Ironman Mallorca (May 2012)
I rec'd this today which I though was quite cool but already a week after London and I was preparing for my next race.. Only a 70.3 - time to recover and repack.
This was an A race and I intended to to my very best and get more time on the bike to cope with the Spanish Mountain climb in the bike section. I even got the old waxaroo on the legs (Above). First time for everything. I found out I rode so much faster not because of the aerodynamics but as my legs were freezing Ha!
Here's me taking a Sportive in for training in the weeks between London and Mallorca yes I was cramming it in, could I really get much fitter or just tired?!
This race eventually got halved as it was 0c I had 4 Jackets on here and couldn't move my fingers to change gear or brake. It's all character building though right!
Cheshire Cat 100 Mile Sportive also completed.. Me pulling funny faces as usual with a mouthful of food. Warm enough for bib shorts in this race but still lots of layers up top. I rode on my own for the majority of this race. My team mates are stronger bikers and had just Lands End to John O'Groats in their midst around this period so 100 Miles was just another day in the saddle.
The Mow Cop Killer Mile... This is probably the hardest my heart has ever worked doing anything.
You receive a medal if you make it to the top of the Mile long hill without dismounting. I should have stayed in the saddle and spun up slowly but when in Rome.. thrashing out of the saddle I went.
Medal Earnt! Nice one.. : )
Some other pics from that day.
More and more bike miles went into the tank mostly steady paced rides alone as I thought I would be spat out the back of the pack in group rides... I had work to do to bike well and run equally well I wasn't actually in the shape I had thought.
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To take the Time Trial steed or will the trust road bike fare better in the mountains. |
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My TT Bike won in the coin toss and into the Bike Box it went.
So things had happened all so quickly and it'll all seemed like a bit of a blurrr. I was nervous having not raced a middle distance triathlon for a couple of years now. I always think in the back of my mind no matter how I'd like to do "I'll be glad to get around and survive".
Having had a lot of 2011 away from sport due to illness I knew I wasn't in any shape to compete although with the immense support of my clubmates and friends that getting back to what I love to do was the best environment I could have chosen.
There were around 30-40 club mates from Mersey Tri making the journey over to Mallorca including Wives, Girlfriends, Mums, Dads, Grandmothers, Grandfathers and kids in toe.. This truly was going to one for the scrapbooks.
So before we had even arrived on Spanish soil we could almost smell the team spirit. If we win or finish dead last it doesn't matter. Here we go!
As with many group trips you there are so many people going and so much going on.. There was a lot of the guys bunking in together in the same hotel
(Team Hotel as it would now be referred to which was over the road from transition - Thumbs Up!). I thought this is good and set about finding anyone else who might want to share a room.
A few of the club knew Steve Ormesher - a seasoned Ironman who had originally come from a Rugby background but had clocked up many events and had even raced some of the original IM UK courses in Sherbourne before it relocated to its current situe in Horwich, Bolton. This was ideal bunkmate found.
Trouble was Steve and I had never met what if we didn't get on? I thought I don't really dislike anyone and if he has any funny habits then it will be good comedy value.
Steve and I had decided to travel on the Thursday Morning from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and would Return on the Monday early doors having raced on Saturday.
Meanwhile back at the ranch.....
As I had arrived first for check-in with suitcase and Bike Box I was ready to go, with only a couple of hours on the plane I wanted to relax and just "get there".
I sat in the Starbucks of the departure lounge and stuffed a Granola Bar and Chai Latte down for breakfast as it was about 5am I thought I should have a little fuel to keep me awake and line my stomach. I kept an eye out for a "Steve" but got fed up of looking at strangers after 5 mins or so, after all it was the arse crack of dawn.
As I dived face first back into the trusty granola bar.. I saw a large shadow approach the armchair adjacent to me. "You're Robbie, aren't you?" As I looked up I saw a giant he could have been 6.5 feet and that was wide as well as tall!!!
"Steve?"
We exchanged pleasantries and soon discovered as blokes do we got on quite well. Steve had pointed out I was the only sporty looking person in there and I was in fact quite easy to spot, I thought the same of him ironically - certainly easy to sport but I thought best not to say aloud in case he put me in a sleeper hold or similar.
By the time Steve and I had reached our hotel around 6 hours later after meeting we'd flown together, taken a private taxi and arrived at our room - we were the little and large, his and her combination of the trip and would soon be another couple within the Mersey Tri machine.
