Sarah Duffy completed her first ever half Iron man and was awarded a bench in Lisbon as a prize ... well she had marked it as her own according to the "possession laws of the animal kingdom" - Confused .... well read on for a full explanation ......
So, it’s all over! I talked about it for the last 6 months and now I’m back post-race in sunny Dublin!
Grant (my boyfriend) and I headed over to Lisbon on Thursday last and got there – bike and all – without a hitch despite the previous stressful week when Aer Lingus wouldn’t confirm if my bike was booked on or not. We landed in Lisbon along with a pretty strong Irish contingent – I think Paddy and I were the only Piranhas arriving on Thursday and there were a good few from both Wicklow and Limerick Tri clubs. We got to the hotel mid-morning and settled in! Weather was absolutely perfect and promised to be that way until race day on Saturday. Once settled, we took a walk down to transition which was about a 2min walk from the hotel and it looked like it was starting to take shape. We chilled out on Thursday evening and had a lovely dinner and glass of wine before an early night.
Got up on Friday early to clear the hotel buffet and go for a practice swim! There were a couple of sessions organised on both Thursday and Friday and there was a mechanic in the race office area for much of both days also. The swim was in a ‘man-made’ lake on the river and was very calm. Totally opposite to me! Up until last year, I wouldn’t even get in open water, never mind swim in it … and now I had to don my very own wetsuit (which was still to be introduced to water of any description!) and swim in it! When I was in there, I could feel the bile in my neck and the panic in my chest. I just thought of breathing every 3 strokes to keep me going – this lasted about 500m and then I’d had enough! I slithered up the exit ramp and told myself it hadn’t been too bad. SURE! Even bribing and gentle coaxing couldn’t get me back in on Friday evening for another go …. I went and changed and came back to transition area to register – no problems there! No goodie bag though, just a timing chip, some race numbers and wrist bands for entry to the awards party on Saturday night.
Niall McD was flying in on Friday so it was a pre-lunch snooze before meeting him. We went downstairs to meet with him in the lobby for lunch and couldn’t believe my eyes when Gavin and Johanna were sitting there. Gavin hadn’t been able to get time off work originally to go over, so it was an amazing surprise – I knew it would give me a lift. I was obviously very focused on my tri preparation as Grant had known about them coming across, and I hadn’t had an inkling! When I saw them, I cried – and as you’ll discover, this was only the start of it!! Gavin may have to change his career next year after taking the time off, but hey, it was worth it buddy! The rest of the day was spent setting up my bike, checking my list twice, putting my transition bag together and eating! I really enjoy tapering and carb loading – the 2 greatest aspects of the sport!!
RACE DAY. Why am I doing this? Hotel wasn’t catering for early brekkie (as it wasn’t the host hotel) so Grant, Niall and I had some pre-purchased Special K and fruit in the room and then we packed up and headed for transition. This was very real all of a sudden. I was setting up in transition about 6.30am and it wasn’t long until it was 7.50am and time to enter the water for warm up. There was an electric buzz and pure excitement all around as nearly 600 orange heads got in the water for the mass start. I started to cry!! After being convinced that crying would only fog up my goggles, we got a couple of photos and swapped ‘good lucks’ with Paddy, Niall and Karl (Henry) to mention but a few. The klaxon sounded ….and we were off.
Although I was still really nervous, I knew I was in there and there was no getting out until 2 laps were done. Once I got into my rhythm, it wasn’t too bad – I settled in towards the back out of harms way. Apart from a couple of mouthfuls of salt water – occasionally mixed with petrol (mmmmm) – and the blinding sun on one of the turns, the swim went well. I even managed to spot Grant and Gavin about 30ft up from the water edge half way through the swim, stop, shout and give them a wave!! If anyone thought I was shouting for help, they didn’t rush to assist me! So, first 44mins were over and all going to plan so far. Transition went without a hitch and within another 5mins, I was on my bike.
The bike course was 4 laps of a course which was mainly freeway and very fast – eh, for some. I was ‘cruising’ along at around my top speed (about 30ish kph) – feeling pretty damn good on my first lap, when I was consumed from all angles by a pack of riders that made me look like I was standing still. As I was thinking ‘ah jaysus lads, where’s the fire?’ they were gone. I think the term for the course in the main was ‘undulating’ and luckily enough we didn’t experience any strong cross winds. The turn around on the course is described on the website as a ‘critical point – hill of approx 500m’ and not too difficult - or something like that… don’t believe a word of it if you plan to include this race in your career!!!! And by the way, at this stage let me say that I would fully recommend it. It was very well organised and a great course – but there was a distinct lack of portaloos for athletes. Anyhow, at one stage on the ‘hill’ I checked my speedometer and it read 7kph – I know I don’t like hills, but that’s ridiculous!! I know the only way I went up that hill another 3 times after the 1st lap was the downhill on the other side. I got up to about 54kph on that and it felt good. I felt pretty good on the bike bar cramp in my left calf for most of it, which I periodically stretched and I ate and kept well hydrated and managed to avoid incident – either puncture or worse – of which there were a few. The last bike lap was a lonely kind of place – I was well on track for my PB, but it was mentally tough knowing most were on the run and the finishers were just about in as I turned around for the final lap. I tried to keep focus and just keep turning my legs over. I came into T2 about 4 ½ hours in – exactly as I had felt I would and prepared myself for the run. I was pretty happy with myself at this point as having not been able to run for the previous 2 months, I had come to Lisbon to try and get a decent swim and cycle in and give myself enough time to somehow get around the run course.
