4:05 AM- The watch alarm goes off and I’m out of bed. Time for the typical prerace meal: all natural peanut butter and banana with honey on a whole wheat bagel. Yummy. As I’m enjoying my feast in the dark hotel room, I’m thinking about how well training has been going and how it should be a good day. After finishing my breakfast I listen to some music and leaf through a magazine to kill some time.
5:00 AM- Head down to the shuttles and get right on. This was a bit of foreshadowing for the rest of the day as the race organization was impeccable.
5:35 AM- Arrive at the transition. With the bike already set up, there is not much to do. I pump up the tires, tape on some gels, attach my bike shoes to my bike and generally just take my time doing things. I also made one of two trips to the port-o-pottys before the race began and I didn’t have to wait either time! Another shout out to the race organization for doing a great job.
6:20 AM- Time for a jog. I got for a short run to get the blood going and I’m feeling pretty good. Upon arriving back at transition, the announcer is urging people out of transition and down to the beach. At this point I run into Desert Dude and we put on our wetsuits and pack our bags to be given to the wonderful volunteers to be picked up after the race.
6:40 AM- Down to the beach. I see my family on the way which was awesome. I’m from Orlando and still have family there so I had a big contingent. They were convinced that I had more fans there than anyone else. They were probably right.
6:42 AM- Even though someone is instructing everyone to get out of the water, I head in for a little warm up. There are others doing the same so I don’t worry about it much. After a short swim, I run up the beach and into the corral. Its cattle time.
7:05 AM- I’m in the corral wondering why I didn’t warm up longer in the water. Oh well. I see Patrick Evoe who I met at Steelhead and we chat for a while. It was nice to have someone to talk with just to pass the time before the race started. Otherwise I’m sure I would’ve been much more nervous.
7:15 AM- We are finally allowed to toe the line. The start was from the beach, about 10 meters from the water. One of those flag ropes held us back until we were started by a guy dropping his hand to signal us to go.
7:20 AM- We’re off! I sprint to the water, fall, and start doing the bunny hop/butterfly move way too early. Should’ve run longer which ended up costing me a bit of time. Eventually though everyone was swimming and the pack was stringing out. Due to my poor start I was a bit behind and playing a bit of catch-up. Sometime before the turnaround, I began passing people from the wave ahead. I was feeling good in the water but it felt really easy so I a couple times I remember hoping I wasn’t going to slow and trying to speed up. Around the turn things started getting really congested and were that way the whole way in. Lots of guys from the previous wave so I had no idea what my swim time would be.
7:45 AM- I exit the water and glance at my watch: 25:xx which was awesome. I felt great and came out in what I was hoping for so no complaints. A quick T1 and it was out on the bike.
7:51 AM- Within the first couple of miles, there is already a crowd.
7:55 AM- A ride up to a guy and see “M. Flangan” on his number. “Hey, that’s Flanagan from ST,” I think to myself. “I mustve had a pretty good swim!”
7:58 AM- Out on the road, I’m caught in a small group. Most are trying to ride safely but you get the occasional guy who goes through on the left, moves to the right, and basically stops pedaling. This is a bit frustrating. Also, I mentioned this before but I found it comical when people would sprint up the bridges and then just coast down, almost like a road race or group ride. The official comes and goes and nabs guys on a couple of different occasions. I also see them taking pictures, which I thought was cool.
8:43 AM- Come through 40k in 56:xx. Each 5 mile split had been less than 12 min and I was feeling good. Somewhere around this point I come up on Desert Dude looking sexy in the all black. Soon we are on the causeway for the out and back. At this point the group is 20 or so. After the turn, I look over and see the rest of the field. Its pretty bunched up, including a couple of HUGE groups. Oh well.
8:50ish AM- Coming back on the causeway it starts to stretch out a bit. There is plenty of room width wise so guys can get sorted out. We turn off the causeway and go through an aid station then get to another U turn. These events really help string people out and a few of us are finally able to free ourselves from the pack. There are still marshals passing us pretty frequently. At one point, I’m riding what I think is legal and I get pinned. This upset me a bit but only because of the circumstances of the race. I stop at the tent for my penalty and I’m off again. I start in no mans land but before I’m able to get up to speed I am engulfed by HUGE pack. This was comical. Somehow I got pegged for a penalty after leaving a group but no one in the peleton that catches me gets tagged. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. The last 5 or 10 miles I just focus on staying steady and finishing up the ride strong. I realize that if I run like I know I can, I have a shot at going under 4 hours.
9:59 AM- Off the bike and into T2. I love not having to rack my bike.
10:01 AM- Out on to the run. I pass a bunch of people right away and am feeling pretty good.
10:07 AM- First mile = 5:39. I remind myself to keep it under control, “Just relax and run easy.”
10:12 AM- “This bridge sucks.”
10:43 AM- I’ve found my rhythm, around 5:55 a mile and am feeling OK. I’m worrying about missing a Gatorade on the bike, but try to put it out of my mind. I just keep trying to relax and take in water and Gatorade at each aid station. The shade helps. On the second lap, its nice to have company in the form of other runners even though it means more congestion at the aid stations.
11:05 AM- Finally, the last time over this damn bridge! I’m thinking as long as I can make it over, I’m good to go. I do and open up the stride on the way down. Back on the flat, I’m feeling good and can see a women and NBC camera crew in front of me. I now have someone to chase. With about 800m to go, I catch and pass her. Finally, the left turn and then the U turn then the run down the chute. Ironman does this better than anyone else. The first place woman had just finished so the stands were packs which was awesome. I did some celebratory high fiving and crossed the finish line in under 4 hrs- 3:59 which I was stoked about. More importantly, I was informed I was the first age grouper, so that was cool as well.
11:07 AM- Picture with family and awesome post race food. Nothing like an ice cold Coca Cola and two bite brownie. I chat it up with some volunteers who seem to be genuinely pleased to be helping.
3:30 PM- Go Gators! Time for some football before the banquet.
6:03 PM- Caesar salad, Mahi-Mahi, key lime pie… great job on the food at the banquet.
6:38 PM- Mike Riley calls my name and I get to go up on stage. Truly awesome experience and I get a kiss from the #1 F18-24 who happened to be Brazilian.
7:08 PM- Call Desert Dude. It sounds like I’m waking him up but its OK since he is old.
9:32 PM- turly and I meet DD, Rappstar, and trigrrlpt at Crazy Bills.
10:48 PM- Bar hopping time. We are off after deciding to pass on the key ring pictures.
12:39 AM- Time for shots and dancing? What is Rapstarr thinking?
1:11 AM- To the club??? What am I doing trying to dance? Also a big thanks to Desert Dude for watching our coats.
1:52 AM- Closing time means one thing… IHOP!!!
2:40 AM- Chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, cheese hashbrowns, and of course bacon!
3:32 AM- Arrive back at the Sheraton. Perhaps it is time for bed. Not a bad day.
Overall I was really pleased with my race. It was really rewarding to see months of hard work pay off. Many thanks once again to 3Sports in Richmond for doing a great job helping me out. Also if you want to get fast send Paulo an email, do what he says, and you’ll be set. A lot of people on here like the “this worked for me, you should do it to” reasoning. Well, here is some N=1 proof that Paulo knows what he is talking about.
