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Hawaiian Ironman 21 October 2006
For me the journey towards Kona began after completing IM Oz 2005 in a time of 10hrs 33min and finishing 33rd in my age group. I knew then that I wanted to have a real go at trying to qualify for Kona at IM Oz 2006. Given I had raced in the last race to be held at Forster the prospect of racing at Port Macquarie in its first year was also appealing. As part of the process Budgie suggested that it would be a good idea to do the ½ at Port Macquarie in October 2005 with the view to getting a feel for the course. This strategy paid dividends as it allowed me to get a feel for the course and to a certain extent focused my training. After completing IM Oz 2006 in 10hrs 14min I had a nervous wait at the roll down to see if my 14th placing was going to be good enough to get a much sought after slot. Thankfully I was lucky enough to get the last of 7 slots in my age group so now it was full steam ahead towards the World Championship. Coach Budge set a challenging program over 25 weeks and included the ½ at Yeppoon and the Perth ½ marathon. I enjoyed both these events and it helped by breaking the program down into smaller chunks over winter which I found much more difficult than training over summer. I achieved PB’s in both these events which obviously was a testament to the program & I considered I was on track. As part of the acclimatisation process we arrived in Hawaii 14 days prior to the race. This was great as it gave me a chance to have a look around, do a couple of medium distance training sessions and generally catch up on some rest prior to the race. As usual the last week at work was very hectic and training during that week was interrupted. That being 3 weeks out from the race was not perfect and mentally it played on my mind – just had to shut those thoughts out and keep telling myself that 1 week out of 25 wasn’t going to be a disaster.
I had heard and read about Hawaii being a very spiritual place and there is no doubt that is true. It was amazing to see the different geography of the Island ranging from baron larva fields along the western coast to lush tropical rain forests of the eastern side. The weather was also unpredictable and at times it was eerie given the intensity of tropical thunderstorms. Whilst the temperature never got much over 30 celsius the humidity was constantly there to remind you that this was going to be a tough race. In the two weeks leading into the race we not only experienced the hype and the build up towards the race but also an earthquake – 6.8 on the Richter scale. Whilst the quake was scary it was probably some of the smaller aftershocks that were most unnerving in the sense that you were just not sure whether there was going to be another big shake and the constant thoughts of volcanic activity and tsunamis. Some of the more special moments leading up to race included the undies run with Gerard & Jim (for those of you who know Gerard just imagine his nearly 7 foot frame in a pair of Y fronts jogging up Alii Drive and dwarfing Jim & I). Also the pre race organisation was something else just the little things like having drink stations out on course in the week leading up to the race and having your own personal volunteer to get you organised at the pre race check in. The swim with the Tri Travel group where we had a pod of 20 or so dolphins swimming with us was also something special. A pause here to mention Tri Travel they did a fantastic job with us and I would be remiss in not adding a special thanks to Tiffany. Also thanks Budgie we did eat at Hula La La’s up at Hawi – we wouldn’t have gone near it without your recommendation – the best Mexican food I’ve ever eaten. Race Day After a good night sleep I woke at 4am. I followed my normal pre race routine a good breakfast - cereal, toast & a GU. We then drove to the Larva Java car park and walked to the race start. Again the check in and numbering ran like clockwork. I quite often get a little emotional at check in but this time I felt relatively calm and I remember feeling excited about getting started the culmination of 18 months of intense training. Budgie had suggested that we get in the water to warm up and then find a boat to hang onto rather than tread water leading to the start. This strategy worked and it was great that I could swim near the sea wall where Dee, Gerard, Jim, Vanessa and Sue were standing – one last bit of encouragement from the crew. The gun sounds and we are off. My swim is my weakest leg so my strategy was to draft as much as possible to allow for a good split (relative to my ability) and to save my energy reserves. I glanced at my watch at the half way mark and thought I was on target for a 1hr 5min swim – unfortunately I hadn’t factored in the current. I exited the swim feeling well in control and I was happy with my 1hr 15min result. The transition at both T1 & T2 seemed to take forever (a fact confirmed after looking at my splits in transition). Running through transition in my bike shoes was slippery and a little perilous and if I did the race again I would mount my shoes on the bike.
