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Roth 2010
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Comments
Oxy - I loved your summing up email.
Foggy and Pkim, super reports. Waiting for the rest of them.
Hope is right, you forget the pain and the hard stuff reading these race reports. 380 days, bring it on
God - where to start? Could ramble on for hours... but won't, I promise.
I was nominated for the sandbagger award but I HONESTLY had no idea what it would be like and that I had a sub 15 in me, let alone a sub 14. Ditchy put the idea in my head a few days before and I thought she was madder than a box of badgers! But on the day it all came together, I had a lot of luck and... a great run - and I haven't really stopped smiling since.
Day before
A bit of a wobble before racking because I thought I felt a wierd vibration from my back wheel. I was wearing flip flops at the time and when I put bike shoes on the sensation seemed to go so I relaxed. Racked then Goose and I collected my husband AR and daughter (Artful Chick) from the station and had a nice lunch together. Tried to sleep that pm because I just can't sleep when camping. That afternoon was no different. Generally felt calm and empty headed all day. Not nervous, just wanted to bloody do it.
The Day
What a surreal morning. Arrived at T1 in the dark to lots of stirring music. All very nice and dramatic and all, but it did nothing to prevent me crying every five mins. Not nervous or worried - just emotional. Kept dashing out to my family. Put my wetsuit on with them and really only said goodbye bout 10 mins before the gun.
Met up with Min, Trogs and Meldy before the swim and we all wondered where Ditchy was. The gun seemed to go off very quickly. I started in the middle, planning to find someone who swam straight to draft off. All very well, but even though there were only 299 of us (would have been 300 but Ditchy wasn't there...), it was bedlam. Still, didn't have the panicky breathing thing and got into a rhythm once the punch up had calmed down. Swam to plan - no effort, draft if you can. The long drag after the first turn was meant to be easy cos it went with the current, but I was all over the place. And it went on For Ever.Then wasn't it cruel when at last you got to the big square turning buoy... only to find it wasn't the turning buoy? Not funny. On the way back I tried to draft off one of the blokes that came through but they were either worse at swimming in a straight line than me or too fast.
Out of the swim in 1.16 by my watch so very happy.
T1
First mistake - no towel in my bike bag. The floor of the tent where I was was gravelly so I spent ages getting off the little stones with my gloves. Then I found it hard to run to my bike because of the enormous bulbous stack of marmite sarnies and gels in my back pocket. Then I couldn't get my Garmin (which I'd turned on in the tent - thanks for that tip, Trogs) on to my bike. Then when it was on I'd pressed one of the buttons so had to faff and reset. Then my bike glasses were all steamed up so I ran off blind to the mount line, gels and sarnies bouncing behind me like unfeasible bra-less boobs. Cheers from my family and off we go. T1 was about 7 mins.
Come on AH, these updates are taking longer than you did in T1. What are you doing, making more marmite sandwiches?
Great stuff so far.
Bike
HR sky high. Wanted to keep it between 130 and 140 and I couldn't get it below 155 for about 15/20 mins. Drank just water in this time. Eventually calmed down and I was off and rolling. And smiling. Until I realised the rhythmic bump bump bump feeling was there, this time coming up from my front wheel. Couldn't work out what was wrong. Got off and felt the tyre to make sure there were no bulges and to check the wheel was on properly. Couldn't find anything so had no choice but to HTFU and hope it was nothing. Stopped on Greding Hill for a pee and then, 2 mins later, near the top of the top of the second section - bang. Front wheel had exploded. It was so loud I thought the tyre had gone (my brand new Continental 4000s). I got the tube off and found a big rip. Changed the tube - no idea how long it took - thank god the CO2 thing didn't discharge into the air as it has done in the past and got going again. No more thump thump thump. Phew. One less thing to worry about.
