I can never sleep after IM.

You know you've been racing all day when you find yourself eating pb m&ms and stuffing the wrappers down your shirt hours after finishing. I was sitting next to a garbage can.

So much happens during an Ironman. But there's not that much to say:

I swam inside, away from the crowd and didn't get beat up. I was never scared. I also didn't get the draft and swam slower than last year in spite of big swim gains. I was really disappointed with my 1:04.

The bike was OK until Waikoloa, then all hell broke loose. The cross winds were lifting my front wheel off the ground and dropping it a foot over.. it was scary, and some people crashed. The climb to Hawi felt great. I saw Cathy near Waikoloa, just as happy and sweet as can be. Her entire family is just pure joy and so fun to be around. I saw Chrissie in her splish part way up to Hawi. Coming down the same thing was going on with the wind and I slowed way down. Coming back, I did my usual sucky space out. My time of 5:35 continues the trend (3 Konas: 5:22 5:28 and 5:35) of getting slower. You can't fake it in winds like that, and my six week build from zero to 112 wasn't enough.

The run did not start off well. I ran the first mile in 6:35. oops. R told me the AG winner was 20 minutes up. My legs did not want to go. My brain yelled walk, it's useless, quit, and every step of the day was a battle. I kept picking places up ahead to quit. Or walk. I didn't talk like I usually do. I had nothing. Liz cheered me on a lot, until I passed her husband. Kerrie actually heckled her husband when I started to come up on him. My salt dissolved so I picked up salt tabs on the ground along the way and ate them. Really. In front of the big group of Bocas cheering me on up Palani I was waving and trying to smile, then -- ooh! a salt tab! pop it in mouth and back to running. They said it was 108 in the energy lab and I believe it. I ran 3:21. For a grand total of 10:06 -- my new Ironman personal worst, in both time and placement. I was 3rd in my AG, fourth amateur.

But I am happy. I've never run so hard, or fought so hard to keep moving. Not walking a step was an accomplishment in itself. I got what I expected. I knew it was going to be hard, and it was. I've only raced in easy Kona conditions, and these were not them. But I love the people at these races, and all the support and watching the accomplishments. And I think it's a blessing that I didn't get the slot for next year by winning the AG, because it's time for a rest from IM. Maybe shorter stuff, or maybe just marathons.. but as grumpy and ungrateful as I was going into this, well, I need to listen to that. If I miss it, it will be there.

Katherine had a hard day as well, and went 10:40. She was sick for most of the bike ride. We agreed that it's time to come volunteer next year.. so that's the plan.

I don't have any race photos yet, just another from pre-race and a bunch from after. Heading out to dinner the evening prior, we ran into Stefan, our swim coach, and Joe and Steve by the finish:

When Raul heard I had no salt he scrounged around and found me some. He rode out with it, but by the time he found me I had already scored a whole bag of salt stick pills off the queen K and was OK. So nice! Joe, on the left, told me I looked hot every time I ran by, which was also very nice.

Doug the Enigma Berner was here for this photo, but disappeared from the bar at some point.. vanished.
JQ, Suzanne, Traci & Keri, my Oahu girlfriends, flew over to watch the race. Here they are writing chalk notes to me on the run course. This is the view of the hot corner from our balcony.

Tim placed 15th pro in his first Kona.. 30 years after his dad did Ironman back when it was on Oahu. His wife, adorable Mariane, did her first ever and flew through it in 10:40.

The gang watching the final finishers from the bleachers:


Race photos to follow..