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Spoiler Alert - Act of God DNF

This is gonna be a crazy weekend. This is part 2 of it all. To read part 1, click here.

05/21/2015:

R
ace hasn't even happened and so much has happened. Gotta document it all tho. Let's start with the weather. It sucked. Usually we are already in hot temps. Not this year. The cold lingered and lingered. We had a few snow storms in the Spring. It was weird. No really opportunity to go out on the bike which is of course my main concern. Finally saw a decent day coming up. Planned a day off. Took the bike to Brickwell for a tune up. It was a Thursday, I believe, that everything went downhill.

The Thursday...

D
ay started ok. No issues. I called Brickwell and they assured me the bike would be ready and in fact, it's being worked on as we speak. A little before I left work toward Penn Station, I started getting messages about the LIRR all screwed up and that there is no service leaving Penn Station. They didn't mention the Port Washington line so I thought about going with Dana on her train. As we got to Penn Station, we saw it was a zoo. In fact, after the first escalator, things were roped off. The MTA police didn't want overcrowding. Luckily, I know the back way in so I took Dana with me. There we learned the news: No trails at all... She opted to wait it out. I decided to take the subway. On the subway, Brickwell calls with a problem. I couldn't really hear them so when I got out at Jamaica, after finding a bus, I called them back. The tune up is complete but they found a big crack in the frame. Actually, they should have noticed it earlier but whatever. In any case, the bike is a "total loss". Oh boy... Luckily, FELT gives a lifetime warranty on the frame to the original owner so brickwell started making calls.

Long story short, I supplied the documentation needed and was waiting on felt. They came back with good news and "better" news. The good news is that it's covered. They would give me a comparable frame and brickwell would charge me $ 250.00 to move old components from old to new. The better news was that they are willing to upgrade me to a full carbon bike for $ 1,000. Can I afford it?!? And brickwell would still charge me $ 250.00. Oh oh. And by the way, I would need a whole new cassete and gears as this is a completly different frame and that would be another $ 360.00 for a total of something like $ 1,800 or in other words unaffordable. I thought and thought about maybe this and maybe that but in the end, it's unaffordable. Donald thinks I screwed up. That money is all the races I would do and that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity wasted. He may be right, I don't know.

Meanwhile he called Andre to tell him to give me his Cervello to ride. Andre did and I started riding that. With Donald's help, we moved my pedals from the mountain bike to the Cervello and I started riding. The bike didn't really fit me tho we tried to make some changes. Still, wasn't completly comfortable. Also, there are things here that I don't like. On my FELT, the brakes were big. Here you could only grab it with one finger. Also, the bike felt so light that going downhill was scary.

So far my longest ride is 56ish miles. It's my usual first ride: Straight to exit 53 on the LIE. Did it by myself and it hurt but I did it. Funny thing happened tho... I'm on my way back. I'm about 10 miles from home and missed the light. Two riders come up from behind. One of them was wearing a Brickwell Jersey. The conversation went like this: 

Me: Brickwell...
Brickwell: Yup.
Me: I'm coming to the store on whatever day to pick up my bike.
Brickwell: (looking at my bike to figure out why I would get a different bike)
Me: This isn't my bike. My bike has a crack in the frame. Getting a new one.
Brickwell: Ha...I'll see you then. I'm the guy putting your bike together.

What a small world. Out of all the people in the world, I run into the mechanic putting my bike together, on the LIE service road at that odd hour. No matter, I got the bike (finally).

06/16/2015:

M
ore to update. Again so much has happened. So much is happening.



So I got the new bike and although I really really liked my cherry red bike, this bike is cool too. It's Matte black with red. Everything feels good with it. Took it out for small rides and all seems good. Planned a longer outing and went out. The plan was to do Avery (hill), go through my 10 mile horse country loop, followed by Stillwell (hill) and then come home. The total would be about 54 miles. I haven't done Avery in 2 years so I was a little worried but I knew I could do it. Went out and everything seems ok. Up until Avery... Is that ominous enough? As soon as I started climbing I knew something was wrong. Just a background here. Avery is a terrible little hill. It's short but very steep. I would love to find a way to run it but haven't yet. Still, it's a terrible hill. I knew it would hurt. It never gets truly easy but I was prepared to fight. Again, I was worried about my 2 year absence but still. Soon as I started, the legs started burning and the lungs hurting. OK - expected I guess. But then it seemed like the brakes were engaging. Imagine you are driving up a monster hill and you are pressing the gas and the brakes at the same time. Not smart right? Well, in this case I was the engine/gas but someone, NOT ME!!!, was pressing the brakes. I really wasn't sure I would make it up there. I started screaming. Did I mention it was 5am?