Loved the bike. Didn't push at all, didn't feel tired - got a bit bored towards the end. I hardly looked at how far I'd gone. I think what helped was doing two loops and thinking of the second one in terms of which bit was coming next rather than constantly thinking about how far I still had to go. I ate and drank to plan - a bit hapharzardly perhaps but was constantly grazing and drinking. Had Ditchy and HH's little white salt pills every hour and stopped eating solid food about two hours from the end of the bike - except for a chunk of Kendal Mint Cake to give me a boost before Solarerberg the second time round.
Had to get off to pee 3 times on the bike which annoyed me but that turned out to be a good thing. AFter the puncture I decided to pee on the bike... but just couldn't. Obviously need to practice in training! I thought I was getting somewhere just as Min came belting past and that put paid to that attempt!
Highlights of the bike: Solarerberg of course (how much energy do those supporters have?), Chrissie coming past in Hipoltstein on the end of her second lap, seeing my family a couple of times, seeing other pirates - well, their bottoms as they came past, some really friendly other UK riders who were randomly encouraging.
Lowlights: seeing Kanga with Mavic in the first part of leg 2... then hearing his news as he valiantly charged past chasing down the bike cut off.
Saw my family again on the way into T2. Lovely! 7.22. Very happy.
Can't remember how long T2 took. About 5 mins I think. Those ladies that calmly empty out your bag and put on sun cream are wonderful.
Walked out, feeling calm because I knew that, as long as nothing awful happened, I'd finish now. I had about 6 hours or so to do the run before the 15 hour cut off. Had a pee then out of T2, just remembering in time to start my other Garmin. Then detoured completely because my kids were right there yelling and screaming. So I trotted over and gave them both a hug then nearly hugged whoever was standing next to them cos I thought that would be my husband. But it wasn't - no idea who it was! Belted off on the run and realised I was goign Toooo Fast - 8 min miles. So slowed down and settled into the run. Strategy was to walk the aid stations.
The run
). Still, I'd experienced the same thing at the SwashBuckler so wasn't worried. I'd been practising staying in the present on the bike and it was really important to me on the run. I didn't dare think back over what I'd done or forward to what was still to come. Just stayed in the moment. It helped because I felt ok running so I just kept running. Was always glad to walk the aid stations, but didn't find it THAT hard to get goign again. I had no target or PB to chase so I could just relax and run how I felt. I felt sorry for all the relay runners dashing past because they had a pace to stick to and team members relying on them. Because I could run how I felt I found this marathon a lot easier than most of the others I've done.
Tummy felt bloated and rubbish. Was very glad my number belt covered my belly so that no one could see how pregnant I looked (I know...
Managed to have the odd gel and sip of coke in the first 10k or so but tum felt worse and worse. Was great to see other pirates along the way. Ran with Oxy for a bit and asked the learned sage what I should do about my belly. He asked if I was feeling sick and I wasn't so it was just HTFU. But not long after that I did start to feel really pukey and found it even harder to take anything on board.
So about 15k I decided to give my stomach a break. It was full of gels and coke and god knows what that didn't seem to be emptying out into my intestines. So I stuck with whatever water I could get down for a bit and started to feel better. But the kids said I looked crap when I got to the T junction at about 20k. TBH I was starting to feel better by then and was fantasising about water melon. Water melon saved my life! By then had seen RC, Pablo, IW, Ditchy, Min, HH, Aitch, Debbo and prob a few others.
Went through the half in about 2.25 and started to think about a sub 5 marathon. But obviously I would slow down and do a positive split so stop thinking like that you silly cow. That second half along that bloody canal was brutal. It stretches out in front of you for miles. Then you get to that first bridge and see people running over it from the other side, yet you have to keep running ahead as far as the eye can see. So it dawns on you that a marathon is A Very Long Way as if you didn't know. I'd purposely not examined the run route in much detail and couldn't remember where it went which was a good thing because I'd have slit my wrists at that point I think!
Plod plod plod. Saw Hoofin belting along at top speed. Saw Bassy who I somehow missed on the first stretch. And saw Kanga! That was great. Then Donald caught me and I saw Debbo and Oxy again. From the second turnaround I started to think about finish times and realised I could do sub 14 if nothing awful happened and if watermelon somehow took on the nutritional density of malt loaf. My biggest excitement was finding a cup full of chopped up watermelon just before getting onto the canal again. I ran along feeling a bit daft as if I was running with a drink at a cocktail party. (Delusional).
A little race report from me and general ramblings...
This was to be my first marathon. I enjoyed the build up and it was great to be back on another pirate holiday!! Enjoyed pre-race musings with Oxy and Debbo before we were due to start. The actual 'race' (I use the term loosely) I felt really good up to 10k and got into my stride and was trying hard not to run any quicker than I had planned. Coming back towards 20k I'd started to feel a bit ropey. I felt very hot and my calves were very tight. I needed a wee so ducked behind some bushes, crouched, weed then threw up! Ewwww. Stood up and threw up again. Lovely!! Ot was great to see the pirate supporters and my folks about halfway. Then one calf pinged and cramped just after half way and I walked to stretch it out. Got to an aid station and heard a familiar voice of Bassy shouting "Aitch, where's the facking coke". I blurted out that I was feeling really crap and he gave me a pep talk and told me everyone has low points and just to walk it through, try to get something down me after being sick and walk/run a bit til I got through it. So I did. More importantly though he gave me a renewed positive attitude that I would do it. I was stil struggling though and everytime I ran I felt really sick and my calves didn't like me running. I was doing Meldy's counting technique which worked a treat and took my mind off feeling sick (well a bit) so ran 500 steps and walked 50. Was still run/walking and about 15ish miles Oxy caught me up and I can honestly say I wouldn't have got running again properly if it wasn't for him! Thanks so much Oxy. He chatted to me, helped me understand why I was feeling so sick and what to do to help ans like Bassy, instilled that positivity back in me. I ran with him for a couple of miles and hung on to him for as long as I could! From then on my walk bits were less. Gradually got to the point where I realised it was only 10k to go which felt good! I was mentally in a better place and liked looking at the garmin and it being past 20 miles! I still felt really sick, my calves were hurting and my right hip was really hurting and I just wanted to get to the finish line! Also I could feel that some of my toes were really blistered - oh joy! But I was there, I was doing it and I was still moving! YAY - go me!
Time I was disappointed with at 5.19 but I know on a good day I should have been under 5 hours, closer to 4.40...3 weeks off didn't help though. BUT there were times I wanted to give in as it hurt but I didn't. Rosey had said before that I would learn alot about myself during the race and I did. I know I can run through pain and keep going, run in 30 degree heat and keep going, be sick and keep going. All good training for next year...
People have been saying positive things about me doing IM next year and saying they know I can do it, which has been great. And this from people I know and trust to tell me the honest truth. I have been thinking about it a lot over the past few days and taking all the positives from the race and gradually becoming less and less disappointed with my race and my time.
All in all I had a top weekend! Couple of things to say...
Oxy - seriously, thank you so much. I wouldn't have got running again properly during the race if it wasn't for your advice and words.
Bassy - thanks for the pep talk and sweaty hug and kiss
Crashie - thanks teamie - how good was that finish chute?!
Rosey - thanks for being a super team mate and for all the advice and support. You're a star!!
Melli/Meldy/Debbo and all the other advice givers - thank you for post race chats about next year - I really appreciate your input.
Barley - sorry about the panic on the way home!! Thanks for making my journey home so entertaining! Sorry for the unexpected sprint intervals in the airport!
Everyone else - thanks for all always being . PIRATES ROCK!!
No regrets about entering IMR
OK, bit long, sorry....
PREAMBLE
Last year was my first IM, and after having all sorts of illnesses, injuries and a car crash, training had been pants, at an average of 6h per week for 29 weeks. I was delighted to get round though, and in a fit of enthusiasm, signed up straightaway for Roth.
However, I was still carrying an injury and all plans to spend the winter base and strength building went out of the window as I couldn’t find the motivation to poolrun / use the sodding cross trainer. Week after week went by with just the occasional swim or turbo, and sometimes nothing at all.
