![]()  well I'm an Ironman!!!!
my race report will have to be lead up to. I signed up last year, not
having a clue what I was in for. I knew no one that had done a Ironman
or triathlon for that matter. I had never done a triathlon ,and no one
around to tell me start small ,go big,oops. so like the blind woman I
am started self coaching another oops. so I enter a dbl century, didn't
know how to train, but thought it would help this is where I met Suzy
Degazon, she was such a help to me, and what patience! and she has been
there every step of the way guiding me, encouraging me, and training
with me, where others would not. I was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago,
but was in remission for 9, until this last Christmas where all of a
sudden I would get severe lightning bolt like pains in my leg, when
running or climbing on the bike, then all the time. so my training took
a beating, the Dr would not let me train alone or in the water for
awhile. But Suzy was still there.
Now arriving on Thurs night in Arizona!
Fri swim practice FIRST time in open water! I'm blind in the left eye, I hyper ventilated when I was unable to see, in water or out! got out and cryed to husband, what do I do?
Got back in on Sat, made myself relax, just swim, still abit panicked, but figured all this training and all this way, I'm going to do this! suzy, and my friend Susan gave me a wonderful pep talk, assured me I could do this, and ...
Sunday its here!!!
Taking in the morning , receiving my MS shot early, some good breakfast, and off to the race.
I ran into Sinta getting ready in transition, she seemed so calm, I was shaking. got in the water, and the gun went off. I just started swimming, telling myself to stay calm, don't pay attention to the distance and just swim. having to adjust my sighting method, but managed to make it to turn around. that's when I knew I could do it, but hoped in cutt-off time.1 hr. 50 mins, I made it! hussled off to the bike. started in taking it one turn at a time, at turn around coming in to aid, another cyclist going too fast clipped my front tireI and down I went, hit head hard enough to crack helmet bad, had bad road rash on right shoulder ,I wanted to finish after all I did the swim! so they cleaned me up and off I went. the rest of the bike went great, took my enduralites and perpetuem? every hr.
came in from loop 3 feeling pretty good, but ready to get off the bike. had to go to first aide to get my shoulder cleaned and checked and they had missed a few spots on my legs with the sunscreen, they had blistered. ooch! so I changed into running gear they put more sunscreen on but could not put on the raw meat on right shoulder,get to that in min.
started first loop great, ran it taking it on mile at a time, got to 2nd loop thinking wow. I'm doing this. a mile into 2nd loop lightning started, ouch! I figured I've come too far to quit, I was afraid to walk, pain would be there anyways, so decided to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and telling myself some people with MS can't even walk, I'm lucky, keep going! I ran into 2 IITC members walking along and and said IITC woohoo! I don't know who they were, but it was nice to see them there. last loop, less than 9 mi. I can do this! got to the fork to finish line, so many emotions to say, happy,for sure as they had to guide me to my family my legs I could no longer walk without staggering like a drunk MS taking its tole, but FINISHED.what could be better. This for me,as well as for those with MS who are unable. and a BIG thank to Suzy for without this would not have happened!
as for the shoulder not having sunscreen, it ended up blisted, with severe burn. every where the roadrash was blistered, but I wouldn.t trade this journey for the world!
Tammy
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