By Ian Wells
05:30 hrs, 13th March, Emirates Palace Hotel. After many months of training in the UK cold and ice, I am now one of many hundreds of triathletes making the final preparations for this long distance event. Still dark, it is announced that the sea temperature is 24C and therefore no wet suits, like Faris Al-Sultan world Ironman in 2005, I too was in my speedos and ready to go. Then came the news of a 30 minutes delay, go and sit down and wait, more sun cream applied. At 06:50 with the sun rising over the Emirates Palace the elites were off, and 5 minutes later, so were the 180 long distance triathletes. I took my place at the centre rear of the pack and got into what was a really enjoyable race in flat, warm and crystal clear water.
The swim course is two laps of 1,500 metres. Coming to the end of my first lap the helicopter was buzzing just 50m over my head; they were filming the elites who were descending on me like an express train! Just got out of the way in time. On my next lap I was mixed in with the short distance athletes, but still not able to draft any of them since they were going too fast. My swim time was 1:07 which is what I expected and OK.
No issues in T1 and soon onto the bike for the 36Km cycle to Yas Island. The first 5Km is along the Corniche, the skyscraper lined sea front of Abu Dhabi, which is 5 lanes wide and now on closed roads. It was now just a matter of head down and start pushing the gears. It did not take long to get out into the open desert and on schedule reached Yas Island in one hour; at this point I am maintaining an average of 36Km/hour. Then it was a sharp turn onto the Formula One race track for the next 6Km, this is the first time they had let anyone other than Formula One racers onto the track, and a highlight of the event. From the track it was back onto the 5 lane, straight, flat and now very hot highway back to Abu Dhabi. The temperature was set to rise to 34C. There was very little wind which was just as well. Monitoring the intake of Powerbars, Gels and water was now crucial, as well as applying loads of sun screen. I carried a bottle of highly concentrated electrolyte which certainly paid off. At each aid station I would pick up water, drank and poured the rest it all over me and the bike. Maintaining the same average speed, I arrived in Abu Dhabi on schedule, now it’s a turn around and back to Yas Island! Although it is a flat course, the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge rises about 80m and becomes a real mental challenge, had to drop down 3 gears to get over it! After the bridge the short course triathletes turn round, from now on I was chasing and overtaking only long distance racers. Along a straight 5 lane highway, no cars, it was again head down, no need to even look up, there is nothing to hit! Averaging 35Km/hour I arrived at the Formula One track, round and back to Abu Dhabi. Along the Corniche I was overtaken by elite Joe Gambles who politely said I was doing well! He was about to go into T2, I had to turn and do another half lap which was half way towards Yas Island. At the final turn, the midday sun is burning and it’s getting hot, I had accidently lost my sun cream long back. With no one passing me now I was pleased to be overtaking all those that came into my sights.
Arrived back into Abu Dhabi and T2, this was straight forward. Time for the 200km ride was 5:47, and pleased with the pace so far. Into the run, legs feeling good, except for a small blister I had picked up while walking several days before. The run course is dead flat, with very little shade, along the Corniche and onto the marina, total of 5Km, turn round and back, then start the second lap, now I switched to the cola drinks. This went well and finished in 1:59, giving me a total time of 8:58. I won my age group and more than pleased to pick up the $1,000 age group prize money!
This was one of the best events I have ever done, it is designed for cyclists and with a short 20 km run at the end, recovery is quick! In fact I was surprised how well I did recover after the event and nowhere near has spent out as after an Ironman. I will be certainly in it again next year, well need to defend and break my own course record. Let me know if anyone wants to come along.
Ian Wells
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