Ironman Florida - TriathlonFull Ironman

I normally have panic attacks during triathlon swims. Prayer is very powerful. I waited for the crowds to go and then walked into the water. There were only a few people around me. In hindsight the swim probably would have been better if I'd started further into the group. There was no one to draft or swim near. I stopped a few times during the swim to adjust my position. The Garmin said I swam 9.4 miles..Yeah right! lol. I know that I swam all over the place. During the swim I saw a sting ray? jellyfish and other fish. The water was choppy but not as bad as Alcatraz. I swallowed salt water quite a few times.
Overall I'm happy with my swim. Anytime I survive and get out of the water in a triathlon it is a good thing!

Start further up in the pack. Sight, Sight, Sight. Learn how to swim before May 2007. Start off on swim team as a child. Go to college on a swimming scholarship.

T-1 was awesome. Ran into the tent and had 2 helpers. Kathy G also came over and helped me. Kathy was very helpful and also funny. She asked me if I needed my chamois butter opened. I said yes. Then she told me she would open it but wouldn't help my apply it! lol!
I remember being so happy in T1. Actually I was happy for the rest of the day. On the way out I saw Jennifer, my BT friend from Alcatraz. Gave her a hug on my way out the door. Stopped by for suncreen and a potty break.
Grabbed my girl (bike) and went through the chute. Hubby was screaming my name and trying to get me to stop for a photo op in the chute. I did look back and smile on my way down the chute. I was so happy to be on my bike. Screamed at spectators. Told some guy that the fun was starting. I think I screamed something about knowing I couldn't drown on my bike.

Nothing.

The bike is my favorite sport. I was so happy to be riding and on the course. During the way out there was a slight headwind which wasn't bad. I started taking in my nutrition within 15 minutes of being on the bike. My legs felt a little heavy at the first of the ride. So I deviated from the plan and took in a GU to restore what was lost during the swim. This was a good choice. Being so slow on the swim actually pays off on the bike. I passed tons of people on the bike. And I wasn't even going that hard. I remember looking down and seeing my HR at 130- Zone 2 -perfect. We rode into a nice lil headwind until special needs. The people I saw on the ride looked pretty beaten down by the wind. Where I live there is wind all of the time. I told myself that I was at an advantage over all of those people. Stopped to pee somewhere before special needs. Good sign from a hydration standpoint. I nailed my nutrition on the bike. At exactly 3 hours I sucked down the last of my 3 hour bottle. Supplemented every hour with a Gu as planned. At special needs I stopped for a picnic. Uncrustable peanut butter sandwich and a cold Diet Dr. Pepper. Switched out my bottles and away we went. Somewhere after special needs we turned onto the nasty bumpy road. Which wasn't good considering I needed to pee again. I remember thinking the timing mat had to be at the end of the road from hell. Because no one else would ride down that road otherwise. Stopped to pee at the rest area after the timing mat. Which made the rest of that road a lot better. We finally get off of the road. There was a point where there were just girls riding on the back part of some road. It was actually pretty cool. Learned that I can apply chamois butter and ride my bike at the same time.
When the tailwind started I really had to reign myself and the girl (bike) in. The bike wanted to ride really fast. I wanted to ride really fast. But I kept remembering what my coach said about losing the race on the bike. So we held back. It didn't even feel like we were pushing a gear. Passed people who looked pretty down on the way in. During the last 8 miles of the bike there was a headwind into town. Saw a guy wearing a really bad cycling kit and compression socks. Decided it was worth pushing it to get past him. Ugh.

The bike was great. There were times on the course that I had to remind myself it was the Ironman and 112 miles. It didn't feel like 112 miles. All of those years of riding week long tours paid off. I thought about my cycling club a lot during the bike. Told the Cervelo she could take a few months off after the Ironman. I've been promising the Colnago that she could come out to ride after the Ironman. Sang stupid little songs in my head during the bike. Such as Go Speed Racer, I think I love you by the Partridge Family and Lose Yourself. Towards the end of the bike I felt like crying. I thought about my 3 friends who had passed away a few years ago. I thought about my family and friends who have supported me over the last year. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful support group.
The day was going by so fast.

Nothing and then everything. Listening to my coach and pacing paid off later in the run. But I'm also a better cyclist. It would be nice to see just how much I could have pushed it and still had a good run.

Grabbed my bag and ran into T2. Saw Kathy G again. Switched shorts, shoes and put on my hat. Lubed up my toes before putting on my socks. I had my socks rolled up like a condom. One of the helpers tried to unroll them. Kathy and I told her that they were quicker to put on rolled up.
Stopped to pee on the way out. Saw my husband and son on the way out of T1. Stopped for a few photos and off I went.

Nothing. I'm not really sure what took so long in transition.

The transition from the bike to run wasn't bad. My legs were a little heavy. I ran wearing my Nathan fuel belt. While it was great from a nutrition standpoint it weighed a ton. Found a guy from Oklahoma to run with for a while. He told me I was running too fast for him so he dropped back. Which seemed funny at the time since I was going so slow. I ran next to the guy carrying the American flag for a while. Thought about Brittany and our armed forces. I actually felt guilty running near the guy with the flag. Here I was just running and not even carrying a flag. Other runners would thank him for supporting out country. It made me want to cry.
I stopped at the next aid station to use the bathroom. This is where I met the guys that I would run the entire first loop with. One guy took a sip of water and spit it outand almost hit me. I laughed and told him it wouldn't have even bothered me at this point if he'd really spit on me. He apologized for almost spitting on me. He probably could have thrown up on me and it wouldn't have mattered. We had a great first lap. It went by so fast since there was someone to talk to. As we got closer to the turn off they ramped up the pace and left. I couldn't believe the first 13 miles had gone by so fast.
I stopped at special needs and dropped the fuel belt off. Which felt great. Picked up a little flask and started running again. During the 2nd lap I started eating and drinking off the course. I would run and then walk between aid stations. The chicken broth tasted great. But it went right through me. I had to pee at every other rest stop on the last lap. I would find people who were running and run with them until the next porta pottie stop. There were more people walking than running at this time. Saw a few people throwing up in the park. It was really dark in the back portion of the park. I walked back there.
The last 6 miles I picked it up. Or at least it felt like I picked it up. Started feeling really strong on the last few miles. I danced around with the girls with leather and whips on the way into to finish. The last few miles went by so fast. Turned the corner and saw the finish line. I could hear my husband calling out my name but I didn't stop. I kept running towards the finish line.

Find more people to run with.

Crossed the finish line. Kathy G was there to meet me. She took off my timing chip and took pictures. Thanks Kathy! Saw another BT girl at the finish and my Iron spouse Bob. Stopped for the finish line photo. Then we ate 3 pieces of pizza and drank 2 cokes right after the race. I felt great after the race. Went back to the condo. Ate more pizza and drank beer. I felt great after the race.


Not knowing how my body could handle the distance.


Great race for my first IM. I'm looking forward to IMFL 2010. I couldn't have done it without my family and friends. Thanks!