrequently and the data for prolonged success is not yet good enough. He explained to me that my afib is likely from endurance sports and the added catecholamines produced by exercise. Go figure!!
Anyway, I went into the shade of the tent and sat for a few minutes. A few volunteers came to my aid and I just kept telling them I'm resting for a minute and that I'd be OK. Many thoughts went through my head including turning in my chip and going back to the hotel. I was sweating profusely and felt defeated, betrayed by my own body.
I then thought of my boys, and how I tell them I'm not a quitter. I've biked and run before while in this rhythm. I know what I can and cannot do. I just have to not push it too hard or I get lightheaded and start wheezing. I know afib in itself is not life threatening, and I am followed closely by my cardiologist. I know what I physically can and cannot do. I felt pissed as well because I just PR'ed my bike and was right on line to achieving my goal of 12:30.

I fought off the nausea and dizziness. I began to feel a bit better. I sat in the shade with a few others, closed my eyes. Did a few valsalva maneuvers magically thinking it would make my afib go away. I managed to somehow pull myself together.

I kept debating on calling it a day, attributing my DNF to AFib. Sure it would be a good, respectable reason to call it a day. I just could not and would not accept defeat, even if I had to walk the entire run. I'm here to do an Ironman!

I'm going to talk to my Cardiologist about pre endurance race flecainide. Since Afib is paroxysmal, and so infrequent, we decided against routine meds. Beta blockers are definitely out as they kill my workouts. Guess it's time to rethink ablation as well. Giving up endurance sports is not n option for me.

I slupped out to start my run, and 2 or 3 times during the first mile I stopped, told myself "this is crazy" and wanted to call it a day. Kept checking my pulse. Still irregular but slower. Slowly I began picking up speed and made it through the first several miles. My legs felt good, no cramping at all which was a first for an IM run. I continued to feel pissed that my body is failing me. This was the IM I was hoping to go sub 4:30 on the run. I had prepared well.

I was in survival mode and did the best I could. Once I decided I could not run, I came to accept this and finally came to peace with the fact that I am still going to finish. I'm not a quitter. I met many people on the last half of the run, shared good stories and encouraged everyone I could. I ran little bits at a time.

I found an isolated area near the expo where I could lay down and rest. Since I traveled alone, I had to go get my bike and gear after the race. Usually my son Kyle does this for me. I decided not to participate at the finisher chute and drove back to my hotel, showered, and went to bed by 11 pm.


Damn Afib!!!!!!!!!


The volunteers were awesome. The nutritional and fluid support was incredible. The people lined streets during lots of the run.
I made it!
This makes for my 9th IM completion. I know well that despite one's best preparation, anything can happen during a race.

I did not let Afib take this Ironman away from me!!!