Ironman Frankfurt 2015 – Miriam Staunton
I started to write this on the return plane journey from Frankfurt, as on my previous IM in Austria 2013 I had done this and was so glad to have the report to look back on. Many of the details are forgotten quickly afterwards, so I think with a major event such as this it really merits writing it down while its still fresh.
This journey started for me back last Sept/Oct as I pulled out of DCM with 3 weeks to go and a tear in my Achilles. My focus was already on IM Frankfurt and I didn’t want to completely rupture it and scupper training for a prolonged period. Training started in late November with mainly swim and bike as running was still off the cards. This time out I was coached rather than following Don Finks plan. Having a personalised weekly plan was brilliant, particularly coming back from injury. I also find working with David very easy as he is so positive and his enthusiasm for the sport just shines through. It’s hard not to be positive with this mind set in a coach. The training time committed to Ironman is big, it’s important to enjoy your training. Sure you have days you don’t feel like going out on the bike or run but I enjoyed pretty much every session.
My week is very fixed from week to week so it was a question of making the best of the available time slots. The training week looked like this
Monday was rest day and cub meeting
Tuesday S&C in the am and club swim in the evening
Weds extended spin or track
Thursday run or bike or brick
Friday swim
Sat long bike with short brick run
Sun long run
The big change for me was training in HR zones and the addition of S&C to my weekly training. I did a bike VO2 max test in trinity to supplement a run one I had done a couple of years prior to this. This gave me solid HR info to work from.
Long bikes were primarily spent with Matt ‘solid as a rock’ Bird. Matt was a great training partner, no bullshit, says it as it is but would never ever leave you stuck. Under that tough exterior is one absolute gent. We had some great spins including the DSI lap the gaps, the 180k cycle to Wexford on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning when the referendum result was coming in. We celebrated with cans of coke in Bunclody. One very tough day was the WW200. Myself, Matt and Dervla did it together. After a very tough 195km I punctured in Kilcoole. The air was blue. Matt took control. Had a bust up getting the tyre off. Wrestled a tube in, nicked it getting tyre back on. 2nd tube out. Then a car stops. In my naivety I thought the lady was going to offer some assistance. Window down ‘are you with that group of cyclists up ahead?’ Dervla responds something along the lines of 2000 cyclists, sportive etc. ‘well they’ve All broken a red light there, I’ve called the guards’ Matt goes ‘thanks for letting us know’ and yer wan drives off. We are all pulsed up so we can’t respond how we’d really like to. When we get back to shoreline in Greystones, Matt says ‘right, we’re looking for a fat b**ch in a Toyota Yaris!’
Anyways, training gets done, you check off the weeks and before you know it, you’re heading for taper and race day countdown. This time round eagerly watching the earlier batches of Ironmen pulsers heading off to Lanza first (Ger and The white Kenyan) and then Austria (Kim, Medbh and Jonny). Austria, in particular being just 1 week before Frankfurt sent the nerves skyrocketing, but also building excitement for getting there and getting started.
Myself, Dee and Andrea were all on the same flight out on Thursday. Dee kindly bringing me to the airport and we met Andrea there. Uneventful flight over and we landed. While Andrea went off to collect his bike box, myself and Dee waited at the carousel. Dee’s bag appears but no sign of mine. I actually cannot believe it. In 2013, while arriving in Graz airport, the exact same thing happened. In that case, it was clear my bag had not made the connecting flight. In this case they did not know where it was! And it was a direct flight. Andrea kept saying ‘this is not possible’ and Dee went into fixing overdrive listing the double of all the gear she had. I can safely say I was *not* calmness personified. We hopped in a cab and got the the hotel. Dee sorted me out with some basic essentials. I had a fairly disturbed nights sleep with the heat and worry but needless to say the pulse community stepped up next morning. I tweeted Aer Lingus my dilemma and Chris Donohue was sharply on the case (on his birthday no less) to get it retweeted with a load of people following suit. Aer Lingus were swiftly on the case and the baggage was located and flown out. I was mightily relieved to finally see the bag arrive at my hotel on Friday afternoon. Race gear aside it was great to have clean clothes to put on. The heat in Frankfurt was cruel. 10 degrees above normal according to the locals and Yr app telling us it was 37 degrees.
We had registered and hit the expo on Friday morning while #luggagegate was unfolding. I got the obligatory Ironman merchandise early as knew from previously races that this gets busy quickly. While Ironman are very happy to take your money, they are not that efficient at the transaction itself and the queues can be huge. We got a bite to eat then headed down to the hotel where shipmytribike were set up. Collected our bikes and bags, super service as always and hopped on the bikes back to the hotel. I put the bike through all the gears on the short spin to the ibis and everything was in working order. We headed back to hotel to sort out all the transition bags. A slight complication in Frankfurt is the split transition, meaning you rack your red run bag the day before the race and don’t see it again til you reach t2. We would have to get a shuttle bus out the next morning to rack bikes so wanted to get all of our gear ready early. So I gathered all my stuff and nutrition for the run bagged. I would bring bike nutrition on race morning as we had access to blue bike bags and bike on race morning.
