Ishigaki, in English (at last)

We head once again to Ishigaki for a great week-end of fun and racing. Our group seems to grow bigger, and yet the enthusiasm and camaraderie are fantastic!

Ishigaki is my priority #2 this year. #1 is the Ironman in Frankfurt in July. And to prepare for the latter one, we (Paul & Eric) have been loading it up! My biking has improved tremendously (wasn’t that hard, I admit) and I got back into running a couple months ago. So the volume is there, more than ever before but nothing specific for an Olympic distance race and I wonder how the load (tiiiiiired) will impact the result.
We arrived on Saturday morning. We got ourselves ready under cloudy conditions. But today, it looks perfect. Slight overcast, no wind, good temperature. We’re going to have a ball !

After getting my number on the shoulders and breakfast, I’m off the to the transition area… I’m trying to get organized but I can’t seem to do it right. On top of it, they changed the warming up time – 10mn earlier than planed…

So I’m rushing to get there, but I end up ready just in time for the get-out: I totally missed the warm-up…
Oh well.

I go with the guys from the first wave (waves are normally assigned on swim times : faster times go first, and so on).
We chat while I try to move around to mitigate the lack of swim warm-up…
I have 30mn until the start and I realize I forgot to take something to drink and a Powergel I usually take just before the start. And needless to say that it’s darn hot in a wetsuit when it’s 25 degrees!
And not so well organized today…

7h50, it’s time to go over the timing mat, to make sure our ankle microchips are set. The Mayor gives his inaugural speech, in Japanese and then in English. His English is getting better every year.

I clean up my goggles and position myself on the inside, closest position to the first buoy, on the second row.
I jump around, spin my arms to try to get my heart going for the 2 laps of the swim.

It’s gonna be a great day, no rain, not too hot, and now I have to jump in someone’s feet to call it a day (let him do the work)!

BANG, the gun (or horn) goes off. Start watch. I run, I check if the watch if going, run and dive. Easy ! I don’t push it at all, but I’m very careful. I don’t want my pilot fish to get away. I squeeze gently into second position, letting the leader do the hard work. A guy try to sneak in (in between)… No way, that’s my spot, I push him out – I’m a nice guy, just not now…
I look over the leader’s feet, on the other side. We’ve gone 50m, or 100m, and I see someone taking off. Should I shift guy I wonder.
No, he’s coming back to us and drags off, like everyone else. Good.
But I feel like I’m not swimming at all. My pilot fish seems to have slowed down, sprinting to get the leadership.
I’m coming to the unsatisfactory conclusion that I’m gonna have to do my own work… As we turn over the first buoy – 250 m off the start – I jump in the lead. Since I’m M. Nice-guy I make sure to kick hard : create a gap with the rest of the pack. I can drag of people in the swim, but they can’t!
Then it’s PURE pleasure. I know no one is dragging / draft off without even checking. I’m in the front and the water is totally still, better than in a pool. It’s great – salty water + triathlon wetsuit make a incredible combination. I feel like I’m flying over the water.

350m, I turn and proceed back towards the start area. While I turn I finally glance back at the followers. Hum, I wish I would of made a bigger gap…
At that point I realize there is a side way current, drafting me away from the line. Good thing I noticed it. I’ll make an effort to stick close to the rope on the second lap : most people will draft out like I just did and the rope is shortest way to the next buoy. Now that I’m swim to close my first loop, I feel a lot of waves. The 1000 something swimmers going in the other direction are making some of waves on the other side…
I close my first loop like nothing. I give my elastic (wrist band) up in the basket as I run out. Even though it’s one of the toughest part of the race (running after you’ve been laying down), I goof around and wave at the “fans” I don’t have. I dive back in for the second lap. Boy, I’m out of breath, the run is hard on the heart.

