Lead-up to race dayTwo days before the race, I woke up with a slight sore throat and felt feverish . Why now?! I immediately popped down some echinacea and panadol cold relief. These helped a little. So did the plenty of rest I took once I landed in Langkawi. It was good that Emily arrived one day after me, so that really allowed me to focus on all the logistics of race preparation -setting up bike, attending the race brief, packing up my race bags etc by myself.
The night before the race, I had a simple dinner of pasta and chicken rice with emily, and then it was off to getting as much sleep as possible. I was still feeling a bit off, and I woke up in the middle of the night to pop in two more panadol.
Swim
There are always many questions at the start of a race. The most important one is "Can I make it?". I was already feeling much better than on Thursday but still feeling cold. Standing at the pontoon before I got into the water, I told myself "This is it! Whatever it takes to get to the fnish line!"
I had a terrible swim. My slowest ironman swim ever! I felt weak. I was not sure how my body would respond to all the physical stresses given that I was unwell so once I lost the big group I was in 1k into the swim, I just swam easy. I was keeping track of the distance markers and it felt like it took forever to reach the halfway point. I looked at my watch as I rounded the turn-around, and it read 43 minutes. 43 MINUTES!! That is going to be a 1:26 for the whole swim! Way too slow!! I must be having a really bad day or the race organizers must have done a really bad job measuring the course. It was only after the race that I found out that there was a strong current on the way out, cos at the end, I clocked a 1:18 swim.
Bike
Taking it easy on the swim helped set me up for my fastest ironman bike split ever. I had the first signals of how my legs would perform when I came out of the water. I felt like I had just done a long warm-up and my legs felt fresh and light. Once I mounted my bike and started pedalling, my legs felt strong! Somehow, I no longer felt sick:)
The organisers changed the course again last year, so this is a completely different course from the one I did 3 years ago. I purposely chose not to see the new course before the race, so that I would ride more conservatively. I kept on monitoring my HR. In training, I made it a point to keep it below 150. However, for at least half of the bike, I hardly went below 160. I was afraid I would blow up, cos that is what happens when I ride with too high a HR during training. But somehow, on that day, I just kept going and going:) I was also not bothered with any of the saddle discomfort issues that had dogged me during training!
By the 4th lap, I had dispensed of the group of three that I was with and rode alone. My nutrition plan worked and I did not suffer any energy lows. The aid stations were well stocked this time round, and I had a pleasant surprise when my lips tasted ice cold gatorade (in the correct concentration) when I grabbed my first bottle at the aid station.
It also helped that Emily went around the course in a rented cab. She appeared around the 3rd lap at the hilliest part of the course after the airport. Seeing her around made it that much easier to tackle those years.
I had a brief scare near the end of the bike though. I cramped up just as I was climbing the last hill back into town. I had to stop and let the cramp ease off.
Run
I spent quite some time in the changing tent. I just sat there and readied myself mentally for the marathon ahead. I have not run anything above 26k in training. I have not run a marathon in 3 years. In fact, 26k was the longest distance run I have ever completed in a long time. Do I have it in me to finish this?? YES I HAVE!! I CAN DO IT!!
I started my run walking the first 50 metres. Then I started running. A Japanese athlete passed me and I latched on to him. He was running slow and steady, but slow and steady is what I needed to get me to the finish line. Though my legs were tired, I did not experience the cramping the usually dogs me at the start of the run.
I had to run 5 loops of around 8k each. That helped break the run into more manageable bits. I stopped at every aid station to drink. At first, I drank both Gatorade and Coke. But I found Coke to be easier to go down the throat, so I switched to drinking Coke instead. Around the 3rd loop, I tried taking some Gatorade again. But I puked it all out instead! It was a good thing as I felt less bloated and could run slightly better.
My last loop was the most difficult mentally. I knew I was going to make it! I could walk all the way and still make it, so there is this tendency to want to slow down. But I was still pushing; walk a bit, run a bit. I wasn't going very fast, but I just wanted to give it my best shot.
1k from the finish, as I crossed the arch outside Seaview Hotel, I could hold it no longer. All those pent up emotions just got the better of me and I cried a bit. I am going to be an Ironman once again!
Thank you dear
My finishing the Ironman would never have been possible without Emily. She has been my personal PT the last couple of months. When I have any tightness in my muscles, she would gladly ease them out for me. As a result, I was able to be injury-free for the first time in months!! She has also been putting up with my grouchiness when things are not going well for me. What was most incredible was that while I was out there on the course for more than 11hrs, she was also out there taking pictures and filming video. She is no professional photographer, but she has managed through sheer luck to capture some nice photos:) One of them is the one that appears as my blog header. Thank you very much dear, you are really an iron-mate!:)
Thank you dear
My finishing the Ironman would never have been possible without Emily. She has been my personal PT the last couple of months. When I have any tightness in my muscles, she would gladly ease them out for me. As a result, I was able to be injury-free for the first time in months!! She has also been putting up with my grouchiness when things are not going well for me. What was most incredible was that while I was out there on the course for more than 11hrs, she was also out there taking pictures and filming video. She is no professional photographer, but she has managed through sheer luck to capture some nice photos:) One of them is the one that appears as my blog header. Thank you very much dear, you are really an iron-mate!:)
Hawaii??
I want to go to Hawaii again. I have been asking myself what is this fascination with Hawaii all about. Well, besides going to church, the Hawaii Ironman is one thing that has had a big influence on my life, Growing up, I was a scrawny, pimply boy lacking in self confidence. Taking up running, and later, catching the Hawaii Ironman on TV changed all that. The last time I went there in 2000, I was all alone. I had just started working, so din have that much money to spend. I regret not having seen more of the beautiful island. I want to go there again and this time, I want to bring emily and my parents along. My parents have never seen me do a triathlon before and they are getting old. If there is one triathlon I would like them to see me compete in, that would be the grandest of them all - Hawaii! It's not going to be easy - I have to clock sub 10:15 at a qualifier in Asia to stand a chance. Looking at where I am at now, 10:15 seems so very far away. But honestly, I believe that with perseverance and a little bit of luck, it might just be possible.
However, what if I can never go to Hawaii again? I may have to come to terms with this fact one day. But in the mean time, I will continue to try to live each day to the fullest, cherish my loved ones, and keep on doing what I absolutely enjoy! :)
