Planned: Originally? Sub11. After the debacle from Prague? Sub12 (incl.mara in 3:30)
Actual: 11:23:57 – 9th age group,49th women, 702 (total 2,005 finishers). Weather FINALLY following my taste (ie over 20ºC and sunny…), swim faster than planned, bike definitely faster than expected (and despite the extra 5km on the too-long bike route) and finishing on a 3:30-marathon and not that tired, was the REAL cherry on the cake… Maybe I could have pushed a little more somewhere…like during the run… Maybe there will be more races…
Ironman – full-distance triathlon: swim 3800m, bike 180km, run 42,2km
(Hamburg had a longer bike route…185km…)
Race Results:
place (M/W) 49
place (age) 9
Total 702 (out of 2005 finisher)
Official splits:
Swim: 1:15:17 (1:59min(100m)
T1: 7:44
Bike: 6:20:43 (28.84km/h)
T2: 9:31
Run: 3:30:44
End time: 11:23:57
Point Time Avg pace Place AG Place Gender Place Overall
Swim 01:15:17 1:59min/100m 15 84 887
T1 00:07:44
Bike 06:20:43 28.84km/h 25 128 1500
T2 00:09:31
Run 03:30:44 5:00min/km 1 9 110
Total 11:23:57 9 (43) 49 (248) 702 (2,005)
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IM Day-10
TAPERING start!!! FINALLY!!! Final big run done on July 14th, final big swim done on July 16th and final big bike done on July 18th. Body feeling fine. Vacation started on Jul 13th, so full focus on the race really. But this Tapering start with an accident on the bike was NOT in the plan. Pretty shaken to have a bus cutting my line and forcing me to fall in the ditch and close-by field. Good it ended with no problem body-wise, no apparent issue on the bike (extra service still done on July 22) but the head was not really happy about that happening… Coach was good to choose those 10days tapering. New race tyres on the bike. OMG… feeling so ready and still so many days left…
IM Day-8
Start of the day with a brick-workout in order to take it easy rest of the day and celebrate a bit E. Carbs on the menu and Coca cola for drink. I know…
IM Day-6&-5
Finally reaching week 0. Have had a post-it indicating the countdown since week 20… and this was already without counting all the weeks BEFORE… In a marathon week, I would have turn those days into carb-depletion, but unsure really here. Tried to increase intake of protein (no problem…), stable on the fat (ie no change really) and slightly less carbs (booooooring…). Took 2 days before I started to get annoyed with this and skipped it. Bought large bottles of fresh juices (orange, apple, pineapple) and had that during the days. No real happy kids as they saw me drinking this during the day and I kindly asked them NOT to drink of those bottles, just to be sure I was having my “dose” of carbs. (yeaaaah… sure… was the answer I constantly receive from them…). Checking the weather constantly. No… even more often than that. With the latest IM I checked and followed for the past 2 months, the weather had been so crazy! But I rather have the hothothot temperatures from IM Frankfurt or IM Nice rather than the heavy rains and cancelled swim from IM Cork in Ireland. Pleaaaaase! Give me some sun! Discussions on the race Facebook group is most solely around the algues status in the lake Alster. Last year’s swim was cancelled due to the too high level of algues… What algues? Those ones which are poisonous if in too high concentration… Starting to prepare for option like last year duathlon (Run 6km-Bike 178km-Run 42,2km), but with all the hours spent in the pool, I would very much like to have this swim happening…
IM Day -4
Time to pack everything. Good that E suggested to pack the bike yesterday evening as it took literally FOREVER for doing it. Or maybe it was because we started around 10:45pm… Or because we had no idea what to remove and how to place what. All-in-all, went to the pool for extra easy workout and jogged easy back home. Sun shining outside. 34ºC in Hamburg… Weather forecast indicates 28ºC on race day and possible thunderstorms in the afternoon. If someone could place them during the run (“MY” run), that would be good. Don’t want to ride under the rain… Direction the ferry with WAY too many bags and settling in our cabin. We eat our pasta salad, go around the boat and then I settle in the cabin and fall asleep. Good GET can occupy themselves…
IM Day-3
Waking up while arriving in Kiel, Germany. Breakfast on the roof deck (croissant and nutella and orange juice… Dream breakfast…). Finding the train station is a challenge in itself, carrying all the bags another one. G has to carry the transport bag I have borrowed, because it is not stable when rolling it (and probably E and I did not pack it optimally… as both wheels are out and we left the pedals…)… Reaching Hamburg after a quite calm trip, if it wasn’t for the guys who came into the bike wagon with their dogs and I felt crazily ready to leave for not being touched by those beasts… Bus. Hotel. Chat with Mum&Dad to indicate our arrival. Chasing restaurant, ending close to the IM registration area in a food court. Grilled chicken tandoori with lots of rice. THAT is called carbo-loading… Then pick-up of the BIB. Having GET with me is mostly fun for me (I think), but good they see what I usually go through before my races. A bit disappointed to have no number tatoo in my registration bag, but I receive an orange bracelet indicating “I will be become one”. This is showing I am part of Class 2019 and this is my first Ironman. A little time in the merchandise tent, out with 2 caps, fake tatoo and a magnet. And three tired fans… Back to the hotel. Build my bike. Took short time but unsure of some noise it makes and feels a bit unstable. Hoping I did not forgot/lost a little stuff for the steering bars (yeah…I still don’t know the name of ALL the parts of the bike… But I can show and point the finger to where I think something is not working properly…). G is wonderful and take time to re-do stuff I had not noticed. Not understanding really what he does, BUT the noise is gone and the steering is stable. Going for a quick ride to check the gears, the height of the saddle, the brakes… well… everything. Funny enough I reach a long stretch along a park and use it for back and forth riding, testing all the gears. Had chosen to go directly to test the bike, not changing to bike gear… And happy to see that I can ride the bike in regular close with no pain in the bum 🙂 But the sweat!!! As soon as I slow down or stop to check, the sweat is just running on the body. 36ºC out there… and this is end of afternoon and the sun is low… Quick stop at the IM village to see if the Service people can check my bike is built back properly, but they indicate that they close in 30minutes, have still 10 bikes to check and to come back the day after. Sure… when everyone will come… I decide to fully trust G’s adjustment. It is -after all- “only” 185km to ride tomorrow… GET have gone buying groceries during my ride and G prepares wonderful pasta in delicious tomato and meat sauce. They know me well 🙂
IM Day-2
OMG! It starts to feel real. If it had not before… On the bike right after going up, finding the first long stretch of Hamburg marathon and use it for riding back and forth. Nothing like a training session really. Confirming the confidence in the bike, which is always good to have. Back at the hotel. Change to running gears and headed to the start of the race. Nothing much really. Noted at the IM Village that there was already a queue of 5-6 bikes for the Service tent and it was not yet 9:45am… Back home. Breakfast. And then nothing else to do. But waiting. And double-checking AGAIN that I have all my stuff under control. Went to the Race briefing with E. Pretty cool ambiance. We were sitting right in the middle of the large group coming from Israel. Real fun. The briefing was mostly what was written in the Athlete’s guide (which I had read over and over a few times already…), but just for the ambiance it was worth it. And nice to share that with E 🙂 Evening dinner turned into going back to the food court with GET and Mum&Dad. Not changing a well-working food, I chose the grilled tandoori chicken with rice. Had drunk quite a lot of water and juice during the day. Dehydration shall NOT be on the program this weekend! Had in mind to go to the Pasta Party with T, but it was a little bit away and was not fully enthusiastic in eating stuff I was not cooking or fully sure about… Way better to be in good company and safe food 🙂 Showing to the fan-club where the Swim exit will be. It is so covered with rubbish already. Cannot get that we are allowed to swim in this water. Coach has told me “whatever you do, just DO NOT SWALLLOW this water…”. Ended the day with a hot shower…and hitting my fronthead on the towel-holder. Got a little cut, light-headed and definitely not happy. T cleaned the cut, put a little band aid on it and gave it a kiss to solve everything… Well-raised kid, this one 🙂
IM Day-1
