Ironman Melbourne 2012

It's a brand new Ironman for Australia - it sold out in 4 minutes (I woke up at 4:30 am in London to make sure I got in). Jaimee and Janine are friends from our time in Japan, both teachers with new jobs, too - we all signed up together.

Thursday: managed to leave school right on time with the kids to make my flight!
The days leading up.......FREEZING and so windy. It's only a 2 hour flight from where I live to Melbourne, but the weather is very different. I could never return to living in a freezing climate...ever!!!
Night before the race, we are at Janine's mum's house - they did a house swap so that we could sleep closer to the start. Janine had forgotten her goggles in the city - her little sad face, stressful! Stu (husband) to the rescue, went back to get them for her. We watched Kona Ironman videos and stretched........panic setting in. Surprisingly good sleep. 4:15am, wander into the kitchen - the genki girls are there! Crumpets and oatmeal and COFFEE...pile into the car. Dark. Arrive, people everywhere, spotlights shining down on transition area. Pump tyres, put the drinks on the bike, check on the girls...done....Our little spot for putting on our wetsuits was great, had lots of time to get organised, photos :) The pros are off 15 minutes before us...time to line up to head down to the beach. waiting waiting, finally through, less than 5 minutes until we're starting...quick! Walk in up to waist deep.........sheeeeesh FREEZING. No time to be wimpy - head first dive under....gotta warm up this wetsuit!!! ;) We swim to the first of the two bouys that mark the start line and suddenly the horn goes.....not really in the best position - but off we go regardless. Swimming with a slight current at the start, looking for the left turn, looking, looking, where is it!? The problem was it was such a wide channel of people, they actually needed to squish us all in together a bit more so that navigation wasn't so much of  a problem. Finally turned onto the long back straight section...........it went on forever, swimming into the current...choppy waves when you go to breathe. Again, wide channel, hardly any canoes to keep you in close...turned the final corner to come back towards the pier - flying along with the current again...thank goodness...Looked at my watch underwater..1:15...initially I was disappointed (I swam 1:09 in Germany) but then I sort of checked how I was going, I felt good, not over-doing it...it was cold, arms and hands frozen.
Felt good coming out of the water at 1:17....current and poor navigation. Ran up to the transition tents - run through and pick up a bag, run further into the change tent....tip the bag out on the floor - NOT MY BIKE SHOES..........quick, stuff it all back in the bag - run back into the other tent...against the traffic of sodden wetsuits, replace the bag and pick up MINE.....oh dear oh dear...transition take 2! No help required, got the suit off, put on the talcy socks, arm warmers struggled to go on over the damp freezing arms.....grrrrr, so cold. Go!
Got on the bike and felt SO happy to be on the bike. I was expecting to be going into the wind but it was behind me, so I felt great heading out onto the bike. At about 40km we experienced the TUNNEL...massive motorway tunnel. Speeding down at about 60km/h but it was just so WARM! Turnaround, I was expecting to be hit with the wind in my face, but it was more of a crosswind, so still was able to go quite easily. So needed to peeeee...WHAT?!?!?! In Strongman and Roth I didn't pee once on the bike....but I was not sweating at all here.......so I was just totally over-hydrating myself. I just could not pee on the bike. (I did that in NZ once.....and I didn't like it!!) 70km - ouch, started to feel the dreaded left hamstring thing....it's been really bad over the last few weeks......90km, pick up special needs bag and pop 2 panadol.....pain got less..thank goodness!!! Third section - headwind....pee stop..again!! Unbelievable!!! Cold wind. Lowest emotional state of the race....Grrrrrrrrrrr. Finally, turnaround for the last time, wind behind me, heading back towards town - last 45km let's go!! There's Jaimee - Go Jaimeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...more panadol... there's Janine!! Go Janineeeeeeeeeeeeee.......not many cyclists around now, everyone just struggling for home. 180km...so happy to get into transition...jumped off the bike, good transition - vaseline on the toes...fresh socks...lets go! Started out tentatively, but soon I realised that my legs felt amazing!! Started my stop-watch........did the maths......right....slightly slower bike than planned....I need to run 4 hours to get 12 hours....oh dear...I feel ok though, DO IT! All the people were shuffling, I felt like I was flying, felt in my element. Everyone cheering, Great running girl, go girl...bla bla bla....Supporters pushing me on....picking off one person at a time...Keep the gels up....coke....gatorade....