Next up, race briefing. You think you have so much time before the race but there is actually a lot to get done. Race briefing took place at the finish line grandstand in the blazing afternoon sunshine. ‘Welcome to the Sahara’ says the race director. ‘Sunday is not a day for a Pb! There will be no wetsuits allowed as the water temp is already over 26 degrees and we expect it to be 28 by Sunday. The briefing continues like this with dire warnings on keeping cool, hydrated and protected from the sun. They let us know they have 40 tonnes of ice, 350 medical personnel and have moved some of the run under a somewhat shaded area. Music to our pale Irish ears!
At this stage my brother in law John who is also racing has arrived as have some of the support crew. We meet later for pizza in a place local to the hotel and agree to try and rack our bikes early the next day, busses start rolling out to the lake at midday and run every 10-15 mins. You have to rack your red run bag before this in t2 or else they will rack it for you. We wanted to get out to the lake, rack and get a little swim in before heading back for early dinner and early night.
Myself Dee and John head down about 11:30 or so to rack the red bags, then head up to get the shuttle buses. We had just missed one but expected with German efficiency another one would be along shortly. We waited, and waited and waited. The queue behind us getting longer and longer. Finally, after over an hour waiting we see a bus and they pile about 40 people plus bikes on board. The traffic at the lake is mental and this is obviously what has held the buses up. A 20 min journey was more like 45, but finally we get off and get into transition. We rack the bikes and bags and walk transition. Then queue to pic up timing chips and head into the lake for a quick swim. We decide to head back as it is getting late now, 3:30 or so. So much for staying out of the sun and off our feet.
We head out for the return journey and aren’t long waiting for a bus. As we queue to get on Andrea and Niall are only getting off the bus with their bikes. Andrea announces to the waiting crowd ‘total FUCKING NIGHTMARE’. Afterwards we find out him and Niall were 1:45hours on the bus! This is the organisational lowlight of the whole experience and one Ironman really needs to sort out.
We have agreed to meet for dinner at 5 and have a table booked for 10 people or so as the remaining supporters have arrived. At this point to be honest I am shit company, just want to eat and get back to the bubble of my hotel room. I prep all my nutrition, lay out my gear for the morning, set my alarm and try to sleep. I lay in bed and dozed restlessly in and out of sleep til I wake slightly before my alarm at about 3:30. I have a quick shower, lash on the sun cream and head down for breakfast. It’s about 10 to 4 in the morning and breakfast area in the hotel is busy. I grab an oatmeal arrangement they have, bread roll, orange juice and coffee.
We’ve planned to aim for a 4:30 bus given the debacle on the previous day and we meet John at the race hotel only 5 mins walk away just before 4:30. Straight onto a bus no issues and fly out to the lake. Dawn is just breaking and the nerves are kicking in big style. I find my bike, fill my drinks bottles and nutrition holder. Blag a track pump and pump up to 100psi, I’m playing it safe with the forecasted weather. I check my blue bag and add food to the cycle Jersey pockets. It’s weird not being a wetsuit swim. Sports bra and swimming togs, goggles and hat. Do we need Vaseline? Toilet stop and head to the beach to see the pros and 500 or so age groupers go off ahead of us. I can’t really talk to anyone at this point though all the guys are wishing us luck and taking photos. I just want to get started. We watch the pros off then head into the corral. Next off are the fast age groupers and finally 2500 of us get the cannon and off we go.
I’m in in the middle near the front but have a terrible start. I’m nervous, people grabbing your legs and you sink, much more so than with a wetsuit on. There are people breast stroking everywhere and it’s hard to get around them. At the first bouy it’s chaos, and it’s not even a turning buoy. I know I am having a bad day. I try and calm myself, and swim. Finally we reach the turning in bouy and head in to the Australian exit. Checking my watch I see its 43 mins for 1500m shit. Head back in for the second leg of the swim and it’s calmer, I’m swimming better but can feel my arms chafing. Sports bra with swimming togs untested at this distance. FFS. I feel like I’m going better but when I get out I check my watch. 1:41. Ah crap. My face is completely pins and needles. I see John Gilbert he later tells me he thought I was saying something about his beard. I wasn’t making much sense. It’s an uphill beach climb to t1. In the tent, dry off , sun cream tri shorts on, cycle Jersey, socks, shoes, helmet and glasses. I see Richie, Clare and Siobhan. I know I’m last out of the water as they’ve moved up to t1.
