"The only limits we have are those we set ourselves"
Some of you will already know a bit about my race from my posts on the Colt Forum, but the following is a true and more detailed account of the day.
Saturday 8th October 2011
3.50am RACE DAY MORNING. No problem getting up, as body clock has not yet adjusted. Every day I want to fall asleep at 7.00pm and wake up at 3.00am. Log onto computer whilst coffee is brewing and find out that England have lost to France in the Rugby World Cup. Not a good start to the day. Kona Coffee is good stuff!! White bread and jam, Power Bar, banana, 500ml of Enduro Fuel. Final check I have all I need in Swim Bag and off we head for the darkness of the car park and drive into town.
We find a space to park on the roadside just north of the run route cut off road – Phew. Sarah and I walk to transition (still in the dark) together with lots of other nervous athletes also making their way. Leave Sarah to buy more coffee while I go and get body marked. Get done pretty quickly – 740 tattooed onto both arms. ‘When can I put on my sun screen?’ I ask. ‘You can’t’ the lady tells me as it will rub the numbers off. What!! ?? That’s insane. It’s going to be 35 degrees plus. Next job is to be weighed – 184 pounds FAT BASTARD. Am 6 pounds heavier than I was for IronMan Uk – Uh Oh. Not a confidence builder.
I make my way to the bike transition and put my bottles on the bike. Just one, I’ll get the rest at the course aid stations. The gel bottle goes on the down tube – 12 gels diluted with water. There is a lot of activity and a hell of a lot of tension. I then make my way to the swim-bag drop, shorts, goggles, cap, nothing else to worry about. There is plenty of time before the start – need a toilet stop so go and queue up at the end of the pier. The sun is beginning to rise and the pro’s are being called for their 6.30am start. I stand in the toilet queue taking it all in when a friendly face in the form of the Iron Hippy. (Decide to quit queuing and wait until I get into the water)
The Hippy and I make our way over to a very large inflatable Gatorade bottle on the pier (which acts as the start-line marker for the swim) to watch the pro’s set off. The atmosphere is really building now, the crowds of spectators have grown and the helicopters are flying overhead – 5 minutes until the pro’s start. Mike Reilly is talking the start up on the PA but I’m not really listening. BOOM the cannon goes off, the blast makes us jump and the Hippy is a little shell-shocked (my military training makes me calm under fire).
It is now our turn to get into the water. 1720 age groupers go down a single stairway into the water – it takes forever. After all these years in Kona you would have thought they would have widened the steps. Shake the Hippy’s hand and then we’re in the water and doing our own thing. Most people just wade in to waist deep but not me, I go straight in and swim towards the start line, bit unsure where to line up but head left and keep a good 50 metres back from the throng – but should I go nearer to the front?? Try to relax and tread water – 5 minutes to go. Try to set me markers for sighting, but the swell is too much to site the turn around about. Creep a bit further forward, but keep behind the main pack start line. BOOM we are off. Not many bodies, too far back, relax and start off conservatively.
SWIM
Too far back, no draft, end up leading a group of 4 - 2 girls, 1 bloke, me leading. I have my own little group. At one point I think I am going the wrong way but then some buoys come into sight. Comfortable, too comfortable, I think I am doing OK and then realise heading for the turn point that I am too far to the right and heading for the wrong buoy. OH F*** – why is all the action about 500 metres to my left. Uh-oh, re-align with the Numpties following me. Can now see the mast of the boat but it takes forever to come. Make the turnaround its all a bit more frantic but because I am so far back I can accelerate out of trouble and the congestion. Turn and head for home, still too relaxed and still leading my little group. Half way home my little No 2 pink girlfriend comes past me to have a go at the front, she last about 5 minutes and then runs out of steam, leaving me to hit the front again. Chivalry is not dead!