The start of 2010 wasn’t any better. Chest infections combined with unexpected random work bookings involving travelling and CBA meant that all of a sudden I was looking at having to panic train in April, May and June again. And then I got offered work in the Far East in May, which took another three weeks out of the ‘plan’.
At a half IM I was 40 minutes slower than at a half last year, and I was just kind of dreading it all, and wondering whether to bucker.
Anyway, after getting back from the jaunt overseas I decided to throw myself at training for the four or so weeks before taper and just see what was possible in the time. To my surprise, I was quicker on the bike than last year, and gradually a bit of enthusiasm crept in. It was only four weeks, but they were good weeks, and although in the 29 weeks of ‘training’ I had averaged 5.5 hours, I felt like they had been better quality hours than last years. Whether I had enough endurance was an unknown, but I’ve blagged things well in the past, so twas worth a shot.
Was terrified of racing in the heat, but bought a bumper tub of endurolytes and decided to pop them like sweeties and hope for the best. In true drug dealer style I pushed little handfuls of the pills onto HH, Funkin, and AH as well.
Goal wise, I wanted a) to finish, b) sub 15.04 for a PB, c) sub 14.30 if I had a lucky day.
RACE DAY.
Four visits to the blissfully queue free loos, followed by a detour to organisers tent to clarify rules re calf guards, which I wanted to wear as calf cramp has been an issue on swims for me, and a random German guy had ‘kindly’ taken the time to come over and tell me they were illegal in the swim. Organiser clarified that anything above the ankle is allowed so I was ok to wear them. Found HH and walked to swim start, but couldn’t remember how to get through fence to start despite walking it two days before. Asked lorry driver who just stared blankly. Ran around in a panic. Found gap in fence. Forgot I was still wearing shoes, kicked them off, and gave HH a last good luck kiss. Ran to start just as all the pink hats started to move. Lady said I couldn’t start as I was too late. Cried. Then they said I could start with next wave (some of the fastest age group men) fifteen minutes later, and suddenly all these nice men in rubber were patting me on the shoulder and telling me not to worry.
SWIM
Started at the back and all but two of the fast men shot off into the distance, and the two who didn’t were perfect for a draft for the first k or so, giving me a good few minutes of clear water to get into a rhythm before the next wave was due to swim over me. Each wave I got three or four little bumps, but stayed wide and out of trouble. At 1.5k I caught up with a swimmer from my wave. To my surprise it was Melds, having a bad day. Tried to think of something useful to say, but came out with some kind of inanity instead. Realising that me fussing over her wasn’t going to help, I carried on. The next 2k to the turnaround was annoyingly long, but soon enough, and with just a slight twinge of cramp, I was out of the water in 1.25, 16 minutes quicker than last year.
T1 was also quicker than last year, despite a loo stop, and off out on the bike nearly twenty mins up on last year, and trying to explain to worried looking pirate supporters that I had started late and was ok.
BIKE
The first lap of the bike basically consisted of being overtaken by men called Thomas and Juergen. At the top of the hill at Greding I was overtaken by a string of men all called Manfred. Must have been the Manfred mile. Every so often I was overtaken by a Brit who would call out my name and say something encouraging. One of them even sang to me as he passed. Was also passed by a few pirate men, and one guy whose white shorts appeared to have a pinky red stain in a very sensitive spot. All this being passed was a little boring, and for some reason I felt extremely tired – this had happened last year, but to a lesser extent. I felt myself wanting to nod off and kept slapping my cheeks and taking caffeine gels. Being a bit less of a scaredy cat than last year I enjoyed the hairpin turns, but found that keeping focussed on the second lap was a struggle, and kept realising that I had dropped to bimbling pace whilst staring at the countryside. I managed to keep to 16mph average pace until about 70 miles, and then the sun came out and I melted and slowed. Couldn’t bring myself to wee on the bike what with wearing white calf guards, and it being Mouse’s saddle, so a quick portaloo stop at 90 miles, and ending up with somewhere around 15.5 average, still 1.5mph faster than last year, and jolly happy with that. I’d also managed to peel a nana on the go without wobbling off, so another personal milestone ticked off! Oh, and the borrowed saddle in the completely new position worked out ok – phew!
