Hi there! Just got back home this morning after flying for 12 hours so still a little tired, but here is my race report. Its long so feel free to skim or skip...:-). Again, I got in via the lottery, so don't cringe at my times too much. I did IMLP in 2006 and about 5-6 half IMs over the years, plus 4 marathons...just to give you some background...avg age-grouper in a 'regular race'.

Race morning; usual routine...up early, 3:45am, had some coffee, toast and PB, little Ensure, half a banana, diet coke (just a few sips after the coffee) and some of a cliff bar. Bathroom break, quick shower, got dresses and off to the race. Walked down with my wife (grandma stayed back at the hotel with the kids) and headed for body marking. I have watched all the ironman dvds from 1996 to present, each about 10 times minimum and some 40 or 50 times, so being at the race that morning was pretty cool. Actually the entire week was cool; not that I am star struck, but I said hi to and shook hands with a bunch of pros...figured why not. Chris Legh, Peter Reid, Macca, Norman, Greg and Laura Bennet, Heather Fuhr..all were very gracious and very kind. Got macca's autograph too. At race morning, saw bunch of amateurs I recognized too..Missy Lestrange, Cherie Gruenfeld, Joe Bonnes, some people that I have seen on DVDs from time to time..pretty cool. Anyway...after being marked headed to transition to take care of water bottles, tires etc. Took in the sites, hit the Porta Potty 2x and headed for the water. The water in Hawaii is awesome. Did 3-4 practice swims that week so felt ok heading into the start although every time I line up for a IM or half IM it always LOOKS so long and I don't know how I can do it..but...guess it just happens. The NAVY SEALS had 3 guys parachute in before the race and 2 actually got out and got marked and raced - very neat. Drums beating, crowd huge...very cool.

SWIM: 1:16. Being in the water was exciting - not nervous at all. Talked to a few folks around me, one who also got in via the lottery....seeing the crowd was really cool...Happy with my time (remember I am a lottery winner so I am lucky not fast..lol). Swim was pretty uneventful. Some swells but nothing major - not too crowded as I started about 20feet back of the line at least. Way out was ok - close to some people but not beat up at all. Way back in seemed longer - was in close to the buoy line so I didn't stray much, but just felt longer than the way out - was less crowded as well (because everyone was faster I suppose)

T1: got out, got my bag, hit the tent. Put on cycling shorts (wore a speedo and blue seventy swimskin for the swim)...put on shoes, helmet etc..got my bike and off I went - about 7min in T1 (hit the bathroom for yet 1 more pee break and got sunscreen too).

BIKE: 6:45 (i know it is not fast) ....right away felt a bit tight in my thighs but knew I just had to get some blood flowing. First few miles through town, just trying to keep my HR down and get comfortable. After 6+miles you head out to the Queen K. First 30 miles were good..slight tailwind, moving along at 18-21mph, drinking etc. Happy so far. Then hit mile 30, or rather hit the wall of WIND. Now I have seen enough DVDs and read enough about KONA, but I really did not know how bad the winds could be until mile 30! Steady, in your face, tough wind. Biking is my weakest point so I had no shame when people were passing me; however, I was just trying to keep a decent pace without my HR going way over my target...but it was hard. I was hoping to keep my HR in the mid to upper 130s for the bike, but once the wind hit, it was hard to keep it below 145 if i wanted to have any kind of pace...at some points was only doing 11mph up a hill, with wind in my face..not fun. Then about mile 40 or so I got a taste of the crosswinds....now it is not just hard, but scary. I almost got knocked over a few times (I weigh about 154) so I was holding on for dear like...chatting with some others I know I was not alone. It was so bad I did not drink or eat for over 30 min because it was too dangerous. Although I did pee and bike several times (i know it sounds gross) I actually stopped one point to pee b/c it was too hard to stand, glide and pee...when I tried to get back on my bike, i honestly almost got blown over by the cross-wind! And although the hills are not huge on the bike, there are enough rollers out there, that combined with the headwinds make it much tougher and the hills seem much longer and steeper. Cross-winds eventually subside after quite a while, but back to headwind again....Finally get to HAWI for the turnaround at ~mile 60. Get my special needs..some more ensure, cliff blocks etc. Then I have a tailwind and a good one. Combine that with some downhills and I was doing 30mph+ for 5-7miles...felt great..thought it would last for the next 3 hours!!! then somehow, cross/head winds come right back. From mile 70 to 112 constant winds....Physically, bike was hard of course, but I would say it was tougher mentally - knowing that you are pushing, going over your HR goals and still going 15mph DOWNHILL is tough to swallow..and I did not mention the heat, but you all know its hot..ie 90+..my lips hurt from the sun and my hands are still sunburned! Getting close to town was a relief. Saw my wife and mom coming to t2 and felt happy, and ok physically.

T2: got off the bike, light jog through transition (you have to run a long way around) some walking...obviously legs were jelly. Got chagned again (better shorts for running, shoes etc)..Pee, sunblock. And out I went.

RUN: 4:28....Once i got going felt good...wanted to keep my HR in low to mid 150s and was doing 8.30s-8.45s first few miles down Alii Drive. took 4 gels with me from T2..took one by mile 1.5. Still moving ok, hot out but since it was later in the day, probably not as bad as the faster folks had it. Hit the 5mile turnaround, 2 gels later...trying to keep HR in check and doing ok. Slowed a bit from mile 5 on...and stomach started to hurt a bit but still ok. By mile 8 or so, pain in stomach worse and feeling fatique. Around mile 9-10 there are 2 hills, one not so bad and then a big one (Palani) Walked a bit of the first so my HR did not go too high and walked the entire 2nd (fast walk)..then head out to Queen K again. Now, I am starting to feel the wear and tear, plus my tummy was not right (did not have to go to the bathroom, but had cramping etc) - I think it was a combination of the gels early on, gatorade etc. So from mile 10-18 you run out the Queen K to the Energy lab..and that entire time I was doing a run/walk. I would run for 2-3min, walk for 3. My runs were good pace - 8-9min, but the walks were helpful mentally and physically too...sometimes the walks would be longer and the runs would be too..depended on what I had for my next run target (aid station, cone, pole, person) and how the hills were. The nicest part about my run was hitting the energy lab at sunset...as I ran down, the sun was setting over the ocean so those of us out there got a nice sight. Coming back from 18-26 was much of the same although I hooked up with a girl who was moving at a similar pace for a while...we ran about 4miles together so that helped my pace...18-26 were faster pace than my 10-18 so i was happy with that. It was dark though out there...very hard to see at some points. Then once I got back to town, crowds came back so that gave me a boost. Then once i was about a mile out just couldn't wait to finish (actually was praying for each mile marker to come faster starting with 20) last downhill before the turn at Alii drive was nice...i was pretty much alone so I had the final .3 miles to myself..and of course had to run it all - saw my wife, 2kids, mom, mom-in-law and brother in law - hi fives there - a bit of a cry too i admit!!.....slapped spectator hands along the way, heard my name, and had a fun finish...big scream, hand raise at the finish line!

Final 12:45:59...felt like crap for 20min after (faint, light-headed) but was fine after that...met up with wife, got my bike and watched a bunch of people cross the line..what an experience. Swore off IM racing that night, but not so sure today (lol)...PS, Volunteers were awesome - thanks, race organizers were great too...loved every minute of my experience no matter how painful it was mentally or physically. I definitely recommend entering the lottery to anyone....I always said i would never do it without "earning" it through qualifying but after going through the last 6months and the race, i am glad i took the chance at the lottery...great life experience!