Barrie Ironman challenge is a bust

I feel guilty for not being able to finish what I started today. But I learned allot about what i can and can't do!

My plan was to raise money for my charity RVH cancer center by attempting a full ironman distance challenge of a 3.8k swim 180k bike and 42k run or until my hip/hamstring gave out which i knew it would. I was hoping to get some donations?  But that wouldn't matter either way, as when I set out to do this challenge, I did it for myself.

I got up at 6am to give me plenty of time to get ready for my 8am swim start by fueling up with fresh brewed coffee, bananas and stroopwafels, and then do my business, then get my gear together and so on.

I left my house for the beach at 7:30am. When I got to the beach the water was calm with a slight fog wefting over the lake at spots. I unpacked my gear and sat for a few minutes on the picnic table by the beach and looked out over the water psyching myself up for the swim which would be cold. I put on my wetsuit and walked to the water with my scuba gloves to keep my fingers warm, goggles and swim cap in hand. I filled my swim cap up with the lake water and snapped it over my head, Damn! that's cold! I grabbed my second swim cap and did the same putting it on. I put my scuba gloves and goggles on, then walked into the water. My toes went instantly numb! Shit this water is freezing!! allot colder then my last swim on Wednesday.  I estimate the water temperature was around 52F or just over 11C  I said to myself, this is going to hurt!

I walked in deeper and my wetsuit was keeping me warm but my toes were just numb! I then dunked down....Bowahawahawaaa I yelled, THAT IS FRIGGING COLD! 

I was having second thought of doing my swim now. I then tried a few strokes to see if I can get used to the water?  Five stokes in I pull my head up because my face was numb.  I said to myself, no way! I have nothing to prove? I don't want to die! 

I stood up and looked around, then in disappointment I walked out of the water to go back to my gear.  As I stood by my gear looking out at the water I said Shit! I can't do this! I looked around some more and said, I have to do this! I said, a little cold water shouldn't stop me? I'm about extreme! Not a pussy who says things and then doesn't do them.

I walked back into the water and dunked in. I started my watch and started to swim! ten strokes in I pull my face out again and i said, NO, I can't it's too cold.

I stopped my watch and started walking back, but while I walked back with numb toes, I started thinking of the one year  I was registered for Coeur D'alene Ironman in 2007 and had to pull out because of my torn PF... and I thought of my friends who did that race, where the water was just as cold. Most of them didn't start the race because of the cold water and the others who did start, finished the swim, but didn't finish the race.

Well I drew strength from that thought Saying I'm not a whoose and started my watch up again and started to swim.  I jumped up again and yelled in my thoughts, come on!! ....I stopped my watch and walked back to my start. I then dug in deep and said, I have to do this!

I reset and started my watch for the third time and off I went!  Stubborn and determined I forged on, my face and toes numb with pain, I said to myself the pain will go as I warm up from swimming. I stuck to the shore line in case I had a panic attack or worse heart attack! not that it would help if I did. lol

My arms were tingling as I took each stroke in the icy water,( I'm wearing a sleeveless wetsuit) thank god I had the wherewithal to use my scuba gloves, although they were by no means toasty but kept enough of the cold from my fingers from becoming numb.

I kept going along the shore thinking will I pass out from the cold? how will I know if I'm getting hypodermic? when should I stop?  I started getting anxious, but keep my cool and kept on swimming.

By the time I got to the end of the first length of 12, I was feeling better and swimming good. My toes were numb but not hurting as was my face and my arm were warming up from the active swimming but still tingling. I then decided I was ok to swim out to the outer buoys to swim back and forth along the buoy line.

As I swam, I hit icy water stretches and then just cold water stretches if that makes sense? either way it was cold but the warmer cold water felt better! lol

I finished my first lap and swam around the buoy before stopping to have a look and decide if I can go on.  OK I said, lets go!

I was swimming smooth and went back and forth, end to end of the buoys. after my 3rd lap of 2100m I looked at my watch and was surprised with my time of 37min.  I kept on going.

Now I'm thinking again, am I getting hypothermia? how will I know? what if I pass out and no one is here to see me? Fuck that! I kept on going!

I finally rounded the fith length to start my 6th length out, which would only be three quarters of the length and back then back to the beach for a total of 3900m approx.

As I hit the beach I stopped my watch and posted a time of 1:14:12 Not bad I said. I started to take my wetsuit off and I couldn't get my balance, I felt real wobbly and having the hardest time pulling my wetsuit off my feet falling back into the water. lol

Finally I pulled it off and walked back to my gear and dried off. I grabbed my stuff and went back to my car to drive home....Whew!  a little hypothymic but the swim is done!

