My first ever DNF

[Running Mommy]

First things first... THANK YOU from the bottom of my weary heart for your kind words on that last thread. And YES you were the first ones that I wanted to let know what was happening when I pulled the plug.
So here is the long winded version of what happened. YOu may need to make a sandwhich cause this may get long..
First of all the water was great. I came out just a bit ahead of last year. But I'll take any improvement in that department. And both my transistions were MUCH faster than last year. Last year they were each 11 minutes. This year t1 was 9:48 and T2 was a smokin 7:55. I didn't daudle (sp?). Also my bike time was a bit faster, but not at all what I had hoped.
Ok so this is where it all went awry....
On the bike! Remember those winds that I posted so much about last week. Well they were there in full force.
Here is what weather underground had as Tempe's wind yesterday. Now keep in mind that the bike course is out on open land that tends to be windier than alot of other places in the valley. Well actually any open desert areas are prone to wind, so my guess is that the wind was actually alot higher out there.
11:51 AM 77.0 °F WSW 17.3 mph / 27.8 km/h / 7.7 m/s gusts 27.6 mph / 44.4 km/h /
12:51 PM 77.0 °F / 25.0 °C 26.1 °F / WSW 16.1 mph / 25.9 km/h / gusts 29.9 mph / 48.2 km/h /
1:51 PM 77.0 °F / 25.0 °C WSW 18.4 mph / 29.6 km/h / gusts 26.5 mph / 42.6 km/h
2:51 PM 75.9 °F / 24.4 °C 26.1 °F / West 21.9 mph / 35.2 km/h / gusts 28.8 mph / 46.3 km/h /
3:51 PM 75.9 °F / 24.4 °C WSW 20.7 mph / 33.3 km/h /gusts 28.8 mph / 46.3 km/h
4:51 PM 73.0 °F / 22.8 °C 17.1 °F / West 19.6 mph / 31.5 km/h / gusts 25.3 mph / 40.7 km/
5:51 PM 71.1 °F / 21.7 °C West 21.9 mph / 35.2 km/h / gusts 28.8 mph / 46.3 km/h /

So yeah, it was WINDY. Basically it is an out and back loop of around 18 miles each way done three times. On the out I had for the most part a tail wind with some crosswinds. I was cruising these portions at WELL over 16 mph. Sometimes 17-20. But then I hit the turn around..... And it was 10 miles down the beeline hwy with viscious cross/head winds. At times I could go around 14-15 mph, but most 13 and under. And then I would hit the right turn and go straight into a full on head wind. Here I could barely manage over 11, sometimes as low as 7mph. that would last for about a mile then I took a left turn and headed south where I got a break because it was only a cross wind so I could get up to 13 again. But that only lasted for about a half mile. Then I got another right turn right into the head winds again. This stretch is probably around 3-4 miles and it was BRUTAL!!I was only able to average maybe 10 mph through here. And the pavement was HORRIBLE (just to add to the misery). But then I got another half mile break with another left turn. This section also has an overpass, so that kinda sucked. But then again I got another blast by a right turn into the wind to head back to the turn around. And when I hit town I got to go over a bridge twice so I could really feel the crosswinds before heading back out for more fun...
So yeah, I was miserable. I wanted to quit on the first loop, but I willed myself to the second. I wanted to quit again but talked myself into the third loop. The third loop was defintely the worst! Around mile 107 my neck started spasming and I had a hard time holding up my head. It was not so fun...
So then I hit transition and told the guy to take my bike and burn it. These are immortal wordds from my friend Joe Moya from the IMAZ race in 05. That race had equally brutal winds. Oh- and I was dodging tumbleweeds out there- and getting sand blasted by blowing dust..
Ok, so I hit the transition and the girl helps get me out of there pretty quick. I try to start running, and I actually trot for a while. I stopped at the aid station and grabbed some coke and chicken broth which USUALLY settles my stomach. I walked up a hill and realized that my stomach wasn't right. By the time I hit the bridge I had to puke. I made it to a porta pottie and let fly. This became a trend on the run. I couldn't keep anything down and if I tried to run it only made it worse. Imagine trying to run a marathon with a stomach bug. That was me. So I told myself that if I made the first loop by 7:30 I would go on. Once again I knew this would be a midnight affair. I made the first loop and wanted to have the second one down by 9:30. I knew that anything over 9:45 and I wouldn't make it. Well I had to stop and puke a few more times, so I didn't make it. I didn't go over the timing mat to start the third loop, but I would have hit it at 9:50. I was walking a 2:20 loop, and I only had 2:10 to complete the last loop. So I consulted with Tony and our friend Kevin who was out to video tape the race, and I pulled off the course. It was SUCH a bummer! I think it was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. As I said in my title I've never DNF'ed before, and I thought I never would.
But I think the wind just got to me and I got behind on my nutrition. That is all I can figure.
When I got home I continued to heave, and I started shaking uncontrollably. Tony says I was white as a ghost under my sunburn and my lips were a combo of white and purple. I took a hot shower and curled up in bed. But sleep didn't come. I laid there thinking "what if"... But I know I made the right decision, and yeah I WILL be back. Next year? I dunno, but maybe in 09. I need to work on my swim. If I had cut even 15 minutes off my swim that would have given me enough in the bank to finish.. So yeah, I have things to work on.
Well, thanks again for all the well wishes. You guys ROCK!!
Denise

Oh one last thing. As I said before, I had people stopping me left and right this week asking me if I was Denise from the You Tube video. It was cool. Well yesterday a girl came and found be at the bike racks and told me that I inspired her. This was her first, and she looked at my times and she knew that she could do it too.
And then on the run (err walk) I had a guy ask me if I was the one with the video. He told me that he LOVED the video and watched it a ton of times to get him ready for the race. He also said that it changed his buddies perception of the race and he was out there racing too!
So I guess something good has come from all of this!