Ever the joker we often played on being a couple and it seemed like we'd known each other for years which our team mates found hilarious. As Steve had raced abroad a lot we had already set about building our bikes, meeting our friends and scoping out our new surroundings all after devouring some lunch obviously.
We need fuel, we're athletes right?
Something had become apparent walking along the streets next to transition the street signs had temperature gages and were flashing 33c. Having come from 14c only a few hours before this was going to take some acclimatisation.
Passing through the 60k marker I was pleased that the road ahead had flattened out as I was getting pretty dehydrated and my supplies had almost run out, I couldn't get another drink for another 20k and I was feeling cramp creeping into my legs. As the drafting judges came by on motorcycle I had asked for "agua" as I was gasping now and unsure if I'd get to the next station without being knackered.
Thankfully, Bryan Riley came passed and we had a quick exchange and I gave him an update on who was where etc. I was shocked to think Bryan had only just caught me at this stage but he looked easy and relaxed - he was having fun! This is his 'bread and butter' I couldn't go with Bry so I mimicked his body position and continued until the final drinks station.
Daniel Clarke has also now re-caught me following his flat earlier on and was back in the game. Three or or four clubmates had gone by as we headed back into T2 to begin our run and the final leg of the day. Considering I'd swam slowly I was doing well and happy with my progress as there were only a handful of the team ahead of me and the quicker ones at that they will become markers to chase later on.
1km from transition and turning towards the town my tyre blew out and rolled the tyre and tube off the rim. I looked down in horror and waited to smash onto the road. Not now, 89k of 90k complete I can't believe it! This was one of those moments when you're clipped into your pedals all you can do is swear and clench your arse cheeks!
I opened my eyes seconds later and looked down at the ground my momentum rounding the corner had created enough tension to pull the tyre back onto the rim! This must be 1 in a million chance and as other riders rode past and palmed the small of my back saying they thought I was going to wipe out I was in shock. I rode the last air out of the deflating tyre on my £1800 rims and just about made it to transition, Boy was I lucky!
I approached a massive wooden boardwalk that extended into a bridge and I remember thinking oh that's a nice bit of work where do we go now, yep that's right up and over it a sharp right turn and into the finish chute, I could see familiar faces that were high fiving and slapping my back as I ran down the blue carpet into the Ironman arch. Job done!
No the perfect race but some great lessons learnt, Maximum fun was had and I now had some friends for life : Mission accomplished! I had also managed to gain a partial tear in my right achilles therefore there was plenty of rest ahead of me before any other races would come into it. 5 hours 43 minutes and change was the finish time!
The original goal was a 35 minute swim, 2:45 Bike backed up by a 1:30 Run but hey ho there's more races and realised I could still do it and had bags more to come : ))))
Some pictures from the adventure, thanks for reading! Well done if you read it in one sitting aswell. 1-0 to you!
So things had happened all so quickly and it'll all seemed like a bit of a blurrr. I was nervous having not raced a middle distance triathlon for a couple of years now. I always think in the back of my mind no matter how I'd like to do "I'll be glad to get around and survive".
Having had a lot of 2011 away from sport due to illness I knew I wasn't in any shape to compete although with the immense support of my clubmates and friends that getting back to what I love to do was the best environment I could have chosen.
There were around 30-40 club mates from Mersey Tri making the journey over to Mallorca including Wives, Girlfriends, Mums, Dads, Grandmothers, Grandfathers and kids in toe.. This truly was going to one for the scrapbooks.
So before we had even arrived on Spanish soil we could almost smell the team spirit. If we win or finish dead last it doesn't matter. Here we go!
As with many group trips you there are so many people going and so much going on.. There was a lot of the guys bunking in together in the same hotel
(Team Hotel as it would now be referred to which was over the road from transition - Thumbs Up!). I thought this is good and set about finding anyone else who might want to share a room.
A few of the club knew Steve Ormesher - a seasoned Ironman who had originally come from a Rugby background but had clocked up many events and had even raced some of the original IM UK courses in Sherbourne before it relocated to its current situe in Horwich, Bolton. This was ideal bunkmate found.
Trouble was Steve and I had never met what if we didn't get on? I thought I don't really dislike anyone and if he has any funny habits then it will be good comedy value.
Steve and I had decided to travel on the Thursday Morning from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and would Return on the Monday early doors having raced on Saturday.
Meanwhile back at the ranch.....
