Ironman Florida - TriathlonFull Ironman

It was crazy the helicopter over head and then the cannon bang. I start to run in do a couple dolphin jumps and then start to swim. Open water for a very short time and then it gets very busy. I have a lot of racers around me so I go out wider and find open water. Start to get a rhythm going and sighting was good. I start to head towards the big orange turn buoys and I cut it to short and swimmers were everywhere I turned. For the next couple of minutes I’m treading water to get around the buoy. Once I was around that turn buoy I started to swim and went wide around the next one. I had open water and hit the beach looked at the watch and I think it was 37 minutes grabbed a cup of water and ran back into the water. Had clear sailing until the turn buoy and again treaded water to get around the buoy and then the next turn buoy was not bad. Swim straight to the finishing shoot 1:09 not bad wanted 1:06.

NOTHING You can not have open water swim when you are swimming with 2277 other swimmers and all are headed for the same buoys.

You have a 100-meter run from the water to the strippers and the showers. The heart is pumping and I got to the transition tent and a little kid yells out “what’s your number”, 1565 I yell back. He hands me the bag and I run into the crowded tent. I find a chair in the corner and start to change my swim tri shorts for my bike shorts. Off with the tri shorts and empty the bag out and ‘SNAP” this isn’t my bag I look at the bag and it’s not 1565. I put my tri shorts back on and head back out to find my bag. I grab mine and put back the bag the kid gave me. I go back into the tent and my spot is taken so I grab my stuff and find a little spot to change. A great volunteer helps with my stuff and tells me to go and he will take care of my stuff. I ask if there is sunscreen around he states that they are outside. I run outside and run right by the sunscreen volunteers and grab my bike and head out.

Check to make sure I got the right bag, and don't forget the sunscreen.

I got onto the bike and I was ready to fly. I felt so good and at the beginning of the bike the wind was not bad. I was about 5 miles into the bike when I had to go pee. I continued on and I was pushing 23 mph and feeling good. On Hwy 79 everyone was going at a good clip. It is so hard to not draft out there, and yes there was racers just sitting on others wheel and had no problem. The only thing I can say is the ones that were drafting know they were, and they have to live with that. You have 8 to 10 riders pass you and if you were going to back off until all of them passed you would not get far, so at times you might be behind someone. I started to pass a lot of people but a lot of fast guys passed me. I had to go pee bad and just tried to take my mind off of it. During the meetings they throw a lot of threats about getting arrested for pee-in behind a bush. I did not want that so the first aid station came I stopped and WAITTED for the porta -–pottie. About 5 minutes later I was back on my bike and cruising again. My nutrition was just Infinit and water. That was it and boy did it work. But one little problem I had to pee 6 times on the bike. I do not know why, maybe I drank to much water yesterday, or too much on the bike. 6 times and it killed my time on the bike. Anyway I felt so strong on the bike I was passing other racers and would read their name on the race number and would say hi to them. I was riding on Hwy 20 when a big pack about 12 racers caught me and started to pass me. There was a big guy leading the pack and the other 11 were just drafting off him. There was a guy that was in front of me and he goes to pass a rider and the referee was right behind us and gave him a penalty for drafting. It wasn’t right because the peloton just went by and I know she could see them up there. Anyway I’m going along feeling really good and strong. I wish I could of pee-ed off the bike and just whipped it out and pee-ed and continued to go forward. I had to stop 5 more times and it killed my time. I even tried to pee on my self like everyone else was doing but no I just could not do it. I even tried and whipped it out and got stage fright, and had to put it away. Damn it. I do believe that it took me 30 more minutes stopping for the porta potties then if I just pee-ed myself. But what are you going to do, just like drafting or pee-in…. Play by the rules or don’t play at all. Had my watch alarm beeping every 15 minutes. A hit of my infinit drink and then water and would finish a bottle every 2 hours. It was just right for me and I continued on. That stuff is amazing and it worked. The highways 231 and 388 were so bumpy and bottles were everywhere on the road. You really had to watch the road because some of them were full, and that would not be a good way to end your day. Special needs bag I stopped and grabbed an extra bottle of my infinit drink just in case I needed it, along with 2 advil’s. After hitting the timing mat at mile 70 I was feeling good singing to myself and talking to other racers, even if they didn’t talk back I was just having a good ride. Back into town and I did something stupid I looked at my computer and tried to push as hard as I could go. I was going 25mph into town and I felt so good. I rode like it was the end of the race and there was no marathon to do after I got off my bike. The legs were there still and I loved it. Got back to T2 and looked at the watch it said 5:45 @ 19.5 mph but I did a lot better then that and I was feeling good.

