Ironman Lake Placid : Official Thread (Page 139)

Good luck to all of you tomorrow.

I'm already very happy being able to be at the starting line. Enjoy your day and enjoy YOUR race.

Good luck to everyone tomorrow. There are many times where I freaked out and felt I could not do this but you all supported me and guided me through my self doubt. Then I had a string of bad luck with mechanicals and I missed my longest rides.

 3 weeks ago I crashed and suffered some abrasions but nothing broken. The just last Saturday I fainted and mashed my face, causing my most recent injury a bulging c6 disc in my neck. On tuesday night I went on a short 15 mile ride only to break my chain at mile 10 and then just this morning at 11:30am, I was going over my bike before I dropped it off and I saw a small glob of grease on my front tire. I went to wipe it off and realized it wasn't grease but my tube protruding through the sidewall!!!!! These tires are brand new, have less than 50 miles on them. I quickly inspected my rear tire and found a split in them too, but the tube was not poking through.  

It was at this point that I realized that I was meant to race Ironman.  Planet Placid is right down the road from my hotel. I ran down there and $170 later came out with two tires tougher than a Brinks truck.

I realized that had I not spotted that "grease"  I would have been out of the race before the Keene descent. Worse, I could have and another blow out and been in the hospital.

I believe there is a God and I know he is for me. There is no reason that would have checked my tire. I just had a pre-race check on Monday.  

I signed up for IMLP 2013 and hope you all did too. I learned a lot and will apply it to my training in the next 12 months.

I will be the only guy wearing a USMC Devil Dog biking jersey. The Devil Dog will have large folder arms across his chest. It is a desert brown with USMC over the dog. The jersey will be ready to burst as it tries to hold back my layers of fat.

I do not have a BT tatoo but you can't miss me. I will be one, if not the largest guy on the course.

Again, have a great day tomorrow and have fun!!!!

Phillipans 4:13 

I can do all things through christ who strengthens me!!!

Thanks for all the encouragement and great discussions everyone go out and have a great day!!

Love this post! Was thinking about you BT peeps all day, got a little choked up wishing I was there too.  Please report back on the day!!

Congrads to everyone!!!!

11:25:55 Here 

I am eating like a horse and I am headed back to the finish line

You were a machine out there,  you were looking strong,  

I was doing well up to the second loop of the run where I had some side stitch thing that I could not get rid of, so I had to walk the second half, until the last 3 miles.  

finished at 13:58:32,  I definitely learned a lot on my first IM,  So now I'll rest up and get back to training the weakness.  I have to say that I was really happy with the swim.  I thought I was going to have problems there but it worked out great.

I have to agree he is one tough guy! Congrats to all of you today it was fun keeping track of all of you. Great Job!

I was hoping for 14:00 and got 14:06. Pushed it s hard as I dared...was scared to death of cramping up and walking 1/2 the run. Made it, had fun, and was still smiling at the end. Skipped the beer at both bars we ran past...maybe next year

Congrats to all of you that took on the challenge...especially those of you that crushed it

Finished in 14:14

That was quite a journey but NOW, I can really say that I know the real value of the finisher medal...

Congrats to all the finishers !!!

Congratulations to all of you who raced yesterday and yes Cornick gets the bad award for finishing while racing with a broken clavicle.

Too all those who were searching for me the streak of my bad luck had not ended. While swimming the first loop I could not catch my breath and was having a ton of diffuculty. I couldn't understand what was happening as I was feeling great. At first I thought it was nerves and that I would settle down after about 5 minutes but I kept gasping for air and having to stop and float to get some oxygen.  What the hell is going on was all I kept thinking. I was set to have a great swim as I actually found a nice spot where I had an open area in front of me and people were actually not swimming over me or cutting across the front of me.  The swim was one area I had no questions about. I knew I had the swim in the bag if only I could settle down and get my nerves under control.  I then tried the side crawl, breast stroke and eventually the backstroke. I again stopped and looked towards the turn around and then back to the beach. I was getting nowhere quickly and the end of the pack was quickly catching me. All I could see was the sweepers following someone who was worse off than me.

What the hell is going on, I have to do this, there is no way my day is ending like this. But no matter what I did I couldn't seem to get any air.  A swimming lifeguard came up to me and asked how I was feeling. I explained to him my issue and he gave me his float, telling me to just relax, I have plenty of time to finish the swim and to just calm myself.  After just floating there for about 30 seconds he encouraged me to continue on.  About 10 swim strokes further, I had to stop and float to again catch my breath. At this point he swam back up to me and again gave me his float.  I then said the words that I never anticipated or thought of, " I think I'm done."  The lifeguard again resassured me that I had a ton of time left and that if I felt ok I should continue on.  I agreed and for the 2nd time I swam off and just as before stopped after about 10 swim strokes as I couldn't breath.

