2009 Ironman 70.3 World Championships by Bill Vieira

Nov 17, 2009

2009 Ironman 70.3 World Championships
Clearwater, Florida


On September 13th, 2009, I participated in the Muskoka 70.3 Triathlon and was fortunate to get a qualifying spot for the 70.3 World Championships during the rolldown that took place after the race. Almost immediately after Muskoka, the weather turned colder/windier/wetter and the days became shorter. It also saw the hibernation of my training partners and I must admit a little lack of motivation on my part. Still I swam enough to be able to comfortably swim 2000m, I opted for the comfort of my bike trainer and used the Boston Marathon Training Program to maintain my run fitness.

I wrestled with the decision on whether I should run the Hamilton Marathon but after all the work put in by everyone who took part in the Training Program, I didn't want to miss it.

Pre Race:

Rose and I arrived in Clearwater on Tuesday November 10th, 2009, with the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida still affecting the Gulf Coast. We stayed with my parents in St. Petersburg and my pre race taper consisted of shopping, shopping and more shopping.

On Friday the sun reappeared in Florida and we decided to spend the day at the beach in Clearwater, so that later in the afternoon I could turn in my bike and bike/run bags. I also took the opportunity to get in a swim in the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf was extremely choppy and my warm up swim was a roller coaster ride. Sighting was difficult at best and the tides were strong. I exchanged a few nervous laughs, words with some fellow triathlete's but none of us were really looking forward to having to swim in these conditions.

I went to check in my bike and bags and received the welcome news that the swim had been changed from the Gulf to Clearwater Harbour for safety reasons. A quick look of the Harbour revealed no waves, no safety concerns but how the heck would they get us in and out of the water?

Race Morning (Saturday November 14th, 2009):

I made the mistake of telling my dad that I had to get up early, so he naturally set the alarm clock for 4:00am, OUCH! I was stumbling around getting dressed when my mom woke up and said that she would make me some bacon and eggs. I love my parents. Rose, slept through the whole thing. I love my wife.

I convinced my mom that bacon and eggs wasn't the right choice. My dad and I grabbed some coffee's, bagels, bananas and piled into the Magic Wagon, leaving behind a disappointed mother and a sleeping wife.

We got to Clearwater in plenty of time. The usual pump of the tires, fill up the water bottles and it was time to make our way to the swim start. It was about this time that I found out that it would be a Time Trial swim start for the age groupers. It was also around this time that I realized the dynamics of the 'wave' start positions. In most races the older age groups go last but not in Clearwater. The Pro Women went first, Pro Men next, Women 45+, my wave Men 50+, followed by Men 30-34, and so on.

So here I am standing near the back of the Men 50+ wave, wondering how can I pee in my wetsuit without anyone noticing when I look over at the Men 30-34, doing one arm push-ups and other calisthenics to warm up. This should be interesting.





1.9 Mile Swim:

After the American Anthem the Pro Women and Men were allowed an 'in water' swim start a few minutes apart. The rest of us were led down in the order of our waves, single file, down a slippery ramp, across the timing mats on the dock, and then had to immediately jump from the dock into the Harbour. No diving was allowed due to the depth only being 3' at this point.

It was kind of muddy and the visibility was pretty bad at the beginning. Still, it was pretty orderly and there really wasn't the physical contact that you sometimes see in mass swim starts. I enjoyed the Time Trial swim start and was able to get into a nice rhythm. I made it to the first buoy before the first, of many, Men 30-34 went flying by me. Still, I never really got banged around too much and I was actually enjoying the swim.




It was a rectangular swim course and at the half way point I started to swim through some weeds, I realized that I was swimming on top of a sandbank. I kept swimming across the sandbank, only to see others walking across the sandbank. There's no walking during the swim of a triathlon. I kept swimming and headed towards the exit point which was next to a red Pirate ship. Yes, Richard I thought of you, Arghhh.






Out of the water, up another slippery ramp, through the timing mats, use the wet suit strippers, and I was running towards T1.

Swim Time: 37:07 (I like swimming in salt water and the added buoyancy it provides)

T1:

It was a bit of a run to T1, grabbed my Bike bag which only had my helmet, in and out of the change tent which you had to go through to get to the bike racks. I had practiced the route that I would take to get to my bike rack in the morning, so this was no issue. What was an issue is that when I got to my bike rack, all the Cervelo P3C's that had surrounded my bike were all gone and my bike looked rather lonely by itself. Oh well, it is the World Championships. I grabbed my bike and was out of Transition onto the bike course.

Time: 4:12

56 Mile Bike Course:

The Clearwater bike course is well known as being a flat and fast course that takes place over some residential roads, highways and with only one significant climb (Causeway) as you come out of and back into Transition. It is also notorious for drafting.

I made mention earlier that my bike preparation had not been the best but I was determined to give it a good effort. I made the climb up the Causeway and settled into a nice rhythm. It was right about this time that I began to experience what I will refer to as the 'Clearwater effect'. I have been involved in the sport of Triathlon since 1989. I have raced in North America and Europe, I have never seen drafting like I did in Clearwater.

I was passed by pack after pack of riders, some 20 or more deep. I saw these packs rotating the lead rider a la Tour de France peloton. Smaller packs would ride pace line with a few inches between each wheel.





I made it to the 40km checkpoint and I was averaging over 32 km/hr, all the while still being passed by pack after pack. It was at this point that I passed a penalty tent and saw 3 lone riders standing under the penalty tent. Okay, I got the message, they (Draft Marshalls) didn't care.

The next pack that came by, I hooked onto the back. The level of my effort dropped. I knew that I could ride with this group and have a faster time then if I rode on my own. However, I wanted to find out how fast I could ride this course at my present level of fitness, riding with these guys would not answer that question. After a couple of minutes, I let them go and continued my solo ride.

Time: 2:41:50 (20.76mph avg., I was pleased with my ride)

T2:

I slipped out of my bike shoes before I got to T2 and handed my bike over to one of the many volunteers. Ran through T2 to my Run bag, back into the change tent, into my running shoes but I decided to indulge myself with a quick 'Porta Pottie' break before heading out for the run. I should have peed in my wetsuit.

Time: 3:32

13.1 mile Run Course:

In Muskoka when I got off the bike, I had running legs, I quickly realized that I did not have those same legs in Clearwater. I had no zip and it was starting to get hot. I was in full survival mode as I made my way through the first couple of water stations. The run course in Clearwater consists of two 10.5km loops with a climb up the Causeway, twice on each loop. Other then the Causeway climb(s), it is mostly flat.





At about the 5km mark, I began to feel better and I started to emerge out of survival mode. By the start of the second loop, I wasn't running fast but I had picked up the pace and I continued to do so until the finish. It was nice to have my dad, cheering me on as I finished each loop.

Time: 1:48:29 (I was disappointed with my run. During my post Muskoka training, I felt my run
had actually improved but I simply didn't have it in Clearwater)

Total Time: 5:15:10 (1154 out of 1388 finishers)





Post Race:

After crossing the Finish Line, I received my finishers medal, finishers cap (pretty plain), a towel but NO finishers shirt which was a little disappointing. My dad and I made our way to 'Crabby Bill's' Tavern across the street for a beer and I got over it real quick.

I enjoyed Clearwater despite the drafting issues. It was well organized, great volunteers, but I must say that Muskoka is comparable in every way. In fact, Muskoka is more of a 'Championship' course then Clearwater. If I have the opportunity, would I go back, possibly, but I would love for my friends to come along.

Bill