During training rides learn to pee on the bike. If it's on myself or off to the side, do it during training and you will do it during the race.I think I rode better then 20.5 mph if not faster.take 30 minutes easy off my time and that gives me 5:15 now that's flying. What can I say but the stops killed me because the time does not stop just because you stopped.

T-2 was really smooth with no problems, changed into running outfit runners shoes, and visor on and headed out. Finally got some sunscreen on and started to run.

nothing perfect

I ran out of T2 feeling real good and just wanting to run a steady 4-hour marathon 4:08. At the beginning of the run the street is so crowded with people yelling and music I run a 6:47 mile hello I better slow down I told myself. For nutrition for the run would be the same as the bike infinit in two little gel bottles and would hit it every 15 minutes and then water. My first 13.1 miles was in 1:56 @ 8:52 pace and I was feeling good. The Ford inspiration station is a large screen when you cross the mat your time chip activates the screen and if your family put something in there for you it show up on the screen. My wife put in “RUN B.B.A. ALMOST THERE ILOVE YOU” It is so cool to see that because you are not waiting for it. First 13 miles 6:47, 7:49, 8:11, 8:40, 8:22, 8:45, 8:49, 9:18, 9:05, 9:38, 10:01, 9:37, 9:24 = 8:52/mile 1:56:20. I was on pace to just had to hold on and stay steady. I got back to town and the crowds were bigger and louder then before. I seen my wife and Mom and told them I will be back in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Gave them both a kiss and off I went. My infinit was working really good and I felt good. It was around mile 17 I started to feel lazy, the legs were starting to hurt and trying to tell myself to slow down it’s ok, grabbing ice water and pouring it over my head. I started to calculate the time and my goal for less than 11 hours and I knew there was no way I could make it. I then said you came to race and finish on empty so get going and lets finish strong. So I started picking up the pace and back in the park and seen the sign my wife made it makes you smile. The last 13.1 miles 10:05, 11:05, 10:11, 11:39, 10:13, 10:00, 10:24 :9:57; 10:44, 10:37, 10:11, 10:46, 10:05 = 10:18/mile 2:14:59. About mile 20 I grabbed a cup of Chicken broth and it tasted great. I then grabbed a cup of cola which help me pick up the pace. The last two miles was so cool I started running and I was not stopping until I got across the line. I did not use the porta-potties on the run. I started coming up the road and there was no one in front of me and I hear ‘HER COMES 1565 RUNNING STRONG OUT OF SOUTH WINDSOR CT. 45 YEAR WILLIAM KING YOU ARE AN IRONMAN. I crossed the finish line in 11:21:10. Got my metal, hat and T-shirt and finisher photo. I then seen my wife and Mom standing there. When I did IMLP my wife did not see me Finnish and she said that she would not miss this one and she was front role.

nothing run went just as I planned.

Walked over and had 4 pieces of pizza and a water, got a massage. The girl that did my massage must be new because it was real weak and I could have done a better job. I told her that she was the best and walked away disappointed in it. My wife made up for it when we got back to the condo and after a shower she did a nice message with BIO freeze and made a big difference in how my legs were feel in.


The ability to pee on the bike.


I want to say that this is my 2nd ironman and I enjoyed it a lot. It cost a lot more then my first in more ways then one. First the time, I really trained hard for this race and it showed out on the bike. I felt so strong and it made me feel so good. That is or was my weak disciple of the 3 and now maybe my strongest. It takes a lot of time to train for an ironman and the only way to do that is has an understanding spouse to support you. The 2nd is the money, coming down from Connecticut the flight the condo, the entry, food, rental car, tri bike transport (which was nice), house/Dog sitter. It starts to add up and it gets to around $4,000 to do a race that’s a lot of money. It’s been fun and yes someday I will do another but I think this 45 year old man will stick to ½ or may Olympic distance races for a while. I will see what life brings me and go from there. This winter I will be looking for some running races to see if I can stay as fit as I am right now. I hope you enjoyed my race. As you can see I’m not an English teacher but tried to but some light on how my 2nd ironman race went Thanks for reading. and remember train to pee on the Bike.
One last thing if you do not know about Infinit Nutrition go to the web site and check them out. I did my race on Infinit and water that is it. No gels, no gatorade, no power bars. Think about doing an ironman under 12 hours with just drinking two things.