Ironman Arizona 2014--DNF #2

I should have been home sitting in Stake Conference!  Never in a million years would I have dreamed that I would DNF this year.  My 2012 race ended with a kidney stone during the bike, what can I say, what could I do.  I finished in 2010 and really didn't want to hang up my Ironman career with a DNF, so 2014 was to be my redemption year.  I hired a coach, stuck (pretty much) to my training plan and was ready to go.
Swim--I've been working hard on my swim, this year because the lake was lower we didn't jump off the dock, we had to go down the stairs to get in.  I got in swam to the back of the start and was ready to go.  No glaring sun this year, I sighted fairly well and swam, got thumped in the chest pretty good by a breaststroker, lots of contact, but Yay! a pr.  3 minutes faster than 2010, and a whopping 13 minutes faster than 2012.
T1 was unremarkable, I threw on a wind vest and some arm warmers and was out the door.  The weather had been beautiful in Tempe no wind of course until race day.
Bike--We had wicked headwinds going out, I think I averaged 10mph on the first half of each loop.  People are saying they were 35 mph, I think that's an exaggeration, weather.com said 15-20 with 29 mph gusts.  I felt the gusts for sure when they blew me sideways.  In 2010 we had bad weather, headwinds, and it seemed like the wind shifted so the headwinds attacked us on the downhill too.  This year we had screaming tailwinds.  I knew I had to ride the downhill hard, no just coasting with the wind if I was going to make the time cutoff.  The first loop was discouraging, I wasn't sure I could make it in time but I wasn't giving up, second loop the winds were stronger, I rode both ways as hard as I could.  I headed out for the third and final loop, fought my way to the top of the Beeline and made the first intermediate cutoff by 15 minutes (I later heard the extended that cutoff by 15 minutes because the downhill was so fast.)  When Mr. Turnaround volunteer told me I made the cutoff and it was 4:00 I knew I was in good shape, I had 1 1/2 hours to finish.  I still pushed hard all the way back and finished the bike in 7:55ish.  38 minutes slower than 2010, no matter, I was done.  I now had almost 7 hours to wrap up the marathon.  I'm a happy girl (ok, make that old woman).
Run--I started out fine just trotting along not big deal, by mile 13 I felt the dreaded leans start.  I start to lean a little to the right, I'm still confident, after all I finished with the leans in 2010.  I'm not sure where the run all fell apart but my leans were so bad I was not only pulled clear over to the right side but I was doubled over, trying my best not to do the monkey walk.  By mile 22 I still had an hour left to finished but my body was so contorted I knew I couldn't do it.  (I finally downloaded my Garmin today, I actually only had 3 1/4 miles left).  No matter  it wasn't going to happen.  I have very mixed feelings I was sooo close, I was mentally there and in good shape, it was just the total collapse of the body that did me in.
I talked to my coach on Wednesday, I've got a plan for next year I'm going to be experimenting with in my training.  I think I had a combination of hyperthermia and hyponatremia.  I was trying to get all of my electrolytes with fluids, that doesn't work so well when you are a small, old, slow lady.  I'm going to start experimenting with thermotabs.  I've got a lot to figure out and learn this year.  I'm in for one more, if I can't finish in 2015, then I will probably make 70.3's my A race.
I'm also going to consult a dietician and make sure I have a calorie plan.  I'll try to blog more this year and keep running, boring notes on how the tweeks are working.
I'm not sure when I'm starting training again, I took this whole week off, maybe next week.

Git 'er done!

How fast a year goes!  I'm here, checking in--high energy all over the place.

Practice ride done, no wind on the Beeline yesterday, unfortunately we are not so lucky tomorrow.

Practice swim done, the water is warmer this year but really you can't tell.

Packed it all up--what did I forget?

I just left baby at the bike hotel--that's her with the pink puff.

So I'm back at the hotel with my feet up, trying to be calm, I'm going out to dinner with dad tonight and hoping to be able to sleep.  Call dad anytime, all the time tomorrow, he'll be bored pretty much for 17 hours.  My number is 285, you can track me on the Ironman website or and iron tracker app.

Thanks for all the good lucks guys!

Swim, Just Keep Swimming

I had to go to Highland to swim this morning, Redlands is closed for some odd reoccurring reason.  I thought it would be too crowded, I hoped it would be too crowded and then I would just have to make it a Jacuzzi morning.  I had the pool to myself for most of my swim and never had to share a lane, and for some unknown reason have felt great all day.  Hopefully this is an omen of good to come, I got 3600 meters in this morning.  Restorative yoga tonight, trying to be calm.

Oh Yikes!

Last ride today, it was only three hours, stomach cramps--what the heck.  I tried some electrolyte tabs that I haven't used before, I am hoping that is the culprit because I don't plan on trying them again.  It's just time to get this over with and put me out of my misery (Yea right, Craig tried to get me to promise not to do this again, not promising I won't slip into the registration tent!)