Anyway, I made it up there using logic from the movie Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure. Even though I wasn't sure I would make it up, I just knew that I would make it up there because I have already made it up there plenty of times so it was just a matter of getting up there which I knew I could do. Hm... That being said, I made it up there. I checked the tire and the brake was not engaging. So... What the hell? Am I that bad or was I just imagining? Stilwell sucked too.

Got home and ran a little and got through the day.

Rode with Hammad a short ride and I really liked his bike computer. Mine is a small screen at a terrible angle and currently wasn't working. The sensor was off and it wasn't telling me anything. Decided maybe an upgrade. Took bike to Brickwell and they said they were out of stock and had to ship from the other store. Can I come back another day. OK...Left the bike there. Came back on Thursday to pick up the bike and I also decided to get a new head light. Mine broke and it was time to get a new one.

Spending a lot of money but it's worth it. I have been going out on the bike during the weekend at 3:30 am and during the week at 4am. Pitch black. I need all the lights I can get. Since my headlight broke, I was using my running head lamp which was really not enough. I made the best of it tho. I don't know why, but the traffic lights on the LIE service road, even tho it's 1 way, are double sided. If I timed things right then the green light would illuminate my way forward. This had an interesting effect. When it turned green behind me, meaning I went through a red light, it would cast so much light that initially I thought a car was racing at me. When it would turn red, my world would get plunged into darkness and it was scary. Still, I got used to it. When I told Brickwell about my headlamp and my riding times, Manni recommended a headlamp. Later, he switched it to a more expensive ($ 15 more) light. This was a rechargeable light that threw out 700 lumins. This was HUGE. I was effectivly a car. Awesome.

Back to the computer for a minute. So he hooked it up for me and my new headlamp but I started talking to him about my hill situation. I did google things and people mentioned different solutions. He asked if I can leave the bike yet another day so that the mechanic could take it out on Friday. I agreed. Picked up the bike on Friday and let's see:

The ride the next day was AWESOME!!! One small thing came up was the computer. Apparently I was averaging about 34 MPH and maxed out at around 60 MPH. Yeah...I'm good but not that good. I looked at the tire and it had the old sensor and the new. I wonder if it was double counting. I got to a section that said Wheatly road was 1/4 mile away and of course my computer said 1/2. Ok - no biggie. Took the old sensor off when I got home. That day I did 64 miles which now also included Lawrence hill, Snake hill, Unnamed hill and Fish Hatcheries. Good day.

Due to the Ironman and the streaking and the 2,015 miles my week is busy. Assumeing the weather works out, here is the new workout schedule.

In fact, 1 weekend was a 64 mile bike ride in the morning followed by a 2 mile run with Elizabeth. A few hours later was a 1,000 yard swim and an hour later was a 5.5 mile run. Next day was the long run and of course Krav Maga.

Recovery going well. No issues. Weight not an issue. Feeling good overall.

I'm really happy with my 15 miles in the morning. I always hate coming back on the service road. I have issues. Now though I negative split it. I was hoping that it will translate to longer rides too and it seems to be. In fact, I just did the Mansion Ride (I'll make this a link when the race report is ready) and it did exactly that...

07/01/2015:

I
thought about trashing this race report. What's the point? I DNFed. Wasn't my fault. I did NOT do anything wrong. My body didn't fail me. My mind didn't fail me. Cirsumstances did. I don't like to repeat races, especially long races, but looks like I will have to repeat it for my own sanity. So, I'm keeping the race. I suspect it will help me. This sucks. Real painful to do but things need to be documented and so I shall.

