Swam out to the ski jump with Clint and found Schwimmycoach as well. We all had the same plan to swim inside the bouy line. This worked well for me because I was so afraid of getting the crap kicked out of me. Turns out I only had a few slight taps across the head, no kicks or punches. Started toward the front of the pack too. Just kept counting strokes like I do in the pool so I wouldn't obsess with the bouy's. When I was turning the corners I would get a slight cramp in my left leg. I told it NO WAY and just didn't use it around the corners. Second loop I was getting a little tired and shoulders and right side of my torso were getting fatigued. Made it thru without cramping, but I knew the knot was there.

Beside the obvious, I don't think there is much else I could've done.

I was all teary when I got out of the water. I did very well for myself. Smiling all the time at the spectators and wetsuit strippers. Saw a very good friend of mine to my right and walked over to give her a big wet hug. She pointed to my sister and my kids on the hill...yep, I lost it again...I was doing IM and my family was there to witness it. I was a little dizzy getting out of the water so I walked the entire helix and transition. Used the port-o-john on the way out and then ran to my bike.

Not walk I guess.

UGHHHHHHH!!! Everyone was in the same boat for this hellacious ride. Where is that weatherman, cuz I'd like to kick his/her butt. Well, got on my bike and down the helix with me, myself and an excruciating side stitch on my right side. Guess that was the pain I was feeling in the water. Just told myself to start eating and drinking and it'd go away. Unfortunately, I could not eat, it hurt too much. After about an hour I was in tears cuz it wasn't going away and I knew I was in for a long haul. Heather passed me and told me to get as much salt in as I could, that would cure it. Thanks for the advice and I tried, but I didn't take any salt tabs with me cuz all of my training rides were with salty food. All I could do was keep drinking water, perp and eating banana's. I did force a peanut butter granola bar, some combos and some pb m&m's down along the way, but it was hard. So thankful for all the spectators and donks alike at throughout the course. Deanna was the first I saw...thanks for the shout out and words of encouragement on that first loop. There were so many people I knew out there it would be a disservice to start naming cuz I'd inevitably miss someone. Amyjo caught me on the first loop and I whined to her about my problems. She was sympathetic as she was having her own issues as well. By the second loop my stitch loosened up enough that I knew I could finish...albeit very slowly. I dug deep and just went along as fast a/s/ I could. By the time I got to the stick (and boy was I happy to be turning left this time) I had a hint of smile on my face and determination in my veins. I (like so many other people) kicked it in the arse and hightailed it back to town. I had to get off that stinkin' bike!!!!! Lots of emotions played out on this ride. Had lots of bad news on the family front a few days before so I just kept thinking about them and the victims of 9/11 to suck it up and get through the ride. I do have to give a special shout out to my friend Lara (and family) for being on that last beotch hill. Thanks for running up the hill with me (and the small little shoves). Your energy kept me going too. After effects leave me with limited use of my left hand and toes are numb as well.

Wondering if all the water I drank the previous week depleted my sodium levels, thus causing the side stitch??? Three days later and I can still feel where it was.
I am actually thankful I didn't have my bike computer. I think that seeing my avg pace would've really brought me down farther than I was already feeling.

This was pretty quick for me. Should've put more glide on though....eeeeoooouuuuuccchhhhh.

Nothing.

Plan was to run 4 minutes, walk one. Found the family heirloom in my transition bag (The Ugly Shirt)so had to run with that on until I would see my brother in law to snap a pic. He assured me he would be within the first mile and a half....I ran with that long sleeve shirt on for 3 miles. Got lots of comments, but had to do my part for the Weninger family. Saw Michele at the Kohl aid station (along with Jim and many others) and she walked with me, knowing how I was feeling just by looking at me. Told me it was all okay and there was no way I wouldn't finish. Tears were had and I kept on going. A girl named Hannah was slugging it out on the bike the same way I was and came up to me during the run out to say that if we biked most of it together we may as well run together. She had the same plan in mind. The 4:1 didn't last too long. That darn side stitch was still with me, although not as bad. Saw my family at mile 3 and needed that so much. I was feeling pretty defeated with my horrible bike split. They made me smile and that felt great. Half a mile later I saw Clint. Thanks God!! I really really needed to see him. He stopped to let me know he was in the same boat cuz of the heat. I told him I had no business being on the course. He reassured me, again, that I would be fine and just keep walking and getting liquids in. He sent me off with a big hug and a smooch. I walked most of the course and got pretty dizzy toward the end but I was determined to keep going. Hannah and I would walked for what seemed forever and then would pick a landmark to run to, which was probably only 25 yards at a time. Good conversations kept us upright and moving forward. The crowds on State Street gave us the energy to run up the first time and some of it the second time. At the last check point I was soooo ready to get off the course. I had to run. Hannah wanted to run to catch up to a guy that was doing his 6th IM and he was a medic...you know, just in case we needed his expertise. When we caught him, I just kept going. Never said goodbye, just kept going. Caught the amazing firefighter dude and told him how amazing he was and just kept going. Took water at the rest of the aid stations to pour on me to keep me cool (why didn't it cool off when the sun went down?), and I ate about a dozen orange slices along the way. Finally felt good to run and found my family up at the square. Hugs to everyone (except I missed Clint:() And into the chute I went. Sad I didn't hear Mike Riley say those magical words but I was so happy to be fininshing and got sucked in by all the hooting and hollering from all the spectators. All the loneliness of the last four miles was made up by that finisher chute. Wow!!! I was caught by Tracy and she gave me the biggest hug every. I LOVED the lady that gave me my medal and smiled perdy for my finisher photo. Thanks to Michele and Brendon for sticking around for my finish. That meant the world to me. Kudos to my children for staying up so late to see me finish and tell me how proud of me they were. A friend of mine came from Waukesha just to see me finish,and that was pretty cool. Thanks to my Bro In Law for being the best sherpa ever. And cheers to my sister Mary and very good friend Karen for taking care of my kids and carting them around the course while Clint and I completed this crazy day.

Run more...if I could've. I did find Hannah on Facebook to thank her for helping me thru the journey and apologized for just leaving.

Walked around looking for the family cuz they were at the top of the square for me. Grabbed a piece of pizza but that didn't taste good. Back to the Pajewski's for a hot shower and right to bed. I fell asleep instantly.


Sodium!!! Heat!!!!
Stood on the scale the next day and I was down 4 pounds.


Tough IM course to pick for my first, and last;) Some of the aid stations ran out of ice by the time us BOPers were getting to the end. Right size tshirt weren't available near the cut off time. Heard the med tent closed at 11:30, which is not good for those that really struggled to finish. Positives: AWESOME race support, AMAZING spectator support, great venue, I like the looped run course so I could see lots of people I knew out there.