Ironman Florida - TriathlonFull Ironman

Popped a Hammergel just before the cannon and drank half pint of water. Tested my goggles seal in the water to ensure no leakage. I truly believe the best place to start is on the inside behind all the fast swimmers, which was my strategy. While it was crowded, I only got bumped when I started swimming through people. Even if I was faster, I'd still start in the same spot so I could see the best place to navigate through traffic as all the rabbits lose their initial momentum. Navigated dead on with all the buoys and lost quite a few people when the waves hit rounding the first turn. I timed my breaths for the top of each wave and basically body-surfed down the backside of each as the waves were hitting us dead on. I finshed the first lap in 33+ minutes with barely a bump. Navigated dead on with all the buoys. Second lap was easier as there were less people, until the turn. I got stuck on the outside and there were way to many people to get back to the buoys, so I kept a person on my left shoulder at all times to ensure I didn't drift of course. My navigation always seems to suffer on the return so I made a concerted effort to keep checking for that person on my left. Finally, the pack faded and I gradually made my way back on course and finished the second lap just a few minutes slower (most likely for the extra distance the pack forced me to swim) than the first. I was pumped!

Position yourself in the right spot and the swim isn't as bad as they say. Too far to the right and you'll hit a lot of breast strokers who do the most damage with the wide leg kick.

Nothing.

Strippers were great. I took a lot of time in the tent to ensure I had everything right. Applied some Butt'r. Put on my shorts, HRM, singlet, long sleeve jersey, heavy socks, shoes, helmet, glasses, loaded up my pockets with two Triple Threat Power Bars and two Hammergels, put Aquaphor on my lips and ran out. Doubled back to get sunscreen but for some reason told them to only put it on my neck and not my face. Face got a little burned.

Sunscreen on my face.

Earlier in the week, my bike computer popped off when I tried to reset it while riding. Thought it was just loose. Apparently not, because as soon as I mounted my bike and started riding, I tried to reset it and it popped off again. I saw it land, looked behind me to see if anyone was coming and they were, three guys right behind me! Crap. I let the computer go, as I knew what gears I needed to be in to ride 16-18 mph depending on the wind. Also had my HRM. Checked the HRM only to find that not working either! Not a single beat register the entire ride.

This was true sufferfest for me. I've only been riding since March 2005 and train only on rolling hills with lots of tree cover to shield the wind. Rode into a headwind first 40-50 miles. Tore my legs up to maintain 16 mph. Knew I should go slower, but felt like I'd fall over if I did.

Nutrition was spot on. Two bottle of Perpeteum with 6 hours of calories broken down in thirds. Drank the full third at the top of every hour after spinning easy for 15 minutes to start. Had an extra bottle at Special Needs to give me 7 hours of fuel total. Supplemented with water in aero bottle at every aid station (about a bottle per hour) and two Hammergels near the end, one to get me to the bike finish and one to push me through transition. Grabbed one or two bananas on the course, but they were a little too green for me.

New bike. Giant OCR2 is a great road bike for beginners but a real tri bike would buy me some speed. More importantly, I need to ride with a group to push myself harder in training. I ride solo all the time, even my centuries.

Had some serious doubt about going on since the bike course beat me up so bad. Saw a buddy in T2 which got me going. Left my trishorts on, took off my singlet, put a short sleeve shirt on, Aquaphor on my lips, my visor, glasses back on and I was off. Great to not be wearing a fuel belt!

Not doing any bricks in training didn't have any impact on me just like in didn't in my HIM's. It's all about bikefit I'm certain. Maintained 9:30 miles at a 3/1 run-walk interval. Doubts about pushing to hard entered my mind and I altered my strategy by going to a 2/1 interval. Beginning of the end for me as it only led to more walking, which in turn led to more walking. Even though it was my plan, something told me not to take any Gu... another bad decision. The rest of the run was a battle to keep moving forward and try to put together solid run segments while finding alternative food/drink that worked for me. In the end, I put together a solid final 10k including a two-mile sprint to the finish.

I think my real problem was the bike. It blew my confidence and the doubts caused me to alter my run strategy for the worse. Though I'm satisfied with the performance I got from my Giant OCR2, a tri-bike and time riding with a group will boost my ability and confidence so I'm not so demoralized coming off the bike.

Walking, a Boost High protein drink, dried plums (more potassium than bananas and who really wants to eat another banana after an IM? plus they help clear your stomach of the remnants of all the junk you ate on the course!) lots of water, 800mg of ibuprofen and a multivite. Works like a charm. Felt great except for a sore right calf, the same one I injured at Duke HIM


The bike and lack of riding time and experience.


Great race overall. Too many good things to comment on.

A few not so good though: Not enough lights on the neighborhood streets during the run. Quite a few speed bumps to run over in neighborhoods. Potholes in unlighted sections in St. Andrews Park. Rough patch of road on second half of bike.