The race was June 28th and 2 Wednesdays before that (June 17th), I had a little fall on the bike. Wasn't a huge fall or anything. I was on the service road crossing Glen Cove road when I must have hit a pot hole or something and I found myself on the ground. Now, if you're gonna fall, you should fall big and I did just that. Fell right in the middle of a huge intersection. Still clipped in and on the ground. I quickly rocked and disengaged, picked up the bike and ran out of the intersection. Legs wobbly. Chain off. Fixed that and bike seems ok. My knee is open and streaming blood. Nothing to stitch, just a bloody (pun intended) hole. Two holes actually. I was 10 miles from home but still had to travel 14 miles after that. Leg "seemed" ok so rode. I was supposed to run after that too. Ran and on and off pain. That weekend, I paced Julia for her first 100 mile race. I did 13 miles with her and she finally broke her DNF streak for 100 milers. My knee wasn't sealing up since every time I bent my knee (riding, walking, running), I would re-open things. This was concerning but what are you gonna do.

Monday morning I nixed the am swim. Raining heavily and anyway, I wanted to try to keep the area dry. Still, I swam in the pm. I mentioned to Adele that I am worried about my goggles. They have a rip in them but I just can't seem to find the same goggles. That night, 10 pm, she contacts me. Amazon prime has them. Ordered it and she had them either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Wow...

In any case, that was my last swim before the race.

Saturday morning was part 1 of this weekend. Jeremy and I were doing the Rugged Maniac 5K. A mud run. I made sure I had a band aid tucked tight on the wound and hoped for the best. You can read the race report here if you want. Afterwards, made sure to take the girls to get a rental car and Jeremy to his tennis.

After I showered and last minute packing, I left. Regarding packing, I had already set up mostly everything and it was just the last minute things. I guess I should mention one of the differences between an Ironman and a shorter distance Triathlon. In a shorter distance triathlon, you set up your own transition area. For an IM things are more organized. You are given 5 bags for your stuff. A T1, T2, special needs bike, special needs run and a last minute/after race bag. I already divided things at home so the plan was to just transfer from one to the other.

I was worried, because of this race, that I would not make the mandatory briefing and the racking of the bikes so I contacted Joe Herman. He set it up so that the religious folks didn't need to go to the briefing and didn't need to rack the bikes on Shabbos. Cool. Preferential treatment. Love it.

As is, during the mud run we had decent weather. That changed for the worse. It started coming down hard. I was so glad that I had taken care of the pickup and meeting. Trafic wasn't great. The weather was horrible. Part of the drive was real bad. Noah and his Arc would have had an easier time. Still, made it in and got to the Motel. Real dive. Had issues with parking at this rinki dink garbage but the bed was clean and there was workable indoor plumbing and Joe delivered my stuff so I was all set. Took a while to bring everything up from the car but I got settled.

Looked at the weather for race day and it did NOT look good. Heavy thunder storms until 6am. After that chance of rain with rain definitly at a certain point. Couldn't talk to the guys until sundown so I got my stuff together. Little nervous because I wasn't sure how this race dealt with things but just had to wait.

Eventually talked to both David Rohr and Joe and got stuff cleared up. Joe asked for a ride in the morning and I was glad to do it. Firstly it was the least I could do and secondly I truly had no idea where to go. David was planning on biking to transition.

Went to sleep, woke up and ate. Got ready.

Raceday...

I
slept good. Knew what to do. Got ready. Decided on a preemptive strike with immodium. Glad for it too. Went to the bathroom but later had 3 port-a-pottie uses so I'm sure the little pill helped.

Anyway, at 3am started loading the car. Transition was to be opened at 4:30 but we were asked to bring the bikes in by 4am. I figured it would take me a little while to load the car so 3 am made sense. Carrying things to the car, I met up with a (in my opinion) a working girl. Scantly clad, tired and looking for a cab from this dive. Suprisingly she seemed embarassed. Oh well.

Loaded the car and in search of Joe. The GPS wanted me to drive on the boardwalk so that wasn't helpful. Still, hooked up and looked for transition. Few turns later, we found it and were directed to park.

Side note: In the handbook, they did NOT mention that you need to pay for parking. Luckily Paul mentione it and I made sure Joe bought me a parking pass. Again, thanks Joe...

Anyway, parking the car and the field is flooded. It came down bad at night. I eventually parked in water that was ankle deep. Not exaggerating at all!!! I was very worried about trying to get out later as it was all muddy.

Started unloading and we get to Transition to be greated by the K9 unit. Please put your stuff down and back away. Cool... The officers were apologetic. "Just doing their job and sorry for the inconveniences". I told them I'm from NY and I'd be just as ok with a strip search in order for us to safe and thanked them. Made them at ease and they got a kick out of it. I wasn't joking by the way.

Unfortunatly had to make quite a few trips to the car and of course I got K9ed everytime. One time, the officer said something like "Peanut butter in your bag" and I wasn't sure what he meant until I realized the pooch (or officer pooch) found something in my bag. He found and retrieved my bag of pretzels with peanut butter in the center. Apparently I'm lucky officer pooch didn't decide to eat it. Cool.

Started setting up. Bike racked while bags put in different places as opposed to the 1/2 Ironman. Paul, last minute, switched to the half. I'm not sure if he finally got the enormity of the undertaking but he said it was ITB and I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Apparently he swam or rode with David Colman and tried to run afterwards and was in pain. I have no doubt he could have muscled this through but he was worried about injury and no matter the reason, it was the right call. This isn't a little 5k run that you could get of the couch and do. He's a superstar Marathoner/Ultra guy but this is no joke.

Anyway, talked to some woman athlete and she explained the course and procedure to me and I was very thankful. Someone else explained the run to me and I figured I kinda got that one too. Borrowed a pump to fill the tires and couldn't do it. Luckily the guy was cool and he helped me out.

Time to search out a porta-potty to take a load off. It was weird. There were some which were spaced apart and a slew together. Apparently the spaced out ones were for clubs and someone gave me permission to use theirs. It was clean, had wipes in it and air freshner. Cool.

Apparently race officials were running late which kinda sucked. These things need to start on time...In any case, unlike any of the other fulls I have done, this was started different. The halfers would start at 6:30 while the fulls would start at the usual 7am. Also, instead of a mass start, they had us walk down the doc and jump in one at a time in a time trial format except we would all get the same start time. Didn't like that. That means it really behooves you to start in front.

While they were getting ready to start, I was watching the water. Observing as athletes should.

Swim course: One loop for the halfers and two for the fulls. Counter clockwise. Straight to the yellow buoy to make a left. Staright to another yellow for another left turn. Now you are headed back past the docks to another 2 yellow buoys (left turns) back to the dock.

As the National Anthem was being sung, I was watching a boat in the water. They weren't rowing at all, yet the boat was moving. Going out the current would be in our face. Wonderful. Looked like a strong current too. I know... Work for it in 1 direction and enjoy in the opposite direction but that's not how it really works. Oi.

Transition area setup: The full bikes are near bike out/bike in. The Run start I am not sure about. When you come out of the water, you run up and into (left turn) into a chute for transition tent. On the way, you grab your T1 bag. Go to the tent and do what you need to do. Place all your wet stuff in that bag, hand it over and run to bike. When you come in from the bike, I believe (don't really know) that they take your bike while you retrieve your T2 bag.

Little before 7, I realized I still have my crocs so I quickly fetched my morning bag and put them in there. Got my wetsuit on and goggles ready. I never swam with them before and as I went on to the dock I realized they weren't tight enough. Oops... Accidentaly I said "Oh shit" and a volunteer slapped me on the behind. The guy behind made sure to tell me that it wasn't him. Funny. On the dock and I jump in. Immediatly, seaweed or something is on me and I am about to throw it out until I realize that it's the goggles strap. Oops. OK - Took care of it and started.

The swim is very physical. Lots of punching and kicking. I try to find a quiet area. On we go. The current isn't happy with us. I have negative emotions but quickly I subdue them. Finally to the first and then second yellow buoy. Now we should have the current with us.

Doesn't seem that helpful. Still, we go on and pass the dock. Again 2 yellows and now it's a fight to the docks. I look at my watch. The first loop was 40 minutes. I was hoping for a combined swim time of 1:10 and realized it's not happening. Ok.

Swimming and a Jetski crosses in front of us and I mentally curse at him for what's about to come. I don't mean just the smell of gasoline and taste of gasoline but the waves that are about to hit us. They do. I thought these jet skis guys were just having fun until I realize he was transporting someone. Oops...ok. They unload and quickly get back into position. Can't they do that much slowly? Nope... Again the waves. I turn again and where is that current? It starts to rain on us. Wonderful. Things get choppier. Yuck. Last turn again and this time I aim toward the dock. I duke it out with this woman and I get to the dock first. Yay... Minor victory.

I'm used to either concrete boat launches or temporary metal ones or even steps. These are different. I get there, put my hands down and just like in the pool, pull myself up. The thing is at an angle and I am at that uncertain stage where you aren't sure whether you will fall back or not. I hear screaming "Grab the hands" and I do. Grab two hands and pull up. I'm up and running. Second loop again is 40 minutes. NICE! I feel good and I'm told I look good. I strip the wetsuit to my waist, rip the goggles and swim cap off and I start running. I grab my bag and into the tent I go.

Guess I had a "good" swim as I see a lot of bikes still out there and the changing tent isn't that full. OK - time to do my thing. There's a male volunteer and what's that?!? A female volunteer??? Whatever. I don't really care but she doesn't really belong there...

Anyway, I do my thing. I already have everything set up and I know what I want/ned to do. The female volunteer turns away for a second and when she turns back there's someones junk hanging out. She got all red and said "oops" and turned and walked out. I laughed. She came back and the junk was away. She's busy helping when suddenly there's 3 more. Can I say "junkyard"? Haha...

The tent gets busy and I finish up and leave. I get my bike and run out of T1. Get to the mount line and I get on and start riding. There are a couple of places where we need to go over carpet. Apparently it was either muddy or just a huge puddle. Volunteer tells us to ride in the center of the carpet and I do and the tires are doing weird things and I am glad not to fall.

It's a twisty route but there are tons of law enforcement (Cops, NJ Troopers, Sherrifs) out there. For ease, I will just refer to them as cops. Anyway, tons of cops and they are doing an awesome job directing us and stopping traffic. Very windy too which seems to be the theme of the day.

Riding and all is well. All I need is a minimum of 14 MPH average and I am pretty much at 15 except for some faster spots. I have almost an hour banked from the swim and so far all good. Getting passed constantly. It's expected. I usually do well on the swim, give it back on the bike and play catch up on the run.

I see Joe Herman on the bike in the opposite direction and I call out. He's hoping for a first sub 6 hour for a half-iron. In back of him, I see Chris Baker. Baker is his coach and apparently David Colman's too. Cool. I originally met Baker in one of the nycswim events. Short guy, ok swimmer, fast biker, REAL fast runner.

I ride. Not enjoying the wind but doing ok. Since it's a big loop, waiting for the time when the wind will be in our back. There are aid stations approx every 15 miles and every 10 miles is marked on the ground.

Constantly evaluating my status. Making sure to drink. Making sure to eat. I need to be off the bike by 5:30 pm but I gotta make the approx 1/2 point on the bike by 1:30. That's my immediate short term goal. At around mile 30, I'm told to make a left but just as I get there to make the left, I see 2 bikers on that road as well. I'm confused and worried. Biker know thy course and all. They are athletes doing the race. I see race markings and timing chip. I look at their numbers and they are halfers which really worries me as their loop is smaller.

Thankfully, some more riders pass me (Yes - I suck) and I yell out to them. They are also doing the full and it seems that we are going the right way. OK... Weird but ok.

A woman stops ahead and goes behind a tree. As I am about 6 feet from here and she drops her pants. These things need to be documented... Anyway, the moon was out and all I could think about was hopefully she checked where she will be squatting for ticks and poison ivy/oak. OK - maybe that wasn't the only thing I was thinking about.

Anyway, some dude passes me (long list I know) but eventually I actually pass him back. Weird...I think he's 22 or so.

Later he passes me again. Cool. Right before mile 50, my computer stops working. Not happy. Try to reset it and nothing. Annoyed. Where is that aid station that I must get to before 1:30?!?

I get there and our special needs bag are there. Young girl (14?) gets my bag and helps me refill my gatorade and also gets me a water. Cool. I actually use the porta-potty. Very happy about that. I'm hydrating. The kid is there and he leaves right before me.

At one point there is a long hill. Not heavy duty but a long incline and of course the wind is in our face. I stop for a second, get of the bike and stretch my back. Felt good. I also confirm my suspicion. The bike magnet fell of the spokes and that's why the computer isn't reporting anything. Bike mechanic in a pickup stops and asks if I'm ok. I tell him that I'm just stretching but if he has a magnet for the tire that would be great. He tells me he only has tires or beer. I thank him anyway.

