Swim
Comments: goggles kept fogging up and I couldn't see for crap. Kept having to stop and clear them. Additionally, it was a crowded swim for the first 500+ meters (way mor crowded then IMFL). It started to clear, found some open water until the start of the canal, then it got crowded again. This was simply a long slow swim for me! It sucked...PERIOD! What would you do differently?: I put anti-fog in my goggles the night before...didn't help. Maybe use newer goggles. I slacked off on my swim training the last few weeks before this race...that obviously contributed to my crappy swim...so I will stay focused on the all aspects of the training plan next time. Transition 1
Comments: Didn't rush this... wanted to make sure I got my feet dry, socks on, helmet, sunglasses, butt-butter...everything on and comfortable. It went well. What would you do differently?: I could maybe maybe move with a little more urgency, but after that swim I was a little defeated and just wanted to regroup. Bike
Comments: Again, not what I expected from myself. I had ridden this course before and had much better results. Not sure what I was doing out there... I had sections that I felt great and others that were just demoralizing. I was just not on my game today. High spot was my bike nutrition...it was spot on. stinger waffels every 30-40 minutes with water and a little bit of Gatorade. Felt so much better coming into T2 then I did at IMFL and I felt like I worked harder on this bike leg then IMFL. What would you do differently?: Maybe push a little more???? Some days you are the windshield and some days you are the bug. Today I was the bug! I averaged 19.92 on the majority of this course just a few weeks prior to the race and felt awesome off the bike for a transition run. Frustrated and disappointed, but its Ironman and so many things can change over the course of the day... Transition 2
Comments: Again, I was a little defeated after the bike split...really thought I would be in under 6hrs... I tried to regroup again for the run, and make sure I got everything on and comfortable before I left the tent. Garmin fired right up and was linked as I left the tent, that was a plus. What would you do differently?: nothing really... If I felt better about the race's progress, I may move faster. Run
Comments: I felt really good starting the run... I knew not to start out too fast, and my pace was right at 10 minutes per mile. I was feeling very hot by mile 3 and started pouring ice water and ice spoonges over my head. This was the beginning of the end for my running... my socks got drenched and by mile 8 I started to feel the big ass blisters on the balls of my feet behind my big toes (especially my left foot). I jog/walked lap two and tried to do the same for lap three. By mile 22 I could barely walk on my left foot, let alone jog on it, so I resorted to walking as quickly as I could for the last bit... I turned onto market street and found the strength to run to the finish with a big ass smile on my face! IT WAS OVER! Not nearly what I had expected, nor imagined...but it is what it is! What would you do differently?: My legs & my cardio were there for the run... my feet were not. I knew I would struggle in the heat, I always have as a runner. I could have changed socks on all three laps I guess to try and cut down on the blisters...who knows. Post race
Warm down: Hung out with the loudest cheering section on the course! A bunch of cops and teachers cheering for me the whole damn way! They were awesome! What limited your ability to perform faster: I was mentally defeated after the swim and it just kinda snow balled from there... the day just kinda went from bad to worst performance wise. I guess I could have pushed harder through out the swim and bike, not sure. Maybe it just wasn't my day... Who knows. I will climb back on this horse and keep moving forward, I know that for certain. Event comments: I got through it, there is room for improvement and I will return to the Ironman distance. I am not in a hurry to come back to IMTX, but that too will fade with time and I will find my way back...maybe after another trip to IMFL or a visit to IMAZ or IMCdA. Last updated: 2010-06-24 12:00 AM
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United States
WTC & Memorial Hermann Hospital
91F / 33C
Overcast
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = M 40-44
Age Group Rank = 0/
Wife & son volunteered for body marking so they were up at 3:15... so I got up then too. Ate a plain bagel with peanut butter & honey about 4am, then snacked on a stinger waffel, Gatorade G2 & water while John (Fattyfatfat) & I walked over to the swim start from tranistion.
tread water for about 10 minutes