Steve Blasdale IMWA 2005 Race Report

About me

My name is Steve Blasdale and I live in Karratha WA.
I have been dong Triathlons for 12 or so years; I have done races of all different sizes and formats, including the Busselton 1/2/ Ironman in 2002.
I had always wanted to do an Ironman and I guess the time had come, it was now or never.
My youngest sister lost a courageous battle with Breast cancer in August 2004 and remains my inspiration for doing Busselton Ironman 2005 – man she was so tough, even when things were incredibly bad, she was so positive and strong.
So Kathleen this is for you.

Leading up to the Ironman

At the end of last year I had a severe back injury that sidelined me for 3 months, daily Physiotherapy, chiropractor visits and Pilates exercise got me back on the bike by January 2005.

I spoke to Andrew Budge about getting fitted for a bike and what was needed to do the Ironman given I had limited training in the 12 months previous.
(When he told me to drop 7- 10kg, I thought he was kidding!!).
I bought a brand new titanium Quintana Roo Santo, completed the baseline Heart rate testing and set about doing Andrews program.
In total I missed about 10 days of training in 24 weeks.
I had a week off with the Flu and another three days when I got knocked off my bike at a roundabout in Karratha, but we got there and I arrived in Busselton feeling really fit and ready to go.

The day before the Race

I packed, unpacked and repacked my Bike and Run bags, man was I paranoid!!!.
I thought I would do something stupid and leave something behind (or worse put it into the wrong bag).
I had seen Andrew at the jetty, and had a quick chat about the race, as usual he has this amazing way of pumping you up, but putting it all into perspective at the same time.
The main aim today was to rest, so with all the check ins completed, I slept all afternoon, had a huge meal and was back in bed by 8.00pm.

The Day of the race

I woke up about 3.00am to the sound of a violent Thunderstorm and thought - wow this is going to be a cold and long day.
I got up about an hour later, ate a banana, a tub of fruit and 6 weetbix.
I was still feeling up beat and headed in to registration.
It was then I realized how bad the storm really was, there were rumours of the organizers canceling the swim, that it was too dangerous, or worse canceling the Ironman altogether.
I dressed into my wetsuit anyway and headed to the Start line when a call came on the PA that the start would be delayed by 30 minutes. ‘Sounds promising’ I thought to myself.
I saw my wife and family, had a quick chat, few photos, a kiss then I was off to prepare for the start. I normally go somewhere quiet, to mentally run the race.
The pre start entertainment was fantastic, I was waving to my family who managed to pick me out in the crowd, the planes were flying over and we were singing the national anthem.
Just before the start a gap in the clouds appeared and the morning sun hit us like a spotlight on a stage…….what an amazing thing to be part of.

The Swim

The cannon fired and we were off.
I had heard about the washing machine affect at the start, so I kept telling myself to be patient and get into a rhythm, clear water would come.
I finally got clear water, but still felt like I was in a washing machine. The water was so choppy and rough I had to breathe left side for the entire length of the jetty.
I felt like I was a cork getting tossed around, waves smashing into me, taking in lots of sea water.
I started to feel motion sick, but just kept telling myself to keep going.
I didn’t want it to end in the swim, it would have been easy to quit, but I thought “Do it for Kath” – “you worked to hard” – “just get it done”.
The turnaround was worse, the swell was coming in sets and unfortunately I was sea sick. Feeling terrible I headed back along the jetty (breathing right side this time). I couldn’t even look up, as I was too scared I would quit if I realized how far and how rough it was back to the beach.
About half way I was sick again, but I knew I had to keep going, just to get out of this crap.
Finally I hit the beach, disorientated and sick (I was told later that I turned back to face the water, I think I was shocked at how rough it was).
Trying to undo my wetsuit I headed to the showers, where I stood for a long time trying to get it together.
When I left, the clock said 1hr 17mins, I had set a goal of 1hr 5mins, so in light of the conditions I will take that.

