Iron Colby Reports In

[colby]

Colby... GREAT JOB!!!!!

Your race is very similar to what mine will be. So I really enjoyed reading it. Sure it's great is someone finishes in 12 hours, but that won't be me. I can relate to someone who finishes in 15-17 hours!

Sounds like you had a great swim and bike. Solid. Also sounds like the run would have been great had your tummy been OK. At least you weren't vomiting the whole way. You weren't, were you? I know my cousing vomited from mile 80-140.6 at IMAZ this year.

I was just about on what I expected for the swim, and ahead of my pessimistic bike guess. I felt like I had the run in me, but my stomach disagreed.

No, it wasn't vomiting... that would have sucked (though one guy told me he heard a pro speak and her advice was "puke and start over" ). For me, it felt more like the flu. I felt stomach cramps, I had to go to the bathroom immediately if I started running (walking was the cure ), and until my system was emptied about 4 aid stations down the line, I felt a little light headed. After that, I didn't dare put anything I'd been putting in in again, and switched to pretzels, gatorade, and water. It actually worked well, and I ran some downhills where I could.

I think the true Iron-spirit is when you keep going, even though you want to stop... your body says "no more". You could have stopped, but you kept walking and walking. It wasn't how you envisioned your race, but you didn't let the change in plans keep you from your goal.

Great job Colby! How very exciting for you! That's cool that you signed up for IM #2 next year!

I made the best of it. I knew I had time to walk if I had to, and I knew there would always be a next time if I wanted to do it again. Needless to say, I decided after the race that I wanted to try again.. finish before dark - shave 1-2 hours off my time.

That feeling on the bike when I was coming down on my second loop, mile 100 to 110, knowing my bike time was around 7 hours and I was going to finish... that's what kept me going - I nearly cried on my bike when I knew in my heart I'd be Iron Colby by the end of the day. I conquered the bike - my biggest fear - and a mass start open water swim that I'd never done before. The marathon was the easy part - I had bought myself enough time that I could walk and make it. I guess I didn't cry at the end because I'd already matter of factly stated that I WAS going to finish.

Ironman days aren't all made of rainbows and butterflies. Stick with your plan, but be willing to do what's necessary to keep yourself safe if something goes wrong. The drive to finish was so much stronger than I thought it would be, and I'm glad I amazingly bought myself enough time to not put myself in a position where I had to choose between hurting myself or DNF - I still think Denise is Iron for making that call.