Zondag 1 augustus 2021.
Ironman 70.3 Maastricht Netherlands
At 8.15 am I arrived in the transition zone. Actually just to pee before the start. Such a nerve pee. An annoying nerve pee. Because you want that pee out of your bladder. So you're going to stand in the way too long line anyway. Hopefully I can make it before 9 am, because then the first waves are shot away at the start. There are a lot of guys in line. Everyone knows they suffer from nerve poop. Annoying Nerve Poop. Because it always takes so very mega super long honor 1 such a guy who has completely completed a big message. And if there is still a piece or 25 men like that standing in front of you… Time is slowly ticking away, just like the speed at which the queue clears its big groceries for me. Takes a long time. And long story short (because this is really a piece of shit from this Ironman): I'm getting kicked out of this row, to be sent away again in another long line. To join for a third time in a row, this time outside the transition zone, for only 3 toilethokjes…
The starting gun has already sounded, and even better, the first athletes are already dripping in from their first part at a high pace: a 5.3km run. Unfortunately, the swimming part has been canceled due to the high flow speed of the Maas. This is due to the floods in Germany, Belgium and Limburg of 2 weeks before. The first runner came after a minute or 16 within. And I? I'm still in that queue 3 toilets, to get rid of that rotten nerve pee. When I look back at the starting row in front of the starting arc I see that it is not getting shorter super fast. Sterker nog, that might be just as slow as the shitting men on the 3 toilets. And my time will only run when I cross the starting line myself. I wait until it's my turn. Take a breath, nerve pee out and hop on at the back of the 4th row of the day.
So delicious, that tension in line for the start. I notice that it gives me energy. A little hopping back and forth to the beat of the stamping music against the cold. The line moves forward step by step. Impatient people I leave for, if you want to start a few seconds earlier if necessary, just do it! The starting arc is getting closer and closer. I look at my watch. Almost 10 o'clock again. I press the 'play' button on the watch and set the activity to running. The gentleman in front of me runs away after a loud beep. Soon it's my turn! Then I can also start a beautiful sports day. “Tuut-tuut-tuut-tuut!” the countdown tone sounds at short intervals across the Maas. The hand of the jury still at the height of my waist. My fingers on my watch. "Beep"! And I start to run.
5,3km running instead of swimming. Running is not the part that suits me best. So yes, Of course I'm sorry that the swimming is canceled. Not that swimming suits me better, but it just makes the triathlon a triathlon. Now the Ironman feels 70.3 yet different. Mother nature is tough. Hard for all those affected in the disaster area, but also hard for the triathlete. Nature makes no distinction. Accept how it is and don't dwell on it too long.
I was determined not to start too hard. It's so easy to walk all over yourself in such a relatively short distance. Whipped up by all those athletes around me and by the audience, which fortunately still stood along the sides of the road. I feel supported by all the people out there. And how nice is it if there is also 2 are supporting clubmates, easily recognizable by the blue and white of the TVB. There are others besides me 2 clubmates participate in this beautiful event. And other acquaintances are also encouraging along the side. Maastricht is after all 13 been my hometown for years.
But because you float through all those people around you you go, at least.. at least me, automatically a bit harder than you usually would in a training. A 2nd intention during this event was: do everything by feel. And if it feels right: keep it up. And it feels good. I like a nice rhythm and can keep walking nicely. Looking around me I enjoy every step I take. This pace is good. Immediately switch to the bicycle part. And grab a cup of water with that change. Even though the sun isn't shining, it's still warm. I visualize again where my changing bag hangs, remind myself to put my shoes in the other change bag and my bike hangs in the second rack in the front left lane. Nice and close to the bike exit of the transition zone.
Like an accomplished triathlete (ahem) I put on my bright yellow helmet and put on my shoes. There's a strip in the pockets of my shirt that I'm putting on, my glasses, the wahoo and my gloves. I sip some sips from the water bottle that I take to my bike while walking. Out of enthusiasm I still pass my bike. I think that's beautiful: keep an eye out huh. I pull the bike off the rack and walk to the finish line. “You can start biking from here”, says a friendly judge at the finish line. God, That man has said that many times today!
