So out of the water I came, greeted by the wetsuit strippers who stripped me of my wetsuit; a quick shower and I was off down the row to grab my Bike Bag. I had marked my Bike Bag with a purple duct tape cross which made it super easy to find!

My Purple Bike Bag

With bag in hand I quickly ran into the “changing tent”.  I was immediately greeted by a volunteer who assisted me in getting my stuff together to get on out the door.  I felt like I was moving fast and still ended up with a 11 min transition time. Granted I did have to run around the whole transition area to get to my bike…(Transition times are something I’ve decided I’d like to work on this coming year).

As I ran down the aisle near my bike I was yelling my number 638 as the volunteers where getting the athletes bikes so I just had to run by and grab it.  Once I had Betty I continued the long run out the chute to the bike mount line.

Go Betty!

As I got out onto the course I was freezing!  I had made the decision to forgo my vest and just use arm warmers.  I was rethinking that pretty quickly because the wind was  fierce!  As I got out of town and onto the rural roads I felt like I began to settle in a bit. 

Headin out of town for the day

I was riding harder than I have in the past but not to the point where I was breathing hard.  I’d come across patches of athletes as I rode along. It was the usual quagmire of groups of  triathletes trying/not trying to draft. 

 About 30 mins into the ride I went to pass some guy. Well he decided he didn’t want to get chicked so he sped up.  Ok…got it…drop back….and then the dude decides to slow down!  REALLY!!!!!  Well this is where I screwed up.  Being a little pissed off, I didn’t drop back quick enough AND the official was right behind me……Yeap, I got clobbered with a 4 minute penalty.  The official even commented that the dude had  been kinda a jerk….but it was all my penalty. 

About an hour later is when I got to visit the yellow penalty tent to “do” my 4 minutes.  I have to tell you…it was the longest 4 minutes EVA!  Longer than the hardest 3 minute interval I’ve ever done!  I did take advantage of the down time though by fueling and such.  :-)

After that little break it was ON!  I mean I was ON!  I just jammed the bike.  I was whipping along with a 95-103 cadence passing lots of people.  Headwind be damned!  Sidewind- give me your best shot.  I pretty much had my head down and cranked for 80+ miles.  I got in the groove and just went.  I loved it! I was at one with Betty and we had ourselves a good ole’ time out there!

In the GROOVE

That is until the last 10 mile stretch headed back along the ocean front, through Hurricane Alley!  OMG!  This last few miles where horrible.  I was riding into a full on headwind.  And to make matters worse the course has hotels on one side and parking structures on the other. This ends up creating an actual wind tunnel.  There were times when I had to shift into my little front ring just so I could move!  Horrible!   I just kept thinking “Really.  I’ve done over 100 miles already and now you’re throwing me this?!!!!”

But that’s how an Ironman goes isn’t it?  You never know what you’re going to get or when you’re going to get it.  The one thing you can count on though is- You’re Going To Get IT!

I finally found myself in the long chute.  It kinda came up on me by surprise.  I thought I had farther to go.  Either way I was Glad to be out of that Horrible wind!   I jumped off Betty, continued to run into transition and handed her off to the nice volunteer who caught my bike!

Running for T2

 I was then off to find my run bag and head into the changing tent again.

See if you can spot my Run Bag

Next up, I was onto The RUN!!!!!!

 

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