Samstag, 22. September 2012

Ironman Wales: Season´s end with a 2nd place


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)

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