Middle-aged Female Triathlete Gets Pneumonia; a new Endurance Challengefor Me..

This all started with a virus, maybe slightly more sicky than usual when I get this stuff. Colds necome viruses, viruses become bronchitis, bronchitis becomes lingering "Stites cough" (I coughed my whole childhood, my kids coughed theirs and now the grandkids), is the usual course of an illness for me. It all started about 3 weeks ago. I was just starting to get back into weightlifting again. I was doing Yoga a couple times a week and training for Ironhorse. Hoping to be part of the Red Cross Disaster Team as a mental health volunteer, I was taking courses at the Red Cross. After joining the NM Counseling Association again, I was in the midst of volunteering to be on the leadership committee of the New Mexico Association of Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling. In summary, I am one busy retired person!

My biking was as good as its ever been. My running was slow but steady, not doing too many long runs. I was even finally able to keep up with the "big kids" biking much of the time. Dread Pirate and I were planning to do Valles Caldera half marathon in June (mountain running race, I love this race). Apparently these 2 activities...are..now..out..I do not think I have ever had to miss an event because of illness. Ironhorse is a bike ride out of Durango that goes like this:

I know it's hard to tell but this is a hardass ride!
And this half marathon the beginning of June:

I have done this race before-it is beautiful and I was gonna run with my buddy, Dread Pirate. Damn!

My thoughts about illness

The very unexpected nature of getting sick is enough to send a Virgo to a mental hospital, in madness. I live in a world where my retired husband and I are indestructible. No really!! We retired 7 years ago and have not looked back, not even once. We travel, we train with friends, race all over the world with each other and this makes me feel loved, happy and like I belong. I am use to being in control of all aspects of my life, where I go, what I do, how long I do it. I eat a healthy diet, exercise, don't drink, don't smoke, try and take care of myself mentally, emotionally. So when this STOP hit, I was thrown for a loop. Not to sound too dramatic or anything, but it feels like a big deal in the moment, at least the doctor has communicated more than once Debi, this is a BIG DEAL. You need to rest, I'm not kidding!
What does sudden STOP feel like? Well, the first few days I didn't care..honestly..I felt like a major Mack truck had hit me. If I never ran, biked or swam or even got out of bed for that matter, I didn't care. STOP feels like some foreign force invading my space, taking all my control away and saying see how you like that-POW!
I have been one sick puppy. After seeing 3 doctors in 2 weeks, I think I am finally starting to heal. I first went to Dr. #1 two weeks ago, who assured me it was "just a virus" and did not prescribe antibiotics. After starting to feeling better, I had run/jogged that day, Saturday and felt great. Then all of a sudden that night, H and I were watching TV and I started to shiver uncontrollable. Teeth rattling, someone plopped me onto an iceberg sopping wet, shivering. I started running a fever and felt really sick...it all  happened very abruptly. I still had "the cough" but this was all new. Waking up drenched in sweat that night and for days afterwards, made me feel gross. The next morning I had a sharp pain in my left rib and felt short of breath despite taking 2 inhalers and Ipubrofen, still had a fever. Having the worst headache ever in the back of my head, scared me to death (sister died of meningitis). I went to the ER the next day, Sunday and without going into too much detail, it was a nightmare really..Healthcare has changed so much from back in my nursing days (70s-early 90s)! Even in my sick related brain fog, I was horrified. Dr. #2 did, however diagnose me with pneumonia and assured me no, you do NOT have meningitis. I was so relieved about this! After a very rushed IV dose of antibiotics and a prescription for oral anti's, they scurried me out the door and told me to come back if I did not get better in 2-3 days..uh, yea over my dead (or sick) body...
I honestly thought they had made an error. Such an incompetent system at the ER, they probably got my X-Ray mixed up with someone else's or misread it, the possibilities were endless. How could I have pneumonia? Isn't that what "old people" get who are smokers, frail, sunken eyed- the "unhealthy ones"? I was trying my best to deny, deny, deny... On Monday I made an appointment with Dr. #1 as a follow up and surely he could clear this whole mistaken mess. ER Doc #2 had said come back to ER if I was not better on Tuesday. I was worse on Tuesday but was committed NOT to go back to the ER if I could help it.
So had an appointment with Dr. #1 for Thursday as a follow up. I felt worse by Tuesday, thought I would ride it out til I saw him. Then Wed afternoon, Dr. #1's office called and canceled my appt with him for Thursday, said he would be gone- no explanation why, just he wasn't going to be in the next day. By now, I was feeling quite desperate and asked them to at least ask the doc's nurse to call me  that day for some direction. I felt worse and did not want to go back to the ER. Even after leaving a rather urgent message, no call from nurse until the next day.. When she did call, no apologies, no sympathy, nothing! I was so sick and scared, I even forgot to ask the stoopid ER Doc #2 which lung, copy of report or anything. I usually am so on top of these things..
By then H had pulled some strings and gotten me in to see one of his old friends, a Doctor #3 here in ABQ. I saw him Thursday AM and he too, was horrified the ER let me go and did not admit me to the hospital. I not only had pneumonia but a pleural effusion (fluid around lung). Doc says " I could either admit you to the hospital or you could go home and be on bed rest for a few days" (what the heck is bed rest? Lol). The "stay in bed, only get up to the bathroom" kind of bedrest. I chose the latter because well, frankly I am now scared to death to be in any hospital here. Currently, I am taking 2 different anti's, 2 inhalers, cough medicine, hauled out the 'ole Vicks vaporizer and am laying low. I no longer have a fever and am walking around a little but the shortness of breath is my limiter. Dr. #3 says I will probably be feeling better by Monday (today) and probably no training (bike/run) for 6 weeks. I have not felt this sick since I had appendicitis when I was 19 years old..I am now on Day 10 of this odyssey.
Sooo...today despite being short of breath if I walk across the house or am up more than an hour, I am better. No fever, lots of coughing still, appetite slowly coming back, yet I am very fatigued. Guess that is my body's way of saying Uh NO you are not ready to actually DO anything yet. But I am breathing, not in a hospital and have the most excellent private nurse, Nurse H to take care of me. No, he has not had to as of yet, empty any bedpans..ahh..something to look forward to in the future! He has taken such good care of me- I feel stoopid every time I have to ask him for something..I am trying my best to not order him around and tell him how to do dishes, etc..my control issues at work probably because I feel so powerless.
I wistfully watch as Hartley walks the door in his bike or workout gear. I'm at the point in the sickness where I am only mildly jealous. It has not been not such a big deal for me up until now. I heard the words that "I need to spend a few days in bed" coming out of the doctors mouth and I feel a certain sense of curiosity. A few days of that? What does that look like?! I realize in this moment that I'm not 30 years old..I have to limit my Cyberchondria to only 10 minutes a day or I will definitely find some rare, foreign disease that caused all this. I can't explain it but it feels like something must have caused this, does something happen so randomly? Another example of my control issues.
I don't think the impact of what I will be missing has sunk in yet..major suckitude if I look at it that way...I could choose to look at the positive:

