progress not perfection - imnz race report

i slept okay.  i have done enough of these that i have the routine pretty well down pat.  even with the big break between this one and port mac. dressed, drinks made and pancakes with nutella for breakfast. washed down with a big red bull full strength heart starter.   10 trips to the toilet prior to leaving.  bus pick up which was pretty quiet as we were all focused on our own inner thoughts.  i can hardly remember it.  weird.  the weather was chilly but perfect.

got to my bike and loaded up my drinks, set up the garmin and stored my snacks.  the swim start is a bit of a hike away so after a final trip to the porter potty i headed off.  quick chat with fellow competitors headed the same way.  the 70.3 was starting first which was a bit annoying.  one of the highlights i had been looking forward to was seeing the haka performed as the sun came up.  after many complaints ironman had organised for it to happen after the 70.3 start and before we set off.  what i didnt count on was all the bloody supporters etc being in the way so while i heard it i didnt get to see it.  there was no chance for a swim warm up and it wasnt allowed but that was okay.  it was a deep water start and you had to swim out anyway.

the swim

this is about the only mass swim start at an ironman event left in the world and it was awesome.  simple course.  swim down the lake, turn right and swim out a little bit, turn right again and swim back.  everyone lines up for the start between the first buoy and the shoreline.  i decided i would start closest to the first buoy to save me having to swim across to the course line at the start and i would place myself in the middle of whatever pack was in this area.  i dont know why but the whole way down i felt like i was having to swim back in as though i was getting pushed out too far and into the return path and i was having to come back into shore.  it was choppy and that might have been what i was fighting against.  the water was really fresh and quite chilly when i first got in.  i had decided to wear two swim caps and this made a huge difference in staying warm.  i was feeling pretty good.  the nerves had settled and the wetsuit felt good, the goggles were fine.  boom.  and we were off.  straight away i was comfortable and my swimming has been pretty fucking good in the last few races.  just straight into it.  breathing was relaxed however i could only breathe to my left (but favourite) side due to the chop.  it was fine when you got a mouthful of water because it is fresh and safe to drink.  no wonder i had the biggest pee in transition.  it was clear and just beautiful (the pee was as well).  i got bumped around by a few people but it was mostly pretty good.  i do think i wasted some time with my misdirection on the way down and the chop did not help.  but once i turned and headed out and then turned to swim back it was bloody perfect.  no chop and i could breathe bilateral and i got onto some good feet.  after all these years i finally have the confidence to draft.  

i wish i could do this swim again.  it was awesome and i loved every moment.  by the time i headed into the boat ramp exit though i was looking forward to getting out and letting the bike begin.  i managed to get myself onto the official ironman video highlight reel as i exited the swim.  i did look a bit haggard but i will blame that on my goggles. swim time 1.15.  i am a bit disappointed as it did feel better than this.  the chop and not swimming straight must have had an impact.  on par with my best swim at busselton which is probably more difficult.  

transition one

in my defence it is a bloody long way up a hill from the swim exit to transition.  about 800m in fact.  i had the longest pee in the cleanest porter loos i have ever used during an ironman.  they had two guys cleaning them all the time.  i thanked them for their awesome job.  got changed out of my wetsuit and swimmers and into my rapha cycling bibs, long sleeve base layer, cycling jersey, socks and gloves.  nutrition into my back pockets, sunnies and helmet on and i was on my bike in a super quick 17 minutes and 51 seconds.  this was a record.  wtf.  who cares I was actually having fun.

the bike

out onto the bike course and straight away up rolling hills.  lucky they changed the course as the hill out was different and a great deal bigger.  instead we would come down that one on the way back in which was brilliant.  i had a feeling during the swim that my lower back was getting a little tight from being horizontal and i had stretched out a couple of times during the swim.  but not enough.  it came back to haunt me and the bike was painful and uncomfortable.  i probably lost 10 to 15 minutes overall stopping to stretch.  i had the good nurofen but that didnt help much. this course is open, exposed, beautiful, rolling hills.  the road surface is mostly the big chip stuff that wears you down.  the rattling in my bike had come back and unless i was on the bars or putting weight on the bars it was pretty annoying.  the first lap wasnt too bad.  i watched my pace, drank and ate and made sure i didnt get caught up in any packs.  there was the usual amount of drafting cheaters and idiots who had no idea how to pace.  they would pass me and then slow down so i would pass again and so on.  mainly guys with egos.  at the 80k mark you hit the hills that lead you back into town and it is an awesome downhill coast on the best hotmix road.  then along the lake and run course to the turn around.  so like coming back into  town at busselton or port macquarie you get to see people and break up the ride.  you can pretend you feel great and it is probably the fastest you will ride all day.  i managed to yell out hello to chris (who took a great photo) and then i saw rae out the front of where we were both staying so i stopped for a stretch and a chat and another photo opportunity !

