Not my best effort on the swim. Was excited, started too close to the front, and went out of first 100 yards too fast. As a result, I lost my wind and hand to breaststroke for the next 100 yards to settle my breathing. Once that was under control and I was warmed up, the rest of the swim went by with little probable--solid free style stroke with not breathing problems. Although, because of my earlier mis-step, I was behind. Think I tool the swim a bit conservatively at that point as I wasn't sure what to expect. That was pretty much the case with the entire race.

I would begin those first couple-hundred yards a bit easier--especially since there was no warmup. Once I was warmed up, the capillaries open, I could take off. This is a lesson I learned (and has served me well) in shorter distance races, but I didn't follow my own plan on this day.

Took this slowly as it was my first Ironman and didn't know what to expect. I wasn't running this event for time, just to finish and gain some experience, so I took my time in transition. The changing tent was a new concept that I had never encounter, so I didn't rush.

Now that I know what to expect, I will deal with transition more quickly--no need to linger in the changing tent.

Has some real problems here. About 20 miles into the bike course my left pedal broke off. All I needed was a wrench to fix it, but alas, no one at the first aid station had a wrench. Wasn't going to fold for this, and pressed on pedaling with only my right leg. This took me the next ten miles to the next aid station, where, unfortunately, no one had a wrench. Kept going, with only one leg...getting tired and the quad starting to cramp when I cam to a corner and one of the volunteers had a friend who had a wrench. They fixed the pedal for me and I got back underway with both feet--finally. I imagine that the 'issues' cost me a good 45 minutes to an hour in time. However, as I look back, fighting through that and not giving up is one of the most rewarding memories of the day. Yes, it cost me time, but it also gave me the confidence that I can push through my own doubts,

Not much i could do differently--cant really plan for such problems. Biking is my weakest event, and the times that I had both feet working, I felt were pretty good. Just need to continue to train in the saddle. Worked hard on the bike trainer this winter, and that is beginning to show.

Approached this transition the same as the last, and those comment are the same.

Same as T1

Took the run a little too conservatively, but that okay...as my first Ironman, I wasn't sure how the body would respond, and I did not want to implode half-way. I only walked though the aid stations but ran the entire course at a steady, all-be-it slow pace. Finished strong with quite a bit left in the tank. Has a little cramping at the very end, but think this was mainly due to using an almost entirely liquid nutrition plan.

Go faster. Not much, but I could certainly push it more closely to a 10 minute mile which is still well below marathon pace. I love the superstarch nutrition, but would probably add some potassium on the run to help with possible cramping.

Mostly just my own limiter of wanting to experience my first Ironman and not blow-up. Now that I know what it feels like, I can up the tempo both in performance and transition.