We start to see the pier and we are gaining on the swimmers in front – they’re all bloody pink hats though!! I batter my way through the last 500 metres which is the roughest, most congested part of the swim. The clock says 1hr 22. minutes as I come up the steps. Sh** that’s my worst ever time. Quick shower and then dress – heart rate strap, vest, compression socks, shoes, sun cream, the list seems to be endless, but my bike is really easy to find because every other bugger is out of there.
BIKE
Mount bike and we’re away. Hit the Garmin, it springs into life for all of 10 seconds before a light flashes to tell me ‘Low Battery’. It shuts down. NO PACE, NO HEART RATE. It can’t have bloody charged properly. This is not in the plan – I should have checked it, but I left my glasses on the plane. Now I am really in the SH***!!!! Panic, can’t believe I have made such a stupid schoolboy error. My racing plan is in tatters without my faithful friend, what am I going to do. The experts would say don’t go too hard in the first part of the race. Ah well – I ignore my vast experience and all the advice and hammer it up the hill for the first 5 miles, passing anybody and everybody. Get to the top and turn around to go down the hill. Am flying. Hit Palani – very steep. Hammer, hammer, hammer onto the Queen K highway and into the Lava fields. I start to relax and get into the groove. I decide I need to have some kind of plan so I use my good old speedometer to gage my pace, I decide on an average speed of 21mph. Still gaining – pass mostly girls, you notice their bigger bums and more shapley legs when there is nothing else to look at.
The Queen K highway is long, straight and slightly undulating; nice smooth tarmac. I feel good so I push, push onto the Aid station and grab two bottles, one of Power Bar lime, and one of water. Oooh they are so nice and cold. Slosh some water down my back, front and anywhere to cool down. Start on Gel bottle, two slurps every 20 minutes. At the left turn off the Queen K I hammer downhill and then the real climb starts, 15 miles uphill, into the strong Haiwian wind to Hawwi. The temperature is 30 degrees plus and am in the full sun. Halfway up the climb Leitto the first male pro is on his way back down – alone. (By the way did 56 miles in 2 hours 26 minutes. Whoo Hoo, if I can keep this pace up, and I believe I can, then I know that a 5 hour 30 minute bike is easily achievable).
The wind picks up and it is a driving headwind – am slowing to 15mph – this is hard work. Some of the lighter riders start to make ground on me, but, I think Jan Ulrich ‘sit back and turn the big gear’. Using my strength to bring it back, the light spinners in front soon begin to tire and their twiddling of the little gears loses it’s impact, they wilt and wither and I’m back on it. The mile markers are ticking by, I reccee’d the climb earlier in the week and so I know how far it is to the turn around. I look out for the Hippy (who I presume is in front) Yep, he has made the turn around and he passes me on his way down, we shout a bit of abuse and encouragement to each other and I start the clock. To the turn around and back to where he has just passed me is about 5 minutes. Not a problem, I can catch him, and I’m feeling good. The wind is now behind me and I AM FLYING. Nobody can descend as fast as a fat lad like me, 40mph, 45mph, 50mph – run out of gears. The descent finally levels off and then I’m back climbing up to the junction with the Queen K. It is so bloody hot and it takes forever to get back to the right turn back towards Kona. Its 35 miles of ups and downs back to T2, but this is my sort of terrain, keep pushing the big gears, very aero, use my strength and continue to make ground. Finally I’m back into T2, drop the bike – but oh my god, my foot is so bloody tender I can hardly put it down, making it a long run through transition to my run bag. Socks, trainers, visa, more sun screen and I’m on the run.