the second lap was hard.  not as bad as some rides but it was pretty uncomfortable. i just focused on getting to the 135k turnaround where there was a nice group of people cheering you on and then getting back to town and to the 170k mark so i would hit the downhill run.  this course would be fucking ugly when it was windy.  there was a bit of wind around but nothing super bad.  i got very lucky with the weather.  for most of the day i felt i was at the back of the middle of the pack and seeing the riders heading back out as i was coming back in made it look like i was right. it also made me realise that there were alot of people suffering more than me and i was doing okay.  if it wasnt for my back i probably would have had a decent ride.  i was hoping for a 6.30 and would have been okay with that so a 6.45 was disappointing.  i guess shit happens.  i enjoyed the bike ride but like most ironman rides by the end of it you are pretty glad to be off the bike and onto the last leg.  at least you no longer have to worry about a mechanical wiping out your day.

transition two

compared to T1 i was like lightning for this one.  a speedy 11.34.  not bad considering i had to get all the bike gear off and the run gear on.  had a nice chat with the volunteers who were outstanding all day.  i certainly did not rush out and instead took my time and walked onto the run course.  i wasnt feeling fantastic and i guess i was now wondering how i was going to run or get through 42k on very little training.

the run

the difference with this race compared to my most recent ones was the fact that i was prepared and under no illusion that this was going to be easy and i knew it wasnt going to win any prizes.  i think being mentally prepared for a tough day is what made all the difference.  i had doubts the whole way but luckily there was the most amazing crowd and supporters  on the run course from beginning to end and it made it easier to keep going.  this was the most fun i have had during an ironman run leg ever.   i decided from the beginning that i needed to maintain an average pace around 8.45 per km if i was to finish the run close to 6 hours.  i needed to focus on my overall average pace because this run had fucking hills everywhere.  aside from the section around the lake and heading back out it was fucking up and down and the first hill was not small.  so i knew that sometimes i would be very slow and other times i would not be as slow.  i walked up the hills and ran down the hills.  i stuck to my average pace.  having a plan prevents the enormity of the challenge turning into a negative head fuck.  remember that folks.

during the first lap my left leg kept giving out.  it was very weird.  i was a little worried.  the further i went though the more comfortable i felt and the more i thought i could do this.  the weather was getting a little cool.  i saw chris quite a few times and glenda had quit after the bike.  the knee wasnt going to hold up.  i didnt see anyone on the first lap from the tri travel team but i did see tim.  the course winds it way around the back of taupo and through the neighbourhood.  it was fucking true.  at the back tucked away was the unofficial aid station and they had BEER.  and jelly beans.  i pretty much did this run on coke, electrolytes, jelly beans, chips and pretzels.  fuck the gels.  i was sick of them.  i wasnt game enough to have a beer but the idea is appealing.

the crowd support at this event was amazing.  have it mentioned that before ?  groups had set up deck chairs with music and were out with wine glass in hand.  they were everywhere.  we got to run through a beer garden and high five everyone.  around by the lake was a group of guys with t-shirts made up that said ironwags.  they were so cool.  a couple of girls had eighties inspired aerobic gear on.  it was just fucking awesome.  i think on the second lap i grabbed my long sleeves from my special needs bag and was handed my little torch.

i found i was starting to run more and it actually felt better than walking.  i came across two of the tri travel crew on different occasions and ran with them for awhile.  it was encouraging and kept the spirits up.  i saw the tri travel support team on my way out on the last lap.  stopped for a photo opportunity and told them i was off in search of a well earned beer at the unofficial aid station.  i felt i had 100 times more support at this race than any other and yet i was further away from home than ever before. even more support than at busselton.

