Ironman Arizona - TriathlonFull Ironman

the swim was what everyone says its like. I started about 150-200m from the actual start line. As the gun went off I started swimming and than the crazyness began, people all over the place, Im getting hit and hitting people. but I stuck to my guns and followed my brothers in laws advice "be aggressive and don't let people run over you, assert yourself and be aggressive when trying to get into open water" So that was my game plan, I wasn't able to get in any rythem, I had to sight every 2 strokes.... but I kept focus on smooth consistent strokes all the way. I was shooting for a 1:15 but as I exited the water I saw a 1:18, I was a bit disappointed and knew than that my goal of a 11:40 would be out of reach, but as my buddy told me " Let the race come to you and don't over reach for anything"....so of to transition 1

Start a bit closer to the actual start line and push the pace a bit, I was a bit tentative because it was my first time in a mass start

I was shooting for 6 minute transitions, but didn't even come close....as I exited the water I saw tons of people changing outside of the tent so I figured I would too, but as I dumped my stuff a volunteer said I couldn't change there and she wouldn't let me change until I got my stuff and headed to the tent, so I lost some time there.....it was super crowded in there so I just dumped my stuff on the grass and get my gear on....I headed for my bike....

Go straight to the tent.....speed up the process a bit.

Well heading to the bike I decided to wear light running gloves to keep my hands warm, my idea was to use them until I was warm than take the off. I got on the bike and started off slow, a bit to slow after seeing the splits, but my goal was to go hard out and take it easy coming back on each loop. So thats what I did. I felt I pushed the pace pretty good, I saw some BTers out there Kyle and Glenn, which was great to see some familiar faces....I also saw some PRO's as they lapped me twice I think.. Im not a fan of being lapped but that was pretty cool to have PROs do it. After a while my hands were getting warm so I took off my left glove and when trying to get my right glove off it got stuck and than i nearly hit a water bottle for focusing on the glove. SO I decided to just ride with the one glove, so no worries right, well when I tried to put the glove I took off in my tri pocket it fell out and it was gone...dam, they were my favorite running gloves...oh well. as the ride went on Everything was going smoothly until I noticed my brakes were rubbing to much on the wheel which wasn't normal, but good thing I didn't have to use my brakes to much....at about mile 90 my stomach was starting to feel odd, I was using EFS at this point and decided to just drink water and Perform the rest of the way hoping my stomach would get better. It was great to see the dismount line, once I dismounted I felt good, though I really had to head to the bathroom, I hadn't had to go since the swim start. so I dropped my bike off grabbed my run bag and headed in to change,

start off a little faster in the beginning, I was a bit tentative with passing and a bit intimating at first with so many people on the course

Well when I got off the bike I thought I would take my bike shoes off and run into transition barefoot, well I spent like a minute trying to get the shoes off, and couldn't do it, so ended up running in my bike shoes on, I got my bag and and found a chair. As I sat down I saw BTer Glen...sitting right next to me...haha what are the odds...I got my gear on, as I was getting my gear on I really started noticing that my lips were so chapped, I saw a guy how had vaseline and asked him if I could use some, he sure....(man he was a life saver). the volunteers were great, he was there helped my put my stuff in the bag and took it for me.....now out to the run.

dont spent anytime trying to take my bike shoes off, just run to transition with them on or practice getting shoes off while on bike before dismount.

I wasn't sure what my overall time was, because I never really pay attention except for the swim. I felt I had a solid bike ride and may of reached my bike split goal of a 6:06 but wasnt sure. Now on the run I was ready to show how hard I have been training...I really put a lot of effort in running this year. I trained all season with HR, but when I put the HR monitor in it was saying I had 212 bpm, so I knew it wasnt' going to work..so I switched my game plan and decided to run according to pace, I knew if I wanted to reach my run goal I would have to maintain a 9:30 min/mile....so I paced myself according to pace ann feel....I pushed on the true flats and eased up on the hills. Last years Iron distance marathon I ran 4:49 and had to walk the aid stations after mile 6 so my initial goal was to continue to run and not walk the aid station up to mile 6. I reached mile 6 and felt good so my next goal was to continue the pace until mile 10, in my open marathon earlier this year I ran a 4:26 in which I had to wal the rest of the way after mile 1o...ugh.....As I was getting near the end of the first loop I saw my mom and dad, they cheered me on which was great, (I came down by myself so it was super awesome to see some family)...as I passed the sign that says "lap 1,2,3 right, Finish Left" I heard my name as I turned to look it was my friends parents who lived in Arizona, they came out to support me, (my friend past away in 2001 and I hadnt seen them in a long long time, but kept in touch via facebook)so when I saw them it was great it gave me chills and def some extra energy.....as I started the 2nd lap I felt good, as I passed the aid stations I took sponges, water, perform. My goal was 1 mile at a time, which was working well, my legs felt good, as I finished my 2nd lap I saw my parents and friends parents again which really boosted my energy for my third and final lap....as I continued to run I was getting excited that I was gonna do this, I knew I wouldn't get the 11:40 I was shooting for but if I could get sub 12 hours I would be happy and if I could run the entire marathon at the pace I wanted I would be super excited...so I kept plugging away, once I hit 20 miles,....it was started to get mentally tough, each mile after seemed to take longer to get to....but as I continued I looked around it was so cool to see the ifferent types of people and paces competing...As I passed each mile, I was thinking ok the pain in my legs are gonna start soon....so I was preparing myself.....as I hit mile 23 my legs started to feel wierd and I thought that they were probably gonna cramp up....but as I hit the aid station and drank perform and coke they seemed to feel normal again, so that was exciting....as I hit mile 24 my hamstrings were starting to make some noise, and than the pain began.... but than it stopped....I had some grapes and oranges and actually slowed down in the aid station to get all my nutrition in and continued to the pace....and than all of sudden I see the sign "Finish Left".....YES i can finally go left...haha. As I made the left I was running an 8:54 mile and I didn't know what my time owuld be but I was happy that I completed the marathon and ran the whole way (the first time ever)....as I entered the finisher shoot I saw the crowd and than saw my dad cheering me on and saw the time say 11:51, I knew I would make it in under 12, I was super happy , it was so bright as I got closer to the finish line, I figured I feel good that Im going to try and touch the top of the timex finish time as I crossed the finish line, so I passed a small group and was abel to finish by myself and I went for it, I jumped adn barely touched it and landed...I was actually surprised I was still on my feet, the volunteer brought me in gave me my medal and said What size shirt do you want? I looked at her like she was speaking a different language, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what she was asking.... she asked me agin and I just said medium because it was the only word I heard her say and remembered.....haha.....

Maybe slow down a bit at the finish line, I didn't hear Mike Reily say You are an Ironman I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to hear those words... but I got to see the live stream replay and he in deed did say my name and where I was from and that I was an Ironman.....so cool.... I would also take a picture with my medal on behind the Ironman Background, I didn't do that I was so tired that I forgot....but next time

nothing really stretch a bit, saw my parents, got some food and headed back to the hotel


the mass swim start and my slow transitions


Great experience...I did ChesapeakeMan 140.6 last year but doing an Ironman event is so different, the finish is a feeling I will never forget and can't wait to get that feeling again (hopefully at IM Florida 2013). meeting all the BTers was Awesome, especially since I came down alone. So meeting new people was def a highlight. Great race. It was everything I expected