I ♥ Ironman Wales
September 11th 2011, the day I took on and conquered my first Ironman, the first Ironman Wales, and a day I will never forget.
6:30am, excited and nervous, I made my way down to the North beach in Tenby for the swim start. It was comforting to know my team mates, Karl, Tim, and Sarah were all feeling the same, and no doubt so were the other 1500 competitors. It was still dark and quiet and the air was thick with apprehension, which increased tenfold when we reached the habour and heard the waves crash into the beach. The swells were abnormally large for the time of year due to hurricane Katia, which was also the reason for the move of the swim from the South beach to the North beach, and the resulting 1km run from the swim to transition.
Friends, families and locals all lined the cliff tops in anticipation of the swim start while athletes faffed with goggles and wetsuits, talked with fellow competitors, had a last minute practice swim just to make sure, or like Sarah and I, were being swept back onto the shoreline having felt the full force of a giant wave – well, it was giant in Sarah’s eyes, and swallowed her whole. Fortunately my height saved me from a full dunk and I just ended up on my knees with the remnants of the wave whooshing passed me. It got plenty of laughs and certainly helped break the tension. One of my favourite parts of the day!
It wasn’t long before athletes started to make their way to the start line, listening for the bleep from the timing chip mat for confirmation that 1) they had their chip on, 2) that it was working, and 3) that they would get a finish time. After the announcement that the original Ironman Dave Orlowski was racing and the Welsh national anthem was belted out in true Welsh style – POP! Was that the starting gun? Apparently so! I recently found out it was actually a starting flare, hence the pop rather than a bang. Anyway, we were off! As I made my way into the swells I looked to my left and saw hundreds of other athletes pegging it down the shoreline – Pro’s an’ all! I exited the water and joined them for what Karl is proud to say is his fasted 200m swimming ever! The swim was so much fun, even though most of the time you couldn’t see the buoys, the other athletes or the boats for the swells. At times the other athletes were about 10 foot below you, or like Karl you were quite sure you had given the boat a wide berth of about 20 metres, only to find the sea has scooped you up and spat you out under the bow of a boat for a good head bashing!
The run from the swim to transition was awesome – the crowds going wild, cheering you on, squinting their eyes trying to make out if you’re a man or a woman – I had a gained a disguise in the form of a silt beard from my swim so who can blame them. After a quick (yeah right) transition, it was onto the bike, through the crowds out of Tenby and heading to Angle.
The bike course is incredible in so many ways – it’s incredibly hard, it’s incredibly scenic and incredibly well supported. The scenery at Angle was just stunning – the waves crashing into the shore with a back drop of clear blue skies, picturesque landscape and sand dunes. Another favourite part of the day for me!
The support from locals and feed stations was immense. A few things stand out for me during this epic ride – I was told that I had the longest pair of legs this guy had seen so far (I don’t think his wife was too happy), another bloke told me to stop looking at the shoes in the shoe shop as I passed through one village (there were some nice ones in there!), and one guy shouted ‘Kathryn, I love you!’ All very funny comments that had me laughing and enjoying the day even more – crazy Welsh (I can say that because my dad is Welsh and he is crazy).
After getting back into transition off the bike, it was the small matter of a marathon to do. I picked up a couple of gels on my way out onto the run course, passed over the timing mat and attempted to run – oo, aa, ee – that’s me trying to run along in pain. My whole body was so sore that every time my foot hit the ground it felt like my whole body shook and with every shake came incredible soreness like someone whipping you with sticks – even my biceps hurt! What was all that about?! Anyway, after some enforced walking I managed to run, taking in gel after gel, water, Gatorade, bananas – it was tough but I still enjoyed it so much, getting off on the pain, the challenge, and the fact I was going to be an Ironman!
My last lap of the run was hard and it wasn’t made much easier by a pesky banana skin on the now dark and wet road. Yes, it doesn’t just happen in cartoons – I actually slipped on a banana skin, threw the cup of water I had in my hand all over my face, and grazed my knee!
Heading back into the town I could hear the crowds and music which seemed to help me find some energy from somewhere, either that or I was Tuc and Ritz biscuit powered. I found myself like a puppy all excited and running for the finish through Tenby’s winding streets enjoying the final few moments of my epic journey, slipping my arm through that final lap band and not quite sprinting up the esplanade…
Kathryn Roberts, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!
