Debra writes: "A huge well done to Khara who completed her debut half ironman race over in Bala north wales yesterday in 5 hours 55 minutes. Andy and I went over to watch and she looked very strong on each occasion we saw her, but ooh those hills looked nasty, very nasty Congrats also to Alan Sewell, former member who also took part and flew round in 5 hours 14, you'd be welcome back to VARR at any time mate."
Khara's report:
Wow, what a brilliant weekend and a fantastic day, I just wish it wasn't over though, it goes so quickly on the day, but you don't realise it until afterwards as at the time it's bloody hard work! I was so glad to chat to people I knew from the triathlon club before the start as we were heading in to the water for the swim. It was nice knowing someone is in exactly the same head place as you. You're just not sure how you feel, you're ok but not really if you know what I mean! Very strange indeed.
I normally worry about the swim, but having driven the bike course the day before I was more worried about that than anything (2 long descents, lovely, but with an out and back course, I was gonna have to get up those too!) and I knew I had to get my pacing right so I didn't die on the run and niggle my knee when tired. I really enjoyed the swim, it was much nicer than I expected after seeing how choppy the water was. I'm sure I was just drifting before the turn around buoy which seemed like a struggle to reach, but once I did, heading home was much easier.
T1 was fine and it was great to hear friends and family shouting as I headed out on the bike feeling great. A fellow club mate came past me soon after the last long hill on the bike and it was only then that I realised I'd done all the hard biking and this was the down bit I was supposed to be enjoying, so she gave me a huge boost/reminder as she simply said 'come on then lovely' as she breezed past me Made me chuckle and my legs move a bit faster. Andy, Debs and and Suki were at the top of the last big climb, thanks for the shouts guys, very much needed and appreciated Not sure why but I was so uncomfortable on the bike, from within the first few minutes, so most of what I remember is pain unfortunately. It was like I was using someone else's saddle yet mine is normally so comfortable as it's so far from being a race saddle. Maybe it was just that I wasn't relaxed, I'm not sure, but I took pain killers on the bike for that reason, nothing to do with my knee! It helped though and I tried to stretch on the downs, but blimey I need to look into it cos it really wasn't very nice at all. It's right at the top of my inside thighs, like it was actually digging in to the pelvic bone Any way, I paced it right, I was very happy not to have died up the hills and I knew my legs were fine as soon as I got off the bike.
T2 was a bit messy with bits of kit strewn all over the place, but I was soon off and running without jelly legs (all the brick training has made a huge difference). I felt pretty good on the run, but not having speedy legs, especially at this distance, really does help, but it's ok as I clearly know my own pacing and how to stick to it. It was nice to feel strong though, although I had my moments when trying to get to the turn around cone, which was tough and very much up hill. Thank god it then went down for a bit and Andy & Debs really did pick perfect spots to support, thanks again. As I was heading out on the run I knew there was a chance to duck under 6 hours which really motivated me and certainly kept me going in the last 3 miles which were tough. I'd seen so many people walking that section as I was heading out that I was worried I'd be doing the same or that my knee would go, but it was actually fun as I did pass quite a few people, including all the ladies that passed me on the bike in the last few miles! I'm so so happy with how my race went, everything felt very even, well paced, hard work but not horrendous, which I'm sure helped my knee and has given me loads more confidence for possible future plans as well as my riding in general. Crossing that finish line felt amazing, I've been on such a high ever since despite feeling pretty tired.
All the training was so worth it, I've enjoyed pretty much all of it except for one very cold weekend ride in January! My splits are 2k swim 39:39, 51m bike 3:09:52, 12.5m run 2:01:51 Chip time 5:55:34 Put it all together and you have 1 very happy girl who was hoping, just hoping, that on a very good day she could get as close to 6 hours as possible, but who woke up at every hour the night before thinking she was pushing her bike whilst walking up the hills!!!!!
What now though?! I feel a little lost this week without my usual routine, but I'm going to sit down and make a plan tonight! For about 5 minutes after the race I almost said never again, but of course I wouldn't have meant it! I loved it all! I definitely want to do this distance again and I do have hopes for the big one, but maybe I just need a bit more bike experience first to see how my IT bands cope with consistent longer riding and running (I have to keep reminding myself that I took up triathlon because my knees couldn't cope with another marathon!) and I do keep forgetting I've only been riding for 16 months! Watch this space though... Thanks for all the support and I will be back at runclub in the next few weeks after I've done my stint of helping run the open water swimming sessions for the next 2/3 Tuesday nights.
Well done Khara! Your training has paid off big time for you.