List of list of things I'll do while I am recovering.

1. I will never be late making my moves in online Scrabble. This should make my competitors happy!
2. Never be late paying bills because I am too busy to open them.
3. Pay attention to Facebook, even write some posts myself..
4. Catch up on reading...books..real or electronic.
5. Surf the net endlessly without feeling like a slug.
6. Watch the last and catch up with seasons of "Game of Thrones"
7. Organize my 5,000 or so photos into some kind of order.
8. Make lists of lists on how to organize, fix, replace. all the things I see in my house that has to be done.
9. On that note, I get to obsess about everything that I haven't done in the last three years that we've lived at this house.
10. Blog about my recovery..not as interesting as traveling or Ironman..on second thought that may just be depressing..
11. Read all the blogs of friends that I have not had time to read..
12. Watch endless movies/Series/Documentaries on Netflix.

My activity all depends on how I feel up walking around. A trip across the house seems to get me winded these days. Breathing is a great Leveler right now. I find myself wondering if only my crazy triathlete/running/biking friends know how hard it is to define "taking it easy". Does it mean only running 5 miles today? Not biking up a mountain pass? Yoga only 3 times a week? See, I need some thinking adjustment here!
It is now Monday. I am still weak but eating more, even going to venture out for a field trip- a trip to the doctor today! My back is sore from lying around so much. I fight the urge to "try and do some Yoga" but stretching doesn't sound like a bad idea. I am fighting grumpiness..If I hear "this is your body/ the universe telling you to slow down", although well meaning-I will explode!
However, I am so grateful for my friends locally, Facebook friends, my awesome kids and all that are sending me well wishes. I feel the healing vibes. If love could heal, I will be well very soon! H has been so patient with me, he understands how frustrated and sad I am at times.
So STOP just try and ruin my present life- I am Ironman!

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What Bollywood and Yoga have in Common

Now that I have FOUR, count them FOUR stickers on my chart, I am starting to feel like a rock star!! I noticed that while I was doing the meditation this AM, I started to wonder if I could just add the affirmations to that to condense things. Hey first light bulb moment! I try and shortcut alot to be efficient but mostly because I am impatient..Am I going to have these insights every day? We shall see..

