Ironman Arizona - TriathlonFull Ironman

The swim went fine. The time is reasonable. I had a hard time getting into a rythmn and my stroke felt like crap which is a bummer but I got through it with very little contact with other swimmers and I don't think I burned too much energy.

I haven't been swimming so swimming some more would help.

T2 went fine. I did the full change thing so that I would be comfortable. Went with bib shorts, jersey and arm coolers to keep the sun off of me. Took extra time to dry my feet to avoid the blisters I got last year. Checked my socks to make sure everything was good.

Nothing really. I suppose I could be faster but I have far larger issues to figure out before my transition times are much of an issue.

Where do I begin?

Lap 1 went fine...not too fast not too slow. I was on pace for a sub 7 hour bike split and my heart rate was low. At the left turn to begin the second lap I flatted. Stopped and was told Landis Cyclery was just a short bit up the road so I walked my bike to their tent. The guys were real nice and helped me change the flat. It ended up being a good thing they were right there because I had a staple embedded in the tire that took a lot of work to get out. I wouldn't have had the tools to get it done.

Lap 2: I was crusing along feeling alright but a little bummed about the flat and how long it took to fix. Did I mention that I turned down a tube when I was there since I already had pulled a tube out of my bag? Well that would become important later. As I was starting on the second lap I looked up ahead and saw a familiar rider...madcow! Cool. So I hurried it up a little and rode up next to Tom to say hi. He seemed to be cruising along and be nice and settled in. We then proceeded to pass each other a couple of times so that we could say hello. We even rode next to each other for a bit going up the hill. It was nice to see a familiar face. As we were going up the hill I started to have trouble keeping my cadence up I seemed to be slipping into a slow slog with low cadence. Tom got a lead on me and I wouldn't be close to him again until the run. Once we turned into the wind I knew I was in trouble. The wind was howling and I was riding upright because my hamstrings would scream whenever I got down in the aerobars. It really sucked. I'm not the most aero of people to begin with but up in the hoods I'm like a giant sail. The wind beat the crap out of me but I kept going. Passed up special needs because I didn't figure I needed it and because I really had to pee. Hit the port-a-john that had no line because I really didn't want to wait around and stiffen up while needing to take a leak. On my way to the bridge to end my second lap I flatted again. Aargh! This time I was no where close to Landis so I started changing the flat. Several people were really nice and in the middle of their race still asked if I needed anything. Thankfully I had everything I needed but still that's pretty cool. I changed the tire and found the wire that had punctured my tube, popped the tire back on and went on my way. The only bummer was that I had used my last tube. I had two in my special needs bag but I hadn't stopped to pick it up. I should have stopped after the first flat or accepted the tube from Landis. Now I was faced with the uncertainty of what would happen if I flatted again which ordinarily wouldn't be a concern but then again I usually don't flat twice in the span of 75 miles. Mind you these were new tires so it was just bad luck.

Lap 3: The lap was a painful slog. My mind had gone south on me and all I could think about was having to fight back through the wind. I also knew that my hope of breaking 14 hours was gone and I just didn't want to stay out there just to finish if it was going to be a lot slower than last year's time. In retrospect none of these thoughts make sense but they were the thoughts I was having. I ended up continuing because I had gone through enough effort to be able to be here that I figured I should finish. The justification was something like if I'm going to get crap (from work and so forth) for not being around I better make the most of the time I'm not around. Anyway, I turned back into the wind got absolutely hammered by it and just finished the bike off.

Special needs contents: 2 tubes, 2 CO2 cartridges.

I was happy to be done but at the same time I was utterly demoralized. I had spent the better part of 6 hours watching people just fly by me to then spend the last 2 hours wishing there were people who would come by and pass me. I went from up near the front to near the back and I couldn't tell you why. I prepared for the bike and figured that I would have a good ride. I never thought I would be fast but I didn't think it would take me as long as it did.

Work on my flexibility so that I could ride in an aero position without my hamstrings screaming in pain. Train differently I guess. I'm not really sure. I'm still trying to figure out what exactly happened.

Work on mental focus and toughness on the bike. Try not to worry about everyone else and just ride my race.

On a positive note: my nutrition plan worked great. 2 scoops perp for 270 calories/hour + 1 scoop endurolyte powder, lots of water and endurolyte capsules as needed (I took a ton of them). I left a cage empty so that I could just take the water bottles from the aid station and add them to my empty cage but I had an emergency bottle with water in it in case I needed it. Good thing because I drank the whole thing as I slowly slogged down the hill into the wind on the third lap.

