Ironman Port Macquarie, Australia 🇦🇺

Ironman Port Macquarie, Australia 🇦🇺 

Woke up at 4:30 stretched, ate, visit to the boys room and it was soon 5:00, Graham was waiting outside with another friend and we were off.

Still dark we walked to transition where I did the last of the packing, in with the nutrition. The tires were still inflated which made me happy, the money spent on redoing them seems to of been well spent.

To the swim start where a long queue for the toilets was well worth the wait. The rolling swim start began at 6:38. In the second wave I skipped over to the first, walked down to the ramp and was off. The water was warmer than I expected, though could not see much as sand was churned up from the swimmers. Out between the boats I was conscious of keeping with the group, drafting and staying on course. Success was mixed but it was not too bad. 

Turning at what I dreamed of being the half way point was a dog leg into the next stage, shortly after it was a walk over a bridge, into a part of the swim course that was a little colder and less enjoyable. Turning back over the bridge again and then on the way home. Disrupted only by a sand bank which everyone walked over. Everyone was in good spirits and polite.

Up the ramp into transition and it was onto the bike. Despite all I had been told, I really enjoyed the hills, they were rolling and a good runoff from the down pushed you to the up. Later in the course I enjoyed less as the road turned rough and was a bike effort as my legs shook from the vibrations of the road.

Approaching the turn around of the first lap I for some reason did not enjoy. Questioned why do news doing this. As I passed this area and came back into town and saw the parts of Port Macquarie Elle spoke about my spirits lifted and I felt much better. 

Into the second lap and the rain and wind came, still I felt good for pretty much the whole lap, accept for one time on the way out in the roughest part where some knob told me I was cheating because I was drafting. Love these back of the pack technical officials. Reminded me of the guy in Melbourne who said that and then ended up with a time penalty. The rest of the lap was good, up the big hill with minimal issue. The spectators had largely left due to the rain, so it was isolated out on the course. Felt I could keep going on the bike and had been disciplined with nutrition. Was surprised to find a dead cockroach in my stow bag, lucky all my food was in bags. Still pretty awful. Also I discovered the joy of peeing on the bike which helped avoid having to stop.

Into the run and I felt pretty good, making good time and running well on the first lap. Round the town was nice and then it was up by a lake, enjoyed that less. Four laps and was pacing at under 6:00/km for the first three laps, 30km, which I was very happy about. Though the end of the third I was starting to hurt, my knees were cramping a little and sore. 

Maintained discipline with nutrition, salt tablets and a gel at each lap. The last lap I ran the first end. Adding 15 extra minutes for the lap. Walked longer at the aid stations but managed to keep going. In the end I decided to run faster and see if that would help, for the last km or so it did. I ran down the chute, it was already dark and passed the finish line. An Ironman for the sixth time.
part well but struggles at the act

My second best time, 11hrs 48mins, I was happy with the effort and the day, it felt good.

Really great massage from a Tafe student up from Sydney, meant to give me 2mins, he gave about 20mins, it was fantastic. He was a really nice guy, changing careers so that he could run his own business and look after his 90yo mother with Alzheimer's. His father had died when he was young, contracting hep C from one of the first heart transplants back in the 80's. Performed by Dr Victor Cheng, a surgeon at the forefront of his field who was later shot.

Following this it was back to the food tent, where I had some pizza, pulled pork rolls and chips, chatted to some of the other athletes. 

Picked up my gear and bike then rode home. The odd shouting from cars,“get a light,” typify the idiot Australians that can't help but to inflict there moronic views on the rest of the world.

Arriving back to the AirBnB, I was done, shower, milo, chat to Elle and responded to the beautiful messages of support from the family. A great day!

Elle:
A huge congratulations today. You have done so many now that I sound repetitive but we are so proud of you and hope you had lots of fun. Hope you feel ok in the morning and take yourself for a nice breakfast and coffee by the beach. What time is your flight to Syd tomorrow? I'm sure graham would offer to take you to the airport. Can't wait to have you home so I can massage you. The boys miss you and can't wait to have you home. Think you deserve a yummy dinner to celebrate on the wend too xxxx

Mum and Dad:
Dear Ben
So glad you've made it we all knew you would a fantastic effort.
I hope you are very proud of yourself.
Lots of love mum and dad

Chris:
Hey Ben. Congrats. Another awesome result well done. Give me a call if you can if not no prob speak tomorrow!

Graham:
I hope you had a good day.I didn't see you anywhere. Bad luck about the weather.I left about 4:30. It was great to meet you and I hope your stay in port and the IM was a memorable experience.