The swim went great for me. The start was a little hectic, but it always is. I stayed to the outside and it opened up quickly. Was able to sight about every 6-9 strokes and stayed on course very well. Never had any panic at all, just got smooth and streamlined. I think this distance was actually a little easier than a sprint, in that, you can get comfortable and get into a rythym, in a sprint it is chaotic the whole time.

Have I mentioned that is was HOT!!

Nothing. If I could I would "bottle" this swim, and use it again and again.

T1 went well. The wetsuit got stuck on my heels, but I expected that. Just sat down and yanked it off. Got the socks, shoes, helmet, glasses, endurolytes, etc. and was gone.

Have I mentioned that is was HOT!! I think I heard them anounce that it was 90 at 9am while I was in transition!!

Nothing.

Okay, so prior to race start, we are discussing that becuase of the wind that we will have a headwind on the way back in on the bike. Wrong, we had the headwind on the way out, and it was brutal. I felt great on the bike, but the headwind was brutal and there was gusting crosswinds also. I felt good on the way out, just tried to keep my cadence around 95 and continue to breath easy (as I had no HR monitor, this was my way of keeping the HR in check). I know that I didn't drink enough, but while the accelerade didn't really work for me, my stomach was rebelling against it, I took in alot of water w/ gel and about 6 endurolytes. For the ride I felt really good, never pushed it and was averaging a great pace.

Have I mentioned that is was HOT!!

Drink more, otherwise I thought it went pretty smoothly.

Felt good coming into T2, however, had my first sign of what was to come, when I got a little cramp while putting on my running shoes. Got the fuel belt loaded and on, race number and hat on and off I went.

Not much went pretty smoothly.

Well I cramped right out of the box. I was about.5 miles from the start of the run and my leg "locked up" w/ a cramp to where I could hardly walk, this was the only point that I thought I may not be able to finish this race. After about 400 yds of serious pain the cramp began to ease up and I knew I would finish, it would not be pretty but I would finish. I fought cramps in my quads (especially my right) the whole run. I was taking endurolytes like they were going out of style and drinking at every water station as well as drinking accelerade from my fuel belt. The gel that I had was useless, thinking about having any make be want to puke. At the water station at about mile 5 I tried a banana w/ H2O, what a godsend. My new motto "Bananas are your friend". After having a banana, the cramps began to subside a little and I was able to run again. I still walked at every aid station and mile marker (they were ataggered) but I was running again. However, now I was not sweating, not a good sign!! I would get water at the aid station, begin to sweat but be dry by the next aid station. This went on for the last half of the race. I really could not get in any more fluids and just had to slow down and take it home carefully. The volunteers were incredible and the locals, so many had hoses out to spray you down, or sprinklers on you could go through to try and keep cool. I thanked everyone that I could, they were awesome.

I don't know that there is much more that I could do differently, the heat was dropping people like flies. It was just survival.

Sat in the shade and got some cold H2O for a while, talked to a few others that had come in that I knew to see how they did / felt. Had some Ice cold Endurox and just tried to get cool.


The heat and humidity. I achieved my goal time of 6-6:15 hrs, in this heat, w/o it I think I would have been able to come close to 6 possibly sub 6.


For my first 1/2 I was very happy w/ the outcome. In the heat and humidity, to be able to drag myself over the finish within my goal time, I am very happy and proud of that. This is a mentally and physically demanding sport, and I got thrown in the fire just starting out. Will I do this again, you bet your ass I will, and I am already thinking about Tupper '06!!