Ironman Cairns 2014

Race report!

 

The weekend began with a short flight up the tropical north Queensland - I was expecting 28 degree humid heat but as we stepped off the plane we were greeted with gusty cool winds. Our hotel was smack bam in the middle of cairns town centre - which was 2 blocks away from the expo and finish line. We scurried around the expo, got all the freebies and bought a few last minute essentials. I looked through the bag and found this 'All world athlete' card that allows us early entry to the carb party!!! woohoo!! Off we went, starving!

Amazing set up - table service and speeches by a famous wheelchair athlete and also a lady who has got a rare motor neuron disease...the tears are flowing as I stuff as much food into my body as humanly possible. We head home to have a good sleep.

Saturday was a hectic day - took the bike for a spin. It felt amazing because I have been on the turbo trainer inside so much recently (too unmotivated to be out on the road for the last week). Went for a quick jog. Enjoyed a massive breakfast --- starting to wonder how my body can take so much food in! We take the bike up to the swim start to rack it overnight and that's where we are greeted by the wind and choppy sea. There were some people having a swim but they really looked as if they were going backwards!

We had Vietnamese noodles for dinner - yummy, before and early night.

I awoke at 4am and pulled the earplugs out of my ears, turned off the air-conditioning and then I heard it..-- the rain pelting torrentially against the window. My heart sank. Hopefully it would just be a short shower?! I kissed Brian goodbye and headed down to breakfast. There was an aussie pro munching his breakie as I headed in. We had a chat about the rain, he wasn't too worried about it.

We all had to get the bus out to the swim start - about 30 minutes. It was so dark and so wet! The whole bus was fogged up inside.

On arrival at transition, it was mayhem. Mud everywhere. I waded through the mud in my flipflops --- they often got stuck and then inconveniently pinged up suddenly, spraying mud all up my clothes! I sorted out my bike and joined the never ending toilet queue. Brian arrived and we found shelter inside the resort hotel. The staff looked horrified to have all these muddy wet people cowering in their lobby...waiting....waiting. My race didn't start until 8am. We did score a free coffee as some other people had both gone to buy coffee - free coffee was a highlight!

It was time to race. Headed down to the beach and as my feet hit the sand, I was astonished to feel that it was warm! The sea was about 24 degrees but the air must have been about 18. We were ushered into the starting pen and before I knew it, it was just 20 seconds to go! The brown churning ocean looked daunting. Beeeeeeep, the hooter rang out! My heart jolted as the adrenaline exploded within my chest! And we're off! There are no words that can really explain the carnage of a mass swim start. Squashed in on all sides with wetsuited bodies, thrashing to drive a straight line into the oncoming waves as they crash into you. Every breath vital, yet filled with spluttering salty water...when will I find clear water? Before I knew it we were at the first corner --- the first of 6 in all. At each of these corners, the field banked up as everyone doggy paddled around the big white cans. I finally got into a rhythm and then the red capped Japanese man came along. His freestyle swimming was smooth, however, every 4 or 5 strokes, he would switch to breast stroke ---- which is totally fine, except for his flailing legs that clobbered my face, arms, ribs repeatedly! The minute I thought that I had got rid of him, he's back! Bang! This went on for a good five minutes. I'm sure I swam zigzags to avoid him! As I turned the final can, I could see the beach, then I could hear the pa system cheering us on and celebrating each swimming victim as they emerged from the ocean. I was thrilled to be at the end -- after being in the pool twice in the last 5 weeks, I was in good spirits at 1:17 into my race.

The rain was still falling. Into transition and the mud was relentless. I got my bike shoes on and then put plastic bags over my shoes. I had to hold them in place as I hobble, bent over, out of the change tent towards my bike. I had to ditch the bags to wheel my bike, however, at which point my shoes got absolutely clarted in mud. Ah well. It was time to head out onto the bike course. The first few hundred metres were horrible as there were speed humps that were covered with rubber matting. I saw two people fall off, others were losing their drinks bottles and stopping to retrieve them. Finally, we were out onto the open road. The wind was slight but the rain was pelting my face. 

