Final Time – 11:35:06

THE THANKS:

I can't believe that it has already been a week since I completed IRONMAN Florida 2009.  For anyone looking to do their first IRONMAN … I would recommend this event. 

As I begin the race report for the Florida IM I must first say THANKS to all those who helped make this happen.  For anyone who has embarked on a long-term journey such as training for an IRONMAN you know that this is accomplished with the love and support of family and friends. 

The most important support I received was from Lori, Andrew (11) and Johnathan (8).  Without their ongoing love and caring this adventure would not be possible.  For the last year they have dealt with all the long workouts and other races in preparation of this event.  In addition, they were there in Florida to cheer me along and provide care after.  This is a complete family accomplishment. 

In addition, there were several other family and friends who were with me in person or spirit during the journey

Mom & Richard, Michele, Paul, Jessica, Rachel, Rebecca, Terri, Jim, Kaitlyn, Sarah and Mary, Terri Angot and family (great banner - thanks), Dr. Brad, Sunday morning running group, Peoria Triathlon Club and so many more.

I could not have done this without the support of my family & friends.  - THANK YOU

THE PRE-RACE:

My pre-race activities actually started in May by participating in the Gulf Coast 1/2 IRONMAN race.  The benefits of racing the Gulf Coast include the opportunity to swim the exact same ocean course, run the exact same route and ride on some of the bike course. I would recommend that anyone who is doing the Florida IM first complete the Gulf Coast ˝ IM Tri.

I arrived in Florida on Thursday morning in time to pick up my registration.  When I arrived the atmosphere was incredible.  Over 2,000 participants scattered around the race venue.  It seemed that at any given moment on Thursday and Friday that ˝ of the participants were either in the ocean for a practice swim or they were running and riding.  I know that I had personally had lots of nervous energy which I wanted to burn off as well.  On both Thursday and Friday I was able to swim one loop of the ocean swim and complete twenty five mile easy bike ride on Thursday. 

In addition, I had a chance to hang out with my Mom and Richard for a couple of days while Lori and the boys stayed with her sister Terri in Dothan, AL.

The family arrived on Friday afternoon and we had a nice dinner and I headed off to try and get some sleep.  The morning of the event went really well.  I was able to see everyone just prior to the cannon going off for one last bit of inspiration.

Let the race begin …..

RACE DAY:

Swim - 2.4 miles - 1:10:06

The swim went better than anticipated.  The course was two loops.  I had practiced the course each of the two days leading up to the race and was comfortable with the ocean swim.  It was helpful to practice at the exact time the race occurred because when we made our first left turn we were looking directly into the rising sun. On race day the waters were a bit rougher than the two previous days. 

This was my first "mass start" with 2,400 of my closest swimming friends.  The only anxious moment came in the first 500 meters of the swim.  After I relaxed for a minute things went very smoothly.  I was out of the water on the first loop in around 33 minutes.  We ran up onto the beach and headed back into the surf for another loop.  As I came down the home stretch I was excited to get have this leg of the race behind me and heading toward the bike. 

Once the swim was completed we ran up the beach where a volunteer helped take off our wet suit.  The best part was seeing the entire family along the path to T1.  I was able to get a few “high fives” and off I went to the T1. 

Bike – 112 Mile – 5:18:35

The bike course was flat and fast.  The winds were out of the east at a reasonable 8 – 10 mph.  Heading out of T1 you could see the line of bikes heading out like ants going to a picnic.  We rode out with the wind at our back for the first 7 miles.  My goal was to relax for the first half of the ride and maintain around 21 mph.  There were a few events of note on the first half of the ride.  At mile 10 I reached into the bento box on my bike for some nutrition and knocked the sleeve of electrolytes and salt tables onto the road.  That might have been part of the cramping issue which started on mile 2 of the run.  More on that later.

At mile 22 we turned right and headed straight east into the wind.  This slowed the progress down a bit but I knew that this section of the course was only 28 miles.  A few miles after the turn a group of 40 – 50 riders came along side me and sucked me into the flow.  I looked back to see where I could go to get out of this group and the bikes stretched out for what seemed miles behind me.  At mile 35 a rider in front of me stopped on the shoulder of the road.  As I tried to go around him he moved right into my path.  I jammed on the brakes and did a “front cartwheel” off the bike.  Good thing Florida is mostly sand.  I landed softly …. reattached my chain and off I went.

