The end of this journey

These three letters are probably the hardest three letter I have ever typed : DNF.

I didn’t make to the swim finish today at Ironman Florida . The strong current accentuated my weakest leg in the triathlon. I was throwing up and exhausted toward the end of swimming, and was pulled out of water. 

Yesterday I was all worried about the strong wind and low temperature on the bike, but today I would do everything to taste that hard ride. 
I gave myself sometime alone on the beach before I head back to find my family. Mike Reilly walking passed me. That was not the way I imagined to meet him. I am sure he has seen everything.
As a motivated and hard working woman, I very rarely tasted any major failure in my school, career and even during this Ironman journey . Until today.
Mother nature is truly humbling and will pick up the weakest ones. It’s brutally honest. 

Unpacking the carefully packed bike and run bags,the true sadness really settles in.  I realize how brutal the other side can be. 

It’s tough but it’s an experience. 2 months ago with 2 herniated disc, 3 weeks off, I was not even sure if I can do any Ironman event but today I stood at the starting line at the beach. 

The journey does not change, I will continue to work on my fitness. Rising again from this will make me tougher. Today the ocean swimming is not something I will ever forget . 

I always want to be a good role model for Emily , and today my experience showed her another side of the glorious story, something she will also inevitably experience one day in her life. But I will show her how we can get up and fight again. 

Thank you to my coach, my family and all the friends who have been supporting me during this journey.

[平林漠漠]

I agree especially with what polebear said, and everyone else, of course. You tried hard, you went for it. Ironman is a process, not just the day when you go competing. Think about the positive side :) Emily didn't lose her mom, your husband has you back in his arms, and your parents will still have many many chances to go with you when you train. Cheers!

[落花飄零]

謝謝你們，心裏很難受，但是這幾天陪著愛美麗在orlando玩，所以會調整心情。你們的話我都仔細看過好幾遍，真的非常感謝你們對網上一個陌生人的牽掛和關心，我記在心裏的

[shidi53]

不管成功失敗，你永遠都是我心中最了不起的真正的鐵人！

[dev]

Proud of you always! You are an Ironman !

[kentridge]

the journey never ends. this is just beginning. 敬禮

[polebear]

It's all right!
You don't know what had happened might be a hidden bless and protection.
It's all right,
You're still my girl,
My heroine!

Hug, hug, hug....

[嚴惠姍]

我一直惦記著你的比賽，剛從光鹽行者那裏看到“跟蹤了一下佛羅裏達大鐵比賽的實況。我們俱樂部有兩位選手參加這個比賽，兩人水平都比我高很多。令人驚訝的是，平常能夠一小時十幾分結束遊泳的那位我的同齡人，今天遊了一小時46分，估計遊泳的條件非常惡劣。另外一個比我年長五歲的人，我和他一起在公開水域遊過好幾次，我知道他的速度比我快，每100碼大概是兩分鍾。但是今天半程1.2英裏就用了1小時05分，結果遊泳被關門了。”我心裏一驚，就到你這裏查看。看你寫的，我心裏也為你難過，但看到你安安全全的，我就覺得，沒關係，來日方長，你已經非常非常棒了。趕緊讓腰好好恢複。不管成功失敗，你永遠都是我心中最了不起的真正的鐵人！婦女楷模！

[忘憂草燕子]

pat-pat 落花，看網上說今年遊泳不容易，很多人遊泳被關門，正準備上網查查落花的情況就看到落花發的文章，結果固然重要，但落花每天的堅持努力的過程給我的啟示和正能量更深遠，在我心中你已經是ironman了。