IMWA - Pt 4

This was the leg I was looking forward to doing my best work on. This is the leg I visualised in my mind was going to be when I made my big move. Well things don't always go to plan...

I set off with a plan to run 5:30 min kays for the first 6km and then faster after that, maybe 510-5:15's. Well the first few km were at about 5min pace, despite my best efforts to run slower. People were passing me at regular intervals but I tried hard to slow down to the race plan pace. I eventually got to the run turn and then 'allowed' myself to pick the pace up. Well That last a few minutes only. It was soon evident to me that it was going to be a really long day and this was going to get really hard. My HR and pace data shows that my HR went up and my pace gradually went down all the way back to transition. So I was working harder but going slower! I saw some messages in chalk on the road that Rat and PeeJay and left me that made me laugh to myself. I had never seen chalk messages for me before - and was quite chuffed! I got back to transition and there were the whole family on the path and the boys too. It was really really good to see them, hand out a few high fives and say hello. I could tell from Rat's face that he could see the trouble I was in. But he stayed super positive and ran with me for a few metres and encouraged me. I couldn't fathom how on earth I was to run the next two laps. With rats words ringing in my ears I got my 1st scrunchie and headed off again feeling like I could do it! But my avg pace had been about 5:47 min/km. Those aid stations really knock your avg speed down a bit!

I managed a slightly quicker pace for 2 aid stations. Then I couldn't sustain it. I was now running from aid station to aid station and walking a few metres to get my drinks in and ice in my hat etc. It had come to survival. It was so hot and the heat seemed to be sucking the life out of my legs. After my little Paulie inspired effort I now had a new problem. My feet. I could feel blisters forming up nicely on the bottoms of my feet. They had just started to become painful. I new they would get worse - but what are you to do? It was the soggy socks from all the water I was throwing on myself and all the great locals with hoses squirting me. My feet had softened up and now were blistering in my shoes. Oh well, the pain in my feet gave me something to take my mind off the other pains! I passed Scotty goin the other way for the 2nd time and he looked strong and relaxed. I was wishing I felt like he looked. I caught up with James from work and ran with him for a while until he waved me on. I saw Marko pushing over a few trees trying to stretch out a bit of cramp. He always seemed so positive and encouraging. In fact he seemed to be too relaxed and even enjoying himself?

I got back to where the folks, the girls and PJ & Rat were and was very relieved to be nearly finished a very, very tough lap # 2. My avg pace overall was now about 5:51min/km. I told my Mum that I was "on struggle street" and she apparently was a bit upset for me and seeing how much it all hurt. I was so much looking forward to that 2nd scrunchie! Paulie really gave me a really big talking to this time and ran next to me for about 50m and shouted in my ear. He revved me up and told me I could do a sub 10:30. As I had asked him what time I was on. I couldn't do the maths in my head now. I passed the very rowdy North Coast tent and the even louder Stadium tent, where I got great support all day and dug deep. 14k to go. I could hardly stand it any longer. But I was determined to. All my training and all those time being absent from home, with Lisa being an Ironman widow and now out here all afternoon with 4 kids in the blaring sun. I WAS NOT GOING TO EVER DARE LET THEM DOWN AND STOP OR EVEN WALK. I was just hanging on throughout that middle lap and so I lifted again. Ah yeah - the 2nd scrunchie was mine!

By now, at each aid station I was downing Coke and High5 and water and tucking into a bit of water melon too. When the gear was real cold it tasted so much better. I was putting ice and ice water on me, in my tri suit and in my hat. It was some relief. I now walked the full length of some of the aid stations. I finally had to have a 2nd wee for the day. But it was more an excuse to stop I reckon. Although I did produce a fair bit again. I was now just in my own little world of pain. I was looking into the distance and not seeing anything. I just wanted it to end. So many people were walking. I saw one girl just sit down in the middle of the path, facing back towards the way she had just come! I was hoping something would happen to me so that I could not continue at all - like a broken leg! My pace dropped a bit more but I didn't walk! Then at last I was nearly there. I skipped the last two aid stations and just dug as deep as I could. I don't think I have ever been that deep before into my mental reserves. I was telling myself never again. I am cured! I finally got to the 1km to go point and started to come out of my self induced fatigue stupor. I tried to soak it all up and look around me and notice stuff. I smiled and I anticipated the best and most important thing in the world to me at that point - stopping and sitting down. Each step for the last 14km had been painful as my blisters turned the soles of my feet into a mess of pain. knew I had given all I had out there and unlike last time, there was no fast finish. I cruised into the finishers chute and there was everyone cheering for me. I heard my name called out and I blew a few kisses and I really enjoyed the moment. The family were all there on the right had side and it was such a relief to be done. I crossed the line and the clock stopped at 10:29:21. My slowest ever 42k run - 4:04 hrs. My last lap had avg'd a pitifull pace of about 6min kays. But I was so glad to stop. The catchers gave me my medal put a towel round me and half carried me to the recovery area in the big tent. I sat down and I was totally spent. There was nothing more left. I did not finish with anything left in the tank this time. The heat had been diabolical. I had rolled the dice and paid the price. I was so happy to be finished.