Last year, I turned to my coach and had a discussion about whether I could take on another Ironman 70.3. I didn't do a triathlon last year due to issues with my ankle, and I have never got a finishing time for a complete Ironman 70.3 (I've either been DNF'D or the swim was cut short). So we agreed that there was enough time to at least focus on the bike fitness to give me time to run.
Spoiler alert, work was a bit crazy. I now teach people to swim, mostly children but occasionally also adults. This year I learnt to do parent and baby classes, which meant that some weeks I spent around 20 hours in the water, of which maybe 2-3 was me actually doing swim training for the race. The only other aquabike I was supposed to do this year I had to DNS due to an upskill for work.
So I turned up to Cervia knowing I could do the swim fine, probably just get through the bike, and very unlikely to finish the run. I was VERY anxious and got very little sleep in the run up to the race.
Emilia Romagna 70.3 is slightly different to other Ironman 70.3s I have done previously. As the Ironman is run the day before, we only start at 11, with racking on the same day. So I got a later start than usual, although I hadn't slept much and was apparently on 35% body battery .
I racked my bike and made sure my food was ready broken up to eat. As I left transition, I realised I didn't have anything to snack on pre race. Damn. Thankfully, I'd packed a Trek bar in my white bag for afterwards so I ate that. I didn't see any Tritons until we went to the beach, where Ian and Ben strode past us to who knows where (race start? swim warm up?). I lined up in the slow swim pen, knowing my swim time could be anything up to 50 minutes. They got us to do the hand clap, then the male pros were off with plumes of red smoke and the ladies with plumes of green smoke. Then we waited. And waited.
Boiling waiting for the start
According to my watch, when I started the swim it was 38 degrees. I don't do well in the heat and started to suffer. We were waiting for nearly an hour to start, thankfully I didn't wear a wetsuit, but I still felt faint. Thankfully James, who'd done the Ironman the day before, was watching and I asked him if he had something to drink. I honestly think if he hadn't been there and able to give me some water, I probably wouldn't have been able to start, it was that hot. So eventually, after finding myself near the back of the start and managing to squeeze forward, drinking the much needed water, I got to the start. Hat on, watch ready, let's go. We ran into the water, which was lovely but very gently shelving so you had to run a little way to get to water you can actually swim in. The swim itself was a bit like a washing machine- some rolling waves and of course the other swimmers trying hard to smack me/swim over me! As a big person it didn't take much to repel these "attacks" and I did try to kick my legs to dissuade other swimmers. The swim itself was out, along and back. I didn't really notice when we turned right, although I was pretty sure the person in front of me was doing backstroke... I did see a couple of jellyfish, but they were pretty far down. The way out was hard work so when we turned around to come back, it was better with the waves bringing us in. I'm pretty sure something went through my hands on the way back- bits of jellyfish? Thankfully I wasn't stung. The end of the swim was just as gently shelving so it was tricky to judge when to stand up. I glanced at my watch as I attempted to run in - 45 minutes, much faster than any swims this year, so I was happy with that. Past the showers, attempting to get sand off our feet, a gulp of crisp water (amazing after attempting not to drink seawater). Transition was huge (allegedly the biggest in Europe!), first I went past my bags and put on my cycling shorts/shoes (and drank some coke!), and then hobbled on my cleats all the way to Hotel Diplomatic, grabbed my bike, and then on to bike out, past a cheering Stuart (who I think I told to put on his hat!). On to the road! My priority for the bike was to keep drinking as much as I could. I had a bottle in front as well as a spare behind. Also I needed to eat every 15 minutes. I quickly discovered my Garmin had decided it was only going to give me visual alerts and no noise/beeps , which was annoying. The first hour I was overtaken by a lot of people, which is normal, we went past the flamingo lakes, and then onto the carretera - highway. I was briefly reminded of Hamburg and the "highway to hell". The other side of the road was the return from the race, and surprisingly early on, I saw people coming back in to Cervia. The pelotons were interesting... At 20k was a water stop so I took a moment to top up my bottle and throw fresh water all over myself. It was a great way of cooling down, and I felt energised afterwards. I'd noticed I had salt streaks on my shorts, and as I cycled on, idly wondered if that was from the swim or me sweating, or both. As we got onto the main road yet more pelotons were coming back the other way. My water bottle said "do it for cider and cake" and "you have got this". It kept me going through the relentless heat, with very little shade. I was trying to keep above 23km/h and was very aware there was a hill ahead. People did eventually stop passing me and I actually overtook a few cyclists on my way to the second aid station. Now I knew that this was just before the climb so I stopped again, refilled my bottle as much as I could, then took a bottle of electrolytes from the aid station, tossing an old bottle I'd deliberately brought to swap. Again with the water shower, two scouts were delighted to pour it over . The salt stains were definitely sweat. As I left the station, I remarked to another cyclist, "are we ready for this hill?" She replied "Don't ask, I've been dreading it". Poor woman. The climb started innocently enough, with lots cycling past on the way down. I was very glad the nice man at the bike shop had fixed my shifting so I had all gears available, and I could go into my easiest gear. Unfortunately even that wasn't low enough and as we got closer to the top it got steeper. I took one look and was very unsure I could cycle up it. Then the lady in front of me unclipped and got off. That was my sign to do the same… The walk up the hill was tough. It was still super hot, and I went past a cyclist sitting on the side looking sorry for himself. We went past some marshalls, telling us we didn't have far to go ("400m to the top!"). When it seemed to be levelling out a bit I tried to get back on, only to discover I'd completely ruined my cleats and had to remove the rubber grips to click in. As I started to cycle, the lid from my electrolyte bottle came off. I had to stop to retrieve it and attempted to screw it back on. So I ended up walking to the top, where much to my relief I could get back on and whizz back down the hill. Now I'm not great with descents but this one was fine. I didn't see anyone on the way back so I'm guessing everyone who was on the bike had got on to the climb.