David Colman (DC) passes me around mile 70 or so. I think he said he was averaging 18 on the bike. Wow...He looks good even tho he didn't enjoy the swim that much especially the second loop.

Dan Bryz (the kid from before) and I are riding together at this point. No drafting or anything like that. We keep our distance but we are close enough to yell to each other. He's happy with me as I am his pacer. He is just trying to keep with me. Cool. Gives us both something to do. We stop around 90 even though there's no aid station. He needs to pee. I hold his bike and he goes to the woods. As a male, I follow the rule of never not taking an opporyunity and I go to the woods as well. Also stretch again. Butt hurting and toes burning every so often. We are so close. Can't wait for it. Dying to get of the bike. By the way, Dan is wearing sneakers!!! He's not clipped in. Oh my God...

I'm constantly evaluating myself and I think I am a little dehydrated even though I am drinking. The spit test is on/off a success or a failure. Stomach feels a little weird but we are almost there. Wind never relents. Sucks. Shouldn't it be at our back at all? He tells me they did mention at the meeting that it will be windy. Wonderful. Also, that around 3pm the winds usually change direction. Even more wonderful as it is around that time.

We are leaving the rural sections and approaching the city. Another aid station and Dan goes to pee in a porta-potty. I wait for him. Might as well now. An aid volunteer tells me that I am so nice waiting for him and blesses me. Someone tells me that there are about 15 people in back of us. Suprising but ok. I thought we were DFL.

There's that weird section I saw going through a gas station. We go through it. We are at mile 99.

I'm so excited. It's only 13 miles away. Less than an hour. Plenty of time left. Gonna get to T2 somewhere between 4:00 and 4:15. Probably closer to 4:10 but who cares...Can't wait for the run. I hate boardwalk running but there will be coke every mile and it will go by fast. Maybe I can catch DC and run together. If not, I still have Dan with me.

I'm so excited...ALMOST THERE!!! Then something happens. I don't understand it. Something is in the back tire. I start doing an endo but I control it. Both wheels are on the ground again and I quickly unclip. I almost fall but I control it. What happened?

Dan comes up and we look. What the Hell??? My rear derailleur snapped and is resting in between the spokes. The wheel won't spin. I try to move it. Anything to get me moving. Nothing. Nothing.

Dan asks what to do and starts to get of the bike. I told him that he needs to go. I'm so upset but I gotta do what needs to be done. He needs to go. He asks about riding to the next cop and asking them to give me a lift. I tell him that's not gonna work. I need to come into transition with the bike. If I get a ride or if the bike gets a ride, I will get DQed. I tell him to go ahead and ask the cop to radio and ask for the mechanic to come. That is my only shot here. He says Ok and I wish him well.

I don't want him to go. Had to. Gotta do what's right. I pick up the bike and try to carry it. That's not gonna go far. I try my left arm but that doesn't go well either. I take the helmet off, put my head through the frame and rest it on my shoulders. Left wheel to my left. Right wheel to my right. I start running. Ain't easy running with bike shoes and a heavy bike on you. I get to the next cop and he gets out of his car and offers me a ride. I tell him about the DQ and he says ok. I continue. I try to run with the shoes. I try to run barefoot (just socks). Ain't easy either way.

The cops: They were pretty cool about things. They obviously radioed ahead about me. Some cops were out of their cars at intersections while others were in their cars. As I approached, those that were in the car, got out their car. Those that were already out, had their eyes on the idiot carrying a bike. Some just looked at me, some gave a nod or a small 2 finger salute. I heard them talking to each other and words like "hardcore", "hardass" and "old school" were mentioned. That made me feel good as I was having trouble keeping from breaking down. Can't cry like a little kid when everyone else thinks such high thoughts about you, giving you respect.

At one point, a cop stopped his car and got out of the car to talk to me. He told me they can't find the mechanic. I asked him to try the RD. He said he will and that he will stay behind me to make sure I am safe.

I continue. Eventually, a race offical truck stops near me and asks what's up. I show him and he tells me that I am done. I don't want to stop. I travelled 2 miles already. I'm bruised and hurting BUT I can continue. He tells me that I won't make the cutoff and more important they need to reopen the highway. I ask if I can stay on the side. He says no. I beg. I cajole. I try everything. He says I'm done.

