By all accounts a great swim. I did get disorientated several times and the "washing machine" affect never seemed to let up. Heck I was still getting bumped and getting kicked on my second lap.

The one major mistake I made was to get caught up in the wash around the buoys one the first lap, dang near get pushed under. Should have stayed wider, like I did the second loop.

Swim was just as I excepted. I was hoping for a little faster time and I had a solid pace, I attribute the time to the wide route I took (hence longer) and time lost from stopping and starting in the crowds.

nothing

was in no hurry here. felt like a few extra minutes of "catching my breath" would suit me well on the bike and at least 3 of those minutes were dedicated to getting sunblock applied - a very worthy cause.

none

On this hilly course, there really was just one hill that got me and sadly it was the first real hill in "mountain" region. The benefit of being a plus-size model, my downhill decent was AWESOME. I could coast half up the next hill from my momentum.

The first loop was exactly what I wanted. I stayed within myself, pushed a little, but right on pace for a 6:45 split. And then the second lap made me its bitch. I started to really drag on the hills and there was a fierce headwind coming into town.

Didn't help my time that I stopped at a couple of bike stations on the second loop to enjoy the scenery and give my legs a break.

Not to mention I think my nutrition was a little off on the bike as I completely bonked around mile 100. At mile 106, I pulled over on the main st. in town and needed a minute to collect myself. I was getting so tired, my vision was starting to get hinky.

But all things considered, I'm very happy with my bike ride.

none.

That felt longer. I got into the tent, grabbed a chair and just enjoyed the moment. This time about 4 minutes was spent on sunscreen as a fellow freckled red-head took pity on me and coated me head to toe and toe to head in sunscreen.

none

This is where things went a little south. Getting out of T2, I was AMAZED at how fresh my legs felt. I mean they REALLY felt fresh.

I was unsure of how long I would have fresh legs, so the plan became a very simple walk-run combination. I would run for 5 or 6 minutes, then walk a while. Rinse and repeat. I kept a solid 12:30 per mile pace for the first 9 miles.

And then...

the blisters.

Oh, the blisters.

I could start to feel them on the pads of my feet. I could start to feel them on my toes. I could start to feel them on my heels.

I blocked out the pain and for a while found that it hurt less when I ran, so focused on trying to run.

I decided that I would try and run the second half of the marathon course. Someone must have misplaced the mile marker sign b/c at the 13 mile marker, I took off running. I kept a solid pace, feeling I was around a 9:30 pace. I ran, I ran and I ran. After about 10 minutes, walked a little and then ran again. Somehow, I hit the mile 14 sign at 17:23. The problem was that this just flat-out demoralized me. I was already in a weakened mental state to begin with.

And then the blisters started to really hurt. Walking was brutal. Running was worse. I just blocked it out of my mind and walked. I did a little bit of running, but my legs were starting to go and the blisters hurt worse when I ran.

So I trudged on, walking 17 minute miles all the way.

Coming down the final stretch, the last .25 miles to the chute, I ran. I wasn't going to stop for anything. I was in a lot of pain, but I refused to stop. If I had fallen, my legs would have kept churning.

Crossed the finish line. I don't even remember my name being called, I was in just so much pain.

Oh well, such is life. But crossed that finish line nonetheless.

Medical tent to get the blisters checked out. After 30 minutes in the medical tent, realized that my blisters was akin to going to the ER in the South Bronx for a hangnail. I sat there as they brought one person after another in on a stretcher.

So I bailed. I hobbled to get some pizza. Wrapped up my Mylar blanket and found the pizza actually hurt my mouth. I hobbled (VERY SLOWLY) to the bike area, got my gear (mercifully changing into sandals I had worn that morning). Hobbled over to turn my bike in to be shipped back to Richmond.

And then began my journey to walk the mile back to were I was staying. I could barely walk and describing the amount of pain seems pointless. I got a block on Sherman St. and 3 very nice locals saw me walking. Needing a short break, I stopped walking and we chatted. In the end, they gave me a ride back to where I was staying. Life-saver!

Shower, quick chat with Jenna on the phone and asleep a few minutes later.


My team "coach" for the NYC Tri is a multiple IM veteran. He told me that I would learn a lot about myself on the course out there. He was right.

What did I learn?

I learned that I love my family and prefer to spend time with my family. I missed a handful of training sessions, opting instead to hang out with my boys. I am more grateful for a 15+ hour finishing time and having spent time with boys versus a 13 or 14 hour finishing time and having missed the opportunities to be with them.

I learned that I enjoy triathlons, but Ironmans are not for me. I'm sure I'll keep doing some nice local races, but the time involved for a full Ironman, in my opinion, is not worth the cost of spending time with my family.