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 Swim
Comments: Toughest swim I've ever been a part of. Physical, brutal, but awesome. White, churning, pee filled water everywhere! What made this so difficult was the number of ppl in the water. Every time I got into a groove, I'd come in contact with 2-3 swimmers. Kicks to the face, elbows to the head and body, and inappropriate grabs were constant throughout the entire swim. Even had a few hands go where no man had gone before...HA! Had to clear goggles many, many times because of the contact...even once in the canal, which is close to the end of the swim. Those were quick, though, b/c I didn't want to get swum over again. I also became very good at anticipating and deflecting blows to the face and head. I did inadvertently quintuple kick combo somebody. Accident! Sorry! Somebody came up on me and I was kicking, trying to break free from a group. I felt my heels hit a chest, right above the diaphragm, 5 different times, all hard. Then I felt that person kind of crumple, or maybe fold. Oops! I turned around, but too many ppl to know who it was. I know that hurt. I have heels, and I will use them! Another thing that made this swim difficult was breathing. Due to the sheer number of athletes, I kept getting "swamped" and ended up swallowing tons of water. I'm sure I had my fill of pee, bird poop, and pretty much everything else that is in a small, shallow lake out in the heart of Texas. I started the bike very well hydrated. The cooler weather was great in that everyone got to use a wetsuit, but I think that was also the problem. In the past, the swim was broken up into a non-wetsuit and wetsuit start, thus reducing the overall volume of swimmers. This time, everyone started at the same time. What would you do differently?: My strategy was terrible. I started in the front, a little closer to the shore than the middle of the lake where the buoys were at. I was hoping to hit the last buoy at an angle, away from the inside line, but the contact behind me and my inability to swim straight pushed me against the buoy line. I got sucked into the mass, which was a no holds barred MMA slugfest...THE washing machine. It was kind of like a black hole...in you go, out you do not. It was especially rough rounding the buoys b/c it got very crowded. I also got flustered with each kick to the face. I never got knocked really hard, but did get a bloody lip and had to reseal goggles many, many times. In my opinion, athletes went into that swim expecting a brutal swim...and that's what they got. Self fulfilling prophesy, in a sense. In hindsight, I'd probably make a concerted effort to stay away from the inside line and swim wide to avoid the contact.  Transition 1
Comments: Ran out of the lake and into T1, straight to my bag. Skipped the wetsuit strippers, opting to take off wetsuit myself. Left leg of suit got stuck on ankle, but only for a second or two. Then, grabbed my bag, ran into the changing tent, put on helmet and glasses and bolted out with my cycling shoes in my hand. The volunteers were there, ready to lather you up with sunscreen...and I let them! They globbed it on my back and neck. Wetsuit hickey, there you are...and you sting! What would you do differently?: In my rush, forgot to neck a bottle of UCAN. This could have been a contributing factor to my crappy bike ride, but I'll allocate more blame to the sinus infection. I could make up for that nutrition with some backup gels and tabs I was carrying, if need be.  Bike
Comments: Never felt good on this ride. Ran out of T1, put on shoes, and started to try to get out of the mass of cyclists. Meep! Meep! About a half mile in, a lady (about 10 bike lengths ahead) went down HARD. She ended up on her back and I slowed down. The volunteers were on her pretty much right away, though, so I wished her luck and kept on. I really hoped she could keep going. It's too damn hard just getting to the start line healthy and strong to end it like that. Control what you can control, I told myself. Let's settle in and race your race. Don't follow the hammers (I was tempted) and stick to your plan. This was my first race with a power meter and I was excited about it. The problem...I could not hit my power for shit. I hoped to average 170 watts for the entire ride, but ended up averaging 145. What a disappointment. I just didn't have it in me today. I followed my plan and underpowered the first 50 miles, but I just felt drained the entire time. I loved the ride in the first 50, then in the second 50, I struggled to even maintain 120 watts. Many times, I felt like stopping the bike, throwing it into the woods, and ending the race. I was disgusted. All this hard work, all this training, all that blood and sweat, down the f'n drain b/c I got sick two days before the race. Could not have been worst timing. I could scream...even right now. I am pretty sure I shed a tear or two in frustration. I can't remember, though, and I'll deny it ever happened if asked! Sun got in my eye. ;) What would you do differently?: I'm not sure. I was on plan through 50 miles, but I just could not maintain even a semblance of what I had done in training. Transition 2
Comments: Dismounted bike right before the line and handed it off to a volunteer. Bless them! Put on socks and shoes, and took off helmet, shoving it into the bag. Ran out. Once again, I let the sunscreen girls have their way with me...and boy, they did. They were out there having fun, saying dirty things, and really caking it on. Thank you! What would you do differently?: I had planned to put on socks and shoes and grab a baggie in which I had stuffed everything else. This would have saved maybe a minute. I could put on hat, number, and store nutrition on the go. I just decided to sit for a minute, regroup after that ride, and then run.  Run
