Ironman Zurich 2009 was my revenge of last year. I didn't finish the race 2008 although I started with full of excitement. I realized I did a short cut on the swim course, imposed myself penalty waiting for 30mins in T1, which made me more freezing in the pouring rain. I couldn't stop shivering on the bike with only one layer of long sleeves and stopped before completing 1 lap of the bike course (DNF at 85km bike).
This year I brought wool arm warmers and put another windbreakers in my back pocket in case. I am wearing 2XU compression tights under the bike pants as usual. I bought an extra cap to layer in the swim. Christina was kind to lend me another jacket, glove covers, leg covers and even bike shoes covers etc c Hope I don't need all of them. It's in the middle of July and summer in Europe.
I was staying in Jany and Cecile's house with Stephane's family as usual. They are all French except for Pamela Stephane's wife, Filipino who speaks fluent French, but they were all speaking English for me including all kids during my stay.
A lot of fun together with them every day but what I was looking forward to most since last year's trip were Good night kisses from 3 kids (Jany and Cecile's 5year old twins Lois and Elia also 4year old Aurelien, Stephane's son).
As being Japanese I was a bit puzzled to see at first even Jany and Stephane hugged and kissed each other but actually it looked very natural. If Japanese males were doing the same I would think they were gays.
As one of ordinary Japanese, I was very lucky for being there and received kisses every day from beautiful children. I was polishing my both cheeks instead of polishing my bike. It seemed more worth it. Fortunately they never forgot kissing me every day. They may also have been feeling not too bad to observe how much Auntie Mika was excited for their kisses every day.
Other than that I was busy checking the weather forecast 3 times a day before the race day.
It looked like a good weather this year. 19-23C the whole day and a bit drizzling during the bike. Wool arm warmers seemed a little too warm but I decided to wear anyway.
I did something I never should do in the race. I bought a pair of new goggles the day before. They are wider than usual ones and I wanted to try for long time but never had a chance. I know you shouldn't try anything new in the race. I should have tried on Saturday but didn't have a chance. Stephane said, "they are very good Mika. And as long as they stick to your face like this, it should be ok". I decided to make it a go.
I wore these new goggles 10mins before the start. I wanted to wear earlier and warm-up with them but the swim start was very far from transition area. By the time I reached there it was only 10mins left. As soon as I jumped into the ocean, the goggles were fogged up. I cleared and cleared c still with full of fogs. I was in panic. "Stephane! It doesn't work!". Stephane panicked either. He felt the responsibility since he recommended the goggles. If it doesn't work, Mika will hate me the rest of her life, he thought. He helped to tighten the straps and clear the fogs for me. The person next to us also helped us and advised, "Put more saliva! It sure works!"
Yes, it finally worked. I was happy. So was Stephane.
The swim was nice. Very calm and water is clear. There was no my enemy jelly fish because of the lake. I kept looking for the legs or bodies I could draft. If I lost them or passed them, looked for another one. Maybe should have looked up more to make sure we were heading for the buoys as my draft and myself both did course out sometimes but never mind. It was a mostly successful journey.
My time for 3.8km swim was 1hr 28mins, which was exactly the same as WA Ironman last December. I was expecting 1:25 so a bit disappointed but never mind. Relieved my crucial part was over.
Bike course was 1,260m climb for 180km distance (2laps). There are 2 major hills. One is Beast and another one is Heart Break Hill. Beast is a really beast and just nasty long hill without any spectators. On the other hand Heart Break Hill is only 1km long and full of supporters are in both sides, tapping on your shoulders and shouting your name. I was almost in tears with my little Tour de France experience. Towards the top of the road getting more crowded, getting too narrow and difficult to even pass the cyclist in front of you. The crowds were more excited, shouting next to your ears and boosting you up to the summit. My pedals were lighter and legs were lighter only that moment.
Cecile, Lois, Elia, Stephanes's family Pamela, Aurelien were all there. And also Craig, who just finished Austria Ironman and came to support us on his way back, was sitting on the wall, looking us down and cheering.
I know I didn't do enough hill training at all in Singapore. We don't have proper hills in Singapore but I regretted I didn't go to Mount Faber even once. I was struggling on the hills but still enjoyed the beautiful undulating course. There were a lot of downhills as well as uphills and my max speed was 78km/hr. And I know I am the one of the slowest descenders in the world. This is how spectacular the downhill was.
My bike time was 3:11 for 1st lap, 3:32 for 2nd lap. 6hr 43mins total.
Relieved again when the bike leg is over. Now I have to do is only 42km of running (4laps).
I was following some guy who looked running in the good pace, which I shouldn't have. The pace was too fast and I did 50mins for the 1st lap.
Passed Stephane with his trademark tricolor cap. He asked me if the goggles were ok in the swim. "Yes! They were fine!".
I found Scott soon. We were chatting and running together for a while just like our Singapore Biathlon race. Scott was on his 3rd lap and I was doing 2nd. He was excited to talk to me how he liked the swim and the bike course. Man, you were doing a good race. Waving to his wife together in the crowds.
We saw Johnson standing and cheering on us. "What are you doing here?" Johnson said, "The crank fell off before Heart Break Hill. Fell down and the ambulance came. Had to pull out the race". I thought his bike had just come back from the bike shop for the crank damage. Was it not fixed? We all work hard for the big day and sometimes this is the reality. I had been riding with Johnson for ages and his crank never dropped during the ride. Why the bike decided to be broken today.
Scott was a bit paced down and I was running alone. I caught Jany at the right place. Cecile was just standing there and we both were in the photo with smiling and waving.
I was running comfortably for a while but I knew it eventually come.
I always have diarrhea during the run in Ironman races including the recent Ultra marathon. I had 'Imodium' beforehand but didn't work enough. It may have worked and could have been worse. It's not too bad but I have to go to toilet very often. There are quite a few toilets during the course but always somebody was in. And whenever I was in it, somebody was knocking the door. It's a long race and you have to keep eating. Maybe quite a few people have the same problem.
I kept drinking hot soup in water stops. The third time I reached there, the lady saw my face and approached me with a bowl of soup. "Vielen Dank!". It gave me a huge comfort.
That was the moment I tempted to walk a little bit but no way, as I heard the announcement in the park saying, "Here comes Mika Kume!! All the way from Singapore!!" Then a big applause, People are calling my name. I was waving and smiling to the crowds as if I am the representative of all Singapore. I pretended to run even faster at least till this stretch is over.
In the last lap 2km to go, I saw the watch and realized, Oh my god I could be able to do sub 4 hrs run.
I started sprinting - actually it wasn't a sprint. 5mins/km pace but I was feeling sprinting. I moved legs and arms furiously and desperately. It may have looked as if I was sprinting.
3hr 57mins was my Personal Best for Ironman marathon. Total timing 12hr 25min was PB as well out of my 8.5 times Ironman history, the age of 47!!
My revenge has done. Well, the word is not very appropriate. I rather reconciled Ironman Zurich this time, held hands and got along together very well.
I cannot imagine I was beaten completely in front of Ironman Zurich last year. It was so gentle, nice and sweet if we show some proper respect. This is needless say to prepare enough clothes and equipment, and study the course well besides all your trainings.
Special thanks for Jany and Cecile for having me again this year. Great to see you again, Stephane and Pamela. I know in this long day supporters get more tired than participants. Craig, nice of you to come back to Zurich and support us. No surprise it motivated you to race again in Zurich next year. Congrats to all who raced together no matter what finished or not. And thank you all friends for your thoughts and encouragements on messages.
Pocket Rocket Mika Kume
