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@ewanmac
Ha no but I saw Vanwhatshisnacker Weiss and Lowe out on the run course lapping me. It was a fast day on a fast course and lots of records ended up being broken - World Record (Vanwhatsit), British Record (Lowe) and Women's American and debutant's (Ellis).
From my perspective the swim was an utter disaster- the worst swim I've ever had. Massive headaches from about halfway, stopping to wretch, more headaches and complete loss of power and energy - I honestly thought I was going to stop the whole race then and there. In the end I had to stop about 20m from the swim exit and completely emptied my guts and almost drowned in the process.
I'm not entirely sure why I even got on the bike - I think I just followed everyone else, and then the ice lady was helping me off with my wetsuit and putting my bike shoes on my feet. After a slowish transition I set out with utter fury on the bike. I was so angry I needlessly and uncharacteristically screamed at some other british rider for coming across my line in the first few km (Sorry Andy -whoever you are). Anyway, I knocked the first lap out at an average of about 35/36kmph (I'll check the garmin data) and then realised I needed to chill out and so I reigned myself back for the next lap. 112miles on the bike done in 5:13.
I popped a few painkillers for the knee before I finished on the bike and then set out on the run. By this point any race plan I had had was blown way out of the water so I ran by feel for the first 10km or so. By then I had settled into a rhythm and decided to hold onto that pace for as long as possible. At some point I sprung a leak in my nose so apparently I looked a little ... er... grizzly with blood all caught up in my beard and sprayed down my front. About 10km out I had a notion that I might be on for sub 10 (my target was sub 11) so I just went for it. I'm not sure I've ever hurt so much and I was right on the edge of collapsing for the last 1500 or so but but in the end I dipped in in 9:54.
Over the line I was too exhausted to feel much elation, and I'm somewhat frustrated that I managed to do so well off so little training - I have a slight case of the "what ifs" but in the end training for an IM around having a life is always going to be a struggle and I'm absolutely delighted with the way I was able to push myself during the race and handle its ups and downs. In the end what with everyone else breaking records it would have been a shame if I hadn't had a pb.
(incidentally my target was 11 hours roughly split 1hr swim (inc T1) 6hour bike, 4hour run (inc T2).)
I just got back from a few days recovering in Croatia but I'll post the Garmin data when I have a moment. In the meantime my results are here: Race number 617