Ironman U.S. Championship - TriathlonFull Ironman

Wasn't as bad as I envisioned until I got to the end...then it appeared to be lights out. I poked by head out of the water and realized I was near the end but not close enough to grab the barge. I made the mistake of putting my foot down and was immediately sucked into the mud. It was too shallow to tread water but you also couldn't stand. Everyone was trying to paw their way onto the steps. Lucky a volunteer grabbed my arm and pulled me hard onto the steps.From there I started stripping as I ran toward the showers. The wetsuit strippers were on the opposite side of the showers but i needed to get the muck and mud off me so i took my own wetsuit off.

Not much I felt pretty confident with my swim considering how nervous I was going into it

It would have been great if the volunteers did more than spectate. I found my own gear bag and found the tent without much direction. I got myself together without an offer from any volunteers to assist...(I remember feeling like a rock star when I did Florida this was very no frills). I wanted to take a sip of a protein drink and asked around for water. One volunteer spoke up and said I could find water on the race course (not helpful). Then I had to ask where they would like me to place my gear bag. Somebody indicated drop it on the pile with the other gear bags (duh I didn't see them). Would have appreciated a little direction and water in the tent??? FInally got out of the tent and started running to where I knew my bike would be. There happened to be a volunteer standing at the end of my row who nodded and said I was in the right row. Wait a minute?? I thought this was Ironman? My first Ironman the bike was waiting for me when i got our of transition. I had to get my own bike and fish it out of the bikes an tangled with mine. Kind of ridiculous for $900 entry fee.

I forgot to bring the lube stuff for my bike pants...by the end of the bike I felt like I was sitting on sandpaper. I also forgot my sunscreen. Probably would have been good to have brought some for my face.

It started out nice enough then the road conditions changed and it started to get hot as hell. The aid stations were set up in weird places and all i really wanted was cold liquid which seemed to only come at tepid temps.
At the end I had to ask a volunteer to rack my bike. Nobody was offering...again wtf

I don't know...just not do this race again. It sucked.

There was no running with the bike from anyone. By the time I finished this bike I was completely over "Ironman" and even offered to have the volunteer list my bike on ebay (just kidding) but seriously the bike was brutal and I was more than glad to be done. I honestly didnt think I would be able to get through a marathon even walking. I needed water really bad and of course there was none in transition. They told me to head out to the race course, there would be an aid station soon with water.

I really took my time here because I was just really not in the mood to even go on. I got it together and got my shoes on. Finally a volunteer did come around to ask if i needed anything. I asked for sunscreen. I was informed they ran out. Oh well. Par for the course here.

This was the most ridiculous run course I have ever seen. I opted to walk the hills because I knew there was no way I was going to finish this race if i didn't. I was not alone. Everything hurt even my skin. To top off our misery there were really no spectators even after I crossed the bridge. In Riverview park us runners were apparently interupting the fiesta. People were hanging out barbequing playing ball riding bikes as full speed on the same path as the runners. Nobody even cared that this was an ironman. We were in their way. Finally to Riverside park and back and forth we run like mice. Up hills, up staircases...just ridiculously stupid. Why would there be a hill at mile 26??? Well why not? This whole race sucked and there was nothing NYC about it except for staying in the host hotel who btw knew very little about the race.

Being up since 2:30 am to load the 3a bus to get to the 4a ferry. I didn't know how many people would be on the shuttle and I was afraid to be left behind so I opted for a half hour earlier start.
The race logistics were completely stressful and there was minimal support on the course from spectators and the volunteers were completely clueless. That in combination of a sucky course and hot humid day just extiguished my fire. I was completely over it by the end.


Not worth $900 + dollars ($50 for spectator to go the banquet dinner which seemed essential since the logistics were a nightmare, $50 to get my bike back from transition unless of course I wanted to pick it up after the race, yeah right that would have added another 2 hours to my already ridiculously long day, $900 for the host hotel who knew very little about the race) and an incredibly boring, brutal course make this race a thumbs down. Sorry.