The Bike

I had a great transition, probably wasted too much time putting on arm warmers, but still managed to get my bike out in a good time.
The plan was to get into a good rhythm as early as possible, by the time I hit Geographe bay road I was sitting on 155Bpm at 95Rpm, the wind was a factor but I managed to maintain a good cadence and keep within my target heart rate.
I thought I had lost a lot of fluids in the swim so I drank 2 High5 bottles at the first aid station (I also had a Banana and a cookie).
During training I was meticulous with my nutrition and hydration, the plan was to have a ¼ of a High5 bar every 15mins (1 bar an hour) and drink 750ml High5 every hour. Unfortunately the two extra bottles caused me to have more toilet stops than I wanted (4 in all).
As I was riding I felt like I was overtaking a lot of people and I was worried that I would not leave anything for the run.
Budgie had told me to back myself and keep the Heart rate up, maintain a good cadence and what the heck I was feeling good again so I just kept going.
I did the first lap averaging 33kmh, I saw my wife, kids and sister at the turnaround.
The crowd was mad, the people lining the roads were screaming my name (or number), the volunteers were awesome, I was feeling so good, and things were definitely looking up.
Heading back out for lap 2 the wind definitely felt stronger. I kept telling myself –‘I am strong’ – ‘keep the cadence and Heart rate up’. I pushed hard into the wind, hit the first turnaround and pushed harder with the wind. I felt okay at the second turnaround and was looking forward to heading back into town.
I had a target of 6 hours for the 180km, so with 3 hours 45 minutes down, with 60km to go I thought ‘I am going to do this’ and possibly even beat my target.
The last lap was going like the other two, I was feeling okay, business as usual. The wind was a pain (apparently it was 40kmh, gusting to 65kmh) but I had done a lot of work in the wind at home so just kept going. My computer dropped out before the first turnaround, I lost cadence, speed and distance indication.
My heart rate monitor was still okay so I rode the last 40km at 150bpm, it felt a little slower than the first two laps, but maybe I was starting to feel tired too.
When I got off my bike the clock said 7hr 19 min, I wanted a 6 hour ride for the 180km (I did 6:02) , all I needed was to go under 4hr 30min on the run and I would break 12 hours in my first Ironman.

The Run

My transition was good, I had my gear on, hit the toilets and headed out to another awesome crowd.
My quads were burning and I couldn’t get any rhythm going. I tried to get to 155 bpm and run at a steady pace. I kept telling myself – ‘be patient, concentrate on form’- ‘I’m light and I’m strong’.
Busselton threw everything at us today, this time the wind dropped and the sun came out, it was H.O.T hot, but having lived in the Northwest for nearly 10 years I thought yep no problems, bring it on.
Finally after 10km I started to feel stronger, I felt like I was finally running okay.
The people on the footpath, the families partying in their front yards and the kids running next to me or wanting high 5’s, just made it unreal.
My plan was to run strong and keep good form, I wanted to walk the aid stations regardless, and looking back I am glad I did this.
I was carrying two bottles of premixed High5 gel on a fuel belt, so what I did was slowed to a walk, took a decent slug of gel, drank a cup of water, two cups of high5 drink, another water and started running again (spending about 30 seconds in each aid station).
I remember running back into town and thinking how calm the water looked, the crowd was going off and Don Ryder was…well Don Ryder (if you come down next year, or competed this year you will know what I mean).
Just past Barnard Park I had to make a dash for the Port a loo. It was like a sauna in there and my quads were smashed, it was difficult to stand up afterwards.
I had trouble moving again, it took a lot of small steps, faster, faster, faster and finally running again
I hit the East turnaround and was pumped, another 5km and I would have a white scrunchie and 1 lap down.
I was starting to feel tired though but tried to push through. My feet were burning and felt damp. I kept going, running west, heading past the finish chute, getting my White scrunchie, onto the front of the jetty and into my family and friends.
Budgie called out “your forms good, keep going”.
I was in pain, but I knew then I was going to do it, nothing was going to stop me now.

During training the longest run I had done was 32km, I had a few blisters that day, but dismissed it. A few other times I got blisters, but again popped them and moved on. I tried 5 or 6 different brands of socks mostly cheap brands from K mart. Fairly thin, but okay for most runs in the Hot weather in Karratha.

I was coming into the West turnaround and my feet were burning, I grabbed a drink at the Aid station but did not stop. The pain was getting worse and with about 1km to go to the next aid station I realized I was walking.
I was thinking ‘No problems I will walk to the station give my feet a chance to rest, have a drink and get on home’.
While I was walking I started thinking about blisters, my feet were shot, I made the decision to stop and ask for treatment at the Aid station.
I saw the first aid lady and asked for a band aid, I sat down and pulled off my shoes. Unbelievable, my right sock had blood and was soaked from the fluid coming out of burst blisters.
My left foot had three blisters, my second toe was bleeding (I have since lost the toe nail), my right foot had a blister the size of a 50 cent piece on the ball of the foot, my big toe looked like it had a small golf ball growing on it.
I had taken the time to cut all my nails before the race, I thought about buying X Socks last minute, but decided to stick with the thin socks as I had been training with them. What a stupid mistake. Bad planning had nearly cost me the race.
I finished taping my feet, putting elastoplast and bandaids all over them, unfortunately this took time and I had been sitting for more than 5 minutes.
When I tried to stand up my legs had seized, my feet screamed, the pain was incredible.
I shuffled off towards the jetty, trying to get mobile. At some stage I managed to limp, run, shuffle, run and thought I was making progress. No Way.
I didn’t get any momentum until the Jetty, I saw my wife and kids near the swim shower station. She looked so worried so I stopped, walked past and said “my feet are shot” – “blisters” – “but I’m going to do it”.
I ran off choking back tears, Trish is 71/2 months pregnant and has been through a lot lately too, how could I put her through this?.
I ran (Ironman shuffled???) and walked to the East turnaround. I was doing 5 minutes of running/ 1 minute walking, but it was slow. Painfully slow.
Just before the turnaround an American guy slapped me on the back and said “Steve Blasdale – your nearly an Ironman”. I made the decision then to run all the way home, only 4.5km to go.
4.5km and I would be an Ironman.

The Finish

Coming up to the chute was amazing, people were screaming at me, kids were running next to me, the volunteers as always were cheering me on.
I became so emotional.
All the training, the sacrifices, the support from my friends, my Wife and children, my family – Mum and Dad, my Sister, Brother in Law and Brother and of course the memories of my sister Kathleen, her partner and three young boys and the rest of my nieces and nephews all came rushing to me in a whirl.
I remember hugging my Mum, my kids jumped the fence and came to me, my wife stepped out and we hugged and cried together. Budgie lent out and shook my hand.

Don Ryder was saying “Stephen Blasdale YOU are an IRONMAN”.

I crossed the finish line as the clock hit 13hours 1 minute 14 seconds.

After the Finish

I had a finishers towel draped across my shoulders and the Ironman medal around my neck, my children were taken away and I was guided to recovery (what’s with all the questions? I am crying because I am happy).
I could barely walk and was sent to Medical to get treatment for my feet, lying on the bed I was thinking –‘I have done it’.
I was hungry, tired, cold and emotional. I started to shiver uncontrollably and had to be wrapped in a few blankets.
My feet were treated, I also had very bad sunburn on my lower back (you know that spot between your knicks and race top). I had put sunblock everywhere but forgot about that spot.
After 30 minutes I was released, I gathered my street gear, tried to eat and went out to see my family. Unfortunately the food was spicy, I was shivering and generally felt like trash.
Unable to hold a conversation properly I barely said thankyou’s and goodbye’s to my family and went home and vomited.
I wanted to go back to see the finish, I watched it last year and it is an amazing thing, but after a shower I hit the bed and couldn’t get up again. I was so exhausted but barely slept.
I am slowly starting to recover, my body aches (driving for 2 days didn’t help either), my blisters are starting to heal, my sunburn is going away.
Like they always say, the Pain is temporary and my memories are so vivid they will always remain.
If you have a goal, then go for it, if you think you can’t do it, then you are wrong.
Doing Busselton Ironman was the most amazing thing I have been part of.
Remember “Anything is Possible”.

Good Luck, regards Steve Blasdale.

In Memory of Kathleen