2015 my time for the swim 1:30:08

The swim was super choppy. It was a combination of bad weather rolling in (wind) and boats at the far end of the course. I saw people panicking at the turn and it was just a total cluster of bodies. Also with about 3-400 yards to go at the end there were shallow rocks. All I could do to get over them was grab on and pull myself over. Just an odd swim all around.

My sighting was good but my drafting was not. I need to be more aggressive and start further up. I totally got pushed to the back in the start corral (I let myself be pushed back)

Start further up.

The run from the beach to T1 seems to go on forever. I don't think I could have cut much more time off T1.

2015 Bike Split 7:16:15

I really wanted to crush it this year.

About 10 miles into the bike, it started to rain. Make that pour. And it did not let up until I got off the bike. My power was actually under my goal so I definitely had more to give but the temperature, rain and the fact that I was WAY over hydrated slowed me down.

On the downhills, the rain felt like pins and needles on my skin - it was really painful. All I could do was clench my teeth and get through it. Speaking of downhills there was a really bad accident in one section. Apparently a downhill rider lost control and went into oncoming bike traffic and took out 2 people. Really scary. After that the RD was on course telling people to slow down.

I wasn't really cold but I could tell if I stopped for any length of time I could see getting the chills. All I wore was a tri top and bike shorts. There were people at the aid stations with space blankets on.

Drink less (and supplement with real food) if it's not hot. I'm not really sure how much I can blam on the weather - but it really did suck.

I know my bike and swim times were spot on from 2015 and I knew the run was my shot to really bring it home.

2015 the run had me mentally bugged out before I even got there. I was thinking about it on the bike and was terrified of running 26 miles. This year I worked to get over that and just take it 1 mile at a time.

I got out of t2 and saw my friends and was joking with them and was definitely in a better place than 2015. SO I started my run towards victory.

my pace was a little slower than 2015 but I didn't care. I knew if I could just stay consistent I'd be good to go. And I was doing pretty good - until just before special needs between mile 12 and 13 when my stomach started to hurt. Great. So at that point DH had also caught me - JUST before the split to "finish left, 2nd loop right." He was done. I got to hear "you are an ironman" as I headed out to my 2nd loop. I spent what felt like a few miles figuring out what I was going to do. I decided to bag my gels and go for chicken broth. I figured there are enough calories in that and certainly enough salt especially since it wasn't hot and the sun was setting. So I lived on chicken broth and pretzels which kept my stomach in check enough to finish. People always say on the run course "try the chicken broth." Well you don't understand why until you need it.

I'm bagging gels completely. I don't know if that's what it was or not - but I'm not taking any more chances.

For the 2nd year in a row I was tackled by my cousin who finished a few hours earlier :) The pictures this year make me look like death - but oh well. I survived. And now I'm a 2x ironman.


The volunteers make this race. DH wants to go back again but I convinced him to hold off (2 years in a row is enough for me for now). Here's to Swtizerland in 2018!!