Port Macquarie Ironman Triathlon - Brad

The day started by getting up at 4:30 am for some last minute food to fuel up and get ready before the big day. I was feeling nervous before the start, so took 3 toilet breaks before the race started and as a result, I was one of the last competitors to enter the water and get to the start line. The starting gun for the swim went off at 6:45am - just as the sun was starting to rise! The 3.8km swim was pretty crowded because there were 1,500 competitors (I never knew there were so many other crazy people out there!), but I took the swim pretty relaxed and got out of the swim feeling pretty good.

The 180km ride was always going to be my weakest leg as I had only cycled over 100km half a dozen times and never done more than 160km. So I took it slow and was passed by heaps of people on the first lap of the ride - it can be mentally tough seeing a chunky middle age woman riding past me at speed! But I had a race plan to keep a consistent pace throughout, so I stuck to this regardless. Brad also had a race plan, but he got caught up in the excitement and also passed me in the first lap of the ride (there were 3 laps in total). It was a hot day with temperatures hitting 30 degrees, so I kept up plenty of food and drink throughout the ride.

Along the whole ride there was great support from the Port Macquarie locals and supporters of race participants, with much cheering and lots of funny / inspiring signs posted along the course, so this helped keep the spirits up. The elite riders were awesome and lapped me when I was only half way through my ride. However, by the last lap, other "weekend warriors" stopped passing me and I even passed a few people who went out too hard early in the race (including Brad). I hobbled through the ride to run transition with feeling slowly returning to my feet, legs and bum after almost 7 hours on the bike.

After the first km of the marathon, I got into the rhythm and started churning out the km's - probably more of a shuffle than a run, but it kept me moving in the right direction. The run course was 3 laps, so out on the course there was a mix of elite racers who were passing me at speed on their final lap, average Joe's putting in some solid consistent km's and lots of other people who had 'hit the wall' and were struggling through various stages of walking, hobbling, throwing up or just collapsed on the side of the road to rest. By now I was totally sick of gatorade, energy gels and bars, but managed to somehow keep taking them in and keeping the energy levels up, so I could keep going and getting through the km's.

Brad was doing well on the run and kept up a good steady pace and also passed those who had 'hit the wall'. At the 36km mark, they started handing out glow sticks as the sun was setting. Psychologically that becomes tough as I started the race at sunrise and was still going at sunset! But as there were only 6 km to go, I put what limited remaining energy I had into picking up the pace and "tell my body to shut-up and do what it's told" (a quote from one sign on the side of the course which I found amusing).

By the time I could see the finish line, I could hear the roar of the crows and the commentator announcing each competitor as they approached. Then, before I knew it I was there and heard booming voice over the loud speaker "Gavin Sutton.....you are an IRONMAN!". Over the line I collapsed into the arms of two waiting volunteers. After 12 hours and 38 minutes, 5 power bars, 15 energy gels, several litres of gatorade, three bananas, two spoons of straight vegemite (the salty / savoury flavour tasted soooo good!) and one cup of flat coke, I crossed the line and felt elated and relieved that I had made it and could finally stop and rest. Brad also did great to finish in 13 hours 42 minutes - ahead of Tony Abbott!!

So overall it was a fantastic event, excellently run by the organisers and a terrific job by the 1,000+ volunteers who did everything from helping us to change during transition, to putting on sun cream, handing out food and drink and being supportive throughout the entire day. There was also an excellent medical team which effectively setup a mini hospital at the finish line to cater for the 100+ people needing medical assistance (luckily nothing too serious this year, so mainly just scrapes from people coming off their bikes, IV drips for dehydration or gastro problems).

However, Brad and I finished feeling (relatively) ok, so skipped the medical tent and headed to the massage tent and food buffet to eat my way through a few plates of food to start the recovery process........


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On Sunday March 28th I will be competing in the Port Macquarie Ironman Triathlon. As well as challenging myself, I am competing to raise money for 2 charities that have affected some close friends, and statistically affects more than half of Australian families.

The funds raised will go towards a major fundraising event that two close friends are organising called ‘Coast to Coast for Kids’. www.c2c4kids.com.au.