Ironman 70.3 Florida - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Holy crap, what a terrible swim. I worked really hard on my swim leading up to this and I sucked it up big time. Actually had a sort of panic attack in the first 500 yards. Never had anything like that happen before. I didn't flip out I just couldn't catch my breath. Then I laughed at myself for being a tool and went back to work. No idea why it happend but it took me some extra time to relax and get moving and even after I began to move it was like I was moving through mud. It just sucked all the way around. But hey, it could only get better from there right. At the start of the T1 run there was my beautiful wife, Rowena, cheering me on with a look of WTF took you so long across her face.

Swim like I know how to swim. I'm no fish but i'm not a brick either. Today I was just a tool in the water.

Long run from the water to T1 but that gave me time to let the TOOL drip off me so I could get back into the race. Slipped on my Pearl bike shorts, a few extra seconds in T1 that i'll easily eat for the comfort I get on a long ride.

I'd do it all the same except faster.

I had a great time on the bike...for the most part. I jumped on and got up to speed. Felt great. Saw Row again snapping pictures like a crazy lady. Felt even better and once I was on the road I started chanting in my head "I'm coming to get ya" just cruising. Then it rained and due to my lack of experience in the rain I slowed it down a bit. During one heavy downpour I dropped my chain going up a hill, rookie mistake. Felt great the whole race even when I was being pushed off the road by that weird traffic that locked us all down. Pushed up the hills just like on my training rides, it seemed like everything was going great. I was ready to get off the bike and get to the run.

Go faster.

Slipped of the Pearl bike shorts, slipped on the knee brace, socks, shoes, hat, gells, and i'm out.

lose the brace, but that's going to take some time.

SWEET! I am finally to the run. This is where I'll make up for that crap-tastic swim. Come out of the gates and i'm feeling goooood! Saw Row again, man she is awesome. This time she had my mom dad aunt and three kids with her yelling for me. Closing in on mile one and WOW i've got some cramps in the quads. I had been making sure I drank enough fluids and I kept my bike zones in check. I sometimes get calve cramping but not the quads. Alright, quick stop and stretch but these babies are not going away. Time to HTFU and push through. My times are sucking but I'm moving then I get to "The Trail" better known as Satan's driveway to Hell. I live in FL but after the hard rain the sun came out in full force and said here biatch have some of these sprinkles on top of those cramps. Then it got even hotter but by then I was in my zone trotting along calling myself names for letting cramps ruin my run. My beautiful wife is there again and I give her a grin but she knows, she always knows. I just keep pluggin away because I know i'm hurting but i'm not being passed i'm passing people so I just keep on Gumping it. By now the grassy trail is littered with the dying people. Seriously, it looks like a death march and most people are going much slower than a march type pace. I'm running slow (for me) but i'm running and hydrating and sponging. There is the wife and family again and i let them know i'm going to be a little later than planned. Row got a nice pic of that. I finish the run with a sprint, because that's how I roll.

Run faster.

Grabbed the medal, t-shirt, hat, some water. Got a big hug from my wife. The girls were out cold in the stroller. My parents and aunt were wonding why I would do this. I just smile. There is nothing I could say that would explain it. I do this so I can see that big smile on my wife's face telling me how proud she is even if I put up a big turd on two of the three events.


Let's not play at Disneyland the day before the race...idiot.

My swimming crap fest slowed me down so i'll need to fix that.

Getting a new bike fitting two weeks before a big race. Evaluating the race and the cramps I believe it was the fitting that hurt me the most even though it will end up benefiting me more in the future. While getting my fit done Drew moved me farther back to take advantage of my "unnaturally long thighs" this moved me into a position to utilize my quads more, which it turns out I needed to practice more with so my legs could adjust. Cool enough.


Played with the family at Disneyland the day before so I didn't really get in on any of the shops, then I hit the bricks as soon as the race was over so i didn't get to chill for the after race party. Overall this race was fine.