SWBKRUN Mentor Group-"Off Season?" What is that?!! (Page 334)

Great races Sam and John!  I look forward to reading Sam's RR.  John - thanks for the quick lowdown.  As Trevor said- awesome swim!  Sounds like you had  great day overall.  As everyone else said, (even though it's only 9:00am here) - go grab a beer!  You deserve it!

As I said earlier, great race Chet.  Your times are amazing - especially that swim time!  Holy crap!  I love Wilimington.  I lived there for almost 10 years.  Awesome place.  I think I might do the B2B 1/2 next year.

Chris- The swim started at the point of Wrightsville Beach, point to point down the channel into the marina.  The tide was coming in so there was some current.  Race director said it knocks off about 10 minutes from a normal 2.4 mile swim.  I wish they had some current on the run too!  The area is beautiful.  Really enjoyed the course and recommend the race for sure.

Congratulations John!!! Awesome job! I knew you'd kill your first HIM time... but an hour?!? Fantastic! Can't wait to see what you do at Lonestar!

Hmmm... tomorrow's mine and Gary's 21st anniversary, Lonestar registration would be a great gift to ourselves

Chet:

What were the bridges on the bike like? Did they cover the grates with carpet or anything?

Doug

Man, I don't know where to start.  This group is amazing  - I think I'm the only one that belongs on a "beginner triathlete" site.

Linda - I'm not sure how did it after the last couple weeks.  Way to go and if you're ever in the PNW, I could use a swim lesson (or 6)

Chet - that is smokin' fast, congrats on a great race.

Sam - great job, you check that one off the list.  Can't wait to hear some details.

John - an hour?? Now I'm thinking you were sandbagging the first one .  Great job and I hope you gave those you passed on the bike some "encouragement"

Now where is Tracy??

Hi guys,  most importantly, a HUGE congratulations to Chet, Linda, John and Sam!  I am so proud of all of you and thought of you often. 

The writing of this is very hard, for it means I have to re-live the experience.  The only thing harder than what happened is telling this group about it.

Lets start with the good.  The swim, as Chet said, was fantastic.  The mass beach start was wonderful to be a part of and I did very well.  1:04 total time- but there was a great current for most of the swim.  I by passed the wetsuit strippers to get to the hand off faster. But to be honest I had a friend volunteering as a stripper and it would have been great to have him "strip me."  He sent a message to a buddy saying "I stripped you wife and she looked great."  But back on track - glad to have the wetsuit and booties for the long run accross several streets to Doug, passed off the chip, and sprawled out on the grass for a while.

Then I took a shower, ate, changed, and headed over to the Battleship for the second hand off.  I went early but didn't want to sit around my hotel room by myself.  I was prepared for the weather to be in the predicted low 60's but it must have hit the upper 70's as I STOOD standing for Doug for 3 hours.  That was the first of my problems.  My injury is exasperated when I stand so that was not a good start.  Doug was about 35 minutes off his target (as Chet mentioned the wind and Doug cramped) so I was worried about him.  But he got to me and I was off.