T-2 went fine. I had a conversation with myself and decided that I was going to try to salvage the day. I changed out of my bib shorts into run shorts and a hat and stuffed my bike jersey pockets with arm warmers, endurolyte capsules and tons of gels. I had intended to carry a flask on my arm or attached to my shorts but I ordered too close to the race and the stuff didn't make it in time. However, it was waiting for me when I returned from the race...great thanks!

I made sure to check my socks again and to body glide everything in sight. I also decided to remove my hr strap and just go for it. Whatever I could do...I would do.

Nothing. I did what needed to be done. I suppose I could have been faster but I had far bigger issues to worry about.

One of my goals was to run the entire run (minus the aid stations because I still can't drink while moving). I accomplished this goal. The run went amazingly well. It hurt but it always hurts. I just focused on running to the next aid station. All I thought about was not letting myself stop running before the aid station and that is exactly what I did.

The first 6 miles I was moving pretty good. My nutrition plan was working and everything was going fine. I saw madcow and said hello. Ordinarily I would have slowed down and chatted but I was on a mission to salvage the day. I had figured out that if I pulled off a 4:30 I could still make my goal and while I didn't think it was likely I was going to give it everything I had. The rest of the first lap went by fine. I started taking chicken broth and that helped clear the taste out of my mouth and the warmth was nice.

Lap 2: More of the same. I ran between every aid station. By this point I started needing to pee again which I took as a good sign so I would pee every so often. It is amazing how nice and awful it is in those port a johns. They smell bad and are stuffy but you lean against the wall anyway and have a hard time getting yourself all put back together to go back out and run somemore. I tried to keep the pitstops brief but man did I have to go. I got the second lap done and was still holding it together. 4:30 wasn't going to be in the cards but I was still running and my feet were feeling good.

Lap 3: The third lap. The hill after the first bridge was a killer. I thought about walking but I had told myself I would run the run so after I finished my broth I started running up the hill. One of the other racers said "Nice run, how long do you think you can keep it up?" I know he was being supportive but I turned it into something else and didn't think about walking again until I hit the finish line (aside from the aid stations). Around mile 23 everything hurt but I was still running so I just kept going passing people as I went. Then I rounded the finish line.

I ran through the finish line and was amazingly happy to be done. I never even heard them call my name...I never seem to hear them call my name but I didn't care I was done and I had run the entire run. That thought still makes me smile.

Special needs contents: 6 gels, coin purse with endurolyte capsules, bodyglide.

Order my supplies further ahead of time but in fairness the bike jersey worked great. Full zipper for temperature control, back pockets for storage, and it is tight enough that nothing moves around.

Nutrition: 1 hgel every 25 minutes, water at every aid station, broth at most aid stations after mile 13, and endurolyte capsules as needed.

Nothing. I collected my stuff and tried to find my Dad. I didn't set up a plan with him before hand and I didn't bring my cell phone so it ended up being 2 hours before we found each other. Thankfully I had worn a fleece jacket and pants in the morning so as soon as I picked up my dry clothes bag I put those on and my beenie because the wind made it so that once you stopped running you got cold pretty quick. Several people were nice enough to let me use their cell phones so that I could find my Dad. Next time I would set up the whole end process a little bit more I just wasn't thinking about it. I saw chili after the finish and talked to him about the race. He did pretty well for a first time especially with the wind. I'm curious to see how fast he can go without the wind and with everything he learned his first time out.

Finally I found my Dad and talked to my girl, my sister, my mom and to Steve (my former training partner). I guess Steve was on the phone most of the day with my Dad giving him progress reports, telling him the best places to go to see the race, and helping him find me after the race. Steve raced with me last year so it was cool that he was helping out my Dad. Too bad he doesn't enjoy swimming. IMAZ 2006 was his last triathlon and he has no intention to do another one, ever.

Grabbed a shower and had In 'n out burger for dinner. Hmmm...fries and a milkshake!


Lack of sleep leading up to the event, my insane work schedule including travel over the last 3 months and my mental focus on the bike. Stuff always comes up it is just a matter of how you deal with it. I need to work on dealing with issues more quickly rather than letting them derail most of my day.


As always the race was extremely well organized and stocked. They had more volunteers than racers and all of the volunteers were extraordinarily nice, supportive, and helpful. The race is expensive but it is worth it.

My only negative would be they need more toilets on the bike. If we can't pull over and pee in the desert then more toilets are needed some of the lines were crazy. However, they did add bike racks next to the toilets which was a huge improvement.

A great race that is still looking for ways to improve.