PRE-RACE

I check the tires on the bike, firm. Then I check the bag that has my helmet, bike shoes and sunglasses. My bag is missing! After ten minutes of looking, I realize that I am looking for the wrong number. This after the officials have written my race number on my arm. I take time to pray. People stare, but I'm use to that.

I get a hug from my coach, a kiss from my wife and I start my stretches.

The Swim-Me and 2,500 of my closest friends treading water until the horn that signals the start. Swimming that tightly together you are going to bang into each other, a lot. I had people trying to swim over me (Which feels like they are climbing over you). No worry, just swim through it. 100% visibility in this water. I see a Stingray, a Barracuda and several tropical fish below me. It was like swimming in an aquarium. The 2.4 miles of swim seems to go on forever, but I just keep my focus. Ever few strokes I poke my head out of the water and make sure that I am heading for the next buoy. I have been practicing this swim for months in a pool and in this water, it feels like just another practice...with 2,500 of my closest friends.

T-1 (Transition from swim to bike)

As I exit the water I gaze at my watch. I had hoped to be out of the water in 90 minutes. I'm worried that I won't make the bike cut off if I spend too long on the swim. I've only been in the water for 83 minutes. A personal best time for this distance. I grab the bag with my bike stuff, run into the changing tent and look for a seat. The place is a mad house, but I do not have time to take it all in.

Methodically I dress and hurry off to my bike.

The Bike- Three loops around an island that is shaped like an upside down pyramid. For the first 10 miles I am flying, reaching speeds of 18 miles an hour. Then I turn north and I start to lose momentum. Now I am going 13 miles an hour and that may be too slow to make the cut off. Did I peak too soon? Did I go too fast too soon? Will I make the cut off? I start to worry, but there is nothing to do but go on. There is intermittent wind, but that is not what slows me, because even with wind blowing in my face I start to pick up speed again. The ride north seems to go on forever. People are passing me, but I stay focused on drinking from my water bottles in the tropical sun. Finally I turn the corner and head West. The wind disappears and now I am going 20 miles an hour.

(On the second loop I realize that the course is not completely flat and that is why I was losing speed at certain points). As I head West I pass throngs of cheering crowds. I pass through town making the first loop at 16.2 miles an hour. On the second loop I'm averaging 15.4 miles per hour and it is looking like I am going to get off the bike in time to start the run. By the third loop I have been on the bike for over 5 hours and my brain is turning to mush. There is only so much of sandy beaches and coco nuts I can take, but if I can power through the pain in my legs I can make the cut off. Ok, I guess I can take it a little longer. By the time I start heading north I am talking to G-d on the bike. I turn West for the third time and I put everything I have into the bike. My average speed rises from 14.4 to 14.9 as I hit 18 miles an hour.

FEAR: Finishing the bike a minute after the cut off (10.5 hours) and being told that I am disqualified.

T-2 transition from bike to run: I get off the bike at 4 pm a full 90 minutes before the cut off. I now have 8 hours to finish a 26 mile marathon. Heck I can walk that!

(I will regret saying that.)

The Run- An 8.7 mile loop through town and all I have to do is three turns on it. I get out on the run course and there are cheering crowds ever inch of the course. there are voovoozella horns and live bands. It is like Mardi gras. I walk, I run, I walk a little more. I am feeling good about this. I am going to make it! Then at mile 6, I get a blister on my foot. So I walk. Soon it is a blister on each foot and I'm walking in pain. I expected to do some walking but not 20 mile worth. The only relief is at the aid stations (Each mile you can get food and drink). I am overheating, so when I get asked if I want ice, I don't take a cup of ice, I jam my hands into the bucket up to my elbows. This works for the first loop. In the second loop, the pain of the blisters gets worse. I am sunburned on the back of m knees and I am feeling it. I make friends with a man named Peter. Together we walk through the second loop, but on the third loop the blisters are worse than anything I have experienced. Every step is fire. I want to stop, I want to quit. Ok, so I stop for 30 seconds and catch my breathe. Then I continue on. on mile 25 I stop to catch my breathe. THe pain is dizzying. I limp along and at 11:14pm I hear, "DAVID ROHER, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN"