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Ironman Florida - TriathlonFull Ironman


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Panama City Beach, Florida
United States
World Triathlon Corporation
82F / 28C
Sunny
Total Time = 15h 05m 57s
Overall Rank = 2069/
Age Group = M40-44
Age Group Rank = 414/
Pre-race routine:

2 waffles, Monster, banana. Drop special needs bags. Kiss my family goodbye.
Event warmup:

5 trips to the bathroom. Find my friends, don wetsuit.
Freak out, calm down, freak out, calm down.
Swim
  • 1h 34m 44s
  • 4156 yards
  • 02m 17s / 100 yards
Comments:

May 23rd 2010 I was scared to death I would drown in a 300y super sprint swim. Nov 3, 2012 I completed an Ironman swim; the scariest part of the Ironman race for me. Started back a bit and to the right. Tried to let the breakers roll through and start swimming when it was too deep to walk. I found the bar fight at the first turn buoy and it kept up until we headed back to shore for that first loop. Kicked in the jar and punched in the back of the head. Sighted off the sun across the end and the used the left side of the host hotel back to the beach and both worked pretty well. By the time I got the first loop done it was a line of peeps walking along the end of the water to get back in for loop 2. I was surprised we were wading in calf deep water to get across to start the second loop. Spectators were right along the water edge so this is what we got. The buoys seemed to be all over the place for the second loop. We were supposed to keep them on the left but I think the first one wandered off (the only thing that really matters is you go around the first turn buoy). I started out into MUCH rougher surf. Sighting was hell since you had to sight on top of the waves. I was surprised how much it had changed in about 45 minutes. Bar fight was a bit lighter and back to the beach I swam. WHEN the legs cramped a little I just stopped moving them completely. The rest of the time I was lightly kicking to keep the body rotation happening.
What would you do differently?:

NOT A THING

Heard / saw my family on the beach and was smiling from ear to ear. I was so happy to get my fear behind me. I was pretty convinced I would become an Ironman as I walked to the wetsuit strippers.
I decided to use the strippers - mistake. Both calves cramped just like Buffalo Springs and I needed to wait a bit before I could even stand. Sand everywhere. Should have avoided the strippers.
Transition 1
  • 14m 57s
Comments:

LOL - they don't serve breakfast in T1 !! I was just in no hurry to get going. I had to install the compression socks. It was much hotter than I hoped or predicted with the forecast. Didn't wear the gloves or sleeves I had in my bag.


What would you do differently?:

OK - towel your parts before your towel your feet!!!!! Sand all over towel ended up in my bike shorts and it's not fun at all. I seemed so focused on getting my feet clean I did that first. OOPS

Hit the porta-can for stop #1, waved to my peeps and off on the bike I went.
Bike
  • 5h 55m 26s
  • 112 miles
  • 18.91 mile/hr
Comments:

Mile 50 I started hearing things on the bike that were out of position, rubbing or shaking due the rough section. I was having a solid ride until about mile 80. I kept easy on the pedals predicting a long day and no cramps until about 80. I had to coast a few times and backed it down to 14 in a tail wind at one point because of the legs. I was trying to keep the legs together for the bridge at mile 100. I saw Justin and Will at about mile 92 on the second out and back u-turn section but couldn't yell at them either time when I saw them. Caught John heading up the bridge and was honestly surprised I caught anyone since I knew I gave up a ton on the swim and the T1 but he looked solid and seemed to be in good spirits. I let out a HUGE scream when I topped the bridge so happy to not cramp. I never shifted the fd, never got off the bike the entire 112. I have never cycled further than 100 miles on the bike and it had been many months since I had been that far.

Legs didn't feel great and the cramps seemed very close so I decided to not put my feet on top of the shoes for the dismount. The left leg was better and I thought I could get it un-clipped and try to avoid hitting the ground at the dismount line. Managed to stay off u-tube and give the bike to the volunteer as I entered T2- that was awesome!
What would you do differently?:

I can't think of anything - I paced it about as I planned. My stuff wasn't numb so I was glad I got the fit right, took time to get out of aero, and wore the bike shorts.

