Ironman South Africa March 2005

20/03/05.
Ironman South Africa, Port Elizabeth.

Overall 10hr 46 76th

3.8km Swim 1hr 13 279th

180km Bike 5hr 38 101st

Marathon 3hr 40 53rd

805 started the race including 33 pros.20th in 30-34 age-group and 43rd age grouper home.

Penultimate training ride, Monday morning, 14th March, flying downalong the Twelve Apostles mountain range, Cape Town, on the CerveloP3, blue sky and sun shining with the ocean rolling in a short distance away. I let out a yelp, finally we were in South Africa! The5 winter months before had been spent training in multiple layers,mostly in the dark up against the elements. It felt good to be in thatskimpy one piece tri-suit!Race day arrived after a little light training in Cape Town and thenthe flight down to Port Elizabeth. Kata and Leon accompanied me to therace start not wanting to miss the dancing Zulu warriors at the swimstart. I felt mega-relaxed. I knew I'd done the hours and now just hadto let rip.


An incredible sun-rise greeted the swimmers. After divingthrough the breakers to start the swim I found a good rhythm andfinished the two lap swim on about 85% effort throughout, so where Iwanted to be. The current/chop, breakers and fairly long run up thebeach to transition made it not the quickest swim course so I washappy with 1hr 13.

After applying a little factor 50 (Kata said it looked like I had awhite beard when I left transition so obviously need to hone mysun-tan oil application skills) and drinking 750ml of water whilstrunning to the bike I was onto the Cervelo. The bike course was threelaps of a 60km circuit, the first 14km were uphill, then there was anout and back and then the route took you back into town along thecoast. After completing the first lap in 1 hr 51 I wondered if I'dgone too hard, this being 9 mins quicker than my 2 hr/lap target. Thesecond lap was also 1 hr 51. The third was 1 hr 56 primarily becauseby now the wind had picked up creating a direct headwind up the 14kmhill. In summary I absolutely hammered the bike. After that first lapand completing the hill for the second time, I realised I was having agood day and so went for it. I thought about very little else apartfrom how I was feeling and watching the decimals on my average speedindicator throughout the bike. The aero training I'd completed meantthat I could stay aero for long periods and I only changed out of thatposition on the inclines to engage different muscles for thoseperiods. So I was in my own world, hammering the pedals, watching thewheels and the road and racing Ironman for those 5 hours and 38minutes. A little bit of paradise if you get me.

After rocking up to T2 in less than 7 hours I was brimming withanticipation of how I'd fair on the marathon. I was either completelytorched or anywhere between that and being able to run effectively. Iinstantly felt good and completed the first 5K in 22 minutes. I putthis down to training fatigued for long periods and two sessions a dayin/out of work for months. I was now feeling the benefits of notcatching the train to/from work since during Embrun recovery back inSept 04. The marathon was again three laps, each of just over 14K. Mypace was good for the first twenty miles only slowing during the 2km8% hill (and another headwind) on each lap. The last six miles weretougher as I started to feel the effects of pushing the first 20 butheld it together to run the 20th fastest marathon of the day afterstripping out the pros. The support along the run course closer totown was fantastic including the zulu warriors who were still goingfor it. They were pounding out a great beat and each time I passed Ijust tried to soak up their energy. All of a sudden there was thefinish chute and the clock was still on 10hrs 46, so a sub 11 finishwhich I still don't understand fully. I walked over the line with Leonin my arms. Not often that you feel that good.

Later in the bar that evening with Steve and Laurie I ordered a halfpint as my second drink (as I was driving). 'Ah, a lady's drink',piped the barman. So a 10.46 and called a lady by thebarman.........looks like I'm gonna have to go sub-10!!!