Background
Had broken my collarbone and started training in Febuary. Did a lot of half Ironmans but didn’t seem to be going as good as in training. Then did IM UK and never really got going I think due to how cold it was. Then did Dublin 70.3 and had a break through here with a really good bike and run. Figured out how much I should be pushing and also got the nutrition right for the first time. Then had a 8 week leadin to IM Chatanooga.
Chatanooga
Arrived over a week beforehand and stayed with the brother in law. Went out on the course the Sunday before and it was really hot and very humid. Meet some of the local triathletes and went around the course with them with one guy off to Kona. They told me not to worry about the weather as it had already cooled down a lot. Anyway tried to get in a few sessions in the heat. Lucky enough as the weekend approached it became overcast and rained alot which dropped the temperature a few degrees.
The Race
Swim
Got into the river the day before and tried to swim upstream which was very difficult due to the strong current. Was good though as I realised to aim for before the finish because if you missed the exit you could easily be downstream.
Got bus out to the swim start which was great as loads of buses as opposed to IM UK where I arrived just before the gun went off. The swim start was also very relaxed with people queued up and a rolling start.
This was also a non wetsuit swim. About half way through the swim I started to feel very cold. I don’t know why you can’t wear a swimsuit at this temp as it always feels cold to me.
Tried to hold feet as long as possible but I think at one stage I got on the wrong pair of feet as there only seemed to be me and one more guy way out to the side.
Eventually out of the water and didn’t have a swimsuit to take off which was a bonus. Didn’t realise at the time but my time was 1.13 I really need to improve this.
Bike
The bike course is actually 6k too long which I suppose makes up for the swim. People last year apparently got t-shirts with I’ve done a 144.6 instead of a 140.6 printed on them.
Onto the bike and knew what power I wanted to hold. On the way out of town I was passing loads of people and up to 37.5k/hour not really pushing it. Thought this is great and then you hit the section where the hills start.
I knew from the practice ride that the first set of rollers were the worst but I was feeling great at this stage. Was wondering how I’d feel the second time around on these if I push too hard on the first lap. The wind was pretty strong and the out section was with the wind.
The next section before you turn around is rolling again but not as severe as the first. Then turning around the wind was behind me and this section was faster again but still rolling. There’s no real flat sections on the course. On this section went through a bad patch. Was thinking this is very early to be going through a bad patch. However just before the second loop, I came out of the bad patch and started to feel good again.
Over the rollers again and still passing people but not as many at this stage and into a fairly strong headwind.
Was just thinking about getting out and when turn around it was back in with a tail wind. However turned around and the wind was no longer behind me but was coming across me at this stage however I was still feeling ok so no worries. Also really noticed on this section that lots of people were pushing hard up the hills and then taking it easy going down. I was doing the opposite and thought there’s a lot of people burning themselves out. Then passed 2 really big groups before the last section heading back into town.
The road closures were really good with the sheriff on all the cross roads. In IM UK I had to stop a few times to figure out where I was going and they also let cars out in front of me.
Heading back into town there was only a few cyclists strewn up the road. Had a quick look at transition and didn’t look like there was too many bike there.
Finished the bike in 5.11
Run
Got word on the run that I was in 11th place in the AG. Was thinking I’m going to need a really good run to get into the top 5.
My HR monitor was giving me dubious values for a while now so I decided to pace on speed. It’s a 2 looper course which I’d broken down into 3 sections.
The first 7k had a few big hills at the start and then downhill to the turnaround
The next 7k was along the river on the way back was very twisting with a big climb at the end. Along this section I was all alone with no one around was wondering where everyone was and was I even in a race. Then a guy came up beside me on a bike and was checking me out, couldn’t figure out why.
Then onto the next 7k which is constant big hills up and down. Was getting pretty hot now but was still feeling good.
I had passed a few people at this stage but none of them seemed to be in my AG which made me very worried. Then a guy came flying past me up a hill. He then slowed down and I passed him again. He took off again and then cramped. Afterwards I realised he must have been a pro and I shouldn’t have been trying to race him.
Onto the second lap on the way out still felt relatively ok but was tiring at this stage. Just focused on getting out and then thought I would get back after getting out. Along the river and there was a lot more athletes on the loop now. Had no idea who was on their first or second loop. It was getting pretty hot now as well and there was alot of people walking. Couldn’t figure out who was on their first or second laps.
Go onto the last 7k and just focused on not stopping. Stride had really shortened up at this stage. Blood sugar was running really low and wasn’t able to think straight. I think about 3 people came past me in this final stretch but I was still running and none from my AG.
Was thinking at this stage I was still in 11th pos. When I found out later I was 2nd in the AG I couldn’t believe it. I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had known.
Finished the run in 3.21 which I was happy with as it’s a very tough run and I can feel I’m getting the nutrition better and getting further all the time into the run before slowing down.
Took the slot the next morning and now have a year to get my head around it.
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