Ironman Western Australia - Busselton (Dec-3-2006)

Pre-Race Strategy: Pray for good weather and just let me clear the swim (within 2 hrs 15 min) and aim to complete the Bike leg within 7 hr 15 min. I will either run/walk/crawl to my finishing line just before the 17 hrs cutoff time.

My Bike & Run Bag

4:00am Alarm Rang. Refuse to get out of bed to face the day… hmmm. A clear sign of panic, fear, nervous and anxiety. Asked myself why I signed up and put myself into this shit in the first place. Haha.. To be honest, the nervousness started a couple of months before. Especially after trying out wetsuit with breaststroke swim.

4:45am Proceed to race site with Bill & Danny. Did some warm up to keep body warm. Put on Wetsuit at around

5:30am. The first canon at 6:00am signaled the start of the Pro race.. We made our way to the Swim start area. Decided not to do the usual warm up swim as I didn’t want to get myself too cold and freeze out before the start. I thought I could get the warm-up during the first 100m or so into the event since I am not going for timing. I think and believe that this probably is the root cause to my right leg cramp during the swim, which almost ruin my race.

6:15am Race Start…. Race Start…. Race Start.

SWIM (2:12) (2:06 + 6 min transition)

Thanks Goodness!!! The water was exceptionally calm. So I told myself “hey no problem no problem.. this is good for me”. Unlike participating in in Singapore & Malaysia where I could always see swimmers next to me… At Busselton, shortly after 5 minutes, I find myself in isolation as most of the swimmers in front of me starting to disappeared fast & quick. Panic as I thought my swim speed was too slow and begin too pull and kicked alot harder.

Reached the halfway point at 55 min. My breathing didn’t get any better. I suspect that I must have went into a hyperventilation so I decided to signal the safety boat for a rest to regroup myself.. BANG!!! Right leg muscle cramped. Got help from the safety boat and rested for 1 min before move on slowly. I started to have doubt whether I could complete the swim. I also started to question myself how am I going to do the Bike & Run later… It is at this point that I was really down and the thought of quitting kept coming up.

started to generate positive thought and using each lamp post on the jetty as target to conquer them one by one and eventually made my way to the beach and head straight to the Swim Finish Chute. Time Checked 2:06.. That was really a close shave!!!!!!…Mag, Jennifer & Michelle were there cheering for me. But I guess I have put them on panic mode when I told them of my leg cramped.

BIKE (7:08) (2:20+2:21+2:22 + 5 minute transition)

Took 2 cups of Gatorade while the Volunteer help to pull out my wetsuit. Get changed into my Bike short, 1 Tri-Top and another Bike Top + Arm Warmer. No problem to spot my bike as I think it is only 2 or 3 left in the Bike area. Hey I am not last out of the water!!!

Lap 1: The panic mode didn’t go away when I started to bike as I realized my stomach must have bloated as I can’t cycle on aerobar mode and I could only managed to cycle at 23/24 Kph. I said Die Liao Lah how now????? I started to hydrate and whacked 1 pack of PowerGel and energy bar to boost up the energy level. Pee Twice!!!! Reaching the 57km mark must be the turning point of the race. Shortly after turning into Marine Terrace, I saw Jennifer waving and shouting “Go Go Go” while signaled to Mag who waited patiently outside the Busselton Beach Resort (our apartment). I move on and continue to make way to the Lap 1 check point… Time Checked 2:20… WOW, if I could just maintain this pace.. Then I will be able to clock 7 hr (and that will be 15 min better than my expectation).

Lap 2: I stopped at 63 Km mark (outside Busselton Beach Resort) to have my drink, energy bar and stretch my right leg muscle. Feel good as this is where I get to see Mag, Jennifer, Lynn and Jasmine. A great morale booster which turn things around. I continue the rest of the 2nd bike leg with ease and more confident. Stopping by at 100km mark to get my special needs bag reload my 5 pack of PowerGel and move on with another 20 km to complete my 2nd Lap of Bike..Time Check again is 2:21.

Lap3: Had a quick stop at 123 Km mark for stretching and chat with Jennifer for a while. I remembered Jennifer told me “Timing looks good and you are on track!!!!” I replied “Ya, on track so the 3rd lap I am going easy to enjoy the last lap then worry about the run later.” I felt stronger on the last lap and knew that it is matter of time that I complete the last Bike Lap. Upon reaching 170 km I slower down a little as to let my leg had some rest. I had a pleasant surprise when I passed Busselton Beach Resort for the last time... Mag is back from shopping and cheering for me. I even slow down for her to capture a photo of me on bike!!!! Time check at Bike Finish Chute 2:22. Total Bike Time was 7hr 3 min.

RUN (6:45) (2:09+2:14+2:22)

By now I know I have 7 hr 40 min to complete my first Ironman event. I just have to make sure nothing goes wrong from now on for the next 42.195 Km.

Lap 1: Still feeling the muscle pull and fearing the relapse of cramp. I decided to walk the 1st round and assess pace. I took 55 min to walk the 1st 6Km. At this point I estimated that I could finish the 42Km in 7 hrs with 40 mins to spare. I just kept walking, walking and walking. Was really happy to see Jennifer then Mag and Lynn at the 13Km mark. I also spotted Bill on the other side of the road which is just 300m ahead of me. Time Check at the end of 1st Run Lap 2:09.

Lap 2: I caught up with Bill at around 18Km mark. At 20Km mark my energy was a bit low and legs started to get pain and tired. I met IMIM somewhere around here and he encouraged Bill and me “Good Good at this pace we sure can finish. Don’t worry!!!” I noted my pace for 2Km dropped from 18 min to 19 min. Still OK if I could maintain. At this point I just aim for the 28Km check point. Bill lead most of the time in front of me. I must thank him as he really acts as a guiding figure for me to focus and follow. Didn’t get to see Mag and Jennifer at the 27 Km mark as I found out later that they have went back for dinner break. Time Check at the end of 2nd Run Lap was 2:14. At this point I told Bill “Hey we are going to make it man. Let’s go for it!!!”

Lap3: 14 Km to go. WOW so near and yet so far… I started to calculate my finish time and knew that if I could maintain the pace I will be doing better then the 16:30 target I set for myself last year. I caught up with IMIM at around 32Km mark. I know he has drop pace but didn’t worry for him as I knew he would be able to make it to the finishing line in style.

A blister burst, so the last 8 KM felt a little longer and more painful!!!! Fortunately, there are still the residents who call out your name and cheer you on. 8K , 6K, 4K then 2K…I started to visualise how the Finishing Chute look like and how it feel like to pass thru that chute. The pain still there but very bearable!!!!!! Jennifer walked with me to keep me going for almost 1K to the finishing line then we met up with Mag waiting further down… I shout “Go to the finishing line now Go to the finishing line now”. HAHA! Another 8 min or so I reached the Finishing Tunnel. To be honest, my mind was a bit fuzzy… thinking about the past few months’ training and build up, thinking about the day itself… and … I jogged slowly thru the lane toward and across the finishing line. The supporters there really got the mood up by cheering you on with the PA system announcing your name “David Tan from Singapore. You are now an IRONMAN”.

Final TIME CHECK 16:05:00 on the finishing chute. Hooray. I MADE IT!!!.

I must have look real bad that 2 helpers hold me up and led me to the medical tent… a medical personnel asked me 2 times to make sure that I am ok. Mag, Jennifer was with me and 5 minutes later Bill came in to look for me.. We hugged each other and took some pictures before calling a day!!!!

Many Many Thanks to Mag, Jennifer, IM WA apartment mates Bill+Lynn, Danny+Jasmine & Cute Nikko (who create so much laughter in the apartment. Also Many Many Thanks to those who called or SMSed their support, encouragement and well wishes.