From Woody Freese
Good evening all -
First off - I need to extend a hearty CONGRATS and virtual fist bump to all EN'ers who crossed the finish line on a brutal day! I tip my hat in your direction 
Secondly - Thanks to my dear partner, Sue, who was instrumental in getting me thru the day - emotionally and physically.
The Swim: I felt great, overall - stayed inside the box and was nice & relaxed. At one point, I knew it was raining fairly hard, as it felt like someone was using drum sticks on the back of my wetsuit. Found it odd that I was swimming on the cable on loop 2 and that a kayak was in my way! First thought: this is not typical behavior for a swim volunteer - to get in the way of athletes while swimming. As I tried to go around, the volunteer stuck their paddle in front of me - to direct me out of the water. In 30+ years of racing, I had never experienced anything like this!
Walked around the lake, in my wetsuit - and found it quite funny that there were peelers in front of the Brew Pub. Another new experience!
Jogging into the transition area, I found myself quite cold. Got dressed in the changing tent, with a short sleeve jersey, an EN Capo vest, arm warmers and long finger running gloves. From the minute I reached my bike, I was cold. As I rode out of town, the winds began to pick up and the rain poured harder - and I started shivering. Warmed up a bit, only to start shaking on the Keene descent. Near the bottom of the hill and the left turn, I was shaking so hard, I started to lose control of the bike and my front wheel went off the shoulder. Still clipped into the pedals, I did a somersault over the handlebars, landing in a drainage ditch that was, not draining at all.
Never - EVER in my entire life, had I been even close to this cold! My teeth were chattering so hard, I thought I might break one. I could only compare it to having a seizure - and it really sucked!
Walked to the ambulance to make sure I was in one piece - and before I knew it, I was in an ambulance, getting stripped and covered with blankets & hot packs. Eventually, the paramedics let me go inside of the Keene Community Center (think of a very old church that had been converted to serve as a place for Cub Scout meetings and Bingo on Wednesday afternoons!). I was given a hospital gown, a white blanket, my bike and a bag of soaking wet, freezing cycling duds - and told I would be given a ride to the Elizabethtown Hospital for evaluation. My mind immediately thought of a hospital that would be a cross between a veterinarian clinic and the facility used in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest! No thanks - please take me back to Lake Placid!!
Eventually, a volunteer w/ a NYS issue Suburban arrived to deliver a couple of DNF'ers to the Speedskating oval. i am in the back seat with a hospital gown on and a blanket to keep me warm.
We navigated back to LP (another story in and of itself...) - eventually arriving at the oval. The volunteer stops the SUV in the middle of all the white metal fencing, in front of City Hall, with a gazillion spectators around. He puts the vehicle in "Park" and announces that we have arrived! I get out of the back seat in a hospital gown! Remember - it was windy! And I couldn't get the blanket around me fast enough, before giving a show to all who cared to see. He gave me my bike, bag of wet clothes, patted me on the bad shoulder and told me better luck next time.
I am still sore - trying to get an appt. with an ortho here in Boston. As sore as the shoulder is, I am disappointed and sad about not finishing - especially as I saw the sun coming out. The plan was to race in honor of William Jenks' son TJ - and I fell short. The plan was to finish my 16th Lake Placid Ironman. The plan was to finish my 30th Ironman.
Can't call the day a epic failure - but the plan unraveled so quickly, I didn't have the where-with-all to think quickly on my feet. I guess that is one of the things that happens when you turn 52 years old.
Thank you to all who reached out and have tried to connect. I haven't really been in much of a mood to chat about the race much.
During lunch today, I went for a walk and came to terms with the fact that there is nothing I can do to change what happened. I realize that while this event is special and important, it does NOT define me. I recognized that I am not depending upon Ironman for anything other than pleasure. I am okay with saying that this was my second DNF in 30 + plus years of competing - and I lived to fight another day! Things could have been so much worse under the conditions.
Just think... only 362 shopping days until Ironman Lake Placid 2015 I have a score to settle!
3
Comments
(I doubt there's a hospital gown big enough to cover all of you - you shouda asked for two)
Also, I must thank you for keeping my nerves in check leading up to the race. As I sent out some frantic messages on group me, you constantly reminded me to of the best advice.... "Breathe". It's great to see that you've taken your own advice, not an easy task. Speedy recovery to you!
I agree with Al though... Not a gown in the world big enough to cover dat azz!!!
Wow, Woody -- We haven't even met and you are already one of my favorites. I look forward to seeing you settle that score next year. Glad to hear you're recovering well.
Woody- It was a honor to be at Lake Placid with you. You truly are an inspiration. So glad to hear that you are okay and healing. I look forward to seeing you again!!
Woody, amazing story. It's just great to know you didn't get seriously injured as you know it could have been so much worse. The conditions on race day were horrendous and you came out of a rough crash in one piece. I hope you're healing well. As far as a score to settle, you've proved time and time again you can beat that course. You're amazing! I look forward to seeing you on that course again in the future and I will certainly be there next year cheering you on (as a volunteer). You're one tough dude!!
Sorry to hear about your misfortune, but glad to hear you're OK. I met and raced with you at LP in 2012, and was very inspired by you. Regarding your race report, you left out one critical piece of information...... How is your bike????? ;-)
Woody,I don't pretend to know how you feel, but please let yourself feel it. Look at all of the people who have responded. If IMLP gives you nothing else, you've gotten so much. I will be thinking of you this time next year when you remount your bike.