THE RACE

Like any Ironman start, you get up early and head to the race, In the dark you see all the other athletes heading in a quiet eerie like motion  to the race site. As you arrive the numbers increase and lights attract everyone to the same location. Everyone with their own thoughts, fears and dreams. Excitement mixed with self doubt. Would I be a Hawaiian Ironman at the end of the day? A day full of unknown challenges lay ahead.

The body marking in Kona is done with a stamp and they look very professional.

 The Ironman is like no other race. The World Championship is like no other Ironman.

I said my farewell to Robert and Paul after I returned my bike pump to them. You have to be careful not to pump your tires too high as the sun can get very hot.  I sat by my bike and talked to Dawn whose bike  was racked just a couple of spots down. We discuss the challenges and the possibility of not making the bike cutoff if we encounter strong winds. I also worry about getting a flat tire, which alone could determine the outcome of the day. As I head off to the swim start I watch the Navy Seals parachute down. The native drums are pulsating,  the Kahu or spiritual blessing is given. The National Anthem of the USA is sung and the Pro race is underway. I do not really feel nervous. I am so grateful that I am well enough to race. I feel privileged to be part of such an awesome event. The sun is rising over Kona, the water is sparkling, the atmosphere electric. The helicopters  are hovering. Bang ! The starting gun releases the energy and we all move forward as a mass. As I take my first strokes I am aware of the beating sound of the arms of the other athletes hitting the water .  Then the familiar voice of Mike Reilly proclaiming that the age group race is  under way. No time for nerves, this is truly awesome. I just want to imprint the sounds and sights in my memory. Whatever the day brings I just want to savour the moment.

The Swim Leg

Well as usual I don’t really have a plan. So it is just a matter of swimming !

Finding space to swim is so much easier than in Lake Placid. Gentle rollers, clear water, life guards on surf boards, a flotilla of small boats, the taste of salt water and it is just a matter of doing it. No time to lament that you are not aloud to swim in a wet suit. Get over it and keep swimming. The turn around point is a large sail boat, which is good for spotting in the rolling waves. It is a good feeling to be ½ done and on the way back. I am still feeling excited to be actually in the race. It is a little surreal, I almost need to pinch myself to believe that I am in Kona racing in the The World Ironman Championship. There is a sideways drag and the swell is more pronounced on the way back, but it was a fun swim. I have no idea of my time I did not check my watch at the turn around mainly because my vision is not great !!! I am encouraged to see other  athletes still in the water, always a good sign. As I climbed out of the water I see the clock 1hr 33minutes . I was ecstatic, only 11 minutes slower than Lake Placid. I considered that a great swim for me. So I head through the fresh water showers ( important to get the salt off ), pick up the swim to bike bag and into the Wahini ( female ) tent to change. The change volunteer are always great and this is no exception. They have spray on sunscreen instead of lotion. A few places on my shoulders got missed and as a consequence I was to suffer deep burns along the edges of my bike top. I start the bike leg still very upbeat and excited

The Bike Leg

The bike course on a profile map indicates a constantly undulating course. There’s not one level straight line on it. Although not as hilly as Lake Placid it still provides some challenges. I am pumped as I head out on the 112mile (180k) ride.  I wave to Jarmila, Paul and Robert (who is hidden behind the lens of his camera.) They are situated near the ‘hot corner ‘on Palani Drive. At that moment I do not think of the bleak, stark, lava fields ahead of me. I just feel excited and energized by the supportive crowds on Palani Dr.  We head 10k or so south of Kona, a quick out and back returning to again pass the ‘hot corner’ it’s out of the saddle to climb Palani before heading onto the Queen Ka’ahumanu highway (Queen K). This is the start of the long 55k highway which snakes over the lava fields with heat, front side – left / right cross winds and constant undulation. (Notice that there is no mention of tail winds, for some reason we don’t ever seem to have a tail wind!!!!)

