Race Report – 2023 Challenge Roth – Cath
The Swim 3.8K
The stress levels were high, due to the enormity of this event, knowing I’m in a canal, lots of people, the start of the Ironman. Tears were had, Canons were going off, hrt was high..
Knowing the training was all done, this is IT. Kate Bevilaqua was busy telling me it’s all ok, Guy Crawford busy showing me how to breathe.. Im in the water, this is actually it Cath, I’m up the front..(mmm dumb) the canon blasts and it’s GO time.. off I swim, 1st 650m was full of panic attacks, hrt pumping, breaststroking, stopping, lots of self talking was to be had, ok Cath time to sort this shit out!! Slowly slowly it’s coming together, calming swimming, ok I’m at the turn, off I go and holy shitballs I’m actually doing this, this is amazing, next sign I see I’m at 2800k, 1k to go.. wow the crowds along the edge, wow the crowds on the bridge.. think I’ll stop and have a better look.. WOW!! Then I’m at the last turn.. shit I’m nearly there.. feeling amazing at this stage, got to the end! Im like I just swam 3.8k.. who am I even.. had some tech issues( unlike me really) got the time but no gps!! 1.17.. was super happy!
The Bike 180k
Was happy to get onto the bike as I was out of the water..Get my wetsuit off, cover myself in chaff cream!!The bike leg started, people everywhere, I was like OMG this is still amazing, here we go, the variables are huge on this leg, got going headed out to the amazing country side, got to the 1st corner and my drink bottle fell off.. shit I think I need that.. stopped to get it.. ok sorted off I go again.. people passing me left right and centre.. I was all g, heading to Greding hill where I knew all our supporters were.. I was eating, drinking and pedalling away.. Got to Greding was loving it, 50k was under my belt, saw Spence & the gang so I was all good! Then off to Solaberg Hill!! WOW!! The actual best part of the ride, I was like I was in the Tourdefrance! People lining the bike course literally in front of u!! Guy Crawford was concerned I was going to have a panic attack at this part!! I had a smile from ear to ear!! Anyway keep going, lap 1 was done.. so good!! Lap 2 mmmmm bit different, not as many people around, the villages were amazing, families all out cheering us on..that was very cool, got to 120k I’m like.. I’m done…over it.. anyways got going again in my mind..nothing some sugar dosent fix.. got to the home turn point.. thank god!! My Minge was on fire…Hell yeah I did it.. Far out.. how is this happin I’m asking myself again..6.30, 1500m elevation..
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
The Run 42.2k
Mmmm here we go, the plan was run from aid station to aid station.. let’s just say it didn’t go to plan! Started with a cuddle & some tears with Spence( I may have mentioned to him.. not sure how I’m going to do this)..ok so on the run course, running along got to about 8k my calf gave out( May have had a slight tear a week earlier) so it was go to plan x,y & z.. the thought of walking 34k didn’t excit me at all! So it was 1 min run, 1 min walk as long as I could.. got to about 16k and was done with that.. as u can see in the pic!! Not happy!! So walked another 14k.. so much was going thru my head at this stage.. Very tough when most of ur training was unaffected( except for a little bike crash mayb) got to the 30k mark and went ok it’s only 12k to go!! I’ve got this!! The Time I was chasing was out the window, but to be honest, super happy I was still going forward.. got to the last village and Kate Bevilaqua & Guy Crawford were there!! OMG the actual best, some positive vibes thrown at me by them both.. and it was on.. run a little walk a little ect ect that’s all I could manage, a few cuddles from some other GK athletes that were on their last 2k, which was blood awesome.. ran into Kate & Guy again on the last 2k.. They were just telling me to smile and take in the last 2k.. Cath u have done it.. WELL not quite.. dunno if u realise the last 2k feels like 10k at the end of an Ironman.. anyways still a little run walk was all I was capable of, but I could SMILE at this stage.. I could hear the party going on at the finish line.. I’m in my head telling myself HOW THE ACTAL F$&k have I done this??? The finish is 200m away, I’ve got tears, a smile as big as Texas, I saw Spence, I ran to him to get a cuddle!! I ran to the end.. it was done!! Holy shitballs I did it!!! 5.30
Total 13hrs36mins
