The canon going off was just awesome. I didn't really have a problem with contact. I started by a breast-stroker unfortunately. I knew he was trouble but couldn't get away from him. Sure enough, he frog-kicked my hand and minorly sprained my finger. Ouch.

Really enjoyed myself most of the swim. I found myself on the bouy line and minimal contact. Of course, the fact that 2480 people finished before me (ouch) may have something to do with that.

I remember thinking at the turnaround that it was too bad I didn't have time to stop because of the bike because I would have loved to have stopped, grabbed a buoy, and taken it all in. THAT'S how relaxed I was.

Got kicked in the face shortly after that. Luckily it was straight on so didn't mess up my goggles. Remember jokingly thinking, "NOW it's an Ironman swim." Got out almost exactly on time feeling fresh as a daisy.

The fact that the second loop was longer really bothers me, especially since the first loop was LONGER since I started from the beach.

Also, I just could NOT find any good feet. If I had, I could have had a 1:40 without a problem.

Wow...the volunteers in the change tent are AMAZING. She even clipped my race belt on for me and sprayed me with my sunscreen. Kept it as quick as possible - once again, I knew I needed as much time as possible on the bike.

Nothing.

Holy crapola. THIS is what made me Ironman. As I stated in my log, we had this evil SE wind that wrapped around the ENTIRE loop course. From the start, and we NEVER have morning wind. AND it was hot and humid. This is where a lot of the DNFs (twice the rate of last year) occured.

Okay, so I start out feeling good. I've actually never gotten to do the course on fresh legs. Made the first climb up Cascade Pass no problem.

I start down the other side, and I'm in aero going about 35-38. I see a girl in the middle of the road and I assume she's there because she's booking it. All of a sudden, I realize that this idiot is riding her brakes at about 15. I swerve around her, my rear tire going completely out from under me. I somehow DON'T lose control of the bike or go down. A guy comes up, says he saw the whole thing and that she's a menace, and congratulates me on the save. Never thought I'd see the day where I get complemented for my bike handling skills. Heh.

Finish the descent, get on the flats, and this is when I realize what wind we have. I'm looking at my HR, which is what I use on this section, looking at my speed, and putting the two together. (And I can tell it's NOT adrenaline-based tachycardia.) Oh shit. I push it more in the low 150's. I wasn't happy about it, but it was as slow as I dared to go with needing to make cut-offs.

Also, although I've NEVER had to get cold water/ice on the first loop, it's already so hot I make my first stop. I'm also going through a LOT more water than usual, but listening to my body.

Get to the climbs, and yep, that east wind has wrapped around and is a headwind even going west, which is what I expected. I duke it out and am SO happy to see my boyfriend at the top of Baby Bear.

I go around quickly stop at special needs for liquid nutrition and Pringles, go behind the school, and start my second loop. I'm actually in high spirits because I figure I have 4:25 - PLENTY of time. Right?

Not so much. I knew from about mile 70 that I was cutting it close. That's the downside of knowing a course so well. I'd go by certain landmarks and it was always, "I can make it, just barely, maybe." I was biking scared for 3 hours. During the climb from Wilmington up to the Three Bears, I saw about half a dozen guys get off their bikes and start walking (when there was no time for that) shaking and hanging their heads, and one guy sitting on the side of the road with his head in his hands. I also saw a lot of people being given a lift back to transition and several ambulances go by. That course in those conditions broke a lot of people.

It was when I saw those guys effectively giving up that a flip switched in my head and I decided that the only way I WASN'T finishing by going down the chute was if they physically dragged me off the course kicking and screaming or carted my unconscious body away.

I got up to Baby Bear with about ten minutes to spare and two miles to go. There was this big guy in a yellow and blue jersey who was BOOKING and I used him to drag me to the mat. I booked those last two miles at about 20 MPH. Yes.

I cross the timing mat and yell, "DID I MAKE IT?!? DID I MAKE IT?!?!" When the timing crew told me yes, I took off my helmet and just started BAWLING. Complete emotional release. Like I said, it wasn't like I realized at the last minute it was going to be close. I had known for HOURS.

For the record, I made it was less than FOUR MINUTES to spare. And there were a LOT of people behind me who had no way made it.

My execution was just fine. I just need to continue to get stronger so I don't cut it this close when conditions are bad.

Stopped at the porta-potty (no time to pee during bike), and yes, you CAN cry while peeing. Because I was one of the last riders in (and was bawling), I had three women helping me in the tent. They were so sweet.


Slow T2, but at that point not only had I earned it, I needed to collect myself a bit.

First two miles were rough - I felt queasy, although my legs felt surprisingly good. After a couple aid stations getting water and coke and oranges, felt GREAT. (Added chicken broth to the mix as well and I'd grab these four items at every aid station.)

Found a girl to run with. Her goal was to run the first loop fast enough to have time to walk the second loop and still make midnight. She slowed me down, but in a good way. Forced me to keep an easy, steady pace. I did lose her at the last mile, but I was afraid to stop running (aside from aid stations and the two big hills). I think I got her there though.

Second loop, I started making deals with myself. First I told myself, "The first two miles are downhill. Those are free miles. Just run those." Then it was, "Run until there's only ten miles left."

Just as I hit ten miles? I met Kathy. Once again, she was going a sweet 12:00 pace. We ended up sticking together the rest of the race. Talked about EVERYTHING under the sun. We kept each other running, and I'm proud to say that aside from aid stations and the two climbs, I ran the entire damn thing.

I had been planning on letting her go first through the finish chute, but when we got there, we looked at each other, grabbed hands, and crossed together. It was amazing.

Oh yeah, and I stopped to hug Mike Reilly as he declared me an Ironman. Sent him an apology over Twitter when I got home and smelled myself.

And yes, I did indeed run past over 300 people without working hard. Proof I need to continue to work on my swim and bike.

I really could have run this harder, but I had already hurt so much on the bike I wanted to just jog and enjoy myself. I had a BLAST the entire run and was grinning the whole time.

Spent almost no time in the finish area - I didn't need medical, didn't want a massage, and couldn't eat any food. After Kathy's boyfriend showed up, I went out to the stands, met up with my boyfriend, and literally danced and cheered in the last athletes.


In general, I wasn't RACING it, except the bike, which I had to in order to make cut-off.

Swim: I definitely need more work on my form, so more lessons. Also, I really could have swam harder. And finding feet would have helped too.

Bike: I executed the best I could and rode HARD for an Ironman (Average HR for the first loop was 156. Yes.). In general, I just really need lots more time in the saddle. Not only am I a newbie cyclist, it's quickly becoming apparent that I'm not a natural cyclist and will need to work very hard for all and any improvement.

Run: Simply running harder. Like I said, I jogged it. Being fitter on the bike will allow a better split as well.

All in all, I can't believe I'm saying this about my first Ironman, but I really feel that I executed perfectly. As in, didn't make any mistakes that have me saying, "If only I had done x instead."

And yes, I weighed myself the next day and no change from my very hydrated, very carbo-loaded check-in weight despite it being so hot. Go me!