Short Version:
If I ever suggest signing up for another Ironman, someone please shotgun my laptop so I can't. Thanks for reading.

- Tony

Extended Version:
Initially, I told myself I would not write a race report this time. However, I can’t help but mention how warm the Canadian hospitality is and the beautiful countryside. Someone on the run changed and left their clothes at one of the aid stations. The next day, the owner of these clothes found them washed, dried, and neatly folded at the lost and found booth. Surprised? Don’t be. This is a great example of the experience you will encounter in Canada. Warm hospitality, a beautiful course, and great volunteer support are some of the reasons I’ve done Ironman Canada three times.

Ironman weekend is a complete invasion of athletes upon a city to do battle with the course. By the end of the day, they all look like they’ve been to war. Ironman Florida was no different. 2500 athletes entered the ocean like turtles migrating to water for the first time. Survival it was as one many lost time fighting the subtle current. The ocean current pushed us right to left making the straight out and back swim difficult to maneuver. Many of us swam up stream to round the corner buoy. Swimming only twice since IM Canada (August) made things unnecessarily more difficult. I made the 2:20 swim cutoff with 3 minutes to spare and was the last official athlete out of the water. I felt for those who were still out there heading for shore only to be told their game was over.