Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore 2009

First of all, like to all the supporters who are there to support us. =)
These guys are wonderful!!!

Especially glad that my family is there to share the happy moments with me. =)

*-*-*

Reaching the race site before 6am, I proceeded to set up my transition area.
Borrowed Eddie's bicycle pump to fill up the tires. Thanks, Eddie!

Once everything is in place, I proceed to the swim area to feel the water and test out the new goggles.
No point standing around in transition and get all worked up. =)
Surprisingly, I am feeling super calm...
Kinda weird... This is going to be the BIGGEST and LONGEST race of my life and I am not the least excited.

Mingle around with friends and competitors, had some photos taken and watched the elites starts the race.
Another 3 waves followed and it is time for me to proceed to the Swim Start.

The horn sounded and I find myself dashing into the sea.
This is unreal... Truly unreal.... This is really happening....

Within 50m from the swim start, I am swimming freely in the water.
The kicking, shoving of the normal swim races still did not happen to me.
Everyone seems to know where they are going. :)
Turning left at the buoy, I find myself swimming against the current.
This is going to be hard work.
Another 2 more left turns, I am finally headed back to shore.
Oh boy, how come the swim today seems so long?!?!
The loop dun feel like 750m leh... It felt way longer...

The truth struck me right in the face!!!
Mr Cheng, you are taking part in the Aviva Ironman Singapore 70.3, not the Singapore Biathlon... :S

This is going to be a long swim.
I had done 3km swim before, I know I will survive this swim. =)
Coming onto shore, I took the chance to clear the fogged goggles and had cups of water before plunging into the sea again.

After 3 left turns, I am swimming towards the swim finish.
This is where it get frustrating.
I distinctively remembered that there are 2 lane ropes on either side of the funnel towards the swim finish.
But no matter how I sight, I just could not spot either side of the lane ropes!!!
How can that be???
Am I having tunnel vision??? All I can see is the last red buoy....

Oh well, just swim straight for the red buoy and you cannot go wrong. :D
Two guys came along and I took their draft.
Haha, this is the second time I am able to draft someone in the swim. The swim never felt easier! :D
The draft did not last long though, cos about 50m ahead, both drafters took a new direction.
It is time to sight for myself again.
Turning right at the red buoy, it is a mad sprint back to shore.

58 mins in the water and the swim is finally over. =)
One down, Two to go. :D



While running towards transition, an official keep shouting "Why are you wearing 2 timing chips?".
I told her that it is a Road ID I had on my other leg.
After repeating it 5 times and getting a confused look, I continued on my way.
Geez... I cannot believe that she has never heard or seen a Road ID before. :S

After spending 6+ mins in transition, I am ready for my ride. :p
Wheeling my bike out of the transition area, I noticed that my cyclometer is missing.
Which bum has taken my cyclometer!!!!
Grr....
Take all the precautions required, but you can never prevent theft from a fellow competitor.
Next time I will just tape down my cyclometer. *Angry*

On the bike, I am pleasantly surprised that my cycling legs are spinning well.
The swim has not taken anything out of those legs even though I swam breaststroke all the way.

Going up Benjamin Sheares Bridge was easy but tough.
Easy cos I had visualise a monster slope with a steep incline.
The actual climb was nowhere near what I visualise.
It is typically a longer version of Mandai slopes.

Passing VivoCity, I thought the U-turn is near...
Hehe, this is going to be easy. 15km does not seems so hard, or so I thought.

Imagined my surprise when I had to descend Keppel Flyover and ascend West Coast Flyover.
Oh no....this is going to be a long ride!!! :S

I heaved a sigh of relief when the U-turn at the end of West Coast Flyover came into view.
15km down, 75km more to go...

Time to put my training, skills and knowledge to good use now.
Conquering the bike leg depends on how well you can control your pace and gear shifting.

In long distance triathlons, you really gotta work your sums while on the move.
You got to know when to eat your gels, drink your water.
You do not have tea breaks and lunch breaks. =)

Learning from past experiences, I know not to second guess my body.
When you feel hungry or thirsty, it is too late.
Have a race strategy and stick to it.

Here's mine.
My weakest discipline is running, so I have to cater for that.

Race strategy
============
Do a "fast" swim and bike.
Leave the rest of the time for the run.

Nutrition Plan
============
2 gels after the swim.
1 gel each at the end of the first and second bike lap.
2 gels to go for the run.

Yeah, it is that simple =p

Nearing the end of the first lap, I hear sirens sounding behind me.
Shouts of "Keep to the left", soon followed.
Wahahaha, I can coming in with the elites. :D
Hehe.... I am sure I am captured in some of the camera shots with the elites. :D
Geez, these guys are speedy.
I have just done 30km and they have already completed the full 90km!!! :S

Going out on the second bike lap seems much easier.
Maybe the gel and 100 plus helped. =)
But I guess the main motivating factor is the crowd. =)

Having done the first lap, I planned my second lap.
Which part of the course I need to push a bit harder, which part of the course I will go easy.
I stick to my plan.

