Thanks

I know it's getting a bit late to STILL be going on about IM Florida, this is the last post I promise. I realised that after all my spouting on I hadn't thanked any of the people who helped me along the way and made the journey and training a bit easier. No doubt I'll still forget about (and upset) someone along the way, with the sieve like head I've got then it's bound to happen.

So in no particular order......

Thanks to Mom, Dad, Sis, David and the Sprogs for helping me along the way, nagging me to death (that's mostly Mom) and for babysitting/putting up with/spoiling rotten their Rosie while we were away.

Thanks to Rich Brady for gently pushing me in the right direction and attempting to sort my previously rediculous nutrition strategy. It needs more work, but it was a massive improvement.

Thanks to the good folks at NA Sports for making me significantly poorer when I left Florida than I was when I arrived.

Thanks to the boys and girls of North Devon Tri who came out training with me and suffered at the hands of my monsterous speed (not very often) and my forked tongue (more often).

Thanks to Maria for my weekly massges and to Sue for my haircut (yep, it's all her fault).

Thanks to the 6-7000 volunteers who were out there cheering us on all the way round the course.

Thanks to all the folks back here who sat up until far too late in the night hoping to see me complete a jubilant finish only to see some miserable bastard crossing the line and promptly disappearing. Next year I promise to carry the flag over AND smile (honest!).

Thanks to the blog folks and Buckeye folks who came over to say Hi to the idiot with green hair rather than giving him a wide berth. I'll even thank Moonpie for verbally abusing me at around 12miles into the race, how I could have done with that 4 miles later when I was walking. He'd have even been able to keep up with me then.

I suppose I should also thank Shelly for putting up with all my crap over the last 12months. Saying that though, as she's making me go back again next year she deserves all the crap that she gets. Thanks. I think.

If you've got the hump with me now because I've forgotten you then I'm sorry but as it probably means you're going to know me quite well then you should obviously expect no less than to be forgotten. Suck it up and get on with your life!!!

Now. Who's up for some training? I need to start again soon, I've an Ironman to train for.

More Florida reports.

For those of you that like a read and would like a more humourous Florida Blog post I give you.....

TriFAThlete - thanks to RichieC for this little link :)

and

Michele's guest write up - thanks to Tim for this little link.

Here we go again!!!!

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Registration:
2009 Ford Ironman Florida
Purchase Date:
11/10/08
Team:
Iain David Hindes
Category:
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Event Date:
11/07/09
Name:
Iain Hindes

Nearly over :(

It's my last full day in the sun of PCB today before we head of back to the dark and cold of Deepest Devon.

There's always a good reason to hang around when this place gets quite though. Every year over the week following the Ironman a load of crazies roll into town with some sweeeeeet trick old motors.

I'm not big on what's what in the world of old American motors, but I love em. We went out for some food last night and the camera was in the car so I took some piccies of those that were around. Some of the pics are a bit duff because it was dark and Shelly thought I was a real saddo walking around carparks with my camera.

Oh yeah - 365 days from today, in EXACTLY 1 years time I'll be going through the whole Ironman Florida Experience again. Must be time to start training I guess!!




There was some big old bike rally out and about yesterday too.

Some lessons for me to learn in the next 12months

1 – Swim – FFS learn to sight bouys!!!!!!

2 – T1 – Over an Ironman it’s worth spending a bit of time Transition sorting things that will cost lots of time later. How long would it have taken for me to make sure my feet were free of sand before I put socks on? Walking later because my feet were red raw cost me much longer. How long would it have taken to apply some sunblock on my shoulders and legs? I’ve no idea if this would have saved me time, but it might have saved me the 4 days of pain I’ve had since.

3 – Bike – You can spend what you like on fancy gear and it won’t make up for strength. A new bike/aero helmet combo still led to my slowest ever Florida bike split (I still wanted a P3C though). Also learn how to ride how to ride hard on the bike (become a good cyclist). If needs be get your ass in the gym and strengthen those quads. There is no reason at all why I can’t go under 5hrs on that bike course. If I race a Sprint Tri I’m comfortably inside the top 5% on the bike, I can’t be happy with only making the top 20% of an Ironman bike. PS – How the hell do the Pros get all their calories into one bottle? None of their bikes were loaded up with half the bottles that mine was.

4 – T2 – Again, unless you’re at the front of the pack then time really isn’t of the essence. On a long day comfort could actually save you more time than speed. Take the sunblock offers and vas up, it’s worth it.

5 – Run – Practice running off those long bike rides all the time. 5k won’t do it either, running 5k is far to easy. Make sure those practice runs off the bike are at Ironman pace, it’s ok popping out and cruising 6-8miles at 6:30 pace but that’s no good if you’re only aiming to run 8:00pace.

