This was my first IM, and just a second triathlon (did Bonelli oly early in the year) and it was quite an experience. My biggest learning experience during training is to pick a more popular race for a first IM and to train with a group. I simply signed up for the race, bought a training plan and went to work. Thankfully, I had a friend doing IMWI so our training had a small overlap and we did a few long bike rides together. Doing a 6-7hr bike ride solo, is just miserable. I think a solid group would have helped with tremendously. When I signed up for the race I never rode a road bike, never been clipped in, and never ran more than 3 miles. I have a swimming background but that doesn’t count for anything in IM. It’s a cyclist sport. Fast forward 6 months, new baby, lot of money spent, 110 miles of swimming, 1958 miles of biking, and 308 miles of running and race week was here! My family and I rented a house in San Jose del Cabo because it is much easier with kids. As soon as got off the plane, the heat and humidity concerned me. It was in the 90s with high humidity. I live in the Valley so I know what hot means but humidity and heat is a whole different ball game. I was excited to head to the expo and check in as soon as we got to the house. The race seemed a bit unorganized. They didn’t give us the gear bags at check it and said we needed to pick up the bags at the big drop off on Saturday (race was Sunday). I had my schedule and they were already messing with it. At the race meeting they announced the bag had arrived and we could pick them up today (Friday). Not a big deal… I went for a practice swim on Friday and it was very choppy. I was surprised they allowed us to jump in because the waves were huge. This was the effect of hurricane Patricia which was raging few hundred miles south. The water was 86F…way too hot. Surprisingly, the race organizers kept quoting 71F and saying wet suits are allowed. People actually did the 20 min swim in their full body which seems dangerous. I just went old school in speedos. Finally, after the second practice swim on Saturday they announced no wet suits would be allowed. I didn’t ride my bike much in Cabo; just a quick 15 minute ride to check in to make sure everything is in order. Finally the long awaited race-day came. I knew I would be nervous so I drank 2 Ensures and had 2 pieces of dry toast. That about all the solid food I could handle. My wife dropped me off at a swim start at 5:30 (race was starting at 7:30). Looking back, this was way too early. I was doing nothing for over an hour. Thankfully they had the 70.3 race before the full so it was nice seeing other competitors getting ready. Swim was a rolling start so I decided to go with the 1:00 to 1:10 group. It was still choppy but I was fine. It was kind of funny when the first turn buoy floated away as I was about the make the turn. I am sure many people kept looking at it and went a bit off course. I had a great swim and finished under an hour, 9th overall. I didn’t push it because I kept thinking of that line “…race can be lost during the swim”. I took my time in T1. I am rookie to all this so I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget anything. As soon as I got on the bike, I knew it was going to be a tough day. It was only 8:30am and already heating up. First 30 miles on the bike were fine. I wish I had a TRI bike or at least aero bars, but I didn’t. Seeing my race photos I seem anti-aerodynamic. Being 6’5 220lbs doesn’t help with aerodynamics to begin with. Then the airport hill came and I started cramping up. I never had cramps in training and all of a sudden I had a quad and hemi cramp on both legs at the same time, severe cramps. I unclipped and waited 4-5 minutes for the cramps to pass. I tried massaging the legs with my water bottle. It was terrible and very concerning. My mind started racing and having negative thoughts (what if I don’t finish, etc….). I kept going and 10 miles later…again. Then again. And again. I ended up stopping 7 times on the bike. My race goal quickly went from “break 13” to “just FINISH”. A couple of times I waited too long to unclip and almost ate it on the hot, Mexican asphalt. I took a water bottle and Gatorade each aid station (about 10km). I started with salt pills early and I was still cramping. I am not sure what it was but I pushed through and finished the bike. I did not need to use the rest room on the bike so it tells me that I didn’t drink enough. It was just too hot/humid and I was dripping the entire time. On a side note, the bike course was advertised as 3900 ft of climbing but I was about 6,500 ft. I think the 3,900 ft was from 2014 when the course was different. T2 couldn’t come soon enough. I was drained and still concerned about the cramps. I took my time to cool off a little and do everything I needed to do. I ran the first couple of miles but my HR kept exploding so I decided to incorporate the walk/run strategy. I had an ice bag under my cap the entire run leg. This helped tremendously. The run course was a zig zag around town, 3 laps. Fun course but it seems a bit cruel to have the lap turnaround at the finish line. I remember thinking …crap, this guy/gal is an Ironman and I have two more laps?!? It was motivational for the last turn knowing I have “only”8 miles to go. The spectators were amazing - friendly, energetic, supportive. The last lap was the best…You are in so much pain but you know you are almost there (at least I was). Last 2 or 3 miles I just went numb and didn’t feel any pain. I just wanted to finish and kiss my daughters and wife at the finish line. All in all it was a great experience. I had a hard time walking for the next 2 days – blisters, broken heel skin, and cramp aftereffects. I am sure my time is laughable for experienced triathletes but I am very happy I finished given the circumstances. My next IM will be Vineman 2017 and I will do things differently: work with a group, get a tri bike, etc. My official race time: Swim 00:56:41 T1 00:06:38 Bike 07:41:17 T2 00:08:20 Run 05:59:36 Overall 14:52:32