Ironman Wisconsin - TriathlonFull Ironman

I started near shore and my original plan was to wait a minute or two after the cannon went off and then start swimming to avoid the congestion. However, I felt that I was so close to shore that I wouldn't have a problem with congestion. I was wrong. I was bumped into from the start of the race to the finish. Mostly by people running into my feet and crossing over into me. Luckily I did not get hit in the face so it was more of an annoyance than anything. If you are thinking of doing an Ironman, please promise me that you will learn to swim in a relatively straight line first. I truly believe that most of the problems in mass-start swims are caused by people not being able to sight correctly.

Either learn to swim as fast as the pros or just deal with the washing machine of flesh.

I'm not sure what took me so long. After having the strippers remove my wetsuit, I semi-jogged up the helix, into the Terrace, got my bag with no problems and was able to find a seat in the transition area. I took off my tri-top and put on my cycling jersey. Given the fact that I was wet, this wasn't too easy and cost me a bit of time. I started to put my cycling socks on and realized that I had cut my toe on the rocks at the swim start. I had packed Band-aids in every transition bag but for some reason I couldn't find them in my swim to bike bag so I just put on my socks and then started to put on my leg warmers. I looked around and realized that no one else was wearing them so I decided to just wear arm warmers and hope that it didn't rain. I grabbed my helmet, shoes, and sunglasses and made my way to my bike. Got a quick lather of sunscreen from the volunteers and another volunteer got my bike for me. I put on my cycling shoes and semi-ran to the bike mount line and set off.

Wear one tri top, avoid cutting toe on sharp rocks, limit the amount of stuff in my transition bag to the extent possible. I know those Band-aids were in there somewhere.

First, I must mention that I harbor extreme paranoia in getting a flat. After every bump on the entire 112 mile course, I would look down to make sure my tire was still up. I saw Lori as I was leaving the Terrace which was great as I somehow missed her when I got out of the water. I did see Eric and Cheryl out of the water which was great.I rode at a comfortable pace on the first loop. I certainly felt the energy of the crowds on the hills and probably pushed a bit harder than I would have but hey, it's Ironman after all. I knew that my wife would be in Verona so I had that to look forward to on the first loop. The wind was not bad at that point and I averaged around 16.5 the entire first loop. I was hoping to average 16.5 for the entire bike portion so I was on track but a bit concerned that I may drop during the second loop due to the projected increase in wind speed and just general tiredness. After seeing Lori, Cheryl and Eric in Verona I had some renewed energy and soon found my way to my special needs bag where I swiched out my 2.5x strength Sustained Energy. A quick bathroom stop and I was off again onto the second loop. As I passed by Mt. Horeb I just told myself, "Self, that is that last time you have to do the Mt. Horeb hill". I carried that attitude throughout the remainder of the second loop. I would estimate that in addition to my two bottles of 2.5x strength Sustained Energy, I consumed 5-6 bottles of water and three gels; roughly 300 calories per hour. The wind did take its toll on me during the second loop and I ended up averaging only 16 miles per hour. I saw two participants with broken chains, two with broken forks, and several with flat tires, I was thankful to not have any mechanical difficulties with the exception of slipping my chain three times on the hills (not sure why that happened as I rarely do that). The biggest annoyance was that d@%^ clicking noise I had heard the day before the race. It never went away. 7 hours of clicking every time the wheel turned. As I sit here writing this I still haven't figured out what it was (no its not the brake, I tried that many times). It only happens when my weight is on the bike. Anyway, as I was approaching the city, I came upon what I thought would be the last bump over the Interstate until a spectator said "This is the last hill, except for the Helix". Oh yeah, that d&$% Helix. It actually wasn't bad at all. As I completed the Helix and approached the dismount line I was able to see Lori and gave her a fist pump before getting off the bike. Surprising I still had my legs under me as I entered into the Terrace.

