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 Swim
Comments: Bang…we’re off! The first leg of the swim was right into the waves and the wind and with 2,400 other people on top of you, elbows, fists and kicks are exchanged in bunches! I didn’t take any straight shots like I did in Florida, but I know I gave out a couple! The first leg took forever to finish and I thought my time would be about 42 minutes or so…I got out of the first lap in 35:xx! I thought I better slow down a bit on the second…passed over the divers (DD??...I waved just in case)…and headed back out. More room to swim on the second lap, but I was annoyed by the guy who kept grabbing my leg on each of his strokes…focker! Started to have some minor stomach issues on the last leg in that worried me…maybe too much lake water in the stomach?? Finished the swim in 1:13:xx, 485th overall…pretty damn good for me! Got the wetsuit stripped and off to change tent.  Transition 1
Comments: Wetsuit strippers and volunteers rock! What would you do differently?: Move faster and try to pee before finishing swim.  Bike
Comments: The bike started with a 45 minute leg out through the run course and then back into town before heading north to the real hills. Just after turning north for the first time, I started to feel the stomach bother me again and about 15 minutes later, I stopped to throw up for the first time! Great…not what you want when you’re supposed to be loading up on calories! This carried on for the first two hours, three stops in all to throw up! Normally I would’ve put in about 700 calories by now, but I doubt I had any. I’ve never had an issue like this before, so I wasn’t sure what to do…I tried the Gatorade and that seemed to help ease the stomach pains. So, Gatorade it would be! The bike course was so amazing. Florida was so boring compared to this…it was hilly, yes, but that was fine. There were lakes and trees and it was all so much fun to look at! It really helped ease the pain of the long ride. After the first loop, I started to eat a half of a Powerbar at the aid stations (and some bananas) and that helped, but I was still worried about my energy on the run. Went by the folks and Court again (they had a great spot right on one of the turns and saw so much action (they were adding layers though as they got colder…I think they own all the IM warm stuff the store had!) The second loop seemed to go by faster (maybe because I wasn’t throwing up?) Overall, by bike time was 6:35:xx (avg of 17.0mph). I hoped off the bike and felt great…legs were solid under me and I was excited to run… What would you do differently?: Glad I was able to take in the Gatorade, or I wouldn't be writing about the run... Transition 2
 Run
Comments: The run course wasn’t too hilly…wasn’t too flat…but it kicked my butt! I started the run with the goal of just finishing and finishing under 14 hours. I knew I could do that and knew I was going to have to walk some (thanks to still being under caloried). Ran the first two miles pretty well and stopped to get a hug and kiss from Court (thanks babe!) Then the hills started and my energy level just bonked! The first loop was painful, so I just watched for my friends and the pros. The pro men leaders went by me on their 25-mile mark and it looked like a great race as they were neck and neck at that point. Mark Mc went by a little bit later and met his sub-10 goal (along with finishing 33rd overall and grabbing a Hawaii spot!) Andrew was looking strong and moving towards a sub-13 finish! I was struggling…and walking a ton. I got a quick hello from Allison (my internet running friend) and then got a message from the womb (thanks to the IM Ford signs)! I finished the first loop and struggled around again to see the family. I told them to expect me in 2:30:xx and we’d party! The second loop went a bit faster and after I started to drink the cola, I got a bit of energy. I saw Andrew again and Allison, along with a couple of other Atlanta folks attempting their first IM! At the 24-mile mark, my desire to finish really kicked in and I started running well again…probably slowly, but it felt like running! I made the turn off onto the finishing road and their was no one in front of me for 300yds and no one at all behind me…the road was all mine for ½ mile! I took it easy, knowing my sub 13:30:xx was in the bag and enjoyed the cheers from the crowd. I teared up a bit, as I thought about finishing this and then my next challenge of fatherhood…about my parents coming all this way to see me race…and about Court and I and how long we’ve come since November and the last IM. I ran through the finishing shoot pumping my fist and with arms raised! I finished in 13:19:28, 1,133rd overall! I couldn’t have been happier! What would you do differently?: Ugh, I knew I would struggle with the issues on the bike...oh well! I finished and that's all I wanted! Post race
What limited your ability to perform faster: Not being trained enough, but I gave up some training time for more important things (like getting married). I'll take the next one a bit more serious, but I was so happy to share this day with my family...they made me finish! Event comments: The volunteers make these races and the CDA volunteers were even better than I've ever seen...just unreal! Last updated: 2007-04-26 12:00 AM
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United States
Ironman North America
60F / 16C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 1133/2400
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Courtney and I flew out to Idaho on Thursday…flying into Spokane and then driving over to Coeur d’Alene that afternoon to register. Thursday was pretty basic…register, look around at some stuff, grab some dinner, run into Andrew, sleep.
Friday morning, Court and I headed down to the swim area for me to get in some time in the water…of course, my wetsuit was still with my bike, which I couldn’t get to until 9, so we just watched all the others freeze their asses off in the water until 9, and then I took my shot. The water was damn cold and choppy, but it wasn’t worse than Florida, so I had confidence that I would be able to get through it!
After that, we picked up my bike (which I took for about a 30-minute spin on the run course) and then headed back to Spokane to rest before coming back for the Athlete’s dinner. My folks got in around midnight (thanks to several delays).
Sat morning I swam again and showed the folks around the IM village before dropping off my bike and bags (always makes it so much more real!) We grabbed some lunch and then caught an afternoon movie and an early dinner…then off to bed!
Woke up at 3:30AM to start getting ready…ate (oatmeal with peanut butter and a Clif bar) and then hopped in the car to drive over. Got to CDA at 5AM and got myself body marked and met up with Andrew. Got bikes all ready with my normal bike diet (Cytomax bottle – 3, water bottle -1, GU bottle – holding 5 GU’s) and air in the tires. Afterwards, we tried to stay warm and out of the wind until the start of the race (the wind was blowing about 15-20mph and the water was pretty choppy!) I was starting to feel the startings of a cold and some ear aches…ut oh!!
About 6:30, we were corralled into the starting area to think about the death waters in front of us and feel the wind hit our faces! Good times! ADollar and I just hung out and stared at the water... About 5 minutes before the start of the race, they gave everyone the option of not swimming and starting the race at 9AM with the bike and the run! I didn’t see anyone take this option, but my dad told me a bunch of people came back after only a short time in the water…wimps!