Ironman Swim - 3.8km

This was ironically the easiest part of the day and the hardest. Easiest because there was little pain involved. Hardest because it was where the largest psychological hurdle was.

I remembered the book which said start easy and comfortably and so I did. I swam for a long time - sighting every so often. And then I swam for a long time. Still on course. Still no closer. I was probably 500 - 800m in when I thought suddenly that 3.8km was a really long way and I wasn't sure if I could do it. I kept swimming though and worry went after a few more strokes.

The gel that I had taken just before the start after a quick 200m warm up kicked in about then and I settled down into a comfortable rhythm. I was never able to find a decent draft around the course that I could keep for long and so I didn't bother after a while.Just kept my head down and thanked god for allthose weeks of training with pull buoys and paddles.

One of the things I hate about sea swimming is that after a while the taste of salt in your mouth gets really cloying and nasty. You have to put up with it though - and the Jelly fish. I think they were jelly fish but I kept getting stung by something . It was irritating or a welcome distraction from the repetition of pull/twist/pull/twist though. 

The Eagle on Dataran Lang looked amazing as we went past it - black against the dawn sky.

One thing that I noticed was that I don't tend to rotate very much during open ater swimming. It doesn't seem natural at all, putting my head down is difficult - though I have got a lot better at both in the pool.

As I approached the turn cramp in my arches threatened and I did 50 metres breaststroke which seemed to sort things out. The turn was a welcome psychological boost and about then I realised that if I managed to do an Ironman I'd never worry about anything again. Well, it's what I gelt at the time. :)

The way back was fine - I think my speed was falling off a bit as I was constantly being slowly overtaken. I was quite happy with the pace though and I slowly watched the Jetty get closer. Someone hit me on my right goggle at about this time and I quite happily caught him in the ribs or kidney in return. Ha! That sort of thing is for the start - not the finish.

And then I was back. Good man. Wasn't that impressed though as I was dying for the loo and I ignored the eager volunteers offering me my bike bag and headed for the loo. A good shower on the Jetty and I ambled into the changing tent.

Heard Dave Spence's name as he started out on the bike just as I was applying a huge handful of vaseline as lubricant. The volunteer was great in helping me suncream up and grease my shoulders and I trotted off helmet and Oakley shades - looking damn cool.