RUN
I spot the Hippy straight away, he is 500 metres in front (this is just like IronMan UK), I see Sarah on hot corner, looking cool and waving the COLT flag, ‘I love you’ I shout. The hippy is coming back to me but slowly, slowly, don’t push it yet Richard. Oooh it is so, so hot, and the first aid station takes forever to come. I am running too slowly, but I have no way of calculating my pace. My calculation was never great which is why I was in the infantry and not a fighter pilot. Ali’i Drive is hot and humid and surprisingly undulating, every time I feel bad I realise it’s because I am going up a hill. (JK never told me it was this F******ing hilly). I now have my aid station routine sorted, water over my head, carb drink and ice down my front. I have rolled my vest up into a sports bra to hold in the ice. I look like I have moobs but they soon melt in this heat. I start to feel sorry for myself, but I reach ‘Hot Corner’ and turn right into Palani just as Chrissy Wellington comes the other way. I raise a smile - Mrs GB is coming home again for her fourth Ironman victory.
Palani is a much steeper hill, not dissimilar to the one at Bolton IronMan but twice as long, just what you need in the middle of a 35 degree marathon. The crowds are good on the hill, I spot Fi and the COLT flag flying, I smile and wimper as I shuffle on by. As I come into the aid station Miranda Cafrae is coming down to finish in 2nd, I think? But I am incoherent and if I hear the words ‘Good Job Richard’ one more time I use my little remaining strength to murder someone. I head out onto the Queen K highway into the Lava fields, momentarily it clouds over ‘Yes! There is a God and he is English’ Spoke to soon, it last all of 2 minutes and the sun comes back out with a vengeance.
Even though I feel like sh** I am moving faster than most which is amazing. I have a gel and some coke and start to feel a bit better, perhaps its not over yet, perhaps I can pick it up, I then see the 14 mile marker and am reminded that the business end of the race is just about to start. Again the route is far from flat, it undulates all the way. I try to calculate how far it is to the Energy Lab, I think it starts at mile 16 and is 1.5 miles in and 1.5 miles out, I ran it mid week so I know what to expect in there. It’s hot and uphill on this return leg. As I crest the next rise I see the solar panels roofs of the Energy Lab and I pull closer, I cross the road into the aid station, re-ice myself, and pick up the pace downhill into the breeze. The turn around takes forever to come but when it does I feel a spark of joy as I know I am now on my way home and the pain will end. As I reach the bend and start the slight incline (which feels like a mountain) the Hippy is coming the other way. He is still running and cheerful, we exchange pleasantries and I tell him how far the turn around is. The COLT ‘Hawaii Ironman Title’ is now in the bag, but I have no idea of the time gap and am past caring. I can’t remember JK’s PB either. I am simply surviving and right now that’s all that matters.
I eventually summit the feeble incline and head left onto the Queen K, I have no time check or running clock, I am running blind. I know my swim was slow 1hr 22 mins and the bike was good 5hrs 22 mins, but I have no running clock or splits for my marathon. I know what time it is now and I know what time I started so I try to the calculation. I think I can still make 10hrs 45 mins. Ohh that’s so slow, I was hoping for 10hrs 30mins, I think of the things I should have done but didn’t. I dismiss negative thoughts from my head and try to tell myself I am at the World Championships and nobody cares about your time. BUT I DO!! Just finish the race Richard and take the applause. (Remember Clearwater). I start to get my race head on after more coke and gels and with 6 miles to go I try and pick up the pace. I find myself in a small group – 1 girl and 2 blokes – and we hold each others pace and work off each other. 3 miles to go and the last 2 miles are downhill (sort of). I must stay with the Group. I know my superior weight will put pay to their efforts going down the hill. We turn right and head down Palanni. I let rip and the Group is left for dead. I pick up more places and am quite enjoying the free ride. I see Sarah just past Hot Corner and shout for her to get out the COLT flag, she waves and shouts she will meet me at the finish (not a chance I think!). I settle down after the hill and try to remember to enjoy the last mile and smile, but I just want it to be over.
I approach Alii Drive and make my right turn to the finish. The crowds are massive. Everyone is smiling, shouting and clapping. ‘Thank you, but you don’t even know me’. As the finish stand comes into site and Mike Reilly’s voice is booming loud and clear I spot Sarah who has magically appeared and is standing by the little Church just before the finish barriers start. She holds the flag out, I slow down, stop and give her a quick kiss as I collect the flag – thank you for putting up with me and being with me on this big adventure. I run towards the finish line, flag in hand, and as I come into the finish chute the crowds are even bigger. I try to smile and put in a few high fives, but I just want it to be over.
