Well the 5th edition of Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa in East London is finished. It is always a very special race for me, and this year was no different.

There are few reasons why this weekend is special for me. I started in all five races so far; I call South Africa my home now so this is my “home” race. It is also one of the main races in Africa’s triathlon calendar. The amount of participants has grown from 700 competitors in the first race to 3000 athletes this weekend, making this race one of the biggest 70.3ʼs in the world!

This is always the first race of the year for me, and not very far from Christmas, so there is great anticipation to see what shape the other athletes will be in. I knew my training before wasnʼt ideal. I had some time off to rest after the IM World Championships in Hawaii and just when I wanted to start back into training, I had streak of “accidents”! Firstly I ran into a street sign and end up with stitches and a pretty bad concussion. The, after two weeks of forced recovery and finally feeling ready to train again, I was involved in car accident and once again ended up with concussion! The only positive side of all of this was that the forced time off from training really allowed my body some good recovery time, and I got to enjoy a nice Christmas. But of course, after these set backs, I had to do some intense training to get myself into shape for the race.

As the race drew closer, I started to feel that the training was kicking in and my confidence started to grow.

Still, I was pretty nervous in the last few days and morning before the event. This race is even more difficult for me because it is one of the main events for most of my athletes. With 25 athletes racing, I was very busy till the last moment, organising all the little things. Making sure they were all ready for the race and didnʼt forget anything, and of course keeping them motivated!

But finally race start arrived and I was standing on the beach with rest of the pro athletes, getting ready to give it a go, but still very nervous. Oh well, now I was there and all I hoped for was that once I hit the water, my racing brain would switch on!

And yes, like a small miracle – it did. I felt solid in the water. The only problem was that I saw Jodie Swallow swim by and unfortunately I wasnʼt able to stay with her. I settled into my own pace a formed a small group with two other guys. I exited the water in 2nd with a good gap ahead of other girls.

The bike course in East London is very honest and tough. Rolling hills all the way, which makes it feel like you are always going uphill. I knew it would be the key to a good race for me to stay strong on the bike. I was very happy that my head was in the race all the time and I enjoyed pushing and going hard. I was able to hold my 2nd position all the way to transition 2.

Running course is not any easier then the bike. The two-lap run course has a stretch of flat with one long hill to battle with on every lap. But what is amazing about this race is the amount of spectators around the course! All I heard when I was running was “go Lucie go”! I had a good run, and was even eating some time back into Jodie. I finished strong in 2nd and was really very pleased with my race and performance. It was definitely a good and promising start to the new season!

With Jodie and Tine in the finish line

The other highlight of the weekend was the performance of my athletes. I am very proud of all of them and we really made our mark on the race. We ended up with 8 athletes on podiums in the Age Group categories – one of these podiums was an amazing win for Lynette in her new AG 25- 29, another two athletes finished 4th place and PBs for all the athletes. And both first-time proʼs had a great race too, with Natasha ending up as 6th pro female and Travis 12th.

So now, a rest before getting back into training in preparation for IM 70.3 Sri Lanka! A huge thank you to all my sponsors, friends and family for all your support!

It is always easier to write report about a good race, so it is very hard for me to say that my race in Kona – Ironman World Championship finished with DNF

I came to the race well prepared and ready to give it go. After very good season and couple of weeks of good focused training, I believed I have good chance for Top Ten or even better.

I arrived to Kona about 10 days before the race, early enough to get acclimatised to hot and humid weather and 12h time difference. First couple of days I felt very tired and struggled to sleep but pretty soon I got back into my rhythm.

Race day arrived very quickly and after days when it was overcast and not as hot (for Kona), we woke up to really hot and humid day. But it was same for everyone, so I just focused on my own race. Morning breakfast as always was Future Life and then it was time to get ready.

Swimming start was one of the worst I have had in Ironman so far. There was so much fighting and boxing and I really struggled to find my space in the water. I got few hits and kicks but after few hundred meters I was able to catch leading group. I didn’t feel great but i could see that I am in the front and right next to me there were two other girls. I tried to stay right in front of them but after turn around, there was a small gap and I wasn’t able to catch it back. I still had very solid swim and came out of the water just little bit behind first pack of the guys and as a 3rd female behind Julie Dibens and Amanda Stevens.

Quick transition and jumped on to my P3 and got ready for 180km bike. I felt good and passed Amanda Stevens in very beginning. After while Leanda Cave and Rachel Joyce caught me and I continued with them almost up till half way – to 90km. I still felt very strong and felt like it can be my day. Unfortunately this feeling disappear on the way to Havi and even more after turnaround and rest of the ride was just struggling.

