A quick run down of the race. I wrote 8 pages in my training journal so I could remember it all but I won't do that here. The race was awesome!! I loved it and can't wait to do another one. I would do it again next weekend but don't think I could. I was not very sore after the race just in pain (Right knee) and very tired and hungry. I felt like I was recovering from surgury for a few days, just lathargic? and weak. By Tues. I felt pretty good, but took a whole week off just to rest up. My time was o.k. 2 hrs. slower then I was hoping for but my knee was in PAIN after mile 80on the bike and after mile 20 on the run I got really sick to my stomach. I did what I could and of course would do things different now but at the time I was just trying to finish. Swim 1:20- The swim was great, I loved it except for the freezing cold water! I heard 30 people were pulled out with hypothermia. I held back after the gun went off and let the rush do by then dove in and started off. As long as I had my own space I felt great but when it got congested I had to slow down and find my way through the bodies and that slowed me down a lot. I also slowed odwn a few times and just looked around, I couldn't believe I was in the IRONMAN swim!! The weather was perfect, beautiful sun rise at the lake! My watch said I finished in 1:15 from when I started swimming. I wish I would have pushed it harder, maybe I would have been warmer??? T1-So slow but my hands were frozen and I could not dress myself! It was 14 min. long long-ugg! Bike- Tried to pace myself and watch my heart rate-first 22 felt great. Should have pushed harder but I didn't want to do that too early. First 43 mile loop felt great. Just ate EFS drink and water and gatorade (should have eaten more real calories!). Half way bag I grabbed a mini snickers and a fruit cup but that's all. I also had a few bananas at aid stations and stopped at every one to go to the bathroom (ugg!). By mile 80 my right knee was KILLING! I could only pull up on my right peddle and push with my left. My timw slowed a lot. I wanted to cry! Partly because it hurt so bad, partly because I thought I would have to walk to whole marathon! I made it to T2 after 7:30 (ugg!) T2-faster then T1 Run- I was sp happy that I could run without pain! I felt great the first 13 miles but I tried to pace myself, I made myself slow down (which I now wish I didn't!). By mile 13 I passed my special needs bag and did'nt stop (I wish I had!) but I was feeling sick I just wanted to finish. I felt so sick I could not eat anything-there were people barfing everywhere which didn't help! I stopped eating all together but by mile 20 I was sick! I almost fainted, I was blacking out and really dizzy. Someone told me to make it to the next aid station and have a coke. I barley made it there, I sat down in a lawn chair and they brought me coke a pretzels. they wanted to call the paramedics but I would not let them. After a few min. I felt great. I got an emergency blanket to wrap around me because I was freezing, and I ran the last 6 miles to the finish. My knee was killing but I felt pretty good. The finish was amazing, just like I dreamed! The crowd was huge and I even got teary eyed, not enough energy to cry though. I even heard them say "Nancy Russell you are an IRONMAN" Yea! I'm excited it's over but also sad, I never wanted the day to end. It was a great experience, even the 5 long cold lonely training months. Can't wait till next time!
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