I started out really well. Was swimming right along... catching some drafts... more than I have drafted before. I made it to the turn around in 42 minutes. Turned and there were the walls of waves blasting me into almost motionless swimming. At least that is how it seemed. I could no longer see anything. If you sighted all there were was waves. They would slap you in the face on every breath... at least that is how it seemed to me. I started feeling like puking and wished I had taken some Dramamine. I had to stop and tread and rise up with the waves to be able to sight. It was just really sucking. I knew I would make the cutoff but I felt so bad and did not like the feeling that the waves caused so much that I would go 6 strokes without breathing just so I didn't have to turn my head. Finally... I made it to calmer water near the end and made it.

I really need to be a stronger swimmer. When the rough got going I had trouble hacking it out there. I just need to be a better swimmer so I can handle the conditions better.

I was ready to put the swim behind me. Got stripped by the wetsuit strippers and quickly through my bike shoes and helmet on. Threw my wetsuit, goggles and cap in my bag and I was off. Grabbed my bike and ran to the mount line.

Pretty darn good time for a IM transition. 3rd best in the age group.

Well... this was some bike ride. Right after I mounted my bike I look down and my front tire was flat. My tube must have blown or something after I checked it in transition. Was it the pump I used??? I don't know... doesn't really matter though. I quickly changed the tube. I was shivering a little and feeling more disappointed as it happened right after that horrible swim.

Fixed! I hopped back on and started riding. About a minute later... POP. My front tire's tube had blown again!!! So I fix it after wanted to slam my wheel down. I get back on my bike thinking. I just used up my tubes... this isn't going well... arghh... my head was thinking this just isn't my day and it seemed like the forces that be were trying to keep me from doing this race. If I got another flat before I made it to special needs I would be done!

I started going again after the 2nd flat and after I got up the boat ramp it was time to put the bike into some speedy gears and start moving as there was a short slight downhill.I shift down on my cassette and it won't go on the bottom two sprockets on the cassette (the 12 & 13). I decided not to let it bother me but knew it would make it so I couldn't get my speed up as fast on the downhills. I also knew that it could save my legs some not to have those gears so I decided to be ok with it and cranked along. (I also had some trouble with the big ring on the 2nd and 3rd sprockets from the top but I could shift down on them after shifting up... just had to work it trickily... and thank goodness I still had the 25.. a.k.a. Granny Gear).

I put on my best smile and then began passing a lot of the 1/2 Iron racers looking at their wrists and hoping I could find some Full distance racers. I was feeling a lot better and had a mission at hand. I wanted to still tear up this bike course! (without killing my legs for the run)

I started doing the yo-yo with one of the 1/2 distance athletes and after about 10 miles the 1/2 turn came and he realized he did not have to worry about me as I went straight through the turn around. I could no longer see anyone in front of me and wondered how long it would take to catch anyone. Eventually I could see a rider and that helped me keep the cadence rolling along. I passed that rider and once I was a little ahead of him I yelled "I am coming after all of you!!!" :)

I kept passing people and then at about 35 miles the leaders went by as they had turned around already at about 51 miles. I kept passing people and it and made it to about 40 miles and that is where I knew a fun long down hill (with some bumps) was waiting for me. I flew down the hill and kept moving over some long rollers even passing a car that was behind a couple of athletes.

I then saw Pilgrim and thought he looked like he was riding well. I kept going and made it to the turn around and then fought the wind down to the special needs area. I got my spare tube and put it my pocket and the guy through my trash in the bag. I then asked him "can I get my co2 cartridge... otherwise you can have this tube back." We both smiled I got a Gatorade and water and was off and spinning my way back up the hills.

I kept thinking and saying "I am still coming after all of you!" I caught up to MikeB at the bottom of the longest hill. I hadn't seen him at the turn around and seeing him out there got me pumped up for that big hill. I Smiled all the way up it and kept smiling as I rode on.

Kept climbing and zooming as much as I could back to another long climb that lead to the infamous bike path. About 97 miles or so in there are three 18 percent grade hills called "the three sisters." There was a guy just in front of me as we got to the first Sister. I saw him going from side to side as he looked to almost dump his bike over and must have dropped to about 4mph. I was moving about 4.5 to 5 mph and was able to safely get by him. I then thought... I'll get this next one with some speed.. but no there is a turn there and you can't get any speed to get up it. I climb it grunting my way up as a lady was walking her bike up the side (she was not in the race). Then I see the 3rd sister and she is a BITCH! Longer and steeper and again you can't get any speed going into it. At the top was a couple of spectators. They said "good job... its all easy now."

So I take their word for it as I cruise down the hill. Then it is a pretty much long straight gradual uphill. But there is a 20mph headwind and I could only get to 14-15mph on this stretch and everyone talked about this stretch after the race. After the path it was still tough but I kept smiling as I got closer to T2. :)

Take my own pump. (the shifting trouble was from the cable being loose. But it was all good when I checked my bike in.)

