Race day..

Well Friday night sleeping was a waste of time. Went to bed around 10pm and up at 1am.  Watched the back of my eyelids until about 3am then decided I may as well get up and have something to eat. A couple of bananas and some toast with Vegemite later and the others alarms were going off to get up. We got dressed and headed to the start at 5am.

Overnight we had wrapped part of our bike and helmets in plastic to keep them dry so that morning our first task was to take that off and give them a final check. With that done we left transition and headed to the swim start. The weather was cold and cloudy with a little breeze. The water was flat which was what we wanted. We found a spot to change into our wetsuits and handed our gear bags to Dee. A tip I can give is not to give your friend your gear bag. Check it in as it will get it back as soon as you get to medical and when you can’t find your friend after the race it means you have warm clothes to change into. But enough of that for now. The crowds had shown up and the Maori guys came in on a traditional boat to welcome us. The atmosphere was good but you could tell everyone was fairly quiet and concentrating on the day ahead. At 6:45am the professional males started followed but the pro females a minute later. With them out of the way we all headed through the timing gate to check us into the water. I found a position to the left edge of the group. Not too far out but far enough that I wasn't directly in the washing machine that was about to start up. The water was cold which I later found was colder closer to where I was than over near the buoys. With the 3min countdown announced I made sure I had my watch set and I was ready to go. With the sound of the canon we were off.

I had a good start. Not too fast and no one bashing into me. I slowly started to move in closer to the pack as we headed up the course but keeping my distance so I didn't get tangled in and bashing around. The swim course was a 1.75km straight swim. Then a right hand turn and about 100m till another right hand turn. Then 1.75km back before making the last right hand turn and 200m swim back to shore. The water was amazingly clear. You hear people say on other swims how clear the water is when you can see a murky image underwater. In lake Taupo it was like a pool. You could see for ages. It did give you something to look at while you swam. Only problem I had is that I want to turn left all the time. I think that if I closed my eyes and just swam I would make a nice big left hand circle and end up where I started. Every time I looked up to sight I was off target and moving away from the pack. Well I guess that's better than running into people all the time. As the swim went on the pack thinned out. I found I was swimming on my own by the last buoy. I headed across the timing mat and had a slow 400m jog along the road and up the stairs into the transition area. I grabbed my bag and headed into the change area.

T1 was my first debacle. I had decided to change into some bike shorts for the ride. They had more padding and I wanted to feel comfortable. I wasn't worried about the T1 time as I knew I had all day. All the volunteers were eager to help you strip off and help you dress if you liked. As I was doing a full change I thought I had this. I don’t really need help. So the female helper just waited and watched until someone else came along. First thing was the wetsuit. Yep all good with part one. I dumped all my clothes on the ground and grabbed my towel.  Stripped off the top part of my tri suit and dried off as much as I could. I put my ride shirt on and took the rest of my gear off. I picked up my bike pants and went to throw them on. This is when I found was that it’s not so easy to get bike pants on when you are a little damp. The rubber around the legs sticks nicely and the material just stretches. So here I am half nude struggling to pull my pants up past my knees. It must have made a wonderful sight for the helpers. Oh and yes the water was cold that I had just been swimming in for last hour. Haha. Finally I had my pants on so I grabbed my shoes. I went to step back and sit down to put them on and I hear crack. Oh no whats that. I had stomped on my glasses. The arm had broken off and can’t be fixed. I remembered the beginners seminar where the presenter had said things will go wrong and just cope with it. Well I had my first two issues in T1 and it was still early in the day. I put them aside and left the change area. Picked up the bike and helmet and headed out of transition. Sure I was annoyed about my T1 time but I knew I was well ahead of the time I had wanted to have this part done in so I was still happy.

