Date is 15th December 2010.
Time is 8:30am (GMT +8 Singapore Local Time)
Login to Facebook and saw Kristal's posting.
83% Full...
First thing that went through my mind is "You gotta be kidding me!"
Login to the official website and the fear is re-affirmed. 85% off.
1 hour 30 minutes since the Race Registration open at 10am Australian Time and more than a thousand triathletes have already signed up!!!
Drumming my fingers on the table, I know that I no longer have the luxury of 3 days to think clearly before signing up for my DREAM.
With an awesome leap of faith, I signed on the dotted line...
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The Day is Sunday, 4th December 2011.
The time is 5:30am.
The Pros has just the race proper.
We, the Age Groupers will be starting off at 5:45am.
Lining up at the shores, we were still having a whale of a time, chatting and taking photos.
If there is any anxiety, no one is showing it.
The entire year's training has come down to this very moment.
When the cannon goes off at 5:45am, Struggling Sean and I exchanged the three simple words "This is it!" and we are off!
The sea was calm and I did not had a hard time doing the swim and sighting.
Got slapped on the head by an assailant and I know who she is.
Of all people, it has to be someone I know, Genevieve. =d
A kilometer later, things changed drastically.
The currents started swirling and I got swept towards the jetty.
After doing tons of zig-zagging fighting the sea currents, I decided to just do my preferred swim stroke, the Breast Stroke for the rest of the swim.
Making the 1.9km turn at the end of the jetty, I was dismayed not to see many people ahead of me.
In fact, I din see any swim caps within the 500m zone except sea crests.
Soldiering on, I counted down the buoys towards the Swim Exit.
The nearer you get to the Swim Exit, the more dismayed you get.
There weren't many people exiting the sea. Probably one every few minutes.
This is going to suck...
I have no idea what is the time now and I really do not wanna find out.
In fact, that was one of my strategy. DO NOT look at the watch.
I am aiming for completion, not timing.
But I really do not wanna DNF in the water.
Please dun let me get DNF.
When I am about 200m from the shore, I get a real surprise.
At least 20-30 swimmers are exiting at the same time!!!
Where did these people come from?
Then you realise that the swimmers are coming in from all directions.
Some of the swimmers had gone way off course and got guided back by the lifeguards.
Coming out of the sea, I was delighted to see that I did a 1:48h Swim!
To my supporters, I finally got myself on the scorecard! *Phew*
One down, two to go.
Did a 11 minute T1 before I am out on the bike leg. :)
Luke McKenzie overtook me on the very first turn. =)
I am riding with the pros out of the bike leg!
Surreal!
Given the three days of acclimatization, I was aware of what we are up against.
Hot weather with horrific crosswinds.
Given my lousy swim timing, I did not have a lot of riders in front of me to overtake.
First order of the day was to overtake 4 cyclists.
Plan was to overtake the last rider, and keep the 12m non-draft distance.
But as things turned out, plans never quick work out the way you wanted it.
Three official marshals drove past in quick successions and I was kinda forced to overtake the remaining 3 cyclists. Crazy, simply crazy.
Turning into Coast Road, I am able to see those riders who are within 10km ahead of me.
It is awesome to see fellow Singaporean friends racing with you.
Given that cycling is my best discipline, I always had this strategy to kick some serious asses.
Sorry guys, I know all of you will kick my butt during the run, so let me kick your ass first. :p
As the bike route are an out and back format, you always get to see riders on the other side of the road.
Some of the funny sights.
1) A lady got a half-peeled banana shoved down her cleavage.
2) A lady with an entire bidon shoved down her cleavage!
First loop was pretty decent but I started feeling some butt sore during the second loop.
Quite a few fun incidents during the ride.
A lady got a banana shoved into her cleavage while another had a bidon in it!
Decided to take a pee break to ease the butt and the pain on the left foot.
It works! The strategy worked well!
The noon sun is up and I soon find myself squirting water over my head and face.
This practically happen for the next 90km.
