Ironman WA 2009 training
I find myself in an unusual situation with Ironman WA in 8 weeks time. I have my wife training for the marathon as part of a team, following a training plan. Today, I cycled 150kms from the Narrows to Pinjarra Rd and return with their team cyclist Liz on her new Cervelo P3 and new Zipp wheels.
I was watching the Ford Ironman at Lake Placid today on Foxtel and it was such a hard bike and run course. So many brave efforts. The exhiliration of first time Ironman athletes. It’s quite a moment to have someone say to you that you’re an Ironman. And the beauty of it is that once you become an Ironman, you’re an Ironman forever.
I’ve retraced mentally all my preparation for the event, the countless 25 and 30km runs, the times I’d say goodbye to my wife on a Saturday morning for a 120 or 130km bike ride. The endless swimming laps, that insipid black line……and I hate swimming!! I’ve overcome one of my biggest fears in being able to swim nearly 4kms in a race situation. For me, as one who swims like a brick, it became a meditative triumph to emerge from the swim in good shape and ready to tackle the 180km bike and 42.2km run.
I can vividly recall the 6 punctures I got on the bike. The reason for so many punctures isn’t important. There were times out at Wonnerup where I felt like chucking my stupid bike into the bush. But I had a shirt (that I ended up giving to my younger brother who wants to do the Great Ocean Road marathon) that said that Ironman doesn’t build character, it reveals it. I believe that was the case for me. I spent nearly 7.5hr out on that bike knowing that I was aiming to be out there only 5hrs and knowing also that I had to run a marathon. Now that took me another 5 hrs and my 11hr IMWA dream faded to over 14hrs.
Already, there are 1050 individuals entered and over 60 teams for Ironman WA. It’s a triumph of will and determination. They are all on a very arduous journey, each one’s no less significant that the other.
There’ll be 8 weeks more of swimming, cycling and running for all of them. Our team swimmer, Ashleigh, is currently competing in the Great Southern Adventure race near Denmark, WA.
For my part, I’m a spectator/supporter/team assistant. I’m still doing time trials in my cycling. I’m still running - I want to go under 45mins for the John Gilmour 10km track race at AK athletics track on 6 Nov 09.
The pressure is off for me but it will be my wife’s first marathon. This time last year I was preparing for the Rottnest Island marathon, my first. Ironically, I ran it next to a workmate who , at 40yo, was doing his 100th marathon. He is doing the Kilimanjaro Marathon, Ayers Rock marathon, Las Vegas marathon. He just loves doing marathons.
I’d love to qualify for Boston but that would mean a 3hr 30min marathon - very tough prerequisite.
As I rest after the 150km ride today, I know Dee is mustering all her energy to stick to her running schedule for the marathon. But she has nothing more to prove to the world. She conquered Mt Kilimanjaro in January, she did a 2hr half marathon last year, she’s lost 40kgs and very fit these days!!
The Ironman WA female team name is ‘DeeLizAsh’ and we have a great vibe going. I know IMWA teams may be viewed as a hindrance to the individuals but they all have a place at this event. John Maclean will vouch for that. One of the most inspiring moments straight after I finished IMWA in 2007 was to talk to Bob Thomas, a wheelchair athlete who had also just finished IMWA. My trials and tribulations paled compared to his. It was a very sobering chat that I had with Bob. He is a legend in my books as is John Maclean.
Good training, health and good times ahead over the next several weeks. Bring….it…..ONNNNN!!!
CHRISTO