After a solid 4 months of training with T2 (Kevin Erndl) in Naples, Florida I completed my first Ironman.  Over the 4 month period I biked 2500 miles, swam 80,000 meters and ran 420 miles.  The best part of it was working with the athletes at T2.  Ironman is an example of setting a goal and working consistently toward it.  Everyday brought about its own challenges but in the end a successful finish placing me in the top 33% overall made it all worth it.  I used the information from my own VO2 testing to guide my workouts and saw clear improvement over time.  The day itself is quite long but very manageable when you have consistent training. 

The swim was crazy.  BAM!! The gun goes off and 2,500 of your closest friends jump into the gulf of Mexico at the same time!  There was no room to move and there was no way to have a straight stroke.  The first buoy was surreal.  People were bobbing up and down in the waves, the sun was just coming up on my left and people were talking.  After that brief moment it was back to the task at hand.  At the first loop my time was good (39 minutes).  What I did not anticipate was the shallowness of the water.  People were walking (not many running) and a  few swimming.  Next you have to get up just to get back into the water.  The second loop seemed more crowded until the straightaway toward the end.  I finished the swim in 1:20 and felt really good.  I was again thanking my coach Kevin Erndl for that. 

Transition was interesting.  You shower run and get your gear bag and run about 100 yards to a changing tent which was crowded.  Transition was hard in those conditions and took me 10 minutes!  I was not happy.  Once on my bike I began to hammer out the miles.  Initially, the wind must have been behind me because my average speed was 24 mph or so.  But... The wind then hit and I wound up with a 5:11 split.  I lost my right contact at mile 70 and decided not to stop.  When I finished the bike I was nauseated from the visual field differences.  I ran to transition feeling pretty good though.

In T2 I had to replace my contact.  Once that was accomplished I started out on the run.  I did not expect to feel as well as I did and I really thought about a 4 hour marathon.  Those thoughts quickly changed to 4:30 and then 5 hours toward the end.  I found that I had no choice but to walk at parts.  I refueled according to my own plan and that worked fine.  I was just tired.  My legs hurt but no more than a usual marathon. 

The best part about the run was the chicken soup.  That was a life saver for me.  During the run I said that I would not use the words FUN and IRONMAN in the same sentence.  At about 10 hours into the race I remember asking a spectator what time it was.  He said 6pm.  I thought:  WOW, I have been out here for 11 hours.  I better get moving.  The last few miles are a blurr.  I remember giving all I had in the last 1/2 mile so that I would be running at the finish line.

The crowd was loud and energizing and as I made my way to the finish shoot.  I lifted my arms as I had done so many times at the end of a long training run and smiled.  The day was over and my Ironman career had begun.

I felt a little wobbly and the volunteers kept me upright.  After a quick picture I met my friends Kevin and Ryan who generously waited for me.  They asked "How do you feel?"  A funny question and one that required no more than a look.  They both knew as we were all now Ironman finishers.

Looking back today I find that I did have fun and I am ready to do it again.  I just need a few more days off.

Until next time.
Corey