Awaken as usual… Out for short&easy leg shaking. Really not necessary for the body, but the head needed it. Long shower after that. Front-head hurting still yesterday. Little scare, but hoping it won’t hurt with the helmet on. Breakfast. And then sent GET with their grand-parents for having time for myself. Being social is far from the top of the priorities during the few days before any race… Prepared my gears, double-checking over and over and even once more. All in the Blue Bike bag, the Red Run bag and what I needed for the Swim and after-race in the White Street bag. Stickers on the bags, helmets, bike. Can’t this day just finish?!?!? Ate on my own a wonderful plate of pasta with tomato sauce and minced meat. Far from as good as G’s but that would do. After that, just drinking sport-drinks, juice and water. And when tired of this, even took 2 gels… Around lunch-time, walking easy to the start in order to see how the test swim in the Alster is going. Forgot my cap and the sun is pretty strong… Reaching the lake and not finding anyone there. What? Is there another lake to swim in? They showed in on the Facebook page… And then after deciding to go back home and rest, I see a little group of swimmers on the extreme end of the lake, close to the little bridge. I need to check them… Some are swimming in wetsuits, other swimskin and pretty sure, some are in regular swimming suits. Yes, in this really disgusting water. But at least, I have seen people swimming in this. Cannot be THAT bad… maybe…
At the return of all the fan-club, time to head to the transition and check-in for bike and bags. E followed me as planned. Had been so much chats for the past days with my coach. Good support. At least for keeping my sanity of mind. Dropped my bike at its place. Wonderful one: right after the mount/dismount line, there are the pro-bikes and RIGHT after, starts the “common mortal” bikes spots… and here was mine!!! 3 spots from the end of the bike rack. Perfect! This meant having a long stretch to run (everyone run anyway the same distance…), BUT I would not need to run with the bike for so far! Met 3 other Swedes around me. Looking at their bike, I knew I would have to work a lot to keep up… at least I would have the run… No tension in the head really. But this feeling that whatever bubble I might have around me is going to explode was for sure VERY real! Noted as well where my red and blue bags are left. Once again, feeling that I got the jackpot for the place of my bags: right at the end of each rack. Meaning I just have 3 bags before mine. Not TOO difficult to remember or find. Going through the transition area one last time. Cannot understand all the fuzz about this, it looks pretty simple: off the swim, run to grab the blue bag, in the change tent, run to the bike, off the bike route, drop the bike, run back to get the red bag, in the change tent and let’s the magic begins… OK. Now if I check this once again, I will become crazy. Finally leaving the Transition area, with my wonderful IM-wrist chip with me. E found me back after spending all my “check-in the bike and checking the transition area” time in the super stores close-by… And yes…it tooks slightly longer than the 10minutes I told him… E puts the wristband on me and smile as it looks like I am a prisoner on probation with this ankle-stuff probably beeping if I go to far… At least I am not alone with this… 😛
Back home. And definitely not social for 2 pennies. Give to E the “plan” for tomorrow with expected time and where they are mostly welcome to be standing and cheering. The fan-club leaves me and get pizzas they eat in the breakfast area of the hotel. I continue to drink my sport drinks…and reading allover again the plan for tomorrow. After painting my nails to suit the rest of my gears, got a final chat with coach. I am ready. Cannot be more ready. Let’s get this done. In bed around 9:30pm… which is of course an illusion as there is no chance for sleeping at this time… At least I try…
IM RACE DAY!!!!
Finally!!!! Like this day will never arrive!!!
Before the race
02:30am – Eventually falling asleep after turning in the bed for the 156th time. Have slept a bit (I think?), got awaken, check the clock, double-check the alarm (several times…on both phones…). Going up around 3:40am right before the alarm rings (I know Coach said to go up at 4am, but I need to be sure I am actually awaken…eventually). Directly heading to the fridge and taking half of the 1l M320 mix and a banana. Shower. Feel SO crazy ready….
4:20am – Ready (almost). Waking up E who is coming with me to the start. Racing gears are on (ORCA tri top, 2XU tri shorts, socks & shoes (the latter too will be in the white bag for after). Fixing the hair with two breaded stuff in the back, and anti-chaffing cream where it should not chaff… Can I be more ready? Nope. Not really.
4:35am – Five minutes earlier than the plan 🙂 Checking ONCE more that I have all my bottles for the bike, the tyre change kit (in what E calls “my little rubbish bin for the bike”), the little front bag with all the gels, extra cream…. I need to go. Will get crazy otherwise! Have drunk all my M320, another visit to the loo. Final kisses to sleepy G&T and hop. We leave…
4:45am – OK… I REALLY should know better by know. Leaving at this time of the day with only a tshirt and shorts is NOT the best approach. More laughing at it than focusing on it. Walking a bit and it gets (slightly) warmer. Light chat with E. Good. This takes my head off what is going to happen soon. E knows me well. Just charming and encouraging stuff comes out of his mouth. We are alone in the street until we get closer to the start… THERE are all the people crazy enough to do the same thing as me…. Still no light from the sun yet. Nice in the air. We get to the entrance of the bike, E follows me from the outside. Direction the bike first. Putting all my bottles on the bike, filling the front one. Attaching the little front bag and putting the little rubbish bin on. Get some help from a volunteer who kindly go and ask to some pro-men for borrowing their pump 🙂 What a service!!! Pumping according to Coach’s instructions. He knows best. Putting on the aero-bars my BIB and the belt, then my helmet upside down, then my sunglasses and then on the top, my Salomon 250 with the bike gels. Looking at everyone. No rush. No anxiety. Pretty calm. Is announced that this will be a wetsuit-allowed swim. Yeaaaah! At least I get to use it! But the pro have it without wetsuit. Not that it is a problem for me. 🙂 E is following me down the line of the Transition. Back to my red bag for the run, where I final-check the order of my stuff in it and add the 2 small Salomon 150 on the top. Hoping there will be no leakage… And then the blue bag, where I just double-check. Once again. (Note to myself: if it is not called OCD-like behaviour, I don’t know what it should be called. And it appears that all triathletes most likely are similar on this one. Checking, once more and again, just to be sure, and not forgetting something…). Final kiss given/received through the grind. E will head to the bridge to meet the rest of the fan-club. I am getting into the change tent eventually. Time has flown away really…
06:08am – Have got into my wetsuit. Covered my wrists, ankles, shoulders, neck and probably more with baby-oil, hoping (read: “praying”…) that it will make this wetsuit go away faster. Had tried once with the oil during training and it worked fine. But now it is for real… A kind triathlete helps me close the wetsuit (here go the 15 minutes extra-sweating that I usually have when trying to close the wetsuit on my own…). Heading to the start. Taking a GU-gel (triberry) and Beet-it after leaving the tent. Walking from there. Good to have G’s flip-flop on the feet. Not the only one doing it. LOTS of people on the dock. Cannot find the small trucks to leave my white bag. Starting to hyperventilate a little, then breathing slowly again when I meet a triathlete coming out of the water telling me to go back and throw the bag in the two small trucks I have passed. Heart beating a little faster when going through the crowd. Throwing my white bag. Point of no-return to be found now (aka “the start”). People are still in the water and asked to leave it.
06:25am – Finding my start…kind-of. It indicated “<1:05” and “1:15-1:05”, when it was supposed to be “<1:00” and “1:00-1:10”, “1:10-1:20”… Confused. Not the only one. Getting into the second one. My plan is to get it done under 1:20. And hopefully close to1:15. So should not be too wrong in this second group. Can get straight to the water front. Wow!!!!
06:29am – Announcing the start for the pro men. Have not seen them getting into the water. Was too focused on putting my double cap on the head. Problem is that I am pretty sure my goggles are going to get foggy if not wetting them before.
06:30am – BAM and the start of pro men is given. Magical. Magnificent. This is COMPLETELY different to see it in REAL, than for all the IM races I have followed on tv during the past months!!! And shortly after the pro women start too. I don’t know why I am here. Feeling like “out of the body experience” really. This flow of emotions just growing inside.
06:38am – All starting to do the Island volcano claping. This is huge. Nobody talks to me, but getting a few smiles. Noting now that the women have yellow caps and men blue caps. Good. Easier to keep up. And then there are the gold, silver and bronze caps… more difficult to catch in the water, but at least I see the difference with the regular caps.
THE RACE
THE SWIM
06:40am – BAAAAM! The start is finally given to us, age-groupers! Nothing is really happening on my side of the fence…as there are a lot of people on the OTHER side which have to start swimming before they open to us. Quick check at the athletes on the other side of the fence and honestly, some (read: “many”) do NOT belong there. Not.a.chance! If I am a 1:15-20 swimmer, they probably are over 1:45. And should NOT be in this group. Other athletes in my corral notice this too and some (probably the faster ones) are not happy too. Start to argue a bit with the volunteers, but honestly I could not care less. At least I know how to seed myself for the next time… if there is a next time… It gives me time to look at this rolling start. The pros started in the water. We start with a quick-short run into the water, four by four. I can manage it. I think. I hope.
06:45am – OK… the wave of human going into the lake is still on the other side of the fence… and yes, I am checking my watch…again…
06:46am – All gets pretty fast. The fence is pulled to let us move to the start. I get to be in the first ones, but want to see HOW people are doing first… Take a place 2-3 after the one I should have had. And sorry if this created a little stop for the people behind.
06:47am- I am in the starting block. Cannot screw this one. My brain has stopped thinking. Improvise it tells to the body. Relax and …”GO” is the last thing I hear. I see myself running the few steps into the water. See myself dive into the water (!) . See myself starting to move my arms like a freaking wind-mill. And that was the start. Nothing like the start in the two small swim OW races I did last year, with one having start in the water (I incidentally registered as “fast swimmer”… not knowing I would be the slowest of the fast ones…) and the second one with a little start from the beach all at once, but with much less people… and freaking freezing water too. I just swim. I know I have to keep all the buoys on the right. I have to pass one in the “first lake” before reaching the bridge. Had removed the alerts-sound on the watch before the race and that was a mistake. The water is dark like the bottom of the ocean (and probably as dirty). I swim, swim, swim. Passing the first buoy, no idea of the time. This is irrelevant. I must reach the bridge for getting this first 500m. I cannot understand all the people NOT being close to me. Pretty sure I am swimming straight. Coach has told me to be careful NOT to follow people all the time, NOT to trust the buoys (which could be placed a little off), to follow people passing me and let them do the work for me for a while… All this I have listened too. The only catch is that…I have nobody around me. I happily lift the head when getting close to the bridge. Just in my mind I feel my fan-club is there watching. Under the bridge-swimming is an experience. All swimmers are compelled to get closer to each other. But still, no one around or near/close to me really. Warning from Coach was for breatstroker-when-looking-up-for-the-buoy. And indeed, a bit after the bridge, I met one of them. I saw that coming really. He just stopped crawling and BAM! I got his knee way-too-close to my rib cage. Swimming after the bridge was expected to be long-boring. One straight kilometer before the turning buoy. It is just that… I was still pretty alone. I had all the kayaks with the volunteers on my right, but could see lots of people FAR away from me on the left. Had found a good rhythm with breathing every second time. Because the right-side breathing made my eyes straight into the morning sun, and that was far from pleasant. Alternated with 3 and 4th- breathing. Counting the buoys, I started to question my choices and my sanity to be even here. I was pretty sure I had the correct number of buoys to be passed in my head, but when reaching the one I thought to be the turning one, my watch indicated 1200/1300m or kind-of. Not sure. It was NOT indicating the 1500m which were supposed to be the turning buoy… And then… I saw it!!! Could not miss it. The buoys so far were like yellow tubes (and on the way back I could see they would be red tubes). But this one I detected (far far far away…) was like a pyramid. Good, soon time to turn. Goodbye 1:20, but who cares, I’ll catch up on the run, I kept thinking. Got passed by a magnificent swimmer…who nicely kicked me in the face. Not happy really, but at least it stopped my thoughts from “where on earth is this stupid turning buoy” into “OMG! I hope that I will not be bleeding when taking off the goggles and that someone will see it and stop me from continuing the race”… Thoughts were filled with planning “how to hide the potential bleeding” when I eventually reached the pyramid buoy. And yes… this kick although caught me off-guard and I had to drink water against my will… Please please please… No crazy dirty rubbish bacteria now in my tummy… aaaaaaaan YEAAAAAH! One buoy done…. 2300m to go…and the bike…and the run… At least I had gone this far on my own. The straight line to the next turning buoy was with the sun in the face… meaning good for breathing on the side but real rubbish for checking how far was the buoy and whether I was still on the correct course. Once again (as so many time during the swim), I could not understand that I was so alone with what I saw being lots of swimmers quite far from me. Either they were way off-course (which I hoped secretly…), or I was pretty off and alone (which did not make sense as I always swam close to the kayaks…). And the turning buoy number 2 was reach. Quick check at the watch (I know…I know…) indicated it was about 1800/1900m or something. Just have to reach this little bridge back and after that it is “only” 800m-ish to the finish line for the swim. Reaching this bridge took f.o.r.e.v.e.r…. And being alone did not help. Under the bridge. Continued straight forward-like, not understanding (again…) why people where heading towards the side of the lake, when clearly I was in the right course towards the turning buoy. Started to feel a bit tired by then. Even considered a split-second to…breaststroke and check the route ahead of me… When those thoughts come to mind… better not listen to them. Counted down towards the final little bridge. 500m. Nothing. Occupied my head doing the calculation of “how many lengths of a 50m-pool is needed to reach 500m?”… and no… I did not get easily straight to the answer… By the time I reached the little bridge, I just heard the tips from Coach. Keep the legs fresh for the bike, and don’t tire them after that for the run to come. Swimming and breathing every 2. Started to see T on the side of the water. Which was pretty much impossible as they were to be on the bridge in the middle of the lake… meaning 800m-ish from there (and I am taking the short path through the water…they would need to go around the lake…). But yes, here she was. Even with my foggy goggles, I would recognize her in a million! Could hear her too (but this was probably not really true as I usually hear nothing with swimming cap on… Let my mind come up with stuff… that’s ok 🙂 ). And the red carpet to get out of the water. Too fast. Cannot understand I am already out there. Trying to climb the stairs AND finding the zip in my back at the same time. Not working. Stressing a bit. Pressing the watch to the next step…
T1 (Transition #1)
T1
1:15-ish after Swim start – A quick check on the watch tells me…WHAAAT?!? 1:15 on the swim??? and I struggle to get out of this stupid wetsuit. Off with the watch and into the sports-bra. Pulling the right arm from the shoulder, but it just does not go off. Hearing cheering from me. But recognizable voices are here too…and they are not in my head! “You are on time, Kari. Right on schedule. Allez, Allez, Allez”…and here goes Dad on the right side. Wow, wonderful. Coach’s voice in my head telling me to calm down, taking it easy. By the time I reach my blue bag, at least I have succeeded in pulling down the wetsuit to my waist. This required to walk, but at least there was no cursing involved… Just a little disappointed. In the change tent, all goes so fast…and so slow at the same time. Off with the wetsuit. Emptying what I need on the bench. There are lots of place available in the tent. Good! Drying myself a little. Drying the feet. On with the socks. On with the bike tri-shoes. Throwing all my stuff in the bag. Throwing the bag in the fenced area. Starting to run with the bike shoes, focusing on 1)not falling and 2)putting on my bike gloves. The positive with having 500m-ish more to run to reach the bike, is that you are pretty ready when reaching it! Lots of bike still at the racks. Good. I am not the last one. Reaching my bike place. Hearing E cheering on one side. Methodically putting my Salomon 250 in my back pocket of the tri top. On with the sunglasses. On with the helmet. On with the belt with the BIB. Quick hello to Mum & G on the other side of the fence. Off with the bike. Easy run towards the mount/dismount line.
Good! One sport done. Two to go!
