It’s the day before race day and the last couple of weeks tapering have me on edge, I am dreaming about riding a bike. Having only swam 2.5 hours in the last week I have a lot of pent up energy as my body has got used to 20 hours plus exercise a week. I guess that’s the idea!
Time to set the transition up, we are given 3 bags:
Blue bag = Swim to bike: helmet, check, glasses, check, bike shoes, check, anti-chaffing cream, check, electrolites, check, food on bike, check (I like to think of the bike as a rolling buffet)
Red bag = Bike to run: trainers, check, socks, check, gels, check etc…..
White bag = Recovery post-race, recovery drink, check, fleece, check, hat, check, recovery tights (I know, I know)
It’s like NASA control, you get the idea……..
All the bags hung on hooks for my race number “1168” and it’s time for some pizza with the rest of the tri club – Emma teases us all as she polishes off 3 bottles of beer and threatens to hit the red wine.
Early to bed and early to rise, I didn’t need an alarm, 4.30am and I was wide awake, into support shorts for my groin strain, plasters on nipples (children’s monkey plasters do the trick) Vaseline on the areas of most “rubbage” tri suit, race belt and number on and wetsuit over the top. A bowl of porridge and plenty of juice then off to transition to put the bike computer on the finishing touches.
Before too long it was 6.45pm and we were being walked down to the North beach for start – Due to the hurricane swell coming the beach for the swim had moved to the more sheltered North beach. Of course this meant an extra 1km run, in a wetsuit, back to transition following the swim – as if I need a run that early when recovering from a groin strain!!!
The cannon, and were off….
Nearly 2000 athletes all running into the sea at the same time
It’s like being in a washing machine for the first 200m, then I managed to find some space of my own and a pack to hang in behind, feeling good I realised I was holding back and could go faster so I made the effort to bridge the gap to the next group ahead. Past the RNLI lifeboat (fantastic job from those guys on the day and little did I know then that they would still be up to cheer us all into the finish) 2nd turning buoy and now heading back to the beach. Out of the water and around the rock to jump back in for lap 2 – entering the water I was hit by a chest high wave, stretch my groin to re-balance ( slight twang of pain) but it holds. In for the finish of lap 2 and I was so pre-occupied with keeping the pace I forgot about waves coming in behind me. Before I knew it I was picked up and swirling in with a group of 4 people then dumped maliciously on the beach. A few grazes but I’m now off up the ramp into town and through to transition. Wetsuit off, bike gear on, while leaving transition on the bike I hear the PA announcing 1 hour to swim cut off time (the swim must be completed within 2 hours and 20 minutes)
it’s taken me at least 10/15 minutes for transition so that means a very encouraging 1.06 for the 2.4 mile swim – good start.
So here we go on the bike, out of Tenby and going well, averaging 20 miles an hour, little did I know how much this was to change and what the course had in-store for me. The first 10/15 miles were quick. Then the hills, I realise the wattage I am putting out is too high and if I don’t lower it I will suffer later, so I decide to slow a little – a good thing I did because we then turn into a headwind and I need all the strength in my legs now to maintain 14/15mph. A hairy moment on a cattle grid, I end up almost sideways when the wind catches my deep rims picking me up like a sail.
Another close shave as I leave it too late braking downhill into a turn, and manage to lock the back wheel at 50mph. But I manage to stay on whilst riding past two racers already on their backs in the grass verge.
The road is silent as I pass groups of riders and in turn get passed by some bike demons, including Lee from our club who almost does a double take as if to say “how did you get ahead of me”?
Next stop – Narberth, and it doesn’t disappoint, it’s a steep climb up Narberth hill and into the towns one way system at the top amid crowds and crowds of people. The PA system is pumping “eye of the tiger” – the support is amazing and almost brings a tear to my eyes.
Now it’s surf beaches with descents into them a steep climbs back out the other side all the way through to Tenby, I come across a nasty crash on one of these descents as a rider has decided to take out a brick wall on the opposite side of the road. The emergency services are there and the rider is standing.