I cross the line in 10hrs 41mins. I am relieved, and yet disappointed. I don’t feel emotional or special. Why? I smile for the camera and my Leiy is placed around my neck. I shake hands with the young girl whose arse I kicked earlier, she laughs when I tell her she needs to be a little bit chunkier, so she can run down hill quicker. The music is loud and the lights are bright. I am whisked away by two helpers, a boy and a girl, both Australians. What? They ask me the usual questions, ‘Do I need medical attention?’, ‘NO, I need to do it again, but faster!!!’ They guide me to the Athletes Area where there is food, drink, medals, T’shirts, and photographs, but no dancing girls or beer, well not that I could find. I wander around in a daze, collect my medal and T shirt and have my picture taken behind the World Championship sign. I begin to relax and take it all in, and then I feel really, really sick. I think it must be dehydration so I sit and then lie down for 5 minutes until I feel better. I stumble into the Hippy (who doesn’t feel too great either), we shake hands and compare notes. We find Fiona and then Sarah and as we sit on the COLT flag on the sand we both agree this race was the toughest yet.
I gather my kit and go and reclaim my bike. I look around transition, it is only 7 pm but it is now dark. I am allowed out with my bike and kit and make my way to the front of the King Kona Beach hotel behind the finish line where Sarah is waiting for me, we sit on the wall and take it all in. She produces a large bottle of beer, plus bottle opener, I crack it open and as I enjoy the cold bitter taste it all begins to sink in. I have just competed in the 2011 IronMan World Championships, I have finished it, I have my medal, my Finisher’s T’Shirt and cap. I finally begin to enjoy the day. Craig Alexander broke the course record and won his 3rd World Championships. Chrissie Wellington dug deeper than she has ever done before to win her 4th.
To quote Lord Nelson ‘I am very proud of what I have done and achieved, but now I must go away and do better’.
"IS IT ALL WORTH IT "
I've been asking myself all week this question .Post Ironman blues try to set in after all the dust has settled and the shouting is over , 11 mins of improvement is all I came away with from Lanzarote.
Some outstanding performances by COLT athletes Dans debut,Simon & Valeries first crack and nailing the worlds toughest IM,Chris smashing his PB and giving JK & me the fright of our lives and of course the GRAND MASTER securing another Word Championship place by beating some of the best age group athletes in Europe in the blistering heat of Lanzarote.
Race day came and off we plunged into the lovely warm Atlantic ocean (what pretty fish Valerie)
SWIM SUMMARY:Poor ,good first lap 32mins ,sick on second too much sea water,not happy.
BIKE SUMMARY: Fast on descents,Good on the flat,went backwards on climbs (more hill work required) couldn't push HR above 150 on climbs ,felt strong in last quarter and finished strongly.
RUN SUMMARY: VERY HOT ,Much hotter than last year ,keep cool lots of water over head ,calf muscle very tight could spasm at any moment ,don't panic keep 8 min mile pace to start with .Can maintain this pace ,Halfway and calf is getting tighter but still no spasms .10hrs 30 minutes is target ,still possible if I am patient at this pace ,don't blow it by trying to push the pace and calf muscle goes big time and its END -X for you.Last lap very very hot ,finish line is looming 10hrs 36 minutes not quite what i wanted but will have to do till next year.
Sharing the experience of an Ironman race with your mates is far better than experience on your own you build a shared bond of suffering ,achievement and happiness altogether which lives long in your memories.
The supporters build the same bond too and I would like to THANK Fi ,Tony,Katie, Chris,Big Sister and my lovely wife Sarah for there enthusiasm ,screams ,shouts and flag waving on what for them is a very long and tiring day too.
