I started myself over to the way right side a few rows back. I think this was a good decision because I really didnt have to bad of contact until the first buoy. I was hoping for a swim somewhere between 1:20-1:30 so I felt like I was on track with my first lap time. When I got back in for the second lap though the wind had started to pick up a fair amount and the water became really choppy. I had never swam in chop like that before and it really through off my stroke. When I rounded the far buoy for the second lap the Sheriffs boat was right there pulling people out of the water. It was right where I was supposed to swim through so I had to take a minute to wait for it to leave which made some more big waves sending me off track. I had made eye contact with a couple of the people in the boat and they were white as ghosts and looked just terrified. I told myself there was not a chance in the world that I was getting in that boat. The rest of my swim went without incident it was just really choppy. Coming out of the water I was disappointed with my time but happy to be out of the water.

I am going to spend this winter swimming a lot and I am also going to take some lessons. I know that the fitness is there I just need to get some sort of real stroke down.

My hands were numb and I could not feel my string to get the suit down. Luckily I found a wetsuit stripper right away and they had me out of that thing in no time flat. They should have these people at every race :) I found my bag and headed for the tent but it was super full so I just plopped myself down in the grass. I felt very disorganized through the whole process. I probably should have practiced a transition from a bag at least once before this. I finished getting dressed put on a bike jersey over my kit and my arm warmers and off I went. I had to pee pretty bad and thought there was a porta potty on the far side but there wasnt.

Become more organized this time could have been way faster. Know where the porta potties are and use it before leaving transition.

I think overall I had a good ride considering where I am at fitness wise. My goal was 170-180 for power so I was right in that range. I did back it off a little the second lap just because I started getting nervous about the run. We had a pretty constant head wind the whole way out of town and a nice tail wind coming back in. I didn't need the arm warmers or the bike jersey at all. The arm warmers came off after about 5 miles and I just had to tolerate the jersey because there was no place I could put it. I passed a little over 900 people during the bike which is what happens when you swim as poorly as I did. I still have not been able to get myself to pee while on the bike and I ended up having three stops that took almost 10 minutes of time to empty my bladder.

More long rides and more volume for sure. I got a head cold during my last few weeks of training and it made me miss a couple of rides. Learn to freaking pee ;)

I really like the bike catchers it was nice to be done with the bike. My legs were feeling pretty good I was just ready to start running. I changed in the tent this time. Again I felt a little disorganized I almost ran out of transition with my bike jersey still on. Did a pee break got sun screened up and off I went.

move with a little bit more purpose.

I really enjoyed the run. I was a bit nervous going in and my plan was to take it at about a 9 minute mile pace for the first 20 miles and then if I still felt good pick it up at the end. I ended up feeling great basically the whole run and for the last 6 mile was able to pick it up quite a bit negative splitting my run by about 3 minutes. Every time I saw my wife and the rest of my family I made sure I high fived them and game my wife a kiss. I really tried to take in the whole experience.

I can definately run faster then what I did. I didnt want to end up bonking and walking in the last half of the race so I took it fairly easy on the run. Next time I will push it a lot more for sure.

I really took in the whole shoot experience. Giving high fives and just being in awe that I really just did it. I found my family shortly after I finished and chatted with them for a while. I then went and ate a little bit of fruit but they really didnt have anything else that I could eat since I am Vegan so I went and sat down in the grass with my family. I went back and showered and then went to mile 24 to cheer for a buddy that was still on course. Once he passed by we went to the finish and cheered for the people in the last hour. That really was an awesome experience to see the last hour of people coming in.


I have realized that my body can definitely handle more training hours then what I put in. I also need to work on dropping the last 15 pounds or so to get me to a real comfortable race weight. All and all I was totally thrilled with my very first Ironman and cant wait to do my next one. I really enjoy these longer distance events.


I really enjoyed the race CdA puts on an amazing event and the volunteers were top notch. I will definitely be back again probably not in 2013 but again for sure.