IRONMAN AUSTRALIA - Diary of an IronVirgin
By Scott Taylor

First of all I can honestly say I never thought I would lose my virginity with the help of another bloke. You were fantastic Budgie, my butt was sore for 2 days after the big event.

It all started 18 months ago when one day I added up the amount of emu bitter cans that were recycled as a direct result of me, approx 60-70 per week. That same week I saw an article stating the start of the triathlon season in a couple of weeks with a photo of some dodgy looking triathletes holding a bike.

Now I can honestly say I had been meaning to get invovled with triathlon for about 8 years as I had always liked the concept of doing a few things together but was always too busy, too tired, not fit enough etc. I got out my old "10 speed" and went along. It was a duathlon and I did the short course and came somewhere down the back absolutely stuffed. Anyhow I turned up the next week and the next, and all of a sudden completely by surprise I had paid a deposit on a bright shiny yellow Giant with aero bars, compact frame, carbon things and a whole lot of stuff that I had no idea about. I realised by this stage that I had been infected by a disease called triathlon bug. About 4 months later while sitting in Budgie's office I recall that I thought myself mad and crazy spending $2000 on a bike and with that thought we hit the submit button on his computer and my bank a/c emptied to the tune of approx $10000 and a new titanium Quintana Roo was hopping it way towards me. (I didnt sleep for 2 days after ordering it).

Then it was into a Trysport programme aimed at Phuket to get a qualifying spot and then onto Forster.

All went to plan and turned up in Forster feeling completely underdone and quite inadequate. I should mention that maybe not sticking entirely to my programme by playing touch rugby up until christmas (couldnt let my team down) and only stopped because I compressed 3 ligaments going up for a high ball and landing really badly. I guess in hindsight also doing the Albany cycle clubs 20k time trial series (10 races in 10 weeks) in the middle of the programme was not the smartest thing to do. I did actually win all of them except the one that I helped marshal and got a trophy, my very first for anything since being born. I also felt compelled, buoyed by my success to do the 40k time trial and managed to get my second ever trophy the next week. I don't actually think I told you to much of that Budgie, anyway I then decided to be sensible (2 months out from Forster)

I went into the race with a plan and stuck fairly well to it. Heart rates, cadence, stride rates, nutrition, hydration etc.

Due to my touch rugby ankle drama I had eased on the runs and due to my hating following a black line in a swimming pool I probably didn't quite do the time in water.

I don't mind admitting that I was just a little bit terrified at this stage.

I started my day with the breakfast I had decided on weeks ago and after 25 toilet visits found myself on the bus and on the way to the event. Once I had taped all of my GU's and sorted tyre pressures it was off to join the toilet queue and then all of a sudden my main training partner is standing there grinning like a Bison and we start heading towards the water. Knowing I'm not a fast swimmer my plan was to stay out of trouble, try and achieve a time of approx 1:15 and get out feeling comfortable and able to go on. Getting to the first buoy was the worst part, breathing to the front all the way but once around that I managed to get some reasonably clear water and started to think about technique. I stopped swimming and stood up stripping my wetsuit down to my waist and was amazed that I started running. I looked up and the clock said 1:16, perfect start, very ordinary transition and I'm out on the bike and away. Bike plan was to push a quicker pace for the first 50-60 k's to try and get past as much of the slower bike traffic as possible as my cycle leg is my strongest. At about 60k's I still couldn't see my training partner (mr Bison) and my real reason for pushing hard at the start. At this stage thankfully common sense kicked in and I dropped back to my original heart rate and pace in my race plan. The last 50k's was tough as I was chaffing and had a sore back and was very pleased to get off the bike. The run was a completely unknown thing for me and I had absolutely no idea how I was going to go. I came out of T2 tent and halfway down the first straight realised I still had my cycle gloves on. Pulled them off feeling a bit of an idiot and realised I felt quite comfortable. I kept an eye on my heart rate and couldn't believe it was rock solid as well as my stride rate. I found a comfortable rythm within 1-2 k's and sat there for the majority of the race. At about the 25k mark my legs were really starting to hurt and I could feel my toes rubbing, my heart rate dropped a bit but I managed to maintain a consistent pace and kept up with nutrition/hydration strategy. All of a sudden I had done 32k's and heading for home and then amazingly there was the finishing chute. My legs were absolutely shot as I went down past the screaming crowds and all of a sudden I am waving my arms around, some guy is yelling my name with an american accent and I'm kissing some cute chick who put a medal around my neck. What an amazing experience. My plan was to walk every aid station to properly hydrate and replace fuel and not walk at all on any other part of the course which I achieved.

The highlights were definately going past the Albany support crew who were yelling and screaming and carrying on(felt quite tired just watching them). The volunteers were also amazing as were the general crowd who were so enthusiastic.

Everybody said not to set a time for your first big race but I'm sure everyone does and I suppose I was thinking around 11 hours would be good so was ecstatic with 11:13:05 although I dont ever plan to have an 11 in that equation again. I am definitely hooked.

Thanks Budgie for helping me lose my virginity, no offence but I really do prefer girls!