The river actually was cleaner then I expected and the taste wasnt as nasty as some of the other places I have swam. The current was strong going into it and I kept wondering when I got to turn around to go with it! Finally that happened and I wasnt as home free as I thought but it was nice.

Felt good about the swim. My shoulder bothered me a couple times so I just did the breast stroke and changed breathing signs. I just thought....get thru this swim to get on the bike.

This was pretty cool. I haven done an IM before so when people are there getting your stuff out for you it was great. My bra got stuck on my semi wet body and there they are helping pull it down. What pampering!

This bike course is very tough. I had done 80 miles of it last month so I knew what I was in for but then I got sick and couldnt do anything at all for the past 3 1/2 weeks. I loved seeing my family and all the people cheering in LaGrange. I wanted to take them with me the rest of the way. I wanted off that bike so bad. My feet got swollen and I undid my shoes to losen them.

Not get sick before the race or when I realize my body is feeling different stop training and rest immediatly!

Great just handing off your bike!!! My family was there when I came in......I was so glad to make that bike cut off. Gave my mom, dad, son and boyfriend a kiss and off I tried to run.

I couldnt get into the run. I had some problem with the tendons in the back of my right knee from the bike. My inner thighs even were killing me and then a monster of a blister came out on the ball of my foot. I started off with a decent pace walk and just enjoyed everything and everyone. I tried to run a couple times and just couldnt get going. When I started getting a blister I took my sock of thinking it was too wet and that did help for a couple miles. I then tought.....hmmm maybe I will go barefoot but that only made it a couple steps. At the half way point I really wanted to quit. That word has never been part of my vocabulary but I was hurting and I knew I couldnt make the time. My son was there with my boyfriend and my son kept saying you can do it....dont you dare stop mom. My boyfriend just said how proud he and everyone was and to be careful....He was worried from the get go about doing the race because I shouldnt have really tried it but did understand that I had to. Off I went for the second lap and stopped at the first aide station and just had them sit bags of ice on my quads. Felt great and off I went for a little bit. I ran a little more and this is were I kept saying how bad I want this and all the pictures people with bleeding feet and blisters everywhere were in my head and they did it so can I. Then reality again set in and I knew I couldnt make the time cut. I knew I would be close but there was no way I could run 10 min miles with the shape my legs and foot was so I did what I could. I had about 2 miles left and there comes the news......A white van says do you want a ride back because you wont make the cut....I said no way......I was told you could finish the race as long as you made the bike cut off and he said that the police may want me on the sidewalk because there would not be enough help on the course and I said fine...I am going to finish. He then said I will get your chip now and you wont have to worry about it later. I then got a lump in my throat from that reality and couldnt even swallow. I saw some spectators still and they were still cheering my on and I was just balling and trying to prevent myself from hyperventilating......I just said I didnt make the cut and they didnt even understand what that meant....all they could say was how wonderful I was and how great I was doing. I saw the aide station ahead and had to potty I had been afraid to stop to waste time this second lap and then I saw my son and boyfriend and they just hugged me and told me how proud and wonderful I was doing and I finally could breath again. They walked my the rest of the way in. Side by side we went. 28 min too late for the announcer to say Jennifer Hatcher you are an ironman.....but I finished and got the finishers medal and wore it proud!

I think that maybe if I started making myself fight thru the pain in the beginning of the run that I would have made it? I dont know. This blister started at about mile 2 or 3 and by the end of the race it overtook the ball of my foot. I did manage to ignore that pain a couple times and even my knees joints and quads etc but just couldnt get the job done in time.

I took a cold shower at the hotel but the water just didnt get cold enough for me. I couldnt sleep at all. My stomach started to bother me and my legs were just aching. We went ahead and got up to come home and stopped to get my green bag and a tshirt. I tried to eat but it didnt stay down. I just wanted to be home.


Tough course