MULTI SPORTS
Words: Rieghard Janse Van Rensburg ǀ Photos: Eidie Janse Van Rensburg & © FinisherPix.com
IRONMAN IS NOT JUST A RACE THAT HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR,
IT'S A CULMINATION OF MONTHS (SOMETIMES YEARS) OF METICULOUS TRAINING, PLANNING AND SACRIFICE to get the opportunity to line up with some of the world's elite triathletes and other like-minded individuals, all with a single goal in mind finishing the toughest single day endurance event on the planet, being called an IRONMAN and receiving your finisher medal.
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I AM AN IRONMAN BUT BEFORE I GET AHEAD OF MYSELF, THERE LAY 226 KM OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS BETWEEN THE START ON HOBBY BEACH, IN PORT ELIZABETH, AND FINISH SHOOT. For many,
the greatest achievement will be simply to line up, as in the wise words of the Greek philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis, "In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can."
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Unfortunately, not everyone is granted the honour of being called an IRONMAN, as this event will test you to breaking point. Somewhere in your 226 km journey, you will seriously reconsider everything you hold dear, your own sanity and your reasoning for entering. But if you manage to find the courage to overcome the self-doubt and pain, you meet a version of yourself that you did not know existed. You have to complete this race only once and your life will never be the same again, hence the IRONMAN slogan 'Anything is Possible'. This year was the 10th Anniversary of this iconic event on African soil and as promised by the IRONMAN team, it was a tough one. After all, it is not called IRONMAN for no reason and would surely be one to remember. All previous nine editions of IRONMAN South Africa had a two-lap swim, with athletes covering the first 1.9 km ocean swim, which was followed by a short run on the beach before starting the second lap. For the 2014 edition, there was just a single swim lap that covered the full 3,8 km. I must admit that when I arrived in Port Elizabeth and
noticed just how far the final turn buoy was, it caused a few unwanted churns in my stomach. The single lap would favour the pros and top age group contenders, as they wouldn't need to negotiate their way through some of the slower swimmers on their second lap. Another change was a new cycle route that was even more scenic than past events, but with some added hills just to keep things interesting. And instead of the three 60 km laps, it was changed to two 90 km laps. The upside to this is that it once again ensured that the top contenders would not have to deal with as much traffic on their final lap. Arriving at the transition area at 5 a.m. on race day, the beautiful wind-free morning was filled with nervous anticipation, as contenders scrambled around to drop off ‘special needs’ bags before heading into transition for final bike checks and making sure that their bike and run bag contained all the necessary equipment for the long day ahead.
THIS IS WHAT IRONMAN DID FOR ME! I ONLY STARTED 'AGAIN' IN 2012 AND SINCE THEN HAVE COMPLETED TWO FULL IRONMANS, AS WELL AS THE 70.3 LAST YEAR AND LOST ALMOST 25 KG. IT'S LIFE CHANGING
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I AM AN IRONMAN AS THE 2014 EDITION WAS THE BIGGEST EVER, WITH 2,371 ATHLETES TO BE EXACT, THE SWIM WOULD START IN THREE WAVES. Once behind the start line, it was
time for the first of two very special moments that make IRONMAN South Africa such an incredible experience (the second would only be experienced some 14 hours and 226 km later). Standing on the beach, albeit in nervous anticipation, while listening to our national anthem being played over the sound system made me feel proud to be a South African and gave me the courage and calmness of mind needed to embark on the journey ahead.
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After the start of the Pro field, there were still 10 minutes to silently contemplate the vastness of the undertaking and before I had anytime to reconsider, the canon fired and I was on my way. Navigating your way to and around the first turn buoy, some 300 m away, along with about 1,200 other athletes can be quite a challenge. But once around, the field quickly spread and the only thing left to do was keep on swimming towards the next turn buoy, a mile away. Fortunately, the sea was fairly calm, with very little wind and current. Turning at the third buoy towards Hobby Beach, I knew that the worst was over and there was 'just' 1,5 km to go. After exiting the water, I quickly made my way up the beach through the cheering spectators and into transition.
