"And all I want to do is run & enjoy it...

This weeks Peakology follows myself (Brad Sheppard). After the feedback and interest from the Gold Coast Marathon story, I almost felt obliged to tell this one!

First the background:

Endurance competitions for me are something really exciting.  Coming from a bodybuilding background, I have virtually gone to competing at the other end of the continuum!  It's a well known physiological fact that the greater amount of muscle you have, the harder your aerobic system has to work.  Ever seen a huge Kenyan Olympic marathon runner?  So, at 105kg I do not look like the average endurance athlete!

For me it's the excitement, the challenge, the enjoyment & going against conventional theory to prove them all wrong!

The Ironman:

The Ironman is well respected as the toughest Endurance sport.  It's basically a huge triathlon. Fast people finish in less than 9 hours, most people take between 12-15 hours. It's a long day!

I was in the Forster ½ Ironman: 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride & 21km run

The fuel:

I was scared of "bonking" (running out of fuel / energy) during the race, so I sufficiently carbohydrate loaded.  Out of interest's sake, I have provided my food diary on Friday 14th November, 2 days before the race:

As you can see, I was guaranteed that my muscles were stored with Glycogen!

The race:

The energy and excitement of the small town that had come alive with 1000 competitors was absolutely amazing!

The swim & ride were wonderful, I can elaborate on the details at a later date, but if anyone has ever been to Forster-Tuncurry in NSW you will agree that it is a truly beautiful place!

By the end of the Swim then ride, I had been traveling for just over 3.5 hours (thank god I ate all that food!).  As you finish your bike ride (just under 3 hours) you jump off & quickly whip your joggers on & race out of the transition area to start your half marathon (21kms).

With 32 degree temperatures and not a cloud in the sky, it was a beautiful day to be, say, lying on the beach, throwing a Frisbee or at lunch with some good friends like Evans & Tate!

3 km into the run something happened.  If you have read my Gold coast marathon story you may remember that "something happened" there also.  That time at 38km's, this time at 3km's!

I started to cramp throughout the quad's (front muscles of the legs), and although you attempt to think that this will be fine & go away, they did the opposite!  The funny part, much to the horror of the onlookers in Tuncurry, was to see this 105kg hulk, looking way out of place in a ½ Ironman, trying to hold himself up on the nearby park bench - in agony!  They sort-of gave me that "what the hell are you doing it for" look!

Fortunately, like all scary things, the cramping went away!  However the onset of pain & potential feeling of not finishing another race simply changed my outlook for the following 18kms.  I said to myself that I just want to run & enjoy, run & enjoy...

The end result was amazing; I had completed the ½ Ironman and completely enjoyed the whole event, including the run!

I crossed the line with the traditional "front double biceps pose" just loving every second of it, with the "Spike" triathlon crew cheering me on - the feeling was fantastic!

To add to the excitement, I have been awarded the "Spike" triathlon "Athlete of the Month" for December. To read my profile get onto www.fidlerswimming.com and have a read.  The rule is that you cannot write your own profile!