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IRONMAN CHINA

In the two days before the race we had experienced thunder storms with the storm on the day before the race starting about 4am and not clearing until after lunch.  The roads were flooded and there was real concern about the current in the river swim course increasing from the 2-3km/h it already was and debris being washed down the river.  Race day started clear and warm.  In fact it was the first clear day since we arrived in Haikou three days prior. It wasn’t particularly hot but the river was flowing.
 
The swim was a rectangular two lap course and after the gun went off it was straight out to the marker in the middle of the river.  The current was flowing left to right and a lot of people misjudged the strength of the current and had a lot of trouble making the mark.  Some people never made the mark and after about an hour the race officials allowed them to continue without going around.  After JUST making the first mark the rest of the lap was O.K. swimming very close to the shore in the upstream section made it a lot easier.  My second lap was about 7 minutes faster as I took a better line to the dreaded first marker making the rest of the swim a lot easier.  Out of the water in about 1.11 so that was about right for me and I was feeling fine.
 
The bike course was a two lap mixture of city streets, freeway and rural roads through two traditional villages.  There were rolling hills and only one hill I would call steepish – Nothing like Port Macquarie.  The wind was getting up but it was at 90 degrees to us so it didn’t make that much difference.  A few sudden gusts did catch my 85mm front rim and that was pretty exciting.  After the first lap I felt really good but it was getting HOT.  It was the first time I had ridden my bike where every part of it actually became hot to touch from the sun!!  By the second lap the wind had swung around and most of the outward half was into it.  The hilly sections began to get hillier and the sun began to take its toll.  I finished the bike in 5.35 so I was happy with the time.  I thought I was feeling O.K. given the conditions and then started the run………
 
The run course is completely flat so I started with high hopes of a reasonable time.  Unfortunately the first 5km to the turn around was with the wind and it felt like being in a sauna.  After about only 2km I felt like I was completely cooked inside and out.  I believe that the temperature was about 45 degrees!!!! Humidity was also around the 90-100% mark.  I started to walk and then noticed that very few people around me were running!  Most looked like I felt – completely spent.  I took the opportunity to fuel up at the aid stations with as much food and Gatorade I thought I could get down without bringing it back up.  After the 5k turn around I started the dreaded jog / walk cycle.  I began to feel a bit better about half way through the run but after about half an hour the heat caught up with me again and the pace slowed right down. 

It was a long hard day at the office and by the finish it was a bit of a blur.  Just before the finish there was a short, sharp bridge which was no trouble going up – but coming down the calf muscles almost went into melt down.  I was REALLY glad to finish.  My marathon time was 5.26 for an overall time of 12.21.  Not a brilliant time by any means but with close to a 40% DNF rate for the day I was just glad to get to the finish.  This would no doubt be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life!  Bring on Port Macquarie in 2010!!     
 
 
Regards
 
Steve Keeling 

“AMS conquers Hell” - Hell of the West, Goondiwindi 2nd Feb 2009

It was a great club turn out with everyone completing the 2k swim 80k bike 20k run. We had some great support out there from Peter & Kerry Haddin, Jo, Jacob, Darcy & Morgan Beattie, Kym & Jaime Pick, Anne Behan, & Sarah Keeling – Thanks it was well appreciated. The weather was hot but very bearable with no humidity. The weekend started with the kid’s race on Saturday afternoon where we had 2 juniors racing Sarah Keeling & Jacob Beattie, Sarah won gold – congratulations, Jacob also had a great race.

Then came race day with the sun barely up actually it was still dark at water level as the first wave went off. The swim this year was unusually clean & weed free for most of it, Then onto the bike leg with its own challenges as well as the road surface being very course and unforgiving(just ask my ass) the wind blew its head off all the 40k back into town. The run course changed this year from a 2 x 10k out and back to 3 x 6.6k out & back laps but always with plenty of aid stations. I really liked the run change it seemed much easier though would not have thought it with my run time. It was a very enjoyable weekend with everyone and I expect a bigger crew for next year with more individuals racing as well as a few more teams.

NAME                TIME                                                               NAME               TIME  

TODD               4.16.00  1st in Age group and 16th overall.      STEVE              4.51.01            

CAM                 4.51.29                                                             DAN                 5.12.13            

ROSS                5.13.58  7th in Age group                                BEN                  5.28.42            

SCOTT              5.34.36                                                            MICK                 5.39.44            

KERRIAN           5.47.11  3rd in Age group                              KAREN                5.52.05  7th in Age group    

MARTY              6.09.55                                                          ZIPPER                6.40.32            

FISHY                6.42.55           

Teams  Team Knight                5.18.00 ( Darryl Pick & Mark Knight)

Zipper