No CHOO for me ......

I keep trying to find the words for my thoughts ....

One of my Favorite Quotes 

No Ironman race for me on September 30, 2018.  I was so looking forward to going to Chattanooga with my family in tow and completing something I never dreamt I could do.  However, a bike wreck on my last practice ride a week before race day has put me out.  ER reported a left Elbow joint effusion which is typically an occult fracture and a closed left side cheek and eye fracture (Zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture... also known as a tripod, tetrapod, quadripod, malar or trimalar fractures, are seen in the setting of traumatic injury to the face..   I am worried about my face.  ER told me I would need to follow up with an ortho doc.  They also referred me to a Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon for my facial fractures.   Here's a picture from the ER on Saturday, September 22.  As you can tell I was not very happy. 

Nine months of working my butt off to get ready for the biggest race of my life.  I was beyond emotional.  The doctor told me NOT to blow my nose for weeks due to the fractures around my sinus cavity so I held in the crying I really wanted to do.  I had seen a couple other people wreck recently and even other ironman choo participants posting on the event facebook page how they would not be racing due to an injury, but I never thought about it happening to me.  I had been looking forward to a nice rest after the race.  I guess I jinx myself and got the rest early!!

I didn't want to talk to anyone.  I only told a few people and asked them to not tell anyone so that I would have a few days to get my thoughts together.  After spending Monday at the Ortho and the oral surgeons office, I knew for sure I would not be going to race and it was time to let people know.  See I had mailed my family notes on how to track me on race day just a few days prior to accident!! I guess another jinx.  

I don't know why this happen.  Believe me I've played it over and over in my head and still can't figure out why I wrecked.  I guess it just wasn't God's timing for me to go to Choo this year.  I have to accept it and move it.  But it sure is hard to swallow!!! 

Picture a few days after... let me just say you could call me a rainbow... my face has been so many different colors!  

I'm over it... Sick of only having one arm I can dress with or do anything!  But deep down I know I'm blessed and there is no need for complaining.  Yes, I want to scream.  I want to be mad.  I want to cry.  But what would it do???  Seems we've had a hard year and I'm still asking "WHY" on Drew.  Sometimes we just don't know the "Why" as the reason things happen.  It's hard.  As humans we want an answer.  

I've always believed that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle bad situations.  I'm trying to handle this as graceful as possible.  This is the first race I will not finish as planned and I think that's what is bothering me most.   I've had issues before like hip bursitis, plantar Fascists, etc., but each time I pushed thru the pain and finished the race.  That's not possible this time so right now it kind of seems like a failure.  

I will say that when I posted I wasn't going on FB, boy I got so much support!!! People that don't even know me personally, were sending me messages.  Telling me to not give up... they'd been in the same boat and it just make the next time so much sweeter when they finished the race.  There are some really good people in this world!!!  One friend reminded me to remember the journey and not focus on the destination.  This ironman training sure has been a journey.  I've learned so much about myself.  I've found out that I'm so much stronger than I thought I was.  Who would have thought I could swim 2 miles in a river!! Not me. ha  But I did!  It wasn't at ironman, but it was at Chase the Hooch 2.4 mile swim.  I've ridden a 100 miles several times on my bike.  So this journey has not been a failure.  I've become stronger not only physically, but mentally and I've meet some incredible people along this journey.   One of my training partners will be going on to Chattanooga to complete his 1st Ironman and I'll be cheering him on that whole day!  I'm so proud of him!  You rock Jason Clayton!  And there is so much I could say about my coach!  She's amazing!  She's pushed me beyond what I thought I could do.   She's been so supportive and she's still cheering for me to get that ironman.  Lisa you are one of a kind! Thanks!

We must decide to not let our disappointments define us.  We must move forward.  

 Trust is hard.  I still have moments each day where I want to cry or just be bloody mad!, but I make the decision to move forward.  You can too if you are dealing with something.  

I don't know my next move yet.... but trust me there will be one. :>)  My coach wants me to think about Ironman Texas in April.  It would mean I could take a short break and then hop right back to training.  Or maybe I'll wait and shoot for Chattanooga next year.  Ironman races aren't every month like a marathon so you can just go do another one... unless I wanted to travel out of the country. LOL  Ironman races that are in the US and fairly close to me are few and far between.   There is one in Florida in November, but since I can't swim for 4 weeks, I don't think it's a good idea for me to show up and attempt an ironman with no practice for 4 weeks.  

My husband and I had already planned to leave Chattanooga after the race and go to PA to see his mother so we are headed on to PA instead of stopping in Chattanooga.  It will give him a few extra days with his mom which is a blessing.  I plan to take the week to recover from this accident and get my thoughts in order.  Most of you know, I'll be planning something.  I'm a planner by nature.  Got to have a list and a calendar. :>)   The desire to do a full ironman is still there, so who knows.. maybe 2019 will be my year.  I have St. Jude marathon in 2 months which is very dear to my heart and I'm so thankful that my legs were not hurt so I can run.   There is just something about runners (& triathletes)... you'll find ones that couldn't run 100 yards and will be finishing their first marathon and triathletes that couldn't swim or bike and will be finishing their first TRI.   They are all embedded with a heart of determination, a will stronger than most, and a perseverance like none other.  I am honored to be among them. 

Here is my WHY...  

I TRI..... to inspire those around me, to prove that I can, for variety, to be a role model for my children, proving to them you can do anything you put your heart and soul into..  Go for your dreams.  Because I can, to have my cake and eat it too.  To be my best.  To work hard, to finish, to push myself, to overcome my fears, to be with my friends, because it makes me happy, to get out of the house, to smile, to be strong.... FOR MYSELF. 

Dear God,  when I follow you and my life remains difficult and full of struggle, it is easy for me to feel defeated and fear that you aren't on my side.  Thank you that Psalm 44 reminds me you have always cared for me, and I can trust you in your unfailing love.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Whatever you may be going through... DON'T GIVE UP!
D

Chase the Hooch 2.4 Mile Swim 9-1-18 (Confidence Builder)

No other words but CONFIDENCE BUILDER for this one. :>). 

During all this training for my Ironman the one thing that's been in the back of my head has been this LONG swim.  Swim is not my most comfortable event.  So when I saw that the TRI Columbus, GA group was hosting this swim event, I knew I needed to go.  It would be good practice since it's in a big river just like Chatty.  I was going alone since none of my friends have any interest in swimming that distance, but I was mentally prepared and ready to do it.  I just hoped and prayed it too would not be canceled since the swim portion of the TRI that was in the same spot a few weeks ago was canceled due to all the rain recently.  

It rained off and on during my drive to GA on Friday and I begin to get worried about them canceling.  However, when I arrived things were still on for the swim on Saturday morning.    The swim was not starting till 9am so I had time to relax after my stressful drive in the rain the night before.  I arrived at the park where the steps were that lead down to the river.  Several people were arriving and all chatting about the swim.  Most had done the swim several times so I begin listening to them.  All said it was a good swim.  We would have a nice current when we started but towards the last part there would be no current and we would turn around at the last buoy and swim back up stream for 50-100 yards to the boat dock to finish.  

The closer to start time, my stomach begin to churn as it normally does before any race.  The water was too hot for wetsuits.  So I was going to have to do this long swim without my comfort blanket.   I told myself to suck it up and just do it. She blew the whistle and we were off.  Here is a nice picture of the start with two of the bridges we swam under.

I was on the steps walking down to the start.

The water was very clean.  No river grass!  She had told us that if we needed a break to swim close to shore and the water would be 4-6 ft deep or to try to stay in the middle of the river for use of the current.  I wanted the current.  LOL. However, every time I lifted my head to spot where I was going, I was more in between the middle and the shore.  The pack of swimmers really thinned out after the first 10-15 minutes.  The fast swimmers were gone.  I had 1 lady and 1 man that stayed fairly close to me the entire swim.  I kept telling myself if they could do it, that I could.  Even when it seemed life forever before we would be to the end, I just kept quoting bible verses, praying, and talking to that inner voice in my head telling her I was going to do this.  I did not stop and rest at a single buoy.... which they only had 6!!! They were so far apart.  LOL. They did have lots of people in small boats so I knew if I got in trouble, I had help close by.  I think that made me feel safe and the fact that the water was so clean.  No panic! YIPPIE.  I was SO GLAD to see the last buoy! It sucked to have to pass it and turn around and swim back to the boat dock, but I made it and I wasn't even the last swimmer. :>).  When I saw my time, I was so happy!  It as well under the 2 hour 20 minute time limit for Chatty... however the distance was a tad short..  It should be 4224 total for the 2.4 miles.  I still felt good about my time.  I ain't stupid however, I know that every race is different with different challenges, but I needed this confidence boost.  

They gave us our towels (that's what we got instead of a t-shirt) at the end.  I wasn't expecting that.  I had sent my running shoes in a small backpack to the end because I had an hour run after the swim on schedule.  I had to roll that big towel and stuff it in my bag and let's just say my run was not fast. LOL. The strings on the bag started cutting into my shoulders as the towel bounced, but I had to get back to hotel by foot since I had left my car there.   Here's the towel... I love it:

I took some pictures on my run back along the river walk.  Columbus, GA really is a pretty little town.  They had Float the Hooch that started at 9:30am after us so I saw several of them floating down the river on my way back too.

People were biking and running all along the riverwalk

A guy was swimming and pulling one float with an ice chest in it. LOL. 

I had such a high after completing the swim that I didn't mind the 5 hour drive home. LOL.  I was ready to get home and relax before my next long day on Sunday... 100 mile bike plus run.  

The Southern Magnolia practice ride on the coast was canceled due to rain so that left me doing my bike on the Trace in Hattiesburg.  Not what I planned, but I needed to get it in.  I love ridding the Trace, but not for 100 miles!  It gets boring after about 50 and very lonely when biking 100 miles alone.  I was over it by mile 70.. ha.  I had to talk to that inner self again and tell her I was going to finish and not less than 100 miles.  Can you tell I'm ready for Taper? LOL.  Thankfully on my last 20 miles my neighbor-friend, Dennis, showed up to ride.  We chatted a little bit and it gave me the extra umph to push through and finish.  AND let me just say that run afterwards was not fun.  Glad it was short.  Now I know for sure that on race day, I'm going to have to talk to that inner self many times during that 26.2 miles after 116 miles on the bike!  

So WHEW.... what a weekend!  I accomplished two big things and again I say... confidence builder for me! :>). Sometimes you just need that confirmation.  

Got a pretty busy week on tap this week and then it's TAPER time.  Praise Jesus!  Thankful today is rest day.  I'm not really sore...just tired. :>). 

Well, that's a wrap..... 4 weeks to Ironman Chattanooga! I can't believe it's here!  Praying for my friend, Jason, who I've been training with some because he's going to Chatty also.  He had a bike wreck and has a very bad sprain.  Hasn't been able to do anything in 2 weeks.  I hope by this weekend he'll be able to put weight his foot.  He's very strong in swim and bike so I know he can still do this ironman.  Ready to see him back out there tearing it up! 

Happy Training, 

D