Quick note
for nobody to read about the last Ironman distance race in Vitoria.
To start,
this is an awesome race, organizers where able through the years to steadily
increase the reputation and size of this race. I like to compare it to how
Challenge Roth developed after ditching Ironman brand. The atmosphere as
everyone would expect from a Basque coutry Race is very enthusiastic especially
of course for the locals and then countrymen.
This was
the race that I wanted to perform well physically that would correspond to a
great overall classification.
I will skip
the preparations and the where uneventful except the regular stress to leave
work and all things related to work done so I can have some peace of mind, all
this pretty to say but never happens ;)
Anyway,
straight to the swim, I almost had a decent swim. the 2 lap course was full of
athletes and at the end of the first lap we caught the slow guys from the Half
ironman that started 15min earlier, through the confusion I lost my beloved
feet from the 54-55 min group. in the dry land loop I was like 15s back of the
group and alone, I tried to catch then until 3/4 of the swim but was unable to
do so and then I just blew up, probably for not having enough miles at the
pool. the last quarter of the swim was somewhat never-ending story and was
caught at the end by the 57group that had most of the favorites which was ok.
Onto the
ride, the course is a lovely 2,5 laps through the countryside with flat parts
and rolling hills. This started pretty well, until 30km the course had very
short hills and downhill, villages etc. The group got bigger immediately as the
pace was quite high. Some dropped some pulled away but mainly everyone was very
nervous to control everyone. I won’t go long (very) on this but the dynamics of
a legal pace line weren’t being followed like when someone passes a group of
athletes that are riding a legal paceline he needs to move to the front of the
group and cant slot in in the middle of the group. The thing is, nobody wanted
to move to the lead slotting in whenever they feel like, this happened to me in
20km for like 5 times, the rest is simple physics, if you’re riding legal
distance and a short steep hill comes by, everyone will bunch up, especially
with the nervous behavior. Bang Penalty for me with just like 20km (5 min).
Lets be clear on this I was definitely inside the draft zone for several singular
occasions like I have explained, and if I didn’t want to risk I should just
have gone solo BUT if a penalty was served it should have been to EVERYONE in
that group in the first 30-40 min of the ride except for the leader of the
group that although wasn’t the one leading when I was penalized but as long as I
was there Diego Paredes was the man that was 80 90% of the time in front. I
served my penalty and then had to decide what to do, I decided to try cut
losses and see what happens, the rest of the ride besides passing some isolated
athletes it was a lonely effort but was able to shave some time off from all
the groups at the course. I was actually quite happy with my ride and felt
quite strong although I raced by feeling through the entire course but the
group dynamics ahead of me clearly showed that unless you are Kiele its hard to
stay close without burning all the matches available.
The run was
ok, I felt tired from the bike but I was rolling, passed a few guys but honestly
I didn’t have a clue where I was, I did know that there where several athletes
ahead from the out and back parts of the bike. I ran 2:58 but honestly I felt
kind of numb the entire run maybe because of how everything unfolded, I think I
could squeeze a lot more from that run but overall it was fine, it sure would
be different if everyone in the same circumstances where penalized... 8th
place, 8:33 at the end... actually its been 2 years since I last did sub9 and
actually was sub 8 ;) so I really can’t complain other than it could have been a
LOT better.
Not sure what’s
next but after a short break I will resume the everyday buzz to try staying “Fast”
in October…
