Found trixie and miami with #'s, also saw Tammy and Tracy V. and wished them good luck...then waited for the horn. Ran in and had to get around people still walking really need to find a better position in the water. I couldn't breath left due to waves every time so just stayed breathing right. the water was not bad in the beginning but about half way through the waves picked up and when I would breath the water would come over my head and I'd get a mouth full! Started to take shorter breaths which mad me stroke a bit faster but over all I felt great on the swim. I was hanging on toes then I would loose them look up and I had swimmers on either side of me but no one in front! found feet again then was plowed over by some guy in the wave behind me! I felt faster then my time but I will take it! Felt great getting out of the water. Never once did I think when was this going to end...45:40 on the watch.

I was sooo excited to get out of the water then to see strippers...I've always wanted to be stripped so I dropped down and she did a great job...what was I thinking I'm covered in sand:( Gave the cheering fam kisses and went on my way!

...I was covered in sand and couldn't get it off of me! hit the button on my watch to see HR and hit the wrong one! Stopped the watch...nooooo restarted it so no swim data on it, oh well. went through putting on helmet and glasses, couldn't get my shoes on even though I powdered them gloves went on great, race belt and off I went...knew I was taking my time due to the sand but didn't think it was that long! Couldn't get sun block on due to still being covered in sand:(

not sure...I practice transitions a lot and thought I would do better then this, but also know that I wanted to make sure I had everything.

I dropped my salt tabs on the bike before mile 10! Stopped to pick them up but bikers were coming fast so grabbed 2 and left the rest, thought they'd have them on the course...nope! was feeling great for the first 30 miles. Passed a farm that had goats and I yelled where are the donkeys? After a slight pause yelled out I am the donkey....eeeeaaaawwww! Hitting the hills stronger then I have, looked at my speed and it said 22...um feel great so keep going! Rain started around mile 40 ish...right by the church Anna and I got stuck at on the Friday of the big storms! Looked at the church and said thanks God! But still had a smile on my face! Then at a water station a girl almost fell into me as she was reaching for a hand off and crashed right in front of me! was able to get around her but the heart was racing and it took me a bit to shake the I almost crashed feeling! After that my pace started slowing and I was thinking you pushed too hard in the beginning. Was playing cat and mouse with a guy named Daniel and a girl in pink that kept calling me red! It kept us honest! felt the quads burning around mile 45ish and was thinking the run was going to hurt. was secretly wanting to be under 3 hours but knew that wasn't happening around mile 50, those last few miles are brutal with the bumpy road! Saw Ben running as I was coming in off the bike. quads were screaming but I kept pushing and even though the 3 hr mark was passed definitely wanted to be under the 3:20 so was happy with my time.

maybe mix the salt tabs with my drink so I don't have to worry about them? even though I feel good on the bike know that 56 miles is a long way to go and pacing is everything!

ugh quads froze right off bike...move legs move! A volunteer held my bike so I could get off.... once in transition everything was soaked from the rain so socks stuck and couldn't get into shoes.

this was brutal! Not real happy with my run but seeing that I couldn't feel my quads through the whole thing I am ok with this. in my dream world I wanted 2 hrs or under! I told myself that this is the "run" portion and you need to run! plan was to run to each water station and walk through it. I was great to have everyone at the start of the run...can't walk in front of them! It was good to see all the donks Anna and Jen and my family! then I hit the first hill and walked then saw the camera guy on the 2nd hill after cursing him I ran to the water station...well more like shuffled! stopped to walk a few times past the 2nd water station but then talked myself into running. Saw Michele(didn't know if she was racing so that gave me a huge boost!)Saw Ben and I think Brendon, took a gel at the next water station and choked on it! drank a bunch of water(too much) then the tummy was sloshing :( suck it up Kim and keep going... Back and forth with Amy for most of the first lap. Saw the donkey tent and family put a huge smile on my face...no matter how much pain I was in I was soooo happy to be out there. passed Pete and Jeremy and Michele again, Also saw my friend Geoff and he called out "go get you your sticker!"). what a boost to have peeps on the course. When I hit the turn around on my 2nd lap I got a nice boost and pushed a bit more...oh the pain! I was in tears with a smile, how does that happen? Just keep moving and get to that line to earn your bumper sticker is all I kept saying to myself. Also came up with a lovely song...put one foot in front of the other and soon you will cross the finish line, put one foot in front of the other and soon you will be a 1/2 ironman..:) I could hear the announcer as I was rounding the zoo..not sure what came over me but I took off(well relatively speaking) I came through with so much happiness that I forgot about the pain started crying as I came through the shoot....I did it!

longer runs off the bike. I also didn't have my run mileage where I wanted before the race due to my hip issues so with all that I am content with my race!

as soon as I crossed I told the volunteer that I would need the aid station because I couldn't feel my legs, she was great and helped me through. got some ice for the quads then walked around with the family and saw Amy, Pete and Jeremy finish. Then it was time for food and a massage....WTH you had to pay for a massage? as I was trying to find the food tent I got dizzy and stumbled a bit and a volunteer helped me to a cot and put in an IV....one bag down and I was feeling better. Got my stuff out of transition Tom put it all away as I walked down to the lake for an ice bath...As we were about to leave the announcer calls out that the last racer is coming in...What? I thought they called that a long time ago? So I hobbled down to the finish line and cheered him in!


lack of salt tabs and I need to do more long rides with longer brick runs.


they ran out of sandwiches...not happy about that, only food left was some bagels and banana halves. also why would you put the wet suit strippers in the sand? and no salt tabs at the water/aid stations not good.(well for those that drop the ones they brought!) The volunteers were great though!