I definately prefer a mass start! waiting in line made me anxious. I had more contact in this swim than in my one and only prior IM in cozumel. Unfortunately, within my first 25 yards I heard some screaming of"help" and as I looked I saw chest compressions being done on a swimmer...AGH! not a site I wanted to see and all I could think of was oh please don't let Steve see this (this would be the third time he would see CPR being done in a participant among all the races I have done...not good). I did a little prayer for the swimmer and his family and moved on. overall I felt pretty good, I just kept on moving, never stopped and my sighting was great. The diesel smell was nasty and the color of the water!! I do all my swims in the ocean so this was a little strange for me. I felt great thought. Running to the transition I saw Steve and gave him a big smile and thumbs up!!Ran grabbed my bag and into the changing tent!!

I guess get faster!!! lol..

I did it as fast as possible

again get faster

I had been having nightmares about this part for months!!! being from south florida I had been nervous about the "rolling hills". I had done some training in clermont, fl which has rolling hills but still it is florida. I trained in very hot conditions with high humidity so I felt the temp on race day was perfect. Ok, so I get on the bike and within 20 miles I start getting horrible stomach cramps, I begin to think..hmmm is it the nasty river water? no, I did not swallow any..hmmm holy $#@%^ it is period cramps (sorry TMI)..OMG!! no this can't be happenning..I ignore them but the cramps get worse and worse...I think happy thoughts...sing...curse...and up we go on the rolling hills and I actually hit 37MPH going down one of the long hills which for me is very fast. I am sipping NUUN, eating my cliff blocks, pretzels, etc and overall feeling ok except for my u know what. I stopped at the special needs bag section early (33miles) and took some advil that I had packed just in case and went to the bathroom. Off I went again and luckily my cramps went away and never came back!!! woooohooo for advil!!!! I did what steve told me to do on all the hills..."granny gear up and pedal pedal pedal fast downhill to get me up the other one" and it worked!!! I never cramped and never thought once I would not finish the bike ride. I stopped to help a guy who was cramping up really bad and offered some sea salt, he put it in the water and off I went again. I only stopped once to help (I can't help it, I hate seeing people in misery..and I hope someone will stop for me if I need it). I did see a couple of accidents but the paramedics were there already. I stopped at 66 miles and had my peanut butter sandwich..hmmm delicious! I enjoyed the people cheering at La Grange, and all the volunteers were awesome. Steve was at La Grange but I missed him, he did see me so that was good for him. I am a slow bike rider but I am very proud that I did the hills well. I wish I had hills near me!! Oh yeah, I did not enjoy going over that little bump at the bike dismount. My nutrition and hydration was perfect!

practice hills, get faster on the bike...

took my time, went to the potty and off I went...wooohooo now for the dessert part of the race!

I felt pretty good when I started. I gave a big kiss and hug to steve and thumbs up again! I had plenty of time for the run even if I had to crawl.
My stomach was perfect, I had no GI discomfort, I was drinking coke, water, some perform (gross), broth, pretzels and a grape here and there. Never felt nauseous. At mile 13 I actually thought i had a chance of making it at 15 hours as nothing was really bothering me besides the normal exhaustion. Then my left achilles started to really hurt...aghhhhh I had to walk run alot!! it really slowed me down more and I missed the opportunity to get 15hrs. I found the run course a little boring at times but it was very well supported with police and hydration/food stations. The finish was awesome and I was greeted by the winner!! wow! I smiling, crying all at once. It is the best feeling to cross that line!!! the volunteer walked me to steve who had already picked up my bike, thank God! we walked over to the food and overall I was feeling k.

get faster!!! I know I could have run faster and with less walking if my left achilles had not hurt so much.

I was pretty disappointed that they had no pizza, only cookies and chips and soda. So we walked over to a restaurant and ordered to go food.


I am just a slow racer!!! but I love it and will continue to do them for as long as my body allows me to. I love the training, testing my body and mind and the feeling of accomplishment when I cross the finish line ;-)


Great volunteers! very organized I just wish they would have had more food options at the finish. I later learned the participant did die in the swim portion. I hope his family is able to get some peace knowing that he died doing what he loved to do because no one goes into an ironman race unless they love racing. May he rest in peace. I hope Ironman corp sends his family the race medal.