22nd Mar 2009, Sunday, Aviva 70.3 Ironman-My Very first Ironman Race Marred By Metal Thumb Tacks Sabotage

Today was The Big Day which I have been looking forward to. Since last year I have been preparing hard for this race. BUT, but, alas it was marred by metal thumb tacks saga which caused the tyres of 30 to 40 triathletes to be punctured and I was also a victim.

My front tyre was punctured after my first loops and it happened when I was turning from Fort Rd to the East Coast Service road approx at 28km mark, 10.05 am. Not too sure when and where my tyre was "stung" by the thumb tacks. I got down from my bike and attempted to fix the tyre myself on the slightly-muddy pavement which caused some hazard to the on-coming bikers as the service road was quite narrow. I have not replaced a puncture tyre before (this was something I need to learn to do it quick), so this would be a trial and error; and gosh I was wondering how long would I take; and even if I have replaced, the small portable air pump would not build up enough pressure on the tyre. I remembered the Bike aid was near the U turn 1.5 km away, so I decided to push my bike. This intital ordeal cost me approx 15 min.

While walking my bike, I noticed there were several triathletes were of the same fate. I met 2 triathletes. One of them showed me a metal thumb tack which I threw it away after took it to have a look, but he picked up and lamented "hmm, I must keep it as "souvenir". I guessed he must be keeping it to remind himself what caused him to drop out this race. Both of them felt relief when I reminded them that we could get help near the U-turn point at T1 which was approx 1.5 km away. Walking our bikes along this service road was an hazard and had to do it slowly because some bikers were very fast on this narrow service road.

At the bike aid centre there were already 6 to 7 bikes with the same fate waiting to get their tyres fixed. One who had already done 2 laps shared his sorrow with me that his tyre got puncture after each lap. One caucasian was so disappointed and decided not to continue the race at all. Most of the victims managed to spot the thump tacks on their tyres.

The mechanic who replaced a new tube for me looked stunned seeing those punctured tyre. After he put back my wheel, the tyre went flat again. Immediately he did all over the procedure to replace another new tyre before he found a second thump tag metal nail which he missed it when replacing the first tube. After he had completed fixing my tyre, it was already approx 10.40am (35min was wasted); could I be back from 2nd lap by 11.15am, the 2nd lap cut off time. Not a chance! I reckoned; even an elite could not do consistent 60km/hr; I felt a sense of unfairness at this juncture about the 2nd lap-11.15am-cut off time for the triathletes, because we started off at different time and wave, and mine was the last wave at 7.40am, 30 min after the 1st wave. Front wave had all the advantages if were a victim. After all the written rule was to finish 1.9km swim by 70 min, and finish swim-and-90km bike by 5 hrs. I felt that the organiser should stood by the rule and not impose cut off time on 2nd lap; and let us attempt to complete swim-and-bike within 5 hrs time frame. Their reason was that they had to reopen up the high way, but the high way was closed till 2 pm. Anyway who would know or anticipate this sabotage would happened.

I got back at 11.40am and was directed into the transition area to prepare the running leg. Feeling disappointed and frustrated, I thought of giving up the race and quit the 21.1km run ( 3 x 7km loop) altogether, but somehow my sub-conscience and determination told me to carry on and continue I did, see myslef crossing the finishing line. I was glad, no regret to do the run leg, it was fun especially near the starting/finishing line. It was like carnivals, spectators cheered you on by calling your name and most importantly Lucille was there motivating and encouraging me to strive on; snapping shots for me and cheer me on. On my third lap I took a candid shot, graping her for a kissssss.......... hahaha....!!!

My approx. break down time:-
(My age grp wave started at 7.40am;start 1.9km swim-63min),T1-7min
(8.50am) - start my 1st bike lap - 75min>
(10.05am)-seek help, fixing punctured tyre - 35min

(10.40am)- start my 2nd bike lap -65min> T2 - 5min
(11.50am) - start my 21.1km run leg - 2hr 36min
(2.26pm) - cross the finishing line.. Total time = 6 hrs 46mins.

