IRONMAN Arizona Race Report

The week before Ironman Arizona is always great, full of events and get togethers with friends and fellow athletes! I was very happy that I had the chance to attend at local store events and talk about what I like the best: triathlon!

 

Ironman Arizona has been always a special race to me! The race organizers thought the same way because I was honored to get bib #2.

 

Everything was race-ready including my super weapon: the SwiftCarbon Neurogen. I just simply love this set up with the 3T Brezza II aerobars, ISM Adamo Racing Saddle and Continental tires. In one word: fast.

My lucky Halloween gloves

 

In the morning I did my usual ritual: warming up with a rubber bend. Then I put my XTERRA Vendetta wetsuit on and headed to the start.

Photo: muppetdogs.blogspot.com

The start was a key moment: I've always started on the right side of the startline since I first raced here. So I did the same this year. But it turned out that all the faster swimmers were on the other side and I stucked in a much slower group.

Swim:

Photo: One Multisport

Apparently I was the only pro who had his wetsuit stripped. Thank you to all the volunteers!

T1:

Photo: www.jelarsonphotography.com

Bike:

Photo: www.jelarsonphotography.com

When I started the bike I felt great. I realized that I was a bit further from the lead group than I expected but my legs felt good and I pushed it hard.

Photo: Tribe Multisport

Everything went great until the half way point...

9.7 miles

Matt Reed:

Jordan Rapp:

Victor Del Corral:

Me:

Right at the beginning of the bike I was 7:56 min back to the lead group, 4:27 min to Jordan, and 3:05 to Victor.

27.8 miles

Matt Chrabot:

Jordan Rapp:

Victor Del Corral:

Me:

At 27.8 miles I was 5:18 min back to the lead group, 3:35 back to Jordan, and 2:20 to Victor.

Everything was under control, I was happy that I could ride a steady pace, and I had the overall best bike splits through 56 miles. I drank my GSH Ignite Pro Series and IN Refresh systematically with the energy bars. It worked great as always.

56 miles

Jordan Rapp:

Victor Del Corral:

Me:

At half way I was able to close the gap, I could literally see the leader guys in front of me. I was 3:17 min back to the leader, Jordan and only 59 seconds back to Victor, who rode at the end of a group.

We just turned back on Shea and I could see my chance of catching up as I was heading towards the group. But then something happened, something like a sudden burst of a balloon. It was totally unexpected, my legs didn't want to push anymore.

I finished the bike, but I fell back 12 min to the leader and 5 min to the group. And my legs weren't fresh at all.

After the bike I wanted to give another try and I focused on the run mentally. I wanted to succeed so bad that I started to run as hard as I could. But it hurt... I felt that I had no energy at all.

 

ZOOT Ultra Race 4.0 is the best.

I could see and hear all of my friends, family and everyone cheering for me on the course. I really wanted to push harder, run faster for them, and for myself too. It was very special to hear my name so many times during the race! Thank you to everyone who cheered me on!

Finish:

   THANK you to all of my sponsors: 

ZOOT, 

SWIFTCARBON, 

IGNITE NATURALS, 

XTERRA WETSUITS, 

SOUTHWEST REALTY AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT-AZ, 

3T CYCLING, 

ISM SEAT, 

SPIUK,

CONTINENTAL, 

DC RANCH VILLAGE HEALTH CLUB AND SPA, 

SOLE SWIM SOLUTIONS, 

SERGIO BORGES X TRAINING and 

FITLETIC.