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Simon Patenall - Ironman Austria 2007
Hardly any sleep the night before as the
accommodation was very noisy.
Up about 4:15 with random bloke running up and down corridor shouting, which was
nice...oh well awake now so try to eat breakfast. Force down a can of cold
espresso (nasty), a couple of croisants and a bar. Still trying to decide
if going to wear trisuit or shorts and top, so spend 5 mins staring at them and
opt to take both and decide later. 4:45 both alarms go off, pack up and
drive to start. Manage to blag a parking space 2 mins from finish next to the
exit... wonders to self why has no one else parked here? Wander about and
hand in the bags and find the boys in the van, grab a coffee from them and Rob
advices trisuit over shorts. Great someone else has made the decision. Wetsuit
and bodyglide on and off to the start!
Swim
Announcement of two minutes to go and we're in the water, shortly afterwards
there's a bang and I think we've started, takes me 90 secs to realise and reach
the start line. I find I've got more space than I thought and have hit a rhythm.
Uneventful first 3000m, just continuously leaking goggles, two small cramps and
a mad bloke shouting something in German in my face. Then we hit the
canal...blimey this isn't swimming this is surfing you're dragged along with the
other swimmers. Rob said stick to the right hand side and I'm on the left, ah
now I see why - it narrows and my left hand keeps hitting the bank and the bloke
on my right keeps swimming into me. Reach the finish in 1:13 including a minute
or so to get to the start, I can't believe it I've never swum that fast in my
life.
T1
Find my bag on the peg and put on shoes etc, have a random chat with bloke who
has a pair of FVS Tri shorts in his bag but isn't FVS Tri. We discuss who is
racing, he mentions my name but doesn't know who I am recognise me, weird. 8
minutes later I'm on the bike.
Bike
Really uneventful, two decent hills per lap, great to see Dave and Helen at the
top of the first one. Slight cramp when I give loads at the start of the second
lap, I slow down, the aim is to finish and still be able to run. Pass Robbie
fixing a puncture ask if he's OK, he shouts back he fine. I drink at every stop
and ditch lots of gels and food I didn't need. Tip - Soreen Malt loaf is a bit
chewy after 5 hours on the bike.
I'm getting bored/tired after about 4 1/2 hours and am strangely looking forward
to the run as it means I can get off the bike. Force down liquid at every stop
and stop for a pee at about 5 hours (according to 'Going Long' this means I am
properly hydrated).
Last half hour just spin and coast in don't drink anything as advised this may
cause stitch. 7:07 in total - 23 minutes up on my schedule.
T2
I'm burned so try to get some suncream, attractive brunette aged about 20, size
8, applies cream. Highlight of the day me thinks...
Another 'helpful' assistant keeps putting my kit away whilst I'm trying to get
dressed. Try not to be rude and empty it out again so I can get dressed, she's
back again helping me so I move away and she gets the hint. 8 minutes after
ditching bike I'm out on the run.
Run
I've got a gel belt full of gels, pain killers, chocolate, etc and its bouncing
and annoying me. First water stop grab some water and swallow...immediate rock
solid cramp, so stop and walk it passes. OK no more water I'll try energy drink
at the next stop. Walk through next stop and take energy drink hurrah no cramp!
In between the stops I'm actually moving quite quickly but drink at every stop
and walk through it. See Kev and Rob a couple of times and see Robbie and Pete
later on. See Helen and Dave a few times and Dave shouts at me for walking when
clearly I should have been running - cheers Dave I'd drifted off.
Ditch all the contents of the gel belt and daren't take pain killers as the
effect on my stomach could be dire.
Finish in 4:18, which is 11:34 in total absolutely delighted but strangely not
as emotional as I thought I would be. Sitting on golf kart and get lift to the
dome. Collect medal and look round. Kev wanders up looking like he hasn't
actually just finished an IronMan in 10 and a bit hours and asks if I need
anything. Get pizza and drink and sit for a bit. Jump in the hot tub with Rob W,
sadly no ladies, probably best six hours on the bike and 4 1/2 running doesn't
do wonders for the manhood.
Grab a beer and more pizza and find Robbie, Big Kev and Pete all looking like i
felt an hour earlier. Pack up and hop in the car with plans for many beers and
big food. Go back to the accommodation and shower, eat Pringles and go to sleep.
IronMan ticked off and pleased that at no point I felt like I wasn't going to
finish and 25 minutes inside my target...still wondering how I spent 15 minutes
in total in transition.......