Yesterday's Yoga was ridiculous. It was called "Yoga for Weight Loss". I would like to name it "Quad Killer Yoga". At the end of class I felt like I had done about 50 squats. Who knew my body would move in such unnatural ways! At one point I felt like this girl:

We were actually doing Bollywood in Yoga. Say whaaa??

I was quite skeptical whether I could manage my run afterwards. After forcing myself to put on running gear, and one change of clothes (it was 40 degrees but felt like 50 with the sun), I was out the door. I wanted to run in the Foothills in my back yard (practically):

It is beautiful and peaceful to say the least. As I started running up the path, I surprised myself by all the energy I had! I bounded through the trail like a gazelle....well a very slow gazelle but feeling pretty darn good. Wow...I thought...Maybe this Weight Loss Yoga is a good thing! I ended up running 8 miles, which is my longest run since Ironman Arizona in November.

I thought for sure I would be sore this AM. Like Quad sore..it worried me to think about doing Yoga again today with sore Quads and all...but alas I am not sore at all! The only thing that hurt me last night was my neck and back. Sore back from doing "Ab work" today in class. I do not seem to use my Abs with anything Ab-like. My back usually takes the hit. Is my back considered my core? I think not..My neck has been sore for a few weeks now. The chiropractor tried to do his magic on Thursday which resulted in a big crack! in my neck. Surely this would fix me! Well, it did for a couple of days. He did X-rays of my neck and back. After comparing these to my previous MRIs, he said yes indeed, I still had arthritis in my neck and Lumbar spine. He looked at me and said See this degeneration? If you were not an athlete and training, you would be in much worse shape by the look of your spine. OK, I felt better in my neck just hearing that! If I wanted to go all metaphysical here, it feels like the weight of my little world is on my shoulders...hmm..something to ponder while doing Yoga today..Heat on my neck and back last night worked miracles, that along with a dose of Meloxicam (which I take rarely because it causes my feet to swell)..

Off to do a spin class then Yoga this AM. Tonight I am going to a black tie Oscar affair with one of my kids. Should be a good day!

Day 4, 36 to go..

Last night I went to a workshop at the Yoga studio to hone in my "transformational skills". Some really good ideas there. Alot about "intentions" which are really affirmations on steroids. When I am wanting something in my life, I affirm-out loud in a sentence. Like it is already happening ie; I have a pet pig. I have a pet pig. Stuff like that which really sounds good on paper but when I try it, and it needs to be said with conviction then it will manifest...eventually...I have never personally seen this happen for me largely due to the fact that I stop doing affirmations usually in the 1st week. Maybe this 40 day thing will keep me going. There are star stickers and Lululemon involved here, common Debi..

I am on Day 4. Meditating this AM at 5:15 felt like a rodeo. Trying to focus on my breath while roping in those random thoughts every 5 seconds or so..At least I went the 10 minutes without looking at my watch...once..This is progress!!

Affirmations were as I said above. I read somewhere that is you just say Lie to myself, then act like the following statement is true (with conviction): I have a pet pig. I have a pet pig..

I am going to "Weight Loss Yoga" today which sounds to me like a rigorous Yoga workout with weird poses..I am a bit intimidated for sure. Yesterday I felt as stiff as ever and ready to throw in the towel...See how easy I cave?

I also want to run 10 miles today. I love running and will see if this is a good idea or not. Yoga every day and running, weight, occasional spin class. Will have to see if that all works..it is in the 20s outside this AM. Yikes!!

40 Days of MidLIfe Committment

I don't do 40 days of anything unless there is a goal. My goals have been one big "push, push, push until you get there. No dawdling!" This however, is my journey of doing 40 straight days of practices that some may see as "easy" but aren't really. Give me IM training and I am committed...Give me 40 days of healthy, slowing down, breathing in the days and I am challenged!!

This is what inspired me:
http://yogabyjulia.com/index.php/blog/39-40-days-at-ybj

In my 59th year of life, I can hear the clock ticking..tick..tick..tick..This is not a dress rehearsal and there is no time like the present and all the other euphemisms, of which I can remember none at the moment..I finished my 5th Ironman 3 months ago, proceeded by two hand surgeries. I had pretty severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a diagnosis I had no knowledge of, until I started to wake up several times a night with numb, very pain ridden hands. It surprised me. I exercise, eat basically healthy, I am beating the clock, right? Well, apparently not...I put off the surgery for 18 months, with every 2-3 months of steroid shots into my wrists, which kept the CTS at bay until I could fit the dreaded surgery in. Finally biting the bullet in December and with much in trepidation, I underwent the knife. First the left hand, then 2 weeks later the right. The first surgery was a breeze, the 2nd-not so much..However, I survived and voile! NO more pain/numbness in hands..

