When all else fails, climb another mountain

So....most everyone already knows Jason and I didn't finish IM CDA. We both dropped out after 1 loop of the run/death march to mile 13.1 where we could turn in our chips. One thing I have learned about the IM distance is that is is humbling. You can go into a race 100% ready to go and something else totally unexpected can happen. We knew Jason had serious stomach problems and were both hoping that things would just remain calm on race day, which unfortunately, they did not. For me, my body was more ready than it ever has been, but I don't think my mind was in the right spot. I had burn out leading into the race and that is never a good thing. The last two months prior I had little interest in the race and even when Jason and I went to the pre-race meeting, which is meant to pump you up, did very little for either one of us. In our eyes, the IRONMAN almost seemed like a cult.

Jason had some cramps on the swim and then belly issues during the bike and he knew going into the run that it wasn't going to be pretty. For me, I felt great on the swim and then 5 minutes into the bike had a super strange feeling in my stomach that I haven't had. I was worried about going into the run and I remember our nutritionist telling me if I felt the onset of belly issues to back off the intensity and try and calm things down, which I did for the second loop of the bike. I actually felt fantastic coming off the bike for the first 7 miles of the run. I started off too fast, so purposefully slowed down and then all of the sudden, my upper back started cramping in spasms, which quickly went to the bottom of my feet. I started to walk around mile 8 or 9 and that was a huge mistake. Never start walking on an IM. From there resulted in the death march to finish the loop and making the decision to quit. I had no desire to finish an IM in 15 or 16 hours and walk 13.1 miles and neither did J. We did the race last year in respectable times, and I think once is enough.

Thanks for all the notes and concern...we are good. Things happen for a reason and today is a new day!

I am doing the most hyped up race in Alaska tomorrow, Mt. Marathon. It is a huge event and draws tens of thousands of people to Seward every 4th of July. It is a 3 mile running race to the top of Mt. Marathon (3022 ft) and back down. It is the single most difficult sprint race that must exist and I love it! I can not go fast, but I am so mesmerized by how quickly these people can go up and down the mountain. My goal is to just walk it slowly tomorrow, but regardless, it is gonna hurt. I don't think I have hiked a mountain since last 4th of July due to all this triathlon training. In order to participate in the race, you must win a slot (through a lottery, which is very competitive)and you have to do it every year for 10 years or you lose your spot. I am only on year 3, but I can't lose my spot!!! This is one of the races Elizabeth has been training hard for and she is always near the top- GO ELIZABETH!!!!