Once on the run I knew that I am not where I wanted to be but I also knew there is no way I will not finish the race. So I just kept going around 15th place.

At mile 13 I did quick calculation and I could see that I am on the pace to finish around 9:40-45. But after another kilometer my body suddenly decided that it was enough and I started running from side to side. I felt dizzy and disorientated but still determined to keep running. There was one of the guys racing Age Group passing me at the same time and I could see that he is calling for help. All I was thinking was: what is he doing, I am running fine and I am not stopping, I don’t need help. But after few more meters my brain and body suddenly shout down and I found myself collapsing. I don’t remember much, just waking up in ambulance and having people around me asking if I want to continue. I was gesticulating that yes! They kept me there for some time more and when my blood pressure didn’t go higher then 95/60, they just took me straight into medical tent without further questioning. I spent another two hours in medical tent and got two drips.

I felt bad about not finishing the race but I also knew, I gave all I had at the moment.

Another shock for me was next morning when I woke up and looked to the mirror. I looked like an elephant, my body was so swollen, from toes to head. I couldn’t fit into any clothes I had and I carried about 5kgs more. My body retained water for next 2,5 days before slowly deflated.

So my second experience of Ironman Kona didnt go as I wanted. But I am still glad I decided to go.

This year I decided to do the races I like or I always wanted to do. Ironman Frankfurt was the second case. I was kind of spectating the race three years ago and I was very impressed with amount of people watching it.

But closer to the race, it seemed like worst and worst idea. Ironman Frankfurt had 4000 points for Kona pro ranking and it meant that pro start list was packed with really good athletes. So much for my enjoyment of Ironman.

I arrived to Frankfurt on Thursday, together with my dad. It was very special for me to have him there. He doesn’t like to travel far and not at all by plane so it is very difficult for me to get him to watch Ironman races. My dad was and always will be my sport hero. He never really race competitively but he loves sport and he never ever gives up. At 60 he is still very active and he either run, cycle or windsurf every day. Sometimes even all three of it. Lately he discovered wetsuit and his favourite become open water swimming! I really hoped to have good race knowing it might be only one ironman he will watch.

My dad

Germans are super organised and precise with everything. So whole pre race preparation went smooth, including blood doping test for all pro triathletes.

Days before the race were filled in with nonstop eating – my favourite chocolate, pre race briefing and few visit of expo. Huge thanks to Blueseventy for my goodies and guy from Slime for his help with my wheel at last moment!

Race day came quicker then I would like and it was time to wake up bright and early. I didn’t feel overly confident going to the race. My preparation after Ironman Brazil wasn’t ideal. Race in Brazil took a lot out of me and on my way home from Sao Paulo I caught some virus and spent about two weeks sick in the bed. But I was excited to race and as always to do my best and to fight as hard as I can! Being fighter and pushing myself to the limit (or even behind it), was always my strong point.

Ready to race

Swimming was two laps with wetsuit. Because I spent last three weeks swimming only in the dam – open water and I really feel comfortably in my Bluseventy Helix, I was actually very happy with that. I had good start and was right there with top guys. After that my first lap was bit struggle, I had problem to get into the rhythm and hold to faster swimmers. I wasnt very happy with that. Luckily second lap felt much better and I was actually able to catch back to faster guys and came 8th overall and 1st female out of the water.

Weather forecast for the day was around 19 degrees and partly cloudy….it just didn’t work out at all. During cycling it was very cold, after the race I heard it was 11 degrees, raining and windy. I was getting more and more frozen and I was just trying to continue. All I was thinking whole time was that other girls are even skinnier then I am and they must suffer even more then I do. Not sure what kept me going, probably my trusted nutrition First Endurance. Their vanilla gels taste really delicious and in that German cold, even better then ever. And bonus is, I have no GI issues since i started using First Endurance nutrition. I was keeping 2nd position – after Swiss machine Caroline passed me very soon after swimming, all the way to second transition.

4 laps of run around Main river is real treat. There is so many people cheering that they actually get you through whole marathon very quickly. I knew there is many good runners not far behind me and that if I have my “normal” marathon, they will probably pass me very soon. So I decided to go flat out from beginning and see how long I can last…sounds good in theory, but very painful in real life, I can tell you that. But it worked and I was even able to get closer and closer to Caroline. With very painful last few kms and cramps in my whole body, I managed to get to finish line in 2nd place, only 1:30min behind 1st place. But also only 28s ahead of Sonja in 3rd place after she pushed me to sprint last one kilometer.

