An amazing and difficult day.  Swimming at Lake Grapevine didn't prepare me for the rough water in the Gulf.  Just after I rounded the 2nd buoy on my 2nd lap of the swim, I began to throw up so many times I was dry heaving.  I normally don't eat much before a race and what little banana and Hammer Gel I had in me was now floating around me.  A guy on a kayak was on me quick having heard me yelling "Help me Jesus."  I rested and then kept swimming.  At about 300 feet from shore, it hit again and I was dry heaving and cramping in my stomach, muscles, and legs.  I floated for a few minutes then heard the sounds of the crowd and announcer on shore.

I recovered slowly on the bike and was doing pretty good.  At mile 47 my Garmin Speed and HRM said "Database Full" and quit working.  I had to resort to my Timex Ironman watch to try to keep my pace. With the disturbance in the Gulf, the winds were up and shifted out of the East. The ride is flat but about 40 miles are due east.  I fueled the best I could but my stomach would only take so much Perpetuem, Gel, and Heed, and then it would cause my stomach to feel bad.

At mile 3 of the run I hit "the wall." My stomach cramped and my legs were cramping in ways I have never felt before.  I began to try different fuels to see what would work.  I knew I needed fuel for my muscles but my stomach wanted nothing. Chicken Broth and Coke were working the best.  I would eat, and drink, and then my stomach would hurt for a couple of minutes before I could start running again.

My wife did the coolest thing and flew my kids in for the race to surprise me.  They encouraged me so much on the run.  Very cool seeing your teenage kids and they are patting you on the back, encouraging you.  When I told my son I wanted to quit, he reminded me of what I've told him before, "Walls are not quitters.”  Nothing like having your daughter slap you on the butt, telling you, "you're the greatest, you're an Ironman."

At mile 24, it was dark and no one around and one of our Tri4Him team members from Houston was waiting for me.  He had finished in 10:53. He and his family waited on me to come by.  I was walking and his wife walked with me asking if she could pray for me. She did and I ran the rest of the way to the finish line. 

What an amazing day.  Without my T4H team at home, family, friends, and T4H Houston team members’ prayer and encouragement, I would have never finished.

I'll be coming back to Florida next year to volunteer and support Dusty and Jeff and to sign up for the 2011 IM Florida.

Darrick