One thing I had to give up for 2 months was Yoga. I admit, I am hooked on it. I started with a 2-3 days a week practice in February 2012, with a Groupon at Julia's studio, a mere 5 minutes from my house. At first I felt like a zombie trying to relax and twist into pretzel like poses. I was very unnatural for me, I have tight muscles from all the years of triathlon training. I have a slightly curved spine and 58 years of bad posture habits. I was reassured this would get better...And it did..Soon I was actually enjoying Yoga and was amazed! I started feeling more relaxed in life, began having less and less after training pain.Yoga enthusiasm use to be such a foreign concept to me, now it is part of my life in a huge way. I attribute my lack of soreness, my ability to walk immediately after Ironman to Yoga last year. I distinctly remember the first time I went to pick something up off the floor and easily stooped down with straight legs with no problems....I was amazed and thought Crap! This stuff really works!

Finally at the beginning of February, I inched my way back to "down dog". The wrists were my limiter. They were still sore until the middle of the month. I pushed on, doing what I could first on my own with online Yoga sessions, then back in the studio with my Yoga family at Julia's. I have been going several times a week, trying to "catch up" I suppose to my pre-surgery self. Again, I felt like a fish out of water for the first few times. Seems my short, tight muscles just didn't remember..I have carried on until a few days ago, when The Challenge came. Julia announced the 40-Day Challenge based on the idea that anything done 40 days in a row becomes habit..I didn't think much of this until it was announced that there were prizes! at the end, one of which is an outfit at my all time favorite store Lululemon..OK, that was a game changer. I love to think I would do healthy things just to take care of myself but the whole "I need a carrot at the end of the stick" is very much adherent to my personality it seems. So I went home, got out the 40-day Challenge chart and started writing.

My first decision was that I wanted to make this something to DO not NOT DO (double negative here). In other words no RULES (you can't do this, you can't do that), only things I CAN DO..There is a distinction here. I live my life around rules sometimes....You can't do that... You shouldn't eat that..You need to definitely STOP doing that! A very negative habit I have developed to whip my self in proverbial shape...This only serves me to be a driven, unrelenting version of myself, who never quite "gets there" and so is in constant diappointment about "not ever arriving" to that magical place of perfection! Hey Debi-give yourself a break for 40 days here!

Goals for the Challenge:

1. Do Yoga for 40 days straight. Now this sounds like such an easy task since I am retired, what else do I have to do with my life, right? You would think this was a no-brainer. However, H and I travel alot, probably more than I even think, so hmmmm how to deal with this? Aha! I could commit to Yoga on the road, either on my own or a foreign studio, a walk out on the edge of the branch for sure for me. Alot of effort for Lululemon! However, this was doable. It's only 40 days, right? So when I am in the Q, Yoga at my friendly, neighborhood studio each day then on the road, I need to be creative!

2. Eat 2 servings of fruits and vegetable a day. Now this MUST sound idiotic to some...doesn't a full blown triathlete do this anyway? Wrong! I think the opposite is true. When I train alot, I have a mentality that I can eat anything including a huge piece of carrot cake, any kind of chocolate and bars galore..This should substitute for my lack of fiber and vitamins right? Isn't carrot cake a vegetable?? The consciousness of eating 2 servings of actual, real fruit and veges is foreign to me in general. Now H cooks a very healthy dinner every night, thank goodness if not, I would be eating carrot cake and calling it a night each dinner! So apples, oranges, smoothies made with real fruit/veges, kale (wtf is Kale anyway, isn't that a garnish?) and the like, here I come!

3. OK, this is the toughest one for me: Meditate for 10 minutes- 2 times a day for 40 days. I know full well that meditation improves health, sleep, mental alertness, all that good stuff. My best intentions have gotten me nowhere. Maybe Lululemon will get me there! Does anyone know how long 10 minutes is when just sitting there??? Try it..it feels like an eternity to me. I decided to do said meditating right when I wake up and as I go to sleep. I have always had sleep issues as a adult and listening to meditation tapes occasionally, I know this does put me out almost immediately! How hard could 20 minutes out of my busy, self driven day could it be? Ha-ha snort!