[KnottedYet]

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

I'm so proud of you for fighting those winds! Jeeez Louise!!

[Bluetree]

{{{{{{ DENISE }}}}}

Denise, your report brought tears to my eyes.. not sad ones for your DNF, but happy, awed, inspired ones for your grit and courage. Don't feel bad... those winds were a spot of bad luck and the mere fact that you suited up and gave it your all is a testament to your Iron-ness!

[tprevost]

(((Denise)))

I am so proud of you! I know it was so hard to make that decision, but it was the right one... part of the trick is knowing when your body has had enough. You are awesome and I am one of your biggest fans!!!!

Excellent report, I can't even imagine how tough it was out there!

Trac'

[Pax]

Congrats for giving it your best go AND listening to your body!

[mimitabby]

wow, when your body says no, it MEANS no!

you are one tough gal.
next time you'll be better.

I like how you combined vicious and viscous, both terms to describe the wind!

[KSH]

Dang, that sounds like a miserable day. I can honestly tell you, that there is no way I could have taken that wind for 112 miles. It's amazing that you made those miles Denise. Wind... beats you up... you can't SEE when it ends (like you can a hill!) and for me... it gets INTO my head and starts getting me down.

To stand up to 112 miles of wind like that... makes you one tough lady.

As for the DNF, I think RnR said it best yesterday:

I am a competitive racer. I want to do well. But race day is fraught with things that are completely out of your control, and the day often times does not go as planned.

You need to stay focused on that goal...BUTwhen you really get down to the core of it, it is monumentally important not too forget to look back along the way, and see how far you have come.

That is what this part of the journey should be about. Who am I as an athlete?

Denise, you can look back on your journey and you KNOW what kind of athlete you are. All of your training up until the race was amazing... and you were spot on.

Race day didn't go as planned... and your stomach didn't agree with what was going on. I'm sure deciding to leave the course was the hardest decision ever. But you made a wise one. And... you had nothing to prove. You know you could do it... if you weren't puking every few feet... right?

I knew something wasn't right on your run after your first loop and you running a 15.5 minute mile. That's not the Denise we know from training. Obviously things were going wrong.

You are an Ironman Denise. You were iron-strong to compete as long as you did yesterday! You finished last year and you will finish again another year. And we will be right there cheering you on!

[JenLeath]

I think it is amazing that you kept on hammering through those winds. Good job.

Jen

[lawyergirl]

Wow - good for you for doing what you could. I can't even imagine trying to run between puking. You are amazing!

Oh - and where can I see this video??

[rocknrollgirl]

Oh Denise...hugs....it must be really frustrating to have worked that hard, and have the body not with you on race day. I hope that it helps you some to know how much you have inspired all of us, and obviously lots of other folks too. We all love ya!

Oh and just for the record...barfing in a port-a-potty makes you iron in my book my friend.



XXXOOOO,
Ruth

[Thorn]

Like heck that is a DNF...that is a "Swam 2.4, biked 112 and ran 16 miles". How do you consider that a DNF!?!?!?!??!?!?! Sounds like a heck of a lot of accomplishment, particularly considering the circumstances.

To many of us, you are truly an inspiration....thanks and congrats! This time belonged to the wind; next time will be your!

[Lise]

Denise, you are an incredible athlete. The weather and the extraordinary circumstances (an Ironman is a test of endurance that I cannot even conceive of completing, myself) conspired against you. There's a time limit. That's all. Probably a good thing--keeps people from continuing on when they should stop. Remember Triflor and her IM at Lake Placid? You two are in a proud sisterhood of those who truly gave it their all. You did all but a bit--and got no medal, no glory, no hoo-haas. But you have the unending respect of hundreds of people throughout the country and across the world. Bask in that today. And recover. You are a champion. (((RM)))

[KnottedYet]

Oh - and where can I see this video??

I would like to find this video, too. Can someone post a link?

Denise, you are a total babe in my book!

[colby]

What terrible conditions. Mother nature was definitely not on the Iron side last week -- it seems she was testing more than just your training. Given how bad you said you looked when you got home, it's probably a VERY good thing you stopped when you did. That last 8 miles could have put you in a much more dangerous place.

Lessons were learned, and hey, you're famous now! Congratulations on a HARD race. Get some rest!!!

[Running Mommy]

Ok, now I'm crying... You girls are all so kind to me. You are lifting me up!!
I just noticed that registration for next year opens at 10:00 am today... Should I pull the plug?? Hmmmm.....
Yeah, I probably will!!
And RNR girl... I didn't restrict my puking to porta potties, I puked behind tree's over the edge of bridges, behind walls. I was an equal opportunity puker!
I don't know the exact number, but it was AT LEAST 6 times...

Oh and as for the video. It's on You tube. Search for Ironman Arizona. You can see Denises 2006 video there. But BE WARNED the music my friend Kevin used has a BAD word in it!! - Mother F-... Not what I would have choosen, but I do like the beat of the music. He was actually there video taping it yesterday. But I guess that footage will go to the cutting room floor...

Well what a day it was...
2.4 mi swim
112 mi bike
17.6 mi run
NO MEDAL...