vThe week leading up to the race was not exactly the ideal Race Week. Since I had raced down in Chicago two weeks before, I had run barely 20k. My back and legs had tightened up again, a problem that I had been having since my bike crash in late July. I had it checked out thoroughly and it was diagnosed as deep tissue tightness. I had received 4 ultra sounds and 2 massages in the 8 days before the race and it had helped, but not to where I could run more than about 8k (very easy).

On race day I wasn't going to worry about my leg or back. The plan was to take a bit of Tylenol and focus on what I could control. I woke at 3:00am and finished breakfast by 4. It was nice to get back to that warm morning goodness, as I had decided to go without caffeine for race week.

At 5:45 after a bit of stretching and mental preparation I went for my warm-up run, something that I probably didn't need on this day. The forecast was for temperatures in the mid 90's F and for winds to blow at close to 40kph. By the time that I got back from my 2 mile trot, there was good and bad. The good was that my leg felt good, the bad was that I was drenched in sweat from the warm temps.

I tried to cool down, but it didn't happen. I zipped up inside my wetsuit and headed out to find a good position in the water. My suit has been a bit small this year, as I have gained about 5lbs over my race weight from previous years. I feel that I am racing faster and recovering better after making this decision.

The gun went off and I took it out hard for the first few hundred meters. It paid off, in that I found some faster feet to sit behind. Last year I had come out right at 58min and after about 800km in the pool so far this year I had hoped to see something a bit faster. But by the second loop of the swim my shoulders tired and I was HOT. I fell off the group and it felt like the whole world was going by. I exited in 59:27 and was just glad to get out of the water.

After a long transition I was out on the bike and used the early miles to get in liquid and while trying to get my HR to come down. I think that overheating in my wetsuit was the reason that it sat in the mid 180's for most of the swim. After an hour it was down where I was used to it being. I did not have my Power Tap today because the winds were blowing hard and I just didn't want to risk a crash.

I rode REALLY easy for the first 40miles and wanted to pick things up after that, but I was unable to loosen up my tight legs. Even though I never found my legs, my spirits along with my equipment and nutrition never faltered. My nutrition included two 1000cal bottles of Perpetuem, 500cals of Hammer Gel and my Endurolytes. Throughout the day I would call on them time after time and would never have any problems, which so many other electrolyte supplements can cause. I would end up taking in 120 tabs over the course of the bike and the run.

By mile 75 I knew that I wouldn't ride fast today, I backed off and didn't force things. It was frustrating, but I have learned not to ignore your body during an Ironman. Usually after 112 miles of the bike, your butt is so sore from the saddle that you can't wait to get off. Never again, thanks to the pad in my Lava Compression Shorts made by Oomph! It is just as good as a cycling pad, but without the bulk.

Once onto the run I got in my early calories and just ran easy. The temps were approaching 94* F and I knew that anyone that could hold pace on their run would finish fairly well. I had no idea where I was in the field, but didn't care. Expectations for the day were long gone and I was trying to race as well as I could on this given day. My pace was not fast, but it was what I knew I could run for the entire marathon. I held pace to mile 22, after that I slowed, but not significantly. I knew I was leading my age group by a good bit and was around 40th overall at this point.

I was glad to see the finish line. I crossed in 10:37:51, definitely not what I had expected, but I was content with my race. I didn't blow up. I adjusted well to changing conditions and won my age group by almost 30 minutes.

My season has been solid, despite numerous setbacks, including a stress fracture, Lymes Disease and a bike crash during the key Ironman build period. I am now taking it easy for a month or so, before I start to get back into my base training.

I want to thank all of my friends and family for your love and support. I would not be doing this without you. I want to thank my sponsors: Oomph! For their sportswear and Rudy Project for their helmets and sunglasses. I also want to thank The Bike Shop in Glen Ellen, IL for providing me with my Lucero, the Zipp Wheel company for the 404's that I have raced on all season, as well as Hammer Nutrition. Their supplements and nutritional products have made all the difference.

I hope all of you have a great end to your season and I look forward to checking in again after some needed recovery time!! Please check out www.blakebecker.com for the latest news. It will be running at 100% within a month or so.