sloshing in my belly, what can I eat?...solid food.. bananas...bananas....power bar...yuck...bananas...Absolutely beautiful course; running beside the sea - little trails and sandy paths, bike paths. 34km, big cheer crowd.....8km to go....how's the time....never give up, never give up...I was actually chanting this to myself out loud over and over and over........legs felt great. Only 2 tiny twinges in my calf towards the end. Will I make it under 12 hours.....it's so close, under 4 hours for the run? Keep running, keep running!! Screwed up my face and cried at 41km...almost there, so close....come on come on...finally I can see the finish and can hear the commentary...running down the finisher chute - there's big Ben with his hand out - slapped it and crossed the line 12:01...not bad. Not my best, but was so happy with my emotional state - I'd managed to remain genki throughout, no stomach issues (Roth I was walking defeated and had terrible belly). The lady with the towel...I hugged her and sobbed! Sobbing now as I type. lol. Medal. BEN, DONAAAAAA & Steve!!! Fabulous! Dona was an unexpected surprise - I thought she would have already gone to the airport, so it was lovely to see her genki face. Fair respect to any supporter on that day, it was C.O.L.D. I then took myself off for a massage - so cold, got a space blanket, got my kit bag, had a hot hot shower in the St. Kilda Sea Baths VIP venue, got a plate of food then went out to find Tez and Stu. Found Jaimee's friends too - lovely. Then I sat there and literally froze for 5 hours; I couldn't eat any of my food - just the soup...couldn't do it. I've never been at the finish line until the end before, but it was amazing.............watching all these people finish, such a wonderful thing. Even though I was cold, I was genki and happy. Jaimee finished, she looked so happy!!! She looked FRESH and in good shape! We had contact with Janine's teachers, they were about 2km out from the finish and were going to run to the finish with her - so we knew when she was close. She came across the line with the biggest grin, a huge achievement :)

It was a high level race - not many average people....finished up 31st in age group out of 49...but still so happy with the mental state and the run; I've felt drained this week, but ready to put my bike together and go for a spin, maybe tomorrow!
The hamstring thing is a problem. 12 weeks until Japan 70.3.......unbelievable! Exciting!!! I need a few weeks of rest before ramping it up again!!

Excited to be doing it all again next year!!! :) 

Now to begin the 2 weeks of Easter Holidays....beach....reading....harping...eating...drinking...chilling! :)

Update from July 2011 to March 2012

Quick update on my life:
Returned to Australia in August after an extended holiday in the UK, enjoying the sights and sounds that are so familiar to me. Lots of friends to catch up with, lots of leisure cycling with old training friends. Lots of shopping, lots of eating, a fair bit of drinking.
I played the harp with the band Fenech-Soler. We recorded a track and performed on a boat on the Thames. It was fabulous, a day in the life of a rock and roller :)
By the end of August, I was ready to head back and as a newly qualified teacher, it was time for some hard job hunting and WORK.
At first, plenty of CVs flying around the local area - a few volunteering days. Playing on my strengths took me to supply teaching music for a few days. A violin teacher observed me and realised that I was to be the answer to their current dilemma - they had a gap to fill for the rest of the term - 7 weeks of work teaching stringed instruments soon came my way. Right, I'm a harpist, I can deal with the musical aspects of different instruments. Now I was teaching kids how to play the violin, viola, cello and double bass. End of term reports were due - end of term concerts!! It was hectic! But it felt very natural for me and I was soon learning the violin myself so that I could get a firmer grasp of why they were finding certain areas tricky. All ended at the end of term, and it was a great experience. The kids are very lucky to have free music lessons at school!!
Christmas holidays came, as did the sisters. Eilidh brought her family from Singapore, and Kirsty had announced that she was moving to Manly, Sydney. The weather was much better than the previous year. The 5 weeks went extremely quickly!!
Towards the end of my instrumental music contract, I had applied for a job on seek.com - which is just a normal jobs website. I had simply uploaded my CV for a 'primary' position at an Anglican College.
Much to my surprise, I was called for interview and was offered a job teaching year 4 for semester 1 - 2 terms. I was thrilled, but terrified. I've never had my own class before. A huge opportunity and so wonderful that they had the insight to look at my character, my skills and past experiences. In the first weeks it was hectic, but the children are so good - they realise that they are lucky to be at the school, they wholeheartedly believe that they are at the best school in Australia. All the staff are hand-picked, everyone has sport in their background - ex-olympic sprinter, ex-pro ironman triathlete, cage fighter, marathon runners, ultra-marathon runners, ex-elite cyclists......such an interesting staff-room. Because all the students are so good, there is none of the usual whinging and moaning at morning tea time...Everyone love their job, and it is a dream come true really; I love my job. It's extremely hard work, but very rewarding. I now understand why teachers get these holidays - your whole life gets put on hold during term time!!
I had signed up for Ironman Melbourne - March 25th. Was it a good idea with a new job? As it turns out, yes. Although I was super busy, it was achievable and I think it kept a good balance in my life. It's essential to have interests outside school to keep your mind and body healthy!! :)

