Ironman Hawaii World Championships, 21st October 2006

Report by Chris Clarke

Well I'm at a loss.

Normally I would have lots to say about the race, race week build up, etc but it came around so quickly I just didn't have anytime to do anything including training. In fact the longest ride I did involved going out with my two daughters on a family ride for an hour then spending 3 hours in A&E at Stepping Hill as Caprice had fallen off her bike and broke her collar bone, great prep!. (Thanks again Jason P)

The week leading up to the race involved leaving the UK on Tuesday 17th at 11 am and embarking on a 34 hour door to door trip to Earth Quake stricken (if you watch CNN) Kona, Hawaii. On arriving (Wed 130 p.m. local) the first thing to hit you apart from the heat is the athlete show down when collecting your bike boxes. It's great, you stand there watching other athletes watching you with probably the same thought - I wonder what he's riding, or I'm going to kick your ass come race day!. When you're done its off to one of many condo's/hotels along Ali'i drive which even to the first timer you'll know as it has every man/woman/child running or cycling down it checking bikes/speedo fit/etc.

After getting checked in and putting the bike together it was off down to registration/athlete briefing to get the goodie bag and freebies (most notable item-caramel gels on the bike course-yuk!). Apparently after speaking to a few others, 1-2 hours after the earth quake (6.7) hit most of the athletes were out on bikes and swimming in the bay - hard core!

Thursday is renowned for the now famous under pant run and the carbo party. Also its the final chance to get your bike and any last minute nutrition plan sorted. It was also the first time I had a chance to swim, to which the water was still cloudy after the quake and to have a little run back to the condo. Do you ever have that feeling that you should have done more training in the run up to a race?. I can honestly say I probably did less than 7 hours per week after UKIM and that averaged 1 - 2 swim sessions every 10 days, too late now. To me Hawaii is all about enjoyment as you almost break your bits trying to get here so why not look around while racing and take it all in. Boll**ks, go as fast as you can and take the glory.

Friday, the day before the race. It went quite smoothly really the bike got handed over no problems and the kit was checked and re-checked before being placed into the race bags - my biggest nightmare is finishing the bike leg and opening the run bag to find you have no trainers. On coming out of the transition area I met a few Aussies - Simon, Kim (wife) and Tony that I knew from previous races. (Great people and yes I'll do Aus IM one day) Two of them were holding these odd looking helmet pods, on further interrogation I found out that Specialised were giving away brand new never to be sold in the shops legal aero helmets, arrrggh!, damn my medium sized head.

Saturday - Race Day 5 a.m

You've eaten, toilet twice, drink constantly, smile like a geek!

This is it, no turning back now - its on with the numbers and sun screen (thanks Pam). Surprisingly I was finished pumping tires/planting nutrition on bike/toilet stop/drinking by 6 am so I was left to wander around the transition area to look at all the tech bike kit. On closer inspection I saw a bike made of carbon and cane, and some bloke had put 8 (yes eight!) power bars on his top tube which were melting onto his chain set, they do supply them at aid stations you know.

At 0630 am I headed into the water to attempt my warm up before the pro's race started at 0645. After listening to the American national anthem which I must say, even though I'm not an American it makes your hairs on your neck stand on end.

The canon sounds and we're off. The swim as I was to find out as up and down as the weather during the race. My time to the half way point was 31 mins, not bad I thought considering the beat up at the start. However on the way back to Dig Me beach the current/swells took hold and managed to help me add a further 12 min onto my average time. On exiting the water and running up the steps I looked at the watch - 73 mins, my second slowest swim beaten only by Hawaii last year. Never mind, enjoy the race and get a daft tan.

T1 went quite smoothly, I even had time to get a nice lady to apply some more sun screen before the bike ride up to Hawi. The bike section of the race was a mixed bag really. The first 10 miles or so is around Kona itself so there are plenty of crowds and adrenaline to get you going. That might have been the problem, as I tend to try and get into the pace early I missed what could only have been a cats eye/rock in the road. Luckily it didn't flat but it did buckle/dent my wheel rim (replacement cost £400-500). The flip side was I had some company in the form of a rubbing/wobble beat from the front wheel for the duration. The nutrition went okay, in that I managed to stomach and get a power bar down my neck in the first hour, only to bring it up in the second hour. So from then on it was just fluids. At the turn (Hawi) my stomach had seemed to settle slightly and it was excepting a few gels of the neutral variety. The weather (wind) is normally in your face to Hawi then you enjoy a tail wind of sorts back to Kona. Not today!, you could not count on the direction and you certainly didn't expect rain, at least it was warm.

Approaching Kona there is a sign that tells you are 25 miles away from the run, Another look at the watch 4 hours already (s**t) - I really needed to push to go sub 5 for the bike. I turned onto Ali'i drive and into T2 just under 5 hours.

The run heads south out of Kona down a coastal road packed with spectators. At this point I realised just how humid the day had actually become which was backed up when I had to throw up again. I hate throwing up!. My nutrition plan was the same as IMUK but without the Diet Coke and it seemed to be working as I felt okay going onto the Queen K highway. For those of you who don't know the Queen K is the main road on the island and it goes straight through the lava fields. There is no spectators only the guys/girls on the aid stations (every mile) who do a great job. Then you have the Natural Energy Lab, it's a private road which heads down to the coast for around 2 miles. That's when it got hot, I can only describe it like sitting against a radiator wearing only a t-shirt. Then you're heading for Ali'i this part of the run is a dream, it's not just the end of the race but the end of a long season as I wasn't going to compete in 70.3 Champs, Clearwater, Florida.

It then hits you - Ali'i drive, spectators, flags, noise, color, high five's with kids and finally the finish - Chris Clarke you are an Ironman. You never get tired of hearing that at the end of a race.

• Swim - 1:13:05
• Bike - 4:59:15
• Run - 3:21:32
• Overall - 9:40:09
• Position - 207

On reflection (in the massage tent) it was a great day, not a day that went to plan but a great day. I have to be happy with the final position, as last year I came 303 rd. Weighing myself afterwards I had lost nearly 5 pounds which was probably put back on in the pub around the corner in half the time. We finished the night watching the final athletes crossing the line to huge applause and greetings. Then as midnight approached it's local custom to join hands and sing which we did well into the night.

Ironman World Championships Hawaii 2006

Staring

• Pete Nightingale - Support crew/photographer/tour doctor!/and post race drinking partner.
• Pam Nightingale - Support crew/photographer/sun screen applicator/post race drinking partner.
• Chris Clarke - Gym queen turning tri geek/bloke who once had muscle/race junkie.

Of Course it goes without saying, a big thank you to my girls (Colette, Caprice and Arabella) for putting up with me, the finish is not the same without that family feeling, also to Pete and Pam who once again came half way around the world to watch some mad man race the same 140 miles as last year.

A HUGE THANKS...

Chris

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