Ironman Florida
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Ironman Florida - TriathlonFull Ironman
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Swim
Comments: I could have trained for this all my life, and still had the same time...I held back at the beginning, cause I was overwhelmed by the number of people in this mass start...as it was counting down, I started tearing up, cause I couldn't believe that the day was here, and couldn't imagine what it would bring...the first lap was insane, I was never alone...the good thing about that was that I didn't hae to spot at all...but there were many points where I just had to stop, cause there was nowhere to go, just a mass of bodies...I got hit on the head, in the eye, on the arms, in the stomach...it was overwhleming...in the middle of it, I started feeling a rubbing of my wetsuit (which I'd only worn once before) around my arms...I knew that it was going to be bad, so I kept trying to adjust my bathing suit so it wouldn't hurt - was not to be, just had to deal with it...got out on the first lap, and waded slowly into the water for the second lap, was talking to a lady near me, and she said that she'd done Ironman races before but the swim had never been so rough...well, in I went...the rubbing was just incredily painful - now, it looks like my arms were cut off and reattached cause the bruises are so bad - I will have pics up in my album, but had to ignore it...second lap was much better than the first - honestly, I think that I would have been pretty fast if the "crowd" had been like this during the first lap...but I think I probably lost most of the mass of people that were with me on the first lap because I was so slow at the wading part of the second lap...oh well... What would you do differently?: grease up around the openings of my wetsuit...it hurts SO BAD!! Transition 1
Comments: What in the world was I doing here? Oh yea, trying to be modest...the strippers were amazing, ran into the changing tent cause it was freezing...but once there, I was trying to keep my towel around me - instead of just not caring...so, I spent minutes doing this...well, that didn't work well...so off goes the towel, on go the dry clothes...two earwarmer bands, gloves, bike shirt and jacket...and off I go...had a LOT of trouble getting on the bike, almost fell over...but got on and was on my way... What would you do differently?: Not be so modest! Bike
Comments: This was what tested my stuff... At first we went west, which was fine, but I had trouble getting my legs working after the swim - I was pretty cold...saw Wendi fly by me at mile 2...warmed up, turned north, going around 15-15.5...bridge killed my average - down to 14...Bridget flew by at around mile 16...at mile 20, turned east...about 2 miles after, I saw a woman run headfirst right into a parked semitruck...it was so scary, and she was screaming...I stopped to see if I could help, and then another guy stopped - he was a doctor...didn't think I could do anything more...so I started up again... that's when it got bad...the wind was pretty tough, and I had 50 miles of it straight into my face...going east, the hills were much worse then I expected...and my average started dropping and dropping...at a point, it was 13.8mph...and I was trying so hard...and I knew that if it kept up like this...I wasn't going to make it in time...I started crying and thinking of Terri and Christine, and of my mom and dad and my students who were watching online, and how I had worked so hard...my stomach was also cramping, so at mile 42 or so, I stopped at the water stop - fully stopped - took a big breath, and filled both parts of my aerobottles, then I started drinking - a lot...I decided that I would go until I was pulled off, and wouldn't give up...so I kept going - slowly...at mile 50, I got to go south...GLORIOUS!! I LOVED it, a tailwind!! I was going 20!! Smooth and wonderful...Only went south for about 5 miles...then west, but west wasn't too bad either...but O.M.G. the road...PCB - seriously...pave your roads - a crack every 10 feet, and I'm talking HUGE cracks!! for MILES...my "down there" was peeved! After that we went north...that was tough again, and into the wind...but mentally, I was much better then I had been before...at this point, my avg. was around 14.7...went east and the roads were horrible again (TOO MANY CRACKS!!)...then the u-turn - I completely unclipped and walked around it...then stopped at the aid station, grabbed 3 powerbars, and stopped for the portapotty...I had to wait in a line of like 10 people...not kidding...it was crazy, but I had to go...so, I waited - while watching my average drop down to 14.1..ugh! Finally got that taken care of, physically was feeling pretty good...started talking to this guy named Walter, which really helped the time go by...that lasted about 10 minutes...then kept going west forever (which was fine - road got nicer)...then glorious south - over the bridge...YEA!!! 100 miles...everyone around me cheered, YEAHH!!! Then south was easy, slowly was working my avg. back up and KNEW I could do it at that point...the last bit was just the anticipation of getting back on my feet...DONE - YEAH!! What would you do differently?: ohhhh...not liking the bike...it was the hardest part... Transition 2
Comments: Was less modest this time...just peed at the portapotty, got on my shorts and shoes, and off I went... What would you do differently?: nothing:) Run
Comments: I never wanted to see a powerbar again in my life!! On the run, I only ate pretzels, grapes, and ice... Started off amazingly well, cause I was so happy to be off the bike...ran well for the first 8 miles, inspiration at 7 miles said that I was awesome!...then started getting really tired...at about mile 11, I wasnt running much any more...so hard to not go in the finish when everyone else was...didn't get my special needs, cause I just wanted it over with...started speed walking with this guy at arounf mile 14...it was great, cause he walked fast...got my pink necklace thing as it got dark...just kept going...tried to run once more, but my feet felt like I was banging them into a wall everytime I tried...so, I walked, got a silver plastic thingy at mile 19...at mile 25, I was ready for it to be over, and just taking it in...capturing every second, slapping every hand, thanking every volunteer...they announced my name and I was the only one around...found Matt, gave him a big smile and a high five...and then - I AM AN IRONMAN!!! What would you do differently?: It was incredible...for all the pain, for all the doubts...for all the training...NOTHING!! Post race
Warm down: Ate half a pizza, then went back to the condo, ate strawberries, kiwi, butternut squash soup, and decorated a cake with Sam...I was up till 2am...it was a high like nothing I'd ever felt before...it was AMAZING!! I felt so strong, I felt invincible...I sm so happy!! You can't imagine unless you are there!! What limited your ability to perform faster: This doesn't matter at all...this is a once in a lifetime experience...and it was just beyond my wildest dreams!! Event comments: WOW! Last updated: 2007-12-12 12:00 AM
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2008-11-03 6:37 PM |
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General Discussion-> Race Reports! |
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United States
Ironman North America
Sunny
Overall Rank = 2058/
Age Group = W30-34
Age Group Rank = 88/95
Came in on Wednesday night after work, got a really nice 2 bedroom condo...went to bed, got up early Thursday, checked in right at 10am when it opened, ran a bit, ate IHOP, slept more, was going to swim - but didn't feel like it, then the BT party, then the opening dinner...went back to the condo and to bed. Next day...got up, went swimming, packed up ironman bags, biked over to deposit bike, walked back, got bags, got everything in by 3pm, went to airport to pick up Sam...then went and ate with Lauren and her family...good pasta dinner!! Was in bed by 9pm...
Got up at 5am, hadn't fallen asleep until around 1am, but that's ok...I was awake! Ate half a pb&j...got wetsuit, and off we went...walked the 1 mile to the site...looked over eerything, got on wetsuit and was ready to go!