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You can read my giant novel of a race report about Ironman Coeur d’Alene here.  I claim it’s my “First and Last” Ironman. You all laugh at me. Don’t laugh too hard.

Usually in a race report, I include a list of things I learned, what worked/what didn’t, but I was actually tired of writing that report.  So this is more like a Part II, if you can imagine that I actually have more to say.  Alas, I do. Disclaimer: I am not an expert on this stuff. This is just what I learned and my perceptions. Take it with a pack of gel.  (Oh, I’m soooo funny.)

I’m sure there’s things I’ll remember later and add… but for now, this is the scoop.

The Number One Rule

General Geniusness

Okay, I can’t claim the “General Genius” tidbits, because this was the stuff that I learned from others. But passing along what I learned is a big deal of mine, so I want to include it all.

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Training

Packing for the Race

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Bike Check & Registration

Clothing

Equipment

Many of you asked what kind of gear I have/used on the course.  Please note that I am not sponsored by any of these companies (unless otherwise noted), this is just for informational purposes only.

Nutrition

Again, this is just what worked for me.

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Swim

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Bike

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T2

Run

[It also helps if you have a really cute four-year old girl to stand near you.]

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In Closing

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What’s Next?

#justkeepmovingforward

 

47 Responses

  1. Seriously, seriously impressed. When my friends first started bugging me about doing a sprint triathlon, your book was one of the first things I read. Now that there are less than 20 days until “T-Day” as we call it, I am reading it again. If you can pull off a bad ass Ironman, I hope that I can finish this sprint! Congrats again! 🙂

  2. YAY! THis is a great list and Im sure I will come and visit it again and again. Im doing Augusta and Savannah 26.2! I also just realized that we have run Tybee together the past 2 years. So excited to see what is next!

  3. Love this, and how real and honest you are. Seriously motivating to me, an average (or slightly below average) athlete that has ridiculously impossible dreams to do an ironman someday! Thank you for sharing. And please follow through on the pee on bike training 🙂

  4. Hey! I’m in your finish line pic — I’m the short person to the right of the guy in the white baseball cap. So I missed catching you by 2 people. Bummer!
    As a finish line volunteer, I’d also like to add: When we ask if you want a photo, the answer is YES. No matter how sucktastic it was, if you don’t you’ve missed an opportunity you may regret when you’re no longer delirious.
    Also, please don’t be out and out nasty to the volunteers. We understand what you’ve gone through (some have done IM, some have family members who have, etc.) and we know you may be grumpy or mad, but don’t take it out on us, it harshes our buzz!

  5. I watched and cheered for you all day at CDA. I am on the CDA Tri team with Anna! You are such an inspiration… and know that I know you are a “recovering lawyer” too (I stopped practicing 10 years ago yesterday).. I love you even more!

  6. BRAVO SBM! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your journey. Maybe someday…

  7. So much information! Thank you for sharing. I recently finished my first sprint triathlon and loved it!! Would it be too rude to ask how much (ballpark) it really costs to do an ironman?

  8. I really wanted to cry reading this. I want to do one now. If you can do it, can I? Oh stars. I feel the pull.

  9. Thank you for sharing all of this!! I feel like I had inside peek into the mystery that is Ironman. I was curious about the clothing changes (i.e. if you changed), so I’m glad you shared!! One and Only, eh?? 😉

  10. Congrats! I am re-embarking on my triathlon journey. I did a sprint tri in 2002 and then went back to wrestling. It took having 3 kids for me to get my butt in gear to start running. I have done two marathons in the last year and needed a new challenge. That’s where you and your book come in! I have a duathlon on Saturday and my first olympic triathlon in August!

  11. Thanks,again, for sharing so much. You really do inspire us. I picked up running and dropped 50 post-baby pounds and thought I’d just stick with running until I read your book and followed you during the race. Guess what? I got in the pool today to attempt to swim laps for the first time in 20 years to train for a sprint tri! Just keep moving forward, right?!

  12. Because of your guest appearance on the “Another Mother Runner” podcast, I really have had this boost of confidence in my running, so much so that I’m running my first marathon at Rock n’ Roll Savannah in November. Even though I’ve ran two half marathons, I’m a big girl (getting smaller every day!) and I’m not fast. I never wanted to say, “I’m a runner” because I didn’t really feel like I deserved that title. I remember in that podcast you talked about owning the title of triathlete and you laughed about how we all look ridiculous at times and we just need to get over it. I have listened to that podcast several times now, usually when I’m feeling fat or slow, and then I always feel confident. I’ve started actually saying, “I’m a runner.” I just want to thank you for your blog and for telling your Ironman story. It really does inspire me and help me have more confidence in my running.

  13. Love the post…have your book on the side of my bed…completely inspired…I can’t get a IM out of my head…I seriously think a half is firmly on my radar…just need to get the husband and 4 kiddos on board…thanks for sooooo much inspiration. You have no idea how much it means.

