Awesome report Shaun, fantastic effort, and to Helen too! :)

Great report shaun and great result...

but big shout out to helen supporting... thats a long day to be standing in the rain being anxious.. I know!

T

IM Regensberg Road Rash Race Report

Beautiful city to run around, great lake to swim in and  stunning Bavarian mountains to cycle up, shame it Bl*%Y rained ALL day. 

The day started in my tried and tested way with 5 weetabix before walking the 10 minutes to catch the transfer bus to the lake (10km out of town).  Even though the sun was only  just coming up, we got the sense that it was not going to stop raining all day as the clouds only ever looked darker in the distance.  I had tried to convince some other people we had met that there was no need to get there 2 hours before the start as all that’s needed is to push two tyres to see if they are pumped up and put on a wetsuit.  (They were there 2.5 hours before the start in the rain getting cold).  Tyres checked, wetsuit on, walk to the start line, 15 minutes until the off!

The swim has to be the most brutal course I have ever swum.  It seemed that there was nowhere to hide from the melee of arms and legs.  After the first 400m I was considering how the **** I was ever going to get round, then I remembered, this was how I always felt at the start of an Ironman.  Only this time it felt this way the whole way round, I was still getting battered even with 200m to go.  As I exited the water I checked my watch and was gobsmacked to see 1:00, then I remembered I had  started my watch 1min before the start; first aim achieved, an Ironman swim in under an hr. J.

As I exited T1 I managed to catch an encouraging shout from Helen who by now was doing a great impression of a drowned rat.  My plan was to take the first lap easy, particularly the 16 mile hill climb from miles 10 to 26.  As I started climbing I immediately felt like a complete novice as the Europeans (particularly the Germans) climbed past me with their size 23 cassettes.  ( I would pass many of them on the descent and 2^nd lap though).  The descent was the hairiest I have ever done, 40 mph with brakes FULL on with the guy just in front of me sliding across the road, the grass and into the trees (luckily lots of medics nearby).  Now to the enjoyable bit (Flat (ish)).  Still lots of people sliding off,  I saw 4 crashes 20 yards in front of me.  Those of you that remember my Zurich crash will know it involved tram lines so I started to concentrate on the set that were at the 106 mile point, shame I didn’t see the cobbles around the roundabout 100 yards before the tram lines.  As my front wheel slides out I slide across the road I can feel my back and shoulder burning as the skin peels off then I realise I have hit the same hip as Zurich and think my race is over ( All this before I have stopped sliding).  I can already see the blood dripping and mixing with the rain down my back and leg (another tri suit with a huge hole in) but I reckon the adrenalin kicked in.  A spectator was already holding my bike up so I hopped straight back on, completely forgetting the tram lines 100 yards away.  This time safely over them and into T2 6 miles away, with a bike split of 5:11, not bad considering bad weather and a crash!!

Into T2 and Helen is unsure if I am going to come out and run. ( Apparently she hadn’t even seen my leg, only my back).  After pouring 2 bottles of water down my back and shoulder I thought I would get my trainers on and see how far I could get on the run.  The adrenalin must have still been kicking in as I set off at a decent pace of 7:50 for the first 6 mile lap.  I deliberately tried slowing down as I knew this was too fast.  How right I was !!!!  Each lap the pace and my ability to run comfortably deteriorated as my hip started to seize up.  The spectators around the course were fantastic and it was always funny to hear them shout my name as I ran towards them (name is on number) then go oooohhhh as they saw my hip, back and shoulder as I ran past.   I am now known as Shaun Oooohhh.  After a good few wash downs and comfort breaks the laps are counting down (slowly) and its time for thinking about the finishing chute.  The scene was incredible; a wall of noise within  a medieval Germany city and I cross the line and head straight for the med tent to get bandaged up; still on a high and with an  new PB of 10hr:19min:25sec.  Thanks to Helen, who probably had the harder day getting to all the vantage points and being wet supporting all day.  Now the question is ???…. do I start taking the drugs for heart disease as recommended by the doctors  and retire, or try for that 9hr ……. something next year?  Watch this space J

It was  great Ironman event in a fantastic city with incredible support.  If I were to race there again I would hope for a dry day but would recommend it to anyone.  Now where are those Jaffa cakes J

We're waiting!!!!!!! :D