Today I ran a half ironman.Here are my favorite moments/thoughts, for posterity:
That time when you get passed by an 11 year old girl
To the guy who put leaflets under my windshield wipers: thanks for making me get back out of my car after I got in it. Being in pain definitely helped me decide how I felt about your product
That time when you feel like you must've been dead last and then you get your food, hang out, call your parents, chat, get in the car to leave and realize some people are still running
Why didn't somebody tell me to get a belt to hold the bib number. I put it on my shirt like a big dumb marathon runner and then roasted all day. Pro tip: bib belt
Dear people on the side: I love your enthusiasm but it's a loop course. I am not "almost done"
When the guy who finished next to you tells you he ran a full ironman once and it took 16 1/2 hours
Wet suits still feel like cheating
Here's another pro tip: when leaving in the morning, get 20 minutes up the road before you realize you forgot your bike. Literally the largest and most obvious piece of equipment
Dear people not running the triathlon: do not assume the people running the triathlon have any motor skills at all. I.e. If someone is running/trotting/dying towards you, do not assume they will deftly maneuver around you. They will not.
When choosing a triathlon destination, you could do worse than somewhere where the weather is perfect all the time
I don't want to run one again, but ask me again next month
