Ironman Wisconsin - TriathlonFull Ironman

Started in a good place. Just to the left of the ski jump and 3/4 of the way back. Stayed in contact and felt like I got good draft. Not as many kicks/punches/etc. as 2009. I thought I swam very well (for me). There were lots of people around me, and lots still there when I got out. When I got out of the water, I expected to see 1:20 to 1:25. Oh well.

Swim more. I swam only 44miles from Jan 1, compared with 66 miles in 2009. Still, it only cost me 3 minutes.

Did a good job running up the helix and through transition. Carried my bike shoes until near the mount line, then put them on while a volunteer held my bike.

Nothing. This was a good transition for IMWI.

Coming into Mt. Horeb, I called out for my Perform, put it in my cage, and then the lady in front of me veered right, clipped my front wheel, and came to a complete stop. She decided to stop right in the middle of the hand off zone. She went down, I went down, the bike behind me, and I think one to my left. I took a wheel to the right shoulder, but the big problem was that a chain ring ran over my right butt, ripping the tri shorts I planned to wear for the entire day. I was focussed on the race, so I quickly got up and rode off.

I yelled to my wife to go home and get bike shorts, but then quickly realized that I wouldn't be able to take them. I stopped at medical in Cross Plains and asked for tape. They gave me medical tape, but wouldn't apply it without disqualifying me, so I called for a volunteer (who was allowed to help). She taped up my shorts, then a male volunteer suggested duct tape. This was a bad idea, as duct tape does not stick to spandex for very long.

My wife met me on Shady Oak with the shorts, but I wouldn't take them. So, she went on to Verona and talked to the race officials who agreed that it would be OK to put a pair of shorts in my special needs bag in the interest of common decency. I wasn't going to quit Ironman, even if all of Dane County saw my butt!

So, my wife was brilliant. She chose my thinest pair of shorts and I just quickly slipped them on over the torn ones. I did the rest of the bike and run like that.

LESSON LEARNED... put a pair of running shorts in T2 bag, even if you don't plan to wear them. I could have done the rest of the bike with the tri shorts taped, but I think it would have been a problem on the run.

I probably worked too hard to try to make up the 10 minutes I lost due to the accident, and then against the wind on Hwy G.

Pretty good. Time includes getting some more sunscreen and using the porta potty.

I suffered on the run and never could find a rhythm. I just ran as much as I could and walked often. I expected to run a 4:15, but my stomach was bloated and felt like I was carrying a balloon in there. I cannot stand the mango Perform, and was surprised that that was all they had. Because of my stomach, I didn't have much other than water on the run. So, 4:43 is a pretty good marathon without many calories, I guess.

Practice with the other flavors of Perform, or make a plan to carry something else.

My crash cost me about 10 minutes, and my stomach at least 20 minutes.


This was my second IM-WI with identical results. I finished dead center in the middle of the finishers and in the middle of my age group. I think that's a decent result. I'd train more and be faster if I had the time, but I think I maintained a good life balance while feeling well-prepared for the race. For those in a similar situation, from Jan 1 through the race I biked 2588 miles, ran 574, and only swam 44. I'd recommend more swimming, but swimming is the most inconvenient sport for me.

IM-WI is the most amazing race in terms of fan and volunteer support. It feels like everyone on the course cares about you finishing the race.