Off the bike in 7.09, 44 mins quicker than IMCH, and without feeling liked I’d killed myself to get there. Weirdly, starting late was a mental boost, as I was able to keep pretending I was fifteen minutes ahead of myself all the way. Doesn’t make any sense thinking about it now, but cheered me up at the time.
Seemed to have a doze in T2 – 10 minutes!
RUN
Onto the run. Saw the lovely shouting pirate massive, stopped for a chat but was shouted at to get on with it, and daren’t ask if HH had made it out of the swim, so just trotted off hoping that my cramping legs would ease off if I popped enough endurolytes and drank enough nuun. I’d not tried nuun on the run before (doh) and it gave me three stitches before I made the connection and binned the bottle. Wolfie shouted at me to raise my hands in the air when she saw me with a stitch, thanks for that – worked a treat J
Quiet uneventful run, walking the aid stations, and seeing the odd pirate going in the other direction. First two aid stations had run out of ISO gels, but I spotted some unopened discarded ones and washed them off and ate them for a bit of variety before going back to my SIS ones. Distracted by nice chats to a guy from Stafford tri and a lady from Oxford tri, hope they got the times they wanted.
Carried small bag of salty pretzels from the bike onto the first 18 miles of the run before realising I was never going to eat them, and I was simply clutching them like a comfort blanket.
Saw Kanga who said something about missing the bike cut. It didn’t make sense to me, as he was in front of me, so for a while I thought he’d meant HH hadn’t made it, and it took all the fight out of me, and I had a bit of a walk. Then realised that didn’t make sense either with the timings, so put it all out of my mind and started running again.
Saw Foggy a few times, who was always cheery and encouraging, as were Min and AH, both looking good. Was so happy each time I saw Donald, he was clearly not being stopped by his bad back, which was fab to see.
Sleepiness threatened again, but half a caffeine gel sorted it ouch each time (couldn’t eat a whole one), and also counting to 8 over and over again helped with the boredom of the canal a bit.
Four or five portaloo stops ate into my time a bit, but reassured myself that being well hydrated was worth it in the heat, and settled in for a nice steady trot round. Having not done more than 13.5 miles in training, the aim was to keep it steady and feeling good. At about 15 miles I got stones in my shoes, and after three attempts to get them out gave up and decided to have blisters instead. Shortly after that HH passed me (so he had survived the swim, yay!). I began to wonder if I could actually make sub 14, and kept doing the sums over and over, whilst being totally confused by how far a k was, and what my current speed was. I decided that there was no way I could make it, but that if I didn’t try I would kick myself for it, so sped up anyway. Every k I tried to do the sums again, and still couldn’t work it out. Could I do 10k in 1h20? Could I do 5k in 38 mins? Could I do 2k in 19 mins? By this point, all around were the walking dead, everyone was walking along head bowed. I felt a bit demented trying to do my sums, waddling past them with my inelegant ultra shuffle trying to run with no impact on the dodgy knee. Stopped taking my walk breaks to save time in the last four miles, and just kept trying to ignore my Garmin, which said I wouldn’t do it, and focus on the k markers, which said I could if I just didn’t start doubting it.
When I saw the 42k marker I knew it was ok to enjoy it again, and high fived the pirates and ran into the finish, where HH was waiting for me. 13.54, an hour and ten mins quicker than last year, and a big big grin!
Rasmus Henning gave me my medal, not that I knew who he was, just thought he was a bit good looking for a race organiser really…..though of course not a patch on HH who was telling me I was effing awesome – think the gels must have gone to his head lol.
