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Race Reports for Ironman Florida

[201]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Overall, the race went about as well as I could have expected, all things considered. The water was great, and most of all, it never did feel too hot. I was really worried about that, coming from the already cold northland but it was just about ideal conditions. Really enjoyed meeting so many cool BT folk! A big thank you to the G8R's for their hospitality and a huge congratulations to all the BT'ers who perservered and finished the race. I was a little disappointed in the organization of the race here. Parking was an issue on race morning, kind of far away. They ran out of finisher medals for the people finishing toward the end and I understand the voluteers were handing out medals to everyone who crossed the finish line at the beginning...family members included. C'mon! Bike special needs bags drop-off was a hike too. And I understand the medical tent was grossly understaffed and unprepared. Mostly little things but I guess I'm spoiled by IMCDA. All in all though, it was a
[202]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Overall a great race and a great experience! The volunteers are amazing. I have the best family you could want and never could have done it without them. To anyone thinking they don't have time to do this, if it is your dream, you can find a way. I have some crazy training methods, but they got me through. I couldn't find a training plan to work, so I made mine up and had no coach to help. When I crossed the finish, I thought I would be really emotional, but didn't feel that much. It didn't hit me until 2 days later. It was Monday and I had taken off. I was at the grocery store in the frozen food section, and suddenly the enormity of the accomplishment just hit me. I almost started to cry right there. I thought this was a dream I'd never have the time to do, but now I am an Ironman!
[203]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I love now knowing i can do the distance. Now its just a matter of how much I want to improve on the distance!
[204]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I find it hard to even write about this experience for fear that I am not doing justice to the event. Ironman was not just about a one day race, it was about a long journey that ended on a specified date with one last, long day of exercise. There are so many people to thank who helped along the way, specifically my family and training buddies. I could not have accomplished any of this past year's ups and downs without each of you. This is an experience that will live with me forever and I am forever changed because of it.
[205]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I didn't stay around to watch everyone else finish, but I was hurting pretty bad and passed out as soon as I laid down on the couch, brother woke me up and I showered then went to bed.
[206]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: It's now 6 days after the race. Blisters are gone. Hips are recovered. Time to ease back into it. All in all I think things went pretty well considering it was the first time id ever swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles, OR run a marathon; much less one right after another. A few do's don'ts: 1) Do stay close to the venue. One less thing to worry about. 2) Bring a few people with you. If not for moral support, at least to help carry stuff. 3) Bring your bike pump race morning. Nice not to have to rush and wait in line race morning. 4) Don't forget Bodyglide on your neck. Can't even count the number of wetsuit kisses I saw. 5) Don't try even relatively new things on race day. 6) Don't forget to eat lots on the bike. 7) Don't forget it's supposed to be fun. I'll update as I think of things, but enjoy!
[207]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I am an Ironman! Great Race. It all hit me as I was walking back to the condo and a teenager saw me and asked: "Hey dude, how's it feel to be an Ironman?" Pretty Damn Good!!
[208]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This race was great- the volunteers and spectators really made this race what it was worth. The water and beach in PCB was really nice, but the rest of the race scenary wasn't so great. If you're looking for a flat course with an ocean swim this is it. If you want pretty scenary, I don't think this is the best race for that. This race was really disorganized as far as the registration process goes. I was very surprised at the fact that even the volunteers didn't know what was going on. I can't tell you how many times I stood in the wrong line for registration ebcuase volunteers didn't even know where we wanted to be. Hopefully as the day went on the registration process flowed better. A few take home learnings: Doing an IM consists of a lot of waiting in lines- no matter how early you are, there's always a million other people just as early as you, so you still have to wait in line no matter what. Be flexible- prepare for any type of weather. You just don't know what
[209]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was a great race. It is well organized, well supported, and while it's expensive (when you consider all the costs you end up having), I wouldn't trade it for the world. The volunteers are, as always, the key, and were absolutely fantastic. I got a little sick of the commercialization of the sponsors during the athlete-banquet, but that was the only, very small, negative thing I took away from the event. I would highly recommend this race to anyone interested in an IM race!
[210]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This is a great race. The venue is absolutely the best. Panama City Beach has the best beaches.
[211]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: This was the most enjoyable thing or event I have ever done. To share the day along side my wife as we completed our journey to be Ironmen was just incredible. From when I entered the race, I knew that my finishing time would be something I would eventually forget. But to experience the day with her would be something I would never forget and would give us a lifetime of memories not many other people could experience. For race photos go to my album HERE.
[212]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I just want to say thanks to everyone. To Amy and Nola for putting up with the training with smiles. And to all my BT friends. This really wouldn't be the same without all of you. I'm truly humbled to be a part of all of this. And thanks for reading.
