Out of the water, I run up the ramp and through the shower (helps wash off the salt). I stripped my wetsuit to my waist on the way. As I ran into the transition area, I was unsure what to expect. All the stories of other Ironman races included lots of volunteers, wet suit strippers (or peelers), other helpers. There was none of that here.
I managed to find my bag off the rack and ran into the changing tent. The tent was a mad house with hundreds of people everywhere trying to change. I plopped down in an empty chair and struggled to get my wet suit off my legs in my swim daze. I dumped my transition bag out and started grabbing my bike stuff. I tried to be deliberate -- forgetting something before a 112 mile bike ride was not worth saving a few seconds. I applied chamois cream (very important) and body glide to many body parts. Then grabbed my bike shoes, helmet and sun glasses. Shoving all my swim stuff back in the bag, I went to find my bike. At this point, I realized there was no volunteer applying sunscreen, but there was random bottles of sunscreen. I grabbed a bottle and lathered some on.
I headed out of the tent into the sunlight. A volunteer took my bike bag and clopped (in my bike shoes) to my bike. I paused for a quick kiss from Heather and then headed out on the bike.
T1 time was a leisurely: 10:02