I have to get off my bike at an aid station to ask for a band aid. A salt water chafe mark has started to bleed on my shoulder. They are unable to find a band aid, but do come up with some neomycin ointment which I lather on. I take this opportunity to visit the porta potty (it turns out to be the only stop for the 15hr race). My feet are a little sore so they get a quick rub. I start off again to face the winds, but so far so good. You have to be alert on the bike with the erratic winds, this makes taking your hands off the bike to eat and drink difficult. With the Kona heat it is important to be cognizant of your hydration requirements. Even a reputed camel like me needs to drink on this course. At the end of the Queen K it’s a left turn to the dreaded highway 270 section and the climb to Hawi. Its one mile at a time as I follow the long string of cyclists onwards and upwards (occasionally looking over with envy watching athletes on the descent. I see a cyclist being followed by a motorcycle and camera and overhead helicopter I think that it is the lead female.)  Difficulties with the wind starts early on the ascent. A  side right cross wind, probably around 25k/hr, it was constant, but the challenge was dealing with the gusts, the swirling winds known as ho’omumuku, it pushes you across the road 2 – 3 meters. I didn’t find this as scary as the practice rides as the road was closed to traffic. The only challenge was to stay on your bike at least you didn’t have to worry about ending up under a car. It seemed to go on longer than the practice ride. I am passed by Scott Ridges (the double amputee, who is trying to make history by being the first double amputee to complete an Ironman) He is built like a linebacker and the extra weight certainly would help in the wind. I feel good that he is doing so well.  For me it is no eating or drinking on the climb I need to just get the job done. It is always good to reach the ½ way point. However at this visit to Hawi there is no stopping for coffee. I eat my sandwich have a drink and apply more sunscreen again it seems missing the line around the back of my cycle top. I see Scott Ridges, he is off his bike sitting at the side of the road eating. Now the dreaded descent. Descending is not my favourite at the best of times, and this is not the best of times. The winds are strong and we are now on the road closest to the sea and there was an immediate sharp drop off from the edge of the road, mostly unfenced. The wind gusts are more like 50 kph. I do not find it as bad as my previous descent as without traffic I am able to position myself more towards the centre of the road divide, less worry about being blown over the side !! The next aid station is anchored to the side of the road to prevent it from being blown away. I am not taking my hands off my bike and give this one a miss. Great relief to complete this descent and I feel that I have it in the bag, only the ride back along the Queen K, Oh what a mistake that thought was. It is only in retrospect that I remember that Peter had all his trouble with headwinds on this section of the course. At first I was pleased, less side winds, less chance of falling off the bike. Unfortunately it did not take long for the head winds to destroy my speed and to demoralize me somewhat. Anxiety as to whether I would make the bike split started to take hold. It was impossible to even remotely calculate how long it would take to finish. Progress into the wind was so slow. My feet were killing me; Mind numbing nerve pain that has plagued me towards the end of every Ironman was again proving to be the greatest challenge of the day. I had spoken to Kevin prior to the race and he had suggested not wearing socks. With the unrelenting heat my feet had swollen and even without socks I was experiencing excruciating pain. I was forced to remove and throw away the inner lining of the shoes. This left me with my feet on nails!!! From previous experience I had a tube of Advil cream and I was forced to stop and apply cream.

Time was becoming an issue I was being destroyed by the same stretch of road that had done the same to Peter in 2003. Kevin had told me that 2004 5 & 6 had been relatively free of winds. It certainly looked like they had made a major comeback.

Eventually I have some hope as I see an aircraft coming into land. I am close to the airfield beside the NELHA.

At the Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii Authority the faster (younger) athletes are turning back onto the Queen K to complete the run and their Ironman journey. It would be pitch black when I make the same turn.  I feel a little more confident that I will make the bike split. As I near town it is good to have the encouragement from the crowd. Robert looks very relieved to see me as I pass him and into transition. 8hr 17min 14 secs!!! It is a long time to be on the bike, but I have made it. Several athletes would not including Dawn and the famous Sister Madonna Buder.The first athlete to miss the split was a 57yr old from Japan , Ishida Chiyoko. Her race number 381. I was 380 her bike was racked next to mine in transition. She missed the split by 3 seconds. I can only imagine her frustration.