THE BIKE
XX:XXam – A bit unsure when/where the bike starts really. Just don’t want to mount the bike before the authorized line. Had hoped it was clearly indicated, but honestly cannot remember seeing anything. Just following the flow. And not falling. Pressing anyway the watch to the next leg. Happy to climb on the bike. The head is filled with the noise from the cheering at the mounting area. And then shortly after into a tunnel. Quiet. Nice. Finding my place back and comfortable on the bike. First turning left. Do not fall. Find your legs. Coach’s voice in the head just saying so many things, that I cannot recall what to do really. Only that first 5-10km are to be cool spinning, finding myself on the bike, no pressure. Which is exactly what is happening. Very happy. Not many people. I constantly think about this drafting stuff. Checking that I am not too close to other bikes. But honestly, in some parts, it is just not possible. If I would not just stop and walk… This is what brings us to the first cobblestones area. “Only 100m”, they told us. “Beware of flying bottles and other stuff”, they told us. Indeed, at this first passage around km 3-4, I see the first 2 bottles flying ahead of me. I slow down and definitely do NOT enjoy cycling there. Was expecting cobblestones with stuff in-between, but those are with hole in-between. My concern turns into “please, do not make me have a flat tyre here on this part”. Ending this stupid (and totally unnecessary) part with loads of sport-drink on my lap and on my bike as the front-bottle was completely filled up and the little-tiny hole enabling to skip having bubbles (I think?) just let LOTS of the sport drink jump out. Sticky thighs from this moment onwards. Wonderful feeling…not! I just get into a good flow after that. Hearing the buzz from my watch every 15minutes to remind me to take a zip of water. The plan is to get a bottle (0,5l double-dosed) every hour, one gel coffein at the end of every hour and fruits mentos during the hours #3&4. Extra gels in the little front bag as well as 2 extra pulver bags for mixing an extra bottle which I planned to have during the last hour. Sounded like the best plan ever… if followed… We are riding in the middle of nowhere really. I am alone. Liking it. Seeing riders passing by and disappearing. Cheering for a few I met before. And then…I see it.. THE bridge. The reason I registered in November was the flat and fast run route and the crazy flat bike route…which for the latter was changed in January to include THE bridge. Had since thought this would be my loss on the bike… But once on it, what a bless. Wonderful view. Enjoying fully to see that my watch indicated… what?!?!? 30+km/h?!?!? Cannot be right. Best part of the ride was actually the bridge…which was not THAT high as it appears to be in the footage of the race… Worked a lot to keep the aeroposition. In the downhill from the bridge, it got a bit fast, so back to holding the steering bars instead. Loved it. Did not brake during the downhill (almost). And even enjoyed the speed… Got passed by buys sounding and looking like meteorites. What I learnt early on the course was to recognize the sound before being passed. I was so focused on doing right, riding according to the rules of non-drafting, looking before and after passing bikes… that when I got to hear this very specific noise, I thought a motorcycle was to pass me…but nope. That was the fast guys on fast bikes. Not many gals passing me, which was a good sign. Although you never know how fast you are in this triathlon race until the end, as we have rolling start for the swim…(ie different starting time). Anyway, was not expecting to have way-crazy faster chicks behind me. And if passed by one, then to try to keep here in my sight. That was the plan. Easy. But not to do. The route was quite confusing at parts and despite having studied it quite carefully, I pretty much felt loss after the bridge… Reaching the first 30km in one hour was the best mark ever received. This is NOT my speed. Of course, I can reach this, but for intervals…of 10-15minutes… Not steady for 1hour! Gave a boost to the confidence. First water-station and I grabbed a bottle of water on the fly (Soooooo proud of myself!), throwing water on my thighs and a bit on the bike. Throwing the bottles in the rubbish area and then cleaning my thighs again. Less sticky… All seem like a blur afterwards really. Just riding. Thoughts coming through the mind. Good and bad (or “less good”). Where was this stupid straight line along the water?!? The kilometers-signs felt quite aligned with what my watch indicated. Kind-of. Got to this expected straight-line… and felt the speed going down…the wind paying around… Kept the head cleared from negative thinking, focused on the work to be done…and counted down the kilometers to the turning point… Which in MY head should have arrived WAY sooner. Saw the signs on the side of the rode indicating 140km on my side and slightly after 170km (on the other side of the road when I turned my head back). Meaning I had 30km to cut into to. Meaning the turning point was at 15km from here. Meaning I would reach it at 55km.. right? Or was it 60km? Calculations in the head are NOT the best occupation at this point of the race (if there ever is a good point for doing calculations…). Then remembered…OK…was it 47km done when I reached this turning-right point? And from there it was how long to the 140km-mark? So it should be…47+whatwasit-5kmtothe140km-sign?+15 so I should arrive at the turning point around… wait…was it 5km or 7 to the 140km… and is 30 divided by 2 really equal to 15? and Woooow!… you guy, would be nice if you are just NOT cutting my path like that! Because if I am following those non-drafting rules, this is not the case of everyone. For sure some places are just impossible, but here… Give me a break! Even I can do it!!! You start passing, accelerating, of course when a guy see a chick passing by on the left-side, he tends to accelerate (when the rule is to actually slow down and let the other one pass… I think…), pass the other rider within 25seconds and then go back on the right-side. The passed rider should fall back to get those 12m again. It is never written to actually not cut the lane, but this is what I experience throughout this flat part. SO.ANNOYING!!! And I am a nice gal! So just STOP behaving this way!!! And look!!! The turning point!!! Yeaaaah!!! so nice to have checked a few times this video (stupidly only in German… Thanks for the international athletes coming to the race…) explaining the bike course and recognizing this turning point. Not falling. Focus on not falling. You-stupid-behind-me, don’t dare cutting my space when I aaaaaam tuuuuurning….and hop! The other direction. I have screwed up my drinking plan since a while. First hour did not see the front-bottle emptying itself (apart from the cobblestones part…). And I duly ignore the 15min buzz from my watch. How on earth can I feel in need to pee with so little drinking??!? Did I drink THAT much in the swim-part?!?! Had taken correctly my dose of caffeine gels on the hour. Keeping the aeroposition is killing me. Really. I refuse to pee on myself to win time. Will stop after the turning point. Must be a porta-potty at the water-station I saw on the other direction. Grabbing a bottle of water…on the fly… Yeaaah… I’m cool! Throwing it away after pouring water on my head. And pedaling away… Noticing the porta-potty only AFTER I passed them. Not a chance in a million that I am turning back. You, blaster of mine, will have to hold until… I don’t know… 30km to the next water-station? Be strong. The straight line which was what I thought would be where-to-get-up-in-speed-to-catch-up-what-was-lost-while-climbing-the-bridge, appears to be the total contrary. So much wind. Not CRAZY strong like I had had at home, but from the side and enough to slow me down. Mental deep now. I don’t want to continue. Well…yes I do. But not here. This is boring. Passed by a few people, but not crazy many. I think. The Swedish gal who passed me after the bridge has a long stretch ahead of me. Cannot see any chick on my side of the road. But many on the other directions. No idea how fast they are. But I know I’ll get them on the run. Reaching the cobblestones-*#”%!*** part again. SERIOUSLY?!?!? I feel like a sticky lollypop and probably look like it too 😦 Hoping I won’t have loads of small flies stuck on the body when I reach the run… And here it comes… the 90km-sign… Passing it…and still…not yet at the turning point… WHO ON EARTH DRAW THIS BIKE ROUTE?!?!? Definitely not someone who is ACTUALLY riding a bike!!! You don’t want to see the expected-turning-point distance and still have 2km to go!!!! Reaching the little tunnel, getting up in speed, starting to hear the buzz coming from the light at the end of the tunnel (no…not hallucinating…) and out! Screaming crowd. That’s crazy. Filled with all this I get to THE point of turning. Taking it veeeeeeery carefully on the outside… and then. I hear them. The best-fanclub-in-the-world!!! I even catch a glimpse of them and hear their scream! Smile. Hi with lifting the hand and back to the tunnel. No longer in need to pee. Got a major boost from the crowd and the loved ones. ONE lap done, ONE (#***”!?