Before the race
It´s time for my race report of the day which was supposed
to be my most important triathlon day this year. I felt really fit before race
week. My times in training as well as during training races (olympic distance
triathlon in Nyon) were faster then ever. Everything seemed to sum up in a
great performance at Ironman Wales.
Together with my brother I arrived on Wednesday before the
race in Tenby, South Wales. We did a course recognition the next day. The bike
course looked very tough. After the first few miles there seemed to be no flat
kilometer anymore. Either the road was declining or we had to climb a hill. No
way to get in a good rythm there. The steepest increase was a 16% hill followed
by another one just a few minutes later. This combination occured after approx.
110k and again after 170k of the bike course. Also the run course was anything
but flat. The hill which had to be climbed on the beginning of each of the four
laps as well as the downhill afterwards would be a killer for the muscles after
the tough bike ride. The part through town with numerous turnings was also not
flat at all. I prepared mentally for a rough and long day. However, I felt I
could handle it.
Friday before the race I went for a short swim in the sea
followed by a short brick run. When I excited the water after 10mins, my back
was hurting and I was almost unable to move. I could not reach my feet anymore
and was unable to stand completely straight. Time to quit the race and fly
home! That´s what I feared. But I did not come all this way to Wales and
trained for months to just give up. The next two days I spent in my hotel bed, taking lots of painkillers and just hoped
for improvement. On Saturday, I racked my bike in transition. Despite the
painkillers, I was still in great pain but I was 100% sure to race and to get
somehow to the finish line, whatever it takes. I prepared mentally for a 17
hours race day.
Race day
On race morning my back felt much better. Probably, the
adrenaline was helping a lot. I prepared for the race and was again in a better
mood. I just wanted to give my best and see what would result.
The swim went
really well for my expectations. I swam a new PB in around 1:13-1:15h according
to my watch (official time is 1:16:59 but I lost my timing chip during the
swim, so unfortunately there is no right official time). The swim start was
like hell. The first buoy was only 200-300meters away from the beach.
Therefore, we were almost standing still there, just fighting to stay above the
water and keep breathing. On the second buoy, it was the same mess again. Luckily,
after some time, it got better. Blessed are the wave starts of Challenge races!
After the swimming we had to run 1k through Tenby to get to
transition which was located on the other side of town. There were a lot of
people on the narrow road so it was not always possible to run my pace, but I
think I did it quite fast. In transition there was no space at all, I emptied
by bike bag somewhere on the floor and realized that I lost my timing chip. It
took almost a minute until I could organize a new one with the help of two
staff members. Then off with the bike!
On the bike I tried to get into a good and fast rythm. My
brother told me that I was a big time behind the first girl in my age group in
second place. During the first half of the bike, there were a lot of people on
the roads and I had to overtake a lot. Sometimes the road was just too narrow
to overtake or athletes were cycling three in a row. However, I felt strong and
was motivated. That should change very soon. After approx. 90k, so around half
of the bike course, I felt completely empty. There was no power in my legs, my
stomach started to cramp (painkillers...) and I was unable to eat enough. I
just felt horrible and at every small hill I was almost standing still. There
was just nothing left in me. I was honestly thinking about pulling out of the
race, but giving up is just not my
nature. So I tried to take a bit speed out (which speed?!) to recover a bit.
But it did not help. When I reached the hill combination at Saundersfoot the
first time, I almost fell of my bike. With tears in my eyes I fighted to
somehow reach the end of the hills. The crowds in Saundersfoot were amazing cheering
us up the hill. In Tenby my brother told me to go faster because I lost time
compared to my age group leader. I told him that I was completely dead but
tried anyway. On the second (shorter) lap of the bike course, I tried to pedal
as hard as possible at every time. I was able catch up a little bit.
Off the bike I did a very fast transition, put on my running
shoes and just thought „ok, let´s run like hell now!“. Surprisingly, the
running felt much better than the biking. I followed the same tactic again and
just ran as fast as possible at every minute of the marathon. From time to time
I saw my age group leader and she looked really strong and confident. My
brother timed us and told me that I was getting closer to her, slowly but
steady. However, my legs felt still empty and the bike part literally killed
them. I never before was in such a pain during an Ironman (and all my Ironmans
were quite painful till now). The steady up and down on the run course was like
hell for my muscles. Luckily, I did not ended having cramps, but the soreness
was bad enough. I gave all I had on that day, but in the end I finish second in
my age group around 11 minutes behind the first girl who was really strong. I
ran a new PB (1min faster then in CPH 2011). The crowds on the run course in
Tenby were amazing and they got bigger and bigger during the marathon. At the
end, I was just relieved to finish the race and to end the pain.
To be honest, in the beginning I was really disappointed
with my race. What was planned to be my big day ended up in quite a catastophe.
With a lot of expectations and the hope for the Hawaii qualification I came to
Wales. But during race week almost everything which could go wrong, went wrong
(only my beloved Cervélo P3 worked perfectly as always!). I caught a cold and I
hurt my back so badly that I almost had to quite the race before it even
started. Summing up, I should be happy with my performance on that day. I gave
absolutely everything I had and I did not give up. That´s the most important
point in triathlon sports so I think I can be proud of it. Of course it is
disappointing if you have the bike form of your life but you just can put it on
the pedals on race day. My bike performance could have been so much better but nobody
can change the circumstances. However, I want to thank everyone who supported
me before, during and after the race. I got so many good luck messages and
congratulations. I know a lot of people spent their Sunday in front of their
computer or smartphone to follow me. It is amazing to have such a supporting
family, friends and team members. Thank you for all your messages to cheer me
up after the race. Several people told me that Kona will call me when I am
ready for it. I think you´re right, when the right time comes, I will qualify
for the World Champs and then I will damn rock them!
Honestly, I was not blown away by the Ironman organization.That´s
why in the near future, I will focus again on - personally preferred -
Challenge and TriStar races. I will give Ironman and the Hawaii quali a shot again
in a few years when Kona is calling me!
Now it is time for off-season. Time for some partying (there
is a lot to celebrate!) and recovering. Also without Hawaii I have big goals next
year. Gigathlon is calling!!
The race in numbers
3.8k swim – 1:13-1:15h
180k bike including 2400 meters altitude difference – 6:38h
42k run including 700 meters altitude difference – 3:46h
total IM Wales - 11:52h
2. in my age group female (only 3 girls)
15. in my age group
including men (total of 45)
30. female overall (including about 10 pros)
356. overall including men (around 1300 made it to the finish
line)