To get a little side tracked I did have a couple of goals I would have loved to have hit. The first was just to finish no matter what. Second was to try to get around the twelve hour mark. I assumed 2hrs for the swim, 6hrs for the bike and 4hrs for the run. Now I knew a 2hr swim was very slow so that’s where I knew I had transition and other time to move around and still make the time. The swim I had done in 1:06 and with a slow transition I should have been about the 1:18 mark. So I was up. Woohoo.

The bike started off well. I was trying not to go to fast out of the gates but the excitement of it all doesn't help. The rain started to come down and the wind had picked up. As we climbed up the first hill to get out of town the fog was still around and it was looking to be a crappy cold ride. The first hill is about a 4km climb to the top and then a 6km decent. It only has a couple of steep parts so most of it is just grinding away. It was nice to hit the 6km downhill section though. Once over the hill there was nothing exciting really. I kept thinking that this is really just like home with bumpy roads. The wind was in our face all the way out to the turnaround point. The bike course was two laps. Basically directly out and back. Nothing special or interesting to keep your mind off it. The road just kept going and going. You see the road turn and think yeah it must be around the corner but no just another straight full of bikes riding out. It did feel nice when I made it to the turnaround with the wind behind your back. Finally you were able to pick up some pace again. The hill climb on the way in was pretty easy I thought and I passed a heap of people every rise we came to. I didn't know if this was a good or bad thing but I kept going. At this stage the rain had stopped and the sun had come out. It was starting to get hot. In town the crowds had picked up and the support was wonderful. Unfortunately I had to do it all again. This lap the wind had picked up and it was like I couldn't get the bike moving. All the way to the turnaround point was a struggle but people were not powering past me so I knew it wasn't just me fading away. Turning around was great. Once again the wind helped. That didn't last long as it soon became a cross wind. I was getting frustrated that I was still on the bike and not seeming to make much progress. I thought I needed to go to the bathroom and while I could have done the triperson pee as you go technique I decided that getting off the bike for a couple of minutes would help me collect my thoughts and not have a meltdown. 30km from home I found a toilet and got off. I knew in my head 30km was not far so getting on and finishing this stage was going to be done. With that out of the way I headed off. About 20km from home the nice cross wind we had became a head wind and it got a little stronger. Lucky I was close to home and kept on going. 6:01 after the start of the bike I was in town and into T2. I was sore but happy to have that behind me.

T2 was more of the same. I had decided to do a full change for the run. I knew my socks would be wet and rank from the ride so a change of clothes would feel like heaven. Then in walks another debacle. I have a nice old man helping me and talking to me about how my day is going as I am unpacking my gear. When I grab my shirt I find that it is soaked. Not just a little wet but I am talking it could have been sitting in a swimming pool over night. Then I noticed all my gear was the same. I assume it was on the ground and the overnight rain had caused a puddle to get into the gear tent. So here I am getting out of wet bike clothes and putting on even wetter run gear. Great. Wet socks and shoes as well. The helper was all concerned if I would be ok but I just smiled and said it’s all good. I mean it would have to be as I had no other option.

I ran out of T2 annoyed but feeling ok. I mean how good was I going to feel at this stage anyway. I guess I felt good. It was nice that the sun was out as the top half of me dried reasonably quickly but the shoes and socks never did dry up. The run started well. I had a thought that if I got through 10km’s then I am a quarter of the way through. Sure I wasn’t really as its 42.2km’s but hey in my mind it was easier to calculate it on 40km’s and the last 2.2 doesn't matter much when you get that close. I was doing a great pace at the start of the run. Splits were around the 5:30 per km. I knew that was faster than I had planned but I felt great and thought lets just keep going and get some time under my belt before I fall apart which I assumed I would at some stage. The crowds around town were also helping as they call your name out and cheer you on to keep going. About 1km into the run I see Mike sitting in the gutter. We chat as I run past but I don’t get much out of him. I didn't know if he was out or what. Sure I could have stopped to help but I was on a mission and going well. Drink stations were 2.5km’s apart and I made the 5km mark strong. After that it got harder. The sun was really heating the place up and I remember thinking that Taupo was not supposed to be a hot run. This is going to suck. But I was dry at least. Well apart from my shoes. I had felt a few moments where I had a cramp coming on but I was taking my tablets and it seemed to be working. The only other issue I had was my foot pain. Right now it was not bad but I had never run this distance so who knows what could happen. Soon I made it the 10km’s I wanted and was happy to be that far though. But the run became a run / walk from aid station to aid station. The run course was a three lap deal. There was a few hills around but nothing crazy although they seemed tough by the last lap. Heading back to town you followed a path along the waters edge and with the wind blowing it was a hard slog. Close to town the crowds were bigger and that really did help keep you going. With lap one down I was off on lap two.