#*) to go 😛 This part along the water has made my average speed dropping. Booooring… I am still above 28.4km/h… So… calculations are starting again while the legs pedal a bit harder. If I get the same average speed as the first lap on this first 30-40km, I should get above 29km/h by then and close the gap to 30km/h. And all this… is killed by the passage on the cobblestones…AGAIN!!! (positive thought now…3 done, only one to go!). Have been very careful on all passages on the railways. Covered by thin stuff is better than nothing. But really? Could not they have a slightly thicker cover on the railways and a cover at all on the cobblestones?!?!?! Stick thighs and full calculations in the head when reaching the bridge. Second time. Feel even stronger than the first time… Until I hear this buzzzz sound… a bit stronger than for the bikes who had passed me…because this is motorcycle passing us. They stay close to me and the guy ahead of me for a little while. They get a smile from me. And I thought silently “seriously?!?! you stop and look at me and this guy?!? when there are hoards forming after the bridge AND along the straight-line close to the canal?!?! must be joking…”. Keeping quiet. They go away. Passing the guy before the crown of the bridge. Enjoying the downhill, taking it a little more careful this time. I check a little on the watch. Good, the average speed is climbing back. Slowly but surely. Straight, turn, more railways to pass. The scene of riders with crazy fast bikes stopped on the side of the road is no fun to see really. Feeling sad a bit. Reaching water-station. Grab a water bottle. Pour on the legs and head. Throw on the rubbish-fenced area…and screaming a “soooooory” when hearing the volunteer I hit on the head (?) with the bottle. Not my fault he was INSIDE the designated area for throwing the bottles 😦 OK. Re-focus. What was it I was supposed to do during the second lap? Cannot remember. Only the HR-range of first lap, the “do not muscle if getting headwind” and the “light on the gear towards the end”. Did he really say that? OK. Go on the feel. I feel good. All is good. And getting to this right turn on the straight-line… At least I know about it know. Pretty sure, I’m going to nail it. The wind is NOT scarying me. At all. I think. What is it doing? Sidewind?!?! AGAIN?!?!? into my face?!?!. Tired of it. I want sunshine, I want sunshine and more sunshine. NOOOOOOO wind! Is that understood?!?. Deeping again. I am stronger than that, but now loosing focus. Don’t want to be here. Who is actually signing up for those stupid stuffs? OK, I did, but no more. I want to ride long and fast, but just.not.here. Seeing the speedy riders on the other sides. I have done the full first lap without being passed by the pro-men and pro-women. A win in itself. For me. Why is it so windy?!? Standing up to get my bum muscles a little break. And actually riding a bit faster than while sitting. How are they all doing?!?! in aeroposition I am going to just fall with this wind. Let this end!!!! NOW!!! And then THE thought came into my mind “The race is not over until the French lady runs!” Here you are. I came here to run a marathon and not even this stupid wind will stop me from doing it. Repeating this mantra over and over again until the turning point. I will hammer the other direction. This is my new plan. I know it is probably not good for the legs especially for my running plans, but I cannot get this average pace getting lower. Have been passed over and over again (and passed back…) “Jon” from Great- Britain. By now, we almost laugh a bit when one is passing the other. Still under the rules. It just happens that we pass each other. Reaching km160-ish, I throw at him “We really have to stop meeting this way, Jon!” and get a “Right back at you” and a laugh 🙂 The couple (guy and gal) who apparently ride together (yes. They do. Even side by side some times… This.just.P***s.me.off!) is in front of me. I’ll pass them one last time. I love this final 30km stretch… Because I pass LOTS of people. All those who passed me on the way to turning point, pressing against the wind. They are all just looking so tired… I love my speed. I enjoy. Even when passing the sheeps one last time (OMG…they stinked a lot the first time, but this second lap it smells even worse. I have received a boost somewhere. I remember now that I have not stopped at all for peeing. Should this be done before ending the bike? Deciding not too. Have not felt anything during the full second lap. I see the end is arriving. I know I should not press on the legs that much now. But I want to have a strong finish and no rubbish average pace. Already under 29km/h anyway. Just not letting it go down more. Seeing the signs indicating it is soon finished. All the smiles received during the two laps. The policeman dancing twice when seeing me after the bridge, the volunteers screaming and cheering. The passing-by athletes who sometimes cheered a bit. All that is now pressing on my pedals. I reached the little tunnel. Have been lighting up the pedaling since 5km to the end. That should do. Please legs, be nice with me. Under the bridge and into the tunnel. Cheering is at the end. And then it is light again. All goes SO crazy fast. Where should I go? Where is the dismount line? I complete my dismount as I rehearsed it in my head 100 times at least. Unclip left shoe. Leave right shoe on the bike. Off left shoe. Cross the dismount line. And run like crazy on socks to the bike rack. Next is T2 (Transition #2).
T2
6:20-ish after Bike start – Cannot understand really how fast I got this ride to disappear. Passed halfway in 3hr15, so very much hoping I did at least as good in the second lap. Hanging my bike. This is the only thing I have to do. Noting that I have a full ,75l bottle remaining untouched on the bike. I have eaten all the fruit mentos during the last 3 hours, but the drinking has apparently been on the lower range. Hope it won’t be a problem on the run… Running to the portapootty. Finally!!!! Take a while with all the drinking… (and still one bottle short!). But eventually out and starts to run towards the red bags. The gal in front of me and I are stopped by 2 volunteers. The gal is running with both shoes in her hand and I have one. They oblige us to put on the shoes on the spot after stupidly arguing. (I should have continued and risk a penalty of 30sec instead… because running with bike shoes is nothing fun nor easy, but running with only one is not to be recommended…). Taking my red bag. No lady around my number has been there yet. Yes! To the change tent. Calming down. Off with the bike shoe (the only one I have). Off with the socks as I have felt something I fear to be a blister under a big toe during the second lap of the bike. Drying the feet and quick check indicate that nope. All good! Fresh socks anyway. Running shoes on. Tri top off. Too warm already. Sun cream on my shoulders, which I thought were starting to burn during the bike. Drying the tummy from the after-sweat. On with running glasses. In with the gels on side pocket of tri shorts. Put all the stuff in the bag. Keep my two Salomon 150 in my hands. Throw the red bag in the fenced area. And starts running….and running…where does the run start? Pressing my lap-button on the watch when reaching an arch which I hope (!) is the beginning of the marathon.
Two done. The best to go!
THE RUN
XX:XXam – OK…Slow down. They scream. You run. Get into the pace. Ease into it. Coach’s voice screaming kindly in my head. Not daring to check the pace on my watch. I know this. I know I am way faster than I should. And I promised to take it easy-crazy-easy at the start. Reaching the gravel and little bridge for km1 and the beep on the watch indicate that I am actually on quite good course for the km-signs. In the little tunnel. Daring a quick check on the watch and indeed… 4:45-pace by km2 is NOT the plan… Should be more 5:30. Slowing down crazily. My legs are flying. Why can’t they be just left alone.? Smiles all around. And here I see them E&G screaming on the side of the road. Exactly where I told them (km2-ish/km7-ish). LOOOOOOVING it. Pace going up accordingly. Surprised we are not running along the lake (ie closer to the lake), but it is actually better under the trees. Protecting quite well from the sun. Passing people. Enjoying the smile. I run good. I look good. I can go on forever at this pace! Hearing a bike passing us and asking to keep on the right. This must indicate a first pro is arriving. A scooter with a camera on the back is passing us. Quick smile to the guy filming and he starts filming me back with a smile 🙂 Then SHE arrives. The first pro female. I decide to just hang along. She probably has 3 laps in the legs already, but her pace is what I need. And I get free prime-tv-time at the same time. So crazy cool to just follow her. To here the comments of the crowd when we pass them. She is soaking wet. I am not. Yet. Passing km4 and soon the turning point. I let her a little ahead. She should be in the tv-coverage. I hang along. And then turning right again towards km5. New water-station which I choose to pass under showers. Niiiice! And new U-turn (lap #1! 3 to go!) and down again. 25Minutes-on the buzzing watch. Taking a first glups from the gels in my hand. I love this way of carrying them. The plan is simple: 1 gel every 25min. 1 caffeine gel at halfway and 1 at km36-ish. For sure it would be more handy to run empty handed, but I like my High5-gels and really hate the Enervit they are serving on the course… km7 is passed. More singing. Turning right and lovely G&E are here. G gets two wet sponges. Up to the next left turn. Passing km8 and people are passed. Some do not look good. I check the gals I pass and see how many bracelets they have. Apparently the green one is the first one to be received. Unsure where though. Back to the little tunnel and right after the stupid steep uphill onto the bridge. Right and straight line towards the turning point… where the best surprise is waiting for me. I hear Dad but cannot see him, see Mum and T right at the turning. I lift the arms to get fully the cheering from the crowd, smile, turn and see Dad filming and telling me I look good and I am a bit ahead of the time I said, but that is ok. Looooooving it! Straight under the Red-bull arch (which was a bit disappointing as they gave nothing during this first lap. No water, no red bull. And only little cheering). Straight, turn left. This part I know. Downhill towards the dock where the swim start was given and the marathon started. Abrupt turn right to get up a bit towards more showers, water, sponge, abrupt turn left, short stretch, abrupt turn left, a guy screaming that first lap gets a GREEN wristband. Running towards the volunteers holding them. YES! One lap done (almost). Right