Gallery
My Ironman Cozumel race stroy experience.
The whole race was very well organized and the setting was out of this world a real paridise.i'd recommend this one for its location.
I'd set my self quite a task trying for a Kona slot and I definatly felt the added pressure I put on myself that I brought upon myself on the day, I new that I’d have to go under 10hr to be in with even a slight chance of a role down slot but I’d give it a good try . I was surprisingly calm on race morning and was glad I’d had the time to acclimatize coz it was hot and humid.
2.4 mile swim
The swim was set in a marine nature reserve and the start included the usual amping music but also a special dolphin display it was awesome. (But I am condoning keeping dolphins in captivity)
What can I say swimming over coral reef in warm water with incredible visibility? My time was 1;07 not what I needed really I wanted nearer the hour and thought it may be possible as last year there was a helping currant but this year no such help.
So I was already lets say 5 mins down on where I needed to be but I felt strong the swim didn't take much out of me so that was good. So, long run into t1 and off on the bike with no sun tan lotion on ooops!!.
Cozumel 180km Bike
The first 60 km I didn't feel too upbeat about the whole thing lots of negative vibes and not really feeling connected with the race yet I always feel this way until I settle in. The bike course was a 3 lapper and the first lap was the usual hustle and bustle with people going off too fast, so your always having to be aware of not getting a drafting card in the confusion, on the second lap reality had got to hold of the 60km heroes and they started to drop like fly’s and we found some space to get into a rhythm.
The course is totally flat but most of it is into strong wind or a cross wind so I had to watch as my speed was harder to maintain and the wind got stronger as the heat of the day kicked in. As the bike went on I followed my nutrition plan to the T and everything was looking good and I felt strong and passed a lot of riders, so with 20mins to go I’d run out of the nutrition I was carrying and thought i'd be ok for the last 20mins another oops with 3 km to go I was just hit with a huge bonk it came from nowhere and even with the wind behind me I was down to 30kph. I wobbled all over the road and got into T2 and ate a banana not on the plan but how was I going to run feeling like this? "Ashley and Paulina have seen me in that state" so I thought i'd really blown it and started the run thinking oh deer poor little Lee has a long marathon ahead of him. Bike split 5:20.
I just had to start taking on nutrition and got back to the plan of a gel every 20min. The heat of the day was incredible and thanks to ice in the hat I started to get into some sort of rhythm but I couldn't keep my 7:30 pace which I wanted but hey that’s the race!!
So I lowered my goal to 8min mile which I kept for a while but even that slipped away, but still I was passing a lot of people so I felt quite strong through out the whole run and even managed a 7:30 last mile, so all in all I definatly did the best race on the day that I could and I couldn't of gone any faster.
Run split 3:35.I will be signing up for next year where i'll smash it with a little help from my coach, but a big thank you Coach Mark for all your help and encouragement good job ironmate!
Final result 38th in age group 111 over all well happy I just love this sport!!
Ironman Cozumel Mexico finisher.
Lee Thomas (GBR) Swim 1:07:36 Bike 5:20:21 Run 3:35:42 finish time 10:10:10
148th overall & 38th in age group