Canberra Half Ironman

For a runner who has done a bit of swimming and cycling - these Half Ironman's are tough! Hardest thing I have ever done.

After a good night sleep, we headed down to Canberra just after breakfast. With a few stops to let cheeseburger run around, we got t Canberra just after 1pm. We headed straight to the registration and the butterflies arrived - this was it! Checked the bike in and had a bit of a look around. It was really muggy and hot but the forecast was for rain.

I wanted to have a look at the bike course and see how bad these hills were.... and they were pretty solid. Not so bad when you compare to West Head or Akuna Bay, however it just seemed to undulate most of the way around with few flat stretches. I was resigned to the fact that the bike split would be closer to 3:30 than I would have liked.

After checking in at the hotel, we hung around for a while before the race briefing. Not much new information however it was good to learn more about drafting/blocking etc. Back to Manaka for a quick bite to eat. Wasn't very hungry as the butterflies were still there. I haven't been this nervous before an event for ages (if ever). I guess it is the unknown, the lack of preparation etc.

I went home and did a final run through of all my stuff. The logistics of a triathlon are ridiculous and enough to make you even more nervous.

Surprisingly, Cheeseburger and I both slept well. I awoke at 4:45am to find it was raining, Bugger. After getting dressed and trying to eat something, off we went. It was only sprinkling as I arrived and began to set up transition. As I was going about my business setting up I seemed to relax and I was even excited and looking forward to starting. Just as I was about to leave transition, I started up the Garmin to see it turn off straight away - I couldn't believe it, no batteries. I charged it before I left so I don't know what happened. It was a real shame as I would have loved to know how my HR was during the bike and how fast I was going during the run. And as a stat man I was also looking forward to dissecting the info once I was home! So no HRM, no GPS, no stopwatch. I still had the bike computer however it looked as if I would be going by feel.

The pros started at 6:30am, however my wave (the second last) didn't go until 6:56. I hung around and it was good to catch up with Wildthing and Rob as well as TallGeoff. The hooter went, and off I swam. It was my aim to get behind a pack to see if I could draft a bit however the main pack was gone in about 200m and the rest of the swimmers were doing their own thing all over the place. Oh well, looks like I am by myself. After about 500m my arms were really tired and I was struggling - so long to go! I decided to try and enjoy myself and just relax - it was a long day after all. I was surprised to still see quite a few yellow caps (my wave) and then the last wave started to come through with a few knocks here and there.



Upon reaching the shore, it was a 350m run to transition. I asked a guy with a yellow hat what the time was and he said 41 mins - not 40 like I had hoped but not too bad. The official split would be recorded as we crossed the finish line in 42:27.


No dramas in T1 and off I went. It was raining but not too heavy. Soon after this, the leaders passed me, now onto their second lap - boy were they moving. It wasn't until half way through the first of 3 laps that I realised that 93k was a bloody long way and I was going too fast. It was a bit hard to control myself - it was a race after all. I went through the first lap and asked another competitor for the time. I calculated that the first lap was done n about 1:08 (give or take).

I tried to keep the pace under control in the second lap. I was really enjoying myself it must be said. Faster guys were passing me and I was catching some of the earlier waves. I was however starting to get tired and as I went passed transition on my way out for my third lap, I really wanted to stop - not a good sign. I calculated that the second lap was done in 1:09 which was faster than I thought. This perked me up and I started to feel good again.

I was feeling pretty cheery until things turned for the worse with about 10k to go. It is a bit embarrassing really - riding up a hill, I looked down to put my bidon back and before I realised I had veered off the 2-3 inch shoulder and was in the gravel. Tried to bunny hop back on to the road and stacked it. Lying on the ground, my right calf burst into a fit of cramping. After a minute or two of stretching, with blood streaming down the leg and very little pride left, I got back on only to realise that I punctured the front tyre. So I spent the next ten minutes (in the pouring rain) fixing the puncture.

I limped home with the right calf really hurting. I kept stretching on the downhills and I was wondering how it would feel on the run. Finally made T2 and my bike computer ( I worked out that it had a time function) said it was a 1:12 lap however I probably spent at least 10 mins fixing the bike on top of this. My official split was 3:44:26 (including transitions), so I am taking a 3:30 without the puncture ;-).

Now finally for the fun bit the run. I put on my shoes and they were completely soaked as they had been in the rain all morning - just like sixfoot I guess. I was glad to realise that the calf problem was gone and I was feeling good. I passed a guy with a 301 and I asked him how fast it said we were going. He said 4:46 pace which thrilled me to bits as I was moving past him quite well. I was having a ball, moving well and passing heaps of people. I received a couple of go coolrunner calls from aid stations. I think it was runitloveit and deadcat. I also got some encouragement from Miss Z as I passed her. I picked one guy up as he was heading for the finish (about 3k from home) we ran for the next 3k and it was good to have some company.


As I left him and headed out for my second lap it started to get hard, There was fewer people on the course and my legs were getting heavy. I was also starting to get a really painful stitch, just as I did at sixfoot. I tried to have some coke, but my guts screamed in agony. So the name of the game from here was just simply to tough it out. It was probably the hardest 7-8k I have ever done, harder than marathons, sixfoot, 60k fatass etc - but really enjoyable. The last 3k's were so painful, yet as I turned the corner and could see the finish, I had a smile from ear to ear.


Canberra half has special significance for me as this is where I watch Caty (my sister in law) do her second HIM. I was jolted into realisation that I was nearly 30 and getting fat and unfit. This lead to my 2005 new years resolution to start running. Now only three years later, I was doing a HIM, something I could have only dreamed about.

My run split of 1:45:35 was shy of my sub 100 target, but I was really happy none the less. My time was 6:12, not what I was planning, but leaves plenty of room for another shot next year. Manly people have talked about a shot at the full however (at this stage) I am just not ready for the training commitment. I will do one, but not just yet.

Whilst this triathlon journey has been fun, and I will definitely pick it up again, I am looking forward to spending more time in my running shoes and getting ready for sixfoot.

I have pulled up like the tin man and have been limping around all day. My right calf is really sore as well my knee from he fall. My stomach is also really sore from where I had the stitch. I will have to work out why I am getting these stitches in big races.

Anyway, I am on to my 4th beer for the night and very sleepy. Normal programming will resume on Jan 1.