I then admitted to myself that something was wrong and I was not going any further.  I told the lifeguard I was done. He asked me twice if I was dropping out and each time, between tear filled eyes and cleched teeth I said yes.  I was still gasping for air and knew there was no way I could continue. He then said that if I got on the sweep boat, there was no turning back, changing my mind and that my attempt at Ironman would be officially over.

I could see no other decision and made the horrible slow climb onto the back of the boat. Across from me was another swimmer who also had his head hung low in disappointment. This was his 5th Ironman. He had already been successful 4 other times but for some reason wasn't able to get through the swim.  I was so ashamed to be on that boat. To make it even more embarrassing they brought the boat right up to shore at the timing mats at the turn for the 2nd loop. I had to get off the boat and walk to the medical tent on the beach in front of all those spectators.

I was actually wishing I had some visible ailement so that everyone knew I wasn't just a fat, out of shape quitter who had no business in an Ironman, but actually an athlete who was severly injured.  I knew there was something wrong but from my appearance I just looked like a guy who bit off more than he could chew.

After a brief check out at the med tent they put me in an ambulance, from there they took me to the LP hospital and kept me for about 3 hours. They did a ton of test, took blood and then sent me to the hospital in Saranac Lake.

Xray showed my lungs were filled with fluid. My blood test were positive for some hormone that gets released when you have blood clots. The doctors thought at first I had a pulmonary embolism and sent me for a CAT scan of my lungs.  Just before the CAT scan the ER doctor came over to my wife and I and said the scan wasn't necessary. She then in the worst bedside manner I have ever witnessed bluntly stated I was suffering congestive heart failure. She told me to contact my primary care doctor and to see a cardiologist immediately and that I was being discharged.

All I heard was you're going to die. I was shattered. My wife and 12 year old son were standing there and I couldn't believe what I just heard.  I asked her what this meant? What is congestive heart failure?  All she said was to follow up with a cardiologist as soon as possible. She then turned around and walked away. Really. She did.

My wife, a very emotional woman was barely holding it together. We made eye contact and just stared at each other. Internally was was shitting bricks. I felt like I had just gotten in trouble and was told, "wait until your father gets home." I knew I was in deep trouble. 

Withing minutes the nurse came over, removed my Iv, handed me some paperwork that explained my diagnosis and said that was all, I could leave.  We walked out to my truck and limped back to Lake Placid.  I was doing everything possible not to cry as I felt that I had been handed a death sentance.  Oh my god, I'm only 42, I have a son I want to see grow up. This can't be happening to me.  My last physical was just months ago and it was spectacular. My resting heart rate is 45. My cholesteral was 75.  Yes, I'm fat but damn, I'm in great shape. I've run 9 marathons, 2 this year, I have been training for IM. The doctors must have the wrong diagnosis..... But as we got into LP, we went to watch the cyclists finish their 2nd loop, I sat down and read the paper work. All of the signs and symptoms matched my diagnosis. , the doctors are right.  I have this, now what?

We went back to the hotel and I started my google search to see my prognosis.... not great but not terrible.

I arrived home about an hour ago and have an appointment this Thursday with a cardiologist.  I bet he wants me to drop weight. Me too. 

In 24 hours I have come to realize that had I not signed up for IM this issue may have gone undiagnosed until it was too late. Thank God for Ironman. Since  I'm signed up for 2013 already I guess I have my work cut out for me. I just hope that when I meet with the cardiologist he has good news for me and that he agrees that I can participate next year.

Thank you all for being supportive during these last several months.

Also to Sluggo, it was great seeing you this weekend. I hope you are recouperating and doing well

Also as a side note, I finished first in my age group for getting to Lake Placid Hospital and 2nd overall!!!!

Wow Doug!  I wondered what happened to you!  I was just following the forum and knew all you went through before the race so I just had to follow you and cheer you on!   I was worried and I  knew something happened or the tracker was messed up.  I'm doing Wisconsin this year but am signed up for Placid next year.  

I'm glad you knew to stop and glad that they sent you to a hospital.  Seems like they need to work on bedside manner huh?  I can't believe you were treated like that.  Make sure you take care of yourself.  Maybe they are wrong??  Good luck at your appt.  I'll be praying for you!  You will be able to totally ROCK Placid next year I'm sure!!!!

I have seen different numbers for the statistics on the bike course at Lake Placid.  What are the actual numbers on elevation gain & elevation change?

Thanks.