Another DNF... Don't worry, I'm ok

The wind decided to play evil games with us again today. I made it a whopping 10 miles into the ride and decided I just didn't have it in me to fight.
Amazingly I'm totally fine with my decision. I didn't put the training in this year, so unless the day was perfect it was gonna be dicey.
The swim was pretty heinus as the wind picked up from the east early and made for some good size chop on the lake. But when I got on the bike and had a gust of wind,followed by flying dirt hit me head on, I knew I was in trouble.
But like I said, I'm ok with it. My life has changed the last few months, and so have my priorities. I may come back to Ironman someday, but I think I need to give it a rest for awhile. I'm going to see how the november IMAZ goes this year, and if I really have the time to do the training I can always grab a community fund slot.

Thanks all for your love and support. I love you all. Hope I didn't let you down.
Off to shower- I'm coated with dirt from the blowing dust out on the beeline.

I sure hope Laura makes it. I saw her this morning and she was pretty nervous. Fingers crossed!

We all love ya right back! You made the right decision. You did not let us down, you never could. You showed up and gave it your best shot. Some days that is all you can do.

Whether you come back to the sport, time will tell, but I know that I have enjoyed your stories and your advice and have learned from your experience.

XXOO

Ruth

A DNF still beats everyone who didn't start. :)

I don't think I've replied to your posts much, but I always read them and you absolutely rock.

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Originally Posted by kat_h

A DNF still beats everyone who didn't start. :)

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+1 :D

+1 to what Kat said.

You rock. Congratulations! Enjoy some well-deserved R&R!

+1 to Kat as well! You are awesome!

+1 to what everyone has said. You are awesome to do what you have done with your life in general as well as within the last ~6 months or more. I am always cheering for you wheather it is out racing, riding, or running, or madly selling bikes at the shop.

Congratulations!!:D:D

Ellen

((((((RunningMommy)))))))

I'm glad you're okay. I hope you get some rest...

You are an inspiration! I always enjoy your posts and I'm glad to hear you are OK with the DNF.

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Originally Posted by kat_h

A DNF still beats everyone who didn't start. :)

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Absolutely!

And you already ARE an Ironman.

Good for you for entering this time AND for knowing when it made real sense to stop. I hope you enjoy that shower!

Enjoy your shower!

I'm so relieved you didn't get hurt when that guy crashed into you. Give your bike a loving pat for us, and I hope the wheel-truing/repairs go well!

(on another thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showp...3&postcount=27 )

good thing I know a mechanic huh???:D:p:D

My shower was eventful. Seems I had some chafing from the wetsuit. YOUCH!

Yeah, you can give your mechanic a loving pat, too... but that one *won't* be from us! :D;)

((((RM)))) +1 what they said!!!

+1 to what everyone said.
You are still an inspiration to us all.

You rock! You will live to fight another day. :)

+1 on what everyone else said.

Also, you are not kidding that your life has changed. Starting up a new, successful business is an Ironman-type endeavor in and of itself. I absolutely love business owners, because they have dreams, take risks, and work their tails off...usually for long, extended periods of time.

You absolutely rock!

Denise:

You made the committment, you showed up and you gave it your best shot on this day. Who could ask for more?

Madame denise..a thought for you..Take a year off & the come down to Busselton & do IMWA where the conditions are awesome, flat & ahhhh sunny.

:D

Denise - you are courageous beyond belief. Love ya right back babe!!

We love you, too!!!!:D You're an inspiration to us all! I'm proud of you for showing up and giving it your best shot. And hey, you did more today than most people do all week. A 2.4 mile swim and a 10 mile bike. I certainly didn't do that today. :p
Congrats on making a decision that you're totally fine with. Inner peace is a good thing...

I posted a DNF report in the other thread. Guess I should have posted it in this one...

1+ on just getting to the start.

You know your body the best, if it wasn't in the stars, then you made the right decision.

You're still my hero!

denise - the weather was brutal out there. it was a long hard day. you made a wise decision. there's always november ;-)

we saw you getting out of the water, we were in the transition area and we yelled for you!

Sometimes I think the most courageous thing that we have to do as athletes is know when to stop. You did that. That in of itself will gain you confidence and build character like none other. I have had a similar experience, not in a triathlon, but in a long ride with a specific goal in mind and I decided that I was quitting. It was the best decision. I am proud of you for your confidence. You disappointed no one!!

