Canberra Ironman 70.3

My first distance triathlon.

I entered the Canberra Ironman 70.3 in September, before I had completed any triathlons. It was always going to about experiencing what Triathlons were about.

I have never really been a swimmer. Even though I have grown up on the coast, swimming has not been my thing. The concept of swimming 1.9km was pretty daunting, and in fresh water. Everything I had read said that the swim in Lake Burley Griffen was pretty horrible. Oh dear...

My target is to do an ironman distance triathlon which has a 3.8km swim so I needed to get over the 1.9km swim.

I had dinner on Saturday evening with a group from the Illawarra Triathlon Club. I joined the club just after taking up triathloning. One of the best things I did. They are very friendly and keen to help beginners. We all had to predict what time we would do the event in. I predicted 6:05. In reality, I had no idea. How much would the swim tire me out, would I get timed out in the swim?? how fast could I run after getting off the bike. All questions I would have to get answers to.

This was all new to me. Bikes had to be checked in on the Saturday with the race starting Sunday morning.

Sunday morning dawned with overcast cloud, hot, with the promise of winds picking up later in the morning.






Transition set up and pre event nervous chat filled the first part of the day before heading down towards the start.

The lake looked daunting, but at least it was not choppy. The buoys were a long way away. To get to the start there was about a 200 metre swim. As I was walking down the narrow finishing chute with all the 'pink' caps I head someone say it was only 4 minutes to the start. Oh dear, at best, it was going to take me that long to get there. So head down, tail up, I was off - swimming as hard now as I would in any part of the race. I got near the start line and identified a spot to head to and stop. Got there, bobbed up to look at where the first buoy was, and the horn went off. No time to compose, just go for it now.

This was ok, for a short while, then I got this real panicky attach. I could not do this. Who was I kidding. Can't do it. Get out of the water. I had to stop a couple of times - even looked to see how I could get out of the water, but no chance. On we go, let's have this conversation later. I have a personal rule in Audax riding. Never pull out by going backwards, head onto the next control and then see how you go - unless you're too injured or your bike is broken.

Same person, same rules, go forward.

A short while later I was in my rhythm and slowly churned through the course with only a couple of arms to the head. Apart from the first leg, navigation was pretty good.

I was out of the water in 48mins. Slow by most standards but I was stoked. 50 mins was the best I could have dreamed of at this stage.

Transition 1 (T1) was going fine, until I tried to get a tight tri top over a wet body, with very tired arms and shoulders. Next time wear the top under my wetsuit or have a full zip tri top. A few minutes wasted (which gave me the opportunity to show Hugh where his bike was as he was running back and forth looking) and I was off on the bike.

90km on the bike. Not far by Audax standards, but this was a race pace, not riding all day. A different experience for me. The course was changed to 5 laps as there were considerable road works on part of the course. This had two impacts. First, the major hills were removed. Second, the drafting distance had to be reduced to 7 metres instead of the normal 12 metres for this distance event. Both would not worry me as I didn't really know any different.

Each lap the wind got stronger and stronger. It was a headwind in the first quarter (and a bit of the last quarter) of the loop. Largely the leg went without incident. Bottle changes occured without issue, some people were getting done for drafting. Some were going slow, some were going fast.

What is it that has people overtaking and then sitting up to have a drink?!?. You have to slow down, move out of the draft zone before you can overtake them. This happened quite a few times.

T2 into the run went without incident.

By now it was pretty hot and the three lap run went along the edge of the lake. Directly into the wind for half the lap, then a tail breeze. Very little shade.

I was surprised at the number of people walking. Clearly a lot were using a run/walk strategy - just as I had planned to do. What I had not planned on was the outside of my right foot getting really sore about 5km into the run. I stopped to adjust my sock in case that was causing it - no. Sometimes it was very painful, other time not so much. Very puzzling. Anyway, I was going to finish so I slowed a bit and focused on the finish line.

People were cheering from the side lines and an added bonus on having your name on your bib is that they could call out your name - even though they did not know you. Very cool. Also very cool, was the fact that the Carillon (bell tower) was playing Christmas songs on the bells. I wonder how many other competitors noticed that?

Run/walk/run and at 6:08 after the starting horn went off, I was finished. Picked up the Ironman finishers towel and Ice-cream and Fruit Salad. Only three minutes off my made up time.

Loved it. A great experience and will certainly consider coming back next year.

Huskinsson Olympic Triathlon

need to complete this...

Sydney Marathon

This Sunday dawned as a great day for a run. Sydney was going to be on it's best behaviour today.

A quick train ride took us across the harbour to the start line. This course would take us over the Sydney Harbour bridge, past the Opera House and out to Centennial Park before heading back to the City and across to Darling Harbour, the Rocks and then the finish.

