IMAZ RACE REPORT: My first Ironman

Nice race report, I can't wait to do my first. The back spasms had to suck!!! Way to suck it up and finish.

great read!  i really enjoyed it. 

Awesome. I'm where you were two years ago (without the weight to lose). I volunteered at the National Age Group Championships this year and caught the bug. I've got some great friends who have all tried to convince me to get into Tri ... and they're a lot of IronMen/Women in that group. So I'll volunteer 2012 IM Lake Placid and then race it in 2013.

I'm reading all I can in the meantime and your report was thorough and just what I'm looking for. Thanks for sharing your journey! 

IM AZ will be my first IM next year. Definitely going to read this later!

Good report on a great race.

Great race report. I appreciate the honest analysis of your performance and the course. Makes me wish I was there as a spectator or - gasp - participant.

Awesome report! Congrats!

Thanks guys!  The race was such a blast - I truly enjoyed every grueling second.  I'm telling you - it goes by so fast (even though it doesn't seem like it when you're in it).  Having now gone through it, my advice to anyone doing their first is to throw out all expectations, race your race, and just soak in the experience.  My biggest source of stress on race day was the fear of not living up to my self imposed goals.