D~

I was keeping track of you online... it just didn't seem like your heart was into it this year (from your posts before) and there's nothing wrong with that! Glad you are good w/it, you made the right decision for sure!!!

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Originally Posted by mommelisa

denise - the weather was brutal out there. it was a long hard day. you made a wise decision. there's always november ;-)

we saw you getting out of the water, we were in the transition area and we yelled for you!

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M-

you doing IM November?

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Originally Posted by tprevost

M-

you doing IM November?

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Nevermind... I just looked you up :p

TAXI DRIVER AND LAUNDRY MAIDEN?????? You are too funny!!!

I'm really wondering about November... hmm.... I think I want to see how it goes this go round and think about 09. I know 09 will be sold out soon, so I'll have to get a community fund slot, but thats ok.
I just don't see any other races in the US that appeal to me.

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Originally Posted by Flybye

Sometimes I think the most courageous thing that we have to do as athletes is know when to stop.

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Well said and absolutely true!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

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Originally Posted by tprevost

Nevermind... I just looked you up :p

TAXI DRIVER AND LAUNDRY MAIDEN?????? You are too funny!!!

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that is unless i get a kona spot in the lottery tomorrow. :-)

but, being a volunteer yesterday. honestly, that course scares me. it was brutal out there. i know november weather can be iffy here, but we don't usually have the winds then.

still doing cda in june tho.

send me your email address, t, i tried to email you but it bounced back!

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Originally Posted by Running Mommy

I'm really wondering about November... hmm.... I think I want to see how it goes this go round and think about 09. I know 09 will be sold out soon, so I'll have to get a community fund slot, but thats ok.
I just don't see any other races in the US that appeal to me.

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denise, this is going to be my second go at cda. it is absolutely beautiful, honestly, if you're thinking of a different race, try that one.

Hey Denise! It was nice meeting you, even if it was very brief! Thanks again for the dinner ticket. Very kind and generous of you.

It was a rough day out there... you made a good call. My cousin started puking at mile 82 on the bike... and kept puking until he finished at 11:45 PM. He expected to finish the race in 11 hours and 30 minutes.

Your priorities are elsewhere... and that's OK. Hey, you paid your money. You gave it a shot. That's what counts.

I think you should just be happy you didn't end up puking like most people did. Also, I heard that there was basically 1 DNF per every 5 racer. You were not alone.

In fact, 3 people I know, other than you and Laura had a DNF yesterday. It was brutal.

K- I'm sorry I didn't get to spend more time with you, but it always seems to happen like that on race week. Too much going on.
Yeah I'm not broken up in the least bit about my dnf. If it hadn't been windy it would have been fun to roll through the heat, but it was more than I cared to deal with.
One thing I know for sure now... I will NEVER do Kona! I just don't like the wind. So I have dep admiration for those that can get through it.
Sorry to hear about your cousin. I know all about puking. Did it last year. It's NOT fun. :(

MM- I'm actually going to cda in 09 to spectate. I don't think I can handle the cold lake or the hills on the bike course. I think maybe I need to see it first before I'm ready to pull the plug. But before IMAZ was around that was the race I was going to do.

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Originally Posted by Running Mommy

MM- I'm actually going to cda in 09 to spectate.

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cda = Canada? You'll be in Penticton in 2009? If so, we might actually get to meet you IRL! It's not a really long drive from here....

Hugs and butterflies!
~T~

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Originally Posted by LBTC

cda = Canada? You'll be in Penticton in 2009?

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I believe cda = Coeur d'Alene.

yeah couer d'alene.... I've always wanted to go to canada tho ;)

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Originally Posted by Running Mommy

yeah couer d'alene.... I've always wanted to go to canada tho ;)

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The Canada one is the one that folks from my town go to. They say it is a gorgeous course (and not far from Coeur D'Alene sp? really).

Yes: Coeur d'Alene. Coeur = heart. It's actually Cœur d'Alene (if your monitor won't print it, that's a O and a E laced together but few people can pull that out of their keyboard!)...

One of the hardest sounds for native English speakers to pronounce, not to say spell! Definitely a sign of the early French presence (fur traders) on this side of the continent! The city folks themselves don't pronounce it the French way: http://www.coeurdalene.org/question140.snap
so in Rome, do as the Romans do!