OK, for those of you who would like a little more detail of the weekend’s goings-on, here is the lowdown of Quelle Roth Challenge. My first long distance race.

Wed (pm): After an easy flight and hire car journey we (my hubby Richard and I) arrive in Abenberg at family Koenig – our wonderful homestay for the race weekend. Abenberg is about 10km from Roth. Everything it seems is 10km from Roth!

Thurs (am): Pro athletes have signed a contract with the race organisers to abide by the WADA anti-doping code. Every pro athlete has to have their blood tested prior to the competition to ensure that haematocrit levels are within the guidelines. This was the first time that I have ever had a blood test taken for doping control. It was a super efficient process. I was really impressed and it’s so important to the sport and the event that all the athletes are clean.

From doping to race briefing and I’m getting nervous! Some things I still need to get my head around (where does the bike go?, what’s the red bag for….?) Had a good time catching up with some other athletes and meeting some new faces. Finally meet Guy from Blueseventy – the man who sends me my wetsuit!

I’ve been invited to the pre-race media conference. For what reason I am not really too sure. I think it is because Chrissie has told the race organisers that they should watch out for me! Had an interesting time and appartently made a hit with the journalists. Mostly because I don’t think too hard before I open my mouth.

Time to get back into the reason that I am in town and Richard and I head to the expo to grab him some new bike kit. I go for a swim in the beautiful open air 50m pool in Roth and then for a wee run out at the canal where the swim will be at the weekend. The canal is huge and looks a bit imposing. 4k is a bloody long way when you see the course in front of you. Best not to think about it! Coffee and cake at the bakery.

Friday: A lazy day: long lie, a 90min bike, 3k swim. A meal out at a local guesthouse (very yummy) and bed. A good day away from race central where everyone is getting a bit manic. Coffee and cake at the bakery.

Sat: Down to the canal early to test out the water situation. Yup, it’s water and the swim course still looks a long way! Back home for second breakfast then a quick bike and run before packing the kit, packing the kit, packing the kit (it’s epic how much stuff seemed to need organised!) and then off to check the bike and run stuff into transition. Coffee and cake and then home for BBQ and bed.

I’m liking the coffee and cake trend.

Sun: Pretty shocking sleep really. Unusual for me as I’m usually a good pre race sleeper. I think that fear of the unknown kept my brain ticking over for longer than usual. Finally drop off after doing some mental prep – race plan in head and stress levels now low enough to drop off.

Down to the start – bike ready, nutrition loaded on and ready (everyone laughing at my bento box, what’s that about?!). General pre race nerves into action – portaloo needed! Wishing that I was on a beach far far away! Swim cord warm-up and out into the water with 400 other idiots. Really hard to tell where all the pro women are – so many bodies. I get myself to the front beside Leanda and Belinda and the gun goes off. No idea where anyone is, I just swim! End up alone at the front of a small pack. Luckily Belinda comes out the water at the same time. Yes it was a long way but was not really that bad to be honest. I think because the water is fresh (not salt), no waves and no currents to battle.

Onto the bike where I settle into a rhythm. I decide that  Belinda is biking at the right pace for me to key off. It was good to have people around during the whole ride. It’s such a busy course – you are always thinking, watching and paying attention so the miles fly by. We go past a few of the other pro women, catch Rebeckah Keat and pass Leanda. I miss my nutrition hand-out from Richard, so get a little worried but I carry extra gels and decided to use them and take on water from the aid stations. Credit to Richard though. He jumps on the mountain bike borrowed from our homestay and meets up with me later on the course so that I can get my powerbar goodies! The crowd support is bloomin’ amazing WOW.

Rebeckah, Belinda and I enter T2 together and I’m left hanging around in transition. I wanted to make sure that I was totally organised. I’d never run a marathon and the little extra pause gave me time to compose myself. I started running and was feeling pretty gangly for the first 3k. Onto the canal I settled into my pace – with my Garmin now working I realised that I was running 3m50s/km pace and did not feel too bad. Coming into the first turnaround my tummy was begining to stage a revolution – into the portaloo I went. From about 10k to 30k I was having a grim time. Walking, throwing up, pooping. Running, stopping. Finishing the race, pulling out. Up and down. Crazy. I finally seemed to get going again with around 12k to go, the legs came back, the head came round and I knew that I was gonna finish this ironman distance thing. I was just so happy to run into the finish zone with all the crowd cheering. It was pretty emotional and a really special moment. I finished an ironman, which was the main focus of the weekend. The fact that it was the fastest ever debut ironman distance finish and the 6th fastest in history is still sinking in….

