IRONMAN Korea - when the going get tough, the tough get going

In the second weekend of September, few of us went to Ironman Korea which Gigi and Jing have been prepared for. The race took place at Gurye where 400km south of Incheon. We took an overnight flight to Inchoen and short nap in the airport, then 4 hours bus ride to the town with the nice breath of fresh air with comfortable air temperatures. 

Gurye

In the second weekend of September, few of us went to Ironman Korea which Gigi and Jing have been prepared for. The race took place at Gurye where 400km south of Incheon. We took an overnight flight to Inchoen and short nap in the airport, then 4 hours bus ride to the town with the nice breath of fresh air with comfortable air temperatures. 

This is the fourth IM for Jing and first time for Gigi.

The purpose of the swim is to get you on the bike. The purpose of the bike is to eat for the run. The purpose of the first run lap is to put money in the bank to pay the monkey that will jump on your back the second lap.
The Second Lap Monkey. He is very a big monkey. If this is your first Ironman, you have probably felt in your training everything that you will feel on race day, except the Second Lap Monkey. You can’t train for that. The Second Lap Monkey carries a big stick, and its name is Pain. Love it, hate it, get angry at it. Breathe it with every breath, feel it with every step and use it.

It lets you know you are still alive, more alive than most people will ever be in their whole lives. The clock keeps on ticking and everything bad must eventually come to an end. All you have to do is keep running in a straight line until someone tells you to stop.(Anon)  From - "Stepping Up", by Stu Downs.

Racing with confidence

Gigi trained with a 6 months plan from the Team Sirius, which built her volume and load from 10hrs to max 22hrs weekly over a few phases of recovery. As her husband and close training partner I’ve overseen her up and down moment with a lot of loneliness and struggle throughout the period. That’s the time I’d jump in to help motivate and analysis if she could carry on the next session or scale down. See her race report:

 https://gigiwon.blogspot.hk/2017/10/become-one-you-are-ironman-say-from.html?m=1

Ready to roll!

G was well prepared for this race, the only advise I given, the day before the race, suggested her swim further, practice a few swim start and exit, and make herself feel good and confidence in the water during the swim course preview, ensure her bike all set, all good to go. In the race day, just go with your feeling.

Fresh like a daisy after 3.8k swim

With the new IM Tracker apps, it gives you the real-time location of the people you track, G exit the water first, she was very happy and fresh like a daisy! Jing was some moment behind, once they start the bike legs, Andrea and I head back to hotel for a rest and wait for their marathon start.

Second Lap Monkey?

G starting very fresh in the run, Jing was very struggling and we keep cheering on him, they gone thought lot of up and down moment and Jing made it back alive as we keep cheering them at each lap. Few hours later, G crossed the finish line in 14hrs for her first IRONMAN, then Jing crossed the finish line in 15hrs for his 4th editions! Making impossible the possible!

Second Lap Monkey

Jing is an very experienced IRONMAN finisher, he already got 3 IM under his belt, however his training plan went off road  due to the situation at work, that’s hugely impact his preparation, I keep him confident and I believe he can make it, he asked for my last advise before swim start, I said “just start easy in the water and you will be alright.” Indeed, it’s the mind game, you know how to swim, and you can swim, once exit the water, you’re on your stronger way.

"Pain is good pain is your friend, you feed pain because you are alive, more alive than the others"

by the Master Chef from GI Jane

4 hours transit...

From the observer point of view, you need a lot more mature mindset to prepare for any unexpected.

In terms of the logistics, we can’t figure out any well connected transportation, it’s the overnight flight arrived at Incheon at 5am, then a few hours waiting at the airport for the coach at 9am, language barrier and ill communication on-site causing another hour of delay, then 4-5hours bus ride to Gurye, arrived at 5pm and took another time to sort out the hotel room booking at the remote location of Korea. Then you have to get your bike setup and checkin next day, the transition is 6km away from where you live. You need to stay positive.

Blue Sun Resort...

4 nights stay - Vacation? Racation? Or just go to tick the bucket list?

A short walk in-between

Next day, after bike checkin at transition, you have to move to race finish venue for the briefing, that’s 2km away and realize there is no shuttle bus, you need to walk and stay positive.

You are an IRONMAN!!

Taxi!?

Right after the IRONMAN assuming you finish in 14-15hrs that would be 10pm, you’re half dead and you need to pick up your bike from the transition that 2km away without shuttles bus, you need extra energy to solve this problem or your support team to help, you also need to stay positive!

Back to the hotel with your bike after the 14-15hours IRONMAN race, you still need to wash up and your only bus send you back to the airport is at 9am or noon, you still need to pack your bike, then you need a friendly bike box, a well trained support team, and your positive mindset, at the end of the day you are still an IRONMAN!!!!