Wetsuits were allowed this year. The swim did not feel easy to me. I felt like I was swimming slowly but I guess I wasn't. Very few from the next wave caught me.

I was able to follow some feet for a portion of the swim. The woman had a really exaggerated kick.


Nothing.

This was not a transition to write home about. I didn't need my race number for the bike so I left it in transition (for the first time ever). As I was almost at the exit, I realized that my Endurolytes, Base salt and Aquaphor were in my Spibelt. Today was not the day to go without salt. I ran back for it with my bike. Rookie mistake.

I decided to go without socks on the bike today. No problem...I was fine.


Stick with my normal routine.

Sue was the first person I knew to pass me on the bike. She flew by and said "Come on Chickee, let's catch these guys." No way could I keep up with her. Then Marianne Moore passed me and said hello. Let's face it, hundreds of people always pass me on the bike. Neither Stacey nor Christine O. caught me.

There was a woman named Joann that caught me and we took turns passing each other. We did this for awhile. She asked if anyone was peeing on the bike. "Why, did you?" I asked. She said no but that she had to. We discussed the difficulties of peeing on a flat course. Then next time we passed each other, we discussed how boring it was not talking to anyone the whole way.

I did see a lot of men drafting. I saw the motorcycle a few times, too, but it wasn't until later on during the ride.

I tried to keep my pace up but the wind was really strong for the first half. No road kill this year.

I took 3 Endurolytes each hour for a total of 9 on the bike. I brought my own Gatorade (2 full strength bottles and one watered down) so I didn't have to drink the flavor that I can't stand on the course. I grabbed a bottle of water at 3 of the aid stations and drank about half of each.

I ate one pack of Clif Bloks and a chocolate Power Bar. I just couldn't manage the GU I brought. Maybe that was because I was drinking more.


Train on the bike more.

I took my time here. I globbed Vaseline on my toes and put socks on. (I only ended up with one blister--left big toe.). I peed. I changed my sunglasses and put a visor on. I also squirted sunscreen on my arms and applied it while running out. I put two GUs in my pockets.


Next time, I'd put sunscreen on the part in my hair. I always get burnt there from wearing a visor.

Another brutal EM run with the sun blazing and not many clouds in sight. Right away, there were people walking and stopped on the side of the road rubbing their legs. One guy was walking back. I asked if he was finishing or quitting. (He was quitting.)

I caught Sue at about 4 miles. She seemed really surprised to see me.

Then, I saw Marianne Moore at about 4.5 miles. That was the same spot I caught her last year. I was going to sneak up behind her and then power past, but she started walking and made it really easy for me. I asked her where Elizabeth Weaver was and she acted like she never heard of her. I said, "she's the one racked next to you." She had no idea.

Soon after that, I started to feel slightly nauseous. I grabbed some pretzels at the next aid station and they helped. I took some at every aid station after that, along with water and Gatorade.

I used the BASE salts twice (3 licks each time). I didn't use Endurolytes this time.

I didn't eat the GUs I brought. I just didn't feel like it.I dumped two cups of ice down my top at each aid station. That held me to the next one.

No crippling cramps for me on the run this year. I was amazed!!!

Joann Pileggi caught me at the 10 mile mark. She said hello and was all bubbly and cheerful. I commented how hot it was and she said "let's enjoy the last 3 miles." Enjoy?? Seriously! I tried keeping pace with her as we discussed our past Ironmans. I quickly realized that her pace was a bit much for me. She ended up finishing 2 minutes ahead of me. (As a side note, we are now Facebook friends.)


Nothing.

I crossed the finish line and didn't need medical. Mission accomplished!

A man about my husband's age walked over to me and said "Linda Collins." He introduced himself as Elizabeth Weaver's husband. He congratulated me on my win, which I didn't know up to that point. He said that me, Marianne and Elizabeth were neck and neck the whole way. Interesting! I told him how I had admired Elizabeth all of these years and frankly, didn't enjoy seeing her on the participants' list. LOL!

I couldn't find Stacey so I got some food and sat in the shade. The second I sat down, my foot started cramping, then my shin. However, I couldn't get up. I sat there in pain and the guy next to me said he was worried because he hadn't peed all day. I think it's funny that triathletes discuss how often they pee, where they pee, etc.

I eventually found Stacey and Sue. We saw Stephanie finish. No matter how long it takes her and how tired she says she is, she always looks great! I never saw Christine after the race.


The heat and wind.


A sunny and hot race but the volunteers were great! I enjoyed meeting new people. The award ceremony started too late for me, though.