Post race:Massage, food, press conference (more talking without thinking, may have to address this…!). VIP tent to chill out and drink some beer. Then onto the finish line with Chrissie to cheer in all the people still coming in. This was super fun. The night ended with some super fireworks and some more food..!

Now back in Broxburn with some nasty toenails, antibiotics for the rub from my timing chip that is infected and loads of smelly kit to deal with…

DO THIS RACE!

 1) Running a marathon off a 4k swim and 180k bike is interesting: like that song – “you’re up and then down, in and then out” or maybe ” you’re in the portaloo and then sick, you’re fast and then slow…..”. Totally out of the game for 20km. Full on wanting to stop mode but knowing that I could not live with myself if I did!

2) Quelle Challenge Roth: the most amazing race. Another race that is more than a race. Excellent organisation (thanks Felix and Felix’s mum), flipping amazing crowds and a truly awesome course. PUT IT ON THE LIST.

3) Met some friends, made some new ones! Special mention to Rebecca Keat, Chrissie Wellington and Belinda Granger who were generous with their advice and encouragement. Special special mention to Belinda who was like my own personal ironman guide.

4)  I can now make spatzle. Email me for the recipe. Thanks thanks thanks to Family Keonig for a wonderful homestay.

4) Maybe I will do another one……….as a first experience I think that I did OK.

(Article from www.britishtriathlon.org)

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The British Triathlon Federation is pleased to announce that the 2010 Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships will take place in the historic city from 3 to 5 September, 2010.

The Duathlon event consists of a 10km run, 40km cycle and 5km run and is expected to attract hundreds of elite and age group competitors from around the world to the Scottish capital where they will compete around Holyrood Park, Arthur’s Seat and the Scottish Parliament.

Scotland boasts a strong tradition within duathlon, most notably through reigning ETU Duathlon European Champion Catriona Morrison from Broxburn. Morrison has five major titles to her name in the last four years including two ETU Duathlon European Championships (2007 and 2009), two ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships (2007 and 2008) and she was ITU Duathlon World Champion in 2006.

Dr Sarah Springman OBE, president British Triathlon Federation, Vice-President ITU, commented: “Hosting a World Championships, in duathlon, and in Scotland shows British Triathlon’s commitment to the diversity that makes up the ITU portfolio of disciplines as well as to our own Home Nations. We seek to put on a world class event for world class athletes with the valuable help of our partners in the City of Edinburgh Council, Event Scotland, Triathlonscotland and our in-house events team. We are delighted to welcome the world’s elite and age group duathletes and challenge them to take on the exciting course around Arthur’s Seat, while exhibiting their transition skills in front of two of Edinburgh’s most iconic buildings, ancient and modern, the Queen’s historic Palace at Holyrood House and the Scottish Parliament.”

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said: “Edinburgh has a reputation around the world as an outstanding destination for world class athletics events.  From the best ever World Cross Country Championships last year to the annual Great Edinburgh Run, the city lends itself exceptionally well to hosting elite and mass participation sports events.  The ITU Duathlon World Championships in 2010 will further strengthen Edinburgh’s reputation in this area and will add yet another fantastic event to Scotland’s ‘world championship’ portfolio.”

President of triathlonscotland, Geoff Earl added:  ““triathlonscotland is thrilled to host this World Class event in Edinburgh, allowing the opportunity to showcase the beauty of our capital, the strength of our performers and provide an important platform for the development of the sport and its volunteer workforce in such an important period in British sport.”

Marisol Casado, ITU President commented: “We are delighted to take the 21st edition of the ITU Duathlon World Championships to Edinburgh in 2010.  Great Britain has a wonderful history in Duathlon, boasting great champions like Michelle Dillon, Paul Amey, Tim Don and of course Scotland’s own Catriona Morrison.  After successfully hosting the 2007 Duathlon European Championships, Edinburgh proved it was a worthy candidate to become the first British city to host the ITU Duathlon World Championships.”

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals & Events Champion for the City of Edinburgh, said: “Having hosted what were acclaimed in 2003 as the best-ever European Cross Country Championships, followed by a successful Duathlon European Championships in 2007 and the fantastic World Cross Country Championships in 2008, we are better placed than anywhere else to deliver this type of major sporting event.
 
“Welcoming the ITU World Duathlon Championships to the city centre in September 2010 will be a welcome boost to the economy and will put a display of top notch sport on show. I look forward to welcoming competitors, officials and spectators from all over the world.”