Yea, you heard me. Don’t pretend you didn’t. Five years after birth is the last time this happened… but in a race, like in war, and like in the kiddie pool, with lack of a more appropriate phrase – You DO what you have to DO.
I did what I had to do … I, once again, swam biked and ran the half Ironman distance. The only difference is that instead of the comfy snuggles I got from Mickey Mouse in Disneyland during my first half Ironman, this time I was faced with the unforgiving winds and mountains of the desert. I’m always up for a challenge but there are tremendous differences between competing in the land where dreams come true to the land where Jesus grew.
Since anyone can write a “race review” where they split up the swim, bike, run and write how they felt, I will let you know of my experience through comparison with the Florida 70.3 which took place in Fort Wilderness, Disneyland.
| Florida | Eilat | |
| Location | Fort Wilderness – Disneyland | Desert Wilderness |
| Distance | 70.3 mi | 113 km |
| People I knew at the race | Me, My coach (Sharone), and my dad | Me, My coach (Sharone), my mom, my dad, my boyfriend, my boyfriends sister, my boyfriends sisters husband, my boyfriends aunt and uncle, and well… I knew almost everyone |
| Typical Participant | Big, small, thin, fat, in shape, not in shape, white, bla… nah, just white – Basically every shape and size you could imagine. | 40+ bald with Rudy project sunglasses on their bald heads.Listen – Why do all the Israeli guys who do Ironman competitions look so goddamn similar?? It’s a good thing that the third wheel was there to provide diversity. |
| Courtesy | Someone touched me slightly during the swim and when I lifted my head to breath, I heard “I’m so sorry” … I hardly even noticed | I was swimming next to a guy who must have thought that I was closing in on him or something. He touched my shoulder while swimming and said “You’re closing in on me!” I immediately said that I’m sorry and when he heard that I was a girl, only then he said “Oh, I’m sorry too” |
| Pre-Swim | National AnthemEverybody had a few moments to think about the race and after the horn went off for my age group (Yes , I started the race with just my age group) everyone made their way calmly into the lake | I didn’t even know that the race started. No horn, no words, no nothing. Everybody roared in like a sprint race and I got beat up in the water because we started swimming with all age groups. |
| Wetsuit | Didn’t use one. It was nice and warm and funnn | The wetsuit makes me think I look thinner but in photos I look like I have a big belly. It slowed me down and my goggles made my eyeballs pop out. I need to start experimenting with goggles. |
| Terrain | Flat as a pancake! | Big Eilat mountains |
| Wind | None | Lots in the 36km following the turn around point |
| Spectators | A lot. They didn’t know how to pronounce my name though | On the tayelet there were a few people cheering. I got some Kol hakavods (Good job). A little girl gave me a glass of water which inspired me a tiny bit but nothing major. |
| Expo | It was like they took Paragon sports and put the Ironman logo on EVERYTHING. I could spend hours there | Not even worth a second glance |
| Run | 3 loops around fort wilderness. Not amazing but nice that you pass the spectators every loop | Down hill for most of the way but the views were really nice going down. I enjoyed the run and it took me only 1:45. |
| Rewards | Really nice medal | Ok medal but everyone got a trophy which was nice. I got two because of the podium |
| T-Shirt & Gifts | An OK finishers t-shirt. Not very nice but that is what the Ironman store is for! | A nice t-shirt but only for the half. The full Ironman got ugly bright yellow shirts. We got another red one but it wasn’t so exciting. We got goggles and a blue cover for something. Nobody was sure what it was at first. They all used it to cover their bikes at night but it was really meant to put on the car seat when you’re wet or dirty… clever… |
| Best Part | I was fast and anonymous. I could do whatever I wanted to and nobody cared. | Tamir was doing it with me |
| Worst Part | I stayed in a crappy hotel | I mentioned it in the introduction… I had to relieve myself during the downhill run so after a long dilemma, I couldn’t take it anymore. I found a block of cement, went behind it, and did what I had to do. At the next water station I said “I’m not usually like this” and poured water wherever was needed…Hey! Don’t judge me! |
Overall I had a good time but I can’t wait till Brazil for a nice, fun course. This was just a kind of challenge on the way but the real goal is still ahead.
Thanks for all the supporters – My parents, Tamir’s Aunt and Uncle, etc.