Extras

Tim - When we last saw you 2009 was the furthest from my mind. It's great to have a supportive girlfriend but sometimes Shell is a bit to supportive and she likes her holidays in Florida. It's all her fault!!!! As for 60 more IM with 1min improvements!!!!! I'd rather have 1 more with an improvement like yours.

Rich - You've got a coach (roflmao). I hope that's just Kit you're talking about. The aero helmet was actually the least of my worries. We were off the bike before the temperature got too hot. It's only really there because it was on offer and cheaper than a normal helmet (it should also now have club colours (or hair colours) - picking it up later).
Maybe we'll pop in and let Rosie tear your garden up when we've picked her up from Wolves on the way home :-)

I'll try again

Ah heck, my will to write out a looooong race report has gone sine I managed to mess it all up yesterday, so here’s a brief summary instead. People who’ve known me for years will probably hear the drawn out version many many times and those that only known me from here will probably have read many far more interesting reports by now.

So. Onto the bike.
The plan was to ride at 125-130bpm.
For the first 50miles I felt lethargic and struggled to hit 120bpm.
At 30miles I decided I’d attempt to pee whilst on the bike.
At 70miles I gave up trying and stopped to pee off the bike.
Some bloke called Norbert was a dirty drafting cheat, there were many out there so it’s probably unfair to just name one but he was the one I kept passing when he was alone only to see him come back past again sucking a wheel.
At 80miles I suddenly started to feel strong so rode the last 30miles at 130bpm. This was the fastest part of the course anyway so that made it feel even better.
New Tri specific bike, new aero helmet = slowest Florida bike split ever. 2mins slower than in 2004, 12mins slower than in 2005. Both when I was riding my TREK 5200 road bike. Hmmmmmm!

The run
Mile 1 spent holding back while many people flew past. Even backing off it only took 7:02.
Miles 2,3, 4 and 5 much better paced. Walked through 2 feed stations and stopped for a pee. 5miles done in just under 40mins.
Mile 6 took over 10mins after stopping to get a stone from my shoe. Couldn’t get shoe back on due to cramps. Damn annoying.
Miles 7-12 was a struggle. Running at over 9:00 pace with HR in mid 130’s. Heat getting to me now and sand in shoes & socks off the beach means it feels as though I’m running on sandpaper. Walk most aid stations eating almost anything.
Mile 13 saw the mad Moonpie fella who ran alongside cheering me on. It was a most welcome distraction. Stopped to chat with Shell and get rid of my awful fuelbelt. Took shoe off again. Cramped again! Clock said 8:30:00 as I turned. Hoped that was the Elite time and it meant 8:20:00 for me.
Mile 14 was better.
Mile 15 the wheels fell off.
Mile 16-20 I just walked, walked and walked. I was burning up in the afternoon sun. My feet felt as though they were red raw and my stomach was in knots. Enough is enough. Received massive encouragement from many other athletes who should have been focusing on their own race.
Mile 20 – decision time!!!! I was on the last leg of the run and I was in danger of putting in my worst IM ever (except the DNF in 2005). I grabbed a couple of sponges from the aid station, sat down on a fence and removed my shoes and socks. I shook the sand from my shoes, shook out my socks and thoroughly washed my feet. At least if I had to walk I could feel a little more comfortable. Back on went the shoes and socks and I headed back towards home, running!
My feet felt better immediately, then after only half a mile I had to stop at the side of the road again. This time I had no control over anything as I proceeded to throw up most of the last hours food. Bad times? Nope, my stomach now felt fine again.
Miles 21 to the Finish Line – I ran and I ran well (9:26, 7:11, 7:03, 7:09, 7:09, 7:02). I skipped all the aid stations and simply put my head down. It was congested out there now with many people walking and jogging along the narrower sections and at time sit was quite tricky to make the small gaps as my pace was so different to everybody elses. Many people who’d given me encouragement when I was suffering gave me new shouts as I went past them in full flow. It had taken 134miles, but suddenly I felt real good.
The Finish Line came all to quickly in the end. I felt as though I’d another 4-5miles of good running in my legs, but after heading for my worst finish ever I ended up dipping under my pb in 10:55. I wasn’t happy and probably had the most miserable finish picture of the day though, but it was over. There would be NO MORE!!!!!

Five attempts at Ironman. 5 attempts at finishing between 9:30 & 10:00. 5 miserable failures to hit the targets. SURELY THERE WILL BE NO MORE!!!! SURELY I’VE LEARNT MY LESSON NOW!!!!

Ermmmmmm, I’ll guess I’ll be seeing you all at IMFl 2009 then. Oh Hell!!!

Jeez, if this is the short version. You’re all so lucky that I lost the long version.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh

I've just spent 2 hours finishing off a race report that made the race seem short only to stupidly press the wrong button and lose the lot.

What an a-hole.

Now I'm really mad!!!!!!!!!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr