Eagleman Ironman 70.3
10th June 2007, Maryland, USA
This story starts in February 2006, looking at races for the upcoming season and spotting the Monaco Half Ironman. Following a recce with Mick Powell in May, a party of eight Tri-Anglians hit the hills and beaches of Monte Carlo with two of the eight (Penny and Karl) winning places in the Hawaii Ironman. But not me. Jealousy and avarice are rampant.
If you don’t try you don’t succeed.
Start looking for a qualifying race. Consider Langkawi, but decide it’s too far (in two senses), and too hot. So enter Eagleman 70.3, on the East Coast of the US which has one qualifying place in my age group 55-59.
Training went OK, though I neglected some longer bike time trials which I had planned, and beginning of June I was injury free, and feeling frisky.
Ironman races abroad require careful planning; equipment & body need to be in optimum condition on the start line, and travel, accommodation, baggage, registration, are all part of the race.
Jan and I arrive with KLM (Norwich – Amsterdam – Washington). KLM have changed their policy on bikes, which used to be to include them in the luggage allowance, and they now charge shed loads of money (£100’s), so there’s an added stress; in the end I have to pay £54.
Two days in Washington relaxing and doing the tourist thing, then off to West Chester, Pennsylvania to stay with two ageing Ironman Professionals who the following day (my birthday) take me out for an 86 mile ride with no flat bits at all. This is Amish country so periodically we overtake a quaint horse drawn buggy, with always a friendly wave for us, I am quite taken with them. I decline the offer of a run when we get back.
Next day is Cambridge, Maryland, where the race is held.
Maryland is a bit like the marshland around Yarmouth, only a lot hotter (and a lot colder in the winter). We drive round the Bike course which is very flat and very exposed; beautiful as well with Eagles and Snakes to add to the wind, water and heat.
Friday 2pm the thermometer has reached 98f, 37c. I try a 40 minute run. By the time I finish I feel very hot and confused.
Small mercies though, race day arrives with temperature in the low 70’s f, 23 c
I am in the second wave (Old folks, and Physically Challenged) starting 5mins after the Professional Men and women. The swim is in the Choptank River which must be at least a mile wide. Much like swimming at Whitlingham when there is a bit of wind and chop.
Difficult to sight the buoys, not many swimmers in front, but we have a current helping us, so quite a fast swim.
6th place in my wave out of the water, but a speedy transition, helped by elastic bands, means I come out of transition in 4th.
I soon overtake one more, and then I am out on my own, alone for the next 20 miles. Going well but anxious that I might have missed a turn.
Then all at once I see two cycles out in the distance, and at the same time I am overtaken by a man with one leg. Then I am overtaken by a 51 year old woman (we all have our age marked on our calf). I get closer to the two cyclists, but one of them sits on the woman’s wheel, and starts to pull away. The other I catch and overtake (a tiring female professional).
Towards the end of the ride I am suffering a little, but keep it coming, and speed into transition and out again on the run, overtaking the drafting cyclist & the woman in the first couple of miles which is satisfying.
At four & a bit miles I pass Natasha Baddman who is four miles in front of me, we exchange thumbs up signs & a grin which is cool.
By the turnaround point I am feeling good, and I start to get intelligence from other competitors that I am in second place, and catching the man in front. Anything can happen so I keep working. The last couple of miles feel hard, the only runners I can see are from younger age groups.
I increase speed for the finish with no one catching me, see the clock (which is great as I race without a watch, and this is my first indication of my time which is 20 minutes faster than last years winner.
At the finish I find out I am 2nd, and meet Stephen Smith who has beaten me (by 7 minutes) and taken the Hawaii place I coveted.
I am pretty pleased with the race though; there are a few people behind me.
Next time.
Article by Simon Edye
Page created: 15th June 2007.
Results
| Cat Place | Overall Place | Name | Overall | Swim | Bike | Run |
| 1 | 1 | TJ Tollakson | 03:46:28 | 0:21:57 | 2:02:45 | 1:18:09 |
| 1 | 20 | Natasha Badmann | 04:08:17 | 0:26:06 | 2:15:07 | 1:23:09 |
| 1 | 127 | Steven Smith | 04:33:54 | 0:25:39 | 2:23:59 | 1:39:37 |
| 2 | 191 | Simon Edye | 04:40:43 | 0:29:00 | 2:30:14 | 1:37:06 |
| 1507 | John McCann | 08:59:56 | 1:00:11 | 3:48:17 | 3:54:56 |