Right from the get go I started getting weird cramps in my abdomen - places I never cramp. I realized it was from the twisting out of my hips.  If I run with my calf taped the muscle is protected but the resulting twist from my hips plays out in my back and IT attachment on the outside of my left knee.  But I worked through the cramps and motored on, feeling pretty good.  Chet called my name around mile 5 for me. Didn't think my race number was visible but then realized who else has their leg taped like that. It was great to see him.  On the return of the first loop I started walking around mile 10. The temperature was dropping and my feet and back were really starting to hurt. You know you look bad when the spectators and volunteers stop cheering and get quiet looking at you when you pass.  I made it to the turn around and started to put on my warmer clothes. A race worker came up to me and tried to give me a pep talk. Very nice. She  said the crying is a sign of low blood sugar so I thought okay, chicken broth at the next mile.  A racer passed me and asked my name then did a prayer right there. God , did I really look that bad?  So I got mile 14 aide station and the broth was cold!  At this point I started to really panic b/c I was starting hypothermia due to lack of running and the temp drop.  I was planning on the broth to warm me and then was scared the broth would be cold at all the stations. (turns out it was just that one but I didn't know that at the time).  That was when I really didn't want to race anymore. It had taken my over 2 hours to hit the half way point and there was no way I could do at least 3 more in the cold with my feet, back and knee hurting the way they were.  But I couldn't just stop on the side of the road.  Doug was over the bridge and waiting with our friends downtown so I had about 3 more miles to get to him.  A friend who was traveling along the run course on this silly little scooter found me and did a great job on trying to cheer me up. He was singing - badly - saying things like, this road is the road to IMCA 2011.  I was so miserable I said, "but I don't want to go to Canada, I just want to stop moving."  At mile 16 I saw Doug coming towards me and I literally collapsed in tears in his arms. I kept saying "I don't want to do this anymore, I am so embarrassed but I don't want to do this anymore."  He sat me down and let me cry for a while.  The worst part was at that time a girlfriend of mine, who was having a fantastic race, came by and tried to pull me with her saying we'd finish it together.  The last thing I wanted was for her to have this horrible image of me or to slow her down.  She plowed on and ended up with a PR finish!!!! 

Doug took me into the hotel and as we were waiting for the elevator the lady at the front desk asked if I needed anything- I was still crying.  She personally brought some tea to my room.  I got into a hot bath with my hot tea and a coke and sent Doug back to the finish line to cheer on our friends - all of which did fantastic.

People keep telling me it took more guts to know when to quit than it would have to finish it - I'm trying hard to believe them.  I am crying again just remembering this, but I really did learn so much about how an ironman works and about myself.  I need to heal my injury, work on my nutrition and most importantly heal mentally.

Thanks for all this group's support.

Edited by tahrens 2009-11-09 10:01 AM

And there you go.  Now you just have to focus on getthing healthy.  Race days and best days don't always coincide - you battled tough with what you were dealt and lived to fight another day.  Keep your head up, you will get 'em next time.

Tracy  don' t you dare feel bad about not finishing. You started out with an injury and I know you did your absolute best and then some. In this group we will not let you feel bad. You completed more of that course than 95% of people would. Remember that you are doing something that less than 2% of the popluation are doing. I want to see you in Canada in 2011.  You are a hero to me always !!!!!!!

Edited by Redknight 2009-11-09 10:06 AM

YES YOU WILL!!! And we'll be right there with you as you are for us!

You had the courage to step up to the line and that's a whole lot more than so many people can say.  You might not have had the day you wanted but you learned a lot.  I wish I was with you right now to give you a big f'ing hug.  You're AWESOME Tracy and don't you forget it!

Exactly! Tracey, you worked so hard to get to that start line after being injured. You had every reason not to do the race at all, but you refused to quit. You did everything in your power to get to that start line and race. That is courageous! You are awesome and you will finish an Ironman! Just give your body time to heal and keep up the positive attitude. Love the quote!

Tracy~  You gave it all you had given all the injuries you have been experiencing.  As others have said, most people wouldn't even have attempted the race, but you gave it a shot.  There is certainly no need to feel embarressed.  You'll come back even stronger, healthy and will conquor.  Any leg of an ironman is brutal in itself for someone who is healthy, nevermind injured.  You did great.  It really is good to see that you were smart enough to know when to say when- that takes more courage than trying to finish the race and risk a possible long term injury.  Great job!

you beat me to it. 

Very cold.  That's the main reason I do these things.  Unlike sprints where its only in the cooler for an hour and change, a 1/2 gives the beer plenty of time to get really cold.  ;-)

Dude, I can make you a map that will have more than just one route on it if you want?  ;-) 

Glad everybody is OK

Tracy:

Aside from what the others have said, I am sure what your Doug said matters most. Maybe you feel you were letting him down as you were doing this as a relay team. However, having played hockey with Doug and hung out with him after the games I am sure that is far from the truth. I am sure he was more concerned with your well-being than the result! You tried to push through the pain. Heal up, there will be a next time!

Doug