The start: MADNESS!!! All 1400 athletes started at once. The start line was a diagonal line that started on the beach and extended out into the water. You could pretty much pick where you wanted to start out...standing on sand, knee deep or treading water. It was like a shark feeding frenzy with thousands of limbs flailing about. I've never been smacked in the back of the head so many times in a 1 hr period in my life.

I felt comfortable during the swim. I knew I wouldn't set any time records, so I was out to finish the swim comfortably with energy to go after the bike and run. The water was crystal clear and I was able to clearly see the bottom, 100% of the time including the part of the course where they told us it was up to 80 feet deep.

Train more.

I was a total spaz here. After we got out of the water, we had about a 200-300 yard run uphill to get from the beach and into T-1. I was also at the far end of T-1. The good news was that since I had been staged near all of the pros, those folks were all long gone, so I had lots of room around me to get ready :)
I sprayed some SPF 85 on my back, arms and legs knowing I was about to spend several hours in the blazing Hawaii sun. I started running with my bike and crossed the mount line. I got my left foot on top of my shoe, swung my right leg over the bike...and then nearly fell over. My right shoe caught on the ground and got pulled off the pedal. I had to stop and then put my shoes on, get back on my bike and start going again. Did I mention that it was uphill leaving T-1 as well? WOW! I looked like the major rookie, I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Uh, let's see, how about not fall off the bike????

OH MY GOD!!! I had my butt handed to me on this one. This is an extremely challenging course without the wind. Add in the insane headwinds, cross winds, tail winds, and you have a tough ride. This leg is filled with hills including a long (miles) uphill going into Hawi into a headwind. I was totally beat down by the end of this leg. I had told myself in the last 5 miles that I was done and that there was no way I was going to be able to run 13 miles. I had made up my mind that I was going to enter T-2 and hand over my chip. My legs hurt, my feet hurt, my neck hurt, and I had a headache that was crushing. I drank plenty of water and gatorade and I ate 3 gel packs, but I was spent. I think I technically rode the course well. My gear changes were smooth, I cornered decently, and I kept control during the crosswinds (I know of at least one rider that got blown off her bike into the lava field). I was just mentally drained and physically beat.

My training was woefully inadequate. I hadn't done many hills at all and I really needed the hill work for this race.

I did some deep soul searching here. I racked my bike and I sat down with the initial intention of calling it quits. I slowly started putting on my socks and shoes and forced myself to get up. I decided that I had 4 hours to complete the 13.1 miles before the cuttoff and I couldn't just quit. I could almost walk the course in that time. I hadn't committed to finishing the race, but I committed to get out on the course and try.

Not much to say here.

Well, I did it. I walked a lot of this run course (as did many others around me at this point in the pack). I walked through every aid station and splashed/drank water, sipped gatorade, ate a 1/4 banana at three different aid stations and availed myself of the ice cold sponges at every aid station.

Prepare for the bike better. The bike left me with little energy to do much other than survive on the run.

Walk, hobble. Got some gatorade and just sat with my wife and kids thanking God that I had survived and found the energy to make it through.


Training and lack of preparedness for the environment.


This had to be the most humbling experience of my life. I'm amazed that I was able to find the mental and physical strength to complete this race. First off, I know the real fault here was my lack of sufficient training. I went into this race in survival mode. But I was also lacking in the course information preparation. I had no idea how challenging the bike leg was going to be. I'm not sure my training plan would have done much to prepare me for the hills and the wind. I know better now. I have some background first hand experience and knowledge now.

The support staff for this race was awesome! More than enough people helping and cheering us on. There were more than enough aid stations with tons of aid offered.

Overall, this was an awesome race and a mind altering experience. I sit back now and can look at what I was able to accomplish. I get a little perspective when I look at the results and see all of the DNF entries and know that one of them isn't me. I did finish a tough race on hallowed Triathlon ground. I got to race where the world champions of this sport race. How many people are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to race near Kona? I will be back and I will be more prepared. This time was for survival and to say that I completed and Ironman 70.3, next time will be to be competetive.