Aloha From The Big Island, Mhairi Wear

After years of racing, I finally made it to Kona, Hawaii the home of Ironman.  Stepping of the plane you are instantly hit by the most intense heat and humidity. The airport arrivals was like something I had never seen before it, looks awfully like the cafe and gifts shop area at Knowsley safari park just a little warmer.  We arrived, our luggage arrived all be it damaged but my prized possession and trusted stead was still in Seattle, on this occasion I was not panicking I had 8 days to race day and it was delivered to the hotel the next day.  Mayson’s passport however was never seen again after stepping off the plane - there is a reason I carry the travel documents.  There is now some random Hawaiian person walking around trying to pass themselves off as a small bald Cumbrian man!!

The next few days were spent heat acclimatising with small amounts of training I go for a 40 min run and I reappear at the hotel looking like I have been running in a steam room while getting a sun bed I look that red.  I’m Scottish we don’t usually do the heat or the sun we naturally look like casper the ghost and burn easily. Several trips to the merchandise shop which proved to be as expensive as trips to the supermarket buying a loaf of bread could bankrupt you but 500 ibuprofen is totally affordable.

Entered the timed training swim which I did not enjoy, actually hated every minute of it, which would prove to be my feeling of every swim I did while on the island except for the coffee boat one.  It was fun drinking shots of coffee while messing about on a rubber ring - Bex and I had fun. We were like 2 kids. It’s a non-wetsuit swim in Hawaii. Ive decided I love my wetsuit.

Opted not to do the underpants run, that is something that should not be seen in public.  The parade of nations was good just too much standing around in the sweltering heat with an SEC t-shirt that was not meant to be worn in the heat.  The common theme of this week was sweating in everything.

Bike racked, bags hung up, all the usual photos taken walk transition, best do that, chip collected stored safely don’t want a repeat of Wales and loose it. And it’s off back to the hotel to eat as much as I can which didn’t happen as eating on this island has not been great for me don’t think they have heard of gluten free much.  Then try to get a good night’s sleep.

Sleep as usual the night before a race was crap, I’m not a great sleeper at the best of times.  Alarm call 3am this was it Kona race day.  Down to transition and it was just like home pissing rain the only difference was it was it only lasted 20 mins and it was HOT HOT HOT.  Nutrition and bottle put on the bike, check the tyres, time to cover myself in that much anti chaff spray I slid all the way into my swim skin like a seal sliding off into the ocean.  Bex and Adele look remarkably the same.  Cannon went off and the pro’s were a go.    Stood in the pen waiting to enter the water for what seemed to be an age, finally I was getting in just as Lucy Charles Barkley was getting out.  Sure enough my swim was the most unpleased part of the day.  Again I hated every minute of it and I was not loving life when I entered T1 my usual words were getting spoken “well that was a pile of shite” on the plus side the dolphins did come out that morning and swim with us but I think I prefer the cold darks waters of ullswater.

T1 complete and on to my bike as everyone knows is my happy place.  I see my trusted sherpa the usual look on his face after the swim no words needed.  Loop round town completed and its out onto the open roads of the Queen K highway,  the wind was blowing and the sun was shining at times and boy it was hot.  In places it was like biking in a sauna.  I had decided that I was going to take water at every aid station I was not coming all this way and not finishing because I had dehydrated or over heated.  What I learned this time on the bike was not to relive yourself all over your food bag, lets just say eating my rice bars were not an option after the turn around at Hawi but had enough gels in my bottles it wasn’t a problem.  Just over 60 miles done and heading back towards town which was pretty much uneventful until I lost one of my contact lenses at 85 miles and it would have to be my distance one.  Arrived back in T2 in one piece and all bottles empty for once.

Bike racked, new lens put in bag of crisps scoffed and out onto the run.  Exited T2 with a huge smile on my face, just a marathon to do.  I was surprised with how good I felt.  Of Up Ali’i drive to the turn about and heading back down taking water of every aid station I had stayed hydrated on the bike wasn’t about to dehydrate on the run.  Saw Mayson about 5 miles heading back to town he was on video call to Hope seeing her on the call was brilliant she had been up all night tracking me.  Up Palani wow it felt like Mt Everest but ran it all aid station at the top then a left onto the Queen K highway once again.  Its about 6 miles up  hill all the way until you take a left hand turn and head down into the energy lab it was a long slog but kept going and ran to the top.  Heading down into the energy lab it was about 6pm and the sun was setting, it was still hot.  Don’t usually use the special needs bag but on this occasion I did, really pleased to see my packet of ready salted crisps they didn't last long and boy they were good.  Climb out of the energy lab wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be it was now pitch black 6 miles to go kept telling myself its only 2 Parkruns.  Just took it aid station to aid station then and before I knew it I was at the top of Pilani, heading down. I started to smile the finish line is only just over a mile away.  Finally take the right hand turn back onto Ali’i Drive after years of watching it on TV thinking one day that will be me, and it’s about to become reality.  I see Mayson 200 meters from the finish and the tears start to come and the smile it huge.  I hit the red carpet to hear once again Mhairi Wear you are an Ironman.

I get my Beads placed around my neck and my world championship towel over my shoulders no need for medical this time I feel ok, and finally after a few volunteer changes I get the medal its big and much heavier than others that I have.  Just kept smiling all the way to the recovery area Bex is there she’s already finished and looking happy. Adele has finished as well she’s gone back to her accommodation.  Managed to eat a little, medal picture taken, bike and bags collected and the slow walk starts back to the hotel and boy I skink but it was so worth it.  Day went great got my nutrition spot on just had a bad swim.

As usual sleep that night was not great but it didn’t matter I had done the race all I had to do tomorrow was pack and drink Prosecco.  And drink Prosecco I did but for once in moderation and even managed to find a GF pizza at a pizza shop and I can honestly say its the best pizza I have ever had.  Thankfully Mayson’s temporary passport had arrived a few days earlier so we were going home together. Kona lived up to its reputation of being a whole different world or torture and being hot, humid and hard.  That will be my only trip to the island I won’t be tempted back, there are other races that I want to do and now that I’m not chasing that qualifying slot and can do them.  I would always say experience it once if you can it’s a special race. 

Big birthday when I get home so lots of celebrating and socialising for a little while that is then it’s back to training for next year and lets see what it brings.

Mahalo Kailua-Kona its was a pleasure