Ironman Florida - TriathlonFull Ironman

I was really pleased with this swim. I was very nervous about how bounced around I was going to get but that didn't happen, I did get a few feet and elbows but not as bad as I expected. I started back a little but, maybe 30 seconds. I didn't want to be in the front row where the fastest people were. I was comfortable an breathing to the side away from the sun. I did a pretty good job sighting and I think that I swam pretty straight. I never had a feeling of anxiety that usually happens to me. The water was dead calm and clear. I did get two minor jellyfish stings but nothing too bad.

Get faster during the sesason.

This was a very different experience for me. I had my wetsuit taken off by a wetsuit stripper and someone fell on my when I was getting it taken off. I should have taken off my own suit; expecially since I had to lay down in the sand. I got my T1 bag and ran into the tent. I got my shoes on pretty quick and my race belt. I was out quickly. I then had to make a port o pottie break. When I got out of the john a volunteer had my bike ready for me. Great Service! I ran to the mount line which was crowded and hopped on. I was off.

Hopefully not have to go #2 during T1.

Put Chamois cream on before my wetsuit and do a better job of putting it on in T1

I think that my drinking amount was just perfect but here are are a few comments for the next one.

1. Don't freeze the water bottle that is supposed to go in your aero bottle again dummy!
2. The frozen water bottles of Perpeteum for my half way bag were still frozen solid so consider leaving one of them thawed.
3. I didn't eat the bagel that I put in my halfway bag.
4. I did eat the snickers bar (half way bag) and the cliff bar (started with this). Maybe a mojo bar would taste good too.
5. Use the water to keep my mouth fresh.

Again very different experience having the bag handed to me running into the tent. I was a little slow putting on my shoes. I got the volutneer to put on sunscreen. I thought that my T2 was not bad for the first time.

I am not really sure.

I had a fantastic marathon. I enjoyed every minute of it. I was challenging but I perfect for my first IM. I kept looking for the other tri-haulics because I didn't pass them on the bike so I thought they were stil ahead of me until I started seeing them on the run. I ran with my 6 bottle fuel belt filled with perpeteum. I used it mostly sticking to my 1 bottle every 15 minute formula with a salt cap every 45 minutes. I did not use any of my snickers bars but I did use some of the water, gatorade and cold sponges at the aid stations. The sponges were the best thing. I would stick them in the back of my visor and let the cold water just drip until the next aid station. I also had 6 new bottles for my fuel belt at the half way bad. After the start of the second loop I saw Lee. I told him that I was going under 11 hours and he just kept yelling "Stick to the plan and don't worry about the time". I remembered what he said that the race won't start until mile 15 or 18. I did sitck to the HR plan but kept an eye on the time. I then saw him as I passed Ralph near my mile 21 (Ralph was on loop 1). I told lee again, I am going under 11. I had just dropped my fuel belt and was really picking up the pace as I was now in my last 10K. Lee came to me just after miel 23 and told me to go all out. that I only had 2 miles to go. I told him that I had just passed mile 23 not 24. He told me that I was clear enough to still no his shanningans. I picked up the pace to everything I had and even passed the tall guy with black hair in my age group that had passed me in the first few miles of the run. Melissa popped out of the crowd and helped me break the tape. I was not an IRONMAN!

Figure out a way not to ruin my race number on my belt with my fuel belt. Maybe practice with some old number during training.

I was only 3 minutes off of a marathon PR, I don't know what I could have done better expecpt for waiting a minute or two for a port o pottie around mile 2 and then running to the next one at mile 3 because I got tire of waiting.

Sat on curb and did nothhing. I was tired and chafed. The chafing from the fuel belt all the way around my waist and on my @%#! was really painful. I need a fuel belt that actually fits.


This race was expertly run. The volunteers and race staff was absolutely amazine.