one word...NUTS! for the entire first 900 yards out to the first turn it was totally like a washer machine. I've never been jabbed, kicked, and climbed on so much in my life. At the first orange bouy to turn left it was like getting on 285 in rush hour traffic....we practically had to tread water for a few minutes just to make the turn. First loop down, felt great. Second loop was much more spread out as the fast and average swimmers had all gone ahead which just left me with the slower swimmers...which I was totally ok with as my rythem got better and I was out of the water in no time at all.

For having been my first IM, absolutely nothing. Even though I'm slower than the other 80% of the guys in the field I felt incredibly strong. My breathing was awesome, I felt fluid... I'd like to work with buddy at LAF on technique as he was collegiate swimmer, but quite honestly i'm just not willing to invest anymore time into swimming for it only to save me 10-20 minutes in an IM. It just doesnt make since.

My goal was between 1:30-1:45.. very happy with time!

Felt amazingly good. The heat was low. As for nutrition a friend had mentioned a few weeks back how he used bagels in one of his special needs bag for questionable stomach situations. And based on my results at gulf coast this year i KNEW that my stomach would be churning from salt water intake.

Not a thing. Goal was to be out of both transitions in less than 10 hours. Succeeded!

So first things first...downed a bagel which was a HUGE win as I had absolutely zero stomach issues on the bike. First half of ride my odometer must have been off as ever time i checked speed it was over 18, however results showed a little less. I started off with my legs feeling like the day was going to be a picnic with the chainring in the small gear and focused on maintaining 17 unless my HR dictated otherwise. I did hit the mythical 80 mile wall...i want to blame it on headwinds, however I think it was a mix of headwinds and taxed legs. My right kneecap was doing something really funky the last 15 miles and I thought "Oh shit..i'm not going to be able to finish today"... however, I uncliped my right foot while riding and stretched it out a few times and clipped back in. Before I know it the pain was gone never to return, but a very SCARY moment! As for nutrition on the bike: Perpeteum (WIN! but very gascious), Bananas at every station (a HUGE win), and gatorade/water mix. I had put a treat in my special needs bag (ie 4 oatmal cookies with icing on top) that were all in crumbs by time reaching it, but all the same a nice treat.

Lose weight. I think this is the single controllable variable I have going into 2008. If I were to drop 10-15lbs that would be huge for bike and run. As for next IM, I would get the full distance ridden 3 times minimal before race day (or taper).

Beyond that my goal was 6:30 and I was 10 minutes off. Without the potty break and waiting in line to do so, I would have met my goal. so all in all very happy!

WOW...i may actually be able to run this.

Not a single thing. Again goal was sub 10 on transitions. and I came out of the transition feeling like superman. I felt amazing. It wasnt until 10 miles into the run where I started to really struggle.

My goal was a 12 min mile pace and after the first 5 i actually thought it was gonna happen! Then got to 10 miles and began to get a little more concerned. After 10 miles it became a death march. Mainly because I could not take anythign else with sugar into my stmoach without wanting to puke everywhere. So for the next 10 miles I practially walked the entire thing and crunched on ice mixed with water. At mile 20 i felt i had regrouped and started running again. That lasted for about 2 miles until i mentally just gave up. I heard runners pass by encourage me and say "THESE are the ironman miles...THESE last mmiles of the run are truly what makes us ironmen. Which I totally understood after reaching the finish!



LOSE WEIGHT and get a few marys under my belt before my next IM. If I would have been able to weather the run past mile 10 i would have easily hit a sub 14 and possibly closer to a 13 hour finish as my first splits were a 10 min mile, and my cardio didnt really feel taxed. I stopped after 10 miles because my tank was just emptied, I was mentally weak, I lacked confidence for a full mary, and I could use 10-15 lbs. I know my next IM attempt will be a huge improvement (all else being equal on race day) as I now know exactly how far i can push my body and what I need to do for the next 2-3 years before attempting my next full.

ummm...Wendy's


Weight, lack of mary under belt, confidence, not knowing how far I could push my body.


I love now knowing i can do the distance. Now its just a matter of how much I want to improve on the distance!