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Fraser Reid IMWA 2005 Race reportAn Ironman Odyssey Introduction Welcome to my triathlon beginnings and journey to Ironman Busselton. My name is Fraser Reid and I come from a small rural town, Kojonup in the Great Southern of WA. My sporting background has been mainly with horses playing Polo semi-professionally in the U.S., Malaysia, Singapore and NSW. I had a swimming and cross country running background from school (about average level). This brings me to my heading which relates to the fact that at 42 years of age, suffering depression, weighing 115kgs (June 04) smoking 40 cigarettes and averaging at least 6 beers a day something had to give. I quit smoking on 26/10/04 started swimming in November '04 at a weight of 108kgs, my first swim was 800m of freestyle with a lap of breastroke to catch my breath in every 200m. Started basic weights program in late December and had my first run in years on 29/12/04, 3 holes at local golf course about 1km in all. From there my old bike came out of the garage and a call to Tony Docking at Albany Tri Club and my triathlon debut was on 20th February 2005 a 500/10/4 race which I completed in just under an hour. From the crew at Albany and through Trysport website I ended up meeting with Andrew Budge re a training schedule. Along with that first meeting was a bike measure up and order for a new Felt S22. More importantly from that meeting came a list of short, medium and long term goals, these I am still updating regularly. It was decided in July that I had enough base, fitness work behind me to have a go at Busselton 2005. So it was with great excitement that I started on my first Ironman training program. Pre Race and Race Report 2 weeks pre race - This is when I started my taper and got my first real attack of nerves. Fired off an email to Andrew and got a calming reply about having done the work and being ready. 1 week pre race another attack of nerves but was settled a bit talking with previous Ironman finishers (Deano, Scotty and Marilyn) in Albany - also felt very flat through the first 8 - 10 days of the taper and still reasonably tired. Feelings of losing fitness and weight gain were frequently on my mind also. Travelled to Busselton on Thursday pre race having packed and repacked several times. Once there and settled in I became quite calm about it all, foremost in my mind having heard from so many different people - If you've done the hard work you will make it to the finish. My family joined me Friday and Saturday and my brother made the comment that I was very calm given the enormity of the challenge of Ironman. 2 days pre race -I started my carb loading plan courtesy of Boris Kazakov at Dietbiz I was starting to feel pretty good in those last couple of days. Registration and pre race briefing really sent a tingle up the spine here I was about 12 hours away from start time and feeling ready to go. Remember to feel proud during all the pre race hype and ceremony, for all the hard work required to get to that point make sure you relax and enjoy it all. Pre Race evening - Finished last carb loading meal and relaxed with family, nothing like a room full of nieces and a nephew to take your mind off things. In bed reasonably early and slept really well until woken by thunder and rain around 1am. Up for weather checks a couple more times through the night. Race Day - Up and breakfast at 3.45am. Check on weather absolutely foul (wet, windy and cold). Arrived at race start around 5am and started to get ready. Checked out and placed nutrition on bike. Sent my brother back to get long sleeved riding top (always pack enough for all weather conditions it can always stay in the bag if not required). Suited up into the wetsuit and prepared for race start. It was here I made a big error - Sunscreen, I normally layer it on pre race and completely forgot about it. Three doses of sunscreen late in the day were not enough to save me from getting burnt. Swam fairly well out to end of jetty and felt really comfortable I had found some clear water after about 500 mtr. Turned at the end of jetty and was hit by a rather large swell. There was 4 or 5 of us swimming abreast at one stage and we would be on top of each other and then next stroke 2 metres apart. Felt a bit nauseous for about 500m after the turn until hit a bit calmer water. Happy to get to last buoy and turn to the beach and finally hit the sand. Just over 1.11 so fairly happy given the conditions. Into transition and changed fairly quickly, the volunteers then and all day were absolutely awesome whenever you needed something they were always there. Once on bike my main concern was to get the heart rate down to 80% and find good rhythm at 95rpm. Plan was to try and ride 3 sub 2 hour laps. The weather was now glorious? Just like 50% of my training rides: head and side winds. I settled down well and really started to enjoy the ride. Heart rate at 78-80% and completed the first lap in sub 2 hour which was a good confidence booster as I felt I had not gone out too hard. Also make sure I kept to my nutrition plan which involved 6 gels for the ride and 4 litres Powered with electrolytes mixed in. Some of the drink I collected from the special needs station during 2nd lap also had a vegemite sandwich in the bag which was a welcome change. Through 2nd lap in about 1.55 and into 3rd lap. Had to push a bit into the wind during 3rd lap and heart rate came back to around 75-78%. Extremely happy to get back to town on last lap and get ready to start the run. Switched to an easier gear to try and loosen up a bit in hindsight a km or 2 to late. Off the bike in 5.45. Very very weird feeling getting off the bike nearly did a face plant as the legs tried to take off and back and upper body didn't want to be involved. Took until the transition tent to straighten up properly. Only needed to drop the bike nicks and put on new pair socks, joggers hat sunscreen and ready for the run. Used the portaloo and out on run course at about 7.01.30 very much to plan. Heard Budgie call out to get into a goal rythym and relax. Felt really comfortable in the first few kms, could feel the quads a bit but generally in pretty good shape. Should have remembered the warning from Dean Thornton - when you are feeling good just back off a touch!!!! Here I was cruising along with visions of a sub 4 hour marathon and a sub 11 hour Ironman time. First 14 kms went by with no problems but the next 7kms were not kind with the temperature getting up in mid to high 30's and no cover or breeze to cool down. Passed the half way mark in about 1.55 and glad to get that scrunchie on my wrist. At about 24km mark the upper legs really started to tighten up. Quads and hip flexors were really starting to feel the pain. I seriously started to struggle from 24 to 31 kms mark, legs were on fire, very sunburnt and a pain deep in the pelvic area (wont skimp on those gut exercises again) I took a toilet break to empty the bladder which did alleviated the pain a bit. I also apologise to the next person into that portaloo, it certainly wasn't clean when I got in there but was worse when I left. I had feared stopping and not being able to get going again, it was a bit of a struggle to find some ryhthm after the stop. I was also having trouble with knocking my right ankle with left foot occasionally which was causing some discomfort. At least it took my mind off my quads and hip flexors. Came past my family at the Goose heading to last turnaround where my brother informed me - only 7 kms to go! I ran about a km and next sign informed me 35km or 7 kms to go, must remember to wring his neck when I finish. Did not dare look at the finish chute as I headed towards last turnaround. Could hear the crowd bringing people home but I still had a bit to do before I got there. Found myself in what felt like a Cliff Young shuffle for the last few kms. Caught a guy (Matt from Sydney) and he and I had a bit of a chat for last 4 kms, he was really struggling and definitely not having a good time, strangely this made me feel a bit better - certainly no more pace but just a bit more comfortable. Those last couple of kms were certainly tough and I was extremely happy to see the finish chute and finish line. I really don't remember much of the finish apart from the elation of knowing that the job for the day was complete and I could finally stop. The catchers at the finish and all people in the recovery tent were fantastic because I felt in a whole world of pain for awhile. Finished in a time of 11.12.44 which I was very happy with given some of the conditions we had to put up with during the day. Very sore when I got up to greet my family and friends there to support me. I learnt later it's called the Ironman shuffle but I was happy to have the pain to remind me of what I had achieved. A few thankyous - to my awesome family who have supported me through a huge transition over the last 15 months. All those cheers and calls of encouragement around the course were invaluable. I love you guys. And to old work mates Richard, Tracey and Mark for coming to support me. To Andrew Budge for all his knowledge and guidance over the last year his experience with people competing in Ironman races is awesome heres hoping we, can do a few more together . One of the first things Andrew did with me was to introduce me to an extremly positive team of health proffesionals - Podiatrist, Darryn Sargent. Nutritionist, Boris Kazakov and Physio, Johnathon Bell. He also introduced me to Ray Utting, swim coach at Bayswater Waves. One thing I have found in any sport is to surround yourself with the best people you can find to help you achieve your goals. All of these guys along with Andrew have been invaluable to me in my Ironman adventure so thankyou one and all. Thanks also to Rocky my local sports massage man who has done a great job keeping me supple and injury free. To the town of Busselton and all of those great volunteers thankyou so much, you helped make the whole week an awesome experience, one I'll never forget. Cheers, see you all in Port Macquarie. Fraser Reid.
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