Natarsha Wendt - YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!

My previous post brought all readers up to speed my journey to race week and race day.

Like my earlier post I will not be writing a novel! I TRIED but I am afraid its long!! Get a cuppa tea and some biscuits..... Here we go....................................

Race week required me to be off my feet for as much as I humanly could, however I still had to work and there were some taper sessions in the plan that needed to be done. I swam first thing in the morning down in Frankston with fellow IM athletes and then headed down to St Kilda to register, have a quick peak around the expo and then head off to work.

Registration was fairly quick - got checked in, signed waiver, got my bag, got weighed and of course was taken straight to the Ironman merchandise store! Had a quick ponder and then proceeded to the second part of the expo with all the brands selling their merchandise. Bought a couple of things and then headed to work.

I took Friday off work and basically spent the finalising everything I needed, making sure I could find my nutrition (which I couldn't), checking over my bike which had been serviced a couple of days earlier, put together my race plan for my coach and then I laid on the couch, watched DVD and chilled out.

Saturday I headed down to Frankston to check in the bike bags and drop of mu bike. I still managed to keep a level head. I knew I had trained for this race, I knew I could do it, I just had to continue to remain level headed, chill out for the rest of the day (watched DVDS, ate pasta and cheated with some Cheezels) and then sleep! My dad arrived at 6.00pm from Sydney along with my brother. I saw them for a couple of hours and then it was off to bed for me at 8pm.

Sunday - RACE DAY!
Woke up at 4am. Had a shower, had quite a good sleep. Got ready, woke my family up, had breakfast and waited for my dad and brother to be ready so we could get down to Frankston. My aim was to leave the house at 5.15, ensuring we would be there by 6.30am. I drove of course as I needed to be in control.
Now all this time I am still calm and I am ready!

Arrived in Frankston, still dark and everyone was making their way to transition to make sure tyres on bike were pumped up, they hadnt moved, fill bottles and mentally prepare for the swim. Now for me all I needed was for the water to be calm and I knew I would be fine for the whole day! Well thank the gods and lucky stars the water was flat and for me luke warm! I was over the moon. Whilst in transition I bumped into many of my mates from Team Maccax and my fellow Turbo ladies and also OneRaceTeam members. We said our quick hellos but I knew now was not the time to be chatting, it was time to be leaving people alone to get in their zones etc. After getting everything ready I dropped my street gear bag off, special needs, made my way to meet my dad and brother, got my wetsuit, swim cap and googles on, kissed my dad and bro a see ya later and headed down to the water!

7:20am I'm in the water and my goodness I couldnt believe it I bumped into Megan Smith (fellow Turbo) and few of the guys that I had met via the Ironman Melbourne group on Facebook (Stuart, Ian, Eli, Debi and Hartley Weiss). All I kept thinking was this water is freaking amazing. The conditions could not have been any better. I had said countless times to my coach, Toby - if the water is calm I reckon I can pull a 1:46  swim but if the waters were choppy I reckon just inside the cut off.

The gun went off and I was off. I breathe to the left so I seeded myself to the closest part of the pier inline with bouys in the back. I am not a great swimmer and this was the first time I had swum with 2500 other people. I did get a few knocks and people swimming into me but I just pushed them out of my way in the end. One guy grab my foot so I started kicking like a mofo to get away. Other than that the swim was fairly fine for me and I was enjoying myself. I got out of the water and saw the clock at 1:47 and thought cool I am on track.

Exiting swim

I was feeling quite good, I basically said to myself well done chick, that's the swim done, now lets go for a ride on the bike. Made it into transition, wetsuit, cap google etc off. On with the helmet, bike shoes, sunnies and application of chamois cream (assos) and I was out of there!

Got to transition and got bike with no fuss. Made my way through to road, mounted bike and the blood garmin started to play up. So didn't really see anyone as I left Frankston as I was busy fussing with the garmin (i needed those bloody stats lol). Ended up resetting watch, changing it to bike, clicking start and I was off!

Happy to be on bike!

The first 45km was lovely tailwind behind me, I was feeling great but remembering what Toby had said, stay inside your zones, its the longest section of the day. So I looked down at my lovely stickered profile design torpedo drink bottle full of water and began to sip water. Did this for the first 20 mins of the bike, then I began taking on my nutrition. I stuck to that nutrition plan and I think that is why I felt so good during run and post race. Second 45km there was a slight headwind but nothing to dramatic. I mean I had ridden in worse during my time in Lanza and of course training along Beach Road in the previous weeks. Third 45km leg and pretty much as I was nearing the 2nd aid station BOOM I got a puncture. Now I had been advised by many experienced IM athletes/friends and coach, things will go wrong on the day but how you handle them is what will make or break your day.  So I pulled in, got off my bike, remained calm - said out loud to myself BREATHE you can do this just relax. I did just that, I relaxed and got on with it. I was also very lucky as my friend Lucette was volunteering the aid station so she kindly took pictures of my handywork lol.


Changed the tyre, went to the loo whilst I was at and then I was off again. I lost about 15 mins I reckon but hey nothing I could do about it. I was feeling good and a little puncture was not going to let me down. The last 45km on the bike was tougher cause by this time the headwind had picked up BUT I kept on. I knew that at this point I was going to do 6:45 which I really felt I was on track for so I remembered spin into the wind and prepare for the run, mentally and physically. I ensured that I kept taking on fluids and gels as my watch beeped every 15 mins.

Made it into the T2 and saw on the clock above 7+ hours. As I handed my bike to the the handler I patted myself on the back and said Well done Tarsh you just did 180km bike after swimming 3.8km now we just need to go for a little jog to St Kilda! I got this!

Now in T2 I decided I am going to take my time lol. (over 8mins) I took all my gear off, stretched out my back etc. Got my trainers on, fuel belt, put my visor on, sunnies and got on my way. As I was exiting T2 I saw two of my friends by chance, Sam and Michelle. They were super excited for me. That made me smile even more. I knew now all I had to do was jog on till St Kilda.

With the run you go out on yourself and then came back in to transition area before heading on the road to leave Frankston. On exiting to hit the road this is where I saw Michelle and Sam again. I was like what time did I do on the swim and the girls were like you did 1:29! I was like F*&K Yeah! My coach is going to be so happy lol. I was bloody excited. Then I asked my bike stats and they said 7:00. I said that was good considering I had a puncture. The girls then gave me a kick up the butt and said 'Right, get running' then I was off. As I was coming to turn the corner there on the corner was my whole family, so I stopped quickly to give them each a kiss and then I was on my way!

The plan on the run was to walk the aid stations which was every 2kms. I did this for the first half I reckon and then friends started popping up along the course which was awesome cause I completely forgot that I was in the last leg of my race. I ended up fast walking with my friends as they came along the run. I wasn't too bothered as I knew I was inside the cut off times on the run and the aim was just to finish and make sure I was smiling. Thank you Crystal, Katya, John, JJ, Penny, James, Kelly, Janelle, Steven, Clare, Michelle, Sam, Blair, Leah and Kayla all of whom I saw on the run.

Race Splits