Race pack
pick up was on Friday and I’m thankful that I have an understanding workplace
that allowed me some time off without having to apply for leave. Multiple
events had been going on since Wednesday and I appreciate the local residents
having to put up with the road closures that took place pretty much from early
morning until 6pm each day. I drove down with my wife and son just after lunch
on Saturday (so that Sebastian can have his nap first) and made it just in time
for the bike racking. I found it a bit amusing that each bike was scanned for
motors, the official said to me in jest “Sorry mate, no motor, you have to
pedal tomorrow!” Remainder of the evening was fairly relaxed, with dinner at a
nearby Italian café and then it was time to call it an early night.
Then… the
drama started to unfold. At about 8.30pm, my phone buzzed with a notification from
the event app. “Due to high winds, no disc wheels allowed for the age group
standard distance event.” WTF! I was stunned for a moment and started losing
it. Well, nothing else I could do. Luckily I live fairly close by, so a quick
drive home to pick up my alloy wheels and back. Had to set the alarm earlier
too by about an hour so to allow time to swap the wheels over and change brake
pads. As well as to bring the carbon wheels back to the motel. Fortunately, the
motel was near to the swim start but transition is about a 20 minute walk away
being a point-to-point swim.
So at 3.30am
the alarm went off. I don’t generally sleep well in a different bed and on the
night before the race. So I didn’t fancy having my sleep time cut any shorter
from the debacle. My arms felt sore from carrying the wheels while walking to
transition – such a first world problem, not wanting to expend any more energy
just before a race! The good thing was transition was well lit while I changed
the wheels and brake pads so no need to worry about losing any small parts. Got
it all done without any issues and back to the motel. One last toilet visit in
my own comfort (rather than at a portaloo), kissed my wife goodbye and then a
brief trot the swim start just around the corner.
Swim 1.5km
We were
released in waves and my Male 35-39 age group was split into two waves, about
45 in each, so it didn’t feel too crowded. It was a deepwater start and very straightforward swim, just keep
going south and then a short right turn at the final buoy. Apparently tide
assisted but I didn’t feel the effect much. I was pleasantly surprised as I
thought I would have been left behind with this event being the World
Championships, but I was actually swimming through the field for most of the
way until I got to a couple of swimmers who were just a bit faster and just
stuck to their feet. Water visibility was decent, not super clear and we were
swimming away from the sun rise so that helped too. I got out of the water in 24:20
with recorded distance of 1,615m on
the Garmin. Average pace of 1:32 per 100m, so a bit faster than my usual swims
so I guess there was a tide after all.
Transition 1
It was a
pretty sandy run to the bike racks. I didn’t spend too much time wiping the
sand off before I put my socks on. Yes, being used to longer distances I’ve
always put my socks on and I wasn’t going to do anything different for this
race. My left shoe came off as I pulled my bike off the racks. Took me a while
to clip it back on. The mount line was pretty busy and I patiently let a few
others head off first before I got on my bike, instead of risking knocking
someone over. Time taken 2:40
Bike 40km
Two lap bike
course with mostly flat and straight sections but a few twists and turns at the
beginning of each lap and just before the turnaround. I have to admit that the
alloy wheels do feel slower and the numbers backed that up. It was windy but
nothing too extreme. Pretty busy course and there was constant overtaking and
being overtaken. I was asked to drop back a couple of times by the technical
official as I was getting too close to the front cyclists. I averaged about
32kph at first and slowly climbed towards 34kph when I got to the straight
sections. And then the next lot of drama unfolded. Halfway between the
turnaround and towards the end of the first lap, my ride was starting to feel a
bit wobbly. So I decided to stop and check. True enough, my front tire went
flat!
I was
debating whether or not to carry a spare tube for this race as it was only a
40km ride and foolishly I didn’t. Then I remembered, I still had my other wheel
in the motel and coincidentally I stopped right next to it! So I climbed over
the fence (as roads were closed) and quickly asked Li-Ann to open the door. It
did past my mind briefly that I could be disqualified for doing this but I just
wanted to finish. But alas, when I picked up my carbon wheel, I remembered now
that I’ve let the air out and I foolishly left the pump at home too! Almost
wanting to throw the towel in, I decided I’ll run to transition with the bike
to get it pumped. But first, to swap the brake pads – again!
So off I
went pushing my bike for the remaining 1.5 to 2kms to transition, my feet were
hurting from pounding the ground just with socks on. People were cheering so
for that moment I did feel a bit like a hero. Got to the intersection where we
were meant to head off for the second lap and asked where were the mechanics,
the officials there seemed to have no idea. Stuff this, I was going to push my
bike the second lap if I had to! Luckily I found a supporter carrying a bike
pump and he willingly lent it to me. Again, risking a DQ for outside assistance
but that ship has sailed long time ago.
Second bike
lap didn’t feel too much of a rush for me as the momentum was gone but I
reminded myself that I was still in a race so I better get going. There were
still many people on the course from the later waves. Many 40+ females (I could
tell from their age group stickers on their calves) were overtaking me. I
finally finished the bike in 1:25:47. Garmin
recorded 39.5km and just over 20 minutes from when I stopped to when I started
pedaling again.
Transition 2
No dramas
here. Bike on rack, helmet off, shoes on, sunglasses and race bib on the go.
There was a little bridge that we had to cross coming out of transition but
luckily no stairs. Time taken 2:26.
Run 10km
Two lap run
course with a short detour before the turnaround. About 3kms out and 2kms back,
repeat. Pretty much flat all the way. I was still trying to salvage my race as
much as I could, though I was pretty certain I was going to be dead last in my
age group. Hovered around the 4:05 per km pace with a couple closer to 4:10 and
a few just under 4 minutes. It was getting windier and it felt like mostly
tailwind on the way out and headwind on the way back. I have lost track of time
after the puncture and it wasn’t until the end of the first run lap when I
realized if I maintained my pace, I would finish just over 2.5 hours. I thought
I was getting close to the 3 hour mark!
Had to dig
deep on the second lap and it was great to see Li-Ann and Seb cheering me from
the esplanade. I waved and gave them my best effort of a smile at that time
through my gritted teeth. Finally got to the finish line in 2:34:32, my second slowest time for the standard distance. But with a run split of 39:21, my Garmin
recorded 9.9km so even adding another 30 seconds for the 100m would still be a
run PB for me. And only a few seconds slower than my standalone 10km PB. And I
didn’t come in last in my age group!
Finish
The finish
atmosphere was very different from any Ironman event. People were hugging each
other, carrying their national flags, taking group pictures in front of the ITU
signage. It was fantastic and heartwarming at the same time. It took me a while
to get back to the motel with all the road closures. Even leaving the motel
after check out was a bit of a challenge as we were still fenced in and had to
get clearance from traffic management as the elite events were about to start
that afternoon.
So that
wraps up probably my only ITU World Championship event. Coincidentally, on
Malaysia Day! Sure I would have liked to finish with a better time and placing
but I’m pretty proud with how I turned things around after the little mishap.
It’s a good feeling with the final build heading into Ironman Malaysia,
Langkawi in 2 months’ time.
