IRONMAN REGENSBURG

Regensburg Germany 2010 was an experience we will never forget.
Waking up at 4am, we had breakfast got everything set up and headed down to the shuttle bus. While doing this there was groups coming from the local night club and we wished we were heading in there direction, but instead we had a long day ahead of us.

The half hour bus journey brought us to the lake. There was a tense atmosphere everyone contemplating the job ahead. Arriving to the lake there was about 2000 competitors, all around us we could see very fit & lean athletes. After organising ourselves we put on our wet suits and went in for a warm up. To our surprise the lake was like a bath. We wondered would we be better off without wetsuits!!! The swim was a mass land start, so not knowing strengths of others we decided to stay close to the front.(bad idea) On the minute to go mark Stephen turned to Dave and said “ I wouldn’t be up this close in Mullaghmore”. The gun went of and it was like stepping into a boxing match. Things settled down after the 1 mile mark and we got a rhythm going,
On exiting the water it was time for the longest part of the day which was the 180k bike. the beginning of the bike course consisted of 30k of long climbs with fast decent s with 30 degree heat and slight head winds it was going to be a hard day on the bike, on the summit of Walhalla (which was a temple on top of the big climb)kids were banging drums and shouting out encouragement in there native language,
The first 80k seemed like a normal sprint distance, we were well hydrated with all the water stations on the course,
The second lap seemed harder but again the massive support got us through (as well as the 12 gels that Stephen took), for both of us the last 20k was a blur but we got through it, with Stephen with an upset stomach and Dave feeling his age the next part which was the marathon seemed next to impossible.
On the first 5k of the run we both suffered a lot of pain in our shins which we never suffered before, but once we got through the first 5k our legs found the rhythm to keep going. The run was 4 10k loops of the city of Regensburg. Cobble stoned streets were again lined with supporters, with 5 aid stations on the 10k loop, we were kept well hydrated while sponges and ice kept us cool from the 30 degree heat,Stephen: ''after the 20k mark i started getting bad stomach cramps and couldn’t take any food on, looking back maybe all them gels i took was a bad idea! so with a run/walk combination it got me to the last 8k where I finished with a nice run pace to the line''

Dave: ''the 10k loops were counted by a coloured band system starting with green and finishing with the one we all remembered the pink band!! on the first lap it was so hard to see people with more than one band on, because you knew they were so much closer to the finish, a run/walk combination and the help of the aid stations got me to my final 10k where I collected my pink band and decided now it was time to enjoy what Regensburg had to offer, with the aid of mini cakes and coca cola I happily hit the finish line''

Stephen: ''thinking back if I had a better nutritional plan I would have had a more consistent race, but I think that will be put down to experience''
Dave: ''ironman triathlon is the purest form of triathlon because it brings you back to your first triathlon, which to finish is the goal.
I see myself as an average triathlete, but training with friends, it s an achievable goal! Thanks Gerry!!!! Gerry will have his account of the day up soon.

We would like to thank all the club members that wished us luck up to the event and Jimmy and Simon in Molloys for all the help and advice

August 12, 2010 00:07

stephen