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The 38y old iron virgin and ACKs

Well say good bye to THAT. I dug deep when I could not in IMW so thanks Tenby for the lesson.

I want to say thank you to anyone polite enough to have read the full obnoxious report. I want to thank Eduardo and Schmuu for the tough day on the road just to check on us crazy loons. I want to apologize to my shipmates for the short time I spent with them but family commitments got in the way of a shared celebration, however, I deeply resent that I spent almost no time with them.

I want to thank Mouse for it was her struggle that fired me up too. She helped me focus and gave me purpose.

I will be back in 2014 and show SA around.

T2 and a run

So, I felt like I had won the race. Got my run bag on an IM for the first time and I was proud of that. Whatever it may be from then on. An asian-american racer looked dazed on the tent. I spent 2min of my hard earned time to try and get him back. Don think it worked, he was done, pity.

I knew I had to just run a bit from time to time to make my dream come true so the run was a blast. Saw Pingu, Rafi, Barley and the others and tried to show my gratitude to them by giving them as much positive vibe as I could spare, which actually felt endless.

I trotted as much as I could and walked as soon as my legs hinted to seize up so wlk, trot, drink, repeat, and yes, smile, talk to other athletes. I had iron virgin written all over me.

I stopped to kiss my daughter every time i saw her and her patience and understanding at such a young age lifted my spirits even further. So eventually I caught up to her and we ran home together for the dreamed moment with almost 1h to spare from cutoff.

PSOF crisis meeting at Mirador del Rio

I managed to seize up my quads but I catch Mouse as she stops. Something told me she was going to. I then explain to her that she has this race under her heels. That we expect backwind on the little grind to Tahiche and that after Nazaret's climb she is pretty much on the home stretch.

I see the hunger for racing back in her and follow her on the first switchbacks before overtaking her to try and save my race now.

I raced like a possesed derviche after that, numb to pain, I descend to Arrieta lifting my derriere like puss in heat. I attack the road to Tahiche on the bars flying the winds for the little time they grace our sails from behind. I make the gamble to buy as much as I can to go and walk the marathon.

Somehow I manage to beat regular cutoffs by coming through transition before 1730.

Walking like an Egyptian

Okeeey, so 15 minutes fly while you contemplate your fate so hop and move on. Bike down the switchbacks and I catch people I saw skipping sp needs at Mirador d Haria, so how do you like my weight now huh!

I see my first walker inside Haria's bitch town steep ramp (see my bike walkthrough for prophetic info), tall german guy, looked pretty messed up. I did not crack a smile as I passed him as I could see me there soon. And lo and behold, the 14% ramp 1km before the cliffdrop ramps I hop off the bike and walk. Dont mind them cramps, my left knee screamed and I complied. Short walk and off to the cliff drop climb. Its not that tough but hey headwinds all day and cramps and busted knees, what can I say. So halfway through those 3k I not only walked but took a seat and looked at the sea.

This is the most beautiful spot on the course, i might as well find myself in contemplation because I sure as hell was lost, battered and sleepy as vampires before sunrise. And then Mousey overtook me. I had passed her on the Tinajo road but she caught me on the hills. I saw she was suffering and charged after her. I may not save my race but I will sure as hell try to salvage what's left of hers.

T1 and a bike

Transition was speedy for the size of camp but I clearly identified easy spots to shave time. Got my bike in a deserted rack, if not transition are even. Got to the exit and was stopped by commentator due to my IMW bike jersey. Got the guy stunned when he found out I was spanish and an IMW reject that came here to wash his woes ...

So off to El Golfo! I stuck to my power and nutrition plan and was rewarded with cramps by the time I reached El golfo-ish turn around. Wow, never have cramps in training and never this early in a race ... Whatever, soldier on.

Wow, wind is a consistent headwind today but no side gusts so my final choice of Hed4s paid off and so did my last minute decision to put the clip ons. Dont feel confident enough to get down on then on xwinds but they saved my crampy legs as my speed remained constant for a lower PW output. At least I di that rifht I thought.

I love Timanfaya but it was tough with the hwind and legs so sore. Anyway, finally it was behind and while a bit hairy I managed to get some time back on the way to Tinajo and La Santa.

Famara is usually a bad spot for me as the grind to Teguise is long and well, slow. My legs were killing me and I was not at the halfway point.

At this point I had been in pain for a while and got plenty of monkey cage rattling. I kept them at bay and pushed to Teguise to meet my sherpa and schmuu.

I reckon I gave them little hope as I explained my cramps or quad and ham crucifixition at that point. I was not sure I could climb the Miradors on these legs.

It was painful but I managed to get to the first summit in one piece and stopped 15 minutes to eat my special needs nuts and stretch. Legs were in really bad shape. Left knee was now giving me a sharp pain on the side and it was something never experienced before, even for a misery collector such as myself.