Overall swim was decent. About what I expected for the lack of swim training I put in and also b/c I was not able to get an open water swim in before the race. Lake Erie is still 45 deg!

Wish I would have gotten in the water quicker as well. Starting at the actual start line would be nice ;).

Nixed the neoprene cap race morning. Glad I did because I was perfect w/ just the race cap!

Given all the variables I did the best I could on race day and felt good about it.

I really wanted to make this quicker but I changed out of my swim suit into my tri top and shorts kinda slow. I was shivering bad even though I really didn't feel cold. My volunteer helped get my top on and sunscreen me up. I def wanted to get the sunscreen on well b/c I knew I would fry otherwise.

Probably should have worn tri top and shorts under wetsuit. It would def have dried fast. Also didn't need the arm warmers.

The first half of the course went really smoothly. I'm admitting that I really didn't have a set nutrition plan going into the race. I knew I wanted about 200-250 cal/hr, but I would let my stomach dictate. The first hour I had half of my big colossal bar taped to the bike. I sipped the course fluids powerade perform and water. ABout mile 40 I had the other half of my bar. I kept downing the fluids b/c it was just so hot. The hill before the wall, and the wall were def the hardest climbs and I was able to stay on my bike for both the first loop.

A little past mile 50 I got my SN bag and chugged a SF Redbull and had half of my small bag of chips. It was nice to get something salty vs sweet. I put my payday in my shirt pocket, I used the restroom, and lubed back up w/ sunscreen.

The rest of the first loop went well and it was so nice to catch a bunch of descents in a row. Got up to 40MPH on one and was holding on for dear life! Second loop started well up till about mile 80 when I noticed my rear tire was looking low. I couldn't tell if I was imagining it or not so I kept going and I was on the lookout for bike aide. Around mile 90 I got to the wall for the second time and I chugged about 2/3 of the way up before aborting and walking the rest. My rear tire was just dragging me down and I was walking about the same speed. I got to the top and asked for bike aide. A volunteer said there's one a mile away at the next aide station. So I hopped back on and luckily made it there! The bike mechanic swooped up my bike, I went to the bathroom, grabbed a cup of water, lubed up with more sunscreen and they were finished fixing my flat! I couldn't have been more lucky! Got back on and flew to the finish!

Well of course in a perfect world I would have done all my long rides. But with the weather in Ohio being a crapfest and the troubles with my foot, my longest ride was 5.5hr and it was indoors on a trainer. So again, I think I def did the best I could..... Other than getting a flat!

Pretty quick... Didn't change clothes, lubed up w/ more sunscreen, put on my visor and away I went!

nothing

So this is what I was waiting to get to all day.... I was so happy to have survived the bike that I really didn't pay attn to the course elevation of the run. Hmmm... that was a mistake. So I took off from T2 with a jog. I ran the first 3miles which were a slow climb out of town. I grabbed sponges at every aide station and shoved them down my top, I dumped ice down my shorts. It was just SO HOT. I turned the corner to head out of town and looked up to my horror to see what seemed to be a huge uphill. That was the first time during the race when I thought, "I might not finish this." I was so hot and I knew there was no way I could run. So I thought OK I'll turn this run into a hike. So I fast walked up the hills and ran the downhills and my positive attitude came back. I had a fast pace going down. The turnaround was back in town and I grabbed my second SF redbull from my SN bag. I saw Dan and told him it could be a long night, he just laughed and gave me a high five. I headed back out knowing I was def finishing before 17hrs. Did the same as the first lap w/ walking the uphills and running down. Had to stop at mile 18 to use the RR. Talked w/ some nice people on uphills. About mile 23.5 was the big downhill back into town and I gunned it. I felt like I was flying and I did a 8:16 pace the last 2 miles. I couldn't wait to cross the finish, so I just kept pushing and pushing. Finally I made the right turn into the corrals and I was SO HAPPY. The day was finally coming to a close and I was high fiving fans and heard the announcer say, from Sandusky, OH, Laura Cobb you are an Ironman!!!

train for hills!

Took pics, kissed my hubby, talked w/ a couple of my course friends. Ate a small cup of icecream (couldn't eat anything right away).... Went back to the hotel took a shower (heaven) and came back to the finish for a massage and pizza.


heat, hills, and lack of training


Cannot say enough about this race. Yes it's hard, but the volunteers, spectators, and race organizers did an OUTSTANDING JOB! I literally could not have finished the race w/out them. I made sure to thank everyone I could the entire time. I would def do this race again!!!!