Ironman Arizona - TriathlonFull Ironman

Despite poor navigation, I'm very happy with my swim. Rather than try to sight, I was just using the bank of the lake as I breathed to navigate. This took me far off course. Bad news is I swam further, good news is that is was traffic free.

Initially, I had planned to hang back for a while after the start. After the anthem, Reilly said something about the IM mass swim start being one of the most exciting visuals in sports today. Confidentin my swimming, I changed my mind and wanted to get into 'the washing machine' as part of my whole IM experience. As crowded as it was, I really only got kicked once, found a lane, and swam really well. I was relaxed and gliding easily through the water. Very low RPE.

Navigate better. I loved the swim!

Westsuit strippers had a little difficulty getting my wetsuit peeled off of me. Made me feel better about th imes that I've had trouble by myself!

Got my bag and headed to the changing tent. Squeezed a handful of Chamois Butt'r out and slapped it on. Then I sat down bare-assed on the chair. Oops. Oh well, got the rest of my gear on and headed out.

Not much - I had no goals for T1.

This is where I suck. I've ridden more this year, but my goal was to survive the bike and not thrash my legs for the run (a mistake I made at the Mountain Man HIM). Goal was to be under 7hrs - hopefully closer to 6 1/2. I stopped to pee three times (had to wait a while once). I also had a flat after the turn in mid lap 2. Took a few minutes, but the support moto came up and quickly got me changed (I was in the process of changing it myself). Because I had a flat, I did stop again (a 5th time) at Special Needs to get a new tube. 7hrs is dead on a 16mph pace. This 2nd lap probably cost me that time as my ave. pace per lap was 16.58, 14.07, and 16.04. The 3rd lap was brutal and I just wanted to stop pedaling and start running.

One other thing that happened during lap 2: As I got back to Tempe (at the corner of McKellips and McClintock), this old guy in a recumbant just rolls across the street through the sidewalk and stops in the middle of our lane. Now there are about 6 guys coming fast behind me on their 3rd lap...I yell,"Get the hell out of the way" and then the cops and volunteers see this guy in the middle of the course! We all speed around him (okay, I didn't speed around him) and all have a nice laugh as we hear the cop yelling at the guy. Did he not notice the signs, cones, OR ALL THE RACERS????

Saw Sally pass me 9.4 miles into the ride and frequently saw my training partner Matt. Brian rode with me for a while, but I told him to go on as I didn't want to slow him down. Got to see Jerry also!

Ride more... I know my weakness and cycling is thy name. Frustrating a little, but I just need more time in the saddle. At the same time, I did what I needed to do to make sure that I had enough in my legs to meet my run goal.
I was 2257th OA on the bike - slipping from 679th (from the swim) to 2023rd place.

Got to T2 and handed my bike off. Grabbed my bag and headed to the changing tent. A little faster this time in transition and I prepared myself for the long run.

Got to see my family and friends right out of T2 and that gave me a great boost!

Again, no goals for transition so there isn't much I'd change.

Felt really good considering how poor I felt on the bike. I consider myself a swimmer who can run, so this is going to be better than the bike. NAiled the first 2 miles under a 9:00/pace (wow!) and kept cruising. In my mind, I told myself to run (no walking) for at least the first 6 miles. Then I pushed it to 10, then 13. I think the first time I walked was going up Curry the 2nd time. I ran on the flats and downhills and began to walk on the ups. My goal going in was to do the marathon in under 5hrs. I did the first half in about 2:10 to 2:15, so I knew I had banked some time for the back half.
The third lap was slow and slower. Somewhere around mile 23 and 24, my mind just turned to mush. I'm pretty sure I was wobbling around and mentally I couldn't focus. I walked up Curry - the girls cheers (shrieks) at the top of the hill just hurt my head and my mind. I made it to the top and was able to regain focus. At the aid station, I took in more food and fluids and set my sights on picking up the pace. Gave myself short goals for running and finally made it back to Rural Rd. I really picked up the pace. I saw Mile 25 and kicked it up another notch. I must've passed 30 or more people in the final mile and cruised toward the end. Just before theh the finishing chute, I saw my wife. This only made me go a little faster. As I got closer to the finish, I told the crowd I couldn't hear them cheering and told them I needed to hear some noise. Then I heard those 6 words - - "Tom FitzSimons YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!" Awesome!

Can't forget the people I saw on the run - Paulette, Jerry, Tanya and especially Brian. I caught up to Brian and walked with him a little while. Then we started to run a little. Hopefully, I helped him like he helped me on the bike. And a big shout out to the great ESCKTC cheering section - you guys and gals were terrific!

Not too much - - I made my sub 5hr goal! I made up some ground from being 2023rd off the bike to ending up 1647th OA.

Saw my sister at the finish who got me to my wife and th rest of my family. What a fantastic journey and an amazing experience! My goal for the race was sub 14-hrs, with a stretch goal of 13-hrs. I landed right in the middle!


Duh - the bike!


Volunteers were awesome and Ironman is truly an unforgettable experience. I won't be back next year - but I will return!