Once the lovely descent was finished, the grind to the end started. Still hot. Still trying to eat every 15 minutes. Still chasing Adam, who seemed to have a predilection for sitting in the middle of the road. Past Sally, from Sheffield tri, not in the middle of the road. Feet were burning, again. I tried to move them around and that helped a bit. I ran out of fluids on the front so I had to stop to refill. This at least gave me an excuse to shake my feet and ease the burn a bit. I was trying to keep myself going to the next aid station. I knew it was along the highway somewhere, then finally there it was, time to refill again and give myself a water shower. Not sure my bike appreciated all this water going over it but it had to be done. Now onto the finish. I'd spent some time deciding I wouldn't do the run, then changing my mind and deciding if I had the opportunity I would give it a go. The miles rolled on, my feet were properly burning so when I ran out of fluids I again stopped at the side, shook my feet and refilled. Right, let's finish this bike, look there's the flamingoes again, you are leaving (the aptly named) Villa Inferno, and finally back into Cervia. Stuart was there to cheer me in, and the minute my bike was reracked (with a bit of reshuffle because others hadn't racked well), my shoes were off - oh bliss!
Stuart told me I was doing really well, and still had time to run. I told him there was no way I could finish the half marathon in 3 hours, but he said "you never know ". I did know, and tried to tell him my last half marathon had taken 4 hours...
Ian and I high 5 on the run
On to the run, and thankfully it was starting to cool. My watch was still set up for 2min run/30s walk and I soon started to follow this. I hadn't really studied run map much, only to establish it was flat. I knew there was an aid station every 2-3 km. I walked each one, throwing water over myself and grabbing iso/coke when I could. Sally came past me, saying I was strong on the bike, and to keep going on the run. I tried to dissuade her that my run was terrible, but she said hers was like a shuffle too. Every time I saw Sally I would shout "Go Sheffield" because I'd forgotten her name but she was wearing a Sheffield tri outfit - sorry Sally! Ian, one of the Tritons, came past me complaining about his back, so eventually I offered him some of my Paracetamol - I'd stocked up before the race so I had plenty to share. He did take some and then ran off ahead of me. The run route was an interesting one round Cervia which included a roofed area, lots of restaurants with people cheering me on, and some random red curtains between the buildings over the street that looked a bit like what they have round a stage! My aim now was for two laps, one more than Knokke, and as I came around for my first lap, the Tritons were cheering me on which was lovely! I thought to myself, one more lap and then I can come in. It was starting to get dark now, and thankfully not as hot as it had been. I was wondering when they'd turn the lights on, when finally they did. Back out via the co-op, past the weird curtains, over the bridge and far away... Then finally coming back, one of the marshals telling me to "alé". To be honest I was surprised there wasn't someone behind me with a big "last finisher" flag. Maybe there were others slower, I have no idea. At that point, I started to choke on the peanut bar I'd just been trying to eat to give me a bit of energy. Thankfully a bit of coughing dislodged it, but I was left with a sick feeling. I was very tired now, and knew I probably didn't have another lap in me even if I had the time for it. Spoiler alert, I did not have the time for it. As I came back into town, Scott joined me. He started to run/walk along side me. I was amazed given he'd done the Ironman the day before! I was a bit worried I'd get DQ'd for outside assistance then remembered I was going to come in anyway. They were all still convinced I could do another lap. I was adamant I was coming in. As it was, as I came around the final turn, there was a row of cones stopping me even if I'd wanted to. Looking at my run times, it would have taken me at least another hour to finish the run and I was already on 7 hours and 43 minutes. I was so happy to go down the finishing chute, and finally get to stop running. I discovered afterwards that was my fastest 10k this year - although it didn't have much competition given my last 10k was my only 10k run this year, haha 😂.
Finished!
So some thanks as always, to Stuart for following me around and trying his very best to reduce my anxiety. Tracy my coach for doing her level best to get me moving and fit enough to do stupid things. All the Tritons who came to the race, especially James for saving me when I was overheating and Scott for doing the last bit of the run for me, and of course Ian for being... well Ian 😂. Thanks to Victoria for sharing your photos which I have used in this blog, and Marc for the last image.