Soon I start catching up swimmers in their first lap. Fortunately, they’re swimming on the far side (close to the center rope while the shortest way is away from it… But as I get to the turn around of my second lap, it gets messy – to say the least.
I turn in the crowd in a manly manner at that point – don’t want the other guys to catch up on me.
There are people everywhere, on the left, on the right, in front, behind, sometimes underneath (especially when they decide to swim sideway: away from the objective)… I now try to stick to the inside as the current should drift most people away from the rope… But in fact, some are holding the rope, others are sticking to them, and I ended up crawling on top of people. It’s crazy – and tiring.
Got to do something! I break away and go wide – I have no choice.
I feel that I’ve been pushing it to make through. Last buoy and I aim at the finish still slaloming between other swimmers. I’m ok as I know my fellow followers are in the same thick traffic!

I try to kick to get blood circulation going again (haven’t use the legs much with the wetsuit). But I don’t have much energy – it’s a slow kick. I extract myself from the water and start jogging to the T1 while taking the wetsuit off. As I pass the showers and then the clock I see 18’20 – Not bad !
I calmly « rush » to the bike and get the wetsuit completely off – sometimes it gets stuck at the ankles – but not this time.
Sun glasses, helmet, attach the helmet, the belt (with the bib number), a drink, … That’s it? Yes, go! I take the Felt and run next with it to the exit. I’m still in the lead I think.

I run and throw myself on top of the bike. That’s when the spectators must of had a good laugh! Instead of jumping OVER the seat, I jumped INTO it, right in the crotch! Try to picture my hands on the handlebars, pain on the face, the belly on the saddle, and the feet high in the air behind… Superman action ! Fortunately I don’t crash. I get back down and start again. Ok, this time I make it above the seat but the shoes are all messed up. They were attached flat to the pedals but the elastics broke or became undone so it’s difficult to pedal. A mess!
Finally I manage to get going – my worst transition EVER. I start pedaling and slide my feet in the shoes. At that point a guy passes me!!! Rah, I just wasted 35 sec (time difference at the end of the swim)!

Anyway it’s no big deal – there’s still a long way to the finish. I’m in good position on my 2 wheel missile and start off with a good tempo to get warmed up.
I feel great. At km 3, I start drinking. I check the heart rate (HR). None : I’m dead ? Not ! It sometimes doesn’t work for a while. I keep going, and start to shift down to increase pressure on the pedals. But I want to push moderately still so I check again the HR. Nothing, still. Weird. I check the chest belt sensor : it’s undone! I guess that while I was doing the acrobat after T1 it snapped off. I have to continue as it is: I’m not stopping to put it back on, nor I’m putting it back on the bike! I’ll follow my feeling.
The now-leader is taking off slowly. I focus on myself and enjoy the ride.
I remain in aero position as km pass by. I wave at spectators on the road side, in front of their house or at crossings. I think about Eric whom must be starting to kick ass on his monster bike. Alain must be exiting the water about now…
2 guys pass me, inches apart. Just go ahead guys, why don’t you draft ! In fact I think the 1st one just passed the other one as they over took me. Soon, they « break up ». I take this opportunity to increase the load and maintain a constant distance with them, about 10m. I keep up as such until we turn inland, that’s a little over 10km into the ride. Inland means the start of the hilly section.
I thought for a moment that my climb had improved drastically as I’m catching up my predecessor. In fact he just turned very poorly allowing to make up ground. But once in the climb itself, the gap increases again.
The first hills go ok, then back on flat area – everything is under control. I start to feel re-assured:
- swim : ok
- biking : feeling ok
- the rest should be fine.
It’s going up again. And as the grade goes up (getting steeper), I choke. I struggle making it up there with tempo. My legs feel empty. And I’m letting the road take over the control…
Almost half way, I’m at the beginning of a LONG straight line, a rolling one. I have good memories from the previous years. But today, again, I stall in the first up portion, then in the second as well. I see my 2 fellow riders taking off. What’s going on ? I got no peps, no energy. The hear is fine, but the legs won’t push harder.
While riding down, I reflect on this a little : I guess riding 150km last Sunday in the mountains might be related to this state… May be I left some energy out there!
Fortunately, with the speed and not as steep climbs, the rest of the rolling road is becoming quite fun.
I reach the half way point and I start to feel good with a good tempo. Nonetheless I’m recalling the climbing issues I just had and think again of the big climb last week… My mind is going back and forth on this: feeling better now & stalled on the climbs… I don’t seem to be able to get out of that thought.