Given Singapore lousy track record, I find myself loading up on water before the last loop.
5 full bidons!!!
My fear was totally unfounded. Busselton support is simply awesome! Kudos to the guys.
We were blessed with some overcast during the third loop.
Haha, I have been on a same set of gear for 99.99% of the ride that I would have been better off riding a fixie. =D
Did a second pee stop just to ease the butt.
Within 15km to go, I saw Siew Ling on the bike leg out (140km).
Eliza was 500m behind her.
Less than 100m later, 2 official vehicles drove past with a flatbed truck in tow...
Gosh... Are they sweeping cyclists right now?
I pray that it does not happen to the ladies.
Not once during the entire bike leg did I look at my watch..
Not even when I went for my pee break.
I find that it will make me more nervous.
Given that my longest ride was 155km during BnB, I was intrigued to know what will happen beyond the distance.
Am glad I finished the bike with 9:03 on the clock (Pro timing).
At the very same moment, Luke McKenzie completed his race in 11th place.
The bike catcher took my bike. (Sure feels like a pro! Cheap thrill! Haha!)
Jogging towards T2, I feeling awesome. I know I nailed the race.
Given that my PB in a marathon is 8:09h, I know I have to PB my marathon to complete within the 17 hours limit.
Just before entering the T2 tent, Eliza wishes me "All the Best" for the rest of the race.
Gosh! She has been swept from the race.
(I learnt later after the race that she was on her second bike loop when she was swept, while Siew Ling was on her last bike loop.)
Was extremely surprised to see SE inside the T2 tent.
Later during the race, I asked SE if he was waiting for me at T2.
A simple "No" is all I need.
Deep down in my heart, I know I can do it...
Keeping in my heart all the advices I get from my wonderful friends, I started on my marathon.
Plan, Hydrate, Nutrition.
One km at a time.
Walking is impossible. Your legs is still in spin mode, so I start with a slow trot.
By now, I am already sick of gels, cola and Gatorade.
It is just plain water and a gel every hour.
2km down, I heard "JoyRider, what's your name?"
"Daniel", I responded
"Hey Daniel, I am Lindsay. I dun ride with JR often but I do know Joyce. =)"
Lindsay was there to encourage me during the rest of the Run leg.
She is practically everywhere on her bike. =)
Thanks, Lindsay.
Second loop, KL and I stopped to take a quick photo when Ivan ran past.
Third loop, it was great to see Siew Ling on the Run course.
She made it!!!
Every few kilometers, I will do a system check to ensure that no cramps are surfacing.
I keep my mind busy by calculating the distance I need to cover and the pace required.
The average pace on my watch seems stuck at the same timing.
It is either my pace is so darn constant, or the needle is stuck...
Wait... this is a digital watch, it can't be stuck...
With 2 hours to go before 17 cut off time, I am surprised to see that there are 800+ finishers. Half the field are still out there.
It is nearly 9pm and I have 10km to go and I am starting to feel sleepy...
Gosh... this is a bad time to wind down the system...
Then I realise why... I have been up for the past 18 hours and my body has been working non-stop for the last 15hrs...
I had two huge blisters on the ball of either foot but somehow the mind manage to switch off the pain. EAT THE PAIN...
It was great to have my sister walked with me during the last loop.
We did keep a neat distance between us in case any official vehicle drive past.
But it is not difficult to tell that we are related though. =D
With 2km to go, my sister wanted to take a photo, but I told her that I cannot stop right now.
The legs have been moving non-stop for a long time now.
I am not sure what will happen if I stop at this critical moment. Kiasee lah...
With 500m to go, you can feel the electric atmosphere at the finish line even though you cannot see it yet.
Straighten my bib, zipped up my JoyRiders jersey, I ran the last 100m to the Finish Line.
Pete Murray was there to shake my hand and annnounced "You are an ..."
"IRONMAN", the crowd echoed!!!
A dream has been accomplished...
Now for lots of rest... =D
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