i will follow this post with a picture outline of the trip.  quite the little journey we have been on.  but race day, fantastic.  i learned, i grew, and i improved.  (and i am pumped to do it all again.)

the swim was the best ever.  the second half i got in a draft pack with girls a little faster than i was and i was able to push myself to stay on their feet.  the lake was crystal clear.  awesome.  

the bike, i got a little too excited and pushed way too hard.  i was riding hard, not riding smart.  i get anxious because i worry my running isn’t up to par (which it isn’t…yet.), but i can’t push beyond my limits to make up time the first half of the bike.  it isn’t rocket science.  i know this.  i’ve  repeated that same statement time and time again to athletes…why i don’t listen to my own good advice, i have no idea.  

i was worried i was going to feel like shit getting off the bike.  i didn’t.  my first mile was actually sub 7.  shocked the crap out of me, although that first mile is mostly down hill.  i felt great running until about the half way point when my quads started locking up.  i had to keep myself running.  i wanted top 10 and i had to keep moving to stay there.  overall result though, i dropped a minute off my ironman PR.  i placed 10th pro (got beat my 3 amatuers, but for me, that solidifies that this professional triathlon dream isn’t a waste of my time.)  on the bike in placid was actually the first time that i felt like i was chasing my dream.  i was doing excatly what i set out to do all those years ago.  i couldn’t do this without everyone along the way though.  it has been a long, hard road, but i finally feel like we are going somewhere.  my friends, family, and support system rock.  i am so grateful to you all.  

we are still in placid.  we fly home tomorrow.  i am excited to get home to ken.  but for now, girls gone wild ironman edition…it’s on!

look, victoria, you are an ironman!  it was her first.