Ironman Texas - TriathlonFull Ironman

This was my first mass start with this many people in the water. Up to this point it has been wave starts in HIM races and this is a totally different beast. I set myself in the middle of the starting line and back about mid pack. When the gun went off, it was elbows and feet everywhere I went. My sighting was good going out as I was on the buoys the entire out section of the course. However, I was never able to get into a good rhythm because I was stuck in this huge crowd of swimmers and not able to find space to settle into a good stroke. I had to stop swimming out the out leg of the course due to a calf cramp in my right leg, but it subsided rather quickly and I was on my way again. I hit the 2 turn buoys at the far end of the course still online but still in this mass of people that I had been swimming with the entire time. Once I made the turn back up the lake I ended up getting a calf cramp in my left leg. Again, I had to stop, massage out the cramp while trying to tread water, then get on my way again. On the swim back up the lake I got offline from the buoys and ended up closer to shore where the water was shallow enough that you could have stood up if you wanted to (I saw several people doing just that) and I think being offline obviously affected my time. Once I made the turn into the canal, the combat swimming got more intense and even seemed worse than at the swim start. I pushed through and finally exited the water but I ended up being about 10 minutes off of what I would normally swim that distance in open water.

I would definitely position myself differently next time. Either further up front, or further to the outside or inside, but not right in the middle. That was a horrible decision on my part and had the most impact on my swim time. I don't know what to do about the calf cramps when I swim. I had this issue at Longhorn last year and I thought I had it resolved by taking salt tabs and additional fluids leading up to the race (I did this at Galveston in April and no cramp issue there). I know I wasn't dehydrated because I was going to the bathroom all morning prior to the race and even pissed twice during the swim!

The transition bags were laid out on the ground and although they had volunteers there to help, I had issues locating my T1 bag. I remembered from the day before that 1 bag was at the end of a row and 1 bag was at the beginning of a row. Well, I thought my T1 bag was the one at the end of the row, so I ran all the way up to where I thought it would be only to find out it was down at the bottom of the row. So, after running back down to get the bag and then getting my shoes, helmet, and sunglasses situated, I headed to my bike. Grabbed her off the rack and headed out to the mount line.

Pay attention to the signs that listed where the bag numbers where or do a better job remembering the correct location of my T1 bag

Best part of the day for me. I was able to get water as needed at each aid station to keep ahead of my hydration needs. I maintained a good calorie intake the entire ride. It was cloudy for most of the ride and there was some mist in the air intermittently that kind of helped keep the body cool and comfortable. I ended up throwing my chain changing gears going up one of the few hills and that cost me about 1 minute, but other than that, it was a really good bike ride for me. Kept my HR in check around where I wanted it the entire time!

I think the bike portion went very well and I was completely happy with my performance and the way I managed my hydration, nutrition, and HR. I felt like I set myself up for at least a decent run portion when I came off the bike.

I wanted to keep both T1 and T2 times to around 5:00 each, but you already know what happened in T1. This time I knew where my transition bag was and got to it pretty quickly. I went into the tent and took the time to change socks and make sure I had everything I needed for the 26.2 that were ahead of me. I stopped by the sunscreen crew on the way out to make sure I had the shoulders, neck and ears covered!

Not a whole lot. I took the time I needed to make sure I was prepared when I hit the run. Maybe just move a little quicker than I did.

I left transition and immediately my left foot developed a hot spot on the ball of my foot. I was able to run through it, but for the 1st 30 minutes of the run, it was a concern and I had never dealt with this before. Overall the body felt good, legs were in good shape, mind was good, and I was in a good place. My intent was to run each mile then walk the aid station then repeat. I did this with no issues on the first lap, but by the time I was hitting that 2nd lap I could feel blisters developing on my left and right foot. As these got worse, I slowed and walked a little bit more than I did on the 1st loop. By the time i started loop #3, they were really bothering my to the point that I was just shuffling along. Everything else was fine except for the feet. Again, this is something I had never dealt with in any other race (but I had never run a marathon before either) and these were shoes I had been running in for months with no problems. I just continued the slow shuffle and ran when I could and then walk for a little and then run again as long as I could. My nutrition was good, I never had any stomach issues, I felt like I did a good job keeping the body cool and keeping my hydration in place. When I got back to the hotel and took my shoes off, my little toe on the left had a blister the covered the entire front of the toe and wrapped around from one side to the other and underneath the toe. I had 3 separate blisters on the ball of my foot on the left and 2 on the right along with another blister on my small toe on the right.

Use vasaline on my feet to keep the blisters from popping up?? I don't know ... the shoes I ran in are the same shoes I have been using for 2 years now and the specific pair I have been running in for a few months and did almost all of my long runs in them leading up to the race.

We walked back to the hotel after getting shuffled through the finisher chute after I crossed the finish line. Took a shower then headed back to transition to get the bike and gear bags. After that it was back to the hotel and the wife went to Freebirds and got me one of their HUGE burritos for dinner! Couple of Advil, a few bottles of water and it was bed time!


The swim was rough, I need to position myself better in future races. The blisters on the run were a nice surprise not ever having dealt with that before. Those 2 things were limiting factors in my performance for this race


For all the grief some people give WTC, they put on a great event. This is my third IM branded race (2 HIM's, and 1 IM) and I have been happy with the race organization at all 3. The city, volunteers, and all the spectators that lined the course made this a remarkable event and one I will remember for a lifetime!