Ironman Florida 2014 Race Report [11/01/2014]

I was tossing and turning all night as is my usual routine the night before any race.  I could hear the wind howling outside and knew this would impact the race if it kept going.  I got out of bed at my alarm and began getting my tri suit on to go downstairs to check the temperature outside.  Cold and windy.  I ate breakfast and got my special needs and morning clothes ready to go.  We walked to the start since our rental house was about a mile from the host hotel and transition area.

With our tires pumped up and our water and nutrition on our bike we all met up inside near the cafe to prep for the start!  I took out my wetsuit and began to turn it right-side-out and noticed the stink coming from it.  When I got close to turning the leg inside out the smell got worse.  I looked down and saw what appeared to be seaweed. "EW!  ITS A COCKROACH!!,"" I shrieked.  I weaved my way through the women's bathroom line explaining I only needed the sink.  I washed the neoprene with soap but it didn't get rid of the smell.  I got back out to the cafe and put my cockroach-fossilized wetsuit on, trying not to gag on the stench. 

We were greeted by Roxy, Kaitlin-a friend of my sister AND ITU Elite Triathlete, boxer mix before the start of the race with her sweatshirt on for warmth.  We began the slow trek to the swim start and as we were about to step in the sand they announced the swim was cancelled due to rip currents and that there would be a time trial bike start beginning at 8.  That gave us an hour to make our 'transition' from our swim attire to bike.

It was cold standing in line waiting for our bike row to start the race.  My feet went numb and my muscles were cold, making the start of the race challenging in the cold headwind.  The start wasn't as dramatic as the mass swim start, which took away from the whole experience.  About 20 miles into the bike I was considering quitting since I could only hold a 10mph speed into the 25mph wind with 30mph gusts.  I decided I would stop at the next aid station to warm up a little and get some motivation going.  That was also around the time my sister passed me on the bike.  I knew it was going to be a long day.

I stopped at the next aid station and with the extra motivation from the volunteers I put my head down and kept going.  Around mile 50 I came across a guy on a custom made bike that held his friend who had cerebral palsy.  I had nothing to complain about and this was the major turning point in my race.  I am capable of doing this race and WILL finish because some can't without the help of able bodied friends.

I was so thankful to be getting off the bike and into my running shoes.  I kept my bike clothes on since they provided enough warmth, which I would need when the sun went down.  The run was fun- there were themed aid stations that kept it interesting.  Towards the end of the run I tried the chicken broth and it was as amazing as the stories I have heard.

About 2 miles from the finish I came up next to this older man that started chatting with me.  "What time did you start this morning, Love?", with a deep accent.  It turns out he was the last person to start the race, which meant he had passed me either on the bike or the run since we were both on the same mile.  I later discovered, as I had guessed, he was Lew Hollander, the 84-year old Ironman wonder.  Inside after the finish I learned he is going to do another half Ironman the next weekend, and Ironman Cozumel this year as well.  God willing I will still be as sharp and able to do these events when I am his age.  Another age group celebrity I saw on the course was Sister Madonna- the nun who was recently inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame.  What an amazing race that brings so many diverse people together.

Once the soreness has subsided in my legs I will probably consider doing another...