This was my first mass start, first open water swim, and first time a had really swam with a swim cap on. The mass start really messed me up. Goggles came loose and I couldn't find a rhythm and would stop swimming when bumping into someone. Initially I wore the swim cap over my ears which didn't help my equilibrium and I started to feel dizzy from that and swimming in the murky water. I moved it above my ears and that helped a lot. I finally got a good rhythm down after the second turn and just kept my head down and swam.

I wouldn't have been so polite about bumping into people. Nobody else was. I should have just kept my head down and swam through it. I would also not have worn my cap over my ears. I've been so used to hearing the water splashing with my head rotation that it threw me off.

T1 was pretty smooth. I didn't wear a top on the swim so I had to put it on and it was a bit tricky cuz I was still a bit wet. Other than that I felt it was a smooth transition. I wasn't trying to blaze through because I wanted to be sure I had everything set up right.

I would wear a tri suit or a tri top next time. Putting it on after the swim wasn't the best idea. I should have at least asked a volunteer to help me pull it down.

I loved the bike leg. Having roads blocked off for you and blowing through intersections, the aid stations, the cheer sections, leap frogging from passing one person after another... It was great. I loved every minute of it except for the heat and the sun beating down.

I wouldn't have done a double rear hydration set up. The aid stations were only ~10 miles apart and that's too close to drink 3 bottles of liquid. I would have done my aero torpedo bottle, and one in the rear. I was basically carrying one extra drink about half the race before I realized it was dead weight and tossed it.

T2 had bike wranglers so that was awesome. Our bags were left in the sun all day so my body glide melted and exploded over my bag contents. I asked a volunteer for a towel and cleaned up, changed into my running gear and shoes and was off.

Not pack body glide. Get out of shoes while on the bike. Dismount the bike while moving. Just worn the tri shorts for the run instead of changing. I went for maximum comfort.

My brick workouts really paid off and I was able to hit my training pace for the first full lap. Then the heat kicked in and it got up to about 93 degrees. This really wiped me out energy wise and I was forced to shuffle. I ran between the aid stations and walked while taking in the nutrients.

Do a different Ironman? I'm not sure what I could have done. It wasn't hot in Texas until race weekend so I couldn't have trained in the heat anyways. It was just a brutal gut check.

Walked around a bit. Didn't need the med tent.


The swim, lack of ows practice, mass start exp, and familiarity with swim cap. The bike, not much. I hit a faster average pace than I averaged in training. The run? The heat...


I loved this race. It was my first Ironman and I had a blast. The heat was terrible but I expected no less. I am considering doing this one again next year or St. Louis. I would recommend this race to others. The venue was great, the volunteers were incredible, and the crowds were awesome.