The Run

The Run

It's not as if it wasn't expected because by the sounds of it, most of Europe was  in the midst of a heat wave. Ok, great for chucking a few shrimps on the Barbie whilst downing a Fosters but really not welcome whilst running 26 miles! I know as we left England the 'Outlaw' reports were pouring in with everyone commenting on the cruel conditions. These races are testing enough as it is without the added challenge from mother nature. 

You find yourself looking for the positives. 

'It's the same for everyone', 

'At least it isn't blowing a gale'

'It's better for the spectators'. 

These are all true of course but this doesn't help matters when you're trying to achieve a decent time. Yes it's the same for everybody but as the field attracts the very best and they're so ridiculously fast it's not as if I'd feature at the pointy end anyway. It is simply about the time!

Yet again I Spotted Rob as I shuffled out of T2 resetting my Garmin for the run stage. It turns out Rob wanted a piece of the action too so donned his Trisuit and joined in on a lap of the bike course to experience the race up close. I'm sure he raised a few eyebrows at the aid stations whilst enjoying the freebies without any race numbers attached. 

My plan for the run was to average 8 minute miles to give me a 3:30 marathon. In training I didn't go much over 7:30 minute/miles albeit for shorter distances (a couple of 17 milers being the farthest). I decided to split it and set my virtual partner for 7:45 min/miles knowing I'd inevitably fade toward the end. Naively, I hadn't banked on the heat having such a say.

Once I found my feet I actually enjoyed the first 4 miles of the run, mainly because it was in shade through some woodland. Here I saw my second friendly face in Clarky who'd sensibly stuck to his plan of binning the run off and was now screaming words of encouragement at me. To suffer a stress fracture in the run up to Roth was such a cruel blow as I know what this event meant to him. 

Steve, as most know, was coaching Chris for Challenge Roth. Again, as most know, Steve was also one of the four on the bike ride when Chris had his accident. For Steve, more than most, this was going to be a race like no other. So many personal reasons for putting on a good show! I truly know of his disappointment when given the news of his injury. The reality of not being able to fully race in his mate's name was a bitter pill to swallow. The fact I saw him by the towpath applauding fellow athletes was a big relief to me. Not just because he'd have kicked my arse but because he listened to that voice saying....

'I didn't travel all that way to Wales to help you in your Kona qualification for you to throw it all away by limping around in the sun at a 'B' race in Germany!' 

Big respect.

My pace for the first 4 miles went like this 7:20 m/m; 7:39; 7:30 and then 7:45, I felt good and passed a few early stragglers, I stalked the faster guys that passed me and held their pace for as long as I could without killing myself. I was upbeat and was enjoying it, I had the energy to control my pace! 

And that was it! All done! Just the first 4 miles that I was in control of! For the following 22 miles I was at the mercy of the sun!

I don't know how it happened but I suddenly found myself shuffling upon a white shingle canal path peering miles into the distance thinking to myself I'm never going to finish this. Where did it go wrong? Somehow, whilst emerging from that shaded woodland, a strong minded athlete with a race strategy had suddenly morphed into a 'jogger' a 'fun runner' who'll just be content to get around. 

The boring straightness of the canal, the constant trudging through the shingle, knots in the stomach, the squelching of wet socks from the sponges and the relentless sun reflecting up from the white of the stones.
I couldn't find any positives, all negatives! I needed a toilet break, didn't I? I needed some quick fix to transform me back to a 'winner' again.
I had a wee, which helped relieve the stomach pains a little but still I couldn't shake this new negative me! This was about to get tough, mentally more than anything! 

Nearing the 10 mile mark and without any warning I just stopped. I walked, I'd convinced myself I'm running that slow that walking wouldn't be much different. Sod the sub 10 hour the weather has put paid to that, I've got a good excuse now!

This was the familiar 'No mans land' phase that I'd encountered in both the swim and the bike rearing it's ugly head again!

A German supporter spyed my name on my belt and seemed to really hone in on me.

'Come on Steve, you can do it, don't give up'. Refusing at first I politely smiled as I walked past, but this guy wasn't having it, he continued to harangue me and I was still listening to him even when I was almost out of earshot. 

'Hup, Hup, Hup, go Steve!' he blurted in broken English. 

Shamed into doing so I reluctantly obliged and started to run again, if only to get him off my case. 

A brief reprieve from this torture came when I spotted Kev about to embark on the same stony pathway I'd just come from. But he looked so strong! And in high spirits! This little acknowledgement helped with my thoughts for a while as I tried to work out what time Kev was expected to do. I was interrupted from this particular daydream shortly after when Dave, also seemingly in high spirits made himself known.

True to form, my familiar trend of hitting the 'No mans land' stage which in this case was between the 8 mile to 20 mile stage I'm glad to say was followed by the more preferable 'Light at the end of the tunnel' phase.

Seeing the '10k to go' sign was the catalyst for finally getting back to a game plan.. I quickly did the math and realised as long as I didn't walk or completely blow up I would comfortably get in under the 10 hour. I really started to focus on my small steps and raising my head and soon found myself hitting high 8 minutes, low 9 minutes again. I know this sounds slow but believe me it seemed like sprinting compared to the previous 10 mile. I was finally back in the race, mentally at least it's just a shame my legs were almost shot!

At about this time a familiar white Trisuit ran past me, it was Austrian Robert again.

'You a bit faster on bike Steve, but I a bit better runner, see you at finish'. Thanks Robert for stating the bloody obvious.

As never ending as these events seem they do eventually come to a finish! The beer mile through the enthusiastic(pissed) crowds would finally lead to a grandstand. 

Once again my loving wife was among the crowds but I was still yet to see her. Apparently her and Em had their own day of exercise, walking 20k to the various vantage points to cheer us on. Top girls. 

As I entered the finish chute a glance at the digital clock said 16:59, if I set off at 07:10 then I must have done it in 9 hrs 49 mins, I'd done it. My run time equated to 8:48 min miles 3:49 in total, a long way from my 3:30 target but almost admirable under the circumstances. 

If I'm going to give anyone any advice on doing an Ironman it'd be this...... As soon as you finish, head straight for the soup stall. After Austria I spent an age feeling sorry for myself thinking I was dying. I couldn't hold down beer or pizzas. As soon as I had some soup it was like life came flooding back to me. 

This time I still didn't head for the soup, I hadn't learnt anything from last time. I had a free beer and then went for a massage. Clarky found me and talking to him picked me up a little but I still wanted to dive outside the tent to be sick. 

A familiar figure in Austrian Robert just so happened to be on the next massage table to me. We had a chat and although he drubbed me on the run it turned out he started before me and I'd passed him during the swim. He too was happy though as he sneaked under the 10 hour by a minute. 

I finally made my way to the food and noticed the soup stall. Within two slurps I felt myself revitalising like I'd taken some magic potion, I could walk again.