Jo Lawn - KONA RACE REPORT

Well it is hard to believe I have completed and competed in 10 Hawaii Ironman races. I have taken a bit longer this time to get it all down. Time to let thoughts and emotions settle down, let all my feelings sink in.

It takes a very strong person to compete in an ironman event, both mentally and physically - two things which I really had to draw into a lot for my 7th place finish. I have managed now to have 6 top ten finishes, something that I realise is actually quite hard to do. I am proud of myself that I have proven yet again to be a consistent top 10 finisher. The game of ironman is really so tough, anything can happen out there, anything can happen during your build up, so nothing is certain. But with this in mind you always have to remain confident in your own ability, remain relaxed and focused.

HERE WE GO....3, 2, 1 BOOM

Hawaii 09 has started, the swim start was horrific. I pretty much felt like I was in a human washing machine. All of a sudden the ocean felt like a bottle neck. I couldn’t believe I wasn’t able to swim properly. My swim training in the ocean had been amazing, I was confident in my swim, I was wearing the fastest swim skin by TYR the SAYONARA, I felt like I shouldn’t have been struggling, but there just wasn’t enough room for my arms to move. Once the bottle neck effect released, I felt great swimming, but I had lost the fast feet I had targeted from the start, so onwards and upwards from here, keep on moving those arms, keep on aiming for the shore. Ironman is a long day, as long as I made it safe and sound to shore! One down, two to go!

Quickly out of the water - like a flash of lightning thru transition, I was out onto the Queen K on my Cervelo P4, feeling pretty good as my new bike hadn’t had too much exposure to the kona elements yet. I was so happy to be on my bike, and I am so happy with my new position. I was all kitted up with the best equipment, my White Profile Aero bars, Zipp 404’s custom decals!, my Zipp cranks and off course my trusty ISM saddle. Off I went into the distance chasing the leaders up ahead. I was so full of energy and excitement in the beginning, that after the race I found out that I had the fastest bike time for the first segment I knew I was feeling good. My legs were firing like pistons my position was tight and compact, and sure enough I came up upon the fast swimmers pretty early on.

Riding in a pace line is so advantageous sometimes, as it gives you confidence that you are in touch with the other racers and can work off each other...but sometimes it can be very DISADVANTAGEOUS TOO!!! Spaced a very honest 10m apart from some of my competition, we were working hard to move up the Queen K as fast as possible. When all of a sudden we were greeted by another cyclist, quickly this Professional Male squeezed his way into one of our 10m gaps! I loudly voiced my opinion to the marshall who came up to us and then just like that, no warning, no words, no nothing, she flashed a red card at me and said “stop at the next penalty tent”. I took off like a mad women possessed......the tent was only another 2 km up the road, so I stopped and jumped off my bike, looked back to the road as groups of riders soared past!!!!! Ugh! I really wanted to scream, I really wanted to lose it, but what good is that going to do for me....I was told off and now had to pay my dues. I wasn’t given a drafting penalty but a red card for talking.

After serving my time, I took off out of the tent actually quite calm, as I know with my red hair....my temper does get fired up fast. I thought from here on in I have to be careful, with one red slash thru my number already and the distance to ride is still well over 100km. I was actually kind of relieved as now I was riding solo and I could focus on just me and the job I had to do. As far as the eye could see there was no one in front of me and no one behind me! I had ridden this same section of the course half a dozen times in training and each time me or someone else got a flat tyre, as the road is full of thorns and shrapnel. I chose to move from the right side of the lane more towards the middle to avoid any nasty’s getting into my tyres but then out of nowhere, the same marshall came up to me and gave me a yellow card!!! “for riding too close to the yellow line”............so now…….ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I have another penalty. With tears streaming down my face, I tried to stay in control but my brain was firing off negative thoughts and thoughts off its over!!!! I rode up to the half way mark - 90km done and now 90km to go, I took my next penalty here, and luckily enough I was joined in the tent by many other Pro women. Michellie Jones, Bek Keat and Gina kehr...so I didn’t feel so bad...but still, I had two penalties already.

I took off out of the tent cautious, I really now had to focus on staying out of trouble and really riding solo from the turn around home.

Out onto the run course where the temperature now was soaring well above 40 degrees. My body feeling strong, but aching from the sunrays, I had to now work hard and try and catch as many as I could. I didn’t feel too good heading out of transition and not even realising that I had left my bike pants on! So as soon as I entered the next aid station, a quick stop and pull down of the pants, I whisked them off as fast as possible. All of a sudden I started to find good rhythm and I started to feel good so from here on in, it was calories in, work hard and chase. Most of the girls who had left transition before me were dropping like flies. I just had to stay strong, and focused always looking after myself. The intense conditions of the day were taking its toll. I was very happy with how I raced, even how I reacted to my two penalties!! One is bad enough let alone two. My red hair (which is now blonde) was under control, the art of controlling ones temper, ones vision and ones confidence can all be learnt so quickly when the occasion arises.

I came down the finish chute happy and joyous, as IRONMAN is a long day, anything can happen and anything is possible. I never once thought about panicking, or throwing the towel in, I had worked so hard to get to the finish line. I stand proud and confident that I have many many more great performances to come.

Now it is time to chill and put on my Normatec Boots daily, and start planning my up coming season. Something I am so excited about - I want to start today!

THANKS again to EVERYONE, to Armando, my family, my friends, my supporters and my sponsors. You all know that you are part of a great team called JO LAWN. So onwards and upwards...lets go and do it.......

CHEERS ALWAYS

JO