Ironman Arizona 2009 Swim report

Since I sign to this race a year ago I read that the swim was going to be cold. Through out the year I was aware of it on a sale back on November I bought a skull cap and swimming boots/socks. I already own a full long sleeve wetsuit
On Friday before the race I did the practice swim only wearing the skull cap and the wetsuit. Swam for 30 minutes and my feet were getting numb.So at least for me I knew that the swimming sock were a necessity. I try to ask is the swimming socks were going to be legal for the race but nobody knew. At night went to the athlete banquet to (which was good with food from Chief Robert of the food network) to wait to see if the socks were legal. The RD said that they were legal so I just left the meeting right there and went to my room to rest because I was really tire and it was cold. The banquet was held outside and I know it is a desert but at 7:45 it was 55.

On Saturday I did a quick swim practice this time with the socks and they made a lot of difference my feet were not getting numb and my whole body was feeling warmer. I had lunch with a lot of friends and then I went to rest in preparation for the big day.

Sunday I wake up at 4:30 local time which for me was 6:30 because I sleep ok till may be 3 AM but it was find.
I arrive to transition at 5:20 set up the last few thing put some food at the special needs bag and did a 20 minute line to the bath, stretch got my wetsuit in and cross the mat and wait for the signal the get in the water. I enter the water around 6:53 7 minutes for race time. Warm up well swam towards the middle of the river to get some current in my favor.I floated relax and enjoy the moment before the party.

The swim began and I knew it was going to be bumpy. Honestly it was bumpy as expected but I heard that after 500 mt it start to calm down. Honestly that's a lie in my case is stay bumpy the whole swim going to the turnaround you couldn't see much due to the sun coming out in your face. So i just manage to swim looking for the floaters. I turn out and look that I was on a good pace so I just continue and began to feel great and in rhythm. The problem was that close to the floaters I was getting bump worst than the start. I was ready bump to every time I was getting touch. I continue and I was feeling it so I just roll. got in to the stair climb and hit the mat in 1:14:02 . I was really happy because I knew that the was the pace I have been practicing for in fact I came 1 minute faster than what I expected.

Over all the swim is cold but with the right protection like I did is manageable. The water is clean but dark. So visibility is 1 foot in front of you. Is a mass start so you have to deal with the bumps. Overall i enjoy the swim and is manageable.

Stats of the swim
Age group
M 30 /34
Swim place in age group 99
Swim place overall 864
Swim time 1:14:02
Swim pace 1:56 per 100 meters

You are an IronMan

Yes that right I am an Ironman. Last Sunday it came true I cross the finish line in a good time of 11:28:22.It was tough but rewarding. The feeling is indescribable out of this world. Next question is if I will do another one and the answer is yes.I had a great race and I think there is room for improvement.
In the next week I will write posts about the race in each section, post IronMan, What's next, How much financially cost to your bank account do an Ironman. For now I leave you with my final stats of my race.

Swim = 1:14:02
T1= 8:51
Bike= 5:48:16
T2= 4:12
Run= 4:13:03
Total= 11:28:22 Place= 615 Age-group= 84/237
Thanks for the support

Last post

I ll be heading to Tempe tomorrow This will be my last post before The race. I ll be tweeting before and after the race. This has been and experience in everything. Life changes a lot in 1 year but the goal of arriving to the start is always on your mind. You face challenges Up downs good trainings session bad training sessions good races not so good races put you know it all will helps you get to the start on Race day. SO for the tons of people that read the few that comment Thanks for your support due the amount of training and work that I have had I has been a bad blogger. but you know I never forget the blogging family I promise I ll be better during the off season if my work alouds.. You can follow me at www.Ironman.com my bib # is 351.

Goals for this race are simple
Finish , have Fun and Finish

Spanish
A los que siempre visitan gracias por el apoyo el viaje para llegar a la salida a sido una experiencia unica muchos retos muchos cambios pero la meta la misma llegar al dia de Partida. A los que pasan y leen gracias por el apoyo. Estare twiteando todo el fin de semana lo que acontesca asi que pendiente ...Gracias mil y les reportare lo sucedido la proxima semana .. Mi numero es #351 y me pueden seguir atravez de ironman.com

Un abrazo a todos los quiero

Race week

Race week is here after a lot of training and sacrifice is finally here. Now is resting, eat well so and visualize my race.
Visualization is really important so you will be really focus and concentrate on it.People call it pressure-ring your self I call it positive thinking.
The mos important thing for this week is stay calm and relax

The Ironman training itself is a journey. You go through so much that only the people that goes through it understand it Marathon training is a peace of cake compare to this.But at the same time is fun and less hard on the body is just requires more of your time. You work really hard on this

I am really excited about this race I am really looking forward to the race

I will POst more this week Don't forget to follow me on Sunday #351

351

351 is my bib number for Arizona IM .
Training Taper have been great following everything and feeling really good.
I have been really busy at work working extra time.
That explains my lack of post lately
I am only 10 days away from race time I am looking forward to it hopefully I willpost 2or 3 more time before race day
talk to U soon

20 days til race time

Yes That's what it left only 20 days after a whole year awaiting the big race Taper time and begin resting.
This weekend I had a tough time training due to my car was damage and took care of it not without paying a lot of $$$$ that screw my Saturday long bike ride.So I did the long Run on Saturday and the not so long bike ride on Sunday due to bad weather plus the long swim now Taper begins...
I am really excited towards what is coming and I am really positive about the race
will be back with some thoughts