Race Report from Phoenix.

Having arrived in Tempe, Phoenix on the Thursday evening, after preparing my bike the next morning, I made my way to the Tempe Town Lake on Friday morning for a practice swim and to register for the race.

All went well and met up with Laurence and his friend Ed later in the day for lunch and the pre-race banquet and briefing. On Saturday I drove out to the bike course, parked up and did a 20k loop at the outer end of the course, which highlighted to me that the race could be affected by the wind conditions with a potential head wind on the uphill section of the course!

Later in the day it was all about getting the transition bags sorted, racking the bike for the race, and chilling out at the hotel the evening before the race.

Race day came and we all did our final preparations in the dark – putting food and bottles on the bike, and adding any late items to the transition bags, before the sun came up just before the start of the race, and then it was down to the waters edge for the start.

I decided to get in the water quite late as it had been chilly the day before, but I think race day adrenalin took over as soon as I hit the water as I didn't notice any chill on the day. It was only a few minutes swimming up to the start line and the start gun went off. I was swimming well, mostly finding good water, but there was the occasional dead-end where all space seemed to disappear, but generally all well out to the turn point at about halfway. Here I had a problem though, were a little water got into my goggles and my eyes were really stinging and I couldn't see where I was going. This was maybe from my sun screen, so I stopped, washed my eyes, and headed off again. I think the eye issue might have affected me a bit as I was convinced that my swim time was going to be slow at about 1:20, so I was really surprised when coming out of the water that I was under 1:10.

Transition was smooth and I was soon out on the bike bang on schedule.

The bike course was three laps of a reasonably flat out and back course, and lap one went really well. What the lap splits don't show is that the latter half of the out leg took us along a pretty straight but exposed road, with a steady climb of 100m over the last 6 or 7k. Now this doesn't seem much, but when you add in the head wind, it did take that bit of extra effort, but it did help on the way back. This meant that I was averaged 15-16mph on the out leg, but over 24mph (!!!) on the way back.

Lap two wasn't so good – on the out leg my back was really hurting and the ibuprofen didn't seem to help, so I stopped at the top of the hill and stretched for a minute or so. I had lost time on this leg because of my back and also the wind had picked up a little more, but the stop did me a load of good and I had a great return leg.

I decided that the time lost stopping was well spent so I stopped and stretched briefly at the start of each remaining leg and this paid off when I managed to finish the bike in just under 6 hours – my best IM bike leg yet – and I get though T2 with a smile on my face as I was now 15 minutes inside my “ideal” planned schedule.

As the run started the sun was out, it was hot, but not too hot and I was feeling great. My plan from here was to keep the pace at about 10 mins/mile, which I was hopeful I could hold to the end, and for the first lap of three I was keeping to that plan.......

But, on lap two it all started to go wrong. I began to feel the tiredness in my legs, I couldn't face any more gels, food, drink, and even the water was making me feel ill. My strategy until then had been to walk through the feed stations and run between them, but I just couldn't hold that, and I started to walk between the stations as well. I was feeling very nauseous, which meant I could only manage small sips of water and so was becoming more dehydrated, but I wasn't going to give up. I kept pushing as hard as I could and did feel I was perking up a little towards the end, maybe helped that it became dark as I started the final lap of the run.

I did manage to increase my pace a little, and managed to run for longer spells, pushed on by the fact that I was nearing the finish and I thought I still had a chance to do a PB. The last half mile was torture – I hadn't checked it out before the race, and every damned supporter kept saying only 220yds to go. Well it's the longest 200yds I ever ran, but finally I was in the finish chute and across the line, a very “skinny” 35 seconds inside my best IM time.

I crossed the line in 12:21:47, and collapsed into a chair. I could hardly move and was guided to the MASH tent where I was weighed and put on a drip (CM cocktail special *). They had weighed all competitors at transition the day before and this was part of the medical assessment to see if any athlete was in trouble. I had lost 13lbs (should have lost this before the race – maybe!) and yes I was in trouble, but as CM will tell you, the drip does perk you up quicker than any other method of fluid replacement.

Overall I was really pleased with my race and time. Heading out to Phoenix I genuinely thought 12:30 to 12:45 would have been good, but 8 miles into the run I thought sub 12:00 was on the cards. Sadly that wasn't to be, but over this distance it is so hard to predict what will actually happen. To finish is always an achievement, because these races do hurt, and I am really pleased that I have at least improved on my previous best time.

As for Laurence – great effort with 9:48:47, his mate Ed managed 13:40:36 – well done both.

This race had been really well organised in a relaxed sort of way, and was well supported by the locals. Apart from the rancid choice of gels on the course (Powerbar Latte and Caramel) I couldn't fault the event and would recommend it to anyone who fancies venturing to the US to race. As for me, that's the US adventure over and it'll be back to Europe for IM Switzerland as my next one in July. (why do I do this to myself?)

* CM is Chris Morris.  He is a club member who I trained with up to my first IM in Austria, and it transpired that we finished the race and crossed the line together, but he ended up on a drip.  The following year, he collapsed at the end of the bike, so failed to finish, and again ended up on a drip, hence they are now referred to as CM Specials.