I arrived in Florida with my family about a week before the event to get used to the heat and humidity, sharpen up my training, check out the course and make any last minute preparations
Everything was organised brilliantly, with loads of volunteers and officials. All the athletes looked so fit and tanned and looked the part with really flashy bikes.
I got up on race day and felt pretty good. I'd been training early in the morning so my body clock was ready to go. For the first time in ages I didn't feel sore anywhere, my training and taper seemed to have worked perfectly. I went down to the race venue, put out my race kit in the transition area and checked out my bike, transition area and kit then headed down to the beach for the start just before 7am with the 1,800 other competitors from 31 countries
Being America, they had some woman singing their national anthem, then had the countdown to the start. Helicopters were flying low overhead, light aircraft with 'Welcome Triathletes' banners were buzzing around, thousands were out to spectate - it was some atmosphere and one full of nervous tension (and terror) as we looked out to the buoys and boats in the distance. The sea looked very rough but at least the wind had blown away the humidity (it had been 100 per cent the day before). I thought, 'Good, the pool swimmers won't like this'
The gun went off (it was actually a cannon) and all 1,800 went for it. This was the largest mass start in America and you could well believe it - it's like swimming in a washing machine with pairs of boots inside. I had to swim head up to make sure I was keeping a straight line and tried to cross the crests of waves. I tried to relax and get my head down, but I got kicked in the eye and then jaw, so it was back to keeping my wits about me. The worst bits were the turnaround points on the rectangular course. Everyone all bottle-necked, but I had kept a good line, so I turned right at the edge of the buoys. Swallowed a few mouthfuls of salt water, but thought, 'Well, I won't need as many salt tablets on my run'. The salt water going up my nose and the diesel from the boats made me feel a bit sick, though
I finished the first lap in 31 minutes - the second lap was a bit easier as everyone was more spread out and I came out of the 2.4 mile swim in one hour and four minutes, ran up the carpeted beach, with thousands of spectators cheering everyone on. They included my kids, holding the Scotland flag
I decided to save time and run past the 'peelers' who helped people to get out of their wetsuits - a Japanese guy had nothing on underneath his and he wasn't very impressive after an hour in the cool water! Into the transition tent, got my blue helmet (I keep the same gear on throughout the race to save time), out of the tent and then for the compulsory sun screening - one girl on one side, one on the other: aww, do I need to go biking?
I picked up my bike which a volunteer had unracked for me and headed out for 112 miles towards the State of Alabama. This was when I started picking up places on my bike, my strongest discipline. The course was pretty flat but windy - some bits I went as slow as 19mph, others up to 28mph
I drank a bottle of Gatorade every 10 miles, picking one up at each of the feed stations. I felt okay all the way on the bike - I had trained to race at that pace, but started to feel nauseous every time I sipped at the Gatorade or water. I had to force myself as I knew I would have to keep my energy levels up and not get dehydrated. I swore I would never drink Gatorade or take an energy gel again in my life
There were people cheering us on everywhere, even up in the swampy areas. They came down from the dirt tracks and sat in their pick-ups (ever seen the film 'Deliverance'?) to watch. Cars were slowing down and cheering us on and when I got back into Panama City, onto the front beach road and up to the triathlon village I saw my kids and cousin's family cheering me on
I finished the bike in 5hrs 06mins, averaging the 112 miles at 22mph. I dismounted my bike, a volunteer took it from me but after 112 miles on the bike your legs don't want to run.
I grabbed my run bag, headed for the tent and got into my trainers. You've got to watch what you do in case you cramp up - back out to meet the sunscreen girls again, ! Can't spend too much time, so off onto my first ever marathon
The crowds were awesome, but this meant you had to run fast ... dammit, they cheered on and on for ages and I prefer to start off slowly but at last I could get into a steady pace. A couple of pros ran past me at an incredible pace and disappeared out of sight - I thought, 'It's a long way to go yet', and the temperature was 86 degrees. Even the 'red-necks' were out, with 'get your Bud here' signs.
After about six miles my only mistake started taking its toll. I had bought a new pair of trainers a couple of days before the race; I should have known better, it was really stupid, I could feel the blisters - 'No problem', I thought, 'I've had them before'. Then I could feel my toenails starting to come off. I ran with my toes curled back to stop them hitting the end of my trainers and could see the traces of blood seeping through. The two loop course brought us back through the start area so I had to pick up the pace again for all the crowds ... here I had to run down a steep ramp, which was agony, but I still had 13.1 miles left to recover.
At about 15 miles I felt pretty ill and I knew I was going to have to be sick. Unfortunately there was nowhere to hide with the crowds but they didn't seem to mind and I didn't care what state my feet were in with the crowd shouting my number out
At about four miles from the finish I ran past the two fast pros who were now walking and saw hundreds still just starting the marathon, what a thought. Half a mile now to the finish, almost 5pm and it was just getting dark. I could hear the crowds, music and commentary and I picked up the pace in spite of the feet and had a good finish.
But what did they announce? Frank McShane from Helensburgh, Slovenia. They got SCO mixed up with SLO.
Anyhow, I beat the 10 hours which was the time I had aimed to better, getting back in 9hrs 51mins and third place in the over 40s category. I was pleased as this qualified me for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. The family came to the finish line and I put the Saltire round me - it was quite cool by this time
Then I went to the compulsory medical tent where they again check your weight. I had lost five pounds. They asked if I wanted an IV drip to rehydrate quickly and I opted for this - some I spoke to later had lost as much as a stone in weight. Out of the medical tent and into the massage tent - two women gave you a full body massage, absolutely magic. Unfortunately others were waiting so I went from there into the jacuzzis they had outside
So it was all over, now for a week of rest, a few beers and eating all I want
Next day they had the roll of honour for Hawaii and I signed up. All the results were printed out - 28 pages and I was on the first page. I came 277th in the swim, 79th on the bike and 79th in the run to take 64th place overall - 131 failed to finish
We attended the awards banquet that night, the first time I have gone up to collect a prize in front of several thousand with me on the video and music blaring. But this time I told them I was from Scotland not Slovenia!
I wasn't too sore overall, apart from my feet where I had lost three toenails, but we all enjoyed a break at Bonito Springs (where the British man was attacked by a shark the previous week) then back up to the Disney resorts. My cousin, who works for Disney, asked if I wanted a wheelchair to get round the parks.
But in true Ironman style, I declined.