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 Swim
Comments: I opted for 2 swim caps versus a hoodie. The water was cold! We had 4 minutes to swim to the swim start buoys, and I wasn't there before the canon went off! It took me about a minute to get my face in the water and swim normally before I knew I wasn't going to freak out. This was perhaps my best OW swim ever! I had to swim through some kelp and that was fun! The swim was in a harbor, but when I got towards the opening of the harbor, swells from the ocean started coming in, and I had to be careful with my breathing as to not take in seawater! Breathing on the opposite side, I had the rising sun, so I opted for the waves. With the wave start, I had alot of room. Some of the faster swimmers in the next waves caught up, and a few times it got a little congested, but nothing bad. Contact was minimal. The course caught me off-guard, as I thought I would follow the buoys back out the way I came, but we never turned to go back! I started to feel a bit discouraged, as I never turned back!!!, but then I finally realized that I was doing a big circle, and I saw the finish, and I thought, "This is mine!". Not too much water intake. :) Not too much cramping. Felt like I was getting a headache, maybe from 2 swimcaps?? maybe the cold (although it wasn't bothering me)?? All in all, I can't complain! What would you do differently?: Look at the swim map! :)  Transition 1
Comments: I had a pretty long run from the water to my bike....I actually walked for a bit to make sure I didn't topple over, then started to jog. Got the wetsuit off with no problem (oh, this was the first time I ever wore my new full suit! :) It took a little effort to get my gloves, arm warmers, and bike shorts on while damp (yes, I put on bike shorts over my tri shorts, as my a$$ can't do that much with so little ;-) Other than that, all was good. What would you do differently?: Nothing.  Bike
Comments: The bike course was very challenging. There were 2 times, where I said out loud, "oh sh!t"...no exclimation point, just "oh sh!t". But there were way more than 2 hills. I swear, no matter where I turned on the course, the wind was in my face! One guy said to me, "this wind is demorilizing"....ok, good, it's not just me. I had to drop to my granny gear 2 times (on those 2 hills). Other than that, it was ok. Kept my nutrition and hydration good. Didn't eat my PB&J. Here is my Garmin track of the bike: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5271636 What would you do differently?: Given what was given to me for how I was trained, I can't think of anything. Transition 2
Comments: Had a bit of a run to my rack........I had to fit my big bike in a tight rack, so that took a few seconds. Got my bike stuff off ok, and my runners and running socks on ok.... What would you do differently?: Everything went well.  Run
Comments: When I started running out of T2, I honestly didn't know how long I would run before I needed to take a walk break, but that moment didn't show up for a bit! As Gump said, "I just kept running." There were aid stations every 1 mile, and the aid station helpers were so awesome!! They just helpled to keep you going. Oh, and the bike aid station helpers were all Marines, and they were incredible!!! They made me smile, and more importantly, made me keep going. Thanks!!! I passed a fellow tri-club member 3 times on the run and that was cool....and I passed 1 fellow tri-club member once about a mile before I was about to finish (he started way after me) and our exchange of words just made me smile and laugh for many minutes, and hey, after that, I was almost finished! I did have to stop to wee at about mile 10, as my weighing bladder was starting to bug me. I saw my wife and son by chance 2 times! in the out and back. The first time, it was just my wife, and she caught me off-guard as my name was on my bib, and lots of people were yelling "Steve" to me...but I recognized the yell, and she got me on tape...on the way back, I saw my son and checked on his ear, he was doing ok, and it was off, to finish.....I had it in me to pick it up going down the chute, a place I had been about 7 hours earlier, just imagine a starving giraffe sprinting for food.......with a huge smile....a smile of knowing that 70.3 miles later, I had it me to sprint to finish.....and feel good. Garmin Track: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5271637 What would you do differently?: Nothing. If I can run 13.1 miles with a 9:23 mile pace after the previous 57.2 miles, I'll take it!!! Post race
Warm down: After I finished, I wobbled through the finish area. Got a water and wolfed down a piece of pizza. I stretched a bit and just savored the moment. I had to ride my bike with my gear back up to the pier (1.5 miles or so) to meet the fam. Because of the people, I had to walk my bike forever!! finally, I was on the road, and because of road closures, I had to ride about 1.5 miles back to the pier....my fam was standing on the corner by chance....I unclipped my right foot to step down, but there was no where to put my foot down as it was a gutter....I quickly resigned myself that I was going down! I was too exhausted to care, as it was almost liked I blacked out...I fell, and hurt my elbow, thigh, and ankle...by-standers rushed to me to help! It was one of those moments where you move each body part to make sure you can....I guess my pride was hurt more than anything....in the end, though I was ok as was my bike. :) What limited your ability to perform faster: Hmmmm....just me. :) Event comments: Great race! Profile Album Last updated: 2008-02-17 12:00 AM
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United States
Ironman North America
65F / 18C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 1099/1958
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 221/380
The day started at 1:58am as my son woke me up with an ear ache...yeah, it started great. ;-) I never went back to sleep thinking about the race. I made my PBJ's in the bathroom and got my Acclerade ready. Woke up my wife to drive me to the drop point at 5:15. Arrived there, about 1.5 miles from the start, and started to bike in. I befriended a guy from Dallas (Philip) and we chatted on the way...it helped me calm down and not get nervous. We walked our bikes up the finish chute, and I thought, I will be here again! My 2 bike racks for the CAF were full!!! Fortunately, 2 guys made room for me....my bike is a pain because it's so flipping big. I couldn't do my aero-bottle b/c of how it was racked, but it was ok. Although I got there a bit late (apparently!), I got bodymarked and only had to hit the potty once.....a funny---I remembered to take a headlamp to help get ready in the dark...I had it on in the line for the port o'let, and a lady behind me said "that's a good idea!! is it waterproof??" I said "ummmm, what??" She said "are you going to wear it in the water??" a look of bewilderment...."ummmm, no, just into the toilet" ensue laughter. ;-)
I got everything ready, although I almost forgot my GU! yikes. I was in the 3rd wave as part of the CAF, just behind the pro males and females. As I waited in line, adrenaline pumping, Eminem's "Loose Yourself" came over the speakers, and that just got me going....
"You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo, you better"
I owned it. It was go time.