Race Coverage

"Did I Mention It Was Raining?"

Wednesday, 18 September 2013 00:10

By Rhiannon O'Connor

Ironman Wales was held for the third time this year in the Welsh town of Tenby, Pembrokeshire.  This is an area that my family and I spent many summer vacations when I was growing up.  We stayed in the area and played on many of the beaches that the bike route passed.  

My father's family is from the town of Narberth, which we passed twice on the bike route, and is also at the top of one of the major hill climbs.  When I decided to do an Ironman this was the one that called out to me.  Little did I know....

 Over 1800 athletes mustered in transition and then at 0615 we all walked together down to the swim start.  In our wetsuits and white swim caps it looked like the march of the penguins.  The start was moved from the south beach of Tenby the first year it was held because of the lingering effects of a hurricane that blew in a day or so before.  It has stayed at the north beach ever since which is fine as it is sheltered but it is a long way from transition.

At 0655 the Welsh national anthem was sung and at 0700 the RNLI lifeboat in the harbor sounded the start and we were off. At 0701 it started to rain – not a problem for us swimmers but for the spectators this was typical Welsh weather.

The swim, for me, was the easy part.  I was really pleased with my swim time.  I only had my goggles knocked off once and was relieved to make it round the first mark unscathed.  Last year two swimmers suffered broken noses!  After that things thinned out a bit and I pretty much had clear water except at the turn marks.  Sighting was easy as the second mark was in line with the lifeboat station on shore. They did clear most of the boats out of the harbor but I still managed to swim into a mooring buoy!  I didn't care for the salt-water taste and it really burned the chafing from my wetsuit.  

So two laps and out of the water to T1 which is 1000m away. You have to zigzag up the cliff path, stopping to grab a spare pair of shoes on the way. The transition area was a zoo but I got out of my wetsuit and was off on the bike.  

The bike ride is really a challenge.  Former pro cyclist, Magnus Backstedt (who has won the Paris-Roubaix and a Tour de France stage), said it was "devastating".   My friend, Diane, said her bike Garmin showed 8675 feet of climbing with an average grade of 9%.  There was one hill signposted at 17% - I got off and walked up that one both times and I wasn't the only one either! I don't think that was what Vic Ostendorf meant when she said, “walk the hills”.  The worst hill is one they call Heartbreak Hill out of the town of Saundersfoot that we also had to do twice.  It wasn't quite as steep but went on for over a mile!  Going up was like the Tour de France with spectators yelling encouragement from about 12 inches away!  So the uphills were bad but the downhills were in a way worse as the roads, although closed, were narrow, winding and dark with trees arching overhead.  Did I mention that it was raining? The trouble with coming out of the water with a good time (I was in the overall top third) was that I was being continually passed on the bike, which was a bit demoralizing. The winning male passed me when I was at about mile 70 and he was going in for T2.  

As I was finishing my bike I saw the lead woman as she was finishing her last run lap.

After that I was relieved to start running.  I ran the first two laps collecting my colored lap bands as I went.  The first 2 miles out of town is almost all uphill.  By lap 3 my plan changed from "walk through the aid stations and then run" to "walk uphill then run down and on the flat".  Lap 3 was psychologically the hardest.  On lap 4 it was dark and the lighting was almost nonexistent. Bathrooms were also nonexistent especially in Tenby. At one point I was so desperate I asked spectators outside a B & B if I could use theirs.  The walk up the hill out of town for the last time was like a death march.  At this point nobody was even thinking of running!  Then I got my last and final lap band and it was time to head for the barn.  I must have been running really weird because what really hurt was my back - it was killing me!  But then I'd go round a corner and see my husband and get a big lift.  He said I looked worse each time he saw me! At one point he did tell me that I was leading my age group but wouldn't say by how much. I knew that friends and family were tracking me all around the world and yelling for me all the way from IM Madison. I swear I did hear Lisa Goepfert!  The crowds in Tenby were incredible.  Did I mention it was raining?  Despite the rain they were out in force and I'd get a big cheer as I passed all the pubs in town.  Having a Welsh name helped also. I could hear my late uncle’s voice in their accents and felt as though he was cheering me on too.  Even at the finish chute they were 3 - 4 deep and yelling themselves hoarse.

So I made it - what an experience!  And to win my age group – amazing.

I thought a lot, long and hard, during training and even during the race as to what I would do if I actually did win and qualify for Kona.  Ultimately it came down to not wanting to spend the next year of my life training for another IM (I have always said one and done), not to mention the approximately $10000 it would cost. Registration alone is almost $900.  As Vic has said IM training is selfish and requires commitment from not only the athlete but the family as well.  I know Scott would have been there for me but I have other things that I want to do with friends and family.  So as heretical as it may be, I turned my spot down with some regret but look forward to racing at more sane distances and having more of a life away from training!

I was ecstatic to do so well.  I have a HUGE trophy!  And lots of priceless, precious memories to boot.

Thanks to Vic Ostendorf for your great coaching program.  My nutrition worked perfectly.  Bonk Bites and Perpetuem rule! Thanks to Dennis Mohagen, the best swim coach I have ever had. Thanks to Jeremy Lindquist for your run coaching. Thanks to all the staff at TriFitness for all that you do for us athletes.

Thanks to all the TriFitness TriClub members for your support, friendship and encouragement. Thanks to my UK friends who drove 5 hours each way to have supper with me the night before and then cheer me on the bike twice before they had to head back for work the next day.

Thank you to my daughter, Megan, whose parents didn’t come to see her in California this summer because of training. Thank you to my daughter, Catherine, who provided bike support on my 100 mile rides.

And most important of all, the biggest Thank You goes out to my husband, Scott, who has stood by me this entire year.  He has put up with daylong bike rides, using the old adage "If you can't beat them, join them", providing nutrition and mechanical support to me and other TriClub IM athletes.  He was there for me on the worst long brick day as I ran around White Bear Lake in the August afternoon heat with water, gels and encouragement.  We celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary two days before the race and I hope for many more in the future.