So, as many of you have already read ad nauseum, this is my first IM. Despite 65+ prior triathlons, including 6 half-IMs, I can’t for the life of me fathom how I will do. The training goal was 12:30 (aim high, right?). I have two half-IMs this year, one flat, one hilly, that I finished 5:08 and 5:09, respectively. So, 12:30 is doable. A dream race, if all the stars align and my pacing and nutrition are dead nuts on with pure blind luck would be 11:30. However, in the front of my head is the vision of blowing up and limping in in 15 hours. I have no clue. But, the biggest dream I have isn’t about time. It’s the plan to finish the swim in the mid - 60s, bike about 6 hours and start the run course after 7:15 to 7:30 (from the start). I figure this gives me about 30 minutes to get into the run course before the leaders start coming back the other way. It seems like ages since I have been on a course with an out and back where I could see the leaders. On the few courses that are set up that way, I am in such a late wave (one of the few things that suck about being 50), that the leaders are finishing the race before I start the run. Pros officially entered this year include Tom Evans (2nd last year), Gordo (3rd last year), Stefan Holzner, a contender (won IM Beer (Moos?) this year), Jasper Blake, a personal favorite (go little people!), and a Francois favorite, Olaf Sebatschus. Top women include Lori Bowden (she makes it look so easy), Lisa Bently (last years’ winner), Gillian Bakker (previous winner), and a couple of other famous names. After that parade goes by, my hope is there aren’t more than a thousand people that pass the opposite way before I hit the turn around, say ideally in two hours or so. Otherwise, that could get depressing. 
As Raynard Tissink said last year, “Stay tuned.” 