As I had arrived first for check-in with suitcase and Bike Box I was ready to go, with only a couple of hours on the plane I wanted to relax and just "get there".
I sat in the Starbucks of the departure lounge and stuffed a Granola Bar and Chai Latte down for breakfast as it was about 5am I thought I should have a little fuel to keep me awake and line my stomach. I kept an eye out for a "Steve" but got fed up of looking at strangers after 5 mins or so, after all it was the arse crack of dawn.
As I dived face first back into the trusty granola bar.. I saw a large shadow approach the armchair adjacent to me. "You're Robbie, aren't you?" As I looked up I saw a giant he could have been 6.5 feet and that was wide as well as tall!!!
"Steve?"
We exchanged pleasantries and soon discovered as blokes do we got on quite well. Steve had pointed out I was the only sporty looking person in there and I was in fact quite easy to spot, I thought the same of him ironically - certainly easy to sport but I thought best not to say aloud in case he put me in a sleeper hold or similar.
By the time Steve and I had reached our hotel around 6 hours later after meeting we'd flown together, taken a private taxi and arrived at our room - we were the little and large, his and her combination of the trip and would soon be another couple within the Mersey Tri machine.
Ever the joker we often played on being a couple and it seemed like we'd known each other for years which our team mates found hilarious. As Steve had raced abroad a lot we had already set about building our bikes, meeting our friends and scoping out our new surroundings all after devouring some lunch obviously.
We need fuel, we're athletes right?
Something had become apparent walking along the streets next to transition the street signs had temperature gages and were flashing 33c. Having come from 14c only a few hours before this was going to take some acclimatisation.
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| This was a lie, with all forecasts from here on in Iphone weather should have said - Multiply by 2. |
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| Finish Line was up, I thought I'd get in and have a picture as I'd probably be a mess come race day finishing. With the heat I immediately realise my 5 hour goal was now closer to 6. I wasn't bothered by this as the experience was going to be amazing and it's all good training too. As with all 70.3's the courses and conditions are different 1 weekend you could race 4:30 and the next weekend you might just scrape in under 6 hours. Fast Forward through the next stages.. Transition bags packed White - Swim Blue - Bike Red - Run Final evening before raceday - Steve and I cycled the short journey to a local Italian restaurant and proceeded to feed up and joined another couple of Iron Triathletes one British and one Kiwi. It actually turned out that the couple weren't husband and wife but had become friends at a race around 5 years ago and since then have travelled round the world to many races as their spouses weren't interested in the whole "triathlon thing". They had just raced Texas 70.3 and recently too so they were in good shape and looked well and ready to go. I was now thinking I wish I'd trained a bit more, lost some weight, done some sit-ups - done one sit - up for gods sake! The evening passed by and we returned to the hotel for a few hours rest - the next flow of pictures show the bikes racked and the transition area. |
Raceday
Up and at em'
Up early and down to transition around a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Wetsuit in hand and tri suit on it was already warm and it wasn't even 6am yet. As with everyday here it was like Triathlonville there were still aero helmets and time trial bikes whizzing past and people running up and down the run course.. Surely these people can't be racing but each to their own I thought.
We chose to inflate our tyres on race morning due to the heat I knew they'd expand even more and I wanted to avoid a puncture on arrival in T1.
Bottles loaded - shoes propped and bags racked.
Steve and I then hooked up with the rest of the crew down at the beach which is around 5 minutes walk from transition. Everyone was doing the usual routines, of toilet, body gliding, shuffling into their wetsuits to the waist to try and not to overheat before getting into the water. There were waves according to gender and age and I was in the second wave and I was pretty pleased by this as a head start is just what I need on my speedy pals who would no doubt whiz past probably in the swim and I'd not seem them again until the pub.
As I watched the female wave go off ahead in their pink caps I turned around to find all of the different age groups behind me penned in and ready to go all in a different coloured swim cap according to their wave. Mine was a silver, after what felt like 30 secs people watching someone behind me kindly zipped up my suit and the klaxon went. I launched into the water hanging back from the group slightly to avoid the usual argy bargy and looking for some clear water once things had settled down.
I knew I was in for a long day so I just began to ease into the swim at a slow and steady pace, I wouldn't realise until the end of the race I was actually too relaxed and swam my slowest 2km's ever.
The swim went out off into the bay the water was calm for the most part as clear as anything and an absolute delight as the sun came up and shone through the depths of the bay you could see the fish below trying to work out what we were all doing in their backyard.