4. Two positive affirmations 2 times a day for 40 days. Now this may seem like a walk in the park too, and it is really (takes less than 45 seconds) but again habit is the key. So if it is on a list, I will remember to do it, right?

I have these things on my Iphone/Ipad combo as a "daily task" so my phone reminds me if I "forget". I have the list on my board right in front of my computer. I would have to be asleep not to see/hear the cues..My plan is to blog as much as possible about my journey (maybe I should have put that on the list), which ends April 2nd, one of my daughter's birthdays. A good way to keep track..reach the goal.

Then there is the "The Chart" (compliments of Julia):

With real life stickers and all!! Just like kindergarten-awesome! Brings back memories but I am a chart person so it works for me..

Day 1-2:

First days of meditation went OK. The first day I looked at my watch when I thought it was 10 minutes and it had only been 4 minutes-this is torture! How people meditate for 1 week or a month somewhere is totally and utterly beyond me!! Yesterday it went better, I am experimenting with guided meditations, just music and eventually just a candle and me..or not..

Yoga has been the easy part. There was a moment yesterday in the afternoon that I was tired!! So on any other day, I would have skipped Yoga but alas I dragged my ass to the studio, knowing I would be glad eventually. Afterwards, I did feel better..Yoga is like that..you feel sleepy, tired at the beginning of a class and by the end, you are a rock star!! I can tell already, I will have to fight the urge to try and do deeper, better, more pretzel like poses each time. Not that this is a bad thing, but when it runs across my brain, it sounds like What's wrong with you! You have been doing Yoga a year and you still can't do that? Try harder!! A sample of my self defeating thoughts that are not present all the time.. They do take up residence when I have the thought that I am so average!! I'll have to find a way to relax and let Yoga (life) happen naturally..this is my challenge!

Fruits and veges...well, so far, so good. I find if I make a smoothie with all fresh stuff, I get my daily dose and more of greens, reds, yellows, orange, etc. foods in my day. Plus the healthy dinners and I am there!

Affirmations...another so far easy one. It's not like I have to believe this stuff yet, right? I believe in myself and such, are not my first thoughts in the day (ever) so this is new to me and yet doable..

OK, so I got stars on Days 1 and 2. I am on Day 3 right now and already managed to meditate and not look at the clock until 10 minutes this AM!! Yee-ha!!

One for the Thumb!

Several years ago, I vowed for the 4th time NEVER to do an Ironman Triathlon again. I had finished Ironman Western Australia in 2008 and had a very, very difficult race physically, mentally..A few months later I ran into a friend who said "You have to do one for the thumb!!" I scoffed..Nope, never, never, never I told myself....Well, as H started dreaming of doing an Ironman for his 65th birthday, I started to falter. Like childbirth, we forget how painful the race truly is...The result?

Signup November 2011

Never say never..

We got off to a great start arriving in Tempe on Wednesday at the big Ironhouse. The whole family soon arrived there to cheer us on..This is our Iron crew:

The best part of the whole weekend were the 4 grand kids, who participated in the IronKids on Saturday. Hundreds of kids ran the mile long race; we have some true competitors in our fam. This was my inspiration:

Avery took the race very seriously! She took off  from the beginning..wanted to win!

The Ironhouse was perfect and the kids all being there helped take the edge off of pre-race jitters..We at our traditional pasta dinner and it was incredible having the whole family there!

Pre Race-

I woke up at 2:15 race morning and couldn't sleep. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that I went to bed at 8:00, I never sleep well on Race Eve, and was a bit over the top excited because my family was there to watch us. Our friend MG picked H and I up at 5:00 AM-this royal treatment being dropped off at the race start is something I could get use to! I will say that I was a bit anxious, not the kind of nervousness I usually get before races-more like happy anticipation. After scooping up 2 other friends, we got door to door service to the Transition site. H and I planned our pre-race meeting place and time. We wanted to go into the water together, and that was the last I saw of him until the finish line! We kept missing each other at the porta potties, I guess.

Dropping off last minute items in transition at 5:00  AM

The Swim (2.4 miles, 4400 or so yds):

In the practice swim on Sat., we had jumped in with our wetsuits to check out Tempe Town Lake, which if you don't open your eyes or remember ducks live and poop there, is not too bad..but the practice swim just freaked me out because I felt so cold from the frigid water-I started to get very nervous..

H and I at the pre-race swim

The water was 61 degrees on race morning. The outside temp was in the 50s. Actually, with a hood on under my swim cap, I felt pleasantly surprised how good the water felt. Maybe 2500 people peeing all at once in the lake from excitement made the temp go up a bit? I would never pee in the lake-ha!

