Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas - TriathlonFull Ironman

I really enjoyed this swim. The start didn't seem to be that bad. I was about 8-10 rows back and it was crowded with the expected amount of contact. About 400-500 yds in I started to feel a little panic for some odd reason, but I talked myself through it and kept on swimming and found a good rythm. I made an attempt to move to the outside a little and had some decent openings to swim in. Made it into the canal and I felt i had plenty of room to swim. Goal was to be 1:20-1:25 so I was pleased by this swim and it felt good

Nothing really. Maybe make the move outside a little earlier to find some more room

Are you kidding me! I can't believe it took me this long. I guess changing into clothes was not the right idea.

Not change into bibs and a cycling jersey and just find a tri outfit that will cover the whole distance

This is where my day completely changed from what I had in mind. My goal was to ride the first hour below 160 watts and then ride between 160-170 for the rest. I rode the first 1.5 hrs at 160 watts avg, but I was having stomach issues. I don't know if I swallowed air or water in the swim but it was hard to get in my nutrition, but I followed my plan and took a bottle of water at each aide station. Felt great till about mile 70 then i really felt like I was starting to overheat. I couldn't hold my wattage for the last thirty miles and I was wondering if I would be able to make it down Woodlands Parkway back to T2. all I wanted to do the last hour was throw off my helmet and try to cool down somehow.

I wore my aero helmet and bibs and cycling jersey which is what i trained with all spring, but I think on this day it may have been a little much.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to go into the changing tent with how hot and humid it was during T1. Still can't believe it took this long

Minimize the amount of changing I have to do.

I had no idea how this was going to go but I knew I was going to have to walk the start and see if there was any way I could get my temp down. I walked the first four miles grabbing everything I could to try and cool down. I started to walk and jog about mile four and continued that for the first lap but could tell my temperature was high. I resigned myself to just walking the rest of run but at the best pace I could. I was able to keep my walking pace around a 15:00min/mile pace. Occasionaly I would try and job but I was concerned about how I felt. Around the middle of lap 2 I started to get some blisters on my toes and pads of my feets. The last lap was a struggle to keep the walk pace up but I told myself to take what the day had given me and push with what I had. Once I got to town square for the end I told myself that I could run that in and if I bonked or passed out at the point it was ok. Ran in by myself and heard those needed words of "You are an Ironman

I made the best of what I had this day. I would have been ok with walking if I had at least had the chance to attempt to run.

Waited for my other training partner to finish and then we went back to the hotel to recover


For a guy from Houston you would think I would have been able to handle the heat but something went wrong today.

I will do another Ironman sometime to see what I can do.