This was my first lake OW swim, all others have been in the Ocean. What a difference not getting pounded by the surf makes! I think that made up for it being a non-wetsuit swim. This lake is normally closed for swimming, Disney uses it for boat transportation between hotels and attractions. The swim started next to a little boat marina and the water tasted like diesel - YUCK (seriously yuck).

I felt like I was doing okay and was keeping with a big pack of my fellow red cap wave mates. Pretty soon we passed a few of the neon green caps from the previous wave. Cool! I'm not finishing dead last, at least not on the swim. I kept going in a nice easy rhythm and soon found myself on the last leg. I was really happy as I was passing lots of previous wave participants and still felt like I was taking it easy. I was also very excited that I was keeping a very direct line around the course. I usually always try to swim off to Hawaii at some point in the race. Yep, being a lake this would have been a futile attempt so I'm glad I stayed close to the buoys. About 200 yards from shore I got stuck between two people from 3 waves before me. I couldn't get through and they were flailing arms and legs everywhere. I was thinking, "damn you are at least 7 or 8 minutes behind me, why are picking now to swim hard?" Oh well.

It felt like I spent no time getting the wetsuit off - oh yeah, non wetsuit swim :)

I do need to learn how to swim someday. During a Half Iron isn't the best time though. I was content with my performance here.

This was one long transition! And then an even longer run to the mount line. Usually this all gets evened out as you go out one side and come in the other. This one you went out on the bike the same side as you entered with the bike. I had a real long run in my cleats with my bike both ways.

I need to at least learn how to take my feet out of the shoes while on the bike. Learning how to put my feet in the shoes while they are clipped on to bike would be nice but I see so many more people screw up doing that.

My goal was to ride so my heart rate stayed around 150 which is lower zone 2, and see what pace that brought. I was able to do that except on a couple of hills.

Apparently there were no marshalls on the road and plenty of flippin cheaters took advantage of that. I don't know if I should be proud of myself for riding legally, or kick myself for not joinging the peloton. Drafting would have been a huge benefit with the headwinds. I'd get real freaked out when a group of drafters would pass me and then slow down so it looked like I was part of their group. I'd drop back immediately figuring that is when a marshall would show and I would be the one penalized. Cheaters suck!

My rear mount cage get broken by someone in transition. The top screw hole get ripped off so the bottle was almost hanging upside down. About 20 miles into the race it went flying. 500 calories and 68g of carbs - adios!

I would get a tri bike with killer wheels and tree trunks for legs.

I sat down to put my socks on and just started peeing. So, I sat there pee'd, put my socks and shoes on, kept peeing, cleaned my sunglasses, kept peeing (errr?). Ok, off to the run, phew.

Ride with feet on shoes. Pee before entering transition area?

WAH! HOLY CRAP! I was feeling so good starting out on the run. I'm not fast but I knew if I could just do a 10 min/mile pace I'd be home in about 5:45. At about mile two I melted - literally and figuratively. I swore to myself I wouldn't walk, but I just couldn't run another step. HR was at 180 even after slowing ot an 11 min/mile. I started to do the "I'll walk to that tree and then run to the next mile marker. Wait I can just stop running here." All sorts of thoughts were going through my head, the worst was - "Why did you come all the way to Florida to walk!" Grrrrrr.

Try not to die.

Sat down in the area where they were serving pizza and tried to shake off the major case of dizziness I had.


Ironman North America definitely throws a good race. The volunteers were awesome and everywhere. The crowd support was incredible. It was so exciting to be at such an international event.

Unfortunately I feel terrible for my run/walk thing. Hopefully I'll get over that soon. I don't mind my overall time as it was my first Half IM and the competition was top notch. I do mind that I was basically out of the race by mile 3. I thought I was racing well within myself. It could have been the heat (who knew Florida gets hot?) or my lost bottle of calories, or the time zones (at one point ont he bike I was flipping through my computer screens and saw the time at home - not even 6 am yet!), or the fact I pretend to be an athlete.

I don't know what truly happened but I know I learned a lot. I have two months to get ready for my next Half and I will beat that one down.