turn, straight, right turn in the expensive street with well-know-too-expensive brands stores, and the final left turn towards…the finish line… The catch? This is only lap#1… Hearing that the first pro woman has arrived under 9hours. I enjoyed fully. Turn left. Stupid cobblestones (will have 3 laps to think about “why on earth did they remove the covering on those cobblestones, when they were covered after the swim exit…”). Focusing on not falling at the final right turn, not hurting my ankles. I love this. Lap#1 completed. Not tired. Sunday run. 3 to go. Same procedure for this second lap. Have passed the first 10km @4:57-pace I think. So…the plan is to get faster on lap 2 and 3 and keep it up for the final lap. I know this. And this pace is nothing to kill those legs of mine. Confidence-boost. I.KNOW.THIS! Passing km1 a second time. The sign indicating km32 is receiving from me a “See you in 2 laps” (Yes… talking to signs… They usually don’t answer back…). Continue on those flying legs. Holding back a bit to keep slightly under 5min/km as average. There is a slight difference (200m) between the km-signs and my watch. So I have to recalculate a bit each time. New cheering boost from G&E. Straight under the trees. Series of high-five on the way. Guys accelerate a bit when I pass, but few can hang along. It feels like I am in a different race. People are walking. Stopping. I am here. Running. Smiling. Almost indecently happy. Turning towards the km4 again and back. Passing under the showers of the next water-station. I am soaking wet anyway… Energy intake continues as planned. A clock would have not done better! Sponges at the water station are a real blessing. I would have added a few more showers in-between… Dropping my first little Salomon to G at km7-ish turn. Don’t feel the light uphill, seeing the sign km38. Soon, I think, soon… Passing again more people, looking worse and worse. Reaching the little tunnel, the little steep up is taken with slightly less light legs, but still strong. I know I will get smiles after that. Reaching the turning point on the bridge, I do a looooong round the block high-five, starting with T and Mum… the rest of the people is just handing their hand too. And finally Dad. Yihooo! Red Bull arch. Turning right and down again. Shadow, increasing a bit the pace. Quick check at the watch. Wow…. 4:56-pace. Good, Woman! Go for it! Turning to the 10km-mark again. Complaining a bit to the gal close to the showers as they are shut down. Grabbing water cups and throwing them on me. No drinking. This has been this way since the start: quick under the showers, grabbing 2 water cups thrown on the body and head, sponge on the face and back and hop! Left turn and “Second lap gets the YELLOW wristband”… DONE! 2 laps completed (almost), halfway almost reached… Back to the expensive street. A gal is talking in French to he (boy)friend and I tell her I can take him with me and we will cheer for each other. They both seem happy to this thought. Passing the finish line on the right for the second time… Cobblestones again… and the arch. The French guy tells me I look too good to be starting the 3rd lap. He is in his 2nd. I smile, pass the water-station and just continue. Taking the caffeine gel lemon at halfway. Don’t know if it gives any boost really, but this is energy. I am steady. I look good. I have fun. Bring it on! The high-five of this 3rd lap to G is with the largest smile in the world. Getting to next km where I hear a guy screaming “This is so f*cking fast! You look so freaking good! Go go go!”. A bit of thought to Coach at this moment. I refuse to have my last lap hurting so f****g much as he told me it will. I.KNOW.THIS.STUFF! Nothing in comparison to standalone marathon. Indeed. I am not accelerating. I am in a freaking easy-peasy zone. High on a cloud with the cheering, the probably too much carbs in the bloood and the fan-club on site. Passing under the water-station at this third lap and km5-ish is not a good idea. Have to stop as there is a queue there… Pace dropping here. But Coach told me “you will walk at water-stations. Be prepared for that” (yeaaaah… sure… were my thought then. Because unless I don’t feel good, I don’t “walk” at water-stations). Good I heard it before… Down again. 2 wristbands on my arm. I want this to go faster now. But I said I will not go faster. I keep this pace. I take ice cubes. Drop them in G’s hand in this third lap. Back to the little tunnel under the bridge. This third passage up to the bridge is done walking. Thinking of Stockholm marathon and this little uphill to the main bridge. Which is done twice. Here we have a shorter part but just steep. And the more I pass it, the steeper it becomes. Yes, I am sure that the inclination is increasing after my passage….Just to screw up with my pace…). Looking forward to the smiles of my fan-club. I don’t care about the cheering from others any longer. I want to hear my name from voices I know. New passage under Red Bull arch. I start to hate this arch. It is in the shadow. People are cheering, but I cannot focus. I want this to end. Pace-wise I am good. So good. The legs are happy. Still happy. How come? Go away, thoughts which are not coming for cheering. Straight line along the lake, right turn to the 10K-mark. I really HATE this gal at the showers. She is just STANDING there. Smiling. I want to shower!!! Start them already! Water. Sponge. Left turn once and twice. “Third lap get a BLUE wristband!”. Yes… ooooor…. would they notice if I run around and get my red band right away? I really want this to end. I know it is going to be pain soon. Rich street, here I come. I pretty much hate you by now, you know that? Left-turn towards the finish-line. THIS lifts my spirit. I here the words “YOU.ARE.AN.IRONMAN” and then I get stupid cobblestones….AGAIN! Still I smile out and in as I am telling them silently that this is the LAST time EVER I see them. Duh!!! The arch. And then I flip out. I see the water-station. The shower. And. I.just.STOP.under the second shower. I just want to stay there. Feels so nice. Can’t we say I am done? WAKE UP! Final lap. You can do this. There is no pain in the body really. A bit less fresh legs, but hey! I am no wonderwoman. I am not even an Ironman… Less people on the stretch to km1… Hating people for a short while. Have to run up on pavement to pass slower people. I hate them too. Seeing the sign km32 under the bridge gives me smile and I curse after calculating how long it is still left to run. Less people on the side means less cheering. They have only ONE thing to do today and they cannot do it properly?!?!? Staying for hours and cheering… Cannot be THAT hard, right? And then comes the best cheering ever. High-fives from E&G, they runs little and telling me they won’t be there on my way back because they rush to the finish-line. OK. I know I told them to do that. But really?!?! This is the most difficult lap. I need their smiles! I would happily take their legs too, but I guess this is forbidden by the race rules… The mantra from the bike is coming back: “The race is not over until the French lady runs!” Gives a little boost. People has seen me passing 3 times already and apparently I still look good and still run freaking fast….. I smile… I want to tell them that I am not “still running freaking fast”, this is all people around who are now walking who make me looking fast. For the “looking good”, I take it without commenting. The turning point of km4 is a killer. I HATE the quote they have here. Have read it three times already and now I just HATE it. What does it mean anyway “Finish line is under construction”. Or whatever they had there. Get a PROPER quote-writer next time. No. Wait. I won’t be there next time. I just HATE this turn. And then down and right again towards km5. This water-station gets all my annoying comments too (in my head. I am too tired to say anything else than “thanks”). No shower. Throwing water on me. I think that by now I must have increased the weight of my clothing by 47kg, which is the reason why this stupid pace is now down to 5min/km. I hate those showers. I run downhill. I know I still smile. No pain. I am just bored. WHY DID I AGREE TO RUN THIS SLOW AT THE START?!?!? I would be finished by now. Seeing on my watch that the average pace has passed over 5min-tempo, I don’t like it. I think quick that I can increase right at the down and stretch towards the bridge and then after the Red-Bull arch, that should bring back to a sub5-pace. But on the other side, fearing a bit that this increase would make the body scream tomorrow. Would it be worth it? I am not winning anyway… Reaching km38. DONE! 4Km to go. Getting up this stupid bridge is a killer. I walk. I want someone to push me. Heeeeelp! Cheering squads here are brilliant. Really helpful and I take a calm breather and turn right. I know I will not get my dose of fan-club cheering now as they probably left for the finish-line. Like apparently everybody else!!! This turning point is empty and silent. Disappointed. Tired. Passing the Red Bull arch. I even take a red bull mug… to rinse the mouth. I know better. Less than 2km to go. Piece.of.cake! Increase the steps. Pass people. Smile. Abrupt turn to this stupid km10 mark. Don’t look at the gal close to the shower. Take a sponge. Turn left and once more. “Final lap is RED. Go go go”. Best cheering ever by the Red team (the other were probably as good, but at this particular moment, I need very little and specific cheering to get going…). Right turn. Straight. Expensive street which I hate by now and this final left turn. I can see the finish line. I hear the crowd. I cannot believe it. Is it really the finish-line? I get to the red carpet. I hear the speaker saying “KariNa. YOU.ARE.AN.IRONMAN”. I want to turn back and correct him! Please!!! CAN’T YOU LEARN HOW TO READ?!?!?! And then smoke in the face. Cannot see anything. Only this black arch… And the guy in front of me stopping straight under. Have to step aside for not hitting him. Done. Finish. Finito. Fini.
