Ironman: the next day

well...

I am using my blacberry from the hospital. Mistress said I went to ER. I'd lost 13 lbs on the course and another 2 at home vomiting. I hadn't stopped throwing up for six hours and the neighbor down the street heard them all. The blood test came back with my kidneys and liver non-functioing. so they admitted me.

I've had cat scans, x-rays, ultra sounds, too many blood draws. I am here overnight hoping that the IV and stuff they put in me get kidney function back or i go on dialysis.
I've had a history of kidney problems from increased core temperature since my heat stroke 15 years ago. Two seperate doctors today have expressed its an actual medical condition that does get worse. Each strain on the kidneys wear them down, sort like my concussions. The term dialysis has never come up, but its never taken my system this long to reset.

Once again I eschewed all rational thought to Charlie Mike. At mile 40 the cramping started. By 50 it felt like someone was tazzing my legs. One the third loop I meet Mistress and several friends at the base of the 11 mile hill called B-Line. I laid on the ground in intense pain unable to breath because the muscles around my lungs cramped up. Unable to bend my legs from cramps. I had to push started.

At the top of the hill at the turn, I stopped to sit and ended up laying down again. Some medics came by to treat me but I refused to get in the ambulance. They strongly advised not continuing. A race official came by telling me the course was closed. I told her I made the turn in time and I would Charlie Mike until I couldn't make the cut off. Regardless that the last two aid stations were out of water and so was I. Regardless that the next 18 miles was unsupported.

Mistress waited for me at the bottom with no chance of making the last ten miles in ten minutes. So I packed in in. I would have finished the last ten but between not able to breath fully, a police escort, my wife, absolutely zero energy in me and a race officail telling me I was the last rider off the course, the overwhelming evidence suggested finally to stop moving forward.

I was Ironman's cautionary tale yesterday. and I'm paying for it today.