I was so happy to see him there though – I was amazed how much the thought he might have DNF’d took my spirit away on the run, and found out that he hadn’t dared ask how I was doing either, for the same reason. I know he’s not the first pirate to have done it, but he (like Rodeo Clown this year too I believe) learnt to swim from scratch, and with a lifelong fear of water, and I’m so impressed by that.
Also so impressed by Meldy’s fighting spirit and by the grace with which both she and Kanga accepted their bad luck this year and moved on. Much to learn from people like that I think.
So last year I was Smiliest and this year I won the Sandbagger Award. If that means having a better day than I dared to hope for given injuries, CBA, and lack of both training and self-belief then I’ll take that with joy. But maybe, just maybe, I’ll try and stick to a plan next time, and maybe I’ll even really believe that I can do it.
Nearly finished, promise!
Another wierd thing about this run was that I was compus mentus enough to do calculations. So I knew what I had to do in the last 10k - 12 min miles, including the walking through aid stations. That spurred me on but when I got off that bloody canal, there was still much longer than I remembered to get back to Roth.
Saw my family again at the top of that nasty little hill before going into Roth at about 39/40k. Lots of piratey calls around again now. Was interviewed at the last aid station by the guy who'd done the commentary at Goose's race on the Friday. Bless him, he'd written down my number than and actually saw me and came up to me. Have no idea what I said ... I had a race to finish.
Getting onto the field was wonderful. I'd walked past it on registration day and didn't dare imagine being on it. But there I was! Then ARtful Chick joined me (not pre-arranged Mrs F!) and we ran round the finishing chute together. I could finally grin and let it all out. I even did a rather poncey raising hands in the air thing but I didn't really care what I looked like. Was a very crowded finishing line - but how nice was it that lovely Chrissie popped up from among the crowds and gave me a medal and a kiss, saying, 'You pirates get everywhere!'
13.46.28 <img src="/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif" mce_src="/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif"><img src="/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif" mce_src="/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif"><img src="/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif" mce_src="/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif"><img src="/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif" mce_src="/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif">.
The end.
The aftermath
The expected sickness didn't go away and two medics found me on all fours behind a tent trying to find somewhere to be sick in privacy. Drip. Poor family outside wondering where I was.
So sad I missed the fireworks and the amazing atmos and all the other people coming in. Will have to sort out something about the bike nutrition to make sure my stomach's in better nick for the run. Am just pleased I was so well topped up on the bike otherwise my race might have been a whole different story. I was very lucky.
Roll on Regensberg!
Just fantastic. All three of you are utterly brilliant.
I really enjoyed training with you at the sportives, Henny, and reading your report just cements all your hard work. Fantastic!
Aitch - just fantastic. You have the right attitude and you'll fly around Regensberg next year. Head down, train well and take that glory.
Ditchy - you're just, well, wow!
keep em coming.....
My darlings - I do believe...we have arrived.
Nous sommes arrive
Ditchy - if you ever have a straight spell of injury/disaster-free training you'll be dangerously fast! x xx And thanks for the salt pills. Will get some and pay you back next time!
Aitch - you're another tough one. Had no idea you'd been puking etc. Good on you. Bloody brilliant first marathon!
So where is the kin coke H?
haha I forgot I said that, I just remember bollocking you, in a positive way. Worked though din it(although to be fair I think Oxy takes credit for that)
Oi... Chicken, change your name, it was voted for on Monday, you are the Arctic Chicken!
AH (or should it be AC) No worries re the salt pills, think we all helped each other out chez campsite, and your yummy salad / G&T making skills the night we arrived were a lifesaver.
Oh, and I'm too lazy to ever be fast lol
We never said is was an open vote, or indeed that you were told. Dont make the mistake of thinking you are in a democracy.
You make a good Arctic Chicken
It's a slippery slope from AC to Frozen Chicken then Chicken Nugget or something equally fowl ....
Don't I make a good Artful Hen?
You make a reasonable Artful dodger, and a half decent frozen chicken, but the truth is the first mistake should be stuck to, and it was Dunsfold 2008 when I first mistook you for an Arctic Chicken.
You will always be my Arctic chicken anyway!