  14. Love it. I love reading your blog. 🙂 I’m doing the Seattle-to-Portland ride (a 2 day/200 mile bike ride) in two weeks (not that it compares to ironman!) but your perseverance & positive attitude has definitely rubbed off on me!

  15. Thanks for a great race report!
    In less than a month, I’ll be taking on Ironman Lake Placid as my 1st IM. Your lists, race breakdown, etc. is so helpful! Congrats on becoming an Ironman!

  16. Thank you for sharing your experiences! I am amazed at your courage and strength to keep moving forward! I am a runner who has been struggling with runs lately so I am going to mix it up and “tri” my hand at a sprint distance. My long term goal would be to do a half ironman! Congrats again on an amazing accomplishment and I look forward to reading more of your journey (im new around here!)

  17. Wow!! I have to say that I am a runner, but after reading this and your race report, I am feeling like I might want to someday try a tri! I doubt an Ironman is ever in my future, but maybe a sprint! 🙂 You are so inspiring! What an amazing accomplishment and I’m still overwhelmed at how much it took to get there. Wow! Thank you again for sharing it with us!

  18. Fabulous report and helpful! Now all I need to do is sign up for one!! Truely an inspiration

  19. Learn to pee on the bike??? I think you would have to be pretty hardcore to do that. I am imagining it running down your legs and sloshing around in your shoes. And what if there was a person riding behind you – would it spray them?? Yuk Yuk Yuk!

  20. Love it! Can’t wait to see you in Augusta and aren’t you doing Acworth Women’s? I will be there!

  21. Great info! Thanks for being so thorough and detailed! Even as I have Olympic length races coming, these pointers helps. Really proud of you!

  22. I was shocked to read that you don’t recommend running more than 14 miles before your race. I would have thought it would have been more, but happy to hear it! because honestly running is my least favorite part I’ve done a few triathlons and trained 6 months for a marathon but got (unexpectedly) pregnant right before and my doctor said I had to pull out, but never an ironman. Might have to get on a training schedule and sign up!!

  23. Quick question… Did u wear your tri suit under your wetsuit ? I saw that u checked in your tri suit at t2 and used your bike jersey And shirts for the bike. Why not the tri suit the whole way?? How does the clothes transition work?

  24. I am so happy to discover your blog. I started my fitness journey in January of this year. I’ve been pretty sedentary most of my life. I joined the NYRR and started with a running group but got sick week’s in. I’ve recently re started and set a new goal if competing in a sprint triathlon (secretly I’ve always dreamed of being an Ironman). So I have to learn to swim and ride. Reading your blog makes me know this possible! Kudos on all of your accomplishments.

  25. Wow, I absolutely LOVED this write up. I have never done a Tri before but am signed up for Ironman CDA in June ’14, and while I have been a moderate runner the past year I just started my more active overall training about a month ago.

    I’ve been googling reco’s for first timers, esp in CDA, and this was fantastic. Also, I found myself totally inspired by your story and writing. Fantastic. So impressed and moved. Thanks for such a great write up, and if you have any other advice or links to resources for a first-timer IM’er (esp for CDA) that would be fantastic.

    All the best!

    ~Raz
    http://www.razflections.com

  26. Thank you for taking the time to do this!!! I am doing my first Ironman, in CDA, this year!! The swim & the run will be my strong points but the bike I have been worried about..so after reading your posts I will definitely be adding more hills to my training!! THANK YOU

  27. SBM,

    Thanks to you I finished my first Ironman at 56. Incredibly perfect advice and incredibly well written. You are wonderful!! Thank you. Best part “be patient”.

    Bill

  28. Thank you for all your information. I haven’t done any triathlons on about 14 years. And the longest one I ever did was a half Ironman a few years before then. But next fall I hope to do a full Ironman distance race and had many questions on what to wear and bring. I will be referencing what you wrote often.

  29. You are hilarious! Such informative info to boot! Really enjoyed reading about your Tri’s! Keep up the good work! I’ve bookmarked your tips. First sprint tri n cpl weeks. Hope I have as good an attitude as you!

  30. Nice post (I’ve read it twice) – thanks – and I will be reading it again, I’m sure – training for my first (“and likely last”) IM – Chattanooga, Sep – experimenting with nutrition – will try the Huma gels.
    Thanks again!

  31. Thank you for the wonderful information in this post. .I know that I want to do an IronMan, but I am patient to put in the time to train up to this event in the next 4 to 5 years. I will refer to this post often as a good checklist for this event. Thank you very much!!

  32. I love the huma gels – thanks!

    And I read your post again – and I’ll likely read it again before Sep 27 – great info – thanks again!

  33. This is great! Thank you so much for your posting this. I am training for my first time Ironman Wisconsin, 2nd time trying, I quit in July last year. I have a better setup this time around and am confronting my fears by signing up 4 months ago to a master swim, which has helped me conquer my swim fears tremendously and my times are faster, and I’m stronger in the water. But your tips are another helper, and I plan to try your suggestions out as I train and practice transitions in my olympic tri’s I’m planning to do this summer, going forward. Thank you!

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