2nd Half Challenge Barcelona – Maresme ( Sunday 16th May 2010)

Graeme Allan completed the Barcelona Half Ironman last weekend. Graeme has come incredibly far in the space of a year & it just shows what a bit of focus, commitment to training & no excuses can do for you. An inspirational & hugely well deserved performance. Well Done Graeme!! Here is his Race Report...
Colin

The day started early at 5.45 making pre-race porridge, toast and banana, and coated myself in SPF 50+ sun cream, and picking up wetsuit and track pump, drinks bottles and nutrition and down to the transition area by 6.45, as it closed at 7.30. Genevieve and Colin who as you know completed the full distance event advised that as bike is in transition overnight best to reduced tyre pressure, as they had seen several tyre blowouts due to the overnight temperature. Applied more sun cream and then plenty of Bodyglide and Suitjuice (thanks Jack) and on with the wetsuit.

The event started at 8am with the male pros being the first heat off, my heat had a 45 minutes wait, which allowed for a nerve-settling warm-up swim in the sea.

Finally, my start time approached and all in the heat gathered together in the holding area before moving to the start line, the number of times I adjusted my swim caps and goggles was astonishing but when finally felt right I was ready to go. We were OFF, a short sprint into the water and start swimming and I settled down quickly into a good steady pace (with Colin’s words ringing in my ears not to go off too fast it’s a long event, 70.3 miles in total). I felt that I was moving well concentrated on gliding, sighting and breathing, my pre-race nerves now fully gone and at this early stage I knew I was going to definitely complete the full event.

The swim leg was 1.9K and had 4 turns, 200m straight out then right turn round first buoy then another 500m left turn, another 100m out and a left turn for 800m which at this stage was into the sun not the best for sighting. Not only had I moved through those starting in my own heat but at this point I started to notice swim caps from the previous heat, which started 10 minutes prior, what a confidence boost. The last left turn turned us back for the final 300m to the beach, which as I hit it after getting the upper half of my wetsuit down to my waist I glanced at my watch to see 39 minutes (what a great feeling, not swam as quick in ages) by the time hit timing mat this was 40 minutes.

In to T1 removed wetsuit and on with cycle helmet, shoes and glasses, applying even more sun cream (no chances being taken). Quickly located bike and away we go, the first 3k through the narrow streets of Calella and up onto main N11 road where drafting rules came in force and more than a few fell foul off, not me thou, why risk 2 min penalty or even a DQ.

The bike route was 2 laps between Calella and Matero. For the bike leg I knew I had suffered the week before while going around Arran for not taking on enough nutrition etc. what a lesson that was!!! Genevieve had advised of the need too continually eat and drink. I therefore religiously had a Shot Block (orange & mountain berry alternating between the two flavours) and sipped from my aero bottle, which had Nuun. Hitting each aid station I took on a new water bottle filling up the aero bottle and dropped in more noun tablets and grabbed banana from a marshal as I passed. During the whole of the bike leg I again felt that I was moving well and continually passing other competitors maintaining a good pace, completing the full 56 miles in 2 hours 30 minutes, what a great feeling, the trips to Lanzarote, Arran, Crieff along with hill effort sessions had definitely paid off.

T2 running shoes and cap on and applied more sun cream carrying another packet of Shot Blocks I started off in the 2 lap 21k run between Calella and Santa Susanna. I quickly settled down with my own race pace ignoring all others, following Colin’s advice of counting number of times my right foot struck the ground in a minute (100 for myself) doing this meant I maintain a good cadence on my run and kept concentration and held away any negative thoughts. Again at each aid station more water and banana. Half way through the second lap my left knee started to play up due to ITB becoming bit tight (had visited Grant couple of times previous about this).

Through out the run there was continuous encouragement from the spectators, including Gareths’ family who called out too me at the start of the second lap (much appreciated). Coming into the grandstand section at the finish was just something else and crossed the finish line with a time of 5 hrs 28 minutes, awarded finishers medal and received some congratulations from several of the organisers on the finish line.

I collected my T-shirt and met Gareth in the finish area, he got me a some water and food, and let me sit-down where I quietly had some time too gather my thoughts as the sense of achievement was overwhelming and very emotional for me.

I can’t thank everyone enough for their guidance and support while I was training for this event, you all know this would not have been possible for me last year, and what’s next, well first ‘A Day in the Lakes’ and then who knows!!!