I finish the rolling section knowing I still have short but very steep climb followed by a more casual one but quite long one. I can’t see the other 2 riders by now.
I reach the steep one and grind my teeth to make it up the best I can. At the same time I’m preparing myself for the long one.
Once I reach it, it actually feels easy: I press harder. At the end of the road the photographers shot like maniacs with their huge lens. I wave hi, as usual… And keep the same attitude with the people whom are in the middle of nowhere and yet cheer us up. It’s nice to be nice…

Tight turn, well managed (because Coach Alain is reading) and I reach the “cherry on the pie”: it’s 2km straight down hill road. ALL OUT! I’ve been waiting for that one for a year!
Unfortunately, there are wind gusts. Sideways… With the aero wheels, the bike is quite sensitive and moves a lot. So I decide to get out of aero position to get a good grip of the handle bar. Then I pedal like a freak! Soon I tell myself I can’t keep that way : I got a great aero set up (bike, wheel, helmet,…) and a great down hill and I’m hold the handlebar… That’s a big no-no ! So I dive back into aero position stretching forward, lower my chest and start pedaling even hard than before. What a blast! 65 km/h for today’s max speed ! I can’t pedal fast enough now !

Right turn, mastered as usual (hem hem) and I’m on my way home – well, on my way to T2… About 12 km left of flats or slight inclines. I actually now feel ready and going. I keep a good pressure on the pedals and a good cadence. I finish this stretch by myself, with still some “hi” to the spectators.
No wind, little overcast: ideal conditions.
I reach 30km kike & I check the clock. 48mn I think, quick math, that’s a sub 1h10 bike… I’m not that bad!
I start the second gel. Then I realize – dummy! – I don’t remember where I put the other 2 – the ones for the run. I recall the hat, the shoes. But no recollection of the gels – another poor preparation item.
Alright, I’ll have to manage this one tightly. Drink-wise I’m doing good – I run dry 2km for the transition – well done, no extra weight carried.

I release pressure for the last km, get out of the shoes 200m from T2.
There’s nobody. Usually there is 1 or 2 referees to tell you where to get down from the bike. I dismount (without any clumsiness) at the first line I see. Stop watch & check: 1h04! What? That’s 4 mn faster than last year. It really didn’t feel that fast (cf. the trouble in the hills)!
Anyway I’m not here to chat around. Let’s go. I run with the bike to drop it off. I set on the handle bars as the seat is too high to place it normally. But it slides off. Alright, I park it against the fence (not where it’s supposed to go… But no time to deal with that: gotta run!
I set the stop watch for the run: I’m ready to break 40mn (well I don’t know how, but I want to!!!). Just like the great down hill for the bike, I’ve been waiting for the whole run for a long time! In the last 2 races I went 40mn something so now is the time to go under and I’m ready to hurt if necessary!
I start off on a good tempo. The first 500m are stiff. My legs are still in cycling mode. It’s hard.
Now that my hands are free I can put my heart rate monitor back normally. Soon 1 km.
The course is slightly different than last year. I’ll be turning towards the middle of the town. And from our ride yesterday, we noticed the street is on an incline: we gotta to run up. I’m ok with it – I know about it.
Here it goes, up. Nothing ?! It goes up (a little) but it doesn’t seem to affect my stride or heart rate. I think I’m doing ok.
To avoid previous disappointments (all the kilometers weren’t 1km long !) I’ll look my time up only every 2 km – more chance to be somewhat accurate.
2km: 7mn something. I’m early! I though I’d be at 8mn but I’m way fast. Should I worry about being fast too early. Nope, it doesn’t come to mind. But I still want to pace myself correctly.
At that point I hear running behind me. The Japanese guy, shorter than me, passes me. 8 km to go, what do I do? Alright, I said I was ready to hurt: now is the time. I jump in his steps. He looks back meaning he doesn’t like it. Too bad, run drafting is authorized.
Argh – it’s way fast! After 200 or 300 m I realize he’s way too quick for me. I have to return to my own pace. It’s tough in the head: I get dropped so easily by a guy that’s ½ my size…
Couple of turns and it’s a long rolling stretch (no real climb though).
Temperature is fine, the heart is all out, I feel the engine is full throttle. A notch faster and I’ll choke… I must keep it that way. Soon I’ll give everything left.
Km 4 – I don’t recall watching the clock. I know I’m running well (for me obviously).
I take some of the gel that I’m consuming very slowly due supply shortage…
The kids from school and baseball clubs stand along the road cheering, singing, giving water or wet sponges. It feels good on the back.
Km 5, alright – I’ll look at the watch: 18’20! Incredible ! I don’t know how I’m doing it – I’m rocking ! It’s way faster than the 4mn/km I’m targeting.
I’m awfully close the max – I know it. Again: a notch faster, harder and I’ll blow. But right now I feel alright. I can keep going.
I reach the end of the rolling road. It’s the turn to close the loop.
I start to fade –I feel it. It’s hard to keep the tempo. I need to push again, keep cadence. Lean forward, run faster… It’s hard. But I find my mental key to get myself going. I just have to think of the marathon I have to do to complete the Ironman (meaning after 180 km biking) in Frankfurt. Thinking about it makes my legs go wild.
Km 6 – at last! Each km seems longer and longer. I hear noise from behind… Rah, someone is catching me up.
Alright, the marathon, I got to stick to him. Here he comes. Marathon, getting the legs going…
Hem, how can I explain: he drops me.
I feel like I’m walking he passed me so fast ! I can try anything to get going again, but nothing works.
Where is km 7 ? I guess I missed it while I was being passed.

