Langkawi Ironman
2005
RACE REPORT BY BELINDA
HALLORAN
Just over two weeks ago IM Malaysia was not on the WTC race
calendar and it certainly wasn't on mine. So to be now sitting here
looking at my trophy for winning the 2005 Ironman Malaysia last
Sunday feels somewhat unreal. It also feels a little painful
because I hadn't been training for an Ironman.Still I had a choice
in the matter after I was asked the question a fortnight ago -
"what kind of shape are you in and are you up for an IM in 2
weeks?" Considering I gave birth to our first child 9 months ago
and have only been back training for 6 months this question had me
stumped. After consultation with my husband we decided it was worth
the effort and the worse case scenario would be a great base to
prepare for my other races later in the season.
Unlike me, the race organisers of IM Malaysia had no choice. They
were forced to organise the race in two weeks, after they won a
court decision that meant the WTC had to honour their Ironman race
contract. All this despite the fact that the region is still
recovering from the recent Tsunami and that local business has
dropped off by 90%. In Langkawi the ocean was reported to have come
in up to half a kilometre inland. Is it any wonder that only 38
competitors, including 7 pro men and 2 pro females, turned up raced
day?
It may have been an intimate affair compared to the usual 300- 400
competitors that race IM Malaysia, but the grace with which the
race officials and volunteers went about their job to provide the
competitors with a world-class race was outstanding. It was if they
didn't care if there were 4 or 400 competitors as the quality of
care was just the same.
As usual race day turned out to be the scorcher one can expect from
IM Malaysia and from the start I knew it was going to be a tough.
Due to the small number of competitors, the course was changed to
consist of multi lap loops in all 3 disciplines. This meant the
swim was two laps; the bike was 3 and the run 4 laps. For me the
swim, bike and run felt pretty much the same the entire day - hot
and unpleasant. The weather conditions got worse as the day
progressed and like nearly all the competitors who arrived 2 days
before the event, I hadn't had enough time to get acclimatised. On
each loop of the bike the competitors waved at each other, not only
to show support but to remind each other that we were not alone out
there. Finishing the 180 km bike and exiting onto the run felt like
stepping out of a hot room into a sauna. The heat was
irrepressible. After going through the first 2 km in a time nowhere
near the pace I had aimed for I decided that the focus should
change to survival and most importantly nutrition and
hydration.
As it was 4 laps on the run it wasn't long before I saw the male
pros walking through aid stations, sheltering momentarily from the
sun - great idea! So while the marathon was slow, I was happy with
my performance and just tried to maintain a solid tempo and not
succumb to walking. One competitor asked me why I was running when
I was miles ahead of second place? The answer was simple - why be
out in these conditions doing an IM any longer than you have to be!
I had seen a small child sitting in a bucket near a house on the
side of the road and I thought, "That is where I want to be - not
here!!" So 10.5 hours later, 1st female Pro and 6th overall, I
finished.
In this part of the world, this is the only race locals can afford
to go to. The majority don't have the income to fly to races all
over the planet. The organisers are trying to grow the sport by
investing in a tri club and work hard to get business and
government support of this major event. They are making the race
better every year. Even with only 2 weeks to organise everything,
they ran this event perfectly: the parties were held; the athletes
were catered for; the aid stations were manned; and the course
marked perfectly. And with only 38 courageous competitors battling
in stifling conditions, great crowds of locals turned out to cheer
us on. This is Ironman like it was originally intended! And despite
the massive loss incurred by the organisers, by having to put the
race on at such late notice, admirably they donated any income to
the Tsunami aid appeal.
I am elated with my effort; proud of my fellow competitors and
hopeful that relations between WTC and the race will recover so
Ironman Malaysia can become the great race it deserves to
be.
