IronMan Cozumel - TriathlonFull Ironman

I swam this course way faster than I planned to. I was shocked when I got out of the water and looked at my watch. I think it was a combination of the salt water and good drafting that helped me out. There was more contact in the water than I would have liked and the turns all got really congested and you had to stop almost entirely while rounding them, but other than that it was a good course. The clear water helps with sighting. It was an absolutely beautiful swim.

Maybe take the turns a little wider.

I stopped to get some sunscreen, which I am glad I did. The day after the race I could clearly see where they applied it and where they didn't.

I had a pretty strong ride. The bike is my strength, so I enjoy that part of the day. Coming into town each time was fantastic. The crowds in the town really pump you up and get your energy going again. There are people scattered here and there around the course too, which is nice. The headwinds and cross-winds make the course challenging, despite the fact that it is flat. Weighing 170lbs helped me on this bike course. I was happy to not be a petite woman or I might have blown off the road. I did notice that a lot of people were drafting, especially during the third lap. Not much I can do about that. I tried really hard to ride and honest race and made sure I dropped back when I was passed. It was difficult because often someone would pass you and then slow down, so you'd have to drop back before repassing them. That was kind of annoying, but it is all part of the race. I did ride through rain showers twice for about 15 minutes, so I made sure to ride carefully when the road was wet. I think one or two people may have had accidents because of the slick roads.

I had a quick transition. The volunteers were great. I gave my bike to one volunteer, ran into the changing tent, threw on my shoes while another volunteer dumped ice down my shirt, and off I went.

The course was nice. The crowds really came out to cheer and support, which was nice. When you turn around for the second time after seeing the finish line twice, your heart sort of sinks because you just want to be done, but you get through it. The start of the run was hot. Really hot. Then part way through the sky decided to open up and it downpoured. We got drenched for the better part of an hour. And the roads flooded. There were parts where everyone got out of the road and shared the narrow sidewalks because the water was so high. There were also a couple places where the water was unavoidable. One spot was so flooded that when I went through the water came up to almost the middle of my calf. It was crazy. Wet feet equaled some blisters after the race, but I didn't really notice them while I was running. I really picked it up the last two miles because I was running next to a guy in my age group and I wanted to try to beat him. I wasn't sure exactly where I would place in my AG, but I figured if I could go hard and finish one spot higher I'd give it my best shot. This was also the first time I've ever run a marathon, so considering that I'm relatively pleased with it.

A nice lady in a medical shirt grabbed me after I crossed the finish line and asked me some questions to make sure I was ok. She walked with me, got me fluids, and got me to a chair. I had a deal with a good friend that if I finished, didn't puke or need an IV she would quit smoking, so I sat in the chair and made sure I held in any time I felt like throwing up. I'm happy to say I kept my end of the deal and now I'm going to make sure she follows through on hers.


This was my first Ironman and I loved every minute of the race. I even enjoyed the pain that came during and after it. The city of Cozumel was wonderful. The crowd and support we got during the race was great. My family and girlfriend were there to cheer me on too, which was really nice. I enjoyed seeing them and hearing them cheer each lap on the bike and run. I am not going to do a full IM next year, as I want to enjoy some time with my family and girlfriend, but in two years I will definitely do another one. I don't think I'll do this race again because there are so many out there and I want to see more places and different races, but I would absolutely recommend it for anyone who wants a different Ironman to enjoy. If money and time weren't an object and I could do as many races as I wanted, I'd go back for sure. Many thanks to the people of Cozumel, the volunteers, race organizers, and competitors for making my first Ironman experience so great. Running the last 500 meters with the crowd cheering and my arms above my head is a feeling I will never, never forget. Crossing the finish line and hearing the announcer say "Scott, you are an Ironman" was something I dreamt about for a long time. It was as amazing as I thought it would be.