Ironman 70.3 St Polten Race Report 2009

As the 2010 Ironman in St Polten approaches I thought I should write a report about my time in St Polten last year. It was my first race of this distance and after driving in from Brno with my girlfriend we were happy to see that the sun was shining and all was good. We arrived and the first thing I realised what that I’d left my pump at home. I borrowed a pump – noticing what a great atmosphere there was around me as I I did so. I started to pump up the tyres before taking my bike to transition - and burst the rear one! What a start! I didn’t want to use my spare so I took it to the bike repair centre in the IronVillage where they charged me 15 euro to buy and fit a new one, as well as give my bike a quick service.

I have to say that I was well impressed with the organisation at the venue and the look of the race course. I couldn’t wait for the next day.

The only slight negative for me and my family was the pasta party, which was very noisy and the food was very average. We felt that it was over capacity too, and it would be good if they had a maximum capacity in the tent which didn’t seem to happen. However, it was good to soak up the atmosphere and see some of the pros, as well as see the race course and get even more excited.

I don’t usually drink before a race but knowing that I had to get up at 4.30 for breakfast, I decided to have a glass of wine to help me sleep and went to bed at 9.30pm.

I was the first one of my party into the breakfast room in the morning and noticed that the hotel even had Ironman napkins which started psyching me up from the first bite of my cheese roll. Then my parents, girlfriend and her parents joined me and we left for the race at about 5.45am.

Anyone going this year, I’d allow yourself plenty of time to get into the car park, as this was a streeful time for me and I decided to leave the car and jog to transition to ensure my bike was prepared and I knew exactly where my T1 bag and bike was. Then I got stressed just before the start and ended up running to the start line and throwing on my wetsuit with just enough time for a quick warm up swim – at least I didn’t have time to be nervous!

The swim was great, well-organised and exciting. It was special as after about 1000m you have to get out and run across a bridge and jump into a second lake – superb. The weather as we finished the swim was turning nice again (my swim time was 34mins) as the clock stuck about 7.55…..

The start of the bike was amazing for me, cycling out of town on a closed motorway. I really felt like an athlete here, and I think that everybody feels a bit special on these big occasions. It was also nice that everyone cheers you on and the atmosphere during the bike ride was wonderful.  The single 90km loop was a factor for me in choosing this race as I don’t much like doing lots of loops and I thought the scenery and the diversity of the course was really good. After the motorway you go into the vineyears and then cycle by the river for about 20km where it’s nice and flat before turning up intoa big climb – if I remember rightly it was about 15km of climbing. I met another English guy on the climb, and it was good to have a little chat and help each other up there.

By the time we made it to the top of the hill I was ready to get off the bike for my favourite part – the run, and the reason I wanted to try this distance event. Is the half marathon harder after a bike ride? I rode down the hill and into town and by now the sun was quite strong and the temperature was rising. (bike was 2h47mins)

Coming out of transition, I felt really strong and the two loop run course was dead flat, which suited me, and I managed a 10k time of 40mins. By now I was hot and getting tired, but I had a bit of banana and picked up a gel and a drink at every aid station and finished the run in 1h25mins. I surprised myself with a finish time of 4h56 and got a shower and massage – Now I had become an Ironman!

I can only say thanks very much to all the organisers and staff at the event, which was superbly run and everyone was very friendly. It was the biggest of the events I did last season, and though I would love to do another one this year it still seems that I might be sidelined for some time yet.

Anyone going for their first time on Sunday, enjoy every minute of it and I hope your day is as special as mine….

   

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A very generous donor, Planet Wheeler [www.planetwheeler.org] has offered to match donations dollar for dollar – meaning we need to raise $30,000 and they will contribute a matching amount.

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Back to square one

After my training day yesterday my achilles is big and now it feels tender to touch. I feel that I’m back where I was 6 weeks ago and feeling pretty disappointed and stupid.

I had to try it, the sportsman in me wanted to believe the better prognosis, and maybe it would’ve been ok if I’d done less? Who knows? I only know that now I’ll have to be patient and may even use the crutches as instructed by the first doctor for a few days.

I feel that everything I’ve seen and read on the Internet is not correct or just not right for me too. It looks as though I’ll have to be content with swimming this summer.

I spoke to my neighbour (the man I met in the pool – see previous post) and found out that he’s a professional open-water swimmer, and a member of the best swimming team here in Brno – Kometa! He said he’ll be able to put me in touch with their team, and with a coincidence like that I should be very grateful…….

Another training twist

Yesterday was a very strange day. In the morning I picked up some crutches from the hospital but didn’t have the heart to use them. I looked at people in the hospital who really needed them and felt like an idiot so I carried them to work with the idea that I’d use them if I have to walk a lot. Then after work I went to see another doctor for a second opinion. He told me he thinks there is no sign of inflammation or of tendonitis – which was a big difference to the first doctors opinion! He said I might have a heel spur and sent me for an x-ray to check. I showed him where the lumps are (but he couldn’t feel them), and told him that it doesn’t hurt and he told me to go for a run and see what happens! He said if it swells up he’d have something to look at and if not then it must be ok.  Now that was exactly what I wanted to hear!

So the crutches are laying around and hopefully wont be needed. This morning I went for a jog for about 6-7km and it seemed ok, so I went for a bike ride for 2.5hours and it still doesn’t hurt, but (I think) the hard lumps are still there. I’ll take the x-rays to show him on Tuesday so I’ll go for a run again before that and hopefully he’ll give me the all clear.

This year has been very frustrating with a lot of highs and lows already but I think I will learn a lot about my training limits and hopefully sign up again for Roth next year. This could also change my goals for this year, and for fund raising ideas as if I’m fit enough I could do a long bike race instead.

I’ll keep you all posted on my plans.