As I came onto the run – which was also 4 laps – Grant asked me how I was doing and I think my exact words were ‘I’m f**ked’ – and off I went. I had made a bargain with myself that I would run as much as I could and walk in between, but definitely walk through aid stations and keep well hydrated. The sun was really hot as it was about 12.30pm at this stage. Obviously I thought all my birthdays had come together as the first aid station was only about 50m from the start of the run, so it was ‘break-time’ already!! I pushed myself a little too hard on the first lap of the run and when I arrived back at the finish line (obviously tempted to cross it and clock a ½ marathon time of about 42mins!), I broke down. This was my lowest moment of the day. Grant, Gavin and Jo were all cheering me on and yes, I was crying again! No such thing as trying to keep sodium levels up for me! I was physically exhausted and mentally I was not taking the fact that I had another 3 laps to go very well. At this stage, I think we all thought to ourselves that I had reached my limit and was about to throw the towel in. Grant walked alongside me for a few minutes until I was calm again and I rationalised that next time around, I’d be half way through. I knew I still had enough time to finish at that stage so he sent me off with a kiss. The run was completely flat along a pathway, some dirt road and across a wooden bridge over the river and it was easy enough to let your mind wander as you struggled through.
Halfway through the second lap my kidneys started to hurt really badly anytime I tried to throw in another 200 – 300m jog in between walking….and I could feel dirt in my shoe, so when I spotted a park bench, I decided to sit down and check my shoe. I had to giggle when I opened it, took it off and discovered a contact lense packet in it! OOPS – maybe giggling was a mistake - before I knew it, there was a trickle of pee running from the bench to the ground (remember, this is REAL LIFE, not a soap!!). Maybe I should have been ‘scarle’’, but after all I’d been through since my last one at 7.15am that morning, I felt I deserved it!! And it helped – when I got back around to my ‘support vehicle’ near the finish, I had a renewed energy and sense of optimism, I was full of energy and running quite well in parts. Imagine how hard I laughed next time around when there was a lady sitting on the exact spot where my pee used to be – and she had so many benches to choose from! Moments like that kept me from going insane!
With 2 laps left – ‘just’ over 10km to go – I allowed myself believe I was going to do this. Most others still out on the course were on the last run lap and at this point knowing I’d be out there practically on my own for the last one, their support and kindness was overwhelming. When I reached the turnaround on the lap I informed the lads and lasses at the aid station and timing point that I’d be back for one more and would be expecting rapturous applause! So, another lap over and only 5km to go with about 1 ½ hours on the clock. I can’t describe how I was feeling at that stage, but I was keeping myself in check – trying to keep my walk/run strategy and not push too hard. Gav hopped on Karl Henry’s bike and went to the turnaround and I have to say when I rocked up there, I got the reception I had requested!! I even stopped and sat down on the grass with some of them for a photo! I was starting to feel really good and really proud. About 1km from home, just one more lap around the river, Grant, Gav, Johanna and Karl were whooping and cheering like crazy – along with the rest of the tapas bar they were in – and I blurted out through some shaky tones that I was really going to do this. One of the course stewards on a bike tracked me from there shouting at people to get out of my way – now that was more like it! From 500m or so out, an ambulance joined the ‘finishing parade’! As I was going to be the last to finish on the day, they were making sure I was OK. I was better than OK, I was brilliant. We were joined by another guy on a bike up the run-in and the ambulance put on its’ sirens. I will never forget the cheers I heard. Through rivers of tears and snot, I was bursting. I punched the air and congratulated myself inwardly as I got to the line – I felt AMAZING. The reception I got both from Grant, Jo, Gav, Niall and Karl and the organisers/media/staff was just phenomenal. I cried and cried, but smiled through the tears trying to take in the enormity of what I had just achieved. Fantastic. I stood on the top of the podium for a photo and I really felt like I had won. My time was 7hrs 19mins 53secs.
Apart from some severe chaffing on my arms, a few blisters on my feet, some stiffness and a bit of sunburn, I felt on top of the world proudly sporting my finishers t-shirt!
On Saturday night the organisers laid on a great evening in the local casino (we won’t mention how much was won or lost by certain people – Niall!) with a good few beers and some food. It was a great success and the race has been only going for 3 years. They have managed to double the entries each year so far and are keen to continue this. Of course when the awards ceremony was over, the place cleared out fairly lively – bar the Irish!! When you looked around we were all that was left!!! We headed out for some grub and celebratory drinks – another local – Steve Duffy from 3D Tri (I think, and apologise if I’m wrong, Steve) – came along with us. He did a great time in Lisbon and is heading to Lanzarote in 4 weeks to compete in his first Ironman – best of luck …..
We rounded off a brilliant weekend on Sunday night by going to a game in Sporting Lisbon.
We also stumbled upon the best sports shop EVER when we were there and if anyone is going over, just ask any of us for details of what was christened the ‘super’ shop because it is well worth a visit. I’d nearly go back for the shop alone!!!!
I would like to particularly thank everyone who travelled and gave their support – both for me and all along the course – it was brilliant. Thanks aswell for all the good luck and congrats messages – they all meant so much. I’ve learnt and invaluable lesson on this journey – if you believe in yourself, anything is achieveable.
…..and the NEVER again has already subsided to ‘well, maybe next year’!
Sarah Duffy IEA (International Endurance Athlete)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PiranhaTri
http://www.piranhatri.com/article.php/LisbonhalfIronman