After bringing you his result yesterday, today we share Tyler Butterfield’s comments regarding his win in the Ironman Cozumel.
Butterfield wrote, “What a feeling to know you had to dig deep, give it everything, but got to cross the line first, stand on the top step, and spray champagne!
Huge congrats to everyone that finished on a blistering hot day, Congrats to Ellie, Svenja, and Sara on the Women’s Podium.
Congrats to Rudy and Michi on the podium & making me fight for every second to get it. I only knew I really had the win at the very end. In those conditions you never really know till you cross the finish...I fought off cramps on that final stretch in the full IM before, so I never take it for granted till I’ve finished.
After Rudy lit the bike on fire and was 6mins 30 up at the start of the run, I was determined to try to get into 3rd and grab a podium spot.
Thankfully once in 3rd I could see Michi ahead in 2nd & pushed on.
Staying focused on my effort, hydration, staying cool and run form. It paid dividends getting into a good rhythm. After 6 or 7km I moved into 2nd, but could tell Michi was still moving well & I better not falter. By 10.5km I had Rudy at just under 2 minutes, but I truly thought he was using his time wisely to cruise the first 10.5km and hammer the next. Starting the second loop, I thought 💭 it would be another 2nd place in Cozumel for me (2013 2nd in IM & last year 2nd in 70.3).
We have a saying in our house (mainly to our 5year old boy, that’s super competitive like Nikki) “Enjoy it, do your best, you’ll get what you get, and we don’t have a fit about it.”
So I had to say to myself, do your best, keep pushing! Watch for cramping, stay on hydration, but keep going you never know.
At 14km I came around a corner & saw Rudy in sight. I got some hope back. Thankfully he never looked back, I could close the gap slowly.
I knew Rudy would give it a fight & so the aid station before I caught up I stopped & downed an extra Pepsi & Gatorade, pour water over me & ran up to Rudy.
As all champs do Rudy suddenly pick up the pace & put a surge in the second he felt me on his shoulder. I know he’s an ultimate competitor & expected nothing less.
Thankfully I was able to respond, get a gap & win. But this win means a lot because of the fight.”
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