Date: November 4th, 2006
Distance: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
Official Website: http://www.ironmanflorida.com
Finishing time: 10:24:34
Place: 188th Overall
Results: Click Here

Race Splits

The morning started off at 3:30 AM as the alarm went off.  After a morning shower, and 1200 calories for breakfast it was time to head to the starting line.  After preparing all year for these Ironman races, you really wish that everything goes well, but if that were the case, then an Ironman race wouldn’t be known for the challenge that it is.  With three Ironman starts under my belt, I felt comfortable with the routine I’ve become accustomed to.  As Friday night came and the race was less than 12 hours away, the unexpected happened.  I started to get stomach pains, and found myself in the bathroom most of the night.  Without going into any more detail, it was safe to say that I completely dehydrated myself, the last thing you want to happen the night before a big race.  I tried to replenish my fluids and drank as much as my body would allow me to take in. 

As we lined up at the start line all of the emotions begin to rush through your head, but you have to remind yourself that it’s only a race, and you need to focus on your plan.  My plan was to make it out of the water in about an hour and ten minutes.  With the high winds and cold temperature, the waves had began to pick up, and the current moved in a north west current.  I lined up on the far inside, and had a clear shot to the first buoy.  As I exited the water on my first lap (1.2 miles) I was right on course.  My watched showed 33 minutes, and I knew I woulnd’t have any trouble making it in 1:10.  The water was really choppy, and I had some trouble with the swell’s and white caps as I proceeded to finish my second loop.

As I started the bike, I felt really good and got into a groove. I started to cramp up around mile 80, and my pace struggled slightly towards the end. The bike was flat with a head wind over half of the way which made for a long ride.

The run was an out and back course which you repeated twice. The course was pancake flat, but I started to cramp up around mile 13. Overall I felt like it was a good day and a good race.