Sunday arrived and some weary athletes headed off to La Santa for the All Important Hawaii Slot allocations ,5 of us squashed into the Astra hire car .minutes after setting off JK had to be sedated by Valerie after what can be only described as a RANT ,LOST HIS COOL accusing the Captain of driving too slowly and going the wrong way and jeopardizing his Hawaii chances ,after a few calming words from the rest of the team and the drugs administrated we arrived 30 minutes a head of schedule. We met up with the Hippy & If and sat listening to the dulcet tones of Kenneth hand out the Hawaii slots . With JK s accepted and a few shouts of the Mighty COLT it was off for a big fry up and a veggie pizza at the pool bar.
The evening entertainment was planned and it was then back to Puerto-del -Carmen and some sleeping by the pool ,by 4-30pm the Captain felt a little thirsty and after a trip to the pool bar produce pints of ice cold lager for the team which slipped down all too quickly and more were ordered ,There was no stopping the Captain now and after arriving back at the apartment a chilled bottle of wine was removed from the fridge and decanted into the biggest glass he could find . Then at 7-00pm off to the Italian Restaurant where the COLT crew were meeting more wine and beer flowed ,fillet steaks and chips were devoured and post race stories were swapped .The Hippy and his crew had to head off early back to La Santa for the awards party and fireworks where Chris received a special medal for racing at Lanzarote 5 times ,an outstanding achievement.
The old lags and hardened drinkers headed off to Route 66 where some proper IM recovery could take place , more lager ,Dancing and jigging around the dance floor were the order of the day ,only Simon refused to compete but instead like any good copper took pictures that could be used in evidence at a later date. By midnight the Captain REALIZING it was a good 20minute walk back to the Apartment and after a quick calculation realized he had already drunk too much to make it even half way back rounded up his supporters and made a break for home ,he did manage halfway unsupported but then had to be held up by his supporters for the final lap home.
Answer "YES IT IS"
Race Day, IM Lanzarote 2009
4.00am. Alarm goes off. Slept well, no loud music from drunken Irish girls, in fact not a bad nights sleep. Kettle on, porridge & raisins soaked in water overnight, add milk and warm in pan. Feel ok, eat porridge. First cup of coffee ahh!! Sarah still in bed asleep, make her a cup of tea (ahh tea is shite in morning doesn't wake me up like coffee).Toilet.
Still naked, clean teeth and put favorite IM shorts on (old reliable), heart rate chest strap, 2xu vest, long sleeve cycle top to keep warm, more coffee, don't forget sunglasses to go in T1 bag (prat). Contemplate faking injury or illness to get out of race. More coffee.
Go & wake Sarah, Sarah wakes up & drinks tea . Eat two Gels & glass of water. Get bottles out of fridge with my favorite tipple; lime accelerade (don't forget the bottles prat). Wetsuit, goggles, cap, compression tights & socks for after the race. Sarah ready.
OK LETS GO. Walk to transition, still dark but no wind yet. Put bottles on bike and put sunglasses in T1 bag. Go back to bike check location position sighting markers. Give Sarah operational orders, kiss & farewell my lovely. Go to changing tent put on wetsuit meet with the Iron Hippy exchange pleasantries, zips me up and we say our farewells. Drop white bag in collection bin & walk to swim gate but not open yet.
6.15am Sit on pavement & rest, try to relax. Gates open, wait for rush to go. 6.25am Walk down beach to swim start. Get into water & warm up for 5 mins. Feel okay, quite pleasant even. Crowds forming in grandstand. 6.40am go to start line behind green inflatable arch and assume my position next to barrier. Go through swim strategy in my head. Hold the buoy line and get as close as possible, whatever happens must hold the buoy line. Five minutes to go and start line now packed. Everyone pushing & shoving but hold my place next to barrier. Growl at two young Spaniards pushing in, big Dutch man next to me joins in with his disapproval, Spaniards skulk away.