Post mortem of this race:-
Swim leg - 1.9km. ----- the swim was tough for me as this was my first time doing 1.9km sea swim. As I was still brushing up my front crawl and would got my self very tired if I were to do front crawl, hence I decided to swim breast stroke. I swam 90% breast stroke and the 10% front crawl was to kill monotony and hoping to gain some timing. Doing breast stroke was good and also been advised by YF coach to stay on course to avoid wasting time because doing front crawl would made me swayed off course. This strategy would ensure me to finish the swim within 70min, and I did it in 63min. However 63min in the sea has made me exhausted and made biking very difficult. I knew swimming was something I must improve tremendously if I want to do Full IM, more 70.3 or OD tri with good timing and to stay strong for the next 2 legs. No worry, I have joined YF to take care of this and YF Coach Lim is responsible to ensure that I improve in my swimming, of course I have to do my part. The swim was tough especially when swimming back to the coast bscause of swimming against the choppy current which pushed me out of the sea. I was glad that I made the cut.

Bike leg --- supposed to be 3 laps,90km ---- did only 2 lap, 60km. To me the bike route was tough, perhaps it was because my first time and inexperience. I noticed that my first lap timing was slow, 75 min for 30km. My chain came off at approx 8km mark and wasted some time fixing the chain. When I was about to speed off after fixing the chain, I stopped to be a "Samaritan" lending my pump and assisted a cyclist to inflat his flat tyre. I pity this guy as I overtook him, his tyre did not last long despite my help (I believed he was a thumb tack victim too as he mentioned to me that his tube was new, wow imagined he had to push 8 km back to starting point). All in all I could have wasted 10mins.

My cramp on my left quad set in during the 1st lap bike (it must be my exhaustion in the swim), and of course 2nd lap could be worst if not for the 35min break to fix my tyre. Anyway I believed bike leg timing would also be well taken care of if I train more in swimming and attend YF class diligently.

Run leg 21.1km ---I was not happy with the timing, 2 hr 36min for 21.1 km and I pondered the timing could have been much worst if I had done the 3rd lap bike leg. Anyway, I know that improvement can be made in this run leg since my base is running.

Overall, I did enjoyed this run, drink support was excellent, it was fun and interesting even though it was very hot during my 2nd and 3rd loops as it was already noon time. The weather was so hot that I just shower myself with the cold water at every water point during the last loop. At the very last water point, 1.5 km way from finishing point, I took out my cap and just stood still to let the volunteers shower me with many bottles of cold mineral water, and guessed what! these guys really enjoyed seeing me soaked.......!!

Finally I crossed the finishing line 6hr 46min, by timing I did achieve my set-target of finishing below 7 hr, but technically I did not complete the full course of Aviva 70.3 Ironman which was 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1 km run.

So, I definitely did not qualify to be called a 1/2 Ironman, then maybe called a 1/3 Ironman or 0.45 Ironman. Haha!! Well, it does not matter really. Most importantly I have learned many lessons from this race, know my weakness, and knowing I can over come frustration and disappointment to continue and "complete" this race. More over, I should be considered fortunate because I did my run leg and cross the finishing line. There were those, read from the media; whose tyre got punctured in each bike lap and end up walking back from 72km mark, and there was one whose tyre punctured only after 3.5km into the 1st lap and decided to stop his race totally, and even one lady elite's race was ruined by this sabotage. No one could tell what would happen even if I had a chance to do my third bike lap. I think most importantly was that at the end of the day, I did enjoy this race, so was Lucille who was proud seeing me got the courage to prepare and took part in this Aviva 70.3 Ironman, which logo exclaimed, "Life. Take it on". The good news; it is confirmed Aviva 70.3 Ironman will stay in Singapore again next year and you bet I will be at the starting line again.
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