Comments: I have to say I was glad to get off the bike. I'm guessing that's what it must feel like to be a cheap hooker on coupon day at a brothel...ouch! The run was great. I was glad to get off the bike and do something that I'm decent at. I settled into my pace, running a 7:40 min/mi in the first mile. Perfect. Maintained effort through the first 8 miles, then started to feel some fatigue creep in, but nothing too bad. Roll with it, man, roll with it. Do what you can do. And I did. I slowed down some, but I just did what I could and was happy with the effort. I got passed, but it was mostly by the Pros and a handful of AGers. A few bastards with calf sleeves passed me (couldn't see age!), but I let them go b/c, well, I was tired! :) During the last half mile, there was a guy chasing me down. I thought he'd catch me, but I had a little extra energy and used it before he could catch up to me and make it a race to the finish line. I looked him up and he was in the 50-54 AG. He finished 10 seconds behind me. Glad I didn't have to fight it out with him at the very end. Some cool things about the run. I got to run right behind Docherty for a few mins. I was on my first lap and I think he was on his third! Ha! I slipped in behind him, and imagined that we were going to duke it out at the finish. I'm stupid, yeah, but things like that will get your mind off the suffering at hand. The support out on the course was amazing! People kept yelling out my name and that really helped alot. The posters out there were awesome. Had to see them 3x, but they mostly made me smile each time. The costumes were also great. Of note: guy in speedo with the present on his crotch, girls cheering and really shakin' it, the "your mom is easy" posters, and the guy offering swimming lessons at the swim start. What would you do differently?: I think I ran well today. Not my greatest run, but good for an IM. I took longer than I should have in the aid stations. Something to keep in mind for the next one. Post race
Warm down: The awesome volunteers walked me through the chute, I got a pic taken, and then went to get food and drink. I did the obligatory post Ironman waddle, then found a place to sit and eat while I waited for Steve. I got to meet and talk to a few guys and we exchanged stories. Fun times. What limited your ability to perform faster: If I had to identify a limiter, I'd have to say getting sick was the main culprit. I really expected to go 10 hours, maybe eek in a few mins under, but it is what it is. After I realized I wasn't going to make my time, I enjoyed the race and atmosphere and started thinking ahead to the next one. Event comments: The volunteers were amazing and really made this race what it was. Without them, no race and no good time. Kudos to Ironman for a well run race. The venue was excellent. Last updated: 2013-10-30 12:00 AM
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United States
World Triathlon Corporation
87F / 31C
Overall Rank = 228/2437
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 40/335
What a race and what an event! I love Ironman in that you can meet and talk to people from all over the world, all of whom have amazing stories and backgrounds, and you relate.. The guy that lost 200lbs...The 80 year old trying to finish...The 18 year old buds doing their first one together...etc. It's just freakin' cool.
I know some ppl don't like Ironman b/c of what it has become. Fair enough. You just have to look at it and realize what it stands for. That's what I love about it.
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Steve and I arrived at Houston on Wednesday, leaving early in the a.m. from NC. Our connecting flight from ATL to IAH was delayed a few hours, but it was nothing that we haven't been through before. We waited, had a few beers, waited, had more beers, waited, had more beers, then finally boarded.
We registered at the Ironman Village later that day, then checked into our hotel. What a disappointment! No fridge, no microwave, and on the 2nd floor! LaQuinta had guaranteed a room with the fridge and microwave and on 1st floor. So far, they were 0/3. I don't know that I'll stay there again.
On Thursday, I woke up with NO VOICE, congested sinuses, and a damn headache. Great! Sinus infection! Yay!.......WTF?! Really? Two days before an Ironman and I'm sick? Are you F'n kidding me? I took a hot shower, trying to get the sinuses cleared, bought EMERGEN-C and CLARITEN, and started to think about how it could affect my race.
Steve and I went to Ironman Village early and did some maintenance on our bikes. I changed out tires (and tubes...blowout) and put on pedals. Then, we met Bryan and Howard and rode for an hour. We followed that up with an easy run. I was not feeling great, but the adrenaline kept me going.
The athlete dinner was AWESOME. Never miss an athlete dinner. Reilly was there, cracking jokes and pumping everyone up with feel good stories and videos. The "youngest and oldest" and "who lost the most weight" segments were really cool to watch. I also enjoyed welcoming the new Ironmans, and the food was excellent.
Friday, same thing...no voice, sinuses F'd up, and tired. We did an easy practice swim for 600 meters. The swim wasn't bad, but there were not 2600 ppl in there.
Saturday, Steve and I woke up and 3:45 to get ready. What a day! What a rush! We ate breakfast, packed last minute items, then headed over. Parking was easy...thank God for big cities. We then set up bikes and set up T bags.
We got to the Swim Start and it was an incredible sight! So many people, so much noise, so much going on!!! Drones were flying around, taking pics or streaming video (not sure which) and everyone was getting ready. I must have seen a bazillion people taking selfies. Heck, I almost took one, too, but thankfully, a girl saved my manhood and offered to take one of Steve an I. Whew, that was close!
Treaded water for a little, then did a few strokes, then hung onto kayak until the gun went off.