And the madness begins..this was my view at the swim start..

See I'm right over there!

I made my way down to the swim with 2499 of my new best friends. I thought how happy everyone looked...funny, they didn't look like violent people..My adrenaline was pumping as they played the National anthem..dawn was starting to break in front of me and I felt pure gratefulness that I was healthy and strong enough to be here racing an Ironman Triathlon.There were hundreds of athletes lined up at the waters edge, all waiting for others to jump into the frigid, dark water first. I finally talked myself into jumping in about 15 min. before the starting gun..I thought it would be important to get a good swimming spot. Little did I know maybe that was not such a good idea...

We waited for what seemed like an eternity treading water until BANG the gun went off. This is when all these athletes turned on me. I got kicked, pushed, punched in the mouth, swam over and yelled at. I am use to having a bit of jostling around for a few hundred yards but eventually things start to spread out and I get my swim rhythm. Not on this 2.4 mile swim. I never could get any open space in the water to get into any smooth areas to swim well. I felt like I was working hard, but wasn't going too far. At one point a guy popped up and yelled at me "Stop kicking me!" Dude, I am behind you! I laughed...everyone was getting kicked so that was ludicrous!


After what seemed like an eternity, we rounded the last buoy and headed for the stairs at the edge of the lake where they hauled us out of the water. I kept thinking either I was in the front group and that is why folks were scrambling so hard or I was in the rear getting hit and run over by slower swimmers. The latter appeared to be true..I finally got pulled up the stairs, I looked at my watch and damn! 1:23. One of my slowest IM swim times ever..this was suppose to be my fastest discipline and I was already off my game. After a brief moment of letdown, I thought to myself ok, it is what it is, get over it and get going and make up for that 15 min you just gave up! This was my strategy, if one goal wasn't met, go on to a new one. I managed to jog up the chute to transition, where hundreds of people were cheering me on..this is the great thing about Ironman-the crowds are electrifying!! I found a spot in the grass, I had decided not to change my clothes in the changing tent..well this turned out to be not such a great idea-I didn't count on the fact that my hands were frozen from the cold water...so in effect, all the time I was trying to save just was cancelled out by frozen fingers.

Swim time: 1:23

Transition 1: A VERY long 11 minutes. My fingers were completely frozen. I could not feel them..my plan was to race through the transitions like lightening, getting my wetsuit off quickly, throwing my helmet, bike shoes, grabbing my bike and running the long trek to the bike start. As it turned out, I did manage to get out of transition all in one piece, but at a snail's pace..

Me so happy to be on the bike!

The Bike (112 miles):

I was never so happy to get on my bike. I started down the out shoot and saw my family!! That made me so happy! I stopped once I got a few hundred yards away because I heard a loud clatter in my bike wheel. WTH? I looked down to see my HR monitor strap caught in my spokes. Oh my gosh-didn't I practice this a hundred times in my head? I must've looked rather frantic because the volunteer helping me said, slow down, breathe, it'll be a long day out there..oh yea, I remembered and took a few deep breaths..after the HR strap was on, it never worked at all, not once in the whole race..oh well, so much for monitoring my effort. I would have to go by "perceived exertion". One more surprise, not so bad..

The first loop of the bike was nothing exciting. I felt ridiculously slow going out the Beeline, as was expected. I read an article about the bike at IMAZ and it said do NOT make the mistake of pushing up the false flat of 8 miles up Hwy. 87. Many riders do, only to run out of gas and have spent legs on the 3rd lap. So I turtled (is that a word?) my way up the gradual incline X3 loops. However, on the downhill, I flew!! Hoping to make up some time, I endured the almost 7 hrs of the bike primarily in my aerobars. Most of the time I was fighting boredom and random thoughts, except the 2 times I saw the kids near the turn around in town. It was so exciting to have a cheering squad on the course. Of the hundreds of spectators, these people were actually there to cheer ME! The surge of energy I received from that support was amazing! I asked the kids where H was-they told me 20 minutes back. I only saw H once very briefly on the bike. The rest of the day we kept missing each other. The best sign of the day was "Smile if you peed on your bike" I laughed! As I cruised the last 7 miles back into Tempe, I stretched my legs, did much spinning to work all the lactic acid out of the legs...I tried to stay in the moment as much I could but knew when I got off the bike, I was more than halfway done.

Me happy on the bike...probably the 1st loop..

Bike split: 6:56, average of over 16 MPH. Result=happy!

T-2 was uneventful. Took a lot less time than the first transition..6 min, 6 secs. This time, I could feel my hands...







