Thursday, November 27, 2008

Home

Arrived home late yesterday....it's grey, cold and rainy. How we miss that Arizona sun !

What a great week. Don't know where to begin. It was wonderful to hang with some of the SKIRTS.....thank you all for your support and sympathy.....you are all amazing.

I was so proud of Gordy...he didn't quite make it this time but I know he will in Madison in September. He hadn't done enough running and he needs to work on his nutrition on the bike but due to my accident he missed some crucial work-outs in the final weeks leaing up to the race. He is fine with his effort.

Thanks to everyoen who made our time in Arizona so great. Congrats to Kona-bound Dan, Cathy, who notched up another IM this year, BJ who PR'd all over the place, Sarah who knocked a shed-load of time off her previous IM time, April who had a tough day but saw it through.

It was a lovely day.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Post Mortem

I'll keep this short and add some more thoughts once I get home.

The day started well - I did a PR in the swim of 1:28:39 - interesting starting the swim when it was semi-dark, I didn't see any marker buoys until I had gone around 500m. Swimmers were all over the place and I got my goggles knocked off 5 or 6 times but once we got to the turn around the sun was with us and it was an easy ride all the way back to transition.

T1 was an absolute zoo - no space at all in the change tent.

Got out onto the bike and tried to settle down into my planned pace of 16 mph - which would have got me home in 7 hours. My heart rate was a little too high and I averaged 17.4 mph so I came in around 2:11 for the first lap. I backed it off a little on lap 2 - probably a bit too much - and slowed down too much. By lap 3 my HR was dropping too low and I found it hard to keep the speed up ... it got a bit lonely on that final lap.

Came into T2 at 4:23 and got some massage on my shoulder before heading out on the run. Running and walking for the first 4 miles but after that I found I was slowing down. I calculated that I wouldn't be able to finish the run by midnight so I pulled out at mile 7 where Jack was waiting at the aid station with Gerry & Sue. They all tried to convince me to carry on but enough was enough and I decided that discretion was the better part of valour!

We had a great time in Tempe and got to hang out with loads of friends - Dan qualified for Kona which really was the icing on the cake. BJ and Sarah both posted PR's.

I'll post pictures and more stuff once we are home.

Thanks to everyone for your support and good wishes, it really is great to know that you are all out there!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Today's the day !

Well, it's 4.30 am here in Tempe.....I'm up and ready to go....as usual Gordy is pottering about in his calm, unhurried fashion...drives me crazy !!!!

Just to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone that has sent him all the 'Good Luck' messages....they have been coming in thick and fast....you people out there are the BEST !

I'll keep everyone posted during the day as much as I can........

Have a good day....

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Final Countdown!

It's 4:10 in the afternoon - if all goes to plan tomorrow I should be in off the bike and out on the run ... we'll see. The time since we arrived on Tuesday night has gone incredibly quickly, Thursday morning was the first day we could swim in the lake so down we went - I led Gerry & Sue down part of the swim course while Jack went for a half-hour gentle run along the lake shore path.

The lake water was cool and murky - just like home - so no problems there. Just spent the time swimming steadily - throwing in the odd sprint & kick - and found that I fell into breathing every 4th stroke very naturally. The plan is to come out of the swim in 1 hour 30 minutes tomorrow.

Friday was quite windy - it calmed down by late afternoon and Sarah came over for a final test ride of our bikes - a couple of short loops testing the gears & brakes then back to the hotel for a quick "transition" and we joined up with Jack, Gerry & Sue for a gentle jog along part of the run course along the lake. Beautiful weather.

Saturday morning I decided not to bother with another swim, just sat on the side watching G & S while Jack signed up for the 2009 race. Back to the hotel to sort all my kit into the bags for tomorrow and then back to the transition area to check in my bike and bags.

Back in the room now (4:20) and resting until we have dinner at 7:00 then off to bed - will probably pick up donuts for breakfast(!) and slip down to the start fairly late - got our own marker pens so if there is a long line I can mark my own numbers on my arms & legs!

Keep an eye on www.ironman.com tomorrow to see what I'm up to.

Monday, November 17, 2008

All our bags are packed.......

Gordy's bike is packed and everything else is packed, except for those last few bits. When we woke up this morning I reminded Gordy that this time next week he will be an IRONMAN! He rolled over, went back to sleep and was snoring......