On the bike and put the swim behind me. It’s a long day and I know the swim is just a small part of it. Concentrate on getting my heart rate down. The first 15k is flat and fast before you head onto two loop course North of the city. I pass 5 or 6 guys with flats on this leg. The heat is already phenomenal and I know I will have no issue drinking the planned 1.5l per hour. I’m drinking to thirst and easily keeping pace with this. Plan is to keep isotonic drink on the tri bars and water on the frame. An upside to being slow on the swim is the mental lift you get flying past people on the bike. I was passing loads and comfortable. I was eating every 30 mins and drinking on plan. At the aid stations picking up 1bottle water and 1bottle of isotonic and getting sponge or water to pour over myself. There were 8 aid stations total so I picked up around 10-12litres plus the 1.5 I started with. The heat on the bike is phenomenal and about 60 k in my tummy starts to feel dodgy. i try to ignore it but at about 75k in a little German village, while people are out cheering I have a little Britain style projectile vomit. It just keeps coming. I keep cycling. I take a water bottle and try and wash some of it off. Not realising its at least another 25km to heartbreak hill and the next aid station. I’m compete,y dry by the time I get there but get a huge lift seeing Dave and the two boys (Tom and Aidan) there cheering me on. Dave tells me I’m looking strong and I laugh to myself as I imagine I look like death warmed up.
I head up heartbreak hill which is a bit of a climb but nothing major but the crowd comes in around you, and cheers you on. I am smiling from ear to ear. I’ve stopped eating at this point bar a couple of shot blocks and a single gel. I continue to pop salt tabs and lots of fluid. The rest of the bike leg passes in a blur of feed stations, cobble stones,and two tiny wees on the bike. Where is all the fluid going to? On the second time up heartbreak hill I meet Dee and we cycle most of the 15-20k back to transition together. Off the bike and into t2. Around 6:20 on the bike. I’m actually happy enough with this though I was hoping for sub 6. Given the conditions and copious Vomiting I’m glad to have made it back. Meet Dee and John in the tent. I change my top, socks and put on more sun cream. I blag some Vaseline off Dee for my poor chafed underarms :-(. I put on hat and grab my drinks bottle. I nearly don’t leave the tent.
I have a conversation with myself. Just go. Just start. Just do 10 k and see. I head out and run about 200 m before stopping to walk. I see Sinead graham and tell her I don’t think I can do it. My head is down and the 42k looms in front of me. I meet Laura, Richie, Clare and Siobhan at about the 5 k mark and I am in a dark place. I’m calculating cutoff times if I have to walk the whole way. Richie tells me later he said to Laura ‘you talk to her next time!’ This made me laugh. The guys are giving great encouragement and I make a plan. I make a deal with myself count to 50 while running then walk for a count of 20. Soon after I get my first wristband and this gives me a little lift. Next time I pass Sinead I’m in a better place. Run 50 walk 20. Im running well when I’m running and keeping pace even passing those around me jogging. Next time round when I meet the Pulse gang I’ve a wristband and a plan. I keep plugging away 50/20 50/20 literally making a deal with myself every time, just get to 50. I get another wristband and I know I’ll make it. Next lap Dave and kids are there and this is emotional. Tom is really getting into the spirit of it. 50/20, 50/20 another wrist band. I meet Niall on the run now, he’s getting his last wristband and I’m getting my 3rd. Occasionally I see Dee just ahead of me. I don’t see John or Andrea. I pass Sinead again and know I won’t see her now til the finish. Im on the last lap. I’m surprised and delighted to see the pulse support on the last lap, I thought they’d be gone to the finish line. Toms face is red inthe heat, but he says ‘mammy, you’re nearly there’ there’s about 5 k to go and I keep plugging away 50/20, 50/20. Finally I get my 4th wristband. I’m headed back to the turn off point. When I’m nearly there I dump my drink bottle, I want to enjoy the moment. You get to the sign that says laps 1,2,3,4 go left, finish turn right. I *cannot* believe it is finally my turn to turn right. A smile breaks out across my face. The support crew are at the barrier to the finisher chute, I grab the tricolour and I savour the moment. The guy ahead of me is 50m ahead, there’s no one behind. I smile and encourage the crowd the cheer. Lifting the tricolour above my head I run to the finish. I am delighted. I am an Ironman. I get my (frankly huge) medal and some Finisher pics taken. I go over to Dave, kids and pulse support crew. We are all happy and smiles til the last few cokes I had make their presence felt and reappear. I’m taken off to the medical.
Just under 5 hours for the marathon, which again I am proud of given the conditions and my state in t2. I lie in the medical as they take blood sugars and blood pressure and smile to myself. I’m feeling ok so I sign myself out and find Dee. We are chatting away when suddenly she doesn’t feel so good. I go to get her a drink and by the time I return the medics are there with her and they stetcher her off. I grab a shower and get changed, and go to find her. She’s on a drip but in good form. I go out to find Dave and the boys and Laura comes in to take over.
It’s time now for beer and pizza and smiles, which follow over the next few days. An amazing experience made all the more special having Dave, Tom and Aidan there (Ailbhe missed out for scout camp in London which was ‘the best week of her life’) as well as the amazing support crew in John G, Laura, Richie, Clare,Siobhan and honorary pulse member Kevin. Niall’s support crew in Sinead and his family also giving a great lift as well as the general Irish contingent around the course. Tom is now all fired up for triathlon and wants to do an Ironman when he grows up.
Big thanks goes to my husband Dave for his infinite patience with my training, to David Adams for all his coaching,advice and hugely supportive approach, for Matt on all the long spins and the set of Zipps and my ever present training buddy Dervla. Youse are all feckin great, I absolutely love this shit!