Otherwise, I smiled and gritted my way to the 10th best bike time even with the 2 flats. I am really proud of this bike ride! I tore it up!

Good transition... they took the bike... took off my shoes and carried them to the tent. They had my bag ready for me. I dumped the bag... put my socks on (chile socks) then my shoes, grabbed my extra gels and pocketed them and threw the bike helmet, shoes, and extra tube in the bag. Grabbed a water and took off.

Just leave the bag... asked and then ended up just leaving it. Otherwise really good.

Ran around the corner and headed right to the portable toilet. Then I was off and running and felt good! I passed a relay runner and saw the 1 mile marker and told him "alright... 25 more to go!" About a 1/4 mile later you turn and run up a hill for a couple of miles and I kept going. I felt good.

I ran and ran and kept smiling. I walked the aid stations doing my best to take care of myself fluids wise and thanked every volunteer at each and every mile.

About 8 miles in I see a volunteer with a Ben Rothlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers jersey on. I told him I wanted water but not from him. He said "orange shoes... you are a Browns fan." I got my water and started running backwards and asked him who won the Browns vs. Steelers game. He stated "you be nice to me when you come back through and I'll tell you what happened." So I book it to the turn around and it seemed like a few minutes later I was back at the water stop. I yelled "I am getting a water from him and pointed at the Steelers fan." He smiled and ran along side me telling me that it was a great game but that the Steelers won by 3 and the Browns missed a game tying field goal." I said... well at least we beat the spread... I was in Vegas after all. I smiled and kept running.

At about 11 1/2 miles I started walking more than just the aid station as I picked up a cup of the most delicious pretzels I felt I had ever eaten. I ran carrying them through the section of the course that ran in between some bars and then walked and finished my pretzels. I then ran again and went through a great crowd at the end of the 1st lap. I kept on running and then walked a little up the long hill. Then ran down until then next long hill where I ran and walked up it.

Once I was near the top of the last big hill the one guy running the other way said "Your almost done with the last bitch of a hill." I smiled and started running faster. I mean I felt like I was running way faster. I so wanted to beat my IMAZ run time and the people at the aid stations said "look at him go." That helped even more! I ran by and got water from Steelers fan again and made it to the turn around and knew I just had about 4 1/2 miles to go.

I picked up the pace even more and thanked every volunteer I saw since I wouldn't see anymore of these great people again. I really appreciated everything each one of them was doing. I was starting to feel it a little with 2 miles left so I walked just a short stretch... about 50 yards and then started running again but a little slower. When I got to the bars again I then started running faster again and then my smile got so big as I got to the bike path that lead towards the finish.

I felt like I was bouncing and could feel no pain, etc. As I got to the Silverman carpet I high fived people as I ran by and smiled BIG. :) It was great to have finished such a tough great race!

Just sharper training. It was tough to do some of the long runs in the Arizona heat but I did pretty well.

I also beat my goal which was to beat my IMAZ run time on this much more difficult course. I did it by 9 minutes! :)

Saw the RD, Frank Lowery, and gave him a fist... (he remembered me from the pre-ride) then the photographer had me climb up so he could take a photo with the Silverman backdrop.

I then saw Carl, Pilgrim's friend and teammate from Albuquerque. He had done the 1/2 Silverman.

Carl and I went to the food tent... and here is where some more fun began. I looked at the pizza and it just made me feel sick. So I went over and sat down. I then got up and went to the garbage can and started dry heaving. They then took me to the med tent. Weighed me and I had lost 9 lbs, my body temperature was 94 degrees, and my skin was very clammy. They also took my blood pressure and it was 110 over something... 5 minutes later it had dropped to 80 over something and they said every 5th heart beat was slightly irregular. I had layers of blankets over me and they gave me an IV giving me 2 bags. As the 2nd bag was starting I heard them announce that Pilgrim had finished. Carl brought him over and it was great to see him smiling and feeling good after he finished.

After the 2nd bag finished and I was eased out I then met back up with Carl and Pilgrim and got some Pizza. I felt a lot better. Then MikeB walked in the food tent and he had finished the as well! Great race!


The great challenging course... especially the water!!!


This race is awesome and I am definitely doing it again next year. I have unfinished business with that lake and want to do even better on the bike and run. I am really pleased with how I finished but want to do even better, especially on the swim.

The RD and staff were great and the volunteers were awesome. All of the aid stations were setup to where I didn't miss any of them and easily got everything I needed. I made sure to thank all of them that I could. (I think I already said that but they were great so I will keep on saying it.)

Also, you get great schwag! A really nice Silverman backpack with 3 water bottles, a pair of racetech TYR swim goggles, Silverman headsweats visor, Silverman blanket, Silverman T-Shirt, Silverman playing cards, nutrition items and more. Then a awesome finishers medal and finishers T-Shirt.

Can't wait until next year. Anyone want to join me?