I do not fault him. I'm heartbroken. I'm sitting here right now typing this at work and my eyes are tearing. Nothing to do. The cop shakes my hand and offers me a gatorade. Sucks. I'm in the truck and barely holding it together.

I ask to borrow his phone and I call Elizabeth. She doesn't pick up. I don't know if she didn't hear it as usual or if she's ignoring it since she doesn't recognize the number. I text her to let her know it's me. We speak.

She can't believe me when I say DNF. That's what it is. DNF. She has lots of questions and keeps interrupting and I tell her that she needs to stop for a few minutes and let me slowly get through this as I am barely holding it together. I tell her what's up. I ask her to text Bodie to let him know so that he could disseminate this to the other people in the group. I don't want them waiting for me.

She calls back later. She googled it and is trying to understand what happened. I tell her that there is no point is doing an autopsy for this patient. He's dead and that's that. Still upset.

Driving with the guy, don't remember his name. We locate the last rider. The last guy is a tall skinny black guy. I think the only black guy there. Big story about you and you didn't even know what was going on.

Driver calls RD and tells him that he located the last rider and his location is so and so. The RD comes on and says to pick him up and that his day is done. I look at the clock and I don't get it. He's off the highway. They can open it up. He's 3 miles away and it's only 5:02. Why pick him up??? I ask the driver who radios to the RD an are you sure message. RD confirms. Driver echos what I said about 5:30. RD says he can get to transition but do NOT let him run. The transition boss comes on and says he also thinks 5:30 and some people there agree. He's gonna look at the manual. Driver says he's not doing anything. Transition boss comes back and says 5:30. RD apologizes.

Can you imagine if the guy would have been picked up? Oh my God... It's a nice distraction and it makes me feel good that I gave help in some way to this guy but ultimatly I DNFed and my day is done.

Right before transition, literaly at the gate into the park about 1/4 mile away from T2, there's an athlete on her back on the ground. Two cops there. They're waiting for an ambulance. Oh man...

We get to transition and I get out and my bike is brought out of the bed of the truck.

Some of the workers are there and they come over to see what's up. I don't look injured or anything. I tell them about the derailleur and they take a look and are amazed. One guy especially gets very excited. He tells me how lucky I am. Right about now I don't feel very lucky so I look at him and say "ha?". He tells me that if I was hammering it, then I would not be driven here by that guy, rather I would be in the back of an ambo on the way to ambulance after doing an endo and crashing badly. Still not consoled but I get it.

My morning bag gets picked up from the finish and I go to load the car after thanking them. I also retrieve my T2 bag. Drive back is depressing. Only thing good here is that I will see the family that night as opposed to in the morning.

Little story: Before I left toward AC, Jessie decided she's gonna bake a brownie cake. She found a recipe on line. She tells Elizabeth she has all the things she needs. She starts as I leave. That night (Saturday), Jeremy tells me that the cake is amazing and that I will have some when I get home. I try to say no and he tells me that this isn't a marathon and that Ironman deserves more than just pizza. It's cute and I sort of agree. On the drive I talk to him and he tells me that I'm still going to have it and I tell him that not only I am not going to have any but that there also isn't any pizza.

Later that week, Jeremy wants to finish it and Jessie gives him a very firm NO(!) and that it will wait for me. I tell her it's ok. This whole thing with the cake was very heartwarming but a DNF is still a DNF.

On the subject of DNFs, the way I see it there are 2 types:

Aftermath...

P
hysically I have bruises on my neck (front/back), shoulders and chest from the bike. My feet are also all bruised up. Mentally I am worse. I know... Man up and stop with the BS but well, it's hard to explain it until it happens to you. If you didn't get it yet, then nothing I will say will get you to understand it.

On another topic, this was supposed to be my 49th Marathon or longer and I was gonna run my 50th in July at a local race. Oh well.

I will post the pictures from the race in the usual place but I will include the derailleur pictures here...

Part of the derailleur that's still connected to the bike.
Part of the derailleur that's still connected to the bike.
The derailleur final resting spot, right between the spokes.
The other part of the derailleur.

Sights: Since I document everything, then I gotta document these as well...