Chesapeakeman Ultra Distance Triathlon - TriathlonFull Ironman

The start was uneventful, I lined up in the back, nice that I could touch.. and the bottom was not muddy!! Very cool, no have to tread water and could keep heart rate down. Sunrise was AMAZING... start was great, felt great, swim was great but I was last out of the water. I must find a way to stop "thrashing" around in the water for so long! HA! Water was perfect.. very little chop, no jelly fish this year, and well I was actually warm in my wetsuit half way... so really should have been set up for a good swim. In 2008, I did it under 2 hours. I love the water, I love the Choptank, just cant swim fast!!! I got out of swim looking a bit beat up... but excited.. made the cut off!! YEAH! Everyone was excited I made it.. YES!

I have to work on my swim, I think i drop my back end and even though the wetsuit helps keep me buoyant, I still have problems with drag. More swim practice, more time in the water. GOT TO GET FASTER!

Trans 1 went fast for me this year but had an awful time getting my wetsuit off. I wrestled with it way to long... thankfully it did come off! Didnt get to fuel like I should in Trans 1 but knew I stocked bike well would be fine.

Take the help from the girl who offered it... get that dang wetsuit off!

The first 10 miles were into the wind, tough coming off a long swim and fighting but then the wind was at my back for the next 10, the rest was a mix of into wind and out of wind. The last section was mainly wind at my back.. YEAH! HOT, no shade, it was 91 degrees on the second loop according to the electronic temp I saw on one of the businesses I passed. I think i heard my brain frying.. I also passed a couple people with flats. Was thanking myself for getting those really super slower tires. I learned since I got a flat in 2008 that I need a stronger tire because the Chessy Course has crap on it and it flattens tires. The water and gateraid were warm at the aid stations but it was soo hot what could they do? I had packed enough fuel that I only had to stop once to refuel and once to visit the port a pot... there was a funeral that passed with a ton of firetrucks and cars.. must of been for a fallen firefighter.. It was hard to ride next to them when they were in mourning, it was deathly quiet, they were besides me off and on for a few miles, very sad. I had problems with my toes, of all things, I think my bike shoes and clips are set up wrong. Either case I came in strong, was never so glad to get off the bike :)

Have to check the set up of my bike clips and bike shoes, no reason my toes should hurt but the rest of my body did good, except the normal butt soreness.. need to work on speed.

Trans 2 went fine, I couldnt wait to get out of my bike shoes and into my sneaks. There were four girls in trans 2 tent, but by the time i left it was just me. It was REALLY HOT out and I was sweating and had to soak myself with the water . i am lucky it will be dark for some of my marathon.. i cant wait!

I think Trans 2 went well.. no problems

The run is my strength, I trained all summer in the heat with all my long runs in 90+ degree heat so I was well ready to take on this unexpected heat in the marathon during the race. But I got a treat, the sun set around 7:30pm, so for 3 hours I was basically running in cooler and dark weather, so that helped ALOT! The first loop was tough in the heat, boy god bless the faster people who had to do most of the marathon in the sun. It was a tough one. I felt amazing though and each 8+ mile loop i got faster, I ran more than I did in 2008. I was a little concerned that there was not more "food" out on the course. I have done a few ultras and they always have some sort of picky food and on the chessy course in 2008 they had some food but this year they only had some drinks, and maybe a couple cookies, until later they had soup and soda. I didnt plan accordingly so I suffered.. boy i was hungry! I hit the port a pot a few times for sure.. and its hard in the dark to see!! ITS DARK ON EGYPT ROAD even with an almost full moon! OH and make sure you dont put anything in your special needs bag that you dont want thrown away at the end.. in 2008 we got our special needs bags back, this year NO.. I lost my long sleeve Philly marathon shirt, they told me I wasnt suppose to put anything in my bag that I wanted.. ooops

I think I did a great job on the marahon this year, I cant imagine what I could have done to improve my time. I did most of my practice in running.

Change out of wet clothes, reovery drink (Endurox 4), and at midnight some pizza and a slurpee!!!! YIPEE!!!


I really need to train more in the swim and spend a bit more time on the bike... it was a tough year to train as I work full time and was going to school two nights a week.


I love this race and recommend it to anyone who wants to do a full Ironman Distance Triathlon and not have to pay the crazy prices that are out there.