Official time received later: 11:23:57…
*************
After the finish line
Not even looking at my watch. This is the same as when crossing the finish line of Hamburg marathon. Have stopped the watch. I walk. I cry. I get my medal. A guy comes to me and talk. He is kind but I really want to cry all the tears of my body right now. Why isn’t it hurting? I should have pain somewhere correct? Did I forget to take it somewhere? People are lying down on the carpet looking in very bad shape. I am just here with my face full of tears. Getting a bottle of water and a volunteer accompanies me to the store for engraving my medal. Seeing E&G on the side. They will take care of me. This is THEN I hear my time. And I start crying like crazy. G takes me in his arms. E is saying kind words. Just finished. Why isn’t it hurting more?. After short while, start to walk. Seeing Mum, Dad and T and start to cry again in T’s arms. OK, get a grip, Woman! We walk to the medal engraving with G&E. Short queue but ok. A few pics and then the fan-club go back to the hotel and G & I go to the Athletes’ village. He cannot enter, so I promise to be quick. Getting my white bag. Taking a final photo. Shower very appreciated (with only 3 noticeable chaffing spots). And then direction massage. No queue, so I wait and start to text Coach. When everything starts to turn all around me and I have to sit on the asphalt. The masseur closest to the door takes me into the tent and lay me down on a table. 4 salted stick later, it’s my turn for massage. Wonderful. But once again… shouldn’t it hurt somewhere? The shoulders are tired probably from the long ride, but don’t hurt. The Achille’s are all fine. The tummy is ok. Where should it feel exactly? Out of the tent. Grab some food. Ask G to come and help me. Eat a little. And then heading to the Transition area to pickup bike and bags. G is authorized to follow as I am unsure I can walk with all that and not faint… Long walk to the bike (250m…), then back to the bags red and blue. Final check-out that the number on my wristband is the same as the bike, and the two bags. Letting a volunteer taking off the ankle band with the chip. Dropping the chip. Off the Transition area.
Back to the hotel and direction restaurant. Longing for a large piece of meat with lots of french fries and a large Coke. When it arrives, I eat, but would probably have been sufficient with a GU gel too 😛 I am tired. I am happy. I have done it. I have the best fan-club in the Universe. I want to go home.
I am an Ironman.
**********
Weather:
Swim: 17.8°C, sunny, Feels like 17.8°C, 15kph NE wind, 88% humidity.
Bike: 21.1ºC, sunny, feels like 21.1ºC, 15kph ENE wind, 78% humidity
Run: 28.9ºC, sunny, feels like 28.9ºC, 19kph E wind, 43% humidity
The wind definitely was there all the time. During the swim, could feel it actually on the way back. Don’t know if it helped me that much, but better this direction! For the bike, the temps raised from 21 to 28ºC really. Sunny all the time, but the wind, I doubt it was that little on the course. This must be only around the start/arrival area for the bike. For the run, the first two laps were under 28ºC when I reach the “expensive street” area. The last two laps were with temperatures indicated around 29-30ºC.
Food:
> before: 2*M320 and one banana around 4:00am
> right after (Athletes village): Half-banana+pretzels+2 glass of Coke.
> few hours after: Entrecote, french fries, large Coke
> During:
– SWIM: (right before dropping the bag) 1 GU gel Tri berries + 1 Beet-it
– BIKE: 0,75l+2*0,5l High5 sport drink Red berried (double dose 4 scoops), 5 gels High5 w/coffein (4 lemon+1 orange) in Salomon 250 taken every hour on the hour, 1 GU gel Naturally Nude (15 min-ish before the transition), 2 lengths Mentos fruits (taken from hour2 to hour 5).
– RUN: 6 High5 aqua gels lemon (in 2 Salomon 150), 1 High5 aquagel caffeine 30 lemon @halfway, 1 High5 aquagel caffein 100 tropic @km36-ish. Water a bit.
Gear:
(Swim) ORCA tri singlet, 2XU tri shorts, ORCA Alpha wetsuit, double cap, orange goggles
(Bike) ORCA tri singlet, 2XU tri shorts, SHIMANO bike tri shoes, blue gloves, E’s helmet, blue socks
(Run) CASALL sports-bra Glaring Metallic 2 (XS), 2XU tri shorts, looooooovely shoes, white socks
=> Perfect outfit? Yap! Could not have planned better. Exactly what suited the race and the weather. Happy to have trained a few times at home in those gears and this weather. Giving me a lovely sun-rays tan on the back 🙂
Would have been good to have an extra tshirt long sleeves to get to the start. Had a short sleeves, but felt a bit chilly. To be kept in mind for next time… Hold on. Next time???
=> Smart NOT to get the wetsuit at the hotel. Would have been WAY too warm and not practical to do every last-minute stuff with a wet suit on. Most athletes were waiting to last-minute to get into the wetsuit. To keep in mind that the decision for wetsuit allowed or not is given ONE hour before start. The water had been on the limit of non-wetsuit allowed for age-grouper, but it was at the end of the days preceeding the race. In the morning, it was warm enough for not allowing it for pros, but ok for us rest of the crowd…
13/ Wow… This is not easy to set an effort level for this race. DEFINITELY not as high as a standalone marathon. The swim was so low effort, it should be punished by the law… or that actually I press myself a bit more next time really… (hold on… next time?!?!?). For the bike, the effort level was steady ok. Not a chance I reached an average of 13 throughout the ride. IF I would have pressed to keep up the speed during the windy part, yes, the effort would have been higher. But by not doing it, it remained quite low. Sorry. Must be pressing more next time… (What do you mean by “next time”?!?!?). The run?!? well, I had set 3:30 and I did 3:30. The 3 first lap were definitely a good 10-11. Increase at the end on the final lap was not on the effort. Mentally tough, but physically there were no sign of pain really. So… yes… A good 13 for the run (with a little up and mostly under…). THERE… exactly THERE… there is potential for improvement for next time…. (Have to stop writing “next time”….really…)
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SUMMARY: Oooook. The expectations on this one were not really easy to set. A nice friend told me a while ago that I had potential for sub12, so everything above was not in the plan. After checking the results of previous years on different races, the level on swim, bike, run at registration in November and a lot of thoughts, was set a challenging sub11 as THE plan. Knowing that Marrakech marathon in January and Prague marathon in May had to be turned into B-races. Prior to Prag, the objective was still sub11, but with the setback in Prag and weeks of rehab afterwards, it turned into sub12 would be good enough (not settling on the run however. 3:30, that’s it). New coach for triathlon focus since end of May changed a bit the perspective and way of organizing the training. Definitely improved the bike part and lifted up the “run off the bike” part. Stronger swimmer indeed, but still disappointed to be THAT slow on 3,8km as I am on 1K… I enjoyed the process itself of training, understanding better how the body works, how to recover, what doing what session… Enjoyed the race fully, even though talking to myself got a whole new dimensions when it is done during over 11hours 🙂 For sure, a bit “disappointed” not to have gotten a faster marathon, as there were definitely strengths enough for a few minutes faster. But being unsure of the potential cost after-race, I rather took the safer side.
Top 10 for a first Ironman with 3 months of proper and structured training. Not too bad after all. The weather was the best I have had in a race for the past…2 years??? So thanks for the sun and heat. Loving it!
There will be more races…
(Loads of thanks for the support and cheering during my preparations. Keeping this race “hidden” for some, in order to avoid any stupid pressure, having the secret open for others who know how to cheer me up…. Not easy to manage. Mental preparations have been tough with troubling new organization environment at work for past half-year, as well as starting something larger than what I knew so far in terms of racing. Getting all this done would have not been possible without the understanding of a lot of people close to me. Tapering was exactly what should have been done, final 3 months were still tough as starting with a low-functioning body after Prague. Strong motivation-to-myself, small words from others now and then…questioning why on earth I am doing this… you name it! The weather was exactly what I have been looking for in the past races (instead of the near-freezing temps in Toronto and close to cold in Marrakech and Prague…). Yes. Nothing given really for one attempting to become an Ironman, training accordingly and still having a full-tim work… Perfect timing with tapering during “vacations”.
