Monday, May 16, 2016

2 weeks post Ironman Australia

I thought it was about time i put a few words on paper post my first Ironman back since having Anja.  Since i am still crook and have barely been able to exercise there is no better time to reflect on what i achieved a couple of weeks ago.

A few days out from Ironman Australia, Glen Anja and I packed up A LOT of gear and travelled across the ditch to Port Macquarie.   It was Anjas first experience flying so i had my fingers crossed she was going to travel ok.  In tow on our flights we also had Craig and Janice who i had convinced to enter the 70.3 so i was hoping everyone was going to have a great trip.  They probably didn't realise when they signed up that they would be helping us lug gear through airports.  I had no idea just how much extra stuff you need when traveling with a baby although I'm sure with each trip we can downsize it.  For the most part Anja enjoyed the flights and we finally arrived in Port Macquarie.  Maggie and Staff Hurlston were waiting at the airport to collect us.  Each time i head over i seem to bring someone else with me so i am always so grateful for their hospitality.

I had very mixed feelings about this race.  I knew that my training hadn't gone as well as when i was preparing for Challenge Wanaka at the start of the year and was feeling like i didn't have enough big sessions in the legs (and arms) to get me through!  After a few stern words from Keegan and completing my taper sessions i was ready to go.  More than anything i was excited and so grateful for the opportunity to be on the start line of another ironman and it was largely thanks to my primary sponsor NEW WORLD CENTRE CITY (Dunedin Central) for getting me to the race.  Otherwise i don't think i would be able to be on the start line again so quick.

Race morning i had the usual nerves and queasy tummy which was actually a blessing as i took it as a sign i was ready to race.  I was a little nervous being away from Anja all day as it was going to be our longest time apart.  Glen and Maggie had things under control though and i knew she would have a fun day.


With a couple of people withdrawing from the race before the start there was only 11 of us at the swim start.  Every one took off so fast i was sure i was last, and i pretty much was.  I was thinking this will teach me for missing too many swim sessions.  Its true your body has some muscle memory but after barely exercising through my pregnancy and not enough sessions before this race the only memory my muscles were feeling was it was going to be a hard day.  But i love tough races.  Its why i keep entering and it motivates me for the next one.  I never felt as though i took the pressure off around the swim course apart from a couple of stops to try work out where we were going as the kayakers instructions of what side of the buoys to go around were very different to the briefing we had been given on land!  Out of the water and running to my bike race time was already well over an hour! OMG i must of swam over an hour.  1.01 in fact.  Considering last time i raced here in 2014 i swam 55mins it was a little shock to the system.  Hopefully the swim was a little long otherwise i literally swam slower than a couple of easy swims during the week :)



On to the bike i was feeling pretty good and excited about my favorite discipline.  I am loving my new Profile Design bar set up and it made me feel confident that although i didn't have a lot of long sessions behind me i was going to be comfortable.  I passed a couple of girls with in the first couple of kms.  Apart from that my bike position didn't change much for the rest of the 180km.  I knew Mel Burke was a couple of minutes behind me from the beginning and i expected her to whizz past me for the whole ride but it only happened around 175km so i was pretty happy with that.  The bike ride was pretty uneventful for the first 90km until it absolutely poured down half way and then it was just a soaking slippery mess and i was glad to stay up right and avoid any punctures.  For the second half of the ride but legs definitely started to remember that they weren't ironman fit and any time i tried to get a bit of relief up off the saddle on the climbs i virtually collapsed back on the seat.

(Photo cred - Rob Sheeley)

Hopping off my bike and running to get my run gear bag i knew my legs were TOAST.  I was hoping a miracle was going to happen once my feet got in some shoes.  Not much changed as i started off on the marathon apart from the fact that my legs already felt as though they were at 35km rather than 0.5km.  Oh well it surely couldn't get any worse.  I was sure i was plodding and looking rather funny but i was so happy to be running and racing.  Each lap when i ran up the hill it felt like i was just bouncing on the spot.  A few things got me through that run - the faster i got it done the quicker i got to see Glen and Anja, walking was only going to lead to taking longer and more time to think about pulling the pin SO KEEP RUNNING, if i DNF i would feel totally crap SO KEEP RUNNING, lastly i was so busting but didn't want to stop for the toilet yet couldn't seem to go while running either so the whole run i had this uncomfortable busting feeling…SO KEEP RUNNING then you can use the toilet….finally i was able to go while running at 37km :) haha better late than never.  It poured down for most of the run and got muddier and muddier.  Making sure i didn't twist an ankle in all the holes full of water was a great distraction from the constant pain of cramp in my legs.  I managed to pass one more pro at around 38km which never really happens to me so that was an added bonus.  Crossing that finish line was the best feeling knowing i had someone got through an ironman on very little training.  I ended up 5th with a time of 10.06.  Not my fastest ironman but also not my slowest.  It just goes to show that such a big part of ironman racing is mental (the training definitely helps though!) and that if you set your mind to something you WILL get through it.

(Photo cred - Rob Sheeley)

The recovery has been a bit frustrating.  One whole week of barely being able to walk which is the longest its ever taken me to get my legs back and then this past week Anja and i have been crook.  I am hoping i am through the worst of it as its 4 weeks until Ironman Cairns which is going to be a massive event being the new Asia Pacific Championships.  I really want to be able to give it my all over the next 4 weeks and go in to the next ironman improving my time, feeling fitter and thanking my sponsors and supporters for believing in me and helping me get to another start line.

A huge thanks goes out to Glen for traveling over to Australia with Anja and I, the Hurlston's for once again putting us up and Craig and Janice for being my primary sponsors with NEW WORLD CENTE CITY and for coming over and racing.  Hopefully we can find lots more fun events to do together.  They both had awesome races in the 70.3 despite Craig getting an ear infection and leg injury before the race and then a hand full of Kinna spikes in the swim! Talk about bad luck!

Also thank you to
Keegan Williams at Vo2Coaching
CycleWorld Dunedin
Profile Design
Smashfest Queen
Kinetic Health
Aloe Up Sun and Skincare

and supporters
Specialized, Blue Seventy, New Balance and GU energy