With my wetsuit the only thing keeping me warm i head into the water and the race started once i got to the start, bit close there! I was so happy that the water felt warm and i was able to go at a good strong pace. Through the swim i had to ease up on the kicking because i knew that I had to be conserving my legs for the last 5+ hours of this race. The wetsuit kept me nice and warm for a good strong swim. Only complaint was the run-up after the swim because it probably took away a minute on my clocked time lol!

nothing special just took my time drying myself, putting my jersey, arm warmers, socks and shoes on. didn't want to rush like i usually do to make sure i had everything

Now this ride was something! Right off the bat i knew i had to pace myself good even a bit slower than usual, really because i trained to finish not race. My first lap i felt great and was happy to start out with a flat course except the big hill in the beginning. Just focused on keeping a consistent, comfortable and doable pace. I hit 27 and the hills and they were something! i just paced myself and put it on a real easy gear and cruised through the hill without destroying my legs. Passing by the lighthouse was great as it is such a beautiful place. overall through my first loop i felt good and stuck with my nutrition great and was setting up myself great for the second 28 mile loop. Getting onto the second loop i just focused on keeping my pace up. I head through everything with the same strategy and it worked great but come about 40 miles into my bike is when i started having a tough time. I was getting rather fatigued, my perpetuem started tasting stale and simply the wrong kind of sweetness and mentally i was exhausted but i continued refusing to give up! Once i hit Edgemere St. i started to feel great and elated knowing that i just had a bit more and i can finally get onto my run! I finish strong and excited knowing that I'm finally off my bike and onto my strength, the run. Was so good to have my family and everyone else cheer for me :D

Again took my time to get everything ready and kept the my arm warmers on which i thanked myself come an hour into my run

I get onto my run and i feel absolutely great! At this point I know that i will finish because its just a matter of pushing myself for the next two hours. For the first few miles or so when it was nice and flat i felt strong and great, i was having such a runners high that i never felt before. I went to through each aide station taking in some gatorade and a gel to have at the next water station. I get to murders hill and quite honestly i didn't find the hill nor any individually hard but having them so close together was tough but not so much now since i had great hill training through my summer. I keep my strong pace and strategy throughout the first loop and it was paying off great. I get back to transition and was psyched by all the energy from the spectators, again its great to hear my family and everyone else cheering! My second loop was probobly the toughest and most painful 6.5 miles of my life. I get to the 8 mile marker and my legs started feeling very painful and i was at a great low, had to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and jogging it through. Murders hill was tough but the hill right after was the murder! I get through the hilly section hitting the wall and just hanging in there focusing on my running and the finish that is so close by. I pass by my dad twice at the two little inlets cheering him and giving him a bit of a warning for his 2nd loop. I come down murders hill and am excited that all the hills are through! At this point i have two miles and my legs are in utter pain but i keep pushing it through. I reach Fort Pond i walk a bit then run the rest of the way home. When i get in 200 meters from the finish line i put on such a big smile because im so excited that im finishing. I come across the final stretch and through the finish line with a huge smile and so relieved to finish such a great race and my first step into becoming an ironman!

walked around letting my belly settle forcing down a bagel and later pasta!


inexperience in this distance


overall good race, just not enough aide stations and they closed on my dad who finished in 8:30 roughly