Ironman Japan 2014 🇯🇵

Ironman Japan 2014 🇯🇵

Was a pretty good day. It started of with a scare as I turned up and the front tyre was flat, it would not pump up. At 5:00 in the morning this was a panic as missing the whole race flashes before my eyes. Orlando was upset because Elle and I were both worried and probably also because he had been pulled out of bed at 4am for no apparent reason and was now surrounded by people with bikes looking anxious.

The technical team swapped the tyre and fixed it and all was fine.....relief! Rushing down to the start the spectacle that was Ironman began.  In the first wave after the pros I waded into the lake, that seemed murky at first but would soon reveal itself as a stunning clear beautiful lake.  The commentator seemed to switch effortlessly between English and Japanese. 1min to go, 30 secs, 10 secs, then the air horn went off.

For the first km to the white buoy I followed the washing machine of bodies, unable to view the buoy. Things cleared up and I worked through to the first triangle where I came out of the water to see Elle and Orlando waving on the muddy bank. Orlando still in his pyjamas. A very short u turn and one last wave then back into the water. The second lap was fine until near the end of the first leg it started chopping up a bit. But soon I would be at the ramp climbing up. Swim finished. 1hr 7mins.

Into the men's change tent, some stuffing round with the wetsuit and thankfully my bike tyre had air through the very muddy transition. A wave a kiss to Elle who was in prime position, through the gallery where I nearly lost my bike twice through mishandling and then onto the bike.



It started off easily enough, round the lake through, beautiful tree lined streets with the stunning lake and hills behind. Then at about 30km it is there. A water stop, then down the gears as the slow grind up the first big hill begins and for another 120km the course would wind through the beautiful farm lands of Haikaddo, with rolling up and down hills, the ups hard and the downs really fast. Supporters mainly older people and volunteers often rang cowbells or yelled encouragement in Japanese, somehow it was all very polite.

It would be a slow ride, taking 6hrs 40mins and I would come down begging for the last km and transition to the run.  I was sore, stiff in the lower back. To get going took a while. Why am I doing this? I saw Elle and Orlando it filled my heart and when I looped on the way back I stopped and chatted. It was good to see her, she gave me what I needed to continue. "You had better get going, we will go home and come and see you finish," and off I went. Slowly the stiffness worked its way out and I ran onto the road and soon into the path by the lake.

Every two kms was an aid station and my strategy was too walk these and run the rest.  The course was well sheltered with trees and this would switch to being the river.  I shuffled on and slowly made it to 10kms.  At about 13km was the turning point, the first major milestone.  Running back every so often the wind would pick up. The volunteers would provide encouragement in Japanese and on it went.

Coming back in it seemed Elle and Orlando had gone home. It was a bit emotional running past the finish line knowing I would not be going down the chute I still had two to two and half hours left.  A long time. But it reminded me I was doing an Ironman. But what does that mean? All this suffering for marketing? On I went.

The second lap, time passed as I willed each landmark I could remember to be there now. Slowly I continued following the same walk the checkpoint strategy.  Dark began to fall and led lights came on, at 38km I was offered a glow stick. I declined saying hopefully for me it is nearly over.

13 hours was close, but looking at my watch I did not quite have the pace. At 39km it was nearly impossible. So in a shift, I decided I would pick up my jumper at special needs so I did not have to come back.

Down the footpath, I ran in the darkening night and Elle and Orlando yelled out. I was nearly home. I threw her my jumper and said I was going to finish and to meet me at the end.

Passing the chute this time I knew I could enjoy turning left and going down it. I ran down and high fived people on both sides. Made it to the end and threw my hands in the air as went through the tape. I had done it!

5hrs 1min, a shirt a printed out certificate and then some soup. The selection was limited. Elle came down with Orlando in the pram and gave me a big kiss. Orlando was also very excited to see me and gave me big cuddles and kisses. It was a great feeling.

We all went back inside and I was able to sign up for a massage. We wanted to be home for dinner. Finally, my turn came with Orlando pulling me and climbing under the table. Still, it felt good as my sore legs were rubbed out.

Jumping in the car we were racing home trying to be there by 9:00 before dinner shut. We made it by 8:45. Turned out dinner finished at 8:00.  Elle had disappeared, but after some negotiation, we were able to get a mixture of food they had left from the buffet. It was not what we had imagined but that, a cup of noodles and a nice ice cream from the downstairs vending machine and it was enough.

A few chafing injuries Elle attended too before finally going to bed a big day done!