Huge thanks for the athletes who passed me, cheered along the course, the crowd screaming, smiling, high-fiving (is that even a word?), handing water… This was a real crazy experience. Those finish-lines… Addiction to finish-lines? Check!
Having a coach is a personal choice. Finding one who understand me, by not letting my running on the side to spend all the training time on the bike and in the pool… that was not an easy task. For sure a bit of adaptations has been needed, but getting this support has been definitely one of the greatest parts of this adventure. Great thanks to S2 on this!
Not to forget THE fan-club. The French one covering all those kilometers, for seeing me passing-by only shortly but a few times during half a day… My Small Ones who constantly show in their own way support and love. Those High-fives and smiles are priceless… Understanding? A bit tougher to get (especially when training sessions mean going up and riding the bike in the living room for hours while they sleep or getting out there under the rain to toughen up or spending long time at the pool…), but it is there. Would be difficult to do all this without them in mind. Unconditional love… That’s what this is 🙂
And a very special thanks to this Ironman, who I learned to know during the episode of NY marathon 2012… where we met and were not allowed to run our race due to the storm on NY, when we talked very much about everything and more specifically about Ironman. Who very subtly put this little seed of idea in my mind to one day complete an Ironman. And who now and then since 2012 has been kindly pushing, reminding, suggesting about the long-distance triathlon… You know who you are, PE 🙂
A well-completed race in Hamburg…
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A few “after-race thoughts”
NOTE: Body check? Same as after Hamburg marathon… Did I really run a marathon? After riding 185km? And swimming 3.8km? Not really. The body does have of course those tears and wears all over, but honestly, going to the Award banquet the day after felt like the race had not taken place yet. Except that I was very hungry… Definitely in need for good night’s sleep. Happy that the left quad did not complain nor created problem after the debacle of Prague. So happy body = Happy Kari 🙂
NOTE: Warmup? Coach said not to warmup. You have the whole swim to do that. Indeed, with the outside temperature and the water temperature on the race day, did not feel that I needed it, nor that I missed it. Felt (as I joked about a lot…) that I did a loooooong 7hours warmup before starting the marathon…
NOTE: The transitions? Let see… Impossible to get off a wetsuit, running with bike shoes, stopping at the loo for peeing like crazy, running with only one bike shoe… Definitely potential for improvement!!! Cannot understand the wetsuit does not go off faster. Have to train on this. The running with bike shoes is a plague really. Either have to get along with this OR train how to start riding the bike with the shoes attach on it. Pause at T2 was a better choice than stopping during the bike. But unsure how I could be that needy when I clearly drunk too little during the bike… And the running with one shoe… Next time, I’ll hide the unclip shoe on the bike and run with a bottle in my hand… They cannot force me to “wear” a bottle, right?…
NOTE: Energy/refueling during the race? Well-rehearsed during long rides until I found the proper way. Loving it. Just not understanding how come that I missed a full bottle of sport-drink. Because energy-wise, it felt all good. And hydration-wise, it was ok too (otherwise I would not have this marathon after the bike if dehydrated from start… THAT good I cannot be…). For the run, it works perfectly with the two small soft bottles. Way better than having so many gels stuck all over the gears. A bit annoying to have in the hands of course, but could hide one in the sports bra without chaffing (yeaaah!).
Tested several brands during training. Umara was the chosen one during the winter months and long rides. Loved to double the doses to get extra carbs without needing to drink double the liquid. Stomach worked fine too. The gels however were a bit sticky and I turned to High5, because price-wise it worked as well and I had tested it before too. Very handy with the aqua gel. Added to that the GU gels, taken without water. All worked well. Had too little M320 at home for a full race, so chose to use it only for last bottle on IM Day-1 and breakfast IM Day. Worked as a charm. But this stickiness when the sport-drink jumped out of the bottle on the bike…. 😦 Have found a good plan and if I cut the bike by an hour, there should not be any problem with “missing a bottle”… 😉
Had extra sport-drink powder in the little bag of the bike. Not used. Unnecessary I think. But it felt safe to have them as I did not want to use the Enervit on the course (problem during London marathon and never tested since… Taste beurk…).
Mentos during the bike will probably make nutrition experts scream, but it work perfectly. Once again, duly tested during training. Loving it. Probably take 3 bars next time…. (what next time?!??!)
NOTE: Beetroot loading? Took one small bottle/evening 2 days prior to the race. Then one before the swim and one during the bike (after second hour). Worked fine. No idea if this enhance something, but it did not kill my stomach.
NOTE: Ironman Hamburg is hereby including the hottest marathon I have ever run 😛 (as well as being the second slowest ever… since my first one in 2011… Potential is there…)
NOTE: setting the watch alarm to 1:00pm? NO IDEA WHY!!! When the watch rang, I had absolutely no idea what reference this gave me. I should have indeed counted forward from the start of the swim and understand I was on-track or not. But for next time, I’ll try to have a proper “reference time” which actually means something…
NOTE: Post-marathon recovery on-going and working well. Trip back home on Monday after the race. Heavy rains during the whole trip, 12hours sleep on the ferry and lots of laundry to do when reaching final destination. Trip by ferry was thought to be practical, but it was not fully really. Had to pack the bike in a transport bag, obliging to separate parts on the side and I really hate doing this as it may change how the bike is when you build it back. The train back from Hamburg had problem and we had to travel via Lübeck and extra time instead of direct to Kiel. Would have been cooler and easier with a car. Transport bag is a must-buy item if I ever travel again with the bike… A few more days vacations. And that was it. Ironman Hamburg adventures are officially completed…. Body feels fine one week later… Looking at bikes and new races…
Looking forward to new adventures… soon…
Got ready for the next adventure. Large breakfast (definitely not alike what I would have in regular day-1 breakfasts..). Meeting our little group and our guide for the morning, Samael. He talks funny, he gets intense on every topic he starts, he gave us anecdote on anecdote… and we are yet to arrive at the royal palace (Alcazar)…
The time spent in the Alcazar disappears pretty fast with all those stories Sam tells us. So much history, so many beautiful sights. And the gardens… 
We eventually end the visit. I have already reached my daily steps volume… Feeling a bit worried for the marathon, I usually never ever walk this much the day before a race… but hey… the adventure continues with a bus tour. The red bus we have is only for us. Feeling really special 🙂 Almost royalties… 
Lots of photos and filming is done. We get a lovely sunshine and a bit of winds during the tour. Hoping it won’t be this strong tomorrow… It is time to get to the expo. Nice one. Decent size. Lots of people as we arrive around 1pm… Popular time… The pickup of the BIB and goodie bag goes quick. Free time in the expo. I take a nice photo indicating #FastestOnEarth with wings.. Might help tomorrow…
We eventually meet important people for the race and the city of Sevilla. More pictures. City sightseeing provide t-shirts and for each one running on Sunday, they pledge 20€ to a charity association.
Feels a bit tired now. Breakfast seems far away. And did not think of taking bananas with me. So I sip on my short drink until reaching finally the restaurant. Definitely later than my usual part-time, but once again, this is an adventure…Meeting the City Sightseeing family of runners. A large table await for us under even larger parasol. Because by now, the sun is pretty hot. Plates after plates arrive on the table. And those are appetizers. Feeling that I am eating easy too much, but the food is very good. I’ll probably feel sorry tomorrow, but hey… just enjoying the company too. Finishing the lunch with a plate of paella-like dish with pasta instead of rice. And time to get to the hotel.Antonio from City Sightseeing explains what will happen tomorrow and then we separate. My legs scream a bit. I close my eyes on the bed and wake up 1.5hr later. Better 🙂 Got my race kit ready and walk to the store to get banana and bread for my breakfast. I cannot wait for 6:30am at the hotel breakfast. So I stick to what I know. Meeting Nathan and Laura at the shop and then on the large square in front of the hotel. Starting the a short while, just chatting. 7pm and many people outside. Not that common view at home… Final goodnight and now my time to focus.Final race kit check. Nail painting. Prep for breakfast. Watching French tv to relax. Time to sleep.
Just Running Around... 