I got in the water after the pros took off, maybe a couple minutes before 7. Decided to swim in the middle past the ski jump, but sat back from the crowd at the front line. After about a minute it occured to me that this wasn't exactly an ideal spot, swimmers were still entering the water and starting to surround me, so the line from the front to the back was becoming nonexistent. I was starting exactly where I didn't want to be, trapped in the middle!!

For the most part though, the contact was a 'gentle' until the first and second bouy, then it became a little more spaced out. I did have to wonder why I spent so much time working on drills and technique because it certaintly wasn't applied during this swim! I think I swam with my head above the water until after the second bouy.

I began to swim to the inside the bouy line on the long stretch but thought the chop was increasing a bit and I was veering too far to the center, so I ended up moving back out into the congestion a bit right at the bouy line. I remember smelling the strong scent of gasoline from the jet ski! It was kind of making me sick. Yuck

One the stretch back to shore I was sighting off this guy to my right. When I looked up we were completely perpendicular to the bouy line! I grabbed his ankle and pulled. He looked up, and I was like, "You're going the wrong way!" He gave me a quick "Thanks" and we were off to the swim exit. :)

Maybe start closer to the bouy line, versus the center? I don't really know.

I only had my suimsuit on under my wetsuit. I guess it didn't occur to me that I had to run up the helix and into transition with just my swimsuit on. I was a little self-conscious at first, but quickly decided I didn't give a shit.

The volunteer that helped me in the changing room was amazing!! She layed out my items in perfect order! I also wasn't 'giving a shit' in the change room either, because I stripped down to my nakedness and dried off before getting dressed. Have you ever tried to put on a sports bra wet??? Not really that much fun. Thankfully my personal assistant (aka amazing volunteer) helped me get dressed too.

I'm not committing to another Ironman, so I guess nothing.

I think the temperature was absolutely perfect for biking. I knew the wind would get a little old throughout the day though. I dropped my chain on a ridiculous, tiny, hill right before Verona. Starting the first loop I took a bite of my protien bar and almost instantly developed a side stich that stayed with me for the next 40 or so miles. If it wasn't for the crowds of crazies going up the hills, I think I would have been in tears. It was hurting pretty bad.

It also made my day when Susie from BT recognized me just reading my name! Too cool!

At the Special Needs stop I dismounted and stretched a bit, and grabbed my new nutrition bottles out of my bag. I had stored them in a cooler completely ignoring the fact it wasn't all that warm outside. They were completely frozen. I couldn't drink out of them for like an hour!

The crowds were slowly dwindling on the second loop but the motivation you get by telling yourself, 'Just one more time!' drives you up those hills. I was still smiling when I headed out of Verona back to Madison.

Of course I thought it took FOREVER to get back! Was that not the longest 12 miles ever??? I was pretty much cursing the wind the entire time.

There was a girl in front of me when we hit the 'No Pass Zone' on the bike trail. As we passed under the bridge I heard her scream. I looked up and watched her bike slip out from underneath her. She landed hard on her hip and I barely managed to maneuver around her without hitting the fence that lined the creek. I heard the girl behind me stop and yell “help” to the volunteers. I was shaking! Her race might have just ended at mile 110 of the bike!

I made it back safe and sound!

Again, I'm not doing Ironman a second time, so nothing differently!

Volunteer had to hold my bike while I dismounted. HOLY WOBBLY LEGS! Same thing during this transtion, completely and udderly (IM MOO) awesome volunteers!

I finally peed for the first time all day! Yeah for me!

I felt really good the first loop was averaging 11 min/miles. To be honest I think that I should have stopped less at the water stations and just ran straight through. It wasn't until around mile 16 that my stomach was giving me issues. I was taking my chocolate hammer gels up until my special needs stop, where I grabbed a apple cinnamon gel just to 'switch it up'.
Well that was a decision I regretted. My stomach wasn't tolerating much after that. I kept up with my electrolytes and water (possibly too much)but my gel wasn't going down great. The last squeeze of gel I had consumed was right before I dropped my flask on the porta potty floor around mile 18.
I attempted to drink the broth around mile 21, but that brought me all the closer to barfing. That was about the time I quit with all nutrition and couldn't even drink water. Also did anyone else think that the few spot lights on the Lakeshore path was all the more depressing?? I don't think the glow around our neck was enough to illuminate the path very well. ;-)

Yes. I was in my dark place, especially around mile 24.5 when the blind team passed me. Don't get me wrong I was happy for him, but we had been passing each other since mile 40 or so of the bike! I wanted to run. It's just that every time I would walk, I would have to talk myself into running again. Which was getting harder and harder to do! I was so close and I knew I would finish, but I just wanted to be done!

Turning the corner on State Street felt AMAZING!! I decided to give it one last go at running. On the way to the finish there were so many people screaming and cheering all the way to the end. It's like you are their Super Hero for the day!! It feels incredible!!!!!

I have never ran a Marathon before. So I don't know what running 26 miles is 'suppose' to feel like. So maybe next time I would....WAIT!!! I"M NOT DOING ANOTHER IRONMAN!

Wasn't feeling the greatest. I knew immediately when the family started hugging me I was mentally blocking out a lot of pain. My entire body seemed very sensitive. I would actually cringe when anyone was touching me. Has anyone else experienced this? Very strange.

I wanted to sit, but then sitting didn't feel good. I wanted to walk, but then walking didn't feel good. My stomach was still hurting, so I told the family just to bring me home. We ordered pizza around midnight and I was actually starting to get my appetite back! Yummy