Very happy Luc!

I had absolutely nothing left in me when I finished.

Exhausted in finish

I was really over the moon, proud and happy. Even sweeter was that my dad could be there and see my probably best Ironman race and result!

Special thank you to all my sponsors, supporters and Ingo Kutsche for pictures!

I always say that you can have plan A and plan B for Ironman but you usually end up with plan X anyway. This race just proved it, i end up with changing plan all the time and racing just with listening to my body and my feelings

Here is just few things about my race, my weekend in Brazil and my preparation:

Two weeks to go: my training was going exceptionally well and i was feeling strong and excited about the race!

One week to go: I caught some virus and stomach bug…grrr…so from Sunday till Thursday morning i was just in bed trying to get better and healthier and thinking if i should go or not. But I was slowly getting better, so I decided to fly even I knew I will not be 100% on race day.

Florianopolis – It was my 4th time in Brazil but 1st time in Floripa and i just loved that place. Great nature and people.

Accommodation – I think that was highlight of my stay in Brazil. I was extremely lucky to get in touch with Leandro, coach of Medlay triathlon club and share house with crazy 15 Brazilians athletes. Not only i had lot of fun with them but they were also extremely caring and helpful. I know I have few very good friends in Brazil now and they will be main reason why I will most probably come back!

dinner with my brazilian friends

Night before the race – I was off to bed very early – due to jet lag, 5h difference from SA, at 6pm. Unfortunately at the same time started wedding of owner of disco club about 200m from our house. And it was true disco style wedding! To say that music was loud is understatement. Even i had my ear plugs, all i could hear whole night was just…duc duc duc….grrr….i was ready to kill…

Swimming – pro athletes started about 1,5m ahead of all age group athletes. So at the time we hit the water, i had feeling like i am in huge washing machine and had about 100 people trying to swim over me. All i could do was just to try and stay close to the surface. Luckily after first boy it calmed down a bit and i placed myself comfortably in the middle of first pack. Just before end of first lap, big wave caught me, rolled me over and i lost my goggles….panic…what to do now…oh well, not much choice here, so lets swim. Second lap was interesting, I do not recommend swimming without goggles in ocean salt water, it burns:( So most of my swim I literally did blind, I was just trying to feel feet of person in front of me. Despite of it i had very good swim and finished as a 1st lady and 5th overall.

Beautiful morning for start

Cycling – I felt great…for 60km, then someone punctured my legs (sickness week before) and i lost all my power. I was thinking to stop and give up so many times but I just kept going and paddling. Amy passed me after 130km and I was just trying to go my own pace and don’t look too much what is happening around me. I really liked the bike course but low point was drafting. All i could see behind me was huge pelotons of athletes.

going hard on my P3:)

Running – everyone was warning me about hills in first lap but they still took me by surprise…soooo steep! I was trying of i can catch Amy but the gap was same all the time and with my energy slowly disappearing i decided to focus on keeping my 2nd place. I focus on keeping my own pace, stay relax and try to smile to people cheering. But last 10km I really had to dig deep and give my all because 3rd girl – Brazilian, was running well and was catching me.

still smiling at the top of the hill

Finish line – last 2km really hurt, all i could see was just that finish line. I still managed to smile and high five with people. Then i crossed finish line, did two steps more and…..collapsed. Next 4h i spent in medical tent, got 5 drips, 2 injections and was throwing up. After 2h i was moved to special part of medical tent – there intensive care section where they started to monitor my blood pressure, sugar level, oxygen level, heart and not sure what else:) Luckily i got better and was spare of visit to local hospital.

happy to finish 2nd

Travelling back - flight from Floripa to Sao Paulo sweet and short, flight from Sao Paulo to Joburg – cancelled…grrr…another 9h on airport:(

Ironman Brazil - great race in great place with great people. It really is one of the races “must do” and I am very happy that i went. I am also happy and proud to toughen up and finished 2nd even I know it wasn’t my best day. But quite honestly, which Ironman is

I would like to say thank you to all my supporters and sponsors – Emotion cycling, Kiwami, Troisport (First Endurance), Compressport SA, Suunto, Cebe glasses, Blueseventy and Asics SA!

Challenge Cape Town.

After hard work from race director Grant Kuneke, good news was finally announced to public. There will be new Challenge race in South Africa – Challenge Cape Town. Race will be hold 6th of November 2011 and it will be true challenge for all the athletes – cold ocean water, windy and hilly bike course and hilly running course. But with breathtaking scenery this race is definitely must do! Hope to see you there:)