Race Day

I slept pretty well and woke up at 4am, quick breakfast of porridge, toast and very good coffee. Mr Meier was up ready to take me on the back of his scooter to the start of the race - he knew all the short cuts through the back fields, we skipped out all the crazy pre-race traffic - legend!
I got my bike organised and found Rich, the panic began to set in - people everywhere - pumping up tyres, putting bottles on bikes, checking gear, pulling on wetsuits...Beautiful cloudless morning.

The pros start was at 6:30am, I watched them head off before joining the other herd of pink swim caps as we were ushered into the canal. Suddenly it was time to go - I fell into the rhythm that I would try to maintain for the duration of the 3.8k swim.
It didn't feel like the usual battering, I seemed to be in open space within minutes - I looked around just to check I was still on course - all good. I spent the whole swim trying to sit on other swimmers' feet - it's tough to find people who are swimming at the same speed, and also, there's no guarantee that they are swimming in a straight line! ;) It did seem to go on and on, then the final turn and up out of the water with a firm hand from the volunteers - 1:09 - (I swam 1:16 in New Zealand, so a good improvement). In New Zealand I managed to spend 13 minutes in transition - I was out of T1 in under 3 minutes this time - it felt great to be whizzing along on the bike, smooooooth roads.

I was feeling pretty good on the first lap, I was trying to push myself but was constantly worried about saving my legs, and the fear of running out of energy. I accidentally dropped my mini gel bottle - so at each aid station I was really conscious that I needed to be grabbing gels as well as drink bottles. No hot cross buns for me this time, no loo stop at the half way point - I was here to race this time!
I made the first lap maintaining a 30k/h average, but I was feeling a little depleted after all the hills, I spun into the 2nd lap determined to do my best to get off this bike as soon as I possibly could! The crowd support was amazing - each village had a huge support crew. There is one hill where spectators gather, 'Solarer Berg'. As you turn to go up the hill, all you can see is a SEA of faces - a huge crowd, 4 or 5 deep on each side of the road, cheering you up (Tour de France style) with just a tiny corridor tunnel to cycle up. I definitely shed a tear the first time up, with a big smile - it really does lift the spirits - my spirit was in need of some lifting during the second lap, goose bumps, pretty much downhill to the finish. I was so happy to roll into T2 in just over 6 hours; I was feeling pretty tired, but I thought that my run would survive it...
I dashed out onto the run course, legs felt ok - no twinges or cramps. First you run steadily uphill out of the town to the canal. Chrissie Wellington was completing her marathon, we passed, I had a long way to go! She looked like a machine, smiling as she powered on to a new world record time. As I emerged from the forest on the canal path, the searing heat hit me like a slap in the face. I spent the first 10k getting into a good running rhythm, the next 10k melting in the heat...by the half way point, I was ready to quit. My watch had gone bonkers in the swim, so I had ditched it on the bike course. I had no idea what time it was or how fast I was running etc. At 21k I decided to ask someone for the time. 4:21pm. My brain then painfully slowly worked out that if I could run the next 21k in under 2.5 hours, then I'd come in under 12 hours - an hour quicker than NZ. I knew this was achievable, so, mentally, I was back in the game! Hooray! However, physically, my body began complaining - I've never had stomach problems during a race before...I visited the facilities 4 times during the last 20k...not good. I was getting from one aid station to the next, walking through it - wondering what on earth my body needed to make it function properly...I just felt so sick! Watermelon seemed to be the most appealing on the table, probably not the best for the guts, but it got me to the end!