I might drink a bit more between hand up 2 and 3. I don't think I drank at all in that section.
Transition 2
  • 10m 10s
Comments:

No Steak and Shake at T2 but again I was in no hurry. My legs told me the marathon was going to be hell.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing
Run
  • 7h 10m 40s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 16m 26s  min/mile
Comments:

LOL - not much jogging or running here. I tried to get it going at a super slow pace and that didn't last very long. I was hoping to jog from about .5 mile in to my family at about 1.5 miles. I didn't make it that far before the significant cramps started. I was in pretty severe pain as I kissed each of my girls, my wife and hugged my dad. I told Keri "it is going to be a long day". I walked most of the marathon. The good news is I bought enough time with a decent swim and solid bike to walk the marathon. 26.2 is a long distance moving at a snail pace. I met a few great people including Pete an incredible Kona athlete who was having another KQ kinda day until the wheels fell off on the marathon about 1/2 way in. I walked with him and said goodbye as he headed for the finisher chute. RACHEL caught me as I needed to say goodbye to Pete and she stuck with me the entire second loop. This was a dark loop and it was nice to have someone to help pass the time. I never thought I would DNF if I made it that far. I was wrong. Without Rachel it would have been easy to focus on my misery and the constant cramping in my legs and call it quits. I told my dad "pain is temporary and quit is forever". Rachel asked me if I had ever DNFs before and I said no. I tried to talk Rachel into getting her PR at about 3 miles left on the marathon. Even with our pace on that second loop if she could have left me and jogged at 13' mile pace back to the chute she would have had her fastest IM. She would not leave me. I talked her into going down the chute first because I was not going to log a better time than my friend Rachel on this journey. The plan was for Rachel to find Keri in the chute and I would ran the chute to that spot, let Rachel finish and then come across. With the blinding light and screaming people we never found Keri but the chute was incredible. I high fived every person I could get to on both sides and couldn't be happier that my legs finally let me move. I had tried to jog it in from 3 miles and then 2 and no dice.
What would you do differently?:

Find the cure to my cramps
Post race
Warm down:

Found Avery and Keri and finish line and then the crushing cramps started and would not end for hours. I had managed to keep them a way all day and here is where they found me and although they hurt I didn't care anymore. I was an IRONMAN.

Having my friends finish this race with me made a huge difference. Not only Rachel, but getting support from Will, Justin and John during the race was great. I saw a few others I knew and that was nice and helpful to see some folks having a good day. Having my dad at the race certainly was fantastic as well.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

cramps

Event comments:

PERFECT place to complete your first Ironman. GREAT location, AWESOME volunteers, Fantastic support throughout including the community. So many friendly people that I had never met before. Transition / swag bag is better than the bag I was using in my races and I love it. The medal was all I came for and it was WORTH IT!!

One and done folks - been there, done that! I'll likely keep hitting the HIM distance until I finally have a solid race and that won't be until 2014 at Oilman - for now a long off season and then back to the sprints.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2011-11-08 12:00 AM
Swimming
01:34:44 | 4156 yards | 02m 17s / 100yards
Age Group: 413/
Overall: 2142/
Performance: Good
Suit: sleeves - Blue seventy
Course: Typical out across and back to the beach - 2 loops
Start type: Run Plus: Shot
Water temp: 69F / 21C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Below average
Waves: Good Navigation: Good
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 14:57
Performance: Bad
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: No
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
05:55:26 | 112 miles | 18.91 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: Pretty flat course with a decent bridge (`mile 12 and 100) and some rollers. That out and back section around mile 50 is ROUGH. Most was smooth and well protected from traffic. A few places were difficult to prevent blocking / drafting but in general I think was able to stay pretty legal without too much trouble.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 10:10
Overall: Below average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
07:10:40 | 26.2 miles | 16m 26s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance: Bad
Course: Out and back 2 loop
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

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2012-11-06 8:39 AM

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Extreme Veteran
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Houston
Subject: Ironman Florida


2012-11-06 10:22 AM
in reply to: #4485620

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Expert
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Rowlett, TX
Subject: RE: Ironman Florida
Way to go get it IRONMAN!! Nice job on getting through the marry. Sure hope you get those cramps figured out because you are way to fast to keep having them slow you up. Nice JOB!!!
2012-11-06 12:14 PM
in reply to: #4485620

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Pro
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Houston
Subject: RE: Ironman Florida

I am so very proud of you! I knew you were hurting at mile 1.5 but also knew you had plenty of time and could do this. So nice seeing you a few times that day and super exciting to see you run the chute!  I love you Ironman!

2012-11-06 5:09 PM
in reply to: #4485620

Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: Ironman Florida

Congrats, IRONMAN!!!

 

Amazing what we can do when we conquer our fears and put our minds to achieving something so lofty.

 

Can't wait to see the ink...

2012-11-06 5:10 PM
in reply to: #4485620

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Champion
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marietta
Subject: RE: Ironman Florida
IRONMAN!!!!!  
2012-11-07 2:53 PM
in reply to: #4485620

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Payson, AZ
Subject: RE: Ironman Florida
Good job Ken, so happy for you.  Time to go rip it up in the sprint distance and let your speed shine


2012-11-07 3:16 PM
in reply to: #4485620

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Champion
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Williamston, Michigan
Subject: RE: Ironman Florida
Great job!! Congratulations
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