After a short bike ride I hear a familiar whistle. A proud Ronald is shouting in the heart of Maastricht. Look how proud he is! And that makes me proud again. And thankful. Because he had to miss me for a few hours because I had to make some meters in preparation for all this. Still handy; that bright yellow helmet and bright yellow socks. Am I recognizable for him?. After a winding part we drive out of Maastricht. Finally those arms in the braces and let's see how the legs feel.
I think it's a beautiful bike course. It starts nicely rolling with some nice not too long or steep climbs. That suits me quite well. I especially like the foothills after a climb. I can lose my strength on that and I also notice that when I overtake a lot of people on those pieces. I know this area like the back of my hand. I know exactly where the climbs get tougher, where the bends come in descents and where 'my' pieces are. That helps a lot with planning the 90km ride.
The first 40-45 km go so smoothly. Then we go into a flatter part, where the Slingerberg is waiting just past Geulle. There is a small west wind, but you do feel it, certainly the last 10-15 km, where it really gets open and flat. But I feel good, the legs feel good. Lying in the bracket, the asphalt flies under me. I still keep catching up with clappers. Sometimes in a longer game, where I catch up with someone, he catches up with me again, I catch up with him again… until the moment I look behind me and I see a big gaping hole behind me. Yummy, someone drove off again. Good for my morale. But this fine bicycle part also comes to an end. And I shouldn't start on the last part with too thick full legs; the half marathon. I'm still sweet with it though.
Next to me a young man crosses the line. “Hey, get off FORRRRR the line!”. The boy apologizes, what i think is cute. I'm looking for the spot in the rack for my bike, find another half gnawed strip in the pocket of my cycling shirt and eat it while walking towards changing tent. I'll throw soon 2 banana puffs away, grab my bag with running gear and change my clothes calmly. Dik 2 hours of running ahead. Let me start again with a drink. I accidentally grab a coke (I really don't want that), but give him back anyway. Then another cup of water and we can start. I put a gel in my bag for the last few kilometers and put my cycling gloves in the other bag that I forgot to take off.
That running part after the fast bike part, it always feels so weird. It feels so unbelievably slow. "Slow as thick shit", I think while walking. But really, I started the running part pretty hard for my sake, and it still feels like you're walking backwards. It's not working.
We first walk through the center of Maastricht again, and then a back and forth (keer 2) to do on a fairly narrow cycle path along the Maas upstream. I don't think it's a very interesting track. But wow, what is there so much audience! I know, they are not there for me, but that's how it feels. I start to smile and enjoy it even more. Large audience, many athletes around me. Occasional acquaintance. I was afraid that this piece would become incredibly boring and that I would get into my head. You don't have to sit in your head, at least, not me. I have to stay out of my head. keep looking around me, enjoy the activity, sucking energy from the people around me. And that works well. Very good even.
The miles fly (despite the slow experience) past and I walk surprisingly strong. “You transcend yourself Moon!” Ronald shouts to me, if i still 2 kilometers to go towards the finish. I feel it too. Although I have no idea how long I've actually been working on it. I turned on the watch, mainly to check my pace every now and then. I haven't been busy with times. I've been busy enjoying myself! And I can still 2 enjoy kilometers of full fries. And then, the last bend towards the finish arc is in sight. Oh, one more bridge. And then a small extra loop with a very small slope. Why I call that? Because that hurt so much. My legs were ready. The finish came exactly on time.
What a beautiful sports day!
Learn moments from this Ironman70.3:
– More food on the go. The event went well, But the next day I was very hungry. I shouldn't think I'm on 1 strip, 1 banana and 1 gel thick 5 can exercise for hours…
– Hold this enjoy mode: lekker!
– I think there's more in the barrel. I want to take a more serious look at how I can better prepare/train for the half marathon in enjoy mode. For a faster run and a better recovery.
– And I want to learn to swim better technically, but I had already thought of that for this event.
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