The bike course is fan friendly and this allowed me to see and hear the family a couple of times along with way.  It is great having the support of everyone out during the five plus hours on the bike.

The second half of the ride was uneventful.  I felt comfortable maintaining the 21 mph pace as originally planned.  During the last 15 miles of the ride I used extra water to pour on myself to cool off and get prepared for the run. 

Run – 26.2 miles – 4:56:08

Let the “FUN” begin.  During the last few months of my training I was unable to do much running because of an injury and I had spent the majority of my 2 to 4 hour “run” training sessions on the elliptical.  The run was a two loop course and very family friendly.  My family was able to stay in one location so I saw them at miles (2, 11, 15 and 24).   The weather was around 78 degrees and sunny when we started the run.  Nothing to brutal and I looked forward 4:00 p.m. when the sun would be going down and temps falling.

I knew going into the IRONMAN that the run was going to be the most difficult portion of the event because of the hours already logged on the bike.  However, I did not think that the carnage would start less than 3 miles into the run.  My original plan was to break the marathon into eight 5k runs and walk at each of these points along with some of the water stops.  Nice thought …. then reality sets in.

For anyone who has done a marathon they are familiar with how the body starts to feel with six to eight miles to go.  I had this same feeling starting at mile three.  At mile eight I anticipated walking the entire second half but was able to keep “running” if you call 11 minute miles running for most of the race.

During the early part of the run I had been soaking my head with the provided sponges.  This left my socks a bit wet.  I knew that at mile 11 I would be seeing the family again and I was planning to borrow someone’s socks.  My step dad Richard loaned me his socks for the rest of the race.  There is a great picture of me standing on the side of the road like a race car having my tires changes in the pits by the family.  After getting “the tires changed” at mile 11 I was able to run thru mile 15 without stopping to walk.  Now the sun had set and I had reduced my pacing to around 11 minutes per mile for mile 11 – 22.  My original goal was to finish the race in 11:30:00.

With four miles to go on the run I had 49 minutes to complete the marathon and make my goal time.  This left me just over 12 minutes per mile.  Mile 23 was run in 12:09.  THEN …. THE MIND LOST OUT TO THE BODY.  The 24^th mile time 13:47.  The traditional self chant of “left … right … left … right” was not even working.  For the remainder of the marathon I just kept moving forward.  With ˝ mile to go I knew the finishing shoot was just ahead and wanted to make sure I could “run” down the finishing line.  I walked about 600 yards till I saw my family at the turn into the shoot and ran across the finishing line. 

I was pleased to be done moving.  I headed into the medical check area to make sure I did not need any help.  All was well.  Just very tired.  The Doctor had me weigh myself to check fluid loss.  Ironically, after eleven and a half hours I had only lost one pound.  She commented that “I had done a nice job of staying hydrated”.

THE CONCLUSION:

As I mentioned earlier I would NOT be an IRONMAN without the love and support of my entire family and vast network of friends.  This is personal journey which I am very glad to have started & finished.  This is not the end of the journey.  This accomplishment reinforces my belief that if you work hard enough you can accomplish almost anything. 

IRONMAN Florida is a well run event.  If you are looking for a place to do your first IRONMAN.  Look no further.

Link to some of the race photos - http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=45835&BIB=1271&S=230&PWD=

One of my favorite saying ….

EXPECT SUCCESS

Your hopes, dreams and aspirations are legitimate.

They are trying to take you airborne, above the storms,

Above the clouds – if you will only let them.

THE STATISTICS:

Total Time - 11:35:06

    Div Place - 130 / 403

    Overall Place - 686 / 2325

Swim Time - 1:10:06

    Div Place - 92 / 403

    Overall Place 569 / 2325

Bike Time - 5:18:35 (21.1 mph)

    Div Place - 74 / 403

    Overall Place - 392 / 2325

Run Time - 4:56:08 (11:19 per mile)

    Div Place - 210 / 403

    Overall Place - 1235 / 2325