A few of you asked for my recap
on the day so here goes if you are interested.....
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Firstly, and most importantly, I want to send a huge thank
you to all the friends and family and my coach who supported
me through this experience. It meant the world to me and I
honestly could not have accomplished this without the laughter,
love and unyielding support from all of you over the past
few months.
I crossed the finish line at the Ironman World Championships
in 10:25 hours. It was beyond anything I could ever have dreamed
possible. I placed 7th in my age-group, in the top 20 age-group
women overall and I missed making the podium by less than
a minute (yes my competitive spirit is still chewing on that
one!). However, I am honestly just awed at beating all my
expectations and crossing the finish line given that a year
ago - I think I had barely run more than 10km at any one time!
Overall, it was a spectacular day. I woke up at 4am and ate
breakfast sitting out on our patio in the dark watching the
full moon over the ocean. Then it was off to the race start
with 1800 other people all getting their numbers marked on
their bodies, sunscreen applied and making last minute adjustments
to bikes in transition. It was an orderly entry down the ramp
and into the the ocean as we got ready for the start. I swam
out into the bay and tread water listening to the national
anthem while watching the sun rise over the volcanic mountains
above the bay. There was so much energy with the thousands
of spectators, helicopters flying overhead and athletes in
the water. I swam to the start line and took a deep breath
to prepare myself before the canon went off. Suddenly the
water went from peaceful tranquillity to the most violent
washing-machine churn as everyone started the swim. It was
a tough start but thankfully after a while I managed to get
into a better rhythm and eventually I was at the turnaround
boat and heading back for the 2nd 2km to shore. I finished
the swim in 1:05 which brought a massive smile to my face,
was into transition and then out on the bike course with a
pounding heart. A quick circuit through town (lots of cheering
spectators including my family) and then it was out on the
highway through the lava fields for the next 5 hours.
Having been in Kona for a few weeks prior to the race, I had
had a chance to experience the ferocious winds that pound
across the lava fields and had been reduced to a slow shaky
pace on more than a few occasions. I felt so blessed on race
day because the winds never came and we had perfect conditions
all the way out to the turnaround at Hawi and back. I pushed
hard but comfortably and ended up having one of the fastest
bike splits I have ever accomplished for a 180km course of
5:14. I think I prayed almost the entire way (to multiple
Gods) for smooth sailing and no flat tires given the number
of flats that had occurred during my training on the Queen
K Highway. Luckily none prevailed although I have a feeling
I promised away my first born child so may have to reconcile
that one when it happens.
Coming off the bike when your legs feel like lead and you
know you have a marathon to complete in 35-40 degree heat,
100% humidity, is one of the scariest things imagineable and
especially after one of the fastest bike averages of your
life. You just have no idea what is going to happen.
I started out fine along Alii Drive and made it to the turnaround
at the little blue church. Coming back up was a different
story. My pace slowed considerably and I could feel the heat
taking its toll. I knew that the steep hill up Palani Ave
to the highway was going to be tough. Part way along Alii
Drive I saw my parents, then David, Clare, Penny, Paulo, Francois
and a few others. Their energy and huge cheers gave me such
a lift although I was hurting so much I dont think I even
took my eyes off the road to acknowledge them. Eventually
I was up Palani and into the full heat of the lava fields
going out to the Energy Lab. I concentrated on putting one
foot in front of the other and at each aid station drank and
put ice against my heart and in my hands. It worked and my
pace improved. I plugged away and made it to the turnaround
and vowed not to walk on any of the hills coming back to Kona.
I was in the last stage and suddenly two girls in my age group
caught me on the final hill. I increased the pace, they matched
mine and we got to the top and pounded our exhausted legs
back down Palani. Unfortunately I knew that I couldn't hold
the pace and backed off in the final km to the end along Alii
Drive. It was hard to let go but I also knew my limitations
and at that point I really wanted to experience the thrill
of the "end". It was such an incredible feeling
running through the thousands of cheering people along the
finish. I was looking for my family and saw them just as I
crossed the line for a marathon time of 3:58. I have never
been so happy to have anything done in all my life!
So much hard work, so much worrying and preparation and suddenly
it was all over!
In retrospect, I think this experience, as well as the opportunity
to be exposed to the many incredible people in this sport,
has taught me so much. The Ironman motto is "anything
is possible" and if there is one thing I have learned
over the past year ... it is that even if you have doubts
and dont believe you can do something .... at least go out
and try. Taking those steps into uncharted waters (sometimes
literally) can be so scary but the thrill of accomplishing
something you never thought possible translates into a strength
and understanding that spans so many other areas of your life.
Well... enough of the philosophy for now. I am not sure of
my future plans at the moment but will let you know once my
feet land some place for more than a week!
Lots of love to all of you and thank you once again for believing
in me.
Katherine
PS - a few of us put together our top 10 recollections from
Kona and I have posted them below for your amusement :)
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My Kona Top 10
10) The first morning in Kona, going to the Pier, watching
the sunrise and then swimming out to the turnaround buoy.
Completely forgetting about the distance and being 2 km out
in the middle of the ocean alone because I was so mesmerized
by the beauty of the fish and coral underneath me (not to
mention the fact that I truly was floating without a wetsuit!)
9) Watching so many fit and fantastic people all in one place,
usually from over the top of my laptop at Lava Java while
laughing with the Portuguese mafia :)
8) Musing as I walked through town that this must be one of
the only places in the world where it is acceptable for groups
of men to nonchalantly spend the entire day dressed only in
speedos and running shoes and not think anything of it.
7) Being on the road to Hawi during the race and not seeing
any white-caps on the water below. It meant I knew I would
be able to stay in my aero bars and push the descent unlike
every other time I had white knuckled my way down there barely
staying vertical on my bike.
6) Watching the sunset from Hapuna beach
5) Feeding a black eagle manta ray about the same size as
me and being so amazed that its mouth felt like velvet as
it ate the muscles and shrimp out of my hand - so scary and
so beautiful at the same time. They are like underwater birds.
4) Treading water at the start and turning back to look at
the early morning sun illuminate the volcanic mountains, the
bay, thousands of spectators and all the orange and green
swim caps. It was so peaceful and I took a moment to breath
it all in before the violent washing-machine churn which occurred
the next minute after the cannon went off.
3) The inspirational everyday superheroes - especially the
80 year old who "tripped over the rumble strips in the
dark at the energy lab", Sarah, and stories about the
inductees into the Ironman Hall of Fame from the pasta dinner.
They helped put this race (and life) all into perspective.
2) The incredible support from my family who was with me all
week. Realising that when you have that much love and laughter
around you it is ok to go out and do crazy things like the
Ironman WC in your first year of triathlons.
1) Crossing that finish line and completing a feat I never
dreamed possible in a time I never imagined possible. Wanting
to go back for more.
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