Ironman Wisconsin
Yes, I am alive. I know many of you have called, e-mailed, texted, etc. Sorry, I can’t physically get back to everyone so I thought I would get this post up first thing upon arriving home.
Here is the summary: I woke up sick last Monday with swollen glands in my neck and a scratch in my throat. Although this bug never progressed it didn’t improve much either. On race day I had a cloudy head from the get go but managed to punch out the best IM swim I ever have had. I was excited going into the bike leg that maybe I would have an epic day after all. The bike leg was going great and I made it up to the first amateur on the road and passed all the pro women and several pro men. My legs felt fantastic but around mile 65 I had throbbing pain in my head that quickly escalated into tunnel vission and eventual black out. I had to lock up the bike and stop. My sight came back in a couple of minutes and I tried to get going again but the tunnel vission returned. I tried once more after soft pedalling for 10 minutes but had the same symptoms. I stopped in Mt. Horib where there were medics. My blood pressure was up and I felt terrible from the neck up. I was advised that it would not be wise to continue and took the ride back to the medical tent at the finish line in Madison.
Ironman Wisconsin wasn’t meant to be for me this year. After leaving the medical tent at the finish line I stumbled back with Jennie to the van parked a few blocks away in a parking garage. I wiped myself off, let myself get right pissed off and yelled with the doors closed, then found myself back where I stated I would never be – feeling sorry for myself. This lasted for a couple of minutes and I then changed, packed up a small back pack, and went out to cheer my brains out for the many friends that I knew in the race and anyone else for that matter.
If there is one thing that I’ve learned this past year it’s that stuff happens. You can’t control it but you can most definitely overcome it. My head is held high today knowing that I did the best I could on the day. I signed up for next year with the same goals in this order: try like mad, finish, qualify for Hawaii.
Thanks to all for your concern and support. This journey can’t be done without you!
Jeremy