parts of the run course on the last lap had become a little quiet.  one section the street lights had gone out and it was very dark and quiet.  i had a mass celebration when i came through the volunteer tent for my final wrist lap band.   then it was back down around the lake and past the ironwags who were a little more drunk.  it was at this point about 4k from the finish line that i started plotting my final approach.  i did not want anyone else taking any glory with me.  at port macquarie when the voice of ironman mike reilly callled me across i was with other people and i just got lost in the finish.  this was going to be all about me.  i didnt really want to slow down so i tried to run as fast i could.  the last two kilometres were probably my best all day. one of them was actually my fastest and that wasnt going down hill. just before the finish line i saw martin and steve from tri travel and gave them a high five.  then i saw glenda and chris and crew and gave out another holler. i had my own space, no one in front and no one close behind as i headed for the finish line.  just as i got to the red carpet and turned the final bend i saw tim and rae.  they had stayed around even though it had been a long day  to see me cross the finish line.  as i ran past i heard tim yell out ''you can tick that box' and i gave a big imaginary tick with my glow stick.  i will never forget that and it was awesome seeing them both there.  then it was across the finish line to the sound of mike reilly saying my name and "you are an ironman''.  fucking awesome.  aside from my speedy 12.23 at busselton this was the BEST ironman ever.  i just felt fantastic.  the amazing volunteers were there to give me my medal and towel.  they thought i was going to collapse but i was just a bit teary at the fucking emotion of it all. i had to ask what my finish time was.  while i had a ball park idea i hadnt really worried about it very much.  turns out it was 14.33.17 and i was happy with that.  my worst finish time but the best ironman experience ever.  i had ticked the box and the monkey was off my back.  fuck yeah.  i was 9 out of 19 in my age group.  cant complain about that.

some interesting run stats.  my run time here was 6.03 from very little run training.  my first ironman at busselton i ran 5.42 with alot of run training but very little experience.  so to run 20 minutes faster i had to do alot more in training.  my average pace here was 8.41 which was bang on target for what i set out to do at the start. my average moving pace was 8.16 as i did stop a few times to go to the stinky porter loos. the hoka shoes were awesome except for the large blister i discovered on my big toe the next day.



after collecting my finisher shirt which is actually going to be wearable i grabbed some hot chips and choc milk.  two of the best post race recovery snacks EVER.  i then wandered off with no real plan of what to do next.  everyone had disappeared and i started to think about my gear and bike.  i was pretty tired and did not feel like walking home which was at least 1.5k.  then i got a call from martin from tri travel and he was heading down with the bus to pick me and the bike up.  i will always be most grateful for this as it just made the whole day perfect and finished up back at my room with  all my gear and the bike.  the amazing volunteers put your run and bike bags with your bike so you dont have to run around picking everything up again.  like i said.  they were fucking awesome all day.

i managed to unpack my stinky gear, rinse out the wetsuit and have a nice hot shower.  i was very tired but the body didnt feel too bad.  sleeping did not come easy but that was due to the usual excess sugar and caffeine.  but i was happy.  very happy.  i was an ironman once more.

getting to the taupo start line

what a mission it was to get organised.  so many decisions to make.  i was flying out late monday so i had the weekend to get my shit together.  i had left the bike service pretty late this time and only being able to get to there on the weekend made it difficult.  on sunday sylvester got taken to the kitty prison for his incarceration.  cooper went to the doggie holiday camp on monday for his week of fun and mayhem. i was then left to pack and get the bike in its travel bag.  last training sessions were done.  attended the saturday 5.30am session at swim smooth and got in a pretty good 4k.  on sunday rode the bike for two hours as a last check.  still not happy with the new chain and cassette but nothing to do but sort it out in taupo. went for a 3k run on the road to test out the new hoka shoes.  i had used them on the treadmill and they felt great.  i was still going to take my kayanos and leave the decision for later.

made it to the airport and checked in for my air new zealand flight.  departed around five in the afternoon and arrived in auckland at 7am the next morning although the flight was a quick 6 hours.   this would play havoc with my sleep for a few days.  bike made it okay so that is cause for celebration.  luckily the hotel i was booked into was a five minute walk from the arrival area at airport and even more amazing was they let me check in straight away.  it was the novotel auckland  and very, very nice.  i was meeting up with tritravel first thing the next day so i had nothing to do but re-organise my gear and relax for the day.

