Ironman 70.3 Pays d'Aix 2011

looking too happy on the run

Suddenly decided that I'd do a Half Ironman. Some friends were going, and I was feeling quite fit, so it seemed like a good idea. I entered on 31st July 2011, less than two months before race day on 25th September 2011. It's nice to be race-fit and to be able to do things ad-hoc like this. Not only would it be a race, it would be a long weekend in the sun when the British summer was over. For my friends Scott and Joanne this was their first long distance triathlon, and part of their ramp-up for Ironman Austria next year. I think it was more just some fun for Amy, Mark and Jo who made up the rest of our party and were doing it together as a relay.

I arrived on Thursday and after finding everyone we had a nice dinner, with just a few glasses of red wine. Joanne's parents were here too, with a campervan, and they very kindly took us on a tour of the bike course the next day. This was really useful, and also a nice trip around the region.

Unusually, the swim and the run route were far apart; we would be exiting the swim and cycling to the run start 20km away. So we packed everything in our transition bags and cycled over to the lake to stretch our legs. Quite a lot of hard thinking was required to make sure nothing was forgotten - it wouldn't be good to pick up your run bag and find no shoes in it. It was warm and sunny, and we had some time, so we tested the water - it was really nice to have a swim. We then had quite a tough time getting back to town as the buses promised didn't materialise and we had to try and get taxis.

Another nice dinner, some carb loading, and definitely some more relaxing red wine.

Race day arrived with thunder and heavy rain. Coaches were lined up in Aix to take us to the start and we trudged the 15 minute walk over to them at about 5am. I hadn't packed for wet weather, but I wasn't worried for some reason - I probably should have been. But the rain stopped, and the sun came out and everything was fine in the end.


Swim 00:43:16 - 963rd

I actually didn't mind the swim. The lake water was clean and warm, and my wetsuit helped with buoyancy. 1900m is only a bit further than Olympic distance 1500m, and I knew I'd have no trouble finishing. We waited on the beach in a huge crowd listening to the music, the announcer, and trying to stay calm. After a rather shambolic start, lots of confusion with ropes and people jumping the gun, we were off and I kept to the back as usual. It is a long thin lake, and we swam to a buoy near the far end, across the lake to another, and back to complete the third side of the rectangle. I fell further and further behind and by the end there were not many people near me. This is borne out by the result - I only beat about 25 people - I didn't mind too much, 43 minutes is good for me, but there was a lot of work to do.

T1 00:05:25

Even the fastest people were taking 3-4 minutes here. I stopped at the loo so that I wouldn't be uncomfortable on the bike.

Bike 02:56:52

I was hoping to beat three hours on the bike, but the previous day's course review revealed quite a lot of hills, so I wasn't sure if I could make it. I saw someone at the side of the road after only a few minutes, not realising it was Scott mending his first (of two) punctures of the day. Climbing a hill a short while later, which was beginning to get quite tedious,  I came across Joanne and Mark talking together. I said 'Hi' as I went past, and Mark decided he would join me.

We spent the next hour or so leap-frogging each other. My most fun descent to date is this one, where we raced for ages trying to gain an advantage, swerving across to left and right, not caring about cars and just using the entire traffic free road.

Eventually we hit a flat section and Mark pulled away from me. I couldn't afford to try to follow, as I had a half-marathon coming up. Mark was doing the relay, so wasn't running. The final third of the course had quite a tough hill but we were soon descending into the town of Aix for transition two. I managed to beat my target, very pleased with my time here.

T2 00:03:58

Another loo break means my transition is slower by about a minute than it could be. I'd rather lose time here though than at the side of the road during the bike.

Run 01:29:11

Some nifty watch manipulation was needed to get my Garmin 205 restarted for the run, but I managed it (you can see links to both activities below). The course is three laps around the town, and was supposed to be flat. I ran well but it was very hard work, and very hot in the Provence afternoon sunshine. We ran as far as a park where there was some shade, and I took on some water there. on the way back to town there was a hill, not much to look at on the elevation chart, but I hated it. This section was two-way, so a chance to see my friends occasionally.

I was hoping for a time just slightly slower than a normal half marathon - so something like 02:35. I ran a very steady race, watching my average speed, getting very tired but knowing I'd make it. I had a bit of confusion at the final roundabout on the third lap - I couldn't work out where the exit and almost ended up going round for lap 4. But I found it and was very pleased to get a time under 1:30.

Overall 05:18:44

I was 473rd out of 993 competitors. I thought I'd have done a bit better than that. My swim let me down very badly. My bike was good, but needs to be faster - I should not be content with a 30km/h average speed on a race this distance. My run was the best section for me, 232nd overall in this - I can't think how I'd improve on that significantly.

We finished at a reasonable time of day, unlike with a full IM race, which was nice. Some more food, lots of relieved chat that it was over, and definitely more red wine.


Results - Garmin Bike - Garmin Run - Ironman Site - Ironman Individual Page

Photos - Video still available at Mysports but FinisherPix photos are removed.