As we got to the starting line, the uncertain weather became very certain, we would race under the rain. I thought "What the h*ll!! I ran in a hailstorm and biked under the rain on purpose to see how it feels. I am ready for this!" We ran in a pack of three for the first 6k or so as the rain kept increasing. We chatted a bit about some insignificant sh*t. Example: Me: Where are your glasses? You started with some, didn't you? Isabel: In my tank top... couldn't see sh*t. At one point, I was dropped by the two others, which was fine, it's a long race anyway. I took a gel after ~7k, the remainder of the run was just a fun, easy run.

Nothing. Executed like planned. I knew I could be DFL for the first run, and I was.

Let the fun begin! The transition zone was already a swamp when we got there the first time. Good thing I chose not to run with the shoes, the cleats would have been full of mud. Getting on the bike was ok until I tried passing the second leg over the bottles. I kicked one of them and had to come back and get it while a volunteer was telling me that I was going the wrong way. NO SH*T! Getting in the shoes was fine but it took some time to attach them due to many factors. I passed Isabel in the transition zone but she passed me again when I had to turnaround and grab the bottle.

I don't know, maybe use some smaller bottles that I would not kick off the wing? Change the angle of the wing so that it is lower?

Passed Isabel for good soon after starting pedaling for real. At first the glutes seemed a bit stiff but it settled rapidly and I was feeling good in the pouring rain. The nutrition plan was to eat either a gel or some chomps every 30 min and I focussed on that. At about 30k, as I was reaching for the Chomps in my pocket, I hit a pretty big bump. For some reason, most of my weight was the end of the extension and the impact made it move out of alignment. Within five minutes, I was feeling some strain in the neck caused by that. For a few minutes, I thought it could become a lllooonnnggg ride. Luckilly, Bruce (Dickinson) was with me (Note to self, 3 days before a race, only listen to Iron Maiden). So I was signing classics such as Run to the hills and Heaven can wait while going downhill at a ridiculous speed without seeing anything. Oh, don't get mistaken, I chickened quite a few downhills and got out of aero. It just wasn't worth risking the race for that minute or so I lost. At about 40k, another bump ejected a bottle from the wing, obviously it was the full one, but it remembered me to drink frequently as it is not as natural under the rain. Soon came the turnaround where I grabbed two bottles. They were unstable in my cages so I put one in my tank and put the other in the aerodrink as soon as possible. Even doing that wasn't enough. The one in the wing got ejected and I had to come back for it. When I unclipped to grab it, my right calf instantly started cramping. It was the first sign I could be in trouble later so I was extra extra careful on hydration and nutrition, there wasn't much more I could do. I knew that the hill at 70k would be a killer, and I thank the guy that passed me in the middle of that hill, having him just in front really kept me focussed in the moment instead of the "Oh my god this freakin' hurt and I'll have to run 10k after that! F*ck off!!! Let's walk home!" that can happen when things become tough. I also have to thank the guy that offered his allen keys to get the aerobars level. He didn't have the right size though.

Do more hills in training & probably eat more on the bike. The stomach was great the whole time. It could have handled more calories... I think.

Since my spot was about 50 feet from the dismount line, I chose to unclip & run with the shoes. Good decision.

Nothing

The first 3k were all right, a little on the slow side compared to my goal but I was totally fine with 5m30/km. The legs were stiff but not too painful and the upper back/neck was surprisingly flexible given the aerobar incident. At 4k, the plunge started. I wasn't in pain, but I had no energy whatsoever! Nothing! Nada! Niet! Welcome to Bonktown! I was struggling to keep a reasonable cadence but with a baby stride instead of the normal one. I decided to walk the aid station (that had been abandonned by the volunteers because of the rain) and I probably walked 3-4 times ~30sec in the uphills. I was feeling hot even though the rain should have made me cooler, weird. After the last aid station, I grabbed myself to run the last k to the finish. Once I had my chip removed, I was searching for some water and feeling very dizzy, but the water was nowhere in sight. I managed to bring my dizzy a$$ and just lied on the rack next to my bike for a good 7-8 min until I could manage to drink and eat a clif bar. I could tell one of the volunteers was pretty worried about me.

Bring something to eat on the second run of such a long event.

Warm down?? What does that mean? I could barely stay on my feet. I went to change clothes than went to grab some lunch, chatted with those that were next to me in transition, grabbed some lunch, chatted, grabbed some lunch, see a pattern? It's been 36 hours since the end of the race. Since then, I ate enough to feed a midsize african village for 2 to 3 days.


Nutrition? More hills in training?


Aside from a very challenging course and a good lunch, I have no congrats for the race director and his team.