For a while I thought I had gone too hard on the bike. The first 8 k’s of the run out to the turn on Alii Drive seemed like a grind and I had Budgies words echoing in my ears to look after myself on this part of the run – I was going easy and I was feeling like shit. I saw Jim at this stage and that gave me a lift and gradually I started to feel ok. In the run back into town and up Palani Drive I started to consolidate and began passing people (at last). I had been told to expect some tough going on the way out to the Energy Lab via the Queen K. Whilst this part of the run was tough I think I had mentally prepared myself for it and by the time I had got to the Energy Lab I was still feeling ok. The Energy Lab wasn’t a bad experience the conditions were cooling off and I was still passing people. It was about here that I went to the coke, oranges and water. I don’t know if it was that or whether I could now just about feel the finish line but the 10 k or so from the Energy Lab back into town were amongst the best k’s I have run in this distance race. I felt strong and was throwing caution to the wind and going for it. I don’t know how many places I picked up through this stage but it was a number. The last little effort up to Palani Road on the Queen K took just about everything I had but by now the excitement of being less than 10 minutes from finishing was overriding any pain. I knew one of my goals of finishing under 10 ½ hours was gone however I thought the 11 hour mark was still achievable (I did think it was going to be close). I had spoken to Dee before the race and said that I would go easy & soak up the finish so long as I knew I could break 11 hours. I kept pushing thinking I was very close to that mark and unfortunately it wasn’t until I had almost entered the finishing chute that I realized that I had plenty of time to soak in the moment. I remember hearing Mike Reilly announce my name and my occupation and then from Albany, Washington – oh no he has mixed up WA as being Washington. Who cares I’ve finished and now its time to soak it all up - my emotions run from elation at finishing, to sadness that this is the end of a journey to being very proud of my achievement to some disappointment at my time and overall placing. As usual I have to concentrate on looking after myself for the first 30 minutes or so after a race keep walking, drinking & snacking. In that period I remember feeling very claustrophobic in the post race area it just seemed like mayhem. I found some area that was less congested and while walking around had a little outpouring of emotion. That done I walked out to catch up with the crew – it was very special seeing Dee the Cameron’s and the Lie’s they were all still very excited – the place is pumping LETS PARTY. There is no doubt that to take on a challenge like this requires not only a huge amount of personal time and energy it also has an impact on the people that you love, your friends, your family and your work colleagues. In closing I would like to say a special thank you to those people who endured, encouraged and generally helped me achieve a personal goal. Especially I am very lucky to have a friend in Gerard who has been to every Ironman that I have done, a coach in Budgie whose assistance and guidance gave me the tools and confidence to complete this race and to Dee for being such a patient and understanding Ironman widow who has been as equally devoted to the cause - thank you.
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The Journey Begins
Dee and I were very lucky to have our friends Gerard & Vanessa Cameron and Jim & Sue Lie join us on the trip to Kona.
I start the ride with the strategy of going steady for the first 60 k’s then consolidate in the climb in and out of Hawi, essentially the next 60 k’s and then bring it home strong depending on the conditions. The first stage went to plan although we were pushing into a slight headwind on the way out which I had expected to be from the opposite direction given where the wind had been blowing from leading up to the race. I was feeling comfortable on the bike until about the 75 k mark. At this part of the climb into Hawi the course turned into the wind and I found myself really grinding at about 15kph. I also seemed to hit a flat spot here which took me the best part of the next hour & a half to get out of. Whilst I hadn’t anticipated the ride being so tough at this point of the race I think I was also having trouble with nutrition. The full strength Gatorade being handed out at the aid stations was too strong for me and it wasn’t until some time after I stopped drinking the Gatorade that I felt like I was starting to come good. I was concentrating on keeping my water and GU intake up. I was also having trouble with the balls of my feet – they were killing me something I had not experienced in training. I was further frustrated at having to make two toilet stops (again unusual for me) and at dropping a chain. I redeemed my ride a little in the last 60 k’s I started to feel comfortable again and tried to use the benefit of the tailwind in the last 30 or so. At the end of the day I wasn’t happy with my ride it was tough maybe I had underestimated the course or maybe I just had one of those days – I was glad to see all the gang who had set up about a kilometre short of T2 and then to get off the bike and into my favourite leg. I had averaged just under 32kph and in hindsight wasn’t really expecting to do much better.