There, there is km marker. Km 8 ? No ?! It’s only km 7!! Take that in your face! Man it’s hard… I feel it, I’m slowing down – the batteries are gone. Think of the marathon, the Ironman… Nope, nothing’s happening now. My « friend » took off – he’s so far now. I’m so slow !
The marathon, break the 40mn, go for the pain, … Repeat over and over…
Finally my head takes control again. The body took over for a couple a minutes that felt like eternity. But I’m back on top by km8. I push the legs again and again.
I give it all, or almost all. I didn’t come all the way to get beat on the finish line. So I have to be able to sprint if needed. People tell me I’m 6th or 7th I don’t know. So I speed up (well at least in the head) in case someone was closing on me. The engine is boiling, like a pressure cooker !
I run pass the hotel, soon in front of the finish so I’ll have 1 km left or so – finally.
As I go by I look at the official clock : 2h00’something…
(the little mouse turns the wheel very slowly at the end of the race) So it takes a little bit to realize I can close it under 2h04. 2h04!!! Hurray!
I get going even more now. Got to clock that last km in less than 4mn ! Gotta finish like a storm – but the tank is empty. The turn-around point is soooo far!

That’s it, I’m there, 500 m to go. In the turn I look back – will there be a final sprint? No it looks like I’m alone. I’m relieved but I keep pushing. Now 2h04 is the target… so close to it!
I look back again (double check). It’s ok.
400m… rah!
300m, alright – I sprint for myself and a 2h03’59… That would be great…

I see the finish, I take off the glasses & the hat (for the finish picture, duh !). The clock just went from 2h02 to 2h03. Only a few meters to go. I can’t believe I’m about 5mn faster than last year.

Stop the watch: 37’40 for the run. Incredible: I have no clue where does that come from. I haven’t done ANY speed work… It’s crazy.

Alright, drink, recover and go cheer the others..
I see the Jerome’s and Alain going. I missed Eric’s finish: 2’09. He improved so much too! It’s funny how training can help…

In the afternoon we had the opportunity to see the pro races (women & men).
After the impressive race from my friend Stephane Poulat, member of the France National Team, I went to see him, anxious to share my great performance… Proud to tell my time, he replied: well you got 3 mn left to drop!
Huh?! What does he mean? I just went 2h03 – that’s awesome! No ?
But then I realized – he’s right. Next time I got to drop my time again!

In the mean time, the focus is Frankfurt. Everything is focus on preparing the 3.8km swim, 180 km bike and the famous marathon to complete this challenge on July 6th…