The week was finally here! All week all I could think of was the race I do not know how many times I planned every single minute of my day leading up to the race! I arrived in Panama City Beach on Halloween night, it wasn't to bad of a drive being that its the 3rd time I've been down their this past year. The weather was a lot warmer compared to the arctic temps we were having in Atlanta.
I check-in at the Ironman Expo the following morning. I only wait in line for about 5 minutes, we got these sick swag bags! its going to be my new triathlon bag since its much more compact then my TYR one. I packed my gear/special needs bags that day and hung around till Friday when my family and friends were getting there. During taper I had some free time so I made them IM FL Survivor Guides and got each of them a cowbell, a poster, and a hand written note. Just something to show my appreciation for the support they've given me and taking time to come cheer me on!
Race Day
I tried going to sleep around 8ish end up falling asleep for 45 minutes then was up till 11:30. The nerves/excitement woke me up at 4am, 15 minutes before my alarm was set to go off. I did my race morning routine. Trying to make as little noise as possible, since people were still sleeping in the room. I usually eat 1.5 bagels with peanut butter, I could only stomach 1 bagel. I decide to eat a poptart instead. Got dress made sure I had everything and was out the door at 5:45. A few minutes later then I wanted to but o well.
Got everything set up with 15 minutes before transition closed. For some reason had a really hard time putting on the wetsuit. I sort of forgot how to put it on if that makes any sense. But the temps were great and the wind was calm so I was relieved at the moment. Walk out to the beach and was shocked to see the swells. It look rough out their but tried not to freak out, since I had swam in worse. When I went down to a training camp in PCB on Labor Day weekend.
Swim
I decide to position myself towards the right of middle about 1/3 of the way back. The start by far one of the scariest moments of my life. Thankfully I was never swam over but I was smack, kick, elbowed, even had my leg pulled. I felt like I was playing a full contact sport rather then swimming. it was like that till the first turn buoy. Exited the first lap a little sea sick end up puking a little bit right before I entered the water for lap 2. For the start of lap 2 I ran to about where we started the swim and made my way up that line. For some reason I was swimming way off course and end up about 75m wide by the time I got to the second to last turn yellow buoy. A kayaker flag me down and told me to get on course. Not really sure how this happened since the current was going from right to left. but pretty sure this why my 2nd lap was so much slower then my first. I end up swimming 1:29, which was a tiny bit disappointing, but with the rough surf and swimming off course accounted for it. Finished the swim in 1896 OA and 26th in AG. Stop at the strippers to get my suit off and I was running to translation. I took everything out of my gear bag and replaced it with my wetsuit. Got my helmet on and race belt before I reached the changing area. Leaving only my shoes giving me a 5:49 T1 which was a lot quicker then most peoples. 
Bike
All of my training was done with Heart Rate, so I was planning on using my HR to pace my self on the bike. Riding the course in September plus my other long rides gave me that I need to stay under 165 bpm or middle Zone 2 in order to be able to run after. But my HR monitor decides not to pick up my HR 2 miles into the bike. I was going to have to do this entire bike ride by feel and hopefully I know my body enough that I'll have gas left in the tank. This course is flat except for 3 hills on the back stretch and the bridge you cross twice. So your constantly pedaling, and staying with pretty much the same few gears. I was feeling great on the bike not once did I feel tired or feel like I was working to hard. But I did get frustrated a bunch of times because people would get bunch up and stay bunch up at one point I found myself surround by 30 people or so. I accelerated a little bit because I didn't want to get stuck in a pack and get a penalty called on me. Everything was going great for it being my first Ironman. My nutrition was good I was drinking a little bit more water then I had planned. I end up having to pee around mile 95 so I waited till I was on the downhill side of the bridge to do my business. This was due to the conditions being about 82 while we were on the bike. The only time I experience a head wind was after the turn around heading toward special needs. The winds were only blowing at about 6 mph, so we were really lucky there. Got off the bike after 5:57 3 mins faster than goal time. Avg 18.8 mph on 121 watts, I was happy with the results!
Run
This was about to be my longest run of all time let alone the most mileage I had covered in a week. My longest run before this was 13.1 miles at Augusta and my biggest weekly mileage was 21 miles. So this was going to be fun. I went in with a plan to stay running in Z2 and let me HR dictate the pace but that wasn't going to happen since my HR monitor broke before the bike. The goal was to run near 9:45 +- 5 pace and walk the aid stations to grab adequate nutrition and fluids. The conditions were pretty hot! I grabbed water and ice sponges at all the aid station and kept it in my hat till the sun started to set. The first mile felt great my legs felt a little heavy, but disaster hit around mile 2.5 I got a horrible pain in my right knee right above my knee cap. I had experience a similar pain back in middle school XC after hitting it. I wasn't sure what it was from. Their I decide I was going to run 4 min walk 1 minutes for the rest of the marathon. At first it was tolerable. I was able to keep the 4 minutes no problem. but by the time I got to mile 14 I was in a lot of pain. the 4 minutes felt like 10. That is
when I saw my amazing support crew as well as a few other people I knew that were cheering me on. I stopped for a second and gave them a hug and filled them in on the pain. They ran with me for a couple 100 feet cheering me on which really lifted my spirit. My girl friend was waiting for me around mile 15 and it was relief to see her. Gave her a hug and kiss then she ran with me for a bit, then I was off on my way to the park. Around mile 18, I could barely stand the pain. I kept staying with my 4 min run 1 min walk. Though four minutes felt like an eternity. I had to keep convincing myself to just run the 4 mins then you can walk again. I dug super deep, I went to some places I didn't know existed. At mile 24, I could hear the noise from the finish line, I told myself I was going to give it everything I had. Turned out to only be 11:00 pace but that felt like 5:00 pace.
Finish Line
Once I got in the finishing stretch, it was an experience I will always remember! I was filled with energy, emotion, excitement I slowed my pace down to make sure their was a gap between me and the person in front for the picture. I was giving high-fives as I went down the line. It was amazing! Then when I heard him say "CHRIS ALFONSO YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!" Everything went to slow motion! I took off my hat and sunglasses and jump as high as I could for a split second everything seemed to stop as I took in the moment! I finished in 12:24. 24 minutes slower then goal pace but it didn't matter! I had just finished was I had set out to do 2 years ago! Finish an Ironman for my 21st birthday! I felt pretty much invincible I didn't notice my knee pain, or how drained I just felt a few miles before. I was on that IRONMAN HIGH!! By far a memory I will cherish the rest of my life. 
My Support Crew
You guys are amazing! Not to many people would wake up before the crack of dawn for me and let alone spend 12:24 minutes watching a triathlon! Seriously LOVE YOU guys so much!! Seeing you made my day and help me keep pushing forward. Thank you for all the support you gave me during the year leading up to this event and putting up with my ridiculous scheduled. Attiya, DQ, Elizabeth, Lupe, and Salman thank you for driving down from Atlanta for 6 hours and make all though signs that put a smile on my face when I was in pain. Mom and Tata, thank you for driving 10 hours from Miami to see me race! Having you there made me keep going because I knew with each step I was closer to seeing everyone again. Though few seconds seeing everyone would help me finish the race! It was amazing to have you all there! Y'all are amazing!!
My insane journey for my first Ironman might be over but this for sure won't be my last. There is always a new level of crazy! Next year its time to get faster at the Half Ironman distance in order to qualify for 70.3 World Championship in Vegas. :)