Saundersfoot – and again the same treatment – this time its “Firework” at the top of the hill playing on the PA system, into Tenby and the streets are packed – the support of the Welsh people nothing short of amazing……..
Back out of Tenby for lap 2 and back into the headwind which is now picking up progressively as the weather forecast had predicted, m y average speed now given the wind and hills is a relatively poor 14/15mph permanently. Back through Narberth and Saundersfoot again, the support is still out – these people have been clapping and cheering since 7am this morning and it’s now getting on for 3pm, wonderful, fantastic and extremely uplifting. Now for the 20% Wisemans bridge hill for the last time.
Having winched myself up I get talking to an Ironman veteran called Bob from Leeds - my effort drops a little as we ride side by side chatting, but it helps the last 10 miles fly by. As we come back into Tenby he says to me “it’s just a little run now, don’t think of it as a marathon”
I have been racing for 8 hours and I am now “starting a marathon”……………………………….
I start running with very short strides and low cadence, I can’t push it too hard for fear of pulling the groin strain – lap 1 of a 4 lap loop around Tenby goes relatively quickly, but my body is now reacting. The lack of running since June due to injury is taking its toll, as my quads are now screaming at me, it’s also a hilly course which doesn’t help.
My stomach starts to make funny noises and I feel sick – great that’s all I need, I have taken too many gels and energy bars and my body is struggling to digest them while going through the run effort. I slow the pace a little further and only take a little water at each aid station. Very careful not to drink too much water as it will wash the salts out my body and I will cramp. After an hour or so my stomach settles down and I fall into a rhythm of half a banana and a few sips Gatorade at each aid station.
I spot the race leader heading past me in the opposite direction on their last lap – deflating!!!
Back into the town for lap 2, the atmosphere is fantastic, oiled a little by the Wales vs SA rugby match. People outside the pubs cheering us on and offering sips of their pints. And then I spot it – one of them is offering a joint!!!!! I almost heave on my trainers.
I see myself on the giant screen as I head round past the castle and back out of town for another lap, 6 miles back uphill we go. Now it’s getting REALLY tough – I am now officially doing the “Ironman Shuffle” every muscle wants to give up and I can feel there is no energy left in my body. Time to hit the flat coke at each aid station. This gives me a lift each time but is short lived so I need to keep topping up at every aid station.
Mentally I am now being screamed at by my body to just give up. I tell myself back into town once more and then I am on my last lap – mentally I try to just switch off (dream nice thoughts) hoping when I stop dreaming I will have travelled a good proportion of the last lap. Sadly I have only travelled 200M when I wake from my dream.
Getting to the turn point at the top of the hill and one of the officials looks at me, obviously sees I am in a world of pain and say’s “come on bud you’re looking stronger than when I saw you on your last lap” that’s all I need, I turn the corner and I know its 3 miles back into Tenby and the finish awaits. As I hit the small hill on the outskirts of the town I am almost having to lift my legs with my hands to put one in front of the other – I stop to walk a minute. A guy taps me as he runs past and says “come on don’t give up now you can stay within 13 hours if you keep going. I start running again, now my knees are seizing up. I reach the gate, instead of turning right and picking up another band I can now turn left for the finishing chute.
It’s so emotional running down the blue carpet with thousands cheering. Then “Jamie Faulkner you are an ironman”
The womans winner Kristin Moeller summed it up when she said "I have done many events Ironman Wales is the toughest yet"
If you wanta tough course I can highly recommend Ironman Wales to anyone, the atmosphere the Welsh create is 2nd to none, the support was amazing and gave me the extra lift I needed to complete the dream.
If you wanta tough course I can highly recommend Ironman Wales to anyone, the atmosphere the Welsh create is 2nd to none, the support was amazing and gave me the extra lift I needed to complete the dream.
3 days since the event and the buzz is still going, walking like John Wayne and If it’s not bolted down I will eat it…… Back to some light swimming Thursday or Friday and Winter to contemplate the next challenge.