So, I came to the end - it was emotional - I had fought the mental battle from half way through the bike course. My overall time was 11:44 - over an hour and a 1/4 faster than my first attempt - albeit on a different course. Very happy with the improvement, I feel lucky! For me, this is a good result. My lack of proper training since Strongman was evident in the run. I'd love to have broken 4 hours on the marathon - but, again, I didn't do enough run training to make these dreams come true!
 SO, there is the challenge for the next race! Always room for improvement...but as I sit here on a sofa in London.........as my fitness goes down the drain with every lazy day...can I face another race like this? The answer: of course, yes! But with my life being so up in the air at the moment, I think I'll stick to half ironmans for the next 12 months before signing up to another full. I need to focus. I need to get established in the supply teaching market before hopefully arranging something more stable for the beginning of 2012, then when things are feeling more settled, I'll start rallying the crew for another grand destination race :)

My Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v​=fuqvgyxU_cg

Singapore, Germany and Challenge Roth

Off on travels again. 2011 has been absolutely crazy. The final semester of my teaching course consisted of 7 weeks of lectures and assignments  followed by 6 weeks prac in a school – all the while I was training for Strongman, back on my little island in Japan. This was a race I was afraid to attempt when I lived on the Island of Miyako. After the strongman race, I spent the last few days of my holidays in Japan camped out on Theresa’s floor studying for my English curriculum exam which was just a few days after I returned. With strongman and all my exams out of the way, next came 6 weeks of school practicum. Not only was I in school 8 – 4 everyday, I was having to prepare all the lessons, write up self reflections on each lesson and learn the content material for a lively year 6 class. There were numerous troublesome lads in the class, which always adds a challenging element. Anyway, the weeks flew by. Thursday night became ‘date night’ due to my waitressing Friday and Saturday and playing the harp Sunday nights at the local French restaurant, Allure. How on earth was I going to squeeze in ironman training too? With little energy and little motivation after just having completed strongman…it has been a struggle. Credit goes to Brian for dragging me out to the pool, taking me on long challenging cycles and spurring me on when I had zero energy or motivation to do anything but sleep!

Singapore

First stop Singapore to spend a few days with Eilidh, Kevin, Kyla and little Evie. Hanging out with a real family is fascinating – Kyla: a cute, energetic, well-behaved 2 year old and Evie: also cute, 3 month old, helpless little munchkin, who doesn't want to sleep - just in case she misses something!

Perfect ironman build up - I swam in the pool every day. I ran a 10km race and came 49^th out of 4,500 people (which was very strange for a 51 minute time... - I was trying to take it easy.) I turbo trained in the air-con on Kevin’s bike. I drank champagne at Ku De Ta (the big ‘boat’ on top of the new hotel/casino at Marina Bay Sands) and danced until 2am…and ate the most fantastic food. I took the bus tour, the boat tour and visited the Terracotta Warriors exhibition. I strolled through China town and refrained from buying a single item (I was already totally overweight with luggage!) On the way back I will visit the Japanese Daiso 100 yen store…Daiso is seriously taking over the world – hooray!

Germany Day 1 – the longest day

As the plane came in to Munich through a thick blanket of early morning fog, I started to get excited: a new country, a new language, a host family awaits and on Sunday….a HUGE challenge.

After the 11 hour flight, I made it to Munich train station and chilled out in starbucks and caught up on emails, facebook and skype. I get my email to say that, congratulations, I'm now an officially registered teacher – I can work as a supply teacher immediately but I still need to attend an interview before I can pick up a contract or permanent position. I will prepare for this over the next month and sort that out on my return to Australia. Scary!!!

