Rough swim, but expect it, and you'll be fine. Once I got used to the fact that a breath wasn't certain everytime i tried to breathe, we were good.

Not a thing. There were so many people that swam really really wide that it was a mess everywhere. Swimming wide the first loop and narrow the second...I basically even split my two laps, so it was right on point!

I had to go find my bike bag, which was fine, but it was a bit crowded. Didnt want to mess with the changing tent, so I dumped my bike bag on the floor outside the tent, threw my wetsuit in, and grabbed my helmet. My hair band snapped, and I spent a few minutes looking for a new one. Got my gloves, nutrition, bike shoes, sunglasses, and I was good to go! I put on my gloves and I went to grab my bike. It was pretty busy in transition, and someone tried to grab my bike, but I went most of the way with her. Walked my bike to the bike out, and ended up mounting about 100 foot outside the bike on to avoid the masses clipping in and running into each other.

Get a volunteer to help me with my bag, I wasn't thinking too clearly. I also forgot sunscreen. Whoops.

Started out on the bike in an easy gear, remembering the advice to take it really easy for the first 40 miles. Felt pretty crampy for the climb out of town, trying to breathe and drink a bit to settle my tummy. It was raining pretty decently at this point, which made the famed Keene descent a bit more daunting. I rounded the descent very well (no breaks, yay!) and hit a high of 48 on the first loop. Miles 10-25 are a great place to get nutrition in and spin out, and i did just that. Ate a snickers bar and some peanuts, and drank quite a bit. The climb into Wilmington wasnt too bad (so glad I changed into an 11-28 cassette) and I was feeling pretty good as I turned onto 86 for the last 16 on the first lap. Drafting was pretty bad on the first loop, but it didn't bother me until mile 45. Soeone passed me on the right (people really need to learn not to do this, as I was basically hugging the white line) and then cut me off, and as I swerved to avoid them, I caught the front wheel of someone eating my wind and went flying across the pavement. Ouch. I hit my head pretty bad on the road, and had wicked road rash and was bleeding quite a bit. Some wonderful spectators came over to see if I was ok and held my bike. I took it over to the side of the road, checked my helmet (marks, but no dings), shook my head, which hurt, but was ok, and checked for any other injuries...which were bad looking, but seemed to be minor. Reattached my chain, checked my bike, especially brakes (Keene descent 2 still to come!) Bike looked ok, I felt like crap, but was still alive, so I took some ibuprofin, a few fig newtons, and after about 15 minutes, took off again. The rest of the first loop was tough...I was a bit out of it and shaky, but I was determined not to quit if my body held out. Didnt stop for SN bag, as i wasnt sure i would get back on the bike!!

The second loop was windy, but the rain had quit. I still wasnt feeling too awesome, but managed to keep a decent pace (later I would find out that I rode the last 70 miles of the course with a crooked front wheel...yikes!). I took in something every 45 minutes or so...a granola bar, banana, a zone bar. Stopped briefly at mile 80 to fill my water bottles up for the third time, and then spun it out on the way home. Coming up the bears the last loop, I realized that even though it was slower than I hoped, that I would finish this bike, and I started to smile. The crowd support was awesome, and I managed to pass quite a few people coming up the hills. Off the bike in 7:21, about 20 minutes slower than I hoped, but I spent about the same amount of time on the side of the road after my crash, so I felt good about that.

lol, not crash??? out of my control. There were just too many people out on that course, especially the first loop. Drafting was unreal, and it amazes me that there are still people competing at this level that don't know the rules of the road (you pass on the LEFT!)

Some wonderful volunteer took my bike right away, which was awesome. I grabbed my run bag and snagged an open port o potty (I didnt pee at all on the bike, which was NOT good!) and went into the changing tent. Apparently I had been wearing my timing chip backwards the whole race (OOPS!) and my volunteer fixed it for me. Grabbed my compression tights, running shoes, nutrition, and stuffed it in my jersey. Quick splash of water, running visor on, and I was good to go!