The water began to get a little choppy the more we headed toward the sea and soon it was time to turn right at the final buoy, we would then swim another 100 metres or so before heading back into shore. I felt good and even stopped to speak to a couple of female teammates Natalie (Johnston) and then Helen (Michael) who had started in the first wave and I thought half way we're all looking good doing well and most importantly having fun so let's crack on there's work to do.
As the swim came to an end I began to use what swim energy I had left to propel my arms for a sprint out of the water. As the volunteers lifted me up I gathered myself and sprinted for T1 grabbing a drink as I went. I must have overtaken around 50 plus people just getting out of the water I obviously hadn't swam to my potential as I was running easy and quickly at that but I was having a ball regardless.
Swim done and my legs were carrying me into T2 nicely, my spanish skills came in handy when I need to signal a spanish volunteer to assist me in whipping off my wetsuit and dressing from my transition bag as I grabbed my bike and helmet and sprinted out of T2.
As always my feet were numb from the swim having been lay down in the water for 45 minutes so getting my feet into the bike shoes always seems difficult. Finally after about 5k of riding on top of my shoes I got comfortable in the aero position and began to loosen my hips and get my legs turning for the first 20k of the bike which were pretty flat and the scenery matched with the support was magical.
This was also great as everyones race number hanging from their belts had Miguel, Number 123 and a Spanish flag for example and you could see where they were from and their name. This was great as banter flowed and you'd have french riders shouting allez allez Robbie and smiling as they passed. I spoke Spanish with some of the local riders to see if we could work together on the bike but sadly the spanish crowd were only keen to work together.
Following the nice early flat section of the bike a steady incline then became the climb towards the mountainous region and the heat began to bear down on the endless train of cyclists. This was "the hill" that we'd all been worried about for the 6 months before in training looking for local hills to replicate the raceday effort. I thought to myself, "take it easy" its going to be a long day - I'm far too heavy and not exactly a mountain goat when it comes to riding up such inclines.
The organisers had done a fantastic job and at this point we'd passed well stocked aid stations to restock our bottles and gels if necessary like the constant buffet that Ironman events are albeit sugary sports nutrition.
The course was fantastic and the views were second to none which was lucky really as everyone was working hard and this was a pleasant reprieve. We were all covered in salt head to toe, people in all black had an all over dandruff. At first I thought a few people had wee'd on the bike and then I realised we were all covered in salt from the drying sweat and heat.
As I spun into the mountains trying to drink as much as I could before the next aid stations some 25km away there are a few false flats that get you think "Phew, glad that's out of the way" and then it goes up and on a bit further.. All the while a bit steeper and closer to the sun.
I must admit as challenging as the race was I wouldn't have changed it for the world. As with most triathlons I tell myself "if they were easy, everyone would do them!"
At last, I'd conquered the hill we'd all worried about and as with most things that worry us all its in fact not that bad in reality. The descent began and with was a massive snaking road down through a valley, I immediately began riding as quick as I could making the most of the downhill to claw some time back and get going again after crawling uphill for the last god knows how long.
I could see my garmin ticking away in front of me but I tried not to pay much attention I was thinking I wonder what the temperature is.. Sadly I didn't have the posh one to tell me. As a result of the fast riding into the hairpin snakey descent my first job was slamming on the brakes, skidding sideways across the dry spanish tarmac toward the edge of the road and having to throw myself to the ground to avoid falling over the edge.
As if in one movement I fell to the ground and jumped back up taking inventory of any damage to my steed, all was well no scratches or anything and my fat arse had saved me from any danger. For the next 10 minutes or so as I finished the tour de france style switchbacks I tried to forget about the crash and cranked up my awareness and concentration moving forward.
The later and final stages were mostly downhill through small traditional looking towns which was great and the police and locals did a great job of keeping the roads clear and providing support in what might have a quieter part of the event.
One thing that I had noticed at this point was that none of the Mersey Tri faithful had passed me on the bike which is unusual as I class them as league ahead of me in the overall stakes and their ability to succeed. I just presumed they all got out if the water 10-20 minutes quicker and had passed me in the water.
That was until young Daniel Wade Clarke came whizzing past and gave me his trademark big wide smile and a little gesture of well done for leading out the race. I then watched him power off in the distance and thought wow whoever catches him will be doing well. That was until I caught him 5 minutes later, not through power through the pedals but as he'd punctured by the side of the road. As his suit was easy to pick out I tapped my tool kit and signalled to him but he waved me on he was at work and would no doubt see me again probably before the bike leg was over.
