Full Vineman Triathlon - TriathlonFull Ironman

The swim was basically uneventful for the most part. Just an easy swim spotting the race markers until I got to the turnaround point. Many people were walking at the turn around because it was very shallow maybe 2 - 2 1/2 feet deep. I continued to swim the whole time keeping my stroke close to my body and was flying by the walkers. On the return back to the start about two dozen of us start swimming head-on into the swimmers on-coming from the other side. So, on the second loop I found it a whole lot easier only siting the cement pillar of the bridge and using only that as my focal point. I finished strong with the 1:19 on the swim very happy with that.

I would spot the cement pillar on both the second and fourth lap.

I ended up using the Wet suit strippers. It was fairly fast. I got all my bike gear on and did not use the arm warmers I had set out. And headed out. I walked up the first hill on my bike as everyone suggested.

My plan was to go a comfortable pace on the bike. In general, I really like the down hills and taking advantage of the momentum to push me forward on the ride. Unfortunately , there are not many downhill's that you could use to propel you up the hills. It seemed like there was a sharp turn or something (a rider slowing down) that took all your momentum away at the bottom of the hills. My pace felt really comfortable and I did exactly as I planned on the first half of the bike. But then I kind of lost it mentally a bit after mile 56. I had it in my head that the specialty bag was at mile 65, but it wasn't. So when I got to mile 56, I had gone past the bathrooms, passed the water and got my specialty bag. I only got my peanut butter and jelly sandwich which the bag was inflated to the point of almost popping. I didn't want to walk back to the bathroom so I just got my bike and rode off. This was mistake! Suddenly, I had to go to the bathroom like nobody's business. That's all I could think about and I was just frustrated not knowing when the next aide station was going to be. So for the next 25 miles my mental game was off. I began to feel the pain in back, my neck, the hotspots on my feet, my head felt like a bowling ball on my neck. I even rode with one elbow on the pad holding my chin up with my hand to reduce the weight I felt. I had a really tough time eating after mile 56 too. I had one quarter of my sandwich which was soggy and gross and then I just had one GU and that was it. At the 75 mile aide station, I went to the bathroom (yeah), I had ice put in my shirt (front and back), in my helmet, I had a banana, and some cold water. It was very refreshing . I felt renewed after that break. This was the first aide station where there were tons of people just hanging around getting food, drinks, going to the bathroom, it was very social. Obviously, I wasn't the only one who needed the aide station. I knew chalk hill was going to come up in the next 25 miles. I was feeling refreshed I was able to regroup and get my mental game back. The second loop on the bike was much harder than the first. I told myself if I got to 3 miles an hour on Chalk Hill I would get off and walk. So, The last portion of the hill I did just that I walked my bike. There was a great motivator on the hill (before or after, I don't remember). She was a high energy, crazy dancer girl. She was there all day and I truly appreciated her. My family was at the bottom of Chauk Hill too. They were amazing! The last 12 miles seem like an eternity. They say it's all downhill for the last 12 miles but that's not true. You get this great downhill, but you have to slowdown to cross the traffic for a left hand turn where there are cars and a police officer directing the traffic. The cars were too far over on the right side of the road where I Didn't feel safe going on the right side of the cars so I went on the left side of the cars for the turn. When you are spent like I was, the slightest incline was a hill... Finally finished the ride and walked my bike to T2.

Be on top of the special bag mileage location. Get better crank set/cassette so I can spin up the hills. My quads and glutes were on fire.

Finally finished the ride and I was completely spent. Changed my shoes and went to the bathroom. To give you an idea of how spent I was, I went to the bathroom forgot to lock the door and gave some guy a complete flash of my lower half as he opened my unlocked door. I didn't even care.

Lock the door. Ha ha!

The run, oh my, it took me probably 13 miles before I got my running legs back. The run was very social, met lots of neat people, everyone was very nice and supportive. The spectators were awesome and motivating!

I walked every hill and I walked every aide station. I walked a lot in the beginning. I had on a fuel belt for the first 8 miles and dumped it after that, it just wasn't comfortable. My Nutritional plan was completely thrown out the window for the run. I had three GU's for the entire marathon and one chip at every aide station along with ice and water. I also had a cup of soda every other mile. Mentally and physically I really felt good, but I just couldn't get my body to move how my head wanted to it to until halfway through the run. People were dropping everywhere having a hard time because the heat was insane. I let the locals drench me when ever I encountered them, which got my shoes wet (but was a relief from the heat) and I had 5 giant blisters on my feet. I have learned to shift my thoughts in a race so I could ignore the pain. At the very last turn around I had the most wonderful view. The sun was just starting to set. The sky was a gorgeous orange and yellow. It was beautiful! It was nice to have that as my view on my final stretch. I ran the majority of the last lap until the end of the race and I felt great. It was time to go through the finish shute and the people were cheering and I had so much energy that I just sprinted through the tape at the end and then the cheering turned into roaring crowd. It was awesome!!!

Push it harder, earlier. Probably around mile 8 ish. I had so much left at the end. It showed me that I should have pushed it harder through out the run. But, the sprint at the finish did feel great, especially hearing the crowd go nuts.

Eat solid food, get a massage, and hit the med tent due to uncontrollable shivering.


Mixing up the specialty bag location on the bike. Lost the mental game for a while.


Overall, loved it! My family was everywhere on the course cheering. I had MyAthleteTracker and my family knew exactly where I was through out the entire race. It made it easier for them to plan their next cheering spot. I highly recommend it.