Triathlon
The night after the IRONMAN World Championship
Professional triathlete Laura Siddall tells us what it feels like to have just finished the IRONMAN World Championship.
Wow! What a day! It’s over. Your body is aching. You’re tired but in a state of being charged and wide awake. You’re not really sure what you want to do or what your body wants to do.
Daniela Ryf, Lucy Charles and Sarah Crowley podium
© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool
Do you sleep, eat, keep pushing through? The war stories have begun. The tales of the day's epic battles. The camaraderie. Whatever your result, however your day went, be proud to have been on the start line, to have been in Kailua-Kona, at the IRONMAN World Championship.
The finish line beckons. It’s time to head back out to welcome home your fellow athletes. Those who may not have had the day they wanted, or those who have just been plugging away all day to get to the finish line before cut off. It’s time to get back on course, however you're feeling. The walk will be good for you. Get the body moving again. You’ll feel better for it tomorrow.
You drag yourself up. Your muscles groan. You feel like you have to learn to walk all over again. You hobble for the first few steps, contemplate trying to get down the stairs. It’s always easier to go down backwards right? But after a few awkward shuffles the body starts to come around again, not a lot, but enough to move a little freer again.
Patrick Lange sets course record
© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool
You head out onto the course. Crowds are still lining the streets, cheering, clapping and encouraging home the champions. Everyone who’s raced deserves a hero’s welcome. There are smiles, grimaces, shuffles and walking. Everyone being encouraged. They are nearly there.
It’s dark. Out on the Queen K, it’s pitch black. The blazing lights of the aid station dazzle and glow, but then it’s black again and the athletes are thrown back into darkness. Glow sticks bob along, moving slowly, showing there’s a runner coming, but providing no guidance or light to shine the way.
Braden Currie post-race
© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool
Back at the finish line the music is pumping and the energy high. The stands are packed with supporters, friends and family. Everyone's dancing and you find some way to make your body move with the music, even if a little uncoordinated and stiff.
You stay till the end. You welcome the final finisher home, they get the biggest cheer. And then it’s over. People drift away. Bikes are collected and wheeled through the quickly emptying streets. There are still a few finishers coming in, down the street, even though it’s after the cut off, they're determined to cross the line. You clap and encourage them.
Women's pro start of IRONMAN World Championship
© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool
Back at home and you know you need to sleep. You’ve pretty much been awake for 24 hours. But your mind is buzzing from the day. Your body still not sure what to do. You get the munchies and devour whatever you can find in the cupboards and fridge.
You fall into bed. Fall because your muscles are tired. They ache. You check your phone, so many messages from friends all over the world, in different time zones. You start to respond. You know you should probably sleep and leave it till tomorrow, but you’re awake and so are your friends on the other side of the world. You’re reliving your day, good or bad. How thrilled are you? What went well? What could you have done better?
Daniela Ryf through the lava fields
© Jesper Gronnemark/Red Bull Content Pool
An hour or two passes. Eyes close. You try to get comfortable. You try to find a position on your bed that's the most comforting on your aching body. The sunburn stings a little too and it’s making you hot. But you eventually sleep.
You look at your phone to check the time. It’s 4am. You’re wide awake. Your body and muscles aren’t letting you settle back to sleep. You’ve already picked up your phone and again start responding to messages or checking social media, or perhaps it’s a good time to Skype home. To speak to family who aren’t here. Those who couldn’t make it were tracking you all day from afar.
Braden Currie on the run and looking to make gains
© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool
You notice the other athletes on social media… also awake. Everyone's awake early the day after the race.
After an hour or so, 5am seems OK to get up. Why not do something. Get your bike out and go and spin the legs. You’re not really sure it’s appealing but you know it'll be good for you. You should really clean it, swap the chain over again and put your training wheels back on. But it’s the last thing on your mind. So, you pull on your cycling kit. The body is sore. Some rawness in places, the rest just aching. You’re likely still dehydrated.
Sebastian Kienle racing on Queen Kam
© Michael Rauschendorfer/Red Bull Content Pool
You creep out the hotel, wheeling your bike trying not to wake those still dozing. Outside, the sun is just rising. The light is breaking. It’s a new day. It’s the day after the IRONMAN World Championship.
You start turning the pedals, riding south and you hit hills, your legs definitely can’t handle that. But you spin your legs, getting them moving again will be good. Although not convinced about getting yourself into the aero position, so just stay on the base bar.
A few of the locals are already up too. They are running along Ali’I Drive. Their normal daily routine. The IRONMAN World Championship is over for another year. Today is just another day
Soon the rest of the world will awake… stories… walks… swims… celebrations… upset… packing…
Relive all the IRONMAN World Championship action on Red Bull TV here: www.redbull.tv/ironman