Once again as I was in the crowd I could keep going for a while before I needed a rest. I would take it as a reward. If I had a nice long run section I got a good little walk. By this time I had had enough of the gels and was eating fruit mostly and drinking water. When I walked I would try to keep some pace and just refocus my thoughts before starting again. About a third of the way around lap two the rain started and it was heavy. I was soaked and cold again. The wind was now blowing hard and the rain made it very unpleasant. I found a poncho at the aid station near the end of lap two. It must have looked funny as the poor girl trying to put it on me was struggling and I guess as I was so wet it did not help. But me managed and I was off to start lap three.

Not far into lap three the rain stopped and I thought it looked like it might stay away this time. Just windy is better than wet and windy. I soon found the poncho too hot to have on so I handed that back and kept running. I was running as much as I could and making goals as I went along. I knew on lap three that I was close to my time goal but probably over. I was ok with that but I thought that if I pushed I would get close. So I had a little chant of “how much do you want this?” going on in my head. It did help to keep me running longer than I had in lap two. Soon I caught up with Jacinda and we had a chat and short walk together before I took off again. My foot was in real pain and I was wondering how long until the tablets stopped keeping the cramping away. At the far aid station I took my last tablets and hoped that would do me till the end. Then the rain started again. Damn it. I didn't want to wear a poncho in my finishers photo and with only three aid stations to go I decided I would just live with the cold and wet. The last aid station I was never going to stop at as it was 200m from the finish line anyway. I was pushing myself and calculated the time and hoped that my foot would not blow up. When I made it to the 40km sign that I had been eyeing off the previous laps I was ecstatic. I knew I was going to be able to drag myself home and if I pushed enough I would be very close to my 12hr goal. I would not beat it but I would be close. The 40km mark was also the start of town. Sure it was wet and most people had left the outskirts of town but there were a few wonderful supporters out there still cheering everyone on. The rain had stopped again or was just a sprinkle. I jogged up the main road on top of the world. I looked behind me and didn't see anyone close. I was not worried about being passed I just wanted to get a good finisher photo with no one else in the shot. Also to hear your name being called out individually would be good. To get to the finish you went past the run turn and up the road another 50m along a chute before doing a left turn and onto the red carpet. The crowds where built up most of the way around that cheering and congratulating you as you go. I was giving anyone a high five that wanted one. I turned the last turn and looked at the red carpet. Some guy ahead of me was hugging family and making his way in so I slowed a little to give him his moment as well. Then I jogged down to the finish. I heard my name. Well a bad pronunciation of my last name but still he did say Stefan Jankowski you are and IRONMAN!! I crossed the line and felt wonderful that I had done it.

Officially in 12:07:21. Sure it was a slow marathon but I couldn't have been happier. I left everything I had out there. I dent a little but did not break. I was greeted by two nice volunteers who gave me my medal and finisher towel then helped me into medical. I don’t know if I looked bad or what but they did seem very concerned if I was ok. Maybe its just what they have to do. I was walked in and weighed. I had lost 2kg which they said was good so I didn't need any special attention. 2kg for all that is not an easy weight loss program. Plus I think I put all that on with the food I have eaten today and maybe even a bit extra. From medical it was off to collect your black bag and finisher shirt. Hmm oh yeah Dee had my bag. I did see her at the finish line with my bike that she had collected. I was hoping that she had my bag of warm clothes with her as I was shivering. First thing I did was to grab a chocolate milk and sit down. Oh what a great feeling that was. I wrapped my towel around me and tried to get a little dry and warm.

