Week 9 Update My Iron Man Challenge

Some times in life the correct answer is C’est La Vie “This is the Life”. We don’t always in every moment win the race, live happily ever after, ride off in the sunset loved and admired. Sometimes we experience life as it is; challenging, exciting, less than perfect. We can accept the imperfections in the frustrating moments of life and still experience joy and happiness moving towards our goals and dreams.

Wow! What a week for week 9 on my road to an Iron Man. I have lost 7 more pounds and am now down to 165. This last few pounds I believe are more caused by the diverticulitis and the 3 day clear liquid diet during the first part of the week. I made it to Austin for the Tri Rock Olympic distance tri over the weekend still taking antibiotics and hoping somehow the antibiotics, weight loss, and just recovering from a diverticulitis flare-up would not affect my performance. Well, I was not so lucky. The 1500 meter swim was slow and more strenuous than usual. I was more than half way through the swim and recognized I had completely tossed my swimming form out the window and was exerting far more energy than I should. We had a long 500 meter run from the river to the transition area to retrieve our bikes. I tossed on my biking gear and drank a little water mixed with electrolytes and proceeded out of the transition area to start the 26 mile bike leg. At this point I was a little more weary than usual and decided to start out at about 70% building up as I gained back my strength. Regretfully I never recovered from here. From this point forward my race performance went downhill fast. I eventually completed the bike leg with dizziness, dehydration, felling puny and nauseous with what I believe was the onset of heat exhaustion. So ended my race day rejected that I could not complete distances that I far surpass in training. On a positive note the antibiotics will be out of my system by Wednesday 9/3/14 and the symptoms from the diverticulitis gone. I am eating regularly again and know I will be back and ready for the next challenge. All ahead at full speed for the scheduled races and full Iron man Nov 2015.

Until next week! One moment in time is not our life. Each and every let down is not the end of our story. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move forward. Move forward seeking and relying on those who care by actions and words.