m2 IM Japan Race Report
Ironman Japan 2004 represented my 3rd IM event after a 4 year competitive hiatus due
to a leg condition/malady. Goto Island was the venue, a small island about a 30 minute
flight from Nagasaki.
My training had been largely consistent, and my hopes and expectations were fairly
ambitious.
Swim
One of the most difficult swims I have ever done due to rough and irregular
seas driven by a boring wind. Two lap course precisely measured with a cable
that stretched the circuit, a water exit after 1st lap, wetsuits as water temp
in mid 60s.
Lost my fast group of 3 swimmers just before the end of the first lap. A weak
general swim field had me thus swim entire 2nd lap solo. Ugh. Big mistake to have
lost my group, but the rough conditions made things difficult.
Time
57:20 app.
Bike
Very challenging course, but one of the most beautiful and varied that I have ever
had the opportunity to ride. Flats, rollers, switchback climbs and descents, a 3k steady
grade climb that we did 3x.
Perfect road surface, roads completely closed to traffic.
Very windy conditions made a challenging course more difficult. Ended up
riding entirely solo with the exception of the lapped riders from 90-160km.
Never felt particularly sharp, gave up a couple of minutes early, maintained
striking distance through 110-20km, but then experienced a notable fade. Not
sure why.
Time
5hr11min----the reported official bike time of 5hr17min inlcuded both T1 & T2, not
my specialties.
Run
A rolling course with welcome variety. Similar difficulty as IMC or IMUSA,
though no extreme hills.
Ran solid throughout, held off previous year 2nd place finisher and strong
runner Tamura until 30km; he had begun 1min30 down.
Aid stations were frequent and well-stocked, but their unique organization
added minutes to run time. Most were supported by older ladies would neatly
organize cups of various drink all in tight little rows. The ladies would sit
behind the canopied stations in their chairs and fill the cups. It resembled in
many ways a little tea get-together.
The only way to grab a cup was to stop, and pick it up from its little row,
lest you knock over the whole arrangement. m2 thinks that this would have
been upsetting to the social coterie, so I exercised good aid station manners
and carefully picked up my cups.
A hot day, IM race, some 30 aid station stops, and you have added a time surplus
that does not reflect your actual running.
In any case, I was very pleased with the constancy of my run, and after a
two comeback IM attempts that did not go so well, this was a nice confidence-builder.
Absolutely think I can run much faster.
Time
3hr8min
Course & Competitive Summary
Course lived up to its billing as being very challenging, and was made all the more
arduous with the very windy conditions. Certainly not a course where one can expect
a fast time, but I enjoyed both its challenge and variety.
Swim was decent given the conditions; need`t have gotten dropped from my pace
setting group.
Bike very disappointing. Frustrating to see what was always my major weapon
be a weak point. Think some of this might be due to lingering hip issue which compromises
pedal stroke somewhat. Also found my willingness to attack and absorb pain to
be not as strong as before.
Run was source of satisfaction. Mentally & physically I was into it the whole
way. Felt good to be competing again in the run.
Race Organization
Simply, among the very best I have ever experienced. No detail escaped the
organizers.
Highlights included+
** Entire bike course closed to traffic
** Distances accurately marked; every 10k for bike, every 1km for run
** An abundance of aid stations
** Perfectly marked course
Cultural
It is always an added bonus to experience racing in a foreign country. I stayed
with my family in a Japanese version of a B&B. This translated into tatami-floor bedroom
with futons, tasty dinners which included sashimi for every night, I passed on the cold
fish breakfast however.
We also frequented Japanese Hot Springs resort and which was wonderful after the long
trip to get to Goto, Nagasaki. The long flight from SF-Tokyo-Nagasaki-Goto left my
hips/psoas in very dire shape, and I went 3 times before the race, including the night
before the race---possible mistake as maybe to relaxing, but again, the trip over
was harsh on my hips and I needed to get loose.
Bike & run courses covered all of the island, and took us through small villages
where the locals were very animated in their support. School bands, uniformed cheering
squads, etc. were all pleasant to see. Even in the remote areas folks had the program
and would call out your name. Very, very pleasant reception everywhere.
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