Passing through the 60k marker I was pleased that the road ahead had flattened out as I was getting pretty dehydrated and my supplies had almost run out, I couldn't get another drink for another 20k and I was feeling cramp creeping into my legs. As the drafting judges came by on motorcycle I had asked for "agua" as I was gasping now and unsure if I'd get to the next station without being knackered.
Thankfully, Bryan Riley came passed and we had a quick exchange and I gave him an update on who was where etc. I was shocked to think Bryan had only just caught me at this stage but he looked easy and relaxed - he was having fun! This is his 'bread and butter' I couldn't go with Bry so I mimicked his body position and continued until the final drinks station.
Daniel Clarke has also now re-caught me following his flat earlier on and was back in the game. Three or or four clubmates had gone by as we headed back into T2 to begin our run and the final leg of the day. Considering I'd swam slowly I was doing well and happy with my progress as there were only a handful of the team ahead of me and the quicker ones at that they will become markers to chase later on.
1km from transition and turning towards the town my tyre blew out and rolled the tyre and tube off the rim. I looked down in horror and waited to smash onto the road. Not now, 89k of 90k complete I can't believe it! This was one of those moments when you're clipped into your pedals all you can do is swear and clench your arse cheeks!
I opened my eyes seconds later and looked down at the ground my momentum rounding the corner had created enough tension to pull the tyre back onto the rim! This must be 1 in a million chance and as other riders rode past and palmed the small of my back saying they thought I was going to wipe out I was in shock. I rode the last air out of the deflating tyre on my £1800 rims and just about made it to transition, Boy was I lucky!
Jumping off the bike and running after a 3 hour ride is always odd as you don't know whether you'll face plant or you'll go into a full on run thankfully on this occasion it was the latter.
Before I knew it T2 had passed and I had fresh socks and my racing flats on and a newly acquired baseball cap to cover my skinhead from the sun. I shuffled into the first few km's feeling pretty decent clocking between 4-4:15 min km's and I thought this is great for about 6 or 7 km's.
I had great support from the ever present Ray Handley cheering from the sidelines and began to take on at every opportunity the sponges and water available, I'll save the gels and coke for later should I need them. Nutrition at this point had been a gel every 25-30 minutes as required - the main focus was electrolytes.
Each lap of the run volunteers would throw a hi viz coloured hair bobble over your arm nearest to them to mark how many laps you've done, first lap pink, then yellow and finally green. As much for the organisers this is also helpful as when you're tiring after 4 hours or more on the go its difficult to remember much. On the second lap of the run albeit flat and heavily supported by locals and the Mersey Tri massive too I began to slow and quite drastically.
My achilles injury that had interrupted London Marathon just two week earlier was in full force and I was hobbling, this would only get worse and more painful as the run continued. Now the half marathon at the end of a 70.3 is much different to a normal half not that don't swim and bike first but you have to introduce walk/run strategies particularly at aid stations as the calories are imperative at this stage.
I was in a world of pain and decided to get into the hurt locker and shut the door, Bryan Riley passed, Daniel Clarke, Gregg Jones and now Dani Trinca who proceeded to pick them off one by one with his gazelle like stride. Considering my background was more run based I felt even worse I couldn't string together a better effort. I would end up running a 1:50 run having set a goal of 1:30 prior to the start. Sometimes you can only do what you can do, hey!
The laps came and went I drank coke and ate banana and soaked myself with sponges I just wanted to strip off and jump in the sea, but before then it was time to head into the last stage of the run.. Party Time.
I looked at my watch and guess what I'd been racing for nearly 70.3 miles, Happy Days!
No the perfect race but some great lessons learnt, Maximum fun was had and I now had some friends for life : Mission accomplished! I had also managed to gain a partial tear in my right achilles therefore there was plenty of rest ahead of me before any other races would come into it. 5 hours 43 minutes and change was the finish time!
The original goal was a 35 minute swim, 2:45 Bike backed up by a 1:30 Run but hey ho there's more races and realised I could still do it and had bags more to come : ))))
Some pictures from the adventure, thanks for reading! Well done if you read it in one sitting aswell. 1-0 to you!
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| Achilles bust but searching for the next race at the hotel the evening after the race still in my race kit : ) |