Be glad to leave this cold, wet, grey weather for the sunshine of Arizona.

Planning my first run today since the accident...getting very excited ! Physio is very pleased with my progress, I can nearly see the palm of my left hand ! Actually got a spoon to my mouth last night......if I lower my head enough to meet it !!!! Also, another milestone was reached this morning, I could get my socks on with two hands !!!

Baby steps......

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Managing

Waiting for Gordy to get home from work...another physio appointment tonight. Ouch ! Saw her on Tuesday and she thought the movement I have in my arm was good, especially when she saw the scans.

I should be in taper mode....I have managed 2 sessions on the elliptical trainer, another one tomorrow, so I suppose it could be classed as 'taper'.

Having to totally think my Tempe wardrobe !!! No racing clothes......finally got Gordy to think about what he will race in. I had mine planned out weeks ago ! He's a 'last minute' kind of chap...drives me mad !

His patience has been endless. I have been very difficult these past two weeks.....

Monday, November 10, 2008

Damn !

I think that was the word I used when I hit the deck on my bike last week.......yeah right !!!! There ae notices in our A & E Department which state not to use abusive language to staff, so I very politely asked the doctor if I could use the 'f' word !

Couldn't believe it...I knew immediately something was broken......anyway, latest news is not too bad !

Saw the sugeon on Thursday and he took the plaster off...what a relief...I had it from knuckles to shoulder with arm set in a right angle. Because of the gaping wound in my elbow and the fact the elbow is in so many pieces he has decided not to operate...he said he would have to put so many pins/plates in it to get everything back together I would be left with too much scar tissue....SO he has given me exercises to do to keep mobility whilst bones heal. When bones have knitted together he may have to do keyhole surger to 'tidy' things up.

Can't drive for at least another 4 weeks...we live in a tin y village miles from anywhere so I am a little stuck ! He said I could start exercising a little...managed 55 minutes on x-trainer...and as we have a spin bike at home I can ride that with no hands. Suggested I start gentle running next week...will be in Tempe so will be lovely to run in the warm with no wet, soggy leaves underfoot.

Missing IMAZ ? Trying to be brave about it...had a car been behind me Gordy would have been organising a funeral instead of packing his bike up to race an IM.......

I know I will be sad when the bib numbers are posted........I am planning to register as I have gone beyond the point where I could get any money back, so will sign up for next year....anyone joining me ?????

btw my brand new 2XU bike jacket stood up to the test...all the blood has come out of the arm and there are barely any marks on it !

As I couldn't sleep on Tuesday night sat and watched US election......how exciting was that ???? Excited that BO won......he's a West Ham United supporter ! Apparently when he was over here years ago he went to see them play and was hooked! You Americans have a good man there...if he can deal with the trials and tribulations of WHU he can deal with ANYTHING!

Monday, November 3, 2008

More difficult than they thought

Well, the specialists took a look and pretty much threw their hands up in horror!

They don't want to touch anything until they have had a chance to do a CT scan so we are hoping that can be scheduled for Tuesday and she'll see the consultant on Thursday.

Watch this space.

Patient update

Jack didn't get a lot of sleep last night but they did tell her that surgery is scheduled for 3:00pm today (Monday) so she could eat & drink a little. She looked at what was on offer and chose a PowerBar Triple Threat from her own stash!

I'll keep you posted with any developments.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Deja Vu

Sometimes I wonder if Jack is fated to never finish an Ironman. We set off on our 115 mile ride this morning - the weather had cleared after overnight rain and the sun was actually shining in a watery, English November sort of way.

Things were looking good until Jack crossed over a level crossing and got her front wheel caught in the tracks.

Boom!

She landed on the exact same elbow she injured in July but this time the bone fractured. Radial head and neck fractures plus the old scar blew open to expose a lot of flesh. New 2XU winter jacket has a huge bloodstain on the arm. Some railway workers gave her and her bike a ride home and we spent the rest of the day at the hospital.

She will probably have surgery on Monday but that is not confirmed yet, for the moment she in in plaster and having intravenous antibiotics.

I'll keep you posted on her progress.

(Thanks for all the good wishes - they are all much appreciated)