Last Sunday was the Ironman AZ which I had a couple of friends who were participating in the race. Ironman has it so you can track a participant along the track. If you have the app then you get notifications of where they are, how they are doing and their estimated time of completion. I had been chatting with my girlfriend leading up to the race trying to help her get excited and pump her up. My other friend was participating with his sister who is actually battling cancer. I was very excited and nervous for both and couldn’t wait to see how they did.

I received a notification of her completing her 2.4 mile swim in 1 hour and 27 minutes. She hit the bike and finished all 112 miles in 8 hours and 6 minutes. She started her run, the updates indicated her estimated completion of 1:30am (she started at 7am) but after 13.1 miles (roughly 4 hours) there was no further updates. No finish time. No crossing the finish line glory for her. My heart sank though I remember her saying that she wasn’t completely prepared for this race and she was feeling a bit under the weather. I was still sad for her because of all that hard work and not being able to cross that finish line. I then find out that my other friend and his sister did not finish the swim in under the time cap so they weren’t able to continue onto the bike portion of the race. Both of these people have done an Ironman already successfully so upon hearing this news, my excitement has now turned into major anxiety!

There are various time caps for an Ironman in order to continue on the course or receive a did not finish (DNF). Here is what I am going to be working with. Better get my ass in gear!

SWIM CUT-OFF
The swim course will close 2 hours and 20 minutes after the last age
group athlete starts the swim. Each athlete will get the full 2 hours and
20 minutes to complete the 2.4 mile swim regardless of what time they
enter the water. Athletes who take longer than 2 hours and 20 minutes
to complete the swim will receive a DNF.

BIKE CUT-OFF
There is an intermediate cut-off at the start of the second loop of the
bike course at 2:45 PM (mile 55). Any rider who has not reached the
start of the second loop of the bike by 2:45 PM will not be permitted
to continue. The bike course will close at 6:30 PM. Athletes arriving at
the bike dismount line after 6:30 PM will not be permitted to continue.
All athletes will have 10 hours and 15 minutes to complete the swim
and the bike. Athletes taking longer than 10 hours and 15 minutes to
complete the swim and the bike will receive a DNF.

RUN CUT-OFF
The run course will close 16 hours and 30 minutes after the last age
group athlete starts the swim. Each athlete, regardless of what time
they enter the water, will have 16 hours and 30 minutes to complete
the entire course (swim, bike and run). Any athlete that finishes the
race before the final run course closure but has a finishing time greater
than 16 hours and 30 minutes will be considered a DNF.

Seriously? 16 hours and 30 minutes to complete!?! HOLY FUCKING CRAP!

Here is what the top finishers completed in. I will be glad to complete under the time caps even if I am dead last and have to crawl over the finish line. #goals

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