So... the big day. Last year was a mess. I hadn't done enough hills, I was 12kg heavier and I went too fast down to Cox's River at the start.
This year - 12kg lighter, an extra year of experience and coming off the back of my best ever race (Husky tri). All was set up for a good day, what could go wrong?! Apparently not too much:-)
The run down to the river (15.5km) was 8 minutes faster than last year, but much more comfortable. I knew I was ready for what would come next. I took the stairs fast - probably top 5 of the wave (wave 4 out of 5). I caught up with a couple of people at the back of wave 3 by the bottom, but they didn't slow me down much. Km 3 and 4 were slightly too quick, but I reined myself in and settled into the right pace up to km 9. Then there is single track to Cox's River and I was leading a group of about 10 people. I offered to let them pass, but they were all happy with my pace! Then as per the timing mat we got to Cox's in 1:33:53 which was a great start (target 1:35) I was in 394th position at this point (out of 852).
We crossed the river - knee high this year unlike last year's chest high! I decided not to stop and take my shoes off to remove sand and it was the right decision. I got going straight up Mini Mini knowing that by 20km I would have done the first big climb. I was between 8 and 9 mins per km up to km 20 which was very pleasing. I forget it is then downhill for a couple of km and km 21 and 22 were very fast which was nice. Km 23 is ok and then Pluvi starts - 3km of pretty constant steep uphill. I managed to keep my pace at a good level, but still did over 10 mins per km for 2 out of the 3km. I was overtaking a lot of people from my wave and from the wave infront (started 10 minutes before me). By the top of Pluvi I had done the section in 1:26:25 (target 1:35) and I was up to 314th position (cumulative time 3:00:18 compared to target of 3:10).
This section starts with the Black Ranges. 12km of uphill where if you feel good 80% is maybe runable rather than steep enough to walk. I was really feeling it by now, but I caught up with Michael McGrath (started in wave 2 so 15 minutes before me) and we ran together for a couple of kms. He was having a hard time, but he pushed on faster than me after I had got him going again. If you look at my km splits you can see that km 29,30 and 35 were flatter and the rest had a fair amount of uphill. It was hard going and I remember at 36.52km there was the steepest hill in the entire race! Hard work! At 38km we crossed Caves Road and I felt a bit of cramp in my legs but I wanted to keep going so I worked through it. You can really tell that km 40 was when I was struggling most.
Then at about 42km it flattens out and then it is downhill to the finish - nearly there! I started to speed up and then really threw myself down the hill. The path is maybe 3 foot wide and there is a sheer drop to the right, so it is exciting but scary at this point in the race, especially as I was throwing myself down at 4:30 pace and overtaking lots of people (in the wave infront mostly so I had probably overtaken them in terms of time on the Pluvi) - what an experience!!! Then I cramped. I spoke to one of the NRGers who was near me then and he said he just heard me start screaming! It hurt so much and I could barely move. Hence why the last bit took me much longer. I held on to the rails and went down the concrete steps to the finish as fast as I could, but it was agony! Still, I manned up and crossed the finish line in an official time of 5:07:10 (target 5:25). The section was 2:06:52 (target 2:15). I was 312th overall out of the 852 finishers. What a race and what a way to finish. Can I go sub 5 hours next year? Who knows...
Hedgie18
Great write up Joe! Sounds like a fantastic race! I think if / when I come out to visit it looks like an awesome event to do! You will smash through 5 hours if you keep up with your level of training! Amazing!
timbo53
I was enjoying it all, until the cramp and the screaming at the end! Brilliant achievement Joe, repaying that faith that got you into the six foot track last year - and then you smash the time this year!
bigfatjoe
Cheers guys. The cramp was terrible. So pleased after last year's struggles! Luke - you should definitely come and do it, maybe one year if Easter is early... I would love to do sub 5 hours, but we will have to see, 12 months is a long time!
Cheg
Amazing. Sounds mega tough. Great work on the weight loss and the training, but also must help knowing the course better and knowing when to push it and when to rein it in. You are in top shape for your other 2014 challenges.
bigfatjoe
Cheers Si - knowing the course did help a lot, I knew where I could push on and where to rein it in. Very excited about the Ironman now - no races planned between now and 8th June at the moment...
Splits
MilesMiles
TimeTime
SplitSplit
Min/mi/mi
Further Analysis
Predictions
Dist
Time
Per Mile
WAVA
1M
9:00
9:00
42.04
5km
29:55
9:38
42.95
5M
49:32
9:54
42.53
10km
1:02:22
10:02
42.33
10M
1:43:17
10:20
42.36
Half
2:17:31
10:30
41.83
20M
3:35:21
10:46
42.33
Mara
4:46:43
10:57
42.40
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Great write up Joe! Sounds like a fantastic race! I think if / when I come out to visit it looks like an awesome event to do! You will smash through 5 hours if you keep up with your level of training! Amazing!
I was enjoying it all, until the cramp and the screaming at the end! Brilliant achievement Joe, repaying that faith that got you into the six foot track last year - and then you smash the time this year!
Cheers guys. The cramp was terrible. So pleased after last year's struggles! Luke - you should definitely come and do it, maybe one year if Easter is early... I would love to do sub 5 hours, but we will have to see, 12 months is a long time!
Amazing. Sounds mega tough. Great work on the weight loss and the training, but also must help knowing the course better and knowing when to push it and when to rein it in. You are in top shape for your other 2014 challenges.
Cheers Si - knowing the course did help a lot, I knew where I could push on and where to rein it in. Very excited about the Ironman now - no races planned between now and 8th June at the moment...