Ironman Cairns race report

Hello beautiful people. I feel like I have gone missing in replying to all your messages and have been awake for the last 2 hours (since 1.30) going over the events of the last couple of days and the last 6 months as well as trying to count how many muscles and body parts that are not sore.

It’s been pretty busy and hectic at times to say the least. I’ll just start with Sunday, this was the day, this was it. Waking up at 3.30am to have brekkie, get ready and then have my support crew (Kim) drive me down to the shuttle bus to go up to Palm Cove where the race started. Checked my bike, loaded on my drinks and food for the ride, caught up with Kim and a few of the other 5 South Bank tri Club members who where attempting there first Ironman.

While waiting around for another hour and a half before swim start I had my second breakfast. The water at Palm Cove was excellent, the best conditions they have ever had, water temp 23 degrees and pretty flat. Hugged and kissed Kim then off to the start, no nerves because this is what I came here to do.

3.8km (although my watch said 4.1km as I do tend to zig zag a little) and 1 hour 23 minutes later I’m out of the water, quick shower under the hose to get some salt off then into a huge tent full of blokes (they had a bloody 3m x 3m tent between the women and men’s tent for Gender Neutral people, I should of gone in there it would of been less crowded) all trying to get changed as fast as possible, not one of my strong suits, I took about 18 minutes from the end of the swim to hopping on my bike.

Right lets go only 180kms to go riding from Palm Cove up to near Port Douglas twice (absolutely beautiful scenery, its voted the most picturesque Ironman Course in the world) then down to Cairns. As soon as I hopped on the bike my right bum muscle was giving me curry, lucky it only last for 7 and a half hours till i got off the bike. Every 5 to 10 minutes I was standing up on the right pedal trying to stretch it out and stopped a couple of times at the drink stations to hop off the bike to stretch to no great avail.

As I reached Cairns riding down the Esplanade along side the run course there was heaps of runners on the course (about 1500 people doing the Ironman) quite a few of them walking. The atmosphere was huge, a lot of spectators and loud music. Out of all the thousands of people I hear my name getting yelled out by some of my club mates who came up to watch, as I’m looking around for them and giving them a smile I nearly missed the bike dismount line which if you are not off your bike by then you get penalised, I slammed on my brakes and came to a skidding stop just before the line.

Unclipping my shoes off the bike and standing up was quite an effort not to fall over. Into transition 2, such a relief to get out of my bike shoes and feel the grass while I was getting changed into my run gear. I laid on the grass and did a couple of back stretches before having a go at my first marathon. It was just 4 laps of the run course which went out along the wharf, past lots of restaurants and bars, all the tri club tents and supporters and then out to the airport and back.

The first 2 laps I felt mentally and physically strong but it was harder for the last 2 laps as the crowds started to dwindle and with fewer competitors on course and the run out to the airport was getting pretty lonely. It was so fantastic to have Kim (number 1 best support crew ever) on the course as I got to see her 8 times as I ran past ( or so I thought, on lap 3 she went missing, I thought she might have gone home to have a sleep but she was at the cop shop after having her bag stolen!!!!! A huge story in itself but I’ll let her tell you that one) and to grab some contraband (as you are not allowed any outside help) cold watermelon and coconut water.

Then after 5hrs 39min I went across the finish line and got a medal, a towel and the best part a very long, warm, emotional, teary hug from Kim and my club mates who had all finished long before me but stayed around to see me finish. So by this time it’s about 11.30 I think and time to get in the car and drive back to the caravan. A slow walk to the car followed by “Kim you’ll have to help me get in the car” one leg lifted slowly in, ouch cramps, stop, ouch, try and swing the other leg in, ouch, more cramps, aaaagh, ok 5 minutes to get into the car, not bad really.

Assistance needed to do almost everything now, hot shower, I can’t reach my legs can you wash them please. Help needed to get into my compression leg skins, t-shirt and jumper, shivering uncontrollably by the time I got my clothes on. I think my body has had enough now. No food just straight to bed with a new world record of the fasted time to fall asleep.

No cramping during the night which was great. I awoke refreshed and ready to go, yeah bullshit. A cup of chai tea and carrot cake for breakfast and then the best time I’ve had in ages, which was reading all your messages. It was so heart felt I just couldn’t stop the tears (they’ve started again now just writing this). I am so blessed to have each and everyone of you in my life, the love and energy you give me is phenomenal. I can’t wait to spend some time with each and everyone of you.

Love and hugs, Phil