Sunday 26th January 2014- Race Day- Ironman 70.3 South Africa
1am Ah more sleep, thought it was time to get up.
2am just be morning
2.01am must remember my battery
3am thought it was time to get up
4am why can't I just stay asleep?
4.30am why do triathlons start so early?
4.31am must remember my battery
4.45am must remember my battery
5am ok gotta leave at 5.15
5.01am am packing battery
5.03am is it time to leave?
5.06am time yet?
5.10am checking whether I packed my battery
5.12am F@*k it lets go
5.20am watching people doing ridiculous drill en route to transition…makes me feel quite confident about what I do
5.30am pump tyres, put on battery, fill bottles, prepare bags….i hate this part……don’t touch my bike….no seriously don’t touch my bike…….check brakes are not rubbing
5.40am tie shoes up to frame with elastics
5.50am why is tying two elastic bands so hard to do on race morning?
5.55am check brakes aren’t rubbing
6.01am check brakes aren’t rubbing
6.25am portaloos are truly disgusting
6.30am shikes the sea is cold, it was definately not this cold last year.
6.40am why do men always push me out the way on the start line? I will beat them.
6.41am Jackass.
6.43am seriously man ? You are rude. I’ll go right behind James – he runs faster than me anyway and Faris is doing the same - he knows what he's doing.
6.42am I hate starts with men.
6.43am Feel sick.
6.45am
0m run, run, run, dive, oh shit that was a little early, dive again, ok just swim
400m you guys can’t hold this pace
450m see
800m ok good we are stringing out – that’s James I’m passing now, good he is swimming well.
1000m ok four guys are up front – get them back – dude let me have the line – if you were smart you would sit on my feet
1005m Damn I'm hot. How can I be hot? The water is freezing. My metabolism is insane when I swim.Stop. Concentrate.
1100m fine, we will play it the hard way. Hate run in with boys. Wonder if I could break them from a water start?
1400m back on their feet, cmon boys
1700m love a good wave ride. Make sure William knows I’m right on his feet with a few touches ;)
1900m run!!! Follow Faris. Lucie must be about a minute back.
T1 ok – not fair ladie’s tent is further to run……damn it. Volunteers heads up –seriously ? a line of 20 cruising along the exact line I need to run paying no attention....'MOVE!'
1m if I could jump on my bike I could stick with that guy. Damn.
5km these wheels feel fast, legs ok. Go get.
10km that is James – good – with five men tailing him. As usual. Hang on them. Can't risk less than 12m - they of course can....sigh. Stayed for a while.
11km boys cheat.
15km damn this course is hard. All uphill. Eat 32 gi chew
20km seriously is that really only 20km? (I know all that saw that sign thought this)
30km jeez where there is an up there’s a down Swallow. Lucie is only 90 secs back – ok well she must be hurting. No- one else for miles. Go harder. Busted them.
35km Guilaurme broken off the front. Faris about 2mins back. Don’t let them have too much James.
36km James towing group …of course. Break them James. If I could stay with them for that first five km when they pass I reckon I could hang the whole way. Then imagine how far I would be ahead....
45km Phew at the turnaround. Totally not all downhill from here ;) Bit more time into her. Now- gas on. Eat 32gi chew.
60km I love racing. Eat 32gi chew
70km H20 bottle grab….successful. first time – never happens ! squeeze into xlab torpedo. Drink, breathe, power.
80km go get Swallow – here is your time.
90km I jumped off J! Ok legs feel fine . Drink endure. Throw- enjoy. There’s James dad….’Just enjoy it now?’….Enjoy? I have 21.1km to go- he is actually crazy.
0.2km Damn dropped all my 32Gi Chews. Coke it will have to be.
2km ok have 2mins 30 on Lucie, no one else in sight. She looks ok but big buffer. Easy first loop. Haven’t got the miles in the legs so lets just keep it solid, steady and get the win.
3km James, Faris and Will way behind Guillaumme - is it wrong to admire his tenacity? No - guts are always good, even if I hope they don't always succeed.
6km time between us about the same. Feel very controlled. This is fun J
8km ok I really want James to win but don’t need to know about him right now.
10km people must think I’m a complete misery when I’m racing.
11km ah Paul Kaye’s voice. I wish he voiced at Kona. Feels like home. Ok once again.
12km Same distance to Lucie. Break her now. Start on coke.
12.5km number belts are annoying
13km James has it. Yessss. Damn I have another whole lap.
13.2km I have to race for half an hour longer than the men…..that should be considered in training…..and race nutrition…..and winnings……Concentrate Swallow.
13.5km Never relax. They are calling it but it isn’t done.
14km Steady up the hill. Head down feel the power. Move made.
15km I wish my mum and dad were here.
17km Much bigger gap. Pat on the back. Keep it flowing and ignore the wet, sloshy blister that is beginning.Ouch.
19km Never relax. Enjoy. Never relax. You did it.Ouch.
20km blister is really bad. Ouch. Pretend it’s fine. Smile.Ouch
20.5km wave, smile, ouch, ouch ouch. Don't look miserable.
21km Yay !!!!!
21.1km James…..phew, ahhhhh, wow.
3 mins ouch my foot. It is quite bloody. It is in fact a hole.
10mins I love this game :) I love james. 2014 has begun :)