Epic Camp — Length of South Island — Day One
Aquathon: Swim 1,250m, Run 5km
Bike: Nelson to Murchison via St Arnaud 140km, 1,500m Ascent, including 16km Time Trial with net ascent of 200m (300m-100m)
Starting with a race is an easy way to create a train wreck. Swim was planned to be 800m, but permanent buoys were further apart so 1,250m actual. Swam too hard in 22:00 (1:46/100m), and ran too hard in 23:33 (4:37/km), considering bike ride to follow!
Rookie, school boy error, in using a new Tri Suit not worn before to race, so not aware of how it fit. As only 5km run, didn’t use any lube on under carriage. Tackle did get chaffed!
Came into this with a right gluteal/hamstring strain from Half Ironman simulation a fortnight ago, on the day Ironman World Champs in Kona is normally scheduled. Last km of run slowed to what it should have been as a consequence of glute/ham.
Low carb, intermittent fasting until midday went out the window with first breakfast including Sujon Berries @superfruit, before training in recent memory. Applied lube for bike :)
First 20km of bike aware of gluteal/hamstring strain, and thinking I will need to see Physio Kylie on support crew this afternoon. Bike TT from 22km to 38km mark too hard in 32:36, 29.5km/h, with ascent 300m, and descent 100m, for net ascent 200m, heart rate average 161bpm and high 170bpm at 290 watts power. Two hours into five hour bike, cramp in both calves. Struggled to stay with lead group on first two steep climbs, being over 10kg heavier than most and as the oldest, more than double the age of the youngest. Actually did get dropped, but caught back on, on descents. Pleased with mental toughness to remain in contact, just. Sucked on some Dutch drop for salt, and crammed down whatever carbohydrate drink and gels I could to mitigate cramp. Without intensity I can ride 5 hours on water only, as metabolism burns fat for fuel, but intensity requires carbs.
St Arnaud at 80km refuel with freshly baked muffin, not normally in mydiet. Headwind predominantly for last 60km, started with cramp in both adductors. Person in front of me did lose the wheel of the group, and my initial thought was to concede and let the group go, but went around and caught back on, very pleasingly into a headwind. At 3:40 I ended up on the front and felt reasonable with cramps abated. Others were feeling the effects of a tough day, and we were able to largely stay together. 29C was lovely to ride in, but unlikely to be repeated, with rain more likely for the rest of the week. Calf cramps did return approaching Murchison. No longer aware of glute/ham — until stopped!
Tacked on another 10km for 150km to earn a bonus point.
77 minutes of intensity amongst 6 hours exercise, will have taken a toll.
Only good thing of racing too hard is third equal on the points table, to a guy (aged 29) who did an additional special run for bonus points, and the fastest guy (aged 30) on camp :)
Survived Day One!