One of my strategies in running a marathon is to try to find someone to talk to (ha, this is only my second marathon). Found a person crossing the Harbour Bridge and you would not believe it she knew my sister. I ran with her for about 5 km, saw her again at about 38km and then decramped her after the finish line.

This was going to be a marathon of toilet stops. 5 times in the first half!! Could be a new record.

Running up Oxford Street there was a guy calling out "you're all going to fail - pull out now". There were people still coming home from the night before and people hanging out of windows. One of the runners next to me said "whatever you do, don't look up". I took them at their word and didn't. The mind boggles. Plenty of police around this section.

In the Kona Marathon I really struggled from the 30km mark. I was interested to see how I would go here in the cooler temperature. I actually felt good to the 38km mark. There were a number of people on the side of the road under medical attention or just exhausted around this mark. A long way to go to almost make it. 38-40 was pretty ugly, but by 41km as you passed under the Harbour Bridge at The Rocks you can see the Opera House and therefore the finish line on the next headland. Most of this distance was also lined with spectators. Elizabeth was there for the photo shot. She did the Bridge Run, which although it was great, was very crowded.

After the finish a number of the runners were slowing going down a long set of stairs. A group of elderly people passes us laughing that they could get down there faster!



4:12 my best time by about 25 minutes. I think that I should be able to beat 4 hours, however the next marathon I do may be after a long swim and ride... we'll see.

The Finish

Kona Marathon

Made it...

This was tough. Hot, humid and long.

I already had a high regard for the Ironman triathletes that compete in the annual World Championships here, but now I consider them pretty incredible, whether they are the elite or the back of pack. This marathon started at 5:30am to avoid the worst of the heat but the triathletes do it after a 3.8km swim and 180km bike ride.

Our target

This is the finish line. We're really looking forward to seeing this later in the day. Americans really know how to set the scene. The day started with the passing of the colours and the American national anthem. Quite a moving moment.

The flag you can see on the right side of the finish line was actually flown on the front line in Afghanistan

Getting ready to head off

Calm before the 'storm'. Getting ready to go. Elizabeth is doing the 10km, Rochelle the half marathon (21.1km) and I'm doing the full marathon (42.195km)

The event was well organised. There were 20 drink stations, on average just over a mile apart stocked with Endura, water, ice and coke. As is often the case the volunteers were great. You really have to admire the volunteers, the race would be so much tougher without them. And they're always smiling!

Once the day dawned, there was a nice cloud cover for a while. This kept the sun off you but was not to last. By the time you got out onto the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway it was hot, no shade and long, long stretches. Still, there were people dressed up in grass skirts, pink skirts and one guy dressed as a volcano! Go figure. I was dressed trying to imitate a runner.

I was feeling pretty good on the way out, chatting to a few people, passing the miles and trying to run my own race. This was never going to be a fast one. First marathon and the humidity and heat meant that I really had no idea what I was in for.

Half way point: Natural Energy Laboratory Hawaii Authority (NELHA)

The half way point is always a welcome sight, however, there is a realisation that things are about to get much tougher. The second half was tough. The heat and humidity was high. There was no shade to hide in. About 30km into the race I was really starting to struggle. At the 32km mark (20mile) there was a guy there calling out that this was where the Marathon really started. It started some time ago for me.

It was now tough getting gels and sports drink to go down. Coke and ice were going to have to get me home.

The final 10km from Kailua-Kona to the finish line was one of the toughest things I have done - and I've done a few. I was down to running and walking now. Sometimes walking and running. Each shady patch was a walk stage. I knew I could make it, the only variable was time.

Half of Ali’i Drive was closed for the runners but it was amazing that most runners still ran on the side of the road, even around the curves. Probably a combination of fatigue and habit.

Elizabeth and Rochelle were finished now with great efforts from both of them. Celebrations to be had by all. 

Here is Elizabeth finishing the 10km. A fantastic effort. Something she never thought that she would do. Bring on a half marathon now :)

Rochelle and her well deserved medal. Half marathon in the bag.

This is the moment I was waiting for, the finish line. Elizabeth and Rochelle were on the sideline, patiently waiting for me to get there and then cheering me on. I got a cheer from the announcer welcoming 'Greg from Australia'. It was great to be there

After the finish the first thing that happened was the photos. An unexpected moment, but appreciated, especially as this was my first marathon. 

Everyone had their own 'podium' finish. Superb

To back pedal a bit, the day before the marathon we went to a couple of the workshops that were organised. These were good. One was on nutrition and managing yourself out on the course. It was given by a couple of pro triathletes (whose names I have forgotten - sorry). A key theme was managing your heat. As you can see from the photos below, I did... just. I really started to heat up about 5 mins after I finished. I just wanted a cold Coke, but at that point of time they ran out.

A bucket of ice water over me (Elizabeth loved doing that) and a rest on the banana chairs at the MASH tent and I was ok in about 5 mins.

Would I do it again? In a flash...