Ironman Florida - TriathlonFull Ironman

The beginning of the swim was, to say the least, scary! I have done lots of triathlons but never a mass start of 2200 people. I started in the middle about 3/4 of the way back. At first I thought to myself- this isn't bad! About 2 minutes into it, all hell broke loose. I was getting kicked, punched, swam over, elbowed... I started getting a little freaked out and did the side stroke for a minute or so... it seemed longer. I kept thinking to myself- you freaking loser, who does the side stroke in an Ironman. Anyway- things got better- just the occasional punch or kick and I started swimming freestyle.

I breathed left going out the first loop and breathed right coming back. The sun stared coming up and it was blinding so I changed my strategy on the second loop and breathed right out and left back. I wanted to make sure I didn't breath the same side the whole way because my shoulder got mucked up at Chesapeakeman breathing left the whole time.

The cool thing about being in the water with over 2000 people is that you really don't have to site. I had people in front, on both sides, and in back of me- the chance of going off course was zero!

On the first lap, going around the first and second turn buoy was so congested that no one could swim. We all just bobbed up and down in the water- not swimming, but getting sucked forward with no effort at all.

When I ran up on the beach to start my second lap, I did not see a timer (I don't wear a watch) and I thought I was going really slow. You had to literally walk thru water that was too shallow to swim in, for a really long time. I also didn't push myself at all during the swim knowing it was going to be a long day. The few times I found a good pair of feet to draft off of was quickly ended by someone swimming over me, or kicking me in the head.

The second lap went much better than the first- less scary and less congestion (all the good swimmers we getting out of the water)

When I finally got out and saw my time, I couldn't believe it! 1:18!!! OMG!! I actually checked the time on my bike computer because I didn't think it could be right.... IT WAS!!! It was going to be a good day:)

NOT A THING:)

Wow, I had a great swim! I expected a 1:30 so I was happy!!

It took my stripper guy a few tugs to get my wetsuit off. Its possible that I could have done it quicker myself without getting all sandy, but it was fun to have some dude pull off my wetsuit:)

My T1 time sucked, but I have to blame it on the weather. Trying to put on arm warmers, a long sleeve t-shirt, and gloves on when your wet is not easy- but it was DAMN COLD out! I wasn't too worried about the time- I was so far ahead on the swim that I had no worries!

I would have worn socks on the bike- my feet were cold during the first hour on the bike!

I got on the bike and tried to keep it slow the first 30 to 40 miles. I kept it in the small chain ring and tried really hard to go slow- I had an tail wind so I kept my effort level low. At 30 miles I put it in the big chain ring and picked up the speed a bit. Cycling has been the most difficult part of my training- I kept wondering when this was going to suck- it never did:)

I stopped at special needs at the 50 mile mark, only because I needed to loose the long sleeve t-shirt and put some more sunscreen on my pasty white body. I could have gone without stopping- I felt great, but felt it was in my best interest. I had packed a diet pepsi in a zip lock bag full of ice- it was so cold out that I dont even think any on the ice melted. I ate two peanut butter crackers, sprayed a gallon of sunscreen on myself, drank about 1/2 the bottle of diet pepsi, then was on my way.

When I got back on the bike, I couldn't get my right foot clipped in. I didn't even panic- I was feeling so that I was OK thinking my cleat was broke and I would have to ride the last 62 miles with my right foot unclipped. When I did eventually get clipped in, my foot would come unclipped at random times, causing me to loose control of the bike. Once, my foot hit my front wheel. I finally figured out that it I stuck my heels in and my toes out, my foot would stay clipped in. Enjoyed the rest looking a little strange:)

The rest of the bike portion was fabulous! I have never felt so good on the bike. I had to keep telling myself to slow down- the last 30 miles I was passing everyone. At one point I was going 27 miles per hour and it wasnt downhill. I kept saying to myself, slow down- your not Chrissy Wellington! I sure as hell felt like her! My last 30 miles of the cycling portion was an average speed of 20.5 mph!!! OMG!!!

