Ironman 2023 - Hamburg

Carlos [guest writer 1]

'Race weekend was finally upon us.

 

Flight options to Hamburg from the North weren’t great, and looking to reduce the risk of flight cancellations, or losing his loaned TT bike (thank you Jan) with connecting flights en route, Carlos took the train to London for a direct flight with BA the following morning…what could go wrong you ask? His lack of upper body strength he answers!!

 

Twisting while lifting the suitcase onto the hotel shuttle bus, Carlos heard a loud popping sound accompanied by pain that could only be compared to childbirth, following by the total inability to move and full body sweats for a full ten minutes. His back had gone before the trip had even started.

 

With the fear of wasting nine months of training, half a packet of Ibuprofen and a tube of Voltarol gel were enough to get him to the gate and onto the flight. A panicked called to Mrs Sastrae, and messages to Niall and MariAnna made sure that extra drugs, ice and heat pads were being packed to sort the issue. Mrs Sastrae also advised that Ibuprofen and Voltarol shouldn’t be taken concurrently…oh well, too late now.

 

On arrival in Germany, Carlos found 6’4” of German pummelling machine and paid him to go to town to try and right any issues the the back had suffered. As it turns out, the pain was from a pre-existing, unknown issue, that had righted itself, and with rest and recuperation all should be OK.

The Quintana/Vos family arrived late Thursday and were given the room opposite the walking wounded/wimp, and at breakfast on Friday, the hastily gathered additional opioids were consumed with Germanic efficiency. Might as well stick some Voltarol on there too. All jokes aside, the back was getting better by the minute.

 

Breakfast was followed by race check in, a quick remortgage in the merchandise tent and a visit to the Alster to see the mill pond like lake we’d been told we were swimming in. What we saw on arrival wasn’t an idyllic swim spot, but instead, North Sea like conditions, with white cresting waves so strong that a small, motorised tender on full throttle was being held in position against its will. The nerves of Carlos and Niallo went through the roof. Would we be able to even swim in it? Will it be like surfing on the return leg?

 

Time for Pizza a la Ibuprofen and an early night waiting for Mrs Sastrae’s arrival. 

Then urgent call from her. “… the EasyJet flight has been cancelled, I can’t get there tonight, I’m staying in a hotel and flying out first thing tomorrow”.  Bollox, who’s going to apply my Voltarol this evening?

Niallo coaching Jacques on the supporter's wave

Carlos and Niallo modelling new GRAC kit

Thankfully, when we woke on Saturday, the strong winds that had been whipping the Alster into a frenzy had abated, and Niall took a dunk to test the waters. “Just perfect”, he proclaimed, “we’ll be grand tomorrow”.

 

Mrs Sastrae then decided to visit four countries in a day in order to support the two idiots signed up for the IronMan, and via Brussels, Vienna, and finally Germany, arrived on Saturday afternoon, ready for an Aperol spritzer while bikes and transition bags were checked in and the nerves started to build.

 

After an early pizza dinner and non-alcoholic beer for the athletes, plonkers and super fans hit the sack.

Off to the first transition point

The 4am wake up calls weren’t needed, both athletes up and raring to go, and walked the ten minutes to the start line for final bike and bag prep before zipping into their wetsuits for ‘go time’.

 

The swim was a staggered start based on expected swim time, and Niallo took his place with the other dolphins near the front, while Carlos went further back to take up position with the other Lilo-loving lads. This was to be the last we saw of each other for quite some time.

 

The swim was an out-and-back under two bridges. Easy to sight on the out leg, but sun in the eyes on the return to the city centre made both athletes swim a touch farther than the required 2.4 miles. Niallo was comfortably out of the water ten minutes ahead of Carlos.'

Niallo [guest writer 2]

 

'After two leisurely transitions in a bike rack zone so long I was tempted to call an Uber, we headed out onto the perfectly smooth German tarmac for 180km of cycling bliss, or so we thought. 

Whilst the tarmac is indeed carpet like, so much so that a German would instantly describe the UK as a failed state, the ride was anything but leisurely. The ride through Hamburg itself was great – plenty of support and things to look at. However, once we headed into the countryside and alongside the dykes, things changed considerably. 

Firstly, a serious and incredibly unfortunate incident involving an enormous team of emergency crew, including helicopter on the course, meant the first ever Ironman Cross as we scrambled up the bank of a massive dyke and took a small detour. From then on, we were met with long, monotonous stints on the aero bars, no change in scenery km after km, surprisingly strong heat and for the second 90km, what felt like a continuous headwind for two hours. 

It was hard. Very hard actually. Neck, head, shoulders, arms, legs, and feet all screaming to finally get off but, mercifully, after about 5.5 hours, the final ride into town and the joy of T2.'  

 

Niallo halfway through the cycling stage

Carlos going strong at the halfway stage

Carlos 

'After another leisurely transition, the first of four very hot laps of Hamburg were required to finish the event. Running half on tarmac and half on gravel path, the number of participants really showed itself, with those about to finish mixing with those on their first lap. 

The running route followed the banks of the Alster. With picturesque views over the water to one side and imposing Regent’s Park-esque mansions to the other, we were in the best the city had to offer. It’s just a shame we couldn’t stop and join one of the many parties of music loving fans that were keeping us going along the way.

Mrs Sastrae in full voice!

MariAnna with fellow supporters Jacques and Finncenzo

And now the hurt begins...

Carlos looking like a pro...

GRAC WAGs in full support team mode

Junior GRAC member Finncenzo checking the stats

Mrs Sastrae, with fellow supporters, Junior GRAC members Finncenzo and Jacques

Niallo on the finish straight

Carlos wishing he'd done more training

Carlos officially loses his Ironman virginity

Carlos finishes his first (and last?) Ironman

Niallo set off in great speed and didn’t let up, his run-walk strategy and nutrition plan paid off and he even had enough energy to shout encouragement to Carlos every time they passed each other. Stopping only to visit the loo and to kiss MariAnna and the kids, a little burst over the last 2km meant a sub-4 marathon and total time of 11:11. Time for the magic carpet finish line and “Niall Hutchinson, you are an Ironman!” 

Carlos started well, but the sub-4 plan fell apart at mile 8, and the pace slowly dropped as the pain rapidly increased. Crossing the line in a phenomenally respectable 4 hours 28 minutes later, 'a little behind' Niallo at 12:01, Carlos stopped and rang the first timer bell with all he had left, as the voice of Ironman, Paul Kaye, shouted to the crowd, “Guy Rae, you are an Ironman!”.  

The post-finish love-in begins

Chapeau chaps, great effort!

MariAnna very glad to have Niallo back in one piece

Carefully selected post-ride rehydration and sustenance for our athletes

We did it. Time for a beer or three!

Whilst the IM was hard, the travelling across Europe to get there, or managing two small kids for a day of spectating and supporting may have been even harder, and we certainly couldn’t have completed the race without the long term commitment and understanding of the true superstars of this trip.  

Mrs Sastrae, MariAnna, we thank you for your patience and support for the last year, for letting us train come rain or shine, doing more than your fair share at home, and for putting up with our complaints of sore muscles or woeful chat about TT bike positions and optimised nutritional supplements. We love you so much, thank you xx.

And, finally, home supporters Remco and Elisla enjoy their Hamburgers from Hamburg!