Ironman Florida 2014 : Official Thread (Page 18)

That would be nice. I don't have much in my bike but do in my run SNs.

It was my first IM, so I was definitely bummed. It wasn't surf or chop, but a "double red flag rip current". They couldn't control the kayaks. First time it's ever been cancelled at IMFL.

Temps were perfect for a LC race, outside of that. A bit windy, but really only nasty for the first 22 miles.

Hope everyone had a good race. Was slightly disappointed that the swim was cancelled but weather is what it is. My bike was good and had a great run. PR for me haha! Only way I could get close to 12 hours!!

My brother lives in San Diego and saved two people that got swept out of waist deep water with a strong rip current about 3 weeks ago while he was surfing. With half the field being first timers (and I came across even more that had never swam in the ocean), it was the correct decision.

On another note, there has to be a better road than the one we take around mile 50. My bike pc bracket broke off as well as my gear shifter. Luckily when I passed the aid station on the opposite side of the road starting on the bumpy road I yelled for duct tape and a volunteer had some for when I turned around. Took about 10 minutes to duct tape everything back in place. All I could do was laugh to be honest because multi-thousand dollar bike held together by 2 dollar tape. The day was cold but fun. The second I crossed the finish line is when I realized how cold it really was on the run.

Agree, was right call to cancel swim. Thur and Fri was perfect but coast guard said half the field would be mile down shore with current.
Wind and temp sucked to start but it was what it was. All in all went as well as could with weather.

Think of myself as a fairly competent open water (ocean) swimmer, have done numerous 3.5's and 5 milers, all my training was open salt water and I fully agree with cancellation, think the first leg of the swim would have been carnage (more than normal that is).
Bummed for first timers, but happy for myself.

Congrats to all for conquering a huge mental battle of the swim being canceled. I know that is one thing I certainly wasn't prepared to handle.

I have a question about our split times. When I first checked on Sunday all my split times were posted. I can't figure out how to get back to that now. Am I doing something wrong or are they not available anymore?

One more thing, a huge shout out and thank you to Jasha. I showed up at the practice swim on Thursday morning intimidated and a bit overwhelmed and Jasha made me feel 100% better. He answered a bunch of questions and took care of the group when he could have chosen to focus on his own race instead.

Jasha- you are a true example of what makes this sport so great. I am so thankful that I got to meet you.

Sad about the swim, but totally understand. What a bummer. Anyone headed to Cozumel as a last-minute 2014 Ironman event? I cannot find an official thread for this race.

I "ditto" the comment for Jasha - an outstanding example of why I love this sport - the people in it -- he took the time to show us transition area after the swim, came up and introduced himself to my wife and I at the pre-race meeting, and was helpful to everyone who showed up for those early AM swims. A real class act! Sorry Jasha - I did not stick around at the finish, as I was shivering uncontrollably away from the event to the condo, I heard the announcer say your name and was disappointed that I didn't recognize you on the run as I am sure we passed each other at some point and I would have waited there with my wife to make noise for you at the finish.

That was one of the several impacts to the event of the cold and wind, beyond the canceling of the swim, was not getting the benefit of the normal hundreds of well wishers of spectators and finished athletes at the finish tunnel. It was, understandably due to the cold, windy conditions, pretty barren at the time I went through around 11:30 (!!), -- of course also the other issue -- at #2950, I didn't go off on the bike until 10:15 or so, about 1 1/2 - 2 hours later than if I had a swim leg - just think if I would have finished around 8:30 or 9:00 how different the race course would have been from a spectator and finisher perspective. I felt bad for the DNF'd high bib # athletes that didn't make cut off (extended only :20!) because of this - the bib numbers were mostly apportioned by age group -- the older age groups were last off. That, at least, could have been handled better.

All in all I am proud of my finish - everyone who did IS an Ironman - what we went through that day both mentally and physically is beyond what any of us expected or trained for.

It does leave a big hole in the experience I wanted to get from my first IM, the swim being my best event, I wanted to see how I would stack up. But also how this impacted the rest of my race. Cold start, running almost entirely in the dark, the relatively quiet and almost anti-cathartic finish.

Just means I need to do another next year, doesn't it (not IMFl, though)! Thanks everyone on this thread for your support during this journey it has meant a lot to me personally and congratulations - you are Ironmen!