6.59am One minute to go. Oh no we’re off early. Hit stopwatch but it doesn't start. Hit it again. Running through the shallow water, got to get the buoy line. Start to swim, reach the buoy line. Lots of bodies, bang crash wallop! Try to relax and hold the line, remember nobody’s trying to kill you. Uh oh man stops on buoy line and big pile up ensues. Kicks to head, feet dragged down.
Reach first big yellow marker buoy. Mayhem as bodies everywhere. Not a single space of clear water. Bang crash wallop! Goggles knocked ajar, recover and adjust, resume full stroke, find some feet but too slow. Try and find feet again and stay relaxed but still too slow. Reach open water, no feet but somebody on my feet.
Make a left turn but no marker rope, change sighting to big red buoys & big white hotel on horizon, aim for left hand side. In clearer water now. Look for some feet. Pink cap girl? Green cap maybe? Is green cap a female pro? Try to pick up the pace, can see big yellow exit buoy for first lap. Keep the tempo up and exit onto the beach to start second lap. Exit water for end of second lap, check watch -65mins, uh oh! 2mins down on last year!
8.05am Run up matting and through showers. Nearly dislocate shoulder taking off wet suit. Set off up steep incline into transition, get bag and straight into changing tent. Helmet, sunglasses, socks. Deposit bag with helper and run for bike. Sarah stood by bike. ‘Hello Sarah I love you!’ Get shoes on and start pushing up to mount point.
8.10am I'm off and away peddling This is what I do best. Heart rate not working, it’s blank. Bastard! Still won’t work. Give it 5minutes to start working, need heart rate to work, can't race on feel alone, will go too hard. Head down promenade peddling into wind. Reach first big roundabout and then accelerate up incline towards Arrecife airport. Ah hah! Heart rate now working! 140 bpm, loud & clear. Uh oh too high, need to relax. Manage to get it down as go over bridge and onto first fast straight. Get the big gear turning. Grandmaster sat on shoulder telling me to rein it in but still at 140bpm. Is it jammed? Feel good, steady boy steady. Make the fast bits faster.
Down towards Puerto Calero roundabout and start to climb again. See first bloke with puncture and feel sorry for him. Have a drink and have a gel every 20mins. Getting into the routine; rip, squeeze, suck. Down towards El Golfo. Reach first aid station and grab water bottle. Three slurps then over head, got to keep cool. Pass Mark Procter. Me thinks his first few miles were far too quick, come on Mark! Overcast very windy, tries to rain. Hah! Pass the point of last years’ puncture, so far so good.
Big left turn and the road to Timafanya. Fire mountain disappears up into the distance before me. Heart rate at 137 bpm. That’s okay, try to relax; drink, rip, squeeze, suck – got to keep the routine. Reach the top and pass the camels down the other side, hit 45mph. Strong crosswinds, in fact a bit scary, wuh hooh! Need a wee…ah that’s better…now can concentrate.
Slight climb to Taigu. At next aid station change bottles and then turn left for La Santa. Fast bit as down hill. Big Swede all in white skin fit passes me. No way José! Hammer after him & pass him. La Santa village comes into view, slow down for speed bumps, crowds shouting support. On towards Famara, sun comes out & a strong side wind, hard to keep the bike straight .Turn left for Teguise and start to climb but wind behind and start to feel the heat of the sun. Climbing strongly check heart rate 140bpm, too high! JK on shoulder gives me a bollocking.
Dropping out of Teguise, down towards the start of the windmill climb. See the windmills in the distance. This isn’t a real climb! I'm a man from the mountains, real mountains! Hard Knott, Gummers Bummer, I eat mountains! We start to climb gradually but head on into wind. A French girl passes me ? What are you doing lady? Nobody passes me going up hill unless their name is Knapp or Pantani. Climb becomes steeper get out of the saddle to engage the quality muscle. Must keep the heart rate below 145bpm. French girl comes back to me & is spat out the back never to be seen again. That'll teach you young lady.
