I saw Dessertdude, briantryintri, Marisol and Sergio before the start and wished them luck. The swim course was nice and the water was comfortable. I thought the swim was going good for me and I had the sensation that time was passing quickly and I was swimming well, but I got out of the water at 1:18 which was about 10 mi slower than I wanted to go. The winds on the bike were tough, but I was riding well up until mile 45. About mile 50 I started hurting and thought about pulling the plug. Somehow, I found new energy at mile 80 and finished the bike strong in 5:43. Until mile 6 on the run I felt ‘okay’ and then I got some kind of asthma attack so I slowed to a walk, tried to run again, but the breathing became more difficult. At mile 10 I made the decision to call it a day and walked back to the transition area.
I’m a little bit bummed about my DNF, but it was not my day.
Congrats to everyone on their race. Special congrats to Marisol for her IMQ and Sergio for the podium spot.
Sorry to hear about the asthma attack. You didn’t look too good when you went by us, plus, all that dust along that stretch probably didn’t help matters. Hope you’re feeling better.
It was a tough day brother. Remember, IMCDA is your ‘A’ race this year and I am sure that you will kick ass in that one. You are a strong SOB and don’t be upset about the DNF. It will make your race in CDA go that much better and when you kick ass you will appreciate it more. Thank you for all of your help and friendship training for this race. I couldn’t have done it without your help. You are a good friend.
Just learn the lessons you need to learn about this one and move on. Focus on your next race, like Brian said, you are tough, you will have a great race at IMCDA!
I’ll say that was the smartest decision you could have made. Your recovery time will be nil compared to us, which allows you to focus on training. In my book your an Einstein.
ps, I’ll be ringing you later today to pick up food from Pei Wei.
There were several “players” with “asthma” or other related issues around this race including Jan Strangmuller and Joe Bonness (who had pneumonia diagnosed after he dropped out on the bike). Could have been a Tom Evans problem also who went from feeling great to suddenly feeling awful on the third loop. He said it has been a long time since he had to walk on the run during an IM.
Wonder if it had anything to do with the “wet spring” they have had this year?
My race was less than outstanding also - I had an on-time swim of 1hr30
Three flats on the bike - plus the winds blew my expected bike time of 6hours out to 6hrs 50
I had difficulty breathing from mile 3 of the run - ran the first three miles - got sick - walked the remainder of the marathon with badly blistered feet - but my biggest concern was not being able to get my breath - for the entire time.
A person I was walking with talked to me about exercise induced asthma - combined with the wind and dust - it HAD to be affecting a lot of people.
A finish is a finish - even though I went 2hours over my hoped for time - all time lost on the run
Erik - absolutely - I don;t get paid a penny to do these races - I do them because it is a challenge - a test and whole bunch of realtiy checking thrown into one day.
This was my first race of ANY kind since 1997 - after quitting the sport.
the first half of the swim was fine, aiming for a time between 1"05 and 1:10, but just after the turnaround somene had the great idea to hit me with his ellbow twice larynx. after i could hardly breathe anymore I started getting a lot of cramps (about 30 - I was feeling one of them while I was trying to fall asleep yesterday evening).
So after I very long way back, especially the last 100 yards where the water tasted more like fuel than water, I finally left the water with a disappointing 1:24.
After a slow transition (my race number got ripped off twice while trying to put it on) I got out on the bike course and started wondering why erverything I saw looked so fuzzy. After 7 miles I knew, because one of my contact lenses fell out of my right eye. Then I could hardly see the signs and everything else one the street. I missed many of those by a few inches.
After 10 miles my old knee injury came back - at first I was hoping that it will be gone in just a second, but that just didn’t want to happen. 5 miles later I knew my race was over, but I wanted to complete at least one bike lap.
So after I finished the first lap I got off my bike and turned in my chip slightly disappointed. The painkillers the doc gave me only caused bleedings out of my nose and my mouth, so that din’t work out either.
thanks for the congrats. Your blond hair is rather easy to pick out in the crowd. I’m going to skip out on next weekend though, I think getting double teamed by you and Olaf would be a bit too much pain. Now if I can just figure out how to not be nausea on the run. Tips?
