Six weeks and three days later, Karl Sherry & I were standing on ‘Dig me Beach’ on Alii Drive, Kialua Kona on the Big Island of Hawai’i. As we started to swim in the clear, warm water, our doubts were washed away, and distracted by hundreds of colourful fish, we were soon half a mile out into the tropical Ocean. The race here is the raison d’etre for the Ironman organisers, World Triathlon Corporation, they spare no effort or expense to make the event special. The Whole Island seems to embrace us –race day sees three and a half thousand volunteers helping on the racecourse – and everywhere people come up and ask “You guys doing the Ironman? ” Race day arrives too soon, and we are hot at 5 in the morning, queuing again, this time to get our bodies numbered, and then to check our bikes. With a few minutes to spare, we nip back to our room, which is conveniently 100metres from the start/finish, for a quick cup of coffee. Fifteen minutes later we are into the water, and at 7.15am cannon goes, the race has started. No fish to see as the water is churned by 1700 swimmers, but later as we approach to turn point, a mile out I see a turtle swimming below me.
I am out of the water by 8.35; Karl is away on the bike by this time. The first 10 miles is up and down hill, in and out of the town, then we are onto the famous Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway 100 mile out and back, undulating across the lava fields through the wind and the heat. Aid Stations are every 10 miles, and the routine is the same, grab two bottles of water and some Gatorade or some food. then the water over face, top, and feet, at intervals until the next aid station, Drink, eat, and keep body cool are the essentials. Fighting the winds, I am pleased to complete the bike course in just over 6 hours, average speed of just over 18 mph does not reflect the effort expended
2.35pm, and I pass my bike to a volunteer and start running through transition. It is immediately apparent that my legs have different ideas, running I am but so slowly… The first five miles take 50 minutes, and my feet have swollen in the heat and are agonisingly painful. I have to stop and pack my socks with ice, and run with lumps of ice in my shoes. I do this for two or three miles, but 10 minute miles are turning into 15 minute miles, and I am thinking - I have 8 hours and twenty miles to go! Will I make it? I stop, and take the laces out of my shoes, and this seems to solve the problem. I settle into a survival shuffle, the pain goes away and I start to smile. Ten miles gradually turns into 12 miles and before long I am running downhill on Natural Energy Lab Road, I reach the turnaround. Nineteen miles gone and I dare to think of finishing.
It is 6pm and getting dark, still really warm, but the aid stations are offering Chicken Soup which tastes realy salty and delicious. I can see the lights of Kialua Kona …, I quicken my pace and I am over the last hill and running down into town. The crowds of people are shouting and cheering, and at last, (I have been going for twelve and a half hours) I turn onto Alii Drive. There is a wall of sound, and my heart bursts as slowly, slowly, so as not to miss a thing I cross the line. Almost immediately my legs give out, and two helpers grab me. They escort me through the finish and need a lot of persuading that it was just the joy of the moment that caused my knees to buckle! Next year…? Yes please.