Think one big freaking blender, got kicked a few times, swam over a few times, and finally said the heck with this and kicked and swam over people to get way outside. Left the water very fresh, my HR was 110 after crossing the timing mat.

I should have swam inside the bouys at the start while waiting for the roughness to settle down. I probably should have swam faster but i wanted to finish today and held back.

None

Maybe I should have been in more of a hurry? 11 minutes?

PR'd the bike course, the temps stayed cool (for me anyway), very little sweating, hit my nutrition and hydration just right, and had no mechanical problems! Hit the big hills in the small chain ring and 25 on the back, so much easier than pushing up. Felt really great and rested going into T1 other than my lower back and shoulders were really pissed off at me!

Favorite signs: "So you ran a marathon, cute" and "Is your package numb yet"

Funniest observation: The number of sub 15 mph people who waste money on a disk wheel.

No comparison to the way 2009 went. I felt fresh in T2 and averaged 22 mph for the last segment. In 2009 I was fighting cramps in T2, breathing heavy, high pulse rate, and averaged 14 freakin mph during the last segment.

Looking at my AHR of 129 and speed of 18.19 I did hold back a bit more than I should have but I wanted a PR and a finish without a trip to ER afterwards!

None

Nothing

PR'd the run, it was warmer than I had hoped for but a good breeze helped out. Managed to go none stop till special needs for a sock change. Slowed down and did a run/walk combination for the rest of the race. The stomach and everything else felt pretty bad around mile 18. Oranges, cola, and chicken broth helped out. Started getting calf cramps the last 3 miles but managed to walk them off for a good run into the finish line!

Normally in 80+ temps with high humidly I would have done worse but I did cut way back on my recreational use of alcohol during training which I contribute to a big reduction in sweat!

Saw many hurting, barfing, souls during the run which paints the perfect picture of Ironman!

Run faster? Find a cooler location for an Ironman run? Get a body that is 30 years younger?

Coke, oranges, stretching, and hanging out with wife, kids, family, and my two brother in laws who also competed with one taking 45th overall and 6th in his AG (M40-45) for a Kona slot in 2012.

About 15 minutes after finishing I had a glass of coconut milk and my stomach was not ready for it. Started getting light headed and visions of a unpleasant race experience in 2009 entered my mind. I puked 4 or 6 times and felt great afterwards.


Temps jumping into the lower 80's on the run!


Redemption up for my slow 2008 race and DNF in 2009! So sweet to have everything sync up for once! Not the best time but not the worst and above average.

Had to wait 20 minutes for more pizza to arrive.

My wife and family rock! Thank you for your wonderful support, I couldn't have done it without you!