Much more time in the saddle. I should have been able to average more than 16 mph on that course during the race. I felt after getting off the bike that my nutrition was spot on so I wouldn't change that at all.

I was able to see Lori again as I entered the Terrace. I got my transition bag, found a seat without difficulty and had a helper who went through my bag to get my gear for the run. Again, however, I had difficulty getting into my tri-top after removing my bike jersey. I changed socks, put on my visor, cleaned my glasses, switched race belts, put water into my Infinite filled water bottle, laced up the shoes, had a few bites of PB sandwich and was out to the run course. I left on my arm warmers thinking that I may need them once it got dark or if it began to rain. Thanks to the helper who packed up my stuff for me. Once outside, I got sun screened and took off.

Again, I would have worn only one top the entire race and I had too much stuff in my transition bag. I wanted to use some Visine but couldn't find it.

Once I was off the bike I knew, even if had to walk, that I would finish. I have never DNFed or even bonked during a run. Once I got out onto the course, after being lathered with sun screen, I took off a a fairly quick pace. As I made my way around the capitol I saw Lori and my friends Jay and Anna. It was great to see them (they had seen me on the bike but I somehow missed them). That got me going even quicker and when I looked down at my watch I realized that I needed to slow down. Shortly after beginning the run I saw Damon and headed out onto the course. I have to say that my legs felt pretty good in these early stages of the run. Sure, it was apparent that I had swam 2.4 and biked 112 but they certainly weren't dead. It was good running weather and the miles clicked off one by one. The run through UW's stadium was a novelty but i could have done without it. Around mile 9 I started to feel a bit of pain in my left Achilles Tendon. Not too bad. The crowds were great and kept me going. I saw Lori again as I made my way to the 13.1 mile turnaround.

I have to mention how cool the 13.1 mile turnaround is. Many people don't like it because you see the finish line but are still so far away. But it was probably the second coolest thing in the race (The finish was obviously first). As you mike the "final" turn toward the finish line you see, for the first time, the finish line as it will be when you finish with all the fans lining the chute. It reminded me of the first baseball game I saw at Tiger stadium when seemingly out of nowhere the field appears as you entered from underneath the stands. Anyway, that got me pumped up for the second half of the run. I got another bottle of Infinite from my special needs and off I went, seeing Lori, Jay and Anna once again.

Over the final 13.1 my Achilles continued to get worse. It was really bothersome on hills and the gravel bike path. I had to walk from time to time for a few seconds but overall kept my pace. Around mile 16 or 17 I saw Grant who was riding the run course on his mountain bike. He made me run up on of the hills (my plan was to walk all of the hills). It was just about dark by now. Lori, Jay and Anna moved around the course and saw me a number of times over the last 10 miles. I couldn't really tell you when or where. Once I hit 20 miles the finish line became my focus. I ignored the pain in my heel and just kept moving. The crowds (all day) were great. When I hit the 25 mile mark I told myself to slow down and take it all in. Making my way up the hill around the Capital one last time brought me great joy. Words cannot really describe the feeling so I won't really try. As I made my way to the final left turn down the chute, I saw Lori. With a triumphant fist pump I slowed my pace to avoid ruining the finish of the person in front of me and went down the line. Not really thinking of Mike Reily, or of the crowd or of my painful heel. Just thinking of what a day it had been. Before the race Mike Reily had said "take care of yourself and the day will happen". I did and it did. What an experience.

Nothing. Nutrition was great. My Achilles issue was unavoidable I believe.

One of the many wonderful volunteers helped me through the chute, gave me my medal, finisher's hat and wrap and took me to the photo area to get my picture and then off to the food tent where I met up with Lori. I think she was just as happy as I was. A photo of her and I immediately after the race is priceless to me.


Bike fitness.


It's Ironman. Nothing more to say!

As a post script, you might be wondering why it took me over 9 months to do this race report. I had completed most of it shortly after the race. However, I was not ready to "let go" of this race until recently. I am now ready to put it behind me and start my next challenge.