I catch the train, with my bike and 6 kgs of luggage, off to the little village of Roth – where this iron-distance triathlon will take place on Sunday. I’m staying with a host family in the neighbouring town of Eckensmuhler – it feels just like the German exchange I did at school when I was 16!

Roth is a little village about 30 minutes by train south of Nuremberg. It’s 2 hours north of Munich. The world’s best triathletes come to take part in this race – it is an epic race and this year is a 10 year anniversary. I’m excited to be part of it, but always a little concerned about the distances and my mental game!!

Getting around with this bike box is not too bad, but it’s not the best bike box design. I already had a few issues – I got off the train on the wrong side – the side with no lift…I had to wait for the next train and go THROUGH it and out onto the other platform, I thought I was going to be stuck on a random train!

The bakeries here look amazing – huge bread rolls and sandwiches with ham and cheese exploding out of them, so European!

I got off the train at Roth to see a lady waving Australian flags at me! Gloria spent a year in Australia and loved it – I hope she’s not disappointed that I’m actually Scottish! Her English is perfect. My German is terrible! Max is 15 and has big exams this week. He is wearing a neck scarf because his girlfriend gave him a love bite! Mr German Meier doesn’t speak any English but helped me put my bike together – well, he pulled out all his tools…friendly! Helga’s English is good and she seems excited to have me here.

I get shown around the family house. I’m in the basement – with the sauna and the sun bed! So, a very chilled afternoon just reading all about the race, planning when I need to be where over the next few days.

I struggled to stay awake in the lead up to dinner. Delicious dinner, it was pork sausage layered with pasta – like a lasagne, in a creamy mushroom and bacon sauce. After dinner, Helga suggests we go for a ‘drive’ up to the canal. From looking at the map earlier I knew it was close. They disappear and come back in full lycra cycling kit! I stick to my jean shorts and grab my bike helmet. I got Max’s bike – good quality mountain bikes. We cycled along dirt paths until we hit the canal and follow it along for about 1km and we find the swim start point for Sunday’s race. The water looks a little green…slightly worrying! We then cycle on…and on…and on…round 2 lakes, probably out for about an hour! But beautiful, so beautiful, paths surrounded by green forests and grassy fields. Quaint houses with perfect gardens. Absolutely beautiful around here.

I spent the first couple of days just roaming around. I took a trip up to Nuremberg on the Wednesday - I had been there as an exchange student when I was 16, so it was strangely familiar. The bakeries here are incredible - ham and cheese exploding out of amazing bread. In Aldi, you can access a bread pretzel vending machine that spits out hot giant pretzels! Carbo loading was very easy! Thursday I went into Roth and registered. I rode my bike around the beautiful countryside, on the smooth flat roads. I swam in Rothsee - which is a big lake. I swam in the canal where the race starts...not the clearest water, but not as cold as I was expecting.

Friday - Rich and Olivia arrived in Roth ;) Hooray! People to get excited with! We had a great day at the expo, drinking alcohol free beer, getting autographs signed by Andreas Raelert, Sebastien Keilne, Faris and the Dirkinator! The evening culminated in the infamous carbo load party. Way too much food, but you can't miss it - the atmosphere builds under the tent as everyone gathers together to listen to the pros talking about their goals for the race.
Saturday is the bike check in - waaaaa suddenly it's time to pack up the transition bags, think about all the little details required for the race - how much nutrition to take, what bag to put dry socks in, sunscreen, charge the ipod...Rich and Olivia picked me up, we put the bike and other gear in the car then Rich reminded me that I needed my timing chip to check the bike in - I sprinted downstairs to my room and ran up the dark corridor and SMACK - I'd run straight into the open door - I bashed my eyebrow, chest and knee.......On the way there, in the car, I could feel the lump forming on my eyebrow and my knee throbbing.... I also happened to noticed my tyre had a HUGE slash in it - I decided it wasn't worth the risk, so I popped into the bike shop and bought a new one - nothing like a bit of drama!! Prior to this, I had felt overly organised, I wasn't stressed about a thing. Nothing like a smack in the head to shake things up! Bike check-in was easy - then we drove some of the bike course to get a feel for it.

That night there was a race briefing - it was mostly in German (all the jokes were in German...) then home to finalise the packing of the remaining transition bags, stretch and early to bed.

Strongman 2011

A lot has happened in my life since I last 'blogged'. I was just starting semester 1 of 2 for my primary teaching diploma. Well, semester 1 went great, loved it. Met a lovely man :) The summer holidays came, as did the entire extended family for Christmas, Semester 2 came...I'm half way through the semester, I start my next 6 week prac placement in school soon, then I'll be DONE! Amazing! So, I'm in Japan for the Strongman Triathlon - a race I never believed I could do when I lived here...I guess I had unfinished business with this island after all!

I arrived in Okinawa to stay with Theresa for a few days before coming down to Miyako. Great to see Theresa and Mo-chan. Hannah came down from Kobe. Jaimee, her boyfriend and I had all travelled together from Brisbane. It was quite a reunion! We went to the Canadian Bar, Eager Beaver - Paul Patry was also preparing for the Strongman, so it was good to touch base with him before the race.The rest of the weekend we basically walked around reminiscing and eating...it was perfect!! (and a lot colder than I remember!)


So, Brian, my boyfriend, is a pro triathlete and had already been invited to take part in the race - he was injured last year and couldn't go, so it's amazing that we were both planning to race this year! His flights were paid for, so we travelled separately. He was lodging at the nicest resort on the island, I was in the guest house - not perfect, but not the end of the world.

I flew to Miyako on Wednesday and was met at the airport by the invited athletes co-ordinator - which was strange - I was meant to be heading into town to my little guest house by taxi. He explained that he didn't realise that I, the girlfriend, was a competitor. It turned out there was an uneven number of pros, and Brian asked if the rooms could be rearranged to allow me to room with him, and the co-ordinator said yes! Amazing! So, I got to stay at the best hotel, with all the pros, it was brilliant! It really heightened my strongman experience and build up to the race. Because I knew the island, and could speak some Japanese, I felt useful, driving everyone around, which is always good!

Wednesday night we all went out for dinner. In the middle of the night, Brian starts throwing up...and again...and again...and by morning is half dead :( Through vomiting and a dodgy stomach, he'd managed to lose 5 kgs overnight! We took him up to hospital and they put 2 IV drips through him and gave him some other medicine to stop the vomiting etc. I got him back to the hotel and went out on a cycle to get supplies and register for the race. I managed to find Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup - surely that sorts everyone out! Basically, because it was Thursday, with the race being Sunday, there was still time to build up his energy again, as long as he kept food in his belly! It was stressful - he'd come to win this race...and here he was, a total mess :(

So, Friday was Jaimee's birthday and the carbo-loading party...very fun day! The biggest cake you've ever seen in your life!

Saturday was packing race bags, racking the bikes, eating...stressing...early to bed.

Sunday...race morning. Amazingly, the sea was the calmest I've ever seen it and not a whisper of wind - the flags hung limp against the poles. This is extremely rare for Miyako...being an island.

I felt totally disorganised, I was running around putting talc in my socks., squeezing gels into little bottles for the bike, changing laces in my shoes, charging ipods...it was a mental couple of hours. Brian threw up again before breakfast...indicating that whatever bug was in his tummy was still there :(

Luckily, Jaimee was there to keep me straight. We headed down to the swim start and melted into the crowd of wetsuits. (I think I'm pointing at the pros heading off on the swim start...I don't even have my goggles on!) So, the swim was good. I definitely got bashed more than my fair share, but it thinned out quite quickly and only had crazy contact at all the corners on the course. Beautiful 3k swim - you can see the sandy bottom, fish and coral the whole way round, water was about 23 degrees c.

Swim predicted time: 1hour.....actual time: 52 mins. Hooray! Smiling right from the start!


Due to the lack of wind, everyone was feeling optimistic about the 155k bike leg. It was such a beautiful day, the water looked amazing as we cycled around the island. I did the first 30k in exactly an hour, and I managed to hold that pace the whole way round. Although drafting is totally illegal in these races, there were definitely huge packs of speedy men all coming past me...packs...drafting. They had blokes on scooters with whistles, but I don't think they were busting people properly.  I felt a bit heavy in the legs at the 100k point, so I tucked into my food - 2 power bars that had melted together in my bento box...I never want to eat another one after that, grim! But it did the trick. I was sticking to my nutrition plan, 6 gels in the first 100k, and the power bars. I had oreo biscuits waiting for me in my special needs bag at 100k - I felt like I'd had a real boost to get me through the next 55k - the wind had picked up a bit. At 120k I decided that enough was enough - time to bust out the ipod tunes - although it's not encouraged, it's not forbidden either, so I thought I'd go for it, just one ear! I managed to roll into transition at 1:15 pm - giving me a bike time of about 5:15. They lump the 2 transition times into your bike time...so, my recorded time is 5:29 - maybe 7 or 8 minutes for each transition...hard to know exactly, but my transitions were definitely quicker than in Ironman NZ!


We had visited a Junior High school on the Friday morning - the same students were at the bike transition volunteering, so they were thrilled to see me racing, pointing me in the right direction, handing me my kit bag etc...It definitely gave me a boost to see them so excited!! :) 2 of the current ALTs helped me out with some sunscreen and an update on Brian's race. When I heard that he was in about 20th place on the run, I knew that something bad had happened - he should've been at the front. My bike predicted time: 5:45-6:00...actual: 5:15-ish = thrilled + legs a bit wobbly!

I set out on the run with my music blaring (my original plan was to save it for the 21k half way point...but I needed the rhythm!!) It was H.O.T. I knew I was going to struggle with the heat...I saw the race leaders coming towards me when I was about 12km in - it's an out and back course, so you can see everyone who's in front of you! The Japanese athletes had run a good race, the first 6 or 7 were all Japanese. Then I saw Anton, from Ukraine, and a few others, then I saw Brian - he looked to be running well, he had teamed up to run with Eneko from Spain. At least they only had 10k to go!

I got to the turn around in 2 hours...the first 10k was tough, getting the legs going, I ran solidly from one aid station to the next. A lot of the course has some sort of slight gradient - I'd run really fast down the slopes and Paul Patry witnessed me walking up one of the hills...I was on the way back, he was on the way out - his first long distance race, he was doing great!!

Next I came across Jaimee - she had set off on her run without her ipod! Oh noo!! I had about 10k to go, so I decided that her need was greater than mine - I'd had a great day and was full of cheer and genkiness. I strapped my sweaty ipod onto her arm and sent her on her way. Jaimee's first long distance triathlon too, she was full of genki spirit!! So fun!!

The last 10k, as always, seemed to take forever... winding through the streets of the town - it's never a direct route to the goal. So many people out cheering - saw a few of the Jet English Teachers - always a huge support. Dave had been doing the announcing all day, at the swim start and the bike transition.

Stopped for a photo with Shimoji san, we formed a mini irish band when I lived on the island! I'm amazed he recognised me (I used to have blonde hair).

FINALLY, I was at the end...I was hoping for a sub 4 hour marathon, but was happy with 4:10 because everything else had gone so well! I felt happy with all the little details: nutrition, choice of clothes, music...it had all gone better than I had expected!
Predicted finish time 11 - 12 hours. Actual time: 10:32 :)

As soon as I finished, I got interviewed...aaaaa the life of the gaijin in Japan!!! I felt good and happy...able to walk and speak, at least! It's a crazy atmosphere down at the strongman finish line. I showered and caught up the race gossip with Brian. Then we cheered Paul home, and then Jaimee!! Hooray!! Everyone home safe!!


Went home on the bus back to the Tokyu Resort, crawled up in a ball and just lay there - unable to sleep due to all the sweet gels, and the body just tingling with shock and trauma from the day! We went for a 1am stroll around the hotel lobby, in search of a vending machine.


