RACE REPORT by Kevin Cutjar.

Ironman Australia 2008 - April 6th. Port Macquarie. NSW.

April 9^th, 2008. I’m sitting in Nelson Bay, on the East Coast of Australia, now 3 days after finishing the 23^rd Ironman Australia Triathlon. After 20 years in Forster NSW, the race was held for the 3^rd time in Port Macquarie in hilly, windy and occasionally wet conditions. This was my 31^st Ironman finish, but my first since July 2006. I’m very pleased with my 11^th place finish, in a time of 9:06:50.

As the post-Ironman leg stiffness begins to clear, I’m relaxing and reflecting on my return to Ironman racing after a 21 month hiatus. I’d enjoyed the break from training, but not the lack of fitness that came with it. Having returned to consistent training during a Canadian winter with only one short race a month before the Ironman, I really didn’t know what to expect in terms of performance and when asked about my goals, I had difficulty in actually stating what they were. I wasn’t sure. I was certain that I’d trained myself back into OK shape and quietly thought I could win my age group (M40-44) if everything went well on the day and if things went really well, I would go close to the 9 hour mark and/or be in the top 20 overall.

After a peak in training volume, which coincided with hosting a training camp over Easter, I came down with a sinus infection, 2 weeks before the race and went on antibiotics until race day, I did remain confident that so long as I was healthy when the start gun went off, I could put together a respectable finish. I certainly wasn’t at my previous best Ironman fitness level, so I thought this event would be a ‘low pressure’ return to racing as an Ironman age-group competitor, after 10 years in the pro/elite category. With our 9 month old Danielle there to witness the race, I was also a newcomer in the “Go-Daddy” category. This all helped to keep expectations under control and offer new perspective to the Ironman endeavor.

RACE DAY:

After checking-in at my standard 90minutes before the race start, scheduled for 6.30a.m. I walked out of the marquee tent toward the flood-lit bike lot. Rain began to pour down and everyone scrambled for cover. I spent 15minutes huddled under a Gatorade tent, before the rain let up and was able to set up my bike for the race. The walk to the swim start was casual, then hectic, as the crowds began to back-up. I tucked in behind pro, Mitch Anderson, who was hustling his way through the crowd, repeating “Lady with a pram…..Lady with a pram”. A little pre-race humor never hurts.  We were soon in the water and under starter’s orders. I felt calm and ready to get going by the time the hooter sounded.

This race has a seeded mass-start with positions based on previous best (or expected) swim times. I was in the “blue cap” start group, right behind the Pros. As expected in an Aussie field, the swim pace goes out pretty hard at first. I’d positioned myself in the middle of the front line, as there seemed to be a greater concentration of swimmers on either side of the start area. This paid off, as although the pace was fast initially, I was able to find my own place in the water and not get knocked around too much. There was a right bend in the course about 300meters in. I gradually worked my way to the left side of the pack to stay in clear water, keeping a good stroke and feeling relaxed. I wasn’t satisfied that my swim training would allow me to push the pace for 3.8k, so I just cruised the first lap. On the second lap, which is a little shorter than the first, I found I was able to “bridge-up” to groups ahead on three occasions and felt strong as I focused on a recent swim technique tip that would “make me a more efficient swimmer”. (Thanks Coach-Ann). I had not worn my watch in the swim and only later discovered that I’d exited the water in just over 55 minutes. I must say, this was my first race in the 2008 Blue Seventy Helix wetsuit, which I’m sure contributed to a surprisingly fast and relatively effortless swim. My swim split was a decent time for me, but more importantly, I felt fantastic and was looking forward to the next leg.

Back on terra-firma, the swim to bike transition was quick and I was in about 35^th place, heading out of downtown “Port”. The bike course was a 60k out-back, done 3 times. Of the 30k section of road used in this Ironman, I estimate 17k was dead flat and 13k quite hilly. There are no mountain passes, but series’ of short, sharp and rolling hills, punctuated by the dreaded lighthouse hill at the 55k mark, so steep some participants are forced to walk their bikes up, even on the first loop! Just plain cruel! The most significant hills are in and around the town itself, at the start and end of each 60k ‘lap’.

A positive aspect of these hilly sections, as opposed to the predominantly flat Forster course, is that they serve to prevent large cycling packs from forming and reduce the amount of close riding. I managed to catch a group of about 8 strong riders within the first 30k which remained intact for the majority of the ride. There were a couple of smaller groups up ahead, who would splinter as the k’s rolled by. My pace was fairly consistent throughout with various riders pressing the pace, on the front of the group. Draft busters were constantly monitoring the distance between riders and timing pass maneuvers, to ensure race rules where being maintained.

The wind had built up from the south and was driving hard on the outbound leg of each loop. Although the rain stayed out of town – a blessing for transition volunteers and spectators - there were sporadic downpours out on the course, keeping the roads slick and the humidity high.

The road surface is smoother and faster than the notoriously rough Forster bike course, but there are bumpy sections of road through which I constantly lost water bottles from my rear carrier. Unknowingly losing my carb drinks, I was pleased to find Coke and Gatorade at the aid stations, along with water to wash down my Gu’s and Powerbars during the ride.

Anticipating that the group pace may drop off in the later stages of the bike and knowing  the race always comes down to the run, I opted to conserve my mental ‘energy’ for the final bike loop and the marathon. Most of the time, I let other riders set the pace and just keyed off their pace, which takes less concentration than being the front rider. Until the last lap, I would only occasionally take the lead (of my group) but ensured the pace was strong during the last 60k by coming through more often and holding a good tempo. I rolled into town and T2 with a now small group of riders – some I’d been riding with for most of the day and a few we’d picked up during the last 30k.