When I got home I stuffed my face with a banana, then grabbed my stroopwafles and headed to my hot tub to warm up before heading out on my bike.

Ahhhhhhh, I was shivering but the hot water felt good. My toes were tingling but the good kind, with warmth. lol I need to get my body temp up as I felt hyperthimic, as I know the first sign of hyperthermia is rapid shivering. lol  I felt better after about five min and got out, dried off and put my bike gear on.  I grabbed my bike helmet, yes! helmet! lol   Glasses and gloves, wore my windbreaker golf shirt over my sleeveless race shirt because the temp outside was still in the low 60F and of course my bike shoes.

Off I go!  The weather was threatening as they were calling for T-storms so it was overcast with partial clear skies. The temp was nice, being cool and humid. perfect for riding in the mid 60F but I still prefer 80F which it will be tomorrow. Good thing I warmed up in the hot tub! I don't think I would have warmed up on the bike if I went straight out after my swim!

My ride was going smooth, I was drinking my premixed energy drink. I had two bottles for the first loop and two bottles back home in the fridge for the second round trip, plus water in my aero bottle on my bars. For solid food I had gummy's which pack a good sum of cals as well as gives something in my stomach to digest so I don't get that hollow stomach feeling, I hate that!

All worked well, I got to Wasaga beach for the turn around and started back home. I felt strong but my hip/ hamstring was starting to hurt. As many know, I've been nursing this problem for 6 months now and have been getting ART done on my hamstring and hip, which is helping but I'm not there yet, although I though I could be? ...In any case I forged on.

The weather was turning out beautiful! the temperature was getting warmer and humid which I like but now I'm going in what seems to be a wind or uphill? my cadence was slowing down, my hip was hurting more and losing power on the peddle, so  would get out of the saddle more often to stretch.

Now I'm feeling like I riding with my brakes rubbing and saying to myself what is going on? I look back and my rear tire seems low? Shit! I hope I don't have a slow leak or flat!  I ride on for a few more km then I stop to check the pressure with my thumb and it seem low, but no deflating. I realize then I didn't pump up my tires before I left and since there was little wind on the way out to Wasaga I didn't notice, but now on the way back with more uphill and a little more wind I'm noticing, specially since I'm losing power in my left leg because my hip is hurting.

I finally make it back to finish the first loop of 82k, but since I knew I wasn't going to be able to do the second loop I continued on up to Anne and down to Carson Rd and then back to my house to make up the distance of 90km.

I reached my house 90.01km in 3:13hrs averaging 28kph. ....but my hip was to sore to continue on.

So what went wrong?  ...I'll tell you,.... nothing went wrong! It was a perfect day to try to do this Ironman challenge, but I'm was just not physically able to at this time because of my hip pain.

I think it's smart of me not to attempt  to go one and do the full 180km or to run after, which I couldn't if I wanted to, and didn't.

Although I do think the cold water did zap a little strength out of me, but once I warmed up, drank and feed, I was fine.  I feel had a good performance and I know I could have gone on if not for the hip pain. There is no reason for me to suffer or do harm to myself ? I'm not out to prove anything? I just wanted to challenge myself which I did and learned allot.

Maybe next time I will get er' done! ...it just wasn't to be today. Now it's time for beer!

:)

Ironman Barrie Challenge for support of my journey to Swim Lake O

I have been thinking of ways to raise money for my journey to swim Lake Ontario 2013 in support of RVH and came up with this personal challenge. Saturday June 9, 2013 I will be doing the first Barrie Ironman challenge.

So I am in taper mode today checking out the expo at 2 Hook court Barrie,(my house) fueling and resting for the first Barrie Ironman Distance challenge tomorrow here in Barrie, starting with a 3.8k swim at Centennial beach at 8am, then riding from my home at 9:30am to Wasaga beach and back twice with a third shorter 20k loop to make up a distance of 180km total before I set off on a 42k marathon on a 7k out and back loop 6 times starting Approx 4-4:30 from my house.
I am doing this challenge in support of my Josef's journey continues, A swim for life 52km lake Ontario swim 2013 next year for RVH Cancer patient care.
Please come by and give me a shout of encouragement during my Marathon run/walk/waddle/shlog which will start from my house at 2 Hook court Approx 4-4:30pm down to Livingstone, running along Livingstone to Anne St. then north to Carson Rd and back for 6 loops. I will be collecting donation at my house or on route, or you can make a donation on line on my link to the right of this blog.

Thank you and wish me luck!

http://www.active.com/donate/52kmlakeontswim