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 Swim
Comments: This was my third triathlon of the year and my first ironman, I was really nervous of the deep water start and the "washing machine" that I have heard so much about. So I placed myself along the far right and about half way back, didn't really dawn on me that all of the 800 or so first timers like me would start here. The cannon went off and it probably took about ten minutes to get out of the clog to some open water so I kicked it in gear to get some space and it worked. I stayed on the outside the whole way, not a bad time for me would have liked to have been a little faster but first Iornman just wanted to finish. Reached the stairs and climbed out feeling a little goofy and someone asked me if I was ok and I said yes and was directed to the wetsuit peelers great job I don't think I could have gotten it off myself because my hands and feet were numb. Almost fell on my face running to transition cause I couldn't feel my feet. What would you do differently?: Not much but maybe go a little faster at the next one.  Transition 1
Comments: First transition like this, I could have been faster with this if I wasn't so cold and numb. Got everything on and some sun screen outside of the tent, went and got my bike off the rack and ran down the path to the bike mount got on and headed out. On my way out seen my wife and see got a quick pic. What would you do differently?: Other then moving a little faster in transition not much.  Bike
Comments: Lap one went out way to fast was passing people left and right especially on the up hill, I would like to thank my coach for taking me up all those hills during training cause it showed here but I do need work on flat portions. 2nd loop was really slow I want to think because of the wind but it was probably because of the first loop speed just wanted to conserve energy saw my coach as he passed me gave a head nod. 3rd loop was a little faster then the 2nd loop must have caught a second wind passed my coach again as he had a flat asked him if he wanted some help and he waved me off. He is a very strong biker and he passed me after fixing his flat so I headed to the end of the third loop and got off my bike and someone grab it from me and said they would take care of it. Ran down to the grab my bike to run bag and in the tent I went, put my shoes on my fuel belt and oh no nothing in the bottles and hamstrings starting to tighten. Sat down to stretch my hamies and a guy walked up that was from the trigger point stretching group and he said he could stretch my hamstrings that guy saved my run. Found some water and poured it into my bottles and headed out. What would you do differently?: Just get faster on the bike all the way around. Transition 2
Comments: Still could have been faster with this cause I didn't change clothes just had to take off my bike shoes helmet and put run shoes on and head out. What would you do differently?: Practice, practice, practice.  Run
Comments: Started out good with a 8:33 pace but as I started toward the 2nd loop my stomach started to act up and my legs felt very heavy, heavyer then in training. Had to stop and wwalk a bit and I was very disappointed in myself with this because I am a long distance runner by trade but live and learn heading out on my 2nd loop my coach comes up from behind and we started running together. As we started running he told me he was having some really bad stomach issues and besides one of my plans was that if I happend to run into my coach I was going to run with him to the finish. Well we were doing this run to the aid stations and then walk them then run to the next and it didn't go to bad. Although I knew that my coach wanted to finish better then he did in Florida last year and he said he wasn't going to be able to do that he just couldn't shake the stomach issue. So we decided to run the last dirt portion to the finish and he told me to go ahead of him when we cross the finish line but I didn't want to I wanted to finsih together cause he was the reason I made it to this Ironman but he wouldn't have it so I went in just in front of him. That is what this sport is all about giving up something for someone else, helping others when they need it, that is why I am glad that I am part of this great sport and I am also glad that in my finishing photo you can see my friend and coach in the same picture. What would you do differently?: More bike to run bricks. Post race
What limited your ability to perform faster: Just working on the little things in the off season. Event comments: What can I say I am an Ironman and I am looking forward to doing more in the futre. Last updated: 2008-11-29 12:00 AM
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United States
NSA
62F / 17C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 1213/2200
Age Group = M35-39
Age Group Rank = 220/359
Arrived in AZ on Thrs and my wife and I drove to my buddies house in Laveen, AZ about an hour away where we stayed the whole time. My friend and coach stayed in Tempe with his daughter. Met up with him that dya to register and pick up our bikes. Made plans to meet up Friday for early morning swim, water was cold and I am used to swimming in lake Michigan which can get really cold. Anway water was rough with high winds blowing down the lake, swam about 2 miles nice and easy felt really comfortable. Woke up at about 3:00 a.m. ate half peanutbutter bagle, drank some water. Got to race site kissed my wife she wished me good luck and whispered in my ear that I had better finish cause she had bought an Ironmate shirt the day before an she wanted to wear it. Told her I would do my best, I didn't buy any Ironman stuff because if you aren't an Ironman you just don't do that. I mean you do not wear the Special Forces tab on your uniform if you didn't go through the Q-course, it's like being something you are not. Ok enough of that stuff. turned in my special needs bags went back to the bike and just tried to keep warm, put on my wetsuit.
Let's see shivering while waiting for the race to start, other then that had about a 100 yard swim to the start.