In a word, awful. I waited to get into the water with 6' to go which is pretty typical. There were many more people staying on shore or in shallow water because of the conditions. I debated doing the same--these are the scardy cats afterall, my brethren. I figured it was a bad idea to get tangled up with them so headed to my position close to the line but fairly far back. The waves were hitting me as I was trying to swim out and I was panicking. Floated on my back and tried to calm down. It wasn't working. Two weeks earlier I had done a swim like today, white caps and all. On that swim I held on to a kayak a lot. I was determined not to do that this time. Even though my fastest IM swim only 1:34, I draw the line at holding on to a boat.

The gun went off, I waited a minute for things to clear and tried to swim. More panic. A kayak was next to me asking me if I wanted to hang on. No way. If I did that it would be end. It took until Monona Terrace for me to calm down enough so the kayak left my side. I was ok the rest of the way, but would get slammed with a wave, swallow a lot of water and on it went.

The 1.1m backside was the worst. I was going into the waves so siting was an issue. I would look up, get slammed, swallow water or cough and keep going. I was most worried about the water and air I was taking in. If I don't get rid of it, it's a big problem on the bike. Fortunately I was able to burp or fart it out --it's the one thing that went well.

I knew it was taking forever, but I also knew I was passing a lot of the scardy cats at this point. I figured I was well ahead of the cut off.

I finally got out of the water and hit the strippers who had a very hard time getting my suit off for some reason. I didn't care, I was ready to be on with my day.



I've decided to take a year off from IM and one of the reasons is my OWS skills. I don't want to go through another IM being 20-30' down from people in my AG. Time to put a more concerted effort into handling bad conditions in big bodies of water.

I suppose the only saving grace is even the winner thought the backside of the course was St. Georgeesque. Of course, he still finished in 52', about 4' over his normal time.

I later heard that many people quit, were pulled out or didn't make the cut.

My goal is always less than 12' given the long run up the Helix, through the Terrace and back onto the bikes. Even with the wetsuit stuck and bathroom stop, I finally did something right! Onward.

Nothing.

I have a knack for leaving the swim performance behind me and focusing on the task at hand, the bike plan. I started the first 30' easy to settle my stomach which was remarkably good given how much of Lake Monona I swallowed. Up to 35m, I goosed my power up to low Z2 and felt fine. Once we hit Mt Horeb the wind was a factor, but I kept going. 35m-77m, the effort went up a bit more, feeling good, taking in nutrition as planned. Drinking lots of H20 since it was still very humid and I sweating a lot. The only problem no need to go to the bathroom yet. Hmmm. Hit 78m and started to have some back tightening, oh no, this happened last year. Purposely stopped at two aid stations to stretch my back. It would help and then tighten up again on a hill. Crap.

I started having some fatigue around 80m, the wind was higher and gusty and my power output wasn't where it needed to be. I wondered if I pushed too hard early even though I stuck to the plan. I don't look at my elapsed time to determine effort, but I knew I was going to be off my 6:30 goal.

Finally hit the stick to hit the last set of hills and more wind. I was fading, but determined to get off my bike and have a good run.

Still no need to go to the bathroom.

Every year I get to the 80m and start fading. In '14 one of my goals is to strengthen my bike so that isn't as big of an issue.

Would really like to solve the back issues too.

Handller took my bike and I took off my shoes for the long run into transtion and the changing rooms.

My goal is around 5' here so I was a little long. I started putting on my shoes before taking off my bike shorts, so that was the big gaff. I stopped in the bathroom (which were really gross at this point) to see if I might have to go, NOPE.

Nothing really.

It's never easy coming up the first little teeny hill out of transition, but lots of people line the chute so you get plenty of encouragement. Lots of "GO SUZY" comments. I never know if those people know me or are reading my bib so I smile and wave anyway. I've never been someone who looks at my watch on the course,but I was planning to look at pace occasionally. I felt like I was set to run around a 4:08 based on training. First mile, 9:08. Cool. My plan is to walk the water stops, get H20 down and go as soon as I hit the end of the station. Did that at the end of the first mile and the searing back pain returns. WTF!

I'm running downhill at this point which is easiest on my back so I keep going. When I hit the first little hill my back reminded me who's boss. I walked. Dang. I stretched. No relief. On this went through the 10m mark. I knew the sub 13 goal was out the window and i was dangerously close to losing PR at this point (needed sub 13:21).

When the back started loosening up, I ran. I walked the aid stations, sometimes too long. I saw my coach Brett throughout the rest of the race and he told me my form looked great and I needed to goose things up a bit. I knew that had something to do with the PR. I ran A LOT, but I also walked too much and took too long through a few aid stations.

I would see my IRON sherpas and get a boost and lots of other friends on the course for more of a boost. Everyone told me I looked strong and when I was running I think I really didi. :)

I hit State Street which is the last hill before the finish and it was lined with so many people,many of which I knew. I ran the whole thing, probably not as fast as I think I did.

I hit the chute, I knew sub 13 was gone, I knew that sub 13:21 was also gone, but for some strange reason I wasn't as disappointed as last year. I really felt given all that I went through this year and in the water I had given it 100%.

This year I high-fived a few people as I was running down, smiled and took it all in. I finished my fourth consecutive IM WI.

Solve the back issue so the first 10m are not walk/run and equally important get some more mental toughness the last 10k. I have it in me. I know I do.

Catchers grabbed me and I am always a little wobbly. Overall, I felt decent. I wanted a finishers pic this year and also took some chocolate milk while I waited. Met up with Paul, Diane, Matt and my coach Brett for pics and a chat and then headed home.


My OWS ability was and is my biggest limiter. When you pass over 900 people from the time you get out of the H20 to the finish time you know you have a lot of work to do. Spending that extra time in the water not only takes away from my ability to be competitive, but it is a big mental and physical energy suck. It's going to be a big priority for me in '14. I won't do another IM until it's solved.

With no IM on the horizon in '14, I'll be focusing more on strengthening the bike as well.

I'm disappointed about not breaking that 13 hour mark. I've felt like I was ready to do it the last three years and something always gets in the way. It'll happen, but not until '15.

I am pleased with a top 15 finish in my AG, up 6 spots from my previous best. It's not enough. I want more. :0


I love IM WI. It's hard not to when you live in Verona on the bike course. I will be back, stronger and ready to get my 12:XX in '15.