Linda's Abbreviated IMWI
Hi All,
Here's a brief run down of my truncated day, the crash, and a pic for those of you not on FB.
SWIM
That was my slowest IM swim. Unlike many people, I like to be right in the scrum. I like to latch onto feet and just keep drafting, picking my way through the crowd. In this swim I had way too much clear water for my taste. 
When I did get a good pair of feet, she led me astray, and suddenly the rest of the pack was waaaay over there. Did too much sighting on the 2nd loop and wasted a lot of time. But, I felt good in the water, and got out feeling barely winded, which I took as a good sign.
THE BIKE
Downloading my PT just now, I see that I was doing just fine on those hills. Damn. It feels good to know the fitness was there, but it's a bitter pill at the same time. I felt good on the bike, and was just riding my watts and doing my thing. That course is hard--period, but I was doing it. Damn it, I was doing it.
But here's the story of my bike accident....
I had a problem with my Zipp aerobars coming loose at Patriot in June. I was very careful to have Todd at the fitting tighten them up after we trimmed them. The bike just went in for a tune up, and I was clear about them checking the bars. Keith went over that bike with a fine tooth comb in Madison. It seemed all set.
Within the first 45', the R aerobar was twisting and moving. Not good. Every time I would descend, I would push it in and hold it, terrified that it would slip out. In the first 50 miles, I stopped at tech support 3x. They would push it in, hand tighten, and it would seem stable. After a time, it would loosen again. Stopping at tech support all those times, the disruption of doing that, and adding all that time to my splits was messing with my head. It was hot, dry, beaming sun--tough conditions on top of it all. I constantly had to just OODA to let it go, and concentrate on the moment.
It all went to hell at mile 85. It was just like people say--I saw it all in sloooooow motion. First, it seemed my aerobottle was falling off, and I didn't understand what I was seeing. I heard it hit the spokes, and--ting, ting. ting--break them. Then--honest and true--BOTH aerobars slipped out, and I am holding them in my hands detatched from the bike. I feel myself going over the bike, and hear the aerobars taking out the rest of the spokes. A guy on the side of the road said I did a somersault over the bike. I landed, clipped in, with the bike on me. Here's the result:
I layed on the ground stunned and winded. Once I figured out I was OK, dealt with the EMTs, etc., I started to wonder if I could walk back to a bike shop down the road and maybe they could get me going again. There was no way--shift cables eaten through, wheel in pieces. You gotta know I sat on the curb and sobbed my heart out. Then when they came to get my chip--that was another blubbering mess.
Yes, I am very disappointed. Very much so. BUT...remember what happened to my husband this summer? I walked away. I have a bruised sternum, hurt ribs, and some road rash. The accident could have happened on one of those screaming descents. It could have caused a pile up with other rides around harming them. There are a million different scenarios that have a far worse outcome than a scrubbed race--although it does hurt, I'm not going to lie.
But you know, I take away a lot of courage and a broader perspective from this race. I got back on the horse after my own health melt down, my husband's major crisis, and made it to the line. I had the fitness to make it through 85 extremely difficult bike miles, and there was no doubt I would make it to the run start in good shape. In years past, I never thought I could ever do a course like WI, yet I was doing it, and doing just fine. It's going to be hard to scare me now. As my wise friend Kris Frazier said this weekend, "Ironman is not who we are, it's just what we do." And through the doing, I found out a little more about the strength of who I am. Pretty good deal for a DNF, if you ask me.
After collecting my things, and a bit more crying, I went to the mayhem at mile 18, cheered for my friends, and watched some extremely wonderful people get it done. I'm so glad I didn't miss this experience, even with no finish time on the clock for me.
Thank you all for your friendship and support. You understand how difficult it is to have to walk away from an Ironman. I proved a lot to myself this year, and the day added more to my spirit. Everyone asks me what's next? Yes, I think there will be a "revenge tour."
Comments
Story still sucks. Amazed that you walked away from that, not to mentioned that it happened at all. Stuff like that luckily does not happen. I have a feeling that there are going to be some even more meticulously maintained bikes in the Patch house.
Oh and you need to give Keith some pointers on how to go over the bars safely
LOL!!! I was teasing Keith that I had to one up him with the EN crew--and take the spotlight off his crash story by having my own spectaular mess on race day! Thanks for the giggle.
