IronMan Cozumel - TriathlonFull Ironman

What a fantastic area to swim!! crystal clear, warm what else can I ask for ;-). I started in the back not wanting to get punched around. This being my first IM and not knowing what to expect I just wanted to survive and try to enjoy every minute of it. So the gun went off and I just started and kept telling myself "steady pace, just keep moving". My sighting was pretty good to the first turn which was against the current. My sighting was a little off on the last turn, I am not sure If I was just tired or it was hard to see. I saw sting rays, fish, waved at the scuba divers and just smiled and periodically I became a little teary (what a sucker) when I realized, "hey I am doing an Ironman!!" a race that I had always wanted to do for the last 10yrs but never really had the guts to do it. Anyway, as I exited the swim I was so excited I started jumping up and down and running down to the tent at which point I saw the fam and had to stop for a quick hug.

swim faster!! but I really loved this swim and I think I did the best I could.

Had a volunteer help me with the sunscreen. Changed to a bike jersey, socks, body glide and off I went.

nothing. I did it as quick as possible without forgetting anything!

So I get on the bike and said my prayer for no flats!!. Off I went and I looked down at my HR once I was on the road for about 10min and it was on the 3.5zone, my goal was to keep it on the 2.5 zone so I could run with some good effort and not suffer that much. Well, I could never get my HR down at all, it actually fluctuated from the 3.5zone to the 4 zone the whole time...arggggg so I finally just gave up on trying to bring it down. The wind was pretty brutal in some areas but I can't blame it for my super slow bike because I train in headwind, crosswinds u name it, oh and I train in heat and humidity so I can't blame it on that ;-(...looking back I don't think I have ever done a century ride this slow but what the hell...I still did it!!! I stuck to my nutrition plan and my hydration, that part worked out well. I loved seeing people from the town all over, even the poorest of the poorest families cheering you on and the little ones out there saying "si se puede, vamos vamos", it just gave me chills all over ;-). Seeing the family was also fantastic and gave me the final energy to complete the bike. Did see lots of people sick out there I am thinking from the heat.

Oh and about a flat tire...No flat tires!!!! did have to stop 2x to put air in my back tire because I had a slow leak after mile 80...I have now decided to go back to clenchers eventhough I have a much harder time changing them ;-)

Train..train...train...

Not sure! my chip did not register it, not sure why.

Not sure how long it took because again the chip did not register all info correctly but I do know my final time is correct because I have the pic with the time...yeah!

I felt pretty good the first lap around. I was running 5min and walking 1min. The turnaround point for each lap and were u could see the finish was super exciting, lots of people cheering you on and I was able to see
my family 2x which was awesome! On the second lap, hmmmm stomach started talking and all I could think of was please don't puke...focus...focus...dig deep...deeeeeep...take ice chips, suck one by one...coke...ice chips...run...walk!!!ahhhhhh so I kept on going until my stomach settled down. I was able to take 1/2 a gel on the run and that is it. I basically lived on coke but whatever it takes to get to the finish line was my thinking. When I finally reached the turn to go into the finish I was going crazy!!! high fiving everyone, laughing and forgetting all my body aches. It truly was amazing.

I need to work on my speed on the bike and run.

Had some pizza, soup and walked back accross the street to the hotel. Took and nice long hot shower and then sat around re-living the experience with my family for a few hourts. I was so wired I could not go to sleep.

Hearing the words "Alicia you are an IronMan" was one of the most incredible experiences!!! I just loved every minute of this long journey. The funny thing is when I decided to do an IM I promised my husband it would just be a one time thing. Now, he knows it will not be a one time thing as for him it was also fantastic and exciting to watch me and everyone attempting this physical and mental chanllenge.


I give this race an A++++ the organization was amazing. Lots and lots of volunteers everywhere on the course. Never ran out of anything to drink, eat on the bike or run. The support of the whole island was incredible. Eveeyone made you feel like a true champion!

Cozumel I will be back!!