Oh gosh, this is really long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, bike was ok - I felt pretty good on the way up to Port Douglas - beautiful scenery along the coast beside the ocean...despite the rain. First turn around and I was feeling good. People whizzing past --- the slower male swimmers who are just powerhouses on their bikes. Whooooosh! I had a low patch from about 110km until 140km, but just kept on going. I saw a million people with punctures and I kept checking that my wheels were in tact. At 140km I thought I was going to be able to get a sugar hit with coke, but was disappointed to find that there was none! I had to struggle through to 160km before I was awarded with my boke but by that time, it was a little late. I was feeling very flat and just wanted the bike to be over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Luckily the course was very flat with good roads so I just rolled back into town --- just over 6 hours (about 10-15 mins slower than was hoping for) but SO RELIEVED that it was over. The end of the bike is always the most mentally draining --- no-one around to cheer, it's a lonely road at that point in the race. Doubt fills the mind and no amount of 'genk it up' can really work! You've just gotta push through!

I roll into transition feeling very down. I wondered how I could run this marathon with my longest run being 21km! I peeled off the drenched socks and smothered my toes with Vaseline before putting on fresh new socks --- what a feeling! I jogged out of transition feeling heavy and depressed. 3 x 14km laps ahead. The first 5km was tough. I was still recovering from the sugar low and finally I saw Brian up ahead. I ran towards him and sobbed on his shoulder...to his dismay! haha He gave me a stern pep talk and a slap on the butt. From that moment on, I was grand. I was running my normal 4 hour marathon pace and I was back on track. Each aid station gave me more strength and more energy - the cheering (wet) crowd were no longer a blur of faces but clear, sources of power! Lap two was fantastic - it was still light, the kids were all doing the hand slap. Soon the third lap was approaching - the point where I can begin the countdown instead of counting up. Alas, the sun fell from the grey sky - the darkness and the cold set in. I was walking every 2km through each aid station then it was just 2km until the next one. Each aid station provided the dilemma, what shall I eat/drink now? What's going to help me? banana? lollies? more coke? redbull? water? who frikin knows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The trouble with the third lap was that it was dark. All the puddles that I had been avoiding the previous laps were now invisible. I groaned out loud as I splashed my way through the chilly muddy lakes! I saw Brian for the last time at 33km. 9 km to go - I can do this. I knew that I could keep going at this pace but no faster - I would finish just after 12 hours. I could hear the finish line from 41km....the pubs were loud as I jogged down towards the finish - I felt strong, my body felt good with no twinges but I was ready for it to be over!

With the rain STILL falling, I ran down the finish chute with the crowd roaring in my ears. I hugged the announcer and Brian had worked his contacts to get into the finish area - he was drenched! I kept going and walked through to the finisher area. I didn't want to stop moving because I knew that I would get cold, seize up, feel crappy, so I just got all my stuff and headed straight out the other side. Brian was there and we walked to collect my bike. We strolled home to the hotel slowly, in the rain, recapping the race. I didn't feel jubilant, just happy it was over. I jumped in the shower...amazed to find no chaffing, no blisters...no real evidence of the hardship that I had endured! Suddenly, the stomach was churning and it was time to vomit ----- all that coke, gels, redbull............so much liquid, it was gross!!!!!!!!! I lay on the bed feeling terrible and cold. Brian ordered takeaway pizza but I couldn't face it...more vomit then I fell asleep and woke at 1am. I couldn't sleep!!! I check in for my flight and browsed facebook. When I awoke Monday morning, it just felt like a really bad hangover - with that horrible vomit feeling. I felt better about my achievements and perked up. We went for a freezing swim in the beachfront pool before a massive breakfast. Airport, home....lazy afternoon.

School has been tough this week. My body has been absolutely fine but I've been so fatigued! So tired!!! Like a zombie!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is all! :) I don't think I'll do another one any time soon ---- maybe never. The training is so hard for me - I've lost that excitement buzz for the long sessions. I've got a half ironman in August...that will keep me on my toes!!