[213]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: the race was very organixed and there were PLENTY of well equiped aid stations and the volunteers were amazing. I tried to say thank you to everyone. I BIG thanks goes out to Sherri. She was great in the changing tent. I did this race to raise money for cancer research at the hospital where both my parents have been treated. Being able to see my dad with a big smile on his face and say he is proud of me was worth every step of the journey. I know my mom is proud too but she is a worrier and just wanted for me to be OK at the end of the race. I haven’t gotten myself married or given them any grandchildren but I could do this for them. A big thanks to everyone who came out to jockstrap and scream for me. It was appreciated more than you can know. I'm afraid I will miss someone if I try to name all of you so THANKS EVERYONE. Also special thanks to my coach Will for believing in me and helping me in this journey. We figured out the mystery of the super cool low #. They
[214]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: I don't know if this has just been too long of a season and I had already peaked or what. I just couldn't go as hard on the bike as I wanted and my running has just suffered for the last month. Somehow I'm finding fault with my race because deep down I really wanted to go about an hour faster. The logical side of me wants to slap that other side of me because I know that I should be super thrilled with following: 1) 13:40:43 2) Running the marathon The second was a major goal since running is my biggest challenge. So, well, it's all done and I'm looking forward to some down time. It feels a little bit like the day after Christmas now, and that's tough, but I'm super motivated for IMoo in September! Just please, please Lord, don't let it be cold! Added 11/7/06 -- Ok, so I've given myself another day to reflect on this and get over the downer of being back at work after my "vacation." I've come to this conclusion: I didn't go especially hard or fast, BUT I went at the proper
[215]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great race overall. Too many good things to comment on. A few not so good though: Not enough lights on the neighborhood streets during the run. Quite a few speed bumps to run over in neighborhoods. Potholes in unlighted sections in St. Andrews Park. Rough patch of road on second half of bike.
[216]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: This was an incredible experience. I ran out of adjectives earlier in the report, but its awesome. Training for this race was so challenging. I was so lucky to have a group of close friends who kept each other going when it was too cold, or too windy, or too hot, or whatever. The support of my BT friends was awesome as well. It was cool to meet so many BT'ers and very uplifting to hear them yell Go Manatee! Iron Peloton Results Frank 12:04:03 Dave 13:20:16 Ken 14.53:26 Marcy 15.22:13
[217]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was an awesome race!!! Can't do much about the wind or the early morning chill, but the 3500 volunteers and 2200 racers were awesome and they put on one heck on a race. Any fist time Ironman, I would highly recommend this race!!!
[218]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was a great race, especially the excitement and energy at the start and finish. It was the accomplishment of a lifetime and I have to say that something I read is true: Finish at all costs - you'll thank yourself later. I am glad that I had been warned ahead of time that at some point, or several times throughout the day, I was going to feel bad.... really bad, and that this was normal. Otherwise it would have been easy to throw in the towel and take a few minutes of feeling bad as a sign that my day was going south. I am glad that we are finished and can cut back on training a bit and spend time with our families. We have sacrificed a lot of time with them during training. It was amazing to get through the entire day with Rob and become and Ironman with him at my side.
[219]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/index-weekly.... So much to say about this race! Had a great day. Only spent 1m 30s longer in the swim than planned, all else I was faster than planned. Goal time was 14h. Will fill in the blanks later. Found some pics from other BTer's albums that I've included. Those guys jock strapping and supporting were awesome!
[220]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Avg HR for race was 142
[221]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: A Little Background... This is the race day story of someone who went from the couch to my first Ironman in one year. I had done the Gulf Coast Half in 2003 and was well on my way when my father was diagnosed with lung cancer and died only five weeks later. I gained 10lbs and did absolutely nothing athletic for about six months. I then ran a marathon in his memory and only a couple months later, my grandmother died. I did nothing again for about six months until a friend talked me into signing up for this race. We were both in really bad shape and I told him he was crazy, but we signed up anyway. It gave me a purpose and I decided to do the race in their memory with a goal of just to finish within the time limit. We pittled around a little trying to get back into some sort of decent shape and then we bought "Be Iron Fit" by Don Fink and decided to do the competitive 30 week program. We needed to do the competitive program just to get us into "just finish" shape! Onto race day... Before
[222]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I have much more respect for the distance then I did before the race. That run is no joke. Suffering a little letdown because as of right now, I have no future triathlon plans. Sorry if the report is all over the board, I still haven't completely collected my thoughts.
[223]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Just after I went to Bed, Ken and I stopeed at Walmart and bought IceCream... and ate a whole deal of it... Felt great, Got a call from my wife and went to bed... aaaahhhhh...what a feeling It was great to meet all the Bt'ers... Jess and Renne, karl (motivated), larry (Ladavidson) and Brett (alpine87), and of course Ken, and Sherry (Oliveview). I must tell you guys... the incredible feeling of accomplishment has not left my body yet... I loved every minute of it.... I loved the feeling of getting there and knowing I would finish..... time was unimportant for me, just the fact that I was out there is indeed a blessing. I am not an athlete, I consider myself a guy happy to be alive, happy to be able to put one foot in front of the other, happy to cross that finish line. I am an Ironman, yes I can finally say it.. I am an IRONMAN, OOOOHHHHYYYYEEEAAA!!! Before the start as we started to position for the race, I notice an incredible amount of people that in many people's
[224]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: It feels awesome to be an Ironman! Sprints and Oly's never looked so easy!
[225]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great race, signed up again in 06
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