Exiting transition on my bike, and smothered in sunscreen for my 180 km cycle, I set off on the first of two loops. Although the first part of the route was fairly easy, I held back on the power as the race is long and it gave my legs a chance to properly warm up after the swim. Immediately following the turn-off onto the new part of the route, I was greeted by the first of many hills. The race organisers had lived up to their promise of making the route tougher, but not unmanageable; after all this is the IRONMAN. Before long, I had finished my first lap and the cycle down Marine Drive, which was lined with screaming spectators, spurred me on for the remaining 90 km.
Everything went according to plan until I reached Maitlands Hill for the second time, some 132 km into the cycle. The easterly wind had picked up and I found myself among fellow cyclists all silently contemplating how to handle the remaining 48 km in these conditions. I know the conditions were not nearly as extreme as in 2012, but seeing your average speed slowly decline with every passing kilometre sends a flood of negative thoughts through your mind. This was the point where the race really started for me, when I realised that I would not finish in my predicated time and I had to overcome all the negative thoughts. As with many other facets of life, everything doesn't always go according to plan and it’s usually in the face of adversity that we find our greatest strength and define our ultimate success in life.
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I AM AN IRONMAN SLOWLY BUT SURELY THE MINUTES AND KILOMETRES TICKED BY AS I KEPT ON PEDDLING AT MY BEST POSSIBLE PACE. Before I realised it, I
was among the athletes on the run course and entering the final stretch down Marine Drive to transition. Suddenly, all those negative thoughts had to make way for the fact that I had made it, 180 km was done and dusted. Now all that remained was to run 42,2 km. Dressed in my running gear, I was faced with what seemed an insurmountable task; running a marathon. But as the famous quote from Lao Tzu reads, “A journey of a thousand miles is started with a single step.” And so I got up and took my first step on a 26,2-mile journey of three laps up and down Marine Drive and through the NMMU Campus.
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This was by no means an easy journey. Along the way I had to deal with sore legs, muscles on the brink of cramping, cold winds, a huge blister on my one toe and overall exhaustion. But somehow, I managed to find the energy to keep going, knowing that despite all my doubts in the lead up to and on the day, I would finish and become an IRONMAN. There is very little to describe the feeling of seeing the 40 km distance board and realising that all that was left of a 226 km journey, which had started 14 hours earlier, was 2 km. That sign gave me new energy and I started to pick up my pace, running through the spectator-lined Marine Drive as if I was in the lead. Crossing underneath the IRONMAN bridge, I was overwhelmed by the most incredible feeling of joy and achievement, and almost instantaneously, all the suffering, sweat, pain and tears subsided this was my moment, this was my red carpet, I am an IRONMAN! Thanks to my incredible wife, who supports me not 100% but 1,000% in my efforts to compete in this race. I know it was not without personal and financial sacrifice to her that I completed this
event, and without her support, I doubt it would have been possible. Thank you Eidie, 2016 is going to be your year! Completing an IRONMAN will cost you a lot; not just in terms of entry fees, equipment, etc, but in personal sacrifice. I do however believe that it teaches you possibly the greatest lesson in life; that through perseverance anything is possible. I believe that everyone who takes part in an IRONMAN will question their own reasoning or sanity at least once during the course of the event, but somehow, you just keep on going and minute after minute, kilometre after kilometre, the red carpet and reward gets closer. I do not believe that there is a single person who has completed an IRONMAN and the event did not make a huge difference on how they view life or give them the courage to achieve what once seemed but a dream.
In the words of mixed martial artist Jon Jones, “To reach greatness, sacrifices must be made. You have to be willing to push harder, climb higher and dig deeper. When obstacles arise that might buckle the common man’s knees, you burst through because it’s the only option. There will be pain. There will be suffering. But where others fall, you continue to rise. Many are mediocre, few are great. I’ve made my choice. Have you made yours?”
SO IF YOU ARE EVER IN NEED OF FINDING NEW PURPOSE OR INSPIRATION FOR YOUR LIFE, MAKE
YOUR WAY DOWN TO PORT ELIZABETH AT THE END OF MARCH, BEGINNING OF APRIL AND YOU WILL STAND IN AWE OF WHAT THE HUMAN BODY AND SPIRIT IS CAPABLE OF. OR EVEN BETTER, ENTER THE 2015 IRONMAN SOUTH AFRICA; I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. • www.doitnow.co.za • 9