World Cup Triple Ironman 2007

WORLD CUP TRIPLE IRONMAN 5, 6 and 7 OCTOBER 2007

8 Mile Swim, 336 Mile Cycle and 80 Mile Run
Lake Anna State Park, Virginia, USA

by Arthur Puckrin

After a 24 hour journey from the North of England we were pleased to be met at Dulles airport by Carl, our American friend and host. Then we drove to our log cabin in the State Park which was to be our home until the start of the race in 5 days time. I needed a good feed and a long sleep to recover from the journey and after both I awoke feeling a lot better. We had left a cold wet England for a hot and fine USA and I hoped I would acclimatise in time for the race. I found my bike had suffered from it’s handling at the airport and as I bent the gears back into shape so far as I could, I hoped it would last out the 336 mile ride. I had a few short rides along the race track through the forest and both the bike and myself seemed to be in working order.

It is very beautiful in the State Park and we spent the short time before the race walking through the forest and beside the lake. This is the most beautiful of all the Ultra Distance Triathlon courses but also the most difficult because, not only is it all either up or down hill but due to the height of the trees it’s pitch black for 12 hours each night with only light from our bike lights or head torches to shine the way. The park is home to numerous Deer, Large Copper Head Snakes and Bears. I hoped I would not meet too many of those during the nights. Also many large Sea Eagles soared overhead, one gave me so much attention I thought it wanted me for lunch. To see them catch large fish in flight is a spectacular sight.

Race day soon arrived and we gathered in the darkness at the edge of the lake waiting for a glimmer of daylight that would signal our start at 7am. There has been no rain in summer and the lake was very shallow in parts so we had to be careful to avoid the sharp stones on the bottom as spits ran out at the edge of the lake. I made a steady start at the rear of the field. I would just treat my swim as a warm up and save up as much energy as possible for the bike and the run. The water was calm apart from large swells caused by Jet Skis which seem to be the toy of the moment for American Sportsmen. I tried to swim nice and easily, just gliding over the water, and I was well behