WOW! It was like being in some hellish scene from a ship sinking. The cannon sounded and 2000+ people bolted for the water. It was impossible not to draft because there was nothing but people everywhere. The chop and waves were way up from the previous two days I went swimming. I was surprised at how many of the people in the water couldn't swim a straight line! First loop was chaotic until 1/2 way down the back stretch when all the slower swimmers had been passed and pace groups formed. Hit the beach, swigged some fresh water to wash out my mouth, and then took off for lap two. Kept an easy pace and was ready for the bike.

Get closer to the front and not have to swim over so many people, and be more aggressive to make some space.

Easiest transition ever. People strip off your wetsuit for you, someone helps you change clothes, and direct you to your rack point. It felt like I was in the change tent forever, but only 6min ain't bad.

Nothing.

Not eat that GU

Someone takes the bike for you and racks it. Again someone helped me change and off I went.

Eating that GU finally came to full fruition on the run. I couldn't digest anything I had eaten or drank in the last 20mi of the bike. I had terrible stomach cramps and lots of gas. Everytime I started to run I could hear everything sloshing around in my stomach and upper intestine. I could only manage 3min running and 2min walking on the first loop. I stopped at every bathroom on the first loop and drank barely enough to keep me upright. Luis caught me at the turnaround for loop two and my stomach finally began to settle enough where I could handle cola, water, gatorade, and chicken broth. Luis got me going at 5min on 2min off. We hit the turnaround with 6.2mi left and all the meds I had been taking wore-off and the pain was too much, I had to walk. So Luis took-off and I was back to walking. I ran the last 2mi just to feel like I did some running of the marathon. Of the 26.2mi, I ran maybe 8 of them and walked the rest. This was grueling and awful.

Not down that GU on the bike and take another dose of the Tylenol Allergy and Sinus that kept me going all day.

I immediately hit the med tent because I was in bad shape. They didn't give me an IV because I hadn't been running and wasn't dehydrated. They did give me some darvoset for the pain though and I felt MUCH BETTER! Escorted off for a massage to work on my left hamstring which is pulled.


That FU*KING chocolate/orange GU which should have been a banana! Damn.


This is probably my first and last Ironman. The feeling of accomplishment just doesn't match-up with all the money, stress, and pain that goes into finishing. I'd rather focus on getting faster at Olys.