Ironman Texas - TriathlonFull Ironman

The plan was to get in the middle, surge and keep up with whoever was near for the 1st 400 yards or so and then settle down, get out of traffic as best as I could then setlle into my race pace.
And then the gun went off...
I surged and hit a wall of bodies! About 20 people had STOPPED at the buoy like they were afraid to go swim. This created a huge bottleneck. I'm pretty sure I didn't make any friends when I started swimming over folks and pushing my way through. But if I didn't push through, I was going to get run over. I didn't get beat up too bad and finally found some water to swim in then settled into my pace.
Made it to the turn around and was feeling much more relaxed. Took it ez and swam the long way back into the canal.
Once in the canal, it got crowded again. Didn't get beat up, but the lack of room to manuever was evident.
Checked my watch and I was a little behind where I thought I'd be. Then BOOM! my right calf cramped up. Luckily the canal was only 3-4 feet deep and I was able to stand up and stretch it out. Swam ez for a bit then it cramped up again so I stopped and stretched until it relaxed. Swam ez the rest of the way without issues, but I knew I was way behind where I wanted to be.
Navigation: According to my Garmin, I swam 5058 yards. That could explain alot!!!!!!

Get closer to the front, surge and clear, then settle into race pace. The faster you're away from the start buoys, the better off you'll be.
Not sure what happened with the calf cramp. In training I would consistently get foot cramps at around 3500 yards but I had learned to push through them and they would relax. The calf cramp was intense and unexpected.
Also, this was a wetsuit optional race. I brought my sleeveless and decided not to wear it. I knew I wasn't going for an award or a Kona slot so I am wondering if I should have worn it.

This was about the median time for T1 in my AG. I made up 8 places in my AG at T1. in #312, out #304

I put my nutrition inside a bag inside my bike gear bag. Fumbling around in that second bag probably cost me some unneeded extra time.

Bike strategy gone, out the window, bye-bye, via con dios. Trained for munths with a power meter,my race plan centered around my power meter, and on race day my power meter decided to take the day off. I changed the batteries he day before. Checked it before I dropped it off in transition Friday. Worked fine. Checked it race morning. Fine. Got on the bike and shifted up....no power showing on cycling computer. Ok, I had my heart rate monitor...I can wing it using HR.
Went up the first hill and my hamstring began to spasm. This had me worried. The whole course is rolling hills with a few flat spots. I had to think of something quick. No power meter and a cranky hamstring. This was going to be a long ride. My hamstring was fine as long as I stayed light in the pedals and if I had to really hammer to get up a hill I could get out of the saddle and use different leg muscles to get up the hill. So that's what I did. If my HR was staying low after going up the hill, then I shifted up and stayed light in the pedals with a fast cadence and zipped down the hill, carried that speed into the next climb and, if needed, got out of the saddle t finish the climb. If HR was higher at the top of the hill, I gathered a bit of speed and coasted in tight aero down the hill letting my HR come down. Whenever I could, I was streteching the backs of my legs to get rid of the spasms/cramps.
Mile sixty I got my special needs bag where I had a Redbull, some endurolytes and Advil. Stopped and stretched my hamstring as best as I could and off I went. I was able to ride the hills normally after that, but couldn't push too hard without my hamstring acting up.
Despite not having a great ride, I managed to make up 24 places in AG on the bike. From #304, to #280.
Looking back, I am probably the most disappointed in not being at my best for the bike. I drppoed 15 lbs and shed 9% body fat since January. This is the lightest and leanest I've been in over a decade. I think this course would have been ideal for me.

Put some endurolytes/salt tabs in my bike gear bag. I wasn't expecting the cramps that early.
More strength training focusing on core, glutes and back of the legs.

A bit better than average for my AG in T2. Gained another 6 positions here.

I always run with a Fuel Belt. I was carrying two 8 oz bottles + nutrition with me. Forgot to fill my bottles before the race so I filled them in T2. Looking back, there were aid stations every mile with plenty of water. Don't think I would carry the water bottles with me.

I was so looking forward to this run after that bike. I had my plan, I knew my HR monitor worked, and I was ready to run. I ran from T2 screaming "It's run time, baby! Wooo!"
I wish my legs were as happy as my brain was to be running. My hamstirng started cramping again and my IT band was so tight I could feel it rolling across the muscle with every step.
So, I scrapped my run plan and did what I had to do to finish. To get through the 1st two laps, I ran for 2 minutes then walked for 1 and walked the aid stations. I was taking in Perform and water at every aid station and slamming endurolytes trying to get my hamstrings to stop cramping, but they just wouldn't let up. The last lap, I tried to run a little further between each aid stations. The last few miles is through the crowds and I knew that the end was soon,so I kept walking to a minimum and the crowd responded when they saw me trying to run (most people had resigned to walking the rest of the way at this point). When I hit the chute, I ran as fast as I could. If my hamstrings locked up on me, I could crawl to the finish. The crowd cheered and I ran faster. I saw the finish line and I ran faster. I heard "Scott Hercules, you are an Ironman!" and I stopped :)

Nothing. I was mentally in the game the whole run. I concentrated on what I needed to do at that moment to make sure I made it to the finish line as fast as I could and without blowing up. I smiled often, flexed for the cameras when I saw them, and made jokes as often as I could....my favorite joke as we passed a mile marker "Know what the best thing about mile 16 is? It's not mile 15..." cheesey I know, but it was hot and it was the best I could come up with as my brain was frying :)

Stopped and stretched the back of my legs then walked around gathering my gear.


Cramps and equipment malfunction


great event...the crowds were great... so glad I could do my first IM at the inaugural IMTX. Double special.