Sometimes showing up isn't enough

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I've heard it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's that you show up. However, I don't feel like showing up for the Ironman Texas was enough for me. After last years debacle at mile 60, I was looking forward to finishing this years Ironman. I was able to cut 4 minutes off my swim and made it through transition smoother than last year, but my stomach was cramping within the first mile on the bike. After another couple of miles ticked off, I had nausea to accompany my stomach cramps. I stopped at the ten mile aid station to see if I would feel better. I did feel better,but as soon as, I was back on the bike the cramp in my stomach was back. I stopped another 4 times making it to aid station 2. I felt that at the rate of speed I was able to travel I would again fail to make the 60 mile cut off. It was 11 and I would have 2 hours and 40 minutes to make it 40 more miles. The circumstances did not make that seem like a possibility. So, this years Ironman Texas ended for me at mile 20 on the bike.

My wife says that I always show up and that's what she loves about me, but I really was looking forward to doing more than just showing up. So, needless to say it's back to the drawing board.

A Family That Tri's Together

Cudos to the Mrs. for competing in and completing this past weekend's Danskin Triathlon in Austin, Texas. It was nice to be able to tag along and play the role of support crew. It seems like I'm always asking her to come to my run and triathlon events, so it was nice to have a weekend event that was all about her. I think she did an awesome job considering the amount of training she was able to do and more notably the heat index (104.5 at the finish). She works as a pediatric anesthesiologist and we have a three and a half year old which are both very time consuming. Add one 3 month old puppy into the mix and that makes it even more challenging not only to find the time to train but the energy. So fantastic job Sugarbabe!

As for my own preparation process for this years Half Ironman in October and next years Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas, I have began to assess my strengths and weaknesses in each discipline. If you're going to go somewhere you need to know two things: where you're starting from and where your destination is. I know I want my destination to be a 10 hour Ironman finish. What I need to assess is where am I starting so that I can create a roadmap that best accomplishes getting from my start to my finish. This will be the topic of my upcoming posts.

Humbled!

When I first signed up for the Herman Memorial Ironman Texas, I assumed I would finish it with no problems. I never assumed I would win or fill any of the Kona slots for my age group. I simply believed I would be able to finish in the 17 hour time limit. During my first Ironman everything was going to plan until I was unable to make the 60 mile cut off on the bike due to a nagging shoulder injury. I simply couldn't ride without my shoulder aching. Riding in the aero bars ached. Riding on the brake hoods ached. Only when I stopped to stand did the aching seem to subside. My strategy became to endure the ride and make it to the marathon. A plan that seemed to be working until I got to the 60 mile cut off and was informed that I had failed to make the 1:40 P.M. cutoff time.

A funny thing happened on the way to the 60 mile cut off. Right as riders got to the special bike need bags they passed over timing mats. My assumption was that the timing mats signified the cut off spot. It was close to the cut off time but I had beat it by 10 minutes. I stopped to enjoy some fuel and rest for my shoulder. I called my wife.

"You've got to pick it up" she told me.

A truck pulled up and the driver asked me if I was quitting. Hell no I wasn't quitting. He started talking to someone on a walkie talkie and asked for my number. I gave him my number and waited for him to finish his conversation with the person on the other end.

"Am I good", I asked when he put down his walkie talkie.

"You're good" he replied.

I finished my flat coke and wrap and threw my trash away. Back on the bike, I readied my mind to grind out the next 50 miles. It barely seemed that I was getting started than I was already at the next aid station. I saw a penalty tent and noticed someone coming into the road to flag me down. I didn't think I had been assessed any penalties.

"What's up?" I asked as I stepped down onto to the ground

"I'm sorry but you didn't make the bike cut off " he replied.

"What are you talking about? It wasn't the special needs bags spot back there"? I hastily asked.

"No, it's actually right there where the penalty tent is, and the cut off time was about 10-15 minutes ago" was his answer.

So, that's how my first Ironman finished. With me wondering why I assumed that passing over the timing mats meant I had made the cut off. Why didn't someone tell me I had 2 more miles to go to make the cut off. So, I walk away from this experience humbled and determined to make it next year. So that's what this blog is about, getting back to Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas and finishing.