Ironman Langkawi 2010

I did it! I became an Ironman on 27 Feb 2010. It was a fantastic feeling.

All the training paid off. 100% worth the effort.

The swim was a little weird for me. I liked the standing start, but swimming against the current put me in a very conservative mood. So, I basically just spent the whole time staying out of the way of other swimmers although there were many times I was tempted to swim past people in front of me.

Some how I felt really woozzy..(dizzy) when I exited ..I'm not sure if it was the gentle surf, or maybe too much breathing on one side. + point : not much fog on my goggles and I think I swam straighter than normal! so 1hr 20min – not bad i guess. 

T1 was pretty fast out of transition in under 2 minutes. Glad I got that down. I was early out on the bike, but as expected a whole bunch of fast and very aero dudes were passing me before long.

It was a very hot day, and the aid stations ran out of water. That was bad. But i was lucky enough to not get totally dry before the volunteers took the initiative to try and help out with refilling the bottles. Good on them. Bad on management!

Langkawi has a few hills and we climbed them a few times. They aren't  the Alps, and I’m not Alberto Contador.I think my expression says it all.

180 km of heat, thirst and fatigue. Towards the end though, Power gel and being pissed off with 20km to go boosted my last push to the finish. 6 hr 30 or so. (way of my 6 hrs target I thought I could do when I started training)

I sat in the change tent for a few minutes before I exited again and started the run leg with a walk and wave to the crowd. There is so much energy and positive support from the crowd! The cheering really lights a fire in your heart and you feel like you can keep going……

In hindsight, the slow run start and short break in the change tent, getting my compression socks on and having a banana and Gatorade probably set me up for a good run.

The heat never really let up,  and I waited and hoped in vain for early darkness or rain. Neither came.

Finally after 3 hrs or so, I was within my 5 hr marathon target. From then it was about patience and running carefully.

I stayed clear of cramps and injury.

I don't remember when it got dark,but soon after I found my self running comfortably the last 5 kms . With 1 km to go, I could hear the finish line and I knew I was going to make my sub 13 hr target. (I finished in 12 hr 47) .

Crossing that line with the crowd cheering, the words “you are an IRONMAN!!” shouted out, and your loved ones embracing your sunburnt, sweaty smelly Ironman body is just something very special. Its been a week and I still feel on top of the world.

For all of you out there who want to do something special….Become an Ironman.