up early and down to meet the tritravel crew and fellow competitors by 8.30am.  apparently quite a small group compared to previous years. loaded the bus with bikes and bags before starting the four hour drive to taupo. i sat at the back and started chatting to chris and glenda from the uk.  chris was the sherpa to glenda who had been to kona quite a few times and seemed to be retired but a full time triathlete.  they had been staying in noosa with family however glenda had injured her knee and it was likely it would only be swim and bike for her.

once in taupo things became hectic.  people staying at different locations so drop off took awhile.  the tour leaders - steve and martin (get it) kindly offered to drop my bike off at the bike shop before heading back to woolworths for a shopping opportunity which actually felt like a competition to see how much i could buy in under ten minutes.  back to my room at the beechtree which was perfect and really nice and located on the bike course.  wandered down to taupo central for something to eat.  i wasnt feeling all that great but i never do before an ironman.  i figured out awhile ago that while it might not feel like it the problem is just nerves and they will go away come race morning.  it just makes it hard to eat and feel positive in the days before.  off to bed early.
 

thursday and up early again and bus pick up for wet suit check and  a swim in lake taupo.  it was quite chilly and since arriving i realised that i should have bought a few more warmer clothes.   the swim was beautiful.  the lake is crystal clear as promised and while a bit fresh it did not take long to adjust.  i could have kept swimming but we had to head off to check in.  the locals so far had been amazing and continued to be extremely friendly and helpful where ever you went.   checked in and got my little race pack.  no athlete gift as they were all stuck on a wharf in china and would be mailed out to us.  i hope it is a decent back pack for a change.  after check in it was into the merchandise tent and dollars were spent.  very bad jeni. it was then a  drop off at the bike shop to pick up the bike and bag.  i rode the bike back to my room and as it turns out the chain was too long and so the guys shortened it and it felt perfect.  around 3 pm we were off again and we headed out to drive the bike course before going to the welcome dinner.  the bike course was more rolling up and down than i thought.  it was going to be an interesting ride.  the welcome dinner was pretty ordinary with very average food.  only disappointment over the whole event.  busy fucking day.  on my way to meet the bus for the road trip i bumped into tim and rae.  they were staying at the beechtree as well.  got some great tips and would catch up with them again before the race.  

friday and the day before the big day.  i found it hard only arriving by mid-day wednesday and the race being on a saturday.  it was a much shorter lead into race day than i normally have and you do spend alot of time doing stuff rather then resting up the legs.  if there was ever a next time i would somehow get there a day earlier at least.

i had to ride the bike.  it needed a test run and i needed to freshen up the legs. i headed out towards the motorplex which is part of the bike course early and it was chilly.  around 8 degrees.  it would be the same tomorrow with a maximum of 21 but more importantly light winds.  clothing choice decisions would have to be made.  the bike felt smooth but there was a creak or rattle coming from the left and from the handlebars.  it was quiet on the smooth road but there wasnt much of that.  the stories about the chip seal were true and it was going to be a rough ride.  it went away when i was aero or put pressure on the handlebars.  i think a cable had come loose from the foam it sits in and was rattling around.  i rode out about 10k and down a nice country road.  said hello to some friendly cows who thought i was there to feed them.  on my way back i decided to call into the bike shop and see if they could help.  the road around there was hot mix so they would never have heard the rattle when test riding it.  a cable tie around the front cables was the best they could do and if not i would just have to suck it up.

steve's wife was travelling with him and is a massage therapist so i had a booking.  i was hoping to at least get some relief on my shoulder/neck thing.  not a fan of doing this the day before a race as it can cause more problems than it prevents. back to my room and to finish putting together my bike and run bags before checking the bike in around 2 (this is my standard time and i like sticking with routine).  decision one i was going to ride in proper cycling gear with a long sleeve under my cycling jersey.  it was gear i had used a million times in the same forecast conditions.  it would just blow out my transition time but nothing new there.  i would be comfortable.  i decided to run in the new hokas.  they are very light, very soft and since i was going to be out there a long time i expected they would be the most comfortable.

once this was done i headed out for an early dinner.  felt like crap but again just the nerves. i had not been sleeping all that well so i was really hoping for a good nights rest.  no napping so i should be tired from all the running around.  the tritravel bus was picking me in the morning and a few others for the short trip to transition at 5.40 am for an 8 am start.  it was going to be a good day but i was not without my doubts and the feeling that i just could not be bothered doing it.  no unusual but just once i would love to be one of those people totally pumped and ready to fucking kill it.