Ironman Wisconsin - TriathlonFull Ironman

Got in line for the water around 6:30 AM. The pros were let in first then the age groupers. Although I had to tread water for about 15 minutes, it was worth it. This is a good time to relax and just take it all in. You get a good view of all the spectators on Monona Terrace. Once the race started it was pretty congested and I ran into a lot of people and was hit by a lot of people. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I started on the buoy line about 20 feet from the front. My goal was to stay on the buoy line or just inside the buoy line. The first turn was really congested and had to stop and tread water while people made there way through. Once I made the second turn onto the long stretch I made an effort to find a comfortable pace and stay behind and draft other swimmers. This worked pretty well. Had a few moments where I was catching up to slower swimmers or faster swimmers were catching up to me where it got congested. The last 600m also got really congested and there was a lot of bumping into others. I swam really hard the last 200m to start getting blood into my legs since I didn't really kick at all the rest of the swim. Got out and my legs felt good. Went to the first wet suit stripper.

I feel I could've swam harder. I also would've started closer to the front since I had to swim past so many people.

After the wetsuit strippers you have to run up the helix to the top floor of Monona Terrace. Once there you run into a room to get your T1 bag and then into the changing room. After that you run to the bike area where a volunteer hands you your bike. I wish I could've had my shoes clipped into my pedals, but they didn't allow that so I had to run with my shoes.

It was a good transition and the process was new to me. I could've went faster, but a few seconds here or there won't make a big difference on overall time.

My goal for the bike was to go out easy and take the hills easy. Winds were 10+ MPH out of the north. The stick portion of the course went well and I kept a steady pace. The first loop also went well and I was feeling good. I average 20.32 miles for the first 56 miles. I took a bonk bar at mile 30 and took drinks of my nutrition drink once every 15 minutes. I didn't have any GI issues and I felt good. During the start of the second lap I started feeling some pain in my left knee. It was off and on and hurt mostly on the hills. The winds also seemed to pick up and I knew I was working harding to keep a decent pace. On the three big hills after Cross Plains I really started to feel the fatigue. I didn't eat anymore solid foods and started feeling really fatigued and disoriented around mile 90. I thought for sure I'd have to stop and walk my bike but I remembered I had a Milky Way in my back pocket. Within 5 minutes I felt great and had my energy back. Whalen Road has a couple of bigger hills especially the one at the end of Whalen on the way back. Cruised back into town and felt good and ready for the run.

I think I may have gone a little too easy on the flats and downhills. There are portions of the course where I just went at a comfortbale pace instead of a pace I should've been at. I might've been too conservative at points, but overall it was probably a good idea since I didn't know what to expect the rest of the race and didn't want to bonk too early.

We had to ride up the helix to the bike area and had to stop at the line to dismout and a volunteer would take your bike. Same as in T1, we went to a room to get our T2 bag and went to the changing room. I felt good and had positive energy leaving T2.

Overall T2 went good.

Coming out of T2 I felt good and had a smile on my face. The fact that I had to run a marathon didn't seem too daunting of a task at the time since there was so many people on the square cheering you on. Heading around Capital Square and down State Street was awesome. At about the 3.5 mile we ran through Camp Randall which wasn't as cool as I thought it would be. Just an empty stadium. Drank water at every aid station and also tried Coca Cola, pretzels, oranges and grapes when I felt like my stomach could handle it. Obsevatory Hill is around mile 5 and it is the biggest hill on the run course. It's not the most challenging, but after biking 112 miles, your legs will feel it. I kept a good, but slower pace going up the hill. Eventually, the course goes down a different portion of State Street which was packed with people. The run was going good until about mile 12 where I started feeling my legs fatigue. Made the turn for the second loop and picked up my pace going back down State Street. After that I had to slow my pace because I was getting disoriented and felt like I was going to pass out. I wasn't sure if it was lack of nutrition or what, but I eventually had to start walking in Camp Randall. I'd begin walking for a few seconds then start running again. I did that off and on until the the last 1/2 mile of the course when I got to State Street. I ran, not hard, until the finish line area where I picked up my pace and finished with everything I had left.

I was hoping for a sub 4:00 marathon, but I was in no condition to push harder than I did. If I would've done that I would've passed out or threw up. Neither of which would've helped me get to the finish line faster. I think I would've ate more at the aid stations instead of just drinking water. My first loop went great, but that pace caught up with me on the 2nd loop and I didn't take in the proper nutrition.

I felt alright after crossing the finish line. Had a water and soda and sat down at one of the chairs. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel so I didn't want to leave the finish area until I knew for sure I'd be alright. My legs were obviously sore, but my stomach and head were good.


I exceeded my expectations and never thought I'd be able to go as fast as I did. My goal was to finish and my second goal was to finish sub-12. I didn't know how my body would've reacted to the long day and how my run would be affected by my bike. If I were to do this race again, I would say I'd need to focus on nutrition and eat/drink even when I'm not hungry.


I'd recommend anyone thinking about signing up for this race to do it. It's really well organized and the volunteers and spectators are great. You won't regret it.