The Run

I am so relieved to have made the bike split that I am lulled into a don’t care attitude about the time. I’m going to finish. I have a green tea and a rice crispy square and put one in my pocket. I then apply some of my own sunscreen to my face. Race pictures will show that I didn’t have the strength to rub it in. I exit on the run with a white face with blobs of sunscreen thickly applied. I stopped briefly to talk to Robert, Paul and Jarmila placed strategically near the ‘hot corner ‘. I feel good on the 16k out and back trip south of kona along Ali’i Drive. I am very pleased to see Scott Ridges heading out before I turn up Palani to face the Queen K again. Along Ali’i drive I see Sharyn and Anne both looking good, but no Dawn and I start to have a bad feeling about her day.

The sun has set which makes running more comfortable, but after leaving Kona it really is pitch black over the dark barren lava fields. Not far out of Kona I hear a voice say ‘way to go Mary’. It is Aubrey Bryce on his bike. Aubrey an Olympic Cyclist is out looking for one of his athletes. He stays beside me chatting for a few kilometers. This was a great boost as my energy and spirits were sacking in the dark. When cars passed the road and terrain were briefly illuminated otherwise it was rather a lonely dark journey. Occasional I would pass a slower runner. I couldn’t even read the mile marker boards in the dark and I certainly couldn’t see the time on my watch. Every mile a highlighted aid station would appear from the darkness. The usual routine water, an orange and a sip of flat coke.

 I was pleased to turn off the Queen K and head to the turn around point at the NELHA. This is a 5k loop, uphill on the way back, but I felt a lot better after raiding my special needs bag for my green tea and rice crispy square. OK, less than a ½ marathon left. I seem to find new energy and ran this return section fairly well considering the day and the time. As I pick up speed and pass other athletes one says ‘that’s a fast pace for this time of night’. I can’t decide whether that is good or bad, but certainly I had spent an hour longer on the bike than I would have liked. I pick up more speed as I see the welcoming lights of kona. I turn down Palani and I can truly say I enjoyed the last 3k. As I turn onto Ali’i drive I could leap into the air.  I am SO happy. The noise of the crowd and the bright lights, the energy and the voice of Mike Reilly announcing my arrival at the World’s greatest finish line. I have a poster from The Boston Marathon that says’ Some finish lines just mean more than others, that’s what happens in Boston ‘. Well the finish line on Ali’i Dr in Kona is for me the greatest finish line on earth. I have crossed it. I’m tired and very happy as I receive my lei of fresh orchids and an Ironman towel is placed on my shoulders. Jarmila is at the finish line to greet me. As I leave to collect my medal and have photos taken I feel thankful as I pass the medical tent that I am not in need of their services. I visit Kevin in the Ironman live centre then meet up with Robert and Paul and pose for more photos. I am thrilled to see Scott Ridges receive the accolades from the crowd as he heads to Ali’i Drive. The first double amputee to be an Ironman.

I have reached Kupua the Hawaiian for completion. It’s hard to say when the journey started. Was it my first run after my 50^th birthday to the corner of the road or my first try a tri. Whatever, it was  certainly fuelled in 2003 when I watched Dick and Rick Hoygt at this very race They certainly inspired me to believe’ that anything is possible’. It was possible it took, 15 hrs 10 minutes and 10 seconds

The next days

The following day was relaxed and exciting. Collecting race photos, coffee with friends , sharing race stories, visiting the official Ironman jewelry  store. The evening was the awards banquet which again was outdoors with lots of Hawaiian flavour. We then had a day touring the island. The volcanoes national park, the tropical rainforest, and finishing with sunset on Hapuna beach.  A day joining Robert and Paul on the golf course, then it was time to pack up. A flight home to reality, but the memories will last forever.