Last weekend, over the bank holiday, piranhas headed over to Belgium to race in Antwerp 70.3. Myself, Colm o' Leary, Dave leonard took part while Eveline [colm's better half] was the support crew. Read on for account of the race – a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike, and a 21.1km run.
Trouble seems to follow me round in races. Antwerp was no different when I had an issue to deal with during the bike section of the race. Although I wasn’t going to be the only one!
Antwerp 70.3 is also called the Marc Herremans Classic. Marc Herremans is well known for his inspirational story . Read more about him here http://ironman.com/events/ironman70.3/antwerp70.3/nadine-fischer-has-this-report-on-the-host-of-the-antwerp-ironman-70.3
We flew out on the Friday so we had Saturday to get organised and explore the city and the course a bit.
Saturday we registered and received what was one the best goody bags we have seen – among other things we got– sports bag/Dry fit t-shirt/ bike levers/ DVD/ Sports drinks/ Bottle of wine/ Water bottle and other items. We also found out the water temp was 22.5 so we were allowed the wetsuits. The limit is 23.9 [I think]
Sunday morning we had an unusual late race start at 11am to allow for the live race coverage on Belgium TV. We were greeted with hot sunshine with some clouds giving us some coverage for a time.
There was two transitions - TI was over the river beside the lake where we were going to swim while T2 was in the city centre. 
T1 was a long affair stretching all the way down the road with just two rows. There was 1200 people entered so there was some impressive bikes on show. They had mats laid down the whole way up so the run from the swim exit, although a fair distance was set up nicely.
Before we know it we were lining up for the swim. It was baking hot at this stage so we had a bit of a warm wait in the suits before we were allowed into the lake. We were on a platform with steps down to the water. It was a short swim across to the start line. We were kept in the water for a few minutes where we had to tread water for a while. It was very packed here as it was a small pen that we were in.
The signal goes and we are off. It’s an anti clock wise loop with the first buoy the longest stretch. The swim stays very congested and doesn’t seem to break up much. It s the same for most from speaking to many people after the race – you are kicked/ smacked/ swam over the usual stuff but seems to last for a lot of the swim. I go wide after the second buoy which gets me more room bit adds a bit more distance.
Happy to get to the steps and hurl myself up. I start the 600-700 metre run up to my bike in transition. I have a slow one as I have to fix the aero bottle that comes undone. Over the mounting mat and mount the bike.
Trouble sometimes follows me around in races. On Sunday just out of t1, my right cleat broke at the side of the shoe. This meant I was unable to clip in. It was a bit of nightmare at the start to say the least. I wigged my foot in every direction thinking it has to go in. It must just have snapped off as we had actually cycled down from the hotel and had no issues. It was just unlucky as it wasn’t too knackered as I had checked it before hand.
For a short while the voices in my head got loud – hows the f**k are you going to cycle 90km on with one foot clipped in. I pulled over to see could I fix it somehow.
I cycled on. It annoyed it hell out of me. Until I let it go – just told myself to get over and deal with it. I had some thought that it would mess up the run as it could give me a injury but got rid of that quickly as with couple of hundred bikes on the road I really had to focus. One of the first hurdles to get over was going through the tunnel over to the other side of the river bank which was coming up in about 1km. The speed we got here was unreal. It was also quite dark, very congested with bikes and hell of ride through it. Just have to avoid the concrete walls either side and the odd drain.
The bike course took us out through the city and gave a tour of the docks and the port which was pretty massive. We got some good coverage from the wind from the stacks of containers on sections of the course. We reached the countryside and passed through several villages along closed county roads. We did two laps of a route here before heading back towards the city. There was quite a few turns on the course, it wasnt a out and back course as such. My issue with the cleat remained but I did manage to put it one side as such - I just had to be careful around corners. We had heavy rain during the bike. This we were kinda used after some of the races at home this summer. However the rain was to create havoc on sections of the course. We had to cycle over a lot of cross roads when we crossed tram tracks and train tracks. The organisers had done a good job and laid narrow mats over the junctions which did the job but on the second lap after the heavy rain they created problems as they got very slippery. I saw two bikes go down like dominos front of me at one stage which looked so painful. The last 10km dragged a bit as we cycle through the city centre and had plenty of cobblestones to endure.I lost a drink bottle and cage on the way out despite it being on tight.
T2 is a different location to T1. It is in the city centre at the other side of the river. I take a toilet stop here and am off on the run. I see Colm’s bike which was racked beside mine. As expected he must be out on the course. I found out later I not the only one who has bikes issues. No major aches from the cleat problem. Dave is racked the other end so I guessing he is close by. The run is 3 laps through the heart of the city centre. It is a tight course in places with several twists and turns though the back streets. We took in the main shopping street which is a bit surreal as well as several of the main squares where the locals where sitting out in café bars. The sun came out now and it is hot. They had water sponges stations as well as drinks stations.
We get bands after each lap and also have to pass the finish stand which is buzzing with the elites coming in. I have some bad patches on the second lap but feed the 'demons' with gels and get through it.
The last km I picked it up and feel great. As normal I sprint into the finishing shoot. I see the clock for the first time and am v happy with 4h 50mins, a pb. I am surprised to see Marc Herremans standing and handing out the medals. I shake his hand and am delighted to meet him. I retreat to the tents for some fluids and food. I shelter from the rain which comes down for a while. I meet Dave here after a while and we get the shuttle bus back to the T1. Dave has a good race finished in 5h 15min. He has a great swim after just coming back recently from a swim trek holiday where he swam around Malta. Colm had some bad luck aswell. He had issues with a tube/air and has to pull out after only a few kms on the bike. He gets picked up the broom wagon and heads back to T2. After he hands in his chip he decides the give the run course a lash. He puts in a stormer of a pb going well below 130.
We grab our stuff and cycle back to the hotel which turns out to be a great cool down. We don’t feel as bad now.
That night we head to the prize giving and head out for food and drinks. Antwerp is a great city, bit of surprise.We have a great night and the bodies hold up well. Monday we explored the city a bit more, pack up our bikes [which is always a pain] and we also tracked down an decathlon store which was great.
Great race – great weekend away. Defending Champion Marino Vanhoenacker from Belgium won the third edition of Antwerp Ironman 70.3. He won IM Austria the last two years. Can’t recommend enough the 70.3 races.
Thanks to the guys, Colm and Dave and also Eveline for all her support on the course and local knowledge of the area.
See Results at http://www.chronorace.be/web2/Files/2686.pdf
PiranhaTri
http://www.piranhatri.com/article.php/20080812142739246