So I just completed my first Ironman...that's 2.4 miles swimming, 112 cycling and 26.2 running (full marathon). I have done the shorter distance triathlons before and I was surprised to find just how excruciating the event was. It is really taking yourself beyond a breaking point, where you absolutely positively want to stop and never exercise again, yet you force yourself on and can still finish at the end of the day. A day later my body feels broken and I'm limping around and I will likely sign up for another one. Why oh why. Well, at least now I can get my Ironman tattoo...and I can drink again. At least until I start training again.
cucciolo:
So my dad had a stroke. He was terrifically healthy but had preventative surgery on a heart valve. 3 weeks later it caused a massive stroke. The stroke damaged his thalamus and he might never be able to wake up. It is so frustrating to think that, if he had not had the surgery, he would be fine, or that if he did not have the damage to the thalamus, he would wake up with only limited damage.