I sat for a while then went to get food. They had all sorts of stuff on offer. Nothing fancy but good enough for what most people would be looking for. I did try to eat a few things but everything I had I didn't really feel like after a few bites. I guess my body was not ready for food. I got annoyed I was cold so I left to find Dee. I walked through the crowd of people waiting for their families to come out. No sign of Dee at all. Hmm cold and shivering I went to where I last saw her. Nope not there either. No phone so no way to contact her. Maybe she has gone home. Sure its only 700m up the road but I could hardly walk and I was so cold. It seemed like a long way away and if I get there and no one is home I have no key. So this is where I say to check a bag in so you can enjoy the medical tent a little. Maybe even have a phone in the bag so you can arrange what you are doing and how you are going before you leave the tent. I had nothing. The rain was lightly coming down again as I made my way home hoping that I would be warm soon. People probably thought that I was showing off as I walked with my medal on, number still on and towel covering as much of me as I could but I was too cold and wet to care. Lucky when I got back someone was home and the apartment was open. Dee had come back to get my bag and gone back down but we had taken different routes so had missed each other. I tried to call and tell her but she didn't take her phone. Good job. Well I tried. I grabbed warm clothes and sat on the shower floor or 5min to try to feel better.

When Dee got back a little while later I heard that Mike had finished. He had a foot issues but with some medical help he had been able to walk and then run his way through to the end. All we had to do now was watch Jacinda make it home. Well I was dry now and while I was still cold I was feeling slightly better. I wasn't sick I just didn't feel great. I had pains and while I wanted to eat and drink my body said no. A couple of hours later Jacinda made it back and we headed home. I had some warmed up pizza which finally went down nicely. We all chatted for a while and then went to bed. While the others said they didn't sleep well that night after the race it was the best sleep I had had in a week. I don’t think I moved at all during the night.

Today we were like the disabled bunch. We all had the ironman hobble going on. We had to walk down to buy our finisher gear so we did that early then headed to the hot baths just out of town. That made the body feel a little better. So with that I am done. Would I do another? I don’t know. I don’t think so but you should never say never. I think I like the 70.3 better. It’s still tough but doesn't bust you up as much. Sure I could slow down but then what goal do I have. I guess we will see.

I have had a lot of support from friends and family throughout this adventure. They don’t know it but they did help. Even when you are out there on your own and you feel you can’t go on. You know so many people have been cheering you on and telling you that you can do it so you don’t want to let them down. It drives you to just keep moving forward. There are way too many people to thank but I would like to. Hopefully I can get a chance to in person soon but if I do not and you are reading this know that your support has helped. I also have been lucky to find a great coach in John O’Connell of Summit Fitness Studio. He put me in a position to achieve all my goals. I know he cared how I was doing throughout the program and encouraged me to do my best. Sure I had moments of cursing his plan for the pain it was giving me but he knew what I needed and I trusted he wasn't sadistic. But honestly you need to learn to love a little pain if you want to do this and that is part of the training. To teach you to push beyond what you think you are capable of doing. I should also say a big thank you to Mike Mayo my weekend training partner and general IM guru for all the help he has given me. It’s a shame he had medical issues during the race but he will be back for another go around. Yes he is crazy like that. Also Adam Campbell my weekday and virgin IM buddy who has helped me from the start of this big adventure by talking me into doing an enticer a couple of years ago. Without him I would be sitting around being lazy. It’s a lot easier to get out and do something if someone else is there to drag you along, talk to about things and also be experiencing the same things. Now it’s your turn mate. I would like to see you smile your way through this one. With that I will end with….

Stefan Jankowski you are an IRONMAN!!!