Monday was busy. Breakfast - still not much of an appetite - despite the best breakfast/brunch buffet ever! Then car up to transition to pick up our bikes, then cycle home - stopping to get medicine on the way - I have been coughing up green gunk for almost a week now, I think I'm finally on the mend today (Tuesday). Quick chill in the ocean before heading up to the awards ceremony party. So much food and beer - everyone just hobbling around, struggling to stand through all the speeches!!

We picked up our certificates and glanced over the results. I was 3rd in my age group (25-29), 20th Woman and 305th in the whole 1300 or so starters - so happy!! Hooray! Brian was also 3rd in his age group (25-29), and 18th overall - not bad for being in the state he was!!

So, for male age group awards, they give a nice big blue award folder to 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the age group - so Brian got that. For the girls, they only give it to 1st in the age group :((((( So, I felt very sad about this! Brian changed his certificate with mine and gave me his blue folder, sweet man! It's much harder to place in your age group as a man, so I DO get it, but still!!! Girls LOVE awards too :)

So, that's pretty much it...I could go on and on and on and on about all the finer details, but I'm sure it only means something to me!

It was a great way to come back to visit this place that means so much to me. I'm looking forward to a few more days of chill time on Okinawa before heading back to Uni exams next week, then that 6 week block in school.........I'm pretty shattered right now, so I'll be sleeping in tomorrow!

The count down is on for the next Ironman race - Challenge Roth, July 10th, Germany!!

Thanks to everyone for all the messages and comments, it means the world to me. And I've said it before, that all you people who are taking an interest in this - it's only because you've done something like this before, or you're maybe motivated by it...that means that you've got the ability to do it too! It's hard work training for something like this, but it's such an amazing feeling to have completed something you never thought you could do!

 

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8 and a half months...and it's over

Well, 8 and a half months ago I ditched the old London Bank job, packed up my little life and bounced around South and Central America...then back to London, then on to Australia, then off to Canada, then back to Australia...zero structure, zero commitment, zero Sunday blues...zero job offers...zero income...
Now it's all over, routine is finally upon me. Pretty much finished my cert III in Fitness, have found it super interesting so far. It's going to be taking a back seat until November I reckon!
This week is the lead-in week for my Diploma in Education programme...they are holding a mid-year conference. It's all a little overwhelming - I'm part of the semester 2 intake, so there are loads of people doing the same courses who have already done a semester and a prac placement. Hopefully they'll be handy when it comes round to assignment writing time! :) I'm quite liking the prospect of a hectic semester, then a HUGE long summer break, then another hectic semester...then back to the simple life?!? haha. There's free food at this conference, it's amazing...morning tea is like high tea at the Ritz...every type of cream cake you can imagine. Funny looking around at all the different types of people who are psyched about becoming teachers...and soooo many stupid questions at the end of each lecture!! Some people just love the sound of their own voice - I suppose they'll make great teachers though!
One of the lecturers was explaining the risks of social networking sites etc... 'my space - which used to be a big thing a few years ago', I love that they had to explain that - how young are some of these students?? eeeek. So far the majority of the lectures have all been about behaviour management...if you can control your class - you're in! Also kids these days are not lazy - there must be another explanation, one of a zillion new learning disorders that we must learn to identify. 'The kids are disgusting and I can't do anything - maybe it's you who's crap'. Waaaaa hahaaaa.
Zooming up to uni on my scooter is awesome, just like being in a computer game. It costs $3.50 to fill her up, and she'll go 100km on that ;) No parking worries at the other end woohoo.

I finally had to break out the alarm clock - 5am to go cycling, 5:30am to go swimming...soon it will be light and the strange birds will be singing their crazy aussie song, that should help.
Proper lectures start next week - Mon, Tues, Weds pretty full on. Thursday OFF, Friday 8-10am!! Just 6 weeks of lectures, then exams, then 6 weeks in school, then holidays!! It's going to FLY!!!!

My hip has been sensitive lately - I did long runs 3 weeks in a row...I've now stopped the long runs...pretty depressing really. I don't think I could handle the same injury all over again!!! I'm training for the Gold Coast Half Ironman in October. I think if I ease up a for a bit now, I'll still have time to build up some running before the race. Sigh.

My brain is fried! Miss McRae, over and out.