We started the swim right at 7am as advertised. However, it was still dark, I used my clear goggles - but it was still pretty dark. So, just follow the white-caps in the water till it got lighter. Since I can't see anything (I do not have perscription goggles) I had made a mental image of the course - I expected it to be rectagle as on the map, but it was curving, so each boey I got to I continued to swim straight, but the next boey was off to my left. The first loop was pretty bad navigation on my part, but the second loop was better.

Actually I saw my wife and swam behind her for about 1/2 the 2nd loop, but then got off course and didn't see her again until T1.

Overall the swim was the swim, in practice I had gotten a 1:24 with my wetsuit on, but that was in the day and I knew where I was going without anyone else around - so, I'm OK with my time.

Lasik Surgery? - It is the first thing that comes to mind for me on open water swims.

They could have had more boeys out - it was hard for me to see from one to the next.

I was helped getting out of the water - there was a lot of deep clay next to where we got out, so the volunteers were helping to pull us out. They told me to watch a big step, but hey - I have no depth perception without glasses on - so WHAM! I jam my left foot into the side of the ground.

I had the strippers help me off with my suit, then onto the changing tent. A guy brought my T1 bag to me, I change while eating a banana and off I went.

I was happy with my T1 time.

So far everything is going as planned.

Lasik Surgery? - So that I can navigate without glasses coming out of the water.

The bike course was 4 loops, and driving it the day before it looked real nice and appeared to be a fast course. So, not being a fast biker, I was still hoping for >16mph avg including my stops.

I got 114.5 miles on my computer, others got 115 miles. But hey you go 112, what is wrong with throwing in a few extra for good measure.

Loop one I was averging 16.9
Loop two I was still holding 16.7
Loop three I was on 16.5

Only stopped a couple of times to re-fill the camelbak. The volunteers were great. I'd pull up, unclip and stand over my bike, they would open the Gatorade and we'd fill up my camelbak and I'd be off.

The wind began to pickup on Loop 4, it was about 2:30pm and temp was around 89 degrees, wind 12 with 18 mph gusts so my pace began to drop dramitcally.

Things were going as expected until I got to about 2 miles from the end and my left hamstring cramped. I tried to clip out with my right leg but my calf cramped and as soon as I rotated to clip out. OH *%&$ I'm going down!!! - Mind over body I forced my right leg to clip out and was able to stop. I could see the transition area around the lake about 2 miles to go. I stretched my left leg, put my bike in the small ring and spun in real slow - about 10mph.

Once again - Cramps!!! - I had consumed the following on the bike.

7 Lava Salts (one every hour)
142 oz of Gatorade
40 oz of Water
3 Cliff Bars (Loop 1, 2, 4)
1 Bagel w/ PB (Loop 3)
6 PowerGels

I need to find out what is going on with cramps. I drank 182 oz over 7.25 hours, which is 25 oz an hour. This is the general recomendation (20-32) I think. However, I was probably dehydrated since I didn't pee at all during that 7 hours.




Drink More - or find out what is happening with the cramping and buy whatever I need to fix it.

I rolled up and a volunteer helped me off my bike, I told him I was cramping and he made sure that I was OK and was able to walk my bike over to the rack.

I got to the changing tent and was curious to see my toes (remember I stumped them getting out of the swim). Sure enough my big and 2nd toe are purple about 1/2 way up them. I don't think they are broken, but I was wondering how I could cover 26.2 miles on jammed toes.

My toe problem was quickly dimished by the cramping that starting to happen when I tried to put my running shoes on. The volunteer helped me put them on and get me out the door. He said, "Is this your first Ironman", yes was the answer and then he just said, "Don't sit here very long" and out the door I went with a banana in hand.

This was a slow T2 time, but it took me some time to change may clothes and shoes with the cramps.

I began the run at about 4:15pm. I had about 7 1/2 hours before midnight. I planned on getting a 5 hour marathon in (yeah right!!) I'm already dehydrated and cramping, like I can run at all.

I walked the first 2 miles, then tried to jog slowly - hey this is working. I was able to jog about a 10-11 minute mile pace for a couple hundred yards and then walk some. This went on till about mile 7 or 8.

Fatigue started to creep in, and I found a walking partner. I met my wife going out on the first loop and she asked me how I felt. Actually I don't know why she asked - she could tell I was not doing so well. She gave me another Lava Salt, I took that and my stomach didn't agree too much. It didn't come up, but I wasn't doing any better. I couldn't drink anything and starting at mile 13 my walking partner and I were only able to eat some ice to keep our mouths wet.

We slowed to about 3 mph about mile 20. We tried a little Sprite and that help clear our minds a little, or at least gave us a sugar rush for about 1/2 mile.

At mile 23, it was 10:30pm - 3.2 miles in 1 and 1/2 hour. I couldn't believe I was in such pitiful shape. I kept telling myself about the year of running and all the mornings at the track that 3 miles is nothing. But then my mind went to, 3 MILES = 1 HOUR AT THIS PACE. I had to keep this up another hour.

"One foot in front of the other!!"
"Just keep walking, Just keep walking"
"I'm Strong, I'm going to Finish"

Anything that I could come up with to talk myself through this.

Then mile 26 finally came. I wanted to kiss that sign, but I feared I'd fall, cramp up and just lay there, so I pressed on.

I told my walking partner that I was going to have my 30 seconds i the spot-light, then head straight to the medical tent for them to check me out.

I practiced raising my arms in the dark, to see if I could do it - I wanted that photo!

Finally it came!!!! 140.6 Miles, Done!, Completed!, I DID IT!!! It is a great feeling and worth it.

My wife has a book with a sentence in it that goes something like, "Anyone can swim 2.4 miles and bike 80 miles, that is when the race really starts".

OK - I'm not just ANYONE anymore!

I don't know, the mistakes I made where already made on the bike, or in my planning for the bike.

Walking to the medical tent, got 2 bags of IV fluids and then I was much better.


Hydration, cramping, heat, wind. And 140.6 miles.


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