Ironman Coeur d'Alene - TriathlonFull Ironman

I wanted to break an hour on the swim. Given the conditions, I think I did pretty good. I got kicked in the face twice, kicked int the side and my feet/ankles pulled on on the first lap. What is it with pulling on the ankles/feet? I have been swimming a long time and never understood that? Oh I found something now let me grab onto it? Oh well. .I just kicked a little harder when someone did that.

For the swim, I started out on the far left (facing the water) there wasn't a ton of people and I was behind just one person. It was a scramble into the water and to the first buoy, but the firt turn buoy came faster than expected. It was really choppy out there though. I guess 57 people chose to not swim and do a duathlon, I thought the race announcer was just joking when he mentioned that.

Not much... just did what I had to do and then got out. .

I cramped up when the strippers pulled the wetsuit off of me. . I usually cramp up at least once in race, so I guess my body wanted to get it out of the way early this time.

The change tent wasn't that crowded like everyone said it would be. . .I sat down, got my stuff on and then headed off on the bike.

Don't know. . was still a little dizzy from the swim and didn't rush things as I didn't want to forget anything.

The bike was going great, I don't have a computer on my bike, but I could tell that my average out of transition and through miles 10 and 20 was around 20 mph and I felt like I wasn't pushing it at all.

At mile 34 I had been passed by a number of very good bikers (I expected this to happen), but then at mile 38 the shot that was hear around Hayden Lake happened. My rear tire blew out and when I say blew out, I mean it. The whole sidewall of the tire was gone. About 3-4 miles before this, I noticed a rythmic bump in my rear tire, but figured it was just the road. That turned out to not be the case. After I dismounted the bike, I spoke with a race official (this did happen in a good plae I guess) and he said that he would call in bike support for a new tire, but didn't know how long that would take.

Well to make a long story short, I ended up borrowing a spectators cell phone to call my family who had an extra tire in the trunk to see if they could beat the bike mechanics to my location (the location made it possible for them to do this with ease). My family arrived after I had been standing on the side of the road for an hour just watching everyone go by. I got the new tire on, got my tube out of the pack, then another horror set in. The tube that I was carrying was not long enough in the stem to get air into it. I needed an 88mm stem or a valve extender. THIS WAS MY FAULT!! I should have double checked the tube I was carrying to make sure it was the right one. Well, they left to go find a tube or valve extender for me, but 30 minutes later the bike mechanics arrived and had me on my way.

There is a lot more emotion to this story, but in the end I learned some lessons. Total time on the side of the road just standing and watching the race go by was 1 hour 30 minutes. I did get back on the bike and hammered, not knowing how this would affect my run. One good thing is that I did get to ride next to Bonnie for about 5 minutes. . . it was nice to see a friendly face on the course.

I will always wonder what would of happened if I wouldn't have lost that hour and half. So I guess I will have to come back and find out. :)

Carry a spare tire with me and TRIPLE CHECK that the tube I have is the right stem length for my Zipp 404 wheel set!!!

I thought I may cramp off getting of the bike, but the volunteers were great in laying the bike sideways so I could dismount without much quick movements on my part. I loved the Volunteers!!!

Well, I am not a runner. I ran my first marathon in January of this year and did a 4:56. Needless to say I was expecting a 6 to 7 hour marathon split for me, so I was/am VERY HAPPY with my run.

I don't know. .I ate/drank and paced myself pretty good. At mile 13-15 my legs started to ache so I took some extra strength Tylenol and that made them feel much better. I don't know my splits of miles 19-26, but I was running pretty good by then. I saw Doug and Bonnie on the course, it was good to see Doug, he passed my at mile 2 but I was happy he was running good, I saw Bonnie and gave her a high five.

I LOVED running down Sherman into the finish line. It was the best feeling ever. I can't even describe it. . . Just know that I want to do it again.

Walked around and just drank some water. I usually can't eat food after a long work out or race, so I didn't eat much that night. I started to feel as though I had a fever so headed home took some Tylenol and covered up in multiple blankets. About an hour after sleeping I woke up drenched in sweat. .so I think I had a little fever after the race. I wanted to go back and cheer people in, but had really bad chills.


GREAT RACE!!!!

Well, for a 50 Yard Freestyler in College who hated to run and thought Ironman races were for the insanse. . . I am proud to say that I did it. I Truly believe that anyone can do this, if they have the heart, mind and spirit for it. It takes time in the saddle, time in the pool and time in the running shoes, but in the end it is all worth it. A special thanks to my Wife Amy, My Dad and My Aunt and Uncle. They did a great job of supporting me.