IMFL - The Run

I ran out of T2 with a smile on my face. FINALLY, the day was in my control, my two feet were on the ground, I was running, which is what I do best. I saw my family within the first few minutes and I passed them wearing a huge smile. It was hot out and without the wind on the bike, you could really feel the heat. My strategy for the run was to walk every aid station and use this time to regroup and take in some nutrition. When the first aid station came up, I wasn’t ready for a walk break but I forced myself to take it and stick to plan.

 

I stuck to my plan and was feeling pretty good. I was SHOCKED at how many people were already walking and thought to myself, “this is exactly why I didn’t push too hard on the bike.” The first 6 miles of the run went well, I was feeling good but the bottom of my left foot was killing me and I was getting concerned. At each aid station I took cold sponges and squeezed them over my head and wiped down my face and neck. I also took some ice and put it in my sports bra. There wasn’t much shade on the course and I couldn’t wait for the sun to go down.

 

After I made the turn around just past mile 6, I lost any interest in eating and my stomach started feeling funny. I made it back to the hub of the race and the half way point and again saw my family. I told them that I was going to have to walk more because of my foot and that I thought I was going to throw up. When I left them Andy walked a bit with me and told me how proud everyone was of me and that I was on pace for a 12:XX finish. I told him that probably wouldn’t happen with how I was feeling but I would definitely finish. I picked up my pace, said good bye and started running again.

 

I took longer walk breaks the second loop and forced myself to sip coke and chicken broth. I hadn’t had a gel since mile 8 of the run and the thought of eating made me so sick. The coke tasted good but I could only do little sips at a time. I also tried to eat some of the peanut butter M&Ms I had in my special needs bag but I couldn’t even tolerate them. I never thought I’d find a time where I’d pass up peanut butter M&Ms!

 

On the first loop, going through the short out and back in the park was so long and boring. So on the second loop of the run, I kept telling myself to just get past the park, knowing I’d feel better as soon as that part was over. It was getting dark at this point and I’m not kidding, I was one of the few people running. Some people were walking briskly, some were barely walking, but hardly anyone was running.  There was a lot of suffering going on; tears, frustration, puking…at points I literally put my hands up to act as blinders.

 

Once I was out of the park and heading back to the finish, I got my second wind. I still couldn’t eat but the oranges tasted so good so I took 2 of them at every aid station.  I also started calculating how far I had to go and if I held on I knew I’d finish sub 13. With 2 miles to go, I could hear a faint noise in the distance. It only took a second to realize that I was hearing the noise at the finish line. That definitely put a smile on my face! As I approached mile 25, this was the party section of the course with the spectators, I actually stopped to walk because I wanted to soak it all in. The day had been going so fast and was almost a blur. I wasn’t ready for it to be over.

 

As I approached what was the half way point on the first loop, a volunteer said, “finishers to the right, second loop to the left.” I smiled and said, “I’m a finisher, I’m a finisher!” and the crowds starting cheering SO loud!! I started crying and thinking, “I can’t believe this is it!” I made my way down the finish chute trying to take it all in. I picked my dad out of the crowd and he was wearing the biggest smile. A little further down I could hear my sister, Michelle, yelling my name but I couldn’t find her in the bright lights. Then finally, after 365 days and 12 hours and 30 minutes I heard, “from Ambler, Pennsylvania, Denise Terry, YOU are an Ironman!”

 

I covered my face, bawling, as the volunteer caught me. She told me how well I did and walked me to get my water, blanket, shirt/hat, medal…it was all so surreal. I remember 2 of the volunteers hugging me and congratulating me. Then I saw my family on the side of the fence and I went over to hug them. Oh my gosh, the tears!!! We were all crying! And hugs never felt so good!

 

Final – 12:30:37

1026 Overall

36 in AG