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The Finish Line

I completed my goal and finished the Ironman World Championships in a time of 11 hours 29 minutes! Wow, I always believed I could do it but to reach the finish line it was a very special feeling. Through the next few paragraphs I am going to walk you through some of the highlights of my race and a look forward.
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Race Prep in Paradise

The week before the triathlon in Hawaii was everything I expected, hot and humid temperatures, a bit of training to keep loose, and a whole lot of thinking about the upcoming race. It wasn't until two days away from the race when I finally became comfortable knowing that the event I had been preparing for four years would soon be there.
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Ironman with a Handcycle

Some of you must be wondering how someone who uses a wheelchair for mobility is able to do a triathlon and how in the world does someone do 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run with just his or her arms?  For me it is primarily about a can-do attitude and the right equipment.  An average week of Ironman training for me consists of three swims totaling 8,000 meters in the pool, four handcycle training sessions totaling 150 miles, and one race chair session totaling 15 miles — all totaling 15-20 hours per week.  Add a full-time job to my training demands and my time and energy is stretched more than I can handle most days.
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My Road to Kona

On October 14, 2004, I was in Kona, Hawaii and had completed the 2.4 mile swim and 106 miles of the 112 mile bike segment of the Ironman Triathlon World Championships when a race official stepped in front of me and disqualified me from the race.  My disqualification was due to a failure to meet the 10 hour and 30 minute cutoff for the swim and the bike. I was angry and disappointed with my performance, and it is a race I will never forget.
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This page is devoted to my experience at the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. I'll be updating it on a weekly basis, so be sure to check back.

Enjoy!
Jason

Jason has been receiving ITB Therapy since 1991 and began working for Medtronic in 2004.

Read other ITB Therapy Stories

More about the Ford Ironman World Championshiop
Map of the swim
Map of the bike
Map of the run

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ON ITB THERAPY:

Please follow your doctor's instruction closely because a sudden stop of intrathecal baclofen therapy can result in serious illness (baclofen withdrawal symptoms) such as high fever, changed mental status, muscle rigidity, and in rare cases multiple organ-system failure and death. It is very important that your doctor be called right away if you experience any of the above symptoms.

It is important for you to keep your scheduled refill visits so you don't run out of medication (baclofen) and to understand the early symptoms of baclofen withdrawal. Some patients are at more risk than others for baclofen withdrawal; consult with your doctor.

People who suffer from severe spasticity resulting from cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury may be a candidate for ITB Therapy. If you have spasticity due to spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis you must first fail oral baclofen. If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury you must first wait one year after the injury to be considered for ITB Therapy. A screening test will help show if you will respond to the intrathecal baclofen. You should not receive ITB Therapy if you have an infection, are allergic to baclofen, or your body size is too small to hold the implantable pump.

The implanted pump and catheter are surgically placed beneath the skin. Surgical complications that you may experience include infection, meningitis, spinal fluid leak, paralysis, headache, swelling, bleeding, and bruising.

The most common and/or serious drug-related side effects of ITB Therapy include loose muscles, sleepiness, upset stomach, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness. Pump failure may cause overdose or underdose of intrathecal baclofen. The signs and symptoms of overdose include drowsiness, lightheadedness, respiratory depression (difficulty breathing), seizures, loss of consciousness, and coma. Once the infusion system is implanted, device complications include catheter or pump moving within the body or eroding through the skin. The catheter could leak, tear, kink, or become disconnected, resulting in underdose or no baclofen infusion. Symptoms of underdose include increase or return in spasticity, itching, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and tingling sensation. These symptoms are often early indications of baclofen withdrawal. The pump could stop because the battery has run out or because of component failure. The pump will sound an alarm when the pump needs to be filled with baclofen, replaced or if there is a problem with the pump. Always inform any healthcare personnel that you have an implanted infusion system before any medical or diagnostic procedure such as MRI, diathermy, etc.

For more information, please read the Lioresal® Intrathecal (baclofen injection) Full Prescribing Information and the SynchroMed Infusion System Information.

Lioresal® is a registered trademark of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Ironman® is a registered trademark of WTC.