Ironman 70.3 Marbella – Race Report by Adam Harper
Club Committee Meeting Minutes – April 2019
24/04/2019
Chirk Tri – Race Report by Andy Davies
04/05/2019
A hopefully but probably not so brief summary of my Ironman 70.3 Marbella.
Training started a little later than hoped due to a niggley achilles, but generally had a good run at it since January. Never had to pack for a race abroad before and it’s another level of check lists! Try and remember the stress of packing for that first triathlon you did and multiply it n+1! Moving the race day forwards a day because of the general election made Friday a busy day of flying, registering, racking etc but Ironman organisation makes it all smooth and the atmosphere was very relaxed in Marbella. Cut off times were reduced due to the race being on a Saturday and road closures causing more of a problem. Athlete parking for 1 euro an added bonus! One thing I noticed was that everyone looks like proper serious athletes, no one swimming in their cycling bib shorts or borrowed their dads old bike from the shed.
Race morning meant another early start and the atmosphere was building nicely. AC/DC blasting out over the PA and the sun rising over the mountains. Let’s do this!!
Race goals??? Under 6hrs, pace it well but mainly beat my mate
Swim went well, few breast strokers in the way due to then panicking about making the reduced cut off, slightly choppy but nothing else really, just the usual kicking and pulling.
T1 – tipped the red/blue kit bag on the floor only to realise I’d grabbed my run gear bag by mistake! Re packed the run bag and grabbed the bike bag adding a few more seconds to my already ambling transition. Was more amused than pee’d off.
I knew the bike was hilly, the initial 30min climb felt fine, got up it feeling good. Over took loads on the nice long down hill but it was the slow slog back from the turn point that really tested my mental resolve. Skinny so and so’s flying past me without even breathing heavy! Had I gone out too hard? Was I eating enough? Eventually the climb ended and the long decent back to Marbella started. It was bleeding quick(50mph+) and very enjoyable! Roles reversed and the skinny so and so’s were cursing me now!
T2 – ran down the wrong aisle and had a wee
I knew I had a decent lead over my mate entering the run but he was also a better runner than me. 2 loops meant that I could keep tabs on him. Not having raced this distance before and wanting to enjoy it to the end, all I wanted to do was manage the pace sensibly and keep the gap comfortable. He reduced the gap from 12 minutes to 8 but with 2 miles to go the legs still felt fine and for the first time since T1 a smirk started to emerge. Total time 5:34
So Marbella as a race. Tough course but the setting, weather and aprè race made it all worth it. Would recommend.
2 days of sun and beer followed and of course the question of….. what’s next???