Not much...I was ok with this transition!

Going into the run, I just wasn't too sure about it. I haven't been able to run more than 3 miles in the past month due to psoas issues, so I was a bit nervous. The first mile was mostly downhill, so I settled off into an easy run, and took it from there! Saw my parents at mile 1 (strategically placed) which was a great boost. Got me up the hill, where I saw my wonderful husband, who told me I looked great! I took a minute break, ate a peanut granola bar and said hello. yum. Then I was off. I connected with a great guy from Jersey who was on his second loop, and we ran together for about 6 miles at a 9ish minute mile pace, which was GREAT. My optimistic goal for this run was 5 hours, but I had pushed it to 6 due to injury. Going out on the course, i knew I had 5:05 to beat my orginal goal of 14 hours, but it was too soon to tell. I lost my first buddy at the first turn around, but i felt pretty good at this point. I was walking through the aid stations, but running the rest, and I was so darn happy. My whole body hurt, but this is Ironman baby, you gotta roll with it!! I had never thought I could do something like this, and I was just ecstatic to be there and a part of it. Saw my hubby again about mile 11, and he yelled encouragement at me and told me I looked great, and I gave him a thumbs up. Even though the really tough hills are going back into town (I walked the huge one both times) the crowd support is just so unbelieveable, that you feel amazing! Stopped for my Sn bags to grab a fruit bar and a few notes that I had my friends and family write to get me through loop 2. I was taking a bite of an orange or a sip of powerade at each aid station, and it was working really well. I could hear Mike Rielly at this point annoucing in the fasties, and I got some goosebumps, but reminded myself I still had 13 miles to go, and to take it one step at a time!! First loop, 2:20, and I had 2:45 to got o beat 14 hours. I started to feel optimistic, and was rationalizing mile split times in my head...oops! I let it go for a bit and concentrated one mile at a time. Connected with a guy named Mike on lap 2, and we paced each other well until about mile 20. I knew about the wall that was supposed to hit at that point, but I never felt it! I was a bit slower, but still running, and still smiling. A volunteer at one of the aid stations told me I looked great and that I WOULD be an ironman today...all I knew was I couldnt stop smiling!! The hills got a bit rough on the way back, and my family had headed up to the finish, so it was a bit lonely until mile 23, when i saw the crowds again! Mile 24 was the only time i hit "the wall". U got dizzy and disoriented, and walked the entire mile, sipping on powerade and eating a cookie to get my sugars up. I read my note from my hubby and that helped alot. 2 miles left Rae...you can do this! At mile 25, I could hear Mike announcing again, and I got shivers. I picked it up, ignoring my body, and ran to the oval....unreal. As I rounded the oval to the finish and heard Mike shout "Rae Glaser, you are an Ironman!" I pumped my arms, crossed the finish, and just started bawling. My catcher was alarmed at first, but when I sobbed that it was my first and I beat my goal time by 6 minutes, he completely understood, hugged my bigtime and helped me with a mylar blanket, my medal, shirt and hat. I got my finisher photo, found my hubby, and just lost it with happiness!!

Not a single thing. I cant believe I managed a sub 5 hour marathon after my injuries and bike crash!

Grabbed a sandwich and diet coke (I know, I am a freak!!) Stopped by medical to have them check me out (I was still pretty banged up and bloody) and found a few friends before I grabbed my SN bags and found my hubby and dry clothes!!


Small complaints...post race feast wasnt the best, but I wasnt too sure how much I could have eaten anyways. There were just too many darn people on this course, period. The swim was fun, but really rough, and the bike was just too congested to be safe (there were multiple crashes, I know). WTC really needs to limit the amount of people in this race.

BUT....overall...AMAZING day!! Amazing volunteers, amazing crowd support, amazing amazing! My first Ironman...i will NEVER forget this day!!!