Ironman North America Championship - The Woodlands, Texas, USA 🇺🇸 2018

Ironman North America Championship - The Woodlands, Texas, USA 🇺🇸

Woke at 3:30 but stayed in bed till just before 4:00 stretching a little before call Elle, chatting while finishing stretching. Howard my 77yo AirBnB flatmate who is also competing was gone by the time I was downstairs. Some breakfast of Oats and banana, gear on and by a little after 4:00 I was in the car on the way. 

Entering the freeway of the ramp I was surprised by a flash of light, I though it must be lighting but then I realised, speed camera, shit. Was not very happy, but nothing could be done and I fought to put it out of my head.

Parking at the Hyatt carpark with no problem, I was out walking to transition. 5:10 I arrived and did the necessary jobs, pumped tires, placed nutrition on bike and in transition bags, filled bottles. It was the walk now to the swim start. It was luck and good planning that yesterday I replicated this routine, the 20 minute walk would have caused a little panic as time for this is particularly tight. Not sure what someone would do if they had a bike issue or something else.

Arriving at the start, body marking done, lined up for the toilet. Dropped of the gear bag, wetsuit on and then went to the shore. The pros were already in the water and soon started and the women soon followed. That was it, time to line and go.

SWIM

6:40 the swim began, as discussed with Coach Shem I stayed in the second batch, 1:00 - 1:10Hr and was near the front. Rolling start and soon I was at the front and in the water. Swimming through the brown muddy liquid looking for people to draft of. As my strategy was to find people to draft of I was often in packs of many people so there was a good deal of kicking and hitting. However I felt strong and confident so continued on.

The swim was in thirds, out and back in the main river followed by a swim down a canal. All went well for the swim, sometimes I struggled to find a good draft but always I felt strong. Once at the canal I found a guy in a bright wetsuit who I would follow all the way in. Crowds lined the shoreline of both sides of the canal, screaming and cheering. My swim was 1:08hr not bad, I was hoping for a bit quicker.

BIKE

Smooth transition onto the bike and I was of. The first 20 miles wound through the city and out to a highway. Once at the highway it was quite quite. My pace was strong and I looked to not push to hard, saving my legs. Was pushing out the high and saw the pros go by, following the pros I was surprised to see some big groups of riders all together. They were drafting! Very unusual to see how close there were. There seemed to be no officials.

The highway road was not pretty, there was little to look at, but it was fast. I would turn with an average of 33km/h on the first turn, going back was when it would become really fast. The wind picked up and was well behind which was great in itself however as the groups of riders I saw became bigger and bigger I decided to join in. Not in a big group but enough, things then became really fast. I would move my average up to nearly 35km/h and was doing little work feeling terrific.

I saw a couple of nasty accidents, one guy was lying on the road holding his arm, as I went by I saw a badly dislocated little finger, he had help already. Another just seem to fall of on a turn. At the end I would hear many more stories and see a guy in blue gown with scraps across his face. Horrible.

The turn back, I was pushing into a light wind, I drafted a little but it was hard work and I began to tire. Pushed and pushed, through the pain and mental strain it was no longer fun. It was not a strong wind but it was enough, when the turn came again I was very thankful and with it at my back and joining some groups it was a decent ride back. Not as easy as the first loop, I was tiring but doable and a relief. 

Finally the last turn on the highway came and it was a 15 mile ride back into transition, lost my group as I was tired and road most of the last part solo. Even though I knew the easiest thing would have been to push a little and stay on the group, it was what it was. I would finish in 5:17hr an unbelievable bike split for me.

In transition I was tired and spent a fair while in the bathroom before a while in the change tent. Then I was onto the run. The cheering was phenomenal, my legs were moving which was a good start. Vaseline covered my neck from the terrible chaffing the wetsuit caused.

Step by step I began the first of three laps. My stomach did not feel that good, slowly I worked through it with some water and bits and pieces from each of the aid stations. 

The course went down by the river front where there was some absolutely tremendous support, people dressed up, music pumping and everyone cheering. It sent a tingle down the spine. 

Turning of from the river it was back towards the swim start, through there and into the back streets. This was probably the hardest part of the run, it was along a road with big houses and the sun shining down. Though not real hot it was enough. Fortunately even this was broken up with some nice runs through paths in the trees, even downhill a little.

Each aid station I stopped and took something, be it Coke, Watermelon, pretzels or even a cookie. Gatorade I was completely over and the last lap I would take some Red Bull.

Running through the backstreets it was back down to the river and again the support was huge, Hippie Corner, pumping music it was fantastic. Back past the Marriott a turn up and across the river, down the river a little further then back to the transition and the loop started again, three loops in total though the last did not need to come all the way back to transition as the chute was just down from the Marriott at the bridge near the Westin Hotel.

Finishing the first lap I was feeling pretty good, 14km done and I chanced a look at my watch to see I was doing good time. My stomach was clearing up and I was able to take more nutrition. Through the second lap with much drama and I was on the third and final.

Looking at my watch I was at 9:42hrs. Under 10hrs was in sight! The gel I had meant I was buzzing and felt really good. Ran the first couple of miles at what I felt was a hard pace. Imagine a sub 11hr Ironman! I tried hard to limit time at the aid stations and keep moving. The miles were coming. I though if at 23 miles I was 10:30hr I would be in decent shape. It came 10:32hr. Bit behind my target time I pushed on. 2 miles left 10:43hrs. A gel, Red Bull, and I pushed with everything I had. 

A earlier cramp at the top of my right calf a little earlier scared me, as I knew it could cripple me. Pushed, came down to the turn of for the finish instead of another lap, to the right I went, did the zig zag and started up the hill. Took a look at my watch 11:02hr…..noooooo!!! It was two more turns, down the chute. Texas was done, I was “an Ironman!” For the eleventh time.

Over the line my legs felt shaky, a real nice guy helped me, gave me my finisher shirt, medal and hat. Still feeling sick, eating did not seem a good option. There was some leg massage contraptions on lay down beds you could put your legs into. A NZ guy who was very friendly helped me in for a double session. Chatting to him and other Athletes I began to feel better. Probably 20mins on them.

Some pizza, Sprite and then to an actual massage. Starting to feel alive, picked up my street gear bag and went back to the car, changed and called Elle. It was fantastic to see and hear from her and the boys, huge congratulations from them, made it real, made it special.

Picked up the bike, stopped at the HEB supermarket for some supplies, my neck again had been ripped by the wetsuit. Once home, I sat down with Lilia and drank a couple of ice protein shakes. These upset my stomach again. Bath and a shower and I started to feel better.

Checking on Howard, it unfortunately looked like he would not make the cut off time. Pity as he had made it through the swim that was his big concern. He would finish in 17:30hr almost 30min late.

Packed the bike and rinsed the gear then into bed following some final calls with Elle. Big day, all done. Easier though when faster!