Horn goes off and for the first time in my triathlon, um....."career" I guess, I experienced the "washing machine" effect of many people starting a swim at the same time. Had a lot of contact with other swimmers, but eventually found some space and got into a rhythm. This is a fast swim, its a wetsuit swim with the current. There were some overgrown seaweed in the beginning of the swim and that freaked me out of course, but I got through it and kept moving forward. I was just gliding and swimming then I ran into my first problem, I could not see. I had to tread water for a few seconds, let some water into my goggles to clear them, and kept going. A little past the halfway point I got a cramp in my left foot, I did not want to stop moving forward, so I floated and kept my same stroke, similar to the way I swim with a pool buoy. This happened 3 more times, each time only in my left foot. Finally the boat ramp came into view and the swim was over

Nothing, was a great swim for me

I decided to go to the wetsuit strippers since I knew I had not put on enough body glide to get it off quickly myself. Put my bike nutrition in my tri top pocket, put on cycling shoes, race belt, helmet, grabbed bike and left transition

Nothing, good t1 for me for a longer race

Bike was interesting for me. I did a lot of trainer rides to build up my legs, but with no hills to train on it was all I had. The bike course was hillier than I thought it would be, much hillier. I ate a Honey Stinger waffle every 15 miles and that was great, I really like solids on the bike. Climbing the hills wasn't as brutal as it was last year at ironman Louisville, I was able to stay in the big ring on the hills, but I was still a flat lander going up hills. I was still nervous on the screaming downhills, but I didn't ride the brakes this time. Toward the end of the bike my glutes were really starting to ache from going up the hills. The second half of the bike I held back a little so I would be able to do a great run after it. The last 5 miles back into transition we had a great tailwind so I was just able to meet my goal of a sub 3 hour bike split on this course.

Nothing, goof bike for me considering the hills

I wanted to get my run stuff on as quickly as possible, I had to pee so bad it hurt, and I can't pee on my bike. I racked my bike, exchanged cycling shoes for running shoes, skipping the socks, exchanged helmet for running hat, turned my race belt around, and stuffed my pocket with run nutrition. I ran to the porta potty in transition after that. Unloaded about a gallon of fluid and headed out on the run.

Nothing , good t2 for me for a longer race

felt great starting the run, I held back just enough on the bike to have a good run, and I knew it right from the start. Right before mile 2 I saw Loraine for the first time and gave her a smile and thumbs up to let her know I was feeling good and having a great race. Around mile 3 the course went into the Augusta Commons and it was the best part of the race, got a lot of crowd love, saw a bunch of buddies at various part of their run because of the 2 loop course, had spectators who knew me cheering me on, it was great! Saw Loraine a little after mile 3 and she told me I was 4 hours into the race, this was great news! This meant I had a shot at sub 5:30.
Starting the second loop I was starting the feel the fatigue of the day, but I had to stay strong. My feet never dried from the swim since it was overcast all day so I was starting to get blisters. I started thinking about all the well wishes I had received the day before and the day of the race, and all the people who were tracking me, and their words carried me through. I went through the Commons again and got some more much needed crowd love. One of my supporters ran alongside me for a few seconds to see how I was feeling, I was at mile 9.5 and told her only 3 and a half more miles to go. At mile 11 I hit the wall. I walked 10 steps through mile 11 aid station so I could get some ironman perform drink in my system instead of all over me. I had been taking a Honey Stinger gel every 3 miles. I ran to the next aid station at mile 12, and did the same 10 step walk and take in perform. I was hurting, 1 mile to go, my legs and feet were screaming. Once again I though about all the people supporting me and my well wishes, this is what got me to that finish line

Nothing, was really happy with this run

Lack of hill training on the bike


I had an awesome time at this race!