Ochsner Ironman 70.3 New Orleans - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

After tenderizing our feet for 1 mile I reach the swim start corral with 8 minutes to spare. UGH! I look down and realize I did not pick up my timing chip. PANIC! I have to run barefoot 1/4 mile back to get my timing chip then back to the corral. My feet are really hurting now and I am sweating like a pig. I proceed to get into my wetsuit, not an easy feat when you are sweating profusely, and have approximately 2 minutes then we are in the water. I set up close to the sea wall and the gun goes off.

Not too rough in the beginning and the water is smooth. I settle into a rhythm and feel good. Not taking on too much water and sighting well. I start catching waves in front of me by the 1/2 way point of the swim. A few strong swimmers catch me from the wave behind me but that is normal for me so I don't sweat it. I get out of the water with a time of 39:46. I was disappointed that the swim was that slow but we found out later that the swim actually measured 1.35 miles instead of 1.2 miles so my swim was not as bad as I thought.

Not walk/run to the swim start and be in a rush.

Going through transition I make a quick stop at the restroom and fight with my one piece tri suit. (Note to self, 2 piece suits for long distance races).

Wear a 2 piece race kit for ease of use in the restrooms

Out of transition and onto the bike. I am feeling good and getting into a rhythm. The roads are a little bumpy but nothing abnormal. I have water in the aero bottle, nutrition in the down tube bottle, and gatorade behind the seat. Well the Gatorade ejected within the first 5 miles so just water for now. At the first aid station I grab a Gatorade bottle. It was nice that the volunteer handed me a bottle but it would have been really nice if she took of the tab under the cap off so I could actually get some fluid out of the bottle. Put it behind the seat and then it decides to eject itself as well. I still have the water so no worries.

Out on the course I am feeling strong. I pass Chris Lieto at mile 17 on the way out and he is on his way back toward transition. In speaking with Macca after the race the lead guys were pushing 400 watts and then Lieto tried to make a split. (Insane power numbers) I am good all the way to the turn around point. Once I make the turn around I realize why I was feeling so good. The wind was at my back and increasing as the day warmed. The rest of the bike was spent pushing through a 25-30 mph wind all the way back to transition. The rest of the bike was uneventful and I still felt pretty good but I knew I had pushed the bike hard so I was hoping I would still have legs for the run.

Not push as hard to save some legs for the run.

T2 was good other than I made another restroom stop to fight with my tri suit. (Note to self, 2 piece suit for long distance).

Wear a 2 piece race kit

Cruised out on the run and directly out into the headwind I was fighting at the end of the bike. Running along the Lakefront into the wind and completely exposed. I was running at a decent pace but I was having some twinges on the inside of my right quad so I was just waiting for it to cramp. I kept running and it eventually loosened up and was able to run freely. Had a time of 29:09 through 3.5 miles and then the wheels came off at mile 4. I had to start doing the run/walk thing, which I hate, but my legs were cooked and for some reason my feet were really hurting already. I am ready for foot pain but it usually is much later in the run. Short walks followed by decent run pace was the name of the game for the rest of the day. The run was well supported and the only issue I had was the last 3.1 miles was on Esplanade Avenue which is very torn up and the pavement is like a meat grinder. Probably did not help that I tenderized my feet earlier in the day before the swim

It was amazing to make the right turn and run into the French Quarter. You had a 1000 meters to go once you made the turn and the streets were lined with spectators the entire way. The actual finishing chute was 4 blocks long formed by spectators. You finish right at Jackson Square.

run slower at the beginning.

Drank lots of water and grabbed some solid food.


I pushed too hard on the bike which killed me on the run.


I would recommend a few more aid stations on the bike and more fluid for the participants. Some of the later waves ran out of fluids at the stations on the bike.