Linda what an emotional roller coaster you have been on the last HOW MANY MONTHS....too many to remember. You picked yourself up, got to Madison did your thing on the swim and really most of the hard stuff on the bike and like I said on fb, your bike let u down. I am so sorry....I would have sobbed also....all the countless hours spent training, emotions of thyroid problems, Keith's accident, having to cancel the rally...yet still you came to IMWI and no doubt would have finished! Thanks you for cheering the rest of us on when u could have been licking your wounds in the hotel!!! You my dear friend are a gutsy woman of charater and strength....oh and yep....LP will be back!
Happy to be of assistance. On a more practical note, after one of my mishaps last year, Rich at Wheelbuilder put my 808 back together for me for a lot less than expected. Granted I only needed 14 new spokes...
And chica, when I rode by, you looked so calm and collected, eating a banana, I had no idea how badly you crashed. Hugs, hugs, hugs and I'm so glad the bike took most of the beating and not lovely, precious you!
Linda! So so nice to finally meet you! I was beyond sorry to hear what happened to you but glad that it wasn't worse. When I saw you at dinner on Friday right after you drove the bike course, you were feeling nervous. I was a bit worried but then thought that you had time to get your head together and was confident you would. Sure enough, the next time I saw you was on Midtown and you were laughing at the speedos while you eased up that hill that so many others were struggling with. I knew you were OK then! Such a bummer. Not surprised that you are getting something positive out of it.
Revenge Tour!
I was heartbroken on race day to read of your travails; still am. I am relieved you're not worse off: physically, if not emotionally.
Heal up; you'll be back stronger than ever.
One question though, with all of the people who had inspected the aero bars and them still coming lose, have you contacted Zipp at all? It seems crazy to me that that many people / mechanics could be wrong about the adjustment without some bigger defect in the design or at the least your pair.
So true.
Take care : )
What P Mc Cee said. It's the journey. This one just happened to be whacked out.
You embody the EN spirit.
Okay I think just the fact you went to Madtown is amazing. After Billy broke his hip, I couldn't even bang out a descent Olympic distance race. But in no time you were back on the horse getting ready for Madision. Unreal. I love the Patch's...the positive energy!!!!! The love you have for each other and your family....your friends. Your spirit. That's what makes people Ironman....not crossing a line. My heart aches for you, but you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off and came out there for the rest of your peeps. You are constantly showing us how it is done Linda and this time was no exception.
Linda, You obviously came to the day prepared to ROCK the IMMoo course. Bad luck – the crash and good luck – no significant injuries sure changed your day. What did not change was you positive perspective!!! The world would be a much better place if more people had your positive mojo.
A “revenge tour” , I know which side the odds makers in vegas will give for the win on that day!!!
On a techie note – I have zipp aero bars and a plus is their adjustability, but I also have experienced them loosening up at inopportune times. My low tech fix has been to wrap the joint of the locking collor with electrical tape. Both the extension bar to collor and the collar to bar joints. This has worked well and they have not loosened.
Matt
Hi Matt--it was so great to meet you! A bike dealer buddy told me that there was a Zipp recall on extenders b/c some batches "did not tighten properly." Will explore and let you know, in case you want to look into it too. Seems that for the price of those bars, we shouldn't have to rely on electrical tape to keep us upright and safe. Although, I would have had them buried in tape if I would have known to do that.
Linda: I had no idea that you crashed! How awful and I echo Coach P's comments. You are a rockstar, babe, so tough. We will see you on the flipside no doubt, stronger than ever, if that's possible! Such an honor to have met you this past weekend. Take care of you and your wonderful family.
Glad you are okay, that is one scary picture.
You are one tough mutha! I hope that you and Keith take some down time for R&R now!
Mike
Sign me up for the Revenge Tour! I'm with you sister!
Sorry to hear about the accident, and glad to hear you had no major injuries.
Man - that is just NOT right!! So bummed that it had to end your race, but you have handled it with amazing toughness! Can't wait for the revenge tour. I want to be on that one b/c the mojo will be very high!! Thanks for letting us know what happened and how you're doing.
Hope to see you soon!
@Mark--Many hours had gone by by the time I saw you--enough time to stop blubbering.
It was not a pretty sight after I crashed, sitting on the curb heaving, I was crying so bad. It was the full on ugly cry. UGGG-LY. 
It still stings, it really does. I am sad, but accepting. File this under Sh*t Happens. But thanks to all of you for the wishes, and your collective shoulders to lean on. Who else understands this like all of you and my husband? You have all helped more than you know--and I will admit I need it. Hugs.