Finally starts to flatten off and start to pick the pace up again. Pass one of the women pros who has the most amazing muscular legs…c'mon concentrate! Start to descend through the hairpins to Haria and have my second wee as I freewheel downhill. Straight through Haria & start the climb to Mirador del Rio, wind behind me. 75 miles done & at last some downhill. Get aero & turn the big gear. Got to hold the heart rate at 135bpm, don't let it drop. Turn into the wind again for 2 miles. Got to keep focused got to keep pushing.
Turn onto rough road for 2miles, hope the bike holds together . Wind behind again now to push on for home. Start the descent for Puerto del Carmen. Hammer, hammer, hammer! Push the biggest gear you can, 53-11. Onto sea front and into T2. Yes! Made it 5hrs 55mins.
2.10pm Drop the bike and start to run. Legs feel okay. Get run bag, put sun visor on, don't change socks…big mistake…carry two gels in hand. I'm up & running onto the start of the marathon, lots of noise from the crowds. Sarah shouts & waves, she got it right, I love her. Heart rate 131bpm, must keep it above 130 to maintain a good pace.
All the other runners look good. No fat lads or plodders yet. Everybody looks smooth & efficient. Am I?
First leg out to turn around 25mins. Bang on target. Turn back to start with wind behind me, not so cool now, start to feel sick, drink more water to settle stomach. See the IRON HIPPY coming the other way and shout encouragement. As I come back towards the turnaround I see Mark Procter starting his first lap. I get first coloured band and it gives me a push to nail the 2nd lap. Catch up with Mark by first aid station and slow down to offer some advice & encouragement. Have my first coke fix washed down with water, yes! 5mins down the road it starts to work. Oh yes!! . Bella Comeford is coming the other way (women’s race leader). I am a lap behind, she must not catch me, she will not catch me.
A mountain bike comes past me with a sign attached (men’s 1st place). Bert Jammer, the race leader, comes into view on my shoulder. Not moving as fast as expected. On any other day, without 112 mile bike ride in my legs, I could hold his pace no problem, but not today. I quicken my pace for a while as I get the buzz off him. Will he win? Will I win my battle? More coke, more water, begin to belch, too much fizzy coke, feel sick. C’mon! Got to keep the heart rate up. Get to turn around point, still on target. This end of the course is much hotter than the other end, lack of wind I think.
Lots of plodders out on the course now, some loud music playing at one of the bars, some fat lads drinking cold beer, lucky bastards…but that will have to wait, got to nail these run splits. Feel quite strong up the little inclines, back down to turnaround point & collect 2nd band. Now at the half way point. 3hr 30mins, check sums in head, yes bang on schedule. C’mon you have to nail it, JK will be proud of you.
Time to get out the secret weapon; "THE IPOD SHUFFLE", once thought of as only for girls, fat lads & hippies but I am relaxing my views & my strict military training is a distance memory, I am becoming more wooly & liberal by the hour. ipod is installed & working, this is a very strange experience as never used one before in a race. I am in my own little world as the Kaiser Chiefs belt out into my ears. Don't over excite yourself old lad, next thing you'll be stopping for a cold beer. Got to stay calm. Turn around for last time & collect the yellow band. 6 miles to home & a 3.30 marathon. You have to nail it!
Johnny Cash comes on the ipod, I love Johnny Cash ," San Quinten you been hell to me", OH YEAH!!!! Water over head, got to keep pushing.
5.45pm Turn around, at far end now. I'm on my way home. Let’s nail it, don't give up on that time you lazy bastard. One mile to go. AC-DC come on with Rocker, oh what a finali. 500m left to go. Take out the ipod & smarten up. Sarah is near the finish, I hear her shout, I love her. Crowd is very noisy near the finish. The finishers’ funnel clock says 10.46. OH YES!!!!! Over the line, a good days work, 3hrs 33 mins for the marathon. A very happy boy.
THE END.
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