Ironman 70.3 Florida - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Good swim, faster than I expected.

Learn to be more agressive. Because I have only been doing triathlons since March, I don't have much experience with getting swam over. My wave started at 7:03 the first part of the swim was good. I was able to get comfortable with my stroke and pace. However when the men's waves went off behind me, I was shocked by how agressive the men were. At one point my ankle was grabbed and I was pulled under water so that someone could swim over me. Sorry Guys!!!

Not talk to my support crew as much and GO TO THE BATHROOM.

Rain caused slowing down on the downhill. I was afraid of sliding or crashing in the turns so I was probably a little to conservative. I saw several people crash which increased my fear. I need to practice riding in the rain some more.

Not stop to go to the bathroom in the rain. I was wearing a one-piece trisuit and pulling this back up soaking wet took me almost 10 minutes. Yuk! Double Yuk!

Changing from wet shoes and socks to wet shoes and socks was slowing me down.

Possibly put my running shoes and socks in a bag to keep them dry.

The run was more like a shuffle. The course was extremely hot and the off-road portions were very un-even. Twisted my ankle about mile 6 in a pothole.

I don't even know where to start. The run if you want to call it that, I would say shuffle myself was a cross between the Bataan Death March and a long run inside a Sauna. I alternated running and walking but I was certainly doing more walking than running. My whole crew was cheering me on but I just did not feel like I had it in me. Hindsight being 20/20, I realize now that I had not eaten enough on the bike and was starting the run quite low on energy. As I went along the course, I noticed everyone was alternating running and walking and everyone was having a hard time. There were aid stations every mile. I stopped at each one taking sponges, ice, gatorade, cola and whatever they offered just to make it another step forward.

I have to be honest with you guys. The first lap of the three lap run course was almost my undoing. I really did not want to go on. There were several times I wanted to quit.

On the second and third laps I found my groove. That is not to say I was moving fast but at least I was not wanting to quit. I knew I was going to finish and I did. Final run time 3:37:41. Final overall time 8:33:09. Yes I know I might have the slowest finish time in the record books but I did finish.

This run was pretty stressful for me. Coming from a running background having completed over 30 marathons and half marathons, I was really shocked at how miserable I was on the run. I know now that I had not eaten enough on the bike which was part of my problem but I was really dissappointed about how I felt.

Being three days after the race now, I can step away from this and realize this was a training event for me and not an "A" race and I have learned alot.