“This is more than just a race report to cover my Kona experience. With regard to the actual physical
challenge the swim was hard as I was in a large pack and we were all swimming at the same pace
so there was lots of jostling around in the choppy water. The bike went well it and for the most
part I felt strong and biked well within my capability. It was of course very hot, breezy along the
cost and very windy turning off the coast up the turnaround. At Hawi I served a four 4 minute
penalty for drafting (on a climb!!) along with 20 other cyclists, there were big groups on the course
so drafting on the hills was a problem. My vision started to go at mile 80 and I had developed a
blinding headache and a ferocious thirst, I attempted to take on board more fluids from this point on
but my stomach was cramping. I made it into transition and headed out on the run but I knew I was
in trouble. My vision was very poor and my legs and feet were cramping badly. I made it to mile 4
before I was overcome. Fortunately the Doctor who had been looking after Julie Dibbens was close
by and I was shipped off to Medical to fro the treatment of the hypoglycaemia.
However if the truth be told the reason why I DNF’d at the biggest event of my life was down to
arrogance, this was the first race I had started really believing I had a chance to do well. Ordinarily
I make the start line hoping I make it round but with my performance in Lanzarote and a summer
of hard and focused training I had an over inflated feeling of self belief. This led me to make bad
decisions I didn’t monitor my fluid intake on the bike, I didn’t eat anywhere near enough. I didn’t
acclimatise properly, I underestimated the affect the humidity would have and I didn’t hydrate
well or fully prepare the days preceding the race.I had begun to believe my own hype and it is this
that makes it hard for me to climb on that plane home tomorrow and face my friends and family
who have provided the most amazing level of support I have ever experienced. I feel like I have let
them all down and if I had been more humble then I would be greeting them with a result to be
proud of rather than limping back with excuses!!!So the most important lesson I will take from this
experience is that I remain an (almost middle aged) woman from Tetbury who swims, bikes and runs
a lot because it makes me smile and feel alive. I will come back from this stronger, more focused
and with a renewed understanding of what it takes for me to achieve my goals, and who knows I
may find myself back on these shores again……..
This is more than just a race report to cover my Kona experience. With regard to the actual physicalchallenge the swim was hard as I was in a large pack and we were all swimming at the same paceso there was lots of jostling around in the choppy water. The bike went well it and for the mostpart I felt strong and biked well within my capability. It was of course very hot, breezy along thecost and very windy turning off the coast up the turnaround. At Hawi I served a four 4 minutepenalty for drafting (on a climb!!) along with 20 other cyclists, there were big groups on the courseso drafting on the hills was a problem. My vision started to go at mile 80 and I had developed ablinding headache and a ferocious thirst, I attempted to take on board more fluids from this point onbut my stomach was cramping. I made it into transition and headed out on the run but I knew I wasin trouble. My vision was very poor and my legs and feet were cramping badly. I made it to mile 4before I was overcome. Fortunately the Doctor who had been looking after Julie Dibbens was closeby and I was shipped off to Medical to fro the treatment of the hypoglycaemia.
However if the truth be told the reason why I DNF’d at the biggest event of my life was down toarrogance, this was the first race I had started really believing I had a chance to do well. OrdinarilyI make the start line hoping I make it round but with my performance in Lanzarote and a summerof hard and focused training I had an over inflated feeling of self belief. This led me to make baddecisions I didn’t monitor my fluid intake on the bike, I didn’t eat anywhere near enough. I didn’tacclimatise properly, I underestimated the affect the humidity would have and I didn’t hydratewell or fully prepare the days preceding the race.I had begun to believe my own hype and it is thisthat makes it hard for me to climb on that plane home tomorrow and face my friends and familywho have provided the most amazing level of support I have ever experienced. I feel like I have letthem all down and if I had been more humble then I would be greeting them with a result to beproud of rather than limping back with excuses!!!So the most important lesson I will take from thisexperience is that I remain an (almost middle aged) woman from Tetbury who swims, bikes and runsa lot because it makes me smile and feel alive. I will come back from this stronger, more focusedand with a renewed understanding of what it takes for me to achieve my goals, and who knows Imay find myself back on these shores again……..”
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2 Responses to “Lisa’s Greenfield :: Hawaii Ironman Report”
It must be incredibly disappointing. But…. alot of pros dont finish. Your”critical self assessment” is remarkably honest and very admirable… if you want it enough i feel sure you’ll be back..good luck and all the best
Glad you’re OK. Vision going is definitely a BAD sign! Very brave to admit it’s all your fault too.
It must be incredibly disappointing. But…. alot of pros dont finish. Your”critical self assessment” is remarkably honest and very admirable… if you want it enough i feel sure you’ll be back..good luck and all the best