Arrived on Thursday afternoon to glorious weather. Spent the next few days registering, setting up transition, going to race briefings (which obviously I didn't pay enough attention to, see later...), cycling, running, swimming in the lake and drinking beer ;-) Oh and geting rid of the hair on the legs ;-)
Julie arrived on Saturday afternoon and unfortunately brought the bad weather with her from England, but it was good to see her after spending a few nights on my own. Felt very nervous before the race. Had I done enough training? Everyone else was putting in lots of hours. I was averaging around 9-10 hours a week. My average weeks training consisted of :
M: 10k Run & 1500m swim
T: 12.5m Time Trial
W: Long run 15-18 miles
T: 1hr Chain Gang
F: Off
S: Off
S: Long Ride
Race morning arrives, up at 4.30am for porridge and Jam (it's all I can stomach at such an ungodly hour!). Pour water into the drink bottles and pack everything up in my bag and it's off to transition.
Picking Richard & Diane up on the way, he's in 'race mode' with his iPod in one ear with motivational music pumping out. He then pulls out a piece of paper with last minute reminders on from his coach. "What are you going to eat?", "What should you do if you feel bloated?" he asks - "Dunno, wing it like usual ;-)"
After a bit of a queue we get into transition, pump up the tyres, put the drinks and gels on the bike, check transition bags and put in those last minute things (Paracetamol, blister plasters etc...) then time to put the wetsuit on. But what, bugger I forgotten the vaseline for 'down there'. Run back through transition, apply a handful and back out just before transition shuts. Then it's the walk over to the lake, zip up the wetsuit, final pics and kiss Julie 'goodbye'.
2.5mile SwimPlaced myself between the left two pontoons, towards the right and in the middle. Just sorting my watch out and getting it into stopwatch mode when "BANG". Was that the start or is this the warm-up? Well those guys are going pretty quick and they aren't stopping, I guess this is it! There's a bit of argy-bargy at the beginning but nothing worse that any other open water race. I soon get into a rhythm and try and keep out of trouble and on other peoples toes. I soon realise that navigation is pointless as you have to go with the flow, any deviation right or left just means bouncing of someone's flailing arms. The far turn boy seemed to take ages to get to, but once round, it spread out further and I just kept relaxed. Entering the canal was a joy as I was now in the home straight. Also finally having something to look at below I seemed to be moving over the weeds a lot faster than the tiles in the gym. I hugged the left hand side of the canal to see if I could see Julie, but it was too busy. I finally made it to the exit, and unbelievably my legs didn't feel like jelly as usual.
1:04:13
The canal (the day before)
T1 went smoothly, tried not to rush and kept everything calm.
04:05
Bike in transition
112mile BikeOut on to the bike I just kept repeating to myself, keep it steady, keep the heart rate down. But my heart rate wasn't up anyway (like it usually is after exiting the water) so lets not hang around too much. Was passing people all the time, but just kept thinking this is against every piece of advice I had read, but I was hardly putting any pressure on the wheels. Everything was going well, I started eating and drinking, until going down a hill there was about 5 people in front of me overtaking a slower guy when suddenly a marshal steps out, blows his whistle and points at us all!! Hey? WTF?? Are we at the no overtaking zone already?? I didn't see any signs. Bugger! An english guy that goes past me at the bottom of the hill confirms to me that it was the no overtaking zone, but like he says "everyone was overtaking!!" After a few minutes of depression I have to try and put this disappointment behind me. I really don't like the idea of getting a penalty as I try and race fair. But after getting one, another would mean a disqualification, so the 10m draft zone was well respected and I was trying to keep well away from other people.
The two climbs were steeper than I thought they would be, but just kept the pace steady up them, out of the saddle (again going against everything I had read) allowing my back a few moments rest from the aero position. I came to the end of the first lap and turned at the hairpin feeling very emotional, partially because of the huge crowds screaming, and partially because of the stupid mistake I had made. Then I made my second mistake, I thought that the penalty box was at the end of the lap. I didn't see it anywhere, so stopped at the special needs area to ask where it was. I asked three people where it was, only to be given a blank face "What is P-E-N-A-L-T-Y?". I then stood there banging my head in my hands! Did I miss it? Should I cycle back? Then a guy runs over to me trying to hand me a gel, I explain the situation and his friend shouts out "You take your penalty in transition after the second lap!!" Jumping back on the bike and heading off to try and repass the what seemed like, hundreds of people, that had passed me while standing there. I get to where Julie was standing, and can only reply to her shouts of encouragement with "I"VE GOT A PENALTY!!!" Not the reaction she was hoping for.
I decide to push on through the now pouring rain, keeping a big gap from the packs of cyclists that had formed. I have to say the there was a number of cyclists in front of me that had been penalised for drafting, but also a number who were obviously cycling with an eye over their should for motorbikes. Hey ho, let them get on with it. The two hills seemed a lot steeper on the second lap, but nothing unmanageable (although I'm glad I went with a 12-25 and not an 11-23). What seemed like a downhill for the last 20k on the first lap now didn't.
5:20:53 including stopping ;-(T2I entered T2 and immediately spotted the penalty box, but was informed that I had to rack my bike first so I went sprinting all the way to the very end of the racks to park my bike and run back the the box. My legs felt remarkably good. In to the box, a lady types my race number in to her computer and the clock starts. To say that it was the longest 4 minutes of my life is a huge understatement. 2 minutes to go, 1 minute, 30 seconds, go... Sprinting to my run bag, wow my legs feel great. Socks and shoes on and off we go.
07.59 including penalty ;-(
Throwing my sunglasses to Julie (no need for them in the rain)
26.2mile RunEverything felt good, and kept the pace nice and comfortable. Suddenly the rain started pouring down which was nice and cooling, I was just worried about the possibility of blisters in wet trainers. About 5k in, a camera bike pulls along side, "Oh yeah, who's the daddy!" and then Morino (the eventual winner) pulls up along side me and the camera was for him, blast!! The first 21k went past easily, alternating energy drink, water, gels and coke at the aid stations. Then around 22k the pain started kicking in, the front of my legs were getting tighter and tighter. Eventually I was walking the aid stations and couldn't face any more energy gels/drink, so it was a coke, a water for my face and a sponge for my neck. Doing my calculations, I worked out that I was on course to beat my 'secret' target of 10.30. Everything was now just focused on keeping the legs ticking over. I was helped physiologically by the fact that only Marino (1st) and Stephen Baylis (2nd) (although both a lap ahead) and about another 3-4 people overtook me, it does give you a boost when you are overtaking as opposed to being overtaken.
Coming into the Ironman village I was berating myself for the penalty, but also ecstatic with my time. I turned left into the final few 100 meters and saw Julie hanging over the barriers. High fived as I went past and then turned down the finishing shoot. The crowd were fantastic. High fived the cheer leaders and over the line to finish.
3:32:28
Finish time 10:09:40After finishing I was guided (well held up) all the way to the tent to get my certificate and medal.
I found the race overall fairly comfortable, it was only in the final 20k that I had any really discomfort. Did I enjoy it, hell yes! Will I do it again, hell yes.
Challenge Barcellona Oct 2008
