Yesterday I FINISHED the Rotorua Half Ironman!
Got out there really early and racked my bike, sorted my box of 'stuff' and then headed down to the water. I had written a plan for the day, which I re-wrote 3 times though out the week! It kind of reminded me of university days (without the copious amounts of alcohol!) where you studied and wrote the same information over and over to ingrain it in your brain. Much the same really. The plan was to get in the water before the briefing and then again after to sort my head out. I felt really good out there, no nerves, just excitement. Decided to get in the water after the briefing, had a wee paddle around, swam in circles for a bit and then got told to hop out. It was then game on, with the men heading off first and then 5 minutes later, the women and teams. It was quite surreal really. I casually strolled down in to the water and just swam. Actually loved the swim. Was the highlight of my day as I felt so fresh and so confident. Thoughts washed through my mind
about how the rest of the day would pan out and before I knew it, I was heading around the turnaround buoy for the second lap. Uncanny moment on the 2nd lap when I glanced over to the side of me and saw my training buddy Dean swimming right beside me. Took a couple of glances to make sure it was him, had a giggle to myself and then carried on. Completed the swim in around 38minutes. Not bad for 2km!
Then it was bike time. Felt absolutely fantastic going out on the bike, settled onto my seat and sorted my head out about where I was going to eat and what... I kicked myself for not putting a few leppins in my pocket but was confident I had more than enough food! Was chatting to people as they passed me and feeling confident. Up and over the hills, Tikitere was hot but my mantra was "just keep peddling, just keep peddling". The hills were actually a break to the monotony of the flats, not that there were many of them!.Along the straights back to the lake I started feeling a bit tired but knew that I had to get myself up Tarawera
hill so had a GU in Lynmore and then the cramp hit. Started in the side of my leg and by the time I got to the bottom of the Tarawera hill it was excruciating My mantra came again to get myself to the top and the cramp actually took my mind off the pain of the height of the hill!! Felt horrible the whole rest of the bike and simply just got myself to the end. Off the bike and then sorted myself for my run. I took ages in transition and I think I knew it was going to kick me where it hurt. And it did. The first part of my run was simply awful. I had the stitch and cramp. I kicked myself for not eating a banana as I had one sitting in my box at transition. So it was a case of one step at a time. I knew that as long as I kept moving forward, it was another few meters closer to my goal - TO FINISH. I got up to the turnaround at the green lake and both my cramp and my stitch had subsided dramatically so I challenged myself to run the rest of the track to the bottom of the hill, I walked up the hill and then made another challenge to run for the rest of the blue lake loops.
I did this and was relieved that the running actually got easy!! I kept counting back in my mind over and over how many hours I had been going and then realized that I could actually make it in in my original goal of 7hrs30minutes. Was having serious doubts about this especially with not being able to run. I think this made me run faster and I kept checking my watch as at one stage I thought I could make it in under my goal time. The last 10 minutes of my run I was overcome with emotions, I kept crying and at one stage was actually crying out loud! The lady in front of me must have thought I was loopy! Lee-Anne emerged from the bushes to run the last 5 minutes in with me which was a great distraction and kept me running. I came out of the bushes to see the finish line and the words of Lee-Anne ringing in my ears "You have done it girl, you are a half Iron man". This made me bawl again and I just cried the whole way in. Scooped Max up in my arms and he ran over the line with me. Super emotional moment as I bent down and sobbed my little heart out. Jacky, my mentor and Ironman idol gave me a huge hug and presented me with my medal. It was
simply the best moment I have had in a wee while. So emotional and relieved and tired and over the moon with my effort!!!
Hugest thanks to all of my supporters, especially my wonderful family, friends and training buddies. Could not have done it without you all.
So there you have it, one half Iron man under my belt and new goals to ponder and set over the New year!! Ironman 2014 - here I come!!