The surges I did on Friday helps.
At times, I need to overtake 1 rider, but more often than not, I need to overtake 3-4 riders in one surge!

Going up Keppel Flyover, I saw a volunteer waving a red flag and picking up shiny objects from the bike course.
Hmmm.... glass fragments? How did it get there? The bike course is closed to traffic leh...

On the return leg, the obstacles have been cleared, but I am stunned by the number of punctures that dotted the course.
HED3, Zipp, Shimanos... they are all not spared...
Some of the competitors are pushing their bike towards ECP, while others are standing right there waiting for the recovery truck.
(It turns out to be thumb tacks which has punctured the tires of 30-40 of my fellow competitors)

Completing my second bike lap, I can already see the crowd thinning.
The supporters are probably catching the elites completing their races.

Coming down Benjamin Sheares Bridge on my third bike lap, I started having problems changing my front gears.
I am unable to shift to the big chainring.
Ahh.... this really sucks.
This is a race and I am stuck in my small chainring.

But I guess I should count my lucky stars that this is happening on the third lap and not from the start.
Instead of pedalling downhill, I can only cruise.
Oh well, maybe that is how things are meant to be =)

Completed my third bike lap with the gears rattling like an old market bike.
The volunteers were looking around to see where the market bike is. Haha....

Completing my bike, it is time for run.
5+ mins in transition and I am ready to conquer the half marathon.
Haha... this is my 4th half marathon.
This is suicidal.
Past timings for Half Marathon - 3:15 , 2:55, 3:35.
I am banking on the theory that I should be able to "run" below my personal worst of 3:35.

With 3:55hrs still on the clock, I felt relieved. :p
But you never know what will happen during a race.
So I am keeping my fingers crossed. =)

During the first run lap, my mind is working overtime calculating the time.
Will I be able to complete within the cut-off time at this pace?
How much time allowance do I have?

Run across the metal bridge on the first lap was good.
But why do we need to run across the metal bridge when there is a ground path across?!?!?!

Reached the U-turn point at the KPE Sub-Station, collect a hair band and wear it across my wrist.

Nearing Big Splash, there is a huge crowd.
Walking is impossible. Haha...
A lot of JoyRiders and SGRunners supporters were there to cheers us on. Thanks, guys!!! :)

Before I know it, I have completed 7km. Woot!!!
Time check : 59 mins.
7km down 14km to go. Yeah!

Second run lap, I am slowing down to a brisk walk.
Water has seeped into my shoes and is causing blisters.
Pain is tolerable though.
Strategy now is to do a 10min/km walk.
Pressing on, I completed the 2nd run lap in 1hr 12mins.

I am glad that I have done 14km without complications. =)
7km more and I will complete the race! :)
500m into the runn after collecting my third hairband, I was surprised to feel both my arms growing numb.
Not just the hands, the two entire arms!!!

Doing hand clenches did not help.
I end up doing arm swings to get some blood circulation back into those arms.

After drinking at the aid station, I felt dizzy....
I was petrified. Dun tell me I am going to black out.
Should I sit down and rest?
But I am feeling fine leh, except for some dizziness.

Could it be my body signalling hunger?
Not possible leh... I have taken so many bananas and powergels and I do not feel hungry at all.
Nonetheless, I decided to gulp down the last 2 powergels, for safety sake.

The numb arms soon came back...
Geez.... what is happening?
I never have numb arms before!!!
Looking down at my wrist, I noticed the three hairbands.
Could it be the hairbands? But they feel okay leh....

Transferred the hairbands to the racebelt and it was instant relief as blood started circulating back down both arms.
(Yeah, dun ask me why numb in both arms, I wish I knew the answer)
No wonder I see so many competitors looping the hairbands on their racebelts.

17km down... 4km more to go...
Reaching the next water point, the volunteers were chit chatting there.
So I just grab the nearest bottle of water and splash it over my head...

One of the official exclaimed "Sir! That is a bottle of 100-Plus!"
Oops...
Quickly I took a bottle of water to rinse off the isotonic drink, with the help from the other volunteers....
Alamak , so malu...

1km more to go...
Take out all the sponges, zip up my tri-suit, adjust the bib.
If cannot finish fast, at least must look nice. =D

Soon, it was down the final stretch...
Make a light run for the finish. =)
"Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore.... Daniel Cheng from Singapore!!!" announced the emcee. =)



Proceed for the post race buffet and watch the prize presentation before proceeding home for a well deserved rest. =)