Redman, Part 1

I have no idea where to begin. There are so many stories to tell. So many great experiences. This was one hell of a journey. A journey which ended 13.1 miles short of the goal. It had nothing to do with the swim. I loved it! I absolutely had a blast in the water. It ended not because I lacked the legs. My legs were doing great. It wasn't because I lacked the heart. Just finishing the bike ride in that f'ing wind proved that. It was because I didn't have the stomach. More specifically, I didn't have the contents in my stomach. These were deposited about 2.5 miles into the run. And then again about 8 miles later. I was 10 miles into the run at this point. I had no idea what was going on. But I knew my energy, my nutrition, was now deposited along the trails at Lake Hefner, left to be picked through by the birds and small mammals that call the lake home. I was feeling a little wobbly and fatigued. I knew I needed energy, fast. The next water stop, I grabbed a banana and some gatorade. No luck. The stomach was still churning.I walked the final three miles. A million thoughts going through my head, but only one that really made sense. "What an incredible experience." There was no doubt that I could have found it in me to walk the final 13.1 miles. It would have been a long, miserable walk in the dark. But at what expense? I don't know what would have happened had I walked those 13.1 miles. What I did know is that I had an incredible journey. I had an incredible day. I wasn't about going to ruin it with 13.1 miles of misery, walking around cold, tired, hungry and miserable in the dark. There will be other iron-distance races. There will be other chances to finish. I will be at that starting line again, remembering my experiences, learning from my mistakes. So, for now, I am stuck somewhere in the wonderful world of iron-purgatory-somewhere between 1/2 ironman and ironman. I can live with that.