Ironman 70.3 Florida - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I am very happy with this preformance. I started off in the very back of my wave, was basically the last one into the water. I walked out to about waist high and then dove in and started to swim. I got into a good groove right off the bat and just kept going. My googles started to fog up and I couldn't site at all so I just kept following the feet in front of me. Finally I saw a canoe and decided to go hang on and clear my googles. The Life gaurd told me to spit into my googles, rub it around, and dip them into the water. This worked great, I could see agian. At this point I realized I had already rounded the first bouy. I looked at my watch and realized I didn't hit the stop watch part and was kinda glad because I really didn't want to worry about my time as much as just finishing. I started to swim agian made it to the next large bouy and thought it was the second turn but it was only the mid-way point, I hung on to another life gaurd just a second to get my direction then went off. As I got the the second turn bouy I was right on it and in the middle of a lot of people. I am use to being at the back of the pack all alone and started to feel a freak out coming so instead I swam to the next life gaurd and held on for a second just to get my breath. Once I did I started going agian, and not more then a couple minutes I was right back in the back and got swam over and pushed under and felt another panic attack coming on so agian, back to the life guard. This time thought I could see the end and decided just to push all the way in. The sun was coming up and blinding me so I breathed to the right only for about 300m and then could hear the cheers so started breathing both sides and swam all the way in. Got to where I could stand and ran in. Looked at my watch and realized I just swam my first HIM under 45min and was very happy.

Nothing really, I am very pleased with this time. Only thing is be more comfortable in the crowd but that will come with more experience. Met my goal of under 1 hour and was happy to be done with the swim.

Had about a 200m run from the water to T1 and I acutally ran the entire way. Got to my bike with no problems and took a gel and some water and put my sunglasses, helment, race number, and shoes on with no problem. Unracked my bike and started to go and felt my bike dragging, then realized something was wrong and my back tire was jammed and not spinning. I moved over to the side and tried to figure out what the issue was but couldn't find anything wrong. Played with chain and gears and finally got the tire moving agian. Had about 100 yard from my position in T1 to the bike exit so I walked my bike checking the rear tire. Finally got the the mount line and realized I forgot to take of my clip covers. Got those off and clipped in and started to go.

Check my bike over in the morning if I had to check it the day before to make sure it is good and remember to take off shoe clips. Maybe learn how to have shoes already clipped in.

First few miles I was almost in tears. The problem with my rear wheel wasn't fixed in T1 as I thought and it was extremely hard to pedal. I had to stop about a mile in to check it and finally got it working agian but it was still hard to pedal. I didn't want my HIM to be over due to equipment problems so I kept pushing it. At about mile 3 my bike started to make a noise and it became hard to pedal so I started to change gears to see if I could get it to were I could atleast pedal. While I was going throught the gears something must have corrected itself and my bike felt normal and I was able to get up to a good speed and cadiance. I started to just enjoy the ride and just tell myself it was just another long Sunday ride. I started to pass people and was feeling good. I kept a close watch on the time and took into some gu every hour and drank when needed. First aid station was at mile 20 and it was Pirate themed. I came to a stop and got some water and filed my areo bottle up and grabed a Gatoraide Endurance and started going agian. At about mile 22 we hit some hills and I was able to take these pretty easy. Then at about mile 30 I got to the big hill and while climbing my bike started to make the noise agian and I got scared, but stayed calm and changed gears and the noise stopped. Got to the second aid station and agian came to a stop and filled my areo bottle and got a bananna to eat. Stomach started to bother me at about mile 45 with cramps. I was drinking plenty and taking in food and thought it just might be from having to go to the restroom so I pushed it through to the end. Got back on Disney Proporty and was very happy that the bike was over. Came to a stop and unclipped and saw my sister at the dismount line. Ran my bike to my spot where my Mom was waiting near the fence.

Check the bike in the morning to make sure it is working and nothing happened to it the night before.

Got my helmet off and shoes off with no problem and but running stuff on with no problem. Decided to take a restroom break during T2 which added a little bit of time but it was needed.

Nothing, good T2

Didn't really know what to expect during the run. There was an aid station right at the start so I took in some water and Gatoraide hoping it would settle my stomach but it didn't. I had to start walking about half a mile into the run. Firt loop was a walk run combo throughout and taking in Gatoraide and water at every aid station and putting Ice in my hat and cool sponges in my top to keep cool. Got to the turn around point and saw my mom and start to laugh and told her it was going to be a long run as I shuffled by. Started the second lap and decided to run from Aid station to Mile marker and walk a bit at each. This worked out well and I started to feel a little better and was able to cool down a bit with cool sponges and ice. I picked up my pace a little bit on the second lap and was feeling good going into the third lap. Starting off the third lap I decided to give Coke a try as I heard and read so much about how awesome it is on the run, and it is the truth, I felt great after drinking the coke and decided to just get the final lap done and only walk the aide stations. Got Water, Gatoraide, Coke and ice at each aid station. Got to the final mile of the run and told myself I wasn't going to walk any more. Started to slowly pick up my pace as I got closer to the finish. Finally to turn left and head into the finish area. Started to run as quickly as I could as soon as I saw the finish line.

Do more longer bricks, most of my bricks were done indoors, need go get out and do some longer rides and runs.

Walked around a bit and got some pizza and just took in the atmosphere.


Being my first HIM.


Very happy with this race, Ironman village was great and the number of people volunteering and supporting everyone was awesome. Outstanding race and I enjoyed being there. Got a lot of good merchandise and can't wait to see my pictures. Congradulations to everyone that was out there and thank you to everyone who was there to support.