The cycling portion of my training has been the biggest challenge for me. I suck at swimming, but I know that I can do the swim and the swimming portion is basically the most comfortable part of the day. The run can hurt, but I am a runner and typically will be so happy to get off the damn bike that I am willing to take the pain. I do really enjoy cycling, just not for 112 miles. I have had the worst training day on my long rides. It had gotten so bad that I couldn't sleep the night before my long rides because I dreaded them so much. My last 80 mile training ride, I was so tired that I couldn't get unclipped, fell down at a stop sign- still couldnt get unclipped and just layed in the middle of the road like a retard crying. Then I had to ride home 30 miles into a 20 mile/hr head wind still balling like a baby. When I did ChesapeakeMan, I started hurting on the bike at mile 30!! I got off the bike 3 times because I couldnt take it anymore. To say the least, I was not looking forward to the cycling portion of the race.
I dont know what happened on November 1st, but I was on fire:) I was smiling so much while I was on the bike that I am surprised that I didnt have bugs stuck in my teeth:) This bike ride alone made the last 6 months worth it.

OMG- I ROCKED!! I did a sub 6 hour bike split. I expected a 6:15 to 6:30. Jimmy didn't even come out of the condo till 6 hours- he missed me & spent 1.5 hours worrying that something happened to me on the bike- By the time he went back up to the condo and checked on the results- I had already gone thru the first check station on the run.




NOT A DAMN THING:)

Got into T2, hopped off the bike, and felt FABULOUS!!! I was so far ahead of where I thought I was, that I waited to use the porta-potty. Took my time changing into my running shoes, put more sunscreen on, and was on my way. Didnt go into the changing tent- no need.

Not a damn thing:)

Started running and felt FABULOUS! WTF?!?! JD must have put EPO in my Gatorade- you know how these cyclist are:). My plan was to run the first 5 to 6 miles at a stupid slow pace- was going for a 10 min/mi. Every time I looked down at my Garmin, I was going too fast and I would put on the breaks! At about 5 miles I let myself pick up the speed.

My plan was to walk 30 steps at every aid station- didn't really have a plan for nutrition other than take something in every mile. Cola rocks! I drank some at every aid station, and would grab a gel, cookie or pretzels. The problem was I wouldnt chew and swallow the "nutrition" and drink the cola in 30 steps so I ended up walking longer thru the stations.

I was having some GI problems- the Imodium I took in the am wore off. I had 3 porta-potty stops during the run- that right there made me not like my 1 piece tri suit very much.

I also felt like I was developing blisters on bottom of my toes- thats a first for me. Obviously I didnt take as much time and effort to body glide my feet like I would before a marathon. I ended up stopping at special needs- applying more body glide and changing my socks. Felt much better after that.

I was a bit chilly so I also grabbed my long sleeve t-shit at special needs. I put it on then took if off after a minute- it was too warm. I tied it around my waist- never wore it and got rid of it at the last aid station. Didnt want it in my pic.

About 2 miles out from the finish like, I could hear Mike Riley telling people they were an Ironman- I picked up the pace!

Running thru the shoot was freaking awesome! It was everything I had heard and thought it would be! Something I guess I will never forget- I had the biggest smile on my face- had the same smile most of the race!

Take some Imodium either the last part of the bike, or in T2.

My nice catcher lady walked my to get my metal, heat blanket, and then I got my pic taken- still with my stupid smile on my face. Then we walked back to the condo, I took a shower, ate something then we walked back to the finish line to see the later finishers. That was really cool!!


I hate it when people say "should of, would of, could of.." . Your race is what it is- no excuses.

During my run, my 3 porta-potty stops, my 1 minute stop to talk to JD, and my stop in special needs may have slowed down my run time but I could also argue that I was resting during that time so it may have improved it as well. Who knows. All I can say it that I am damn happy with how I did!


Everything I had read involving racing an IM told me that there would be many bad patches during the race- that you had to find a way to get thru them and things would eventually get better. During the pre-race dinner, Paula Newby-Frazier repeated this idea. This never happened to me! I felt freaking awesome the entire day!

Training for this race was beyond overwhelming- physically and emotionally. I over trained which caused me to over taper because I was so burned out- fortunately it worked well for me. I am more than pleased with my results:)