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Kevin Smart - Ironman Austria 2007
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4am
Alarm call. Thanks Robbie! Nice one mate. Strong coffee. Lots of it. Eat
Oatibix and bananas till I could burst. 2 and a half hours and counting....
Off to transition to pump up tyres and put energy stuff on the bike. Decide to
change my front tyre after a blow out the day before. Good job I did, as the
tyre wall was gone, and it would have blown in the race. Back at campsite,
more coffee, red bull, pain killers for my back. Wetsuit on, photos with the
other FVS guys and its off to the start.
Picked start spot on beach just in time to hear the priest reading the last
rights. Suddenly we're into the water, and the call goes out 3 mins to the
start. Wash goggles out, and start to get ready when I hear "2 mins to the
start" goggles about to go on, when there's a BANG and the gun has gone. Bonnie
2 mins that, and Im still miles from the start line!
Swim. I'm thinking of Keith now. Hmmm... did I say that out loud? So I'm
thinking barrels, head down, look through your eyebrows, barrels, don't forget
to breathe Muppet, barrels..... and I've made a pact with myself this year: not
to be a soft lad in the swim and stop if I get bumped. This year I'm being
aggressive (actually bordered on violence, ultra violence!). Anyway before I
know it I'm into the Lendkanal heading for the finish. Out up the ramp,
check watch. 1.02.34.... reeeeee-sult! 7 mins faster than last year. Of course
the official timing mat is a bit further on. Never mind.
T1. Light headed. Grab bag. Wetsuit off. Bike helmet on. Number belt on.
Grab glasses and socks and I'm off. Find bike, socks on now, and glasses. Run to
mount line and jump on. Everyone's trying to get their feet in their shoes on a
tricky handling bit. Why? Out onto the main road, feet in the shoes and get
going straight into my rhythm. 22-23 mph, control the power and keep it
constant. First lap 2.34. Excellent. Second lap slower, but back in 5.18. 4 mins
faster than last year. There's consistency. Average speed of 34 km/h.
T2. Quick and easy. slip running shoes on grab hat and sweat bands
and I'm gone.... put them on as I go and im ready for business!
Run. Legs feel dodgy. First 3k are, as I always say, the hardest.
Just get to the first aid station mate. Checking splits, and I'm doing 5 min/
k... seem to remember that being my London pace too.... anyway, the ks are
ticking over and I'm feeling great. Get to 10 k in a little over 50 mins. Back
to the IronMan village and see Dave and Helen who are really encouraging! Keep
the leg turnover constant. Still on 5 min/ k pace. Get back to the halfway
point, and now I'm thinking this is it buddy, well over half way. 22k as the
watch ticks over to 2 h. Bit slower now, but still less than 6 min/k. Looking
out for Rob as I'm expecting him to pass me. Still no FVS or Tri-Force have come
past! 27k... legs wobble, but don't come off like they did last year. Just keep
going until they do. Now I'm realising that I have an hour to do the last 8 k to
beat 10.30. Great incentive. Think to myself get to the turnaround point and see
what the time is. get to 35k in 9.43.... can I do the last 7k at 5min/k pace?? I
get to the turnaround at 9.53..... come on my son.... step it up. I know I'll
never get a better chance than this, so here goes. Get up the little ramp at
mile 21 and know that I've got nothing to worry about now, its pan flat. So I
open up a little bit. See Rob, who shouts some great encouragement at me. Before
I know it, I'm back into the europapark and thinking I can go sub 10.20 if i
really push. Through transition, and back past the finishing line (Bloody
torture, there's still a k to go!!). Pass the point where Dave was... he's gone!
Must be in the finish shute. Into the final turn, and I'm buzzing..... I know
I'm going sub 10.20 and I'm in the cuckoo zone (think Jack Nicholson in 1 flew
over the cuckoo's nest).... but I'm not having my finishing photos spoiled again
by someone passing me on the line!! Into the finishing shute and I hear a shout
of "Nice one Geordie boy", I look up and there's Dave in the stand..... stop for
a moment to celebrate with him, and I trot off down to the end gate milking it.
But typical, the pom pom girls are on a break. Same happened last year too...
conspiracy!!
Managed last 5k in 26.27, with average of
5.3 min/k for the marathon
Medal round neck, bottle of fizzy water. Just what I needed!! Move woman I want
beer! Over to the finishing tent. Finisher t-shirt and certificate, then its
straight to the nice man with the beer pumps. Sorted. Now back to see Dave
and Helen..... via another beer or 2.
What a day. Mega thanks to Dave and Helen for their support all day! U guys were
great.
Don't know what happened last Sunday I really don't. Don't know where that
run came from. I think maybe the marathon training earlier in the year paid
off..... in any case, I'm still buzzing.
FAT BOY CAN RUN AFTER ALL!!!