Coming off my recent break, I’d inevitably returned with new equipment. In addition to the wetsuit, I would also be doing this race on a new Orbea Ora race bike, on which I’d logged less than 400k prior to the race. I’d set it up to mimic the ride position of my training bike I’d been spinning on all winter. With my (geeky-looking) Giro Aero Advantage race helmet and Ora bike from the Bike Barn, I was using some of the best equipment available, which does inspire confidence. Although my bike training, with up to 10 indoor sessions per week, may have been considered somewhat unorthodox (for Ironman) I felt strong, smooth and comfortable throughout the entire ride.

My Mum had made the trip down from Darwin (5000km away) and my cousin Adam had come from the Hunter Valley. They were joined by other friends who’d also watch the race and build on the emotional drive (motivation) that my wife Barb and Danielle would inevitably provide me, with their presence. Most had witnessed my top 10 finish at Forster in ’04, so by my own reckoning, knew my race had not yet begun.

A textbook transition had me out onto the run course in less than a minute and in about 14^th place overall, as the race clock rolled to 6 hours “flat”. Receiving feedback on my position was encouraging and I was pleased to be heading out on to the marathon, which is usually my best event.

The run started with a flat 6k out and back section, followed by a partly hilly 8k out and back in the opposite direction. That 14km circuit would also be completed 3 times, before veering off into the finish chute at the 42km mark. As I allowed time to adjust from cycling to running on the first jaunt out to Settlement Point, I contemplated the upcoming marathon and assessed the progress thus far.

I felt OK and was in a great position. The last time I’d done Ironman OZ (in Forster), I’d been 45^th off the bike and placed 8^th at the end of the race. Usually strong and consistent on the run, I felt confident that I could hold my own with most guys and I waited for ‘the rhythm’ to come.

As some cloud cover blew off and I ran in the direct sunshine for the first time, about 2k into the run, I suddenly felt extremely hot and like this was going to be a struggle. If the sun stayed out I might not (be able to) run the whole way. The km markers indicated a ‘seriously’ sub 3 hour pace, yet I’d been passed by 2 runners within the first 3 km. Not knowing what to think of the entire situation, I defaulted to the basics….run one km at a time and just keep going.

After making a turnaround at the 3k mark I could see the guys behind running toward me, not far back. Although I was feeling very “ordinary” there was no option but to just keep pressing on and hope 1, that my legs would be arriving soon and 2, that everyone else was feeling as rough as I was.

The leader of the women’s race, reigning World Champion, Chrissie Wellington, who I’d passed early in the bike was only about 90seconds behind and was being chased closely by Kate Major. These girls were at war and were (also) shaking up the pro men’s field. Staying ahead of these girls presented a challenge, in itself.

The aid stations were approx 2k apart and I was knocking back Coke and Gu’s at every chance. There was a point at about 5k where I gained some real energy and felt like a runner. This would pass and again, I struggled not to walk. The ‘runner’ feeling came and went, but would never stay. Whether it was my training, pacing, being sick before the race or just lack of race fitness, I couldn’t know. “Run one k at a time”. I made the effort to cheer on other runners and absorb energy from the crowd, to stay positive and keep smiling knowing there was still a long way to go and anything (positive) could happen. The whole run was an internal battle – such-is-life - in the Ironman. Just keep going and soon it will all be over!

One clear image I have from early on the run is Barb standing across the road as I ran toward her, with Dani hanging from her torso in a Baby Bjorn carrier, her face protected from the sun by a blanket covering her head. As Barb screamed with excitement at my place and apparently pretty decent run pace, Dani’s legs were a kicking frenzy and although she couldn’t see what was going on, was clearly expressing her own excitement, as I ran by. Some things just don’t allow you to let up!

One k at a time my progress through the marathon continued. Through race central at the half way point I visualized a turnaround, such as the halfway point at Ironman Canada and pictured myself “on the way home”. Some creativity is often required to prevent these multi-loop courses from wearing you down (mentally). I’d picked off a couple of runners by this point. Although I felt less than average, my pace was holding up. Approached the long uphill grind above Town Beach for the second time, Wellington came by. I thought I’d hang with her for a while and having someone to key off would help, as it did on the bike. We hit the hill and all I could do was watch and wish I was 20kg lighter, as Chrissie flew toward the top on her way to the 3^rd fastest run of the day, an 8^th place overall her 3^rd Ironman victory in as many attempts. A class act!

Soldiering along, my battle remained internal rather than with anyone else on the course. With 6 turnarounds, you can see the pain and perseverance on the faces running toward you. The harshness of the hills on the bike and the equally challenging run course, was taking its toll on everyone. Run times would be slow today. As I passed the finish area with still 8k to run, I could hear the winner being applauded as I ran off toward the hills for the last time. “It’s nearly over!” thoughts ran through my head. I’d soon cross that Ironman finish line, one more time. “Just get it done!

It’s amazing that as the finish approaches the pace begins to quicken. Firmly in the front of my age group, the last 2 k’s were fast and I felt strong. I could hear the crowds screaming and cheering, yet my focus was still within. Now contemplation was on what has just happened. As I made that left turn onto the grass of the finish chute, feelings of pain are replaced by relief and uncertainty replaced by a little pride in the satisfaction that I could (still) go the distance. Being welcomed in as 11^th place finisher and the first age grouper, felt as good as any finish before it. I took time to absorb the moment, while being greeted by family and friends in the finish chute. We did it!

Only an Ironman knows the feeling!