Then I was running! (The sometimes never ending Marathon-26.2 miles):

I felt pretty darn good from the first step I took in my running shoes! I heard the crowd and family YELLING for me to GO! I saw more grand kids, gave them hugs. Avery told me "Grandma you are going to WIN!" I laughed and said " I wish that were true!" When I started to run around the bridge on the first mile-OUCH! My right back started to cramp. I have had this weird pain each time I have run off the bike in training for the last couple months. It really was hurting and I thought wow, if this keeps up, it will be a long rest of the day out here for me..yet I knew that aches and pains can come and go in the 26 miles of the marathon in Ironman. I stopped to pee, this is a good thing-means I was not too dehydrated. I took some Tylenol and Advil, stopping to stretch my back. It must've worked because sometime around mile 3, I started to feel better and took off running..I started to pass people, a first for me in Ironman running. I am usually the "passee". I finally, finally felt great running, at least for awhile. I stopped at each and every aid station about every mile, to walk and drink. I drank Iron-ade (Gatorade), coke, water. I ate potato chips, tried to take in gels. I was somewhat concerned about dehydration, which one should be in a race this long.  The fact is you are pushing your body beyond normal electrolyte balance. There is no way you can ever catch up, you just hope you can stay ahead of it! At around mile 5 on the run, my stomach started to blow up like a balloon..nothing was moving, no nutrition was getting through the old stomach. I knew this feeling, I knew it well. Something happens in Ironman that tells your body ok, maybe this all day race thing is not such a great idea-think I will stop digestion for awhile now. Here is where experience helped me. I knew this always a treatable passing state of being, yet I knew I could not stop taking in fluids or salt (I was taking salt pills all along to help with the massive loss of sodium). I remembered I had magic pills- Gas X! After taking a few of those, and after much self-talk (pain is temporary, I can do this, blah, blah blah..) my stomach decided it was time to start moving again. It worked!

 I can't remember when but at some point I started picking up the pace and passing more people. I noted with interest and pleasure that I was passing young strapping men/youngsters..this only served to inspire me!!

I made this picture smaller because of the determined (sour) look on my face~

The kids were there around mile 8 to cheer me on. I think I told them my stomach was a mess. Becca asked me what mile I was on, I said Heavens, I have no idea! I had my run Garmin on, but I couldn't figure out how to use it at that point I guess! See this is the thing I have learned about Ironman-expect the unexpected! 140.6 miles is a long flippin' way and s#%t will happen along the way..the thing experience has taught me is; OK stuff will happen that I don't anticipate in IM and when it does, then I adjust my goal/plan accordingly. This is the ONE THING a coach can't teach you, a book can't describe no one can impart. It comes from that place inside that can face the challenges and readjust my attitude/game plan. When I had a sucky swim, I just said ok, I will just have to make up for it on the bike and run! This helped me on the run go faster..I told myself there was no reason I could not run 26.2 miles, walking the aid stations. I trained a very long time for this race, I did my 1st IM eight years ago and I was better, faster-stronger. False humility is useless! At no time in this race, did I go to what I call the F^*%#k it! Zone. I had trained my mind for these thoughts. I did my best impersonation of Chrissie Wellington (champion Ironwoman) and said Never, never give up my dream! It is beside the point am not 32 years old and particularly athletically gifted, it was my Mantra the whole run.

MG took this picture as I headed out for the 3rd and last loop of the run...

Then came the race to the finish line. When I saw the kids for the last time, about 100 yards from the finish, Becca said RUN MOM- you can beat you PR! My PR for Ironman was 14 hrs. 15 min. eight years ago in Florida, my first one. I knew I was close! As I rounded the corner to the finish line, I saw the clock click over to 14:16. Mike Reilly, the "voice of Ironman" for the last few decades said
Debi Wess from Albuquerque, New Mexico-you are an IRONMAN!

Missed a PR by 1 minute! I have wondered since what would have happened had I NOT stopped to get Icy Gel put on my legs by the 2 young men on the run course-seemed like a good idea at the time! Maybe would have made that PR..No matter, I was happy, really happy about my race. I felt like I did my very best for this IM course, these almost perfect conditions and at my age.

Run Time: 5:39 my PR on a Ironman marathon. Happy Days!!

Final time: 14:16

Worst...finish picture...evar! 

15th out of 39 women in my AG, 1754 out of about 2500 athletes overall (this does not include the 200+ athletes who DNF'd), 415th out of 793 women finishers.

I'm in!!!

