Ironman Florida - Triathlon

That was the roughest swim I ever had. I think many people seeded themselves in a much faster time then they really swim. Plus waves was making it a wreck tossing people around and current was pushing people around.

Start farther up front !! I was in the under hour time corral, which is where I should have been but I let the first few go in front to see how the waves was gonna toss them around. Many was trying to go over waves instead of under and they was getting a butt kicking

I thought T1 was gonna take longer with the long run and how we had to get to the bikes but it went pretty well. I didnt change cloths so I just put on helmet and ran to bike with shoes in hand to it was a bit faster then trying to run in bike shoes

nothing

This is where my complaints start. FIRST I had read a lot about IMFL and all the drafting that goes on and wanted to stay out of it. Before I was outta town it had started already and bikes was diving in and out between people with just inches to spare. Around mile 11 I had a huge pack roll up on me and was passing, I was already on the white line with no place to go and they was only giving maybe 4 inches from shoulder to shoulder. Well either the last guy or one of the last got on my left side and dove in. His rear tire hit my front tire and the next thing I know I was sliding down the road on my side. Stood to find just another big pack coming at me swerving all over the road. Chain off and bottles across road I had to get bike back up and running. Aero bars was spun sidways but things worked. So i gathered my thoughts and tried to shake off the bugs cause I was dizzy ( didnt know till after I cracked my helmet) AND this was not the last time I seen this, actually the entire ride I seen packs of bikes from 10-30 in a pack swapping positions in the draft. I even seen a group of about 15 in the tent and after theri time was up they jumped right back into a pack and took off . WORST WORST CRAP I EVER SEEN !!!

I gave the bike a good cause not till yesterday did I know I rode with a sever bruised hip, whole left side road rash, swollen hematoma elbow, and a few cracked ribs.

I was not sure if I was gonna be able to run or not. Hip hurt so much and when they seen me in T2 they was gonna take me to medical but I told the guy NO I have to finish first then I will go

Knowing there was NO WAY I could run or even run walk it , I decided to run till the wheels fell off and deal with it later. Made it 12 miles until compensating for L hip made the R hip and everything below the hips hurt too bad to run. SO not wanting too I had to walk the last 13 miles. I did try to run at times but never made it farther then maybe 100 feet before the pain made me walk. Ribs was not letting me take a deep breath so it was all shallow and fast just to get O2. It SUCKED to say the least

Nika ( my A.R.T. lady) was at finish and took me to medical and got me cleaned up, still had dried blood all over and scabs with rocks and dirt in them. That was my cool down


OF COURSE THE DRAFTER WHO WRECKED ME !!!


I had this race for a PR !! I trained and was ready for it. IF IF it was me that failed I could handle it better. Like lack of hydration or nutrition etc.. I could handle it better BUT when BAD PISS POOR SPORTSMANSHIP is the cause I cannot deal with it. I mean if people have to cheat or wanna team sport go to baseball or bowling. I have waited 5 years to race IMFL ( spent almost 3 of them years in the desert) finally get to it and ready to lay it all out and this shit happens. Sorry but IRONMAN did a terrible job with the refs and need more to control this. AND if anyone reading this you was in them packs MOVE ON TO A NEW SPORT !! and I will bet you still didnt come close to the Kona slot you wanted.