I saw the kids beyond the finish rope. The catcher that caught me threw a solar blanket over me, finisher's medal around my neck and asked if I was OK? I think I said "no" at that point. What did I need? Uh, I dunno..They asked me something about "what size T shirt did I want"-say what? I was quite befuddled by this point....I kept asking for; my family, pizza, water, not necessarily in that order! The "angel" catcher woman took me outside the finish area to my family..I asked Allison to immediately help me get PIZZA! After finagling our way past the "finish line guard" (Nazi), I wolfed down 2 pieces of pizza. I felt instantly better! It amazes me how much IM has changed over the last 8 years. I remember running right into H and Becca's arms in Florida. Now they have it all partitioned off so family can't get to you right away. This was a small hitch in an otherwise awesome, amazing, wonderful experience at the finish!!!

The family supporting H on the run of IMAZ. Love this pic!

 The grand kids hugged me, my kids took care of me as we waited for H to cross the line. When he did, we really celebrated!! 

Wow! Couldn't someone tell me my SKIN was showing!

The miracle of technology told me I finished 15th in my age group. Out of 32 women 55-59 years old that finished, this put me mid-pack-my usual. There were 42 women in my AG if I count the no-show/DNFs, which I think I will. This puts me in the top third? I'll take it..I raced my heart out and Kona (Ironman championship, which you have to win your AG to qualify for) is just not in the cards for me at this point in my life. Who knows if it ever will? I am still one lucky, blessed woman to be able to do this thing called Ironman!

Thoughts:

1. Seeing friends along the way inspired me! Especially thanks to MG, my original partner in crime for IMFL, 2004. His encouragement then and now were SO helpful!

2. My goal time was 13:30. Being 46 minutes slower doesn't really upset me..

3. My other goal was to finish feeling pretty good-mission accomplished! For the first time ever, I did not swear off future IM races at the finish line..a major feat for me..

4. In 2 years, when I age up to 60-64 I will perhaps go to some remote location IM and try and qualify for Kona. I will NEVER give up my dream to go to the World Championships!

5. It is infinitely more fun to race with a cheering section in matching red T-shirts there supporting me. Thank you family!!

6. I hope, on a very special level that my grandchildren will remember Grandma and Grandpa doing Ironman. My dream is that it will serve as inspiration for them to reach for the stars and never, never give up!!

7. Ironman is a metaphor for life. How so? To achieve anything in life, you have to work hard and prepare. No matter what curve balls you are thrown, you readjust the Plan..and carry on. Sometimes it's outcome is disappointment, and occasionally it surprises you when everything comes together. No matter what, I know I have given it my all, at that given time, in those circumstances. If I don't, then I am challenged to be better, do better.

8. Life sucks really, really bad sometimes. I have to roll with the punches, fix the problem-then the pendulum swings..

9. Changing my clothes in an IM transition, or not changing my clothes makes no difference whatsoever. I am still a drenched in sweat, stinky, dirty hot mess at the finish line! Not worth the extra time it takes to change in transition..

10. I don't completely suck at running anymore...see #6..

11. My regret is that my parents never lived long enough to see me accomplish this athletic feat. But then again, maybe I am inspired to live longer, be healthier because of them. I get my stubborn, strong will to do anything I set out to, from my mom. The first 4 syllable word I learned-I remember distinctly my dad helping me learn it-was perseverance!

12. It is WAY more fun to train with my partner in life, my husband. He is the only one who understands how hard I have worked to achieve all my dreams-he is my "Hart" and Soul..

13. The 2 best Ironman races I have had have been under Coach Mark Mico. There is something about his plans, his belief in my ability, his humor, his many stories that push me to achieve my best. Also many kudos to my new bike Coach Adam, who kicked my butt up many, many hills on the bike, even through my loudest whining! This has only helped me make gains on the bike I never knew I had in me. To our Wednesday biking group, who put up with my slow arse for the first 6 months I rode with them-they never lost faith in me-THANK YOU!!

14. Yes, you CAN buy speed on the bike. Mrs. Venge, who cost as much as a new car catapulted me to to new level of biking. It took awhile, and I am still not amazing on hills, but having my mighty steed under me gave me confidence. I mean it has to, right? Otherwise I could never justify getting a fancy bike like this. If anything, she gave me the intimidation factor. More than once someone said Nice bike-during the race. Then I remembered, oh yea Mrs. Venge you rock!!

15. For the first time ever, I am not that sore after Ironman..A couple of days of stiffness then I was fine. One word...YOGA...been doing it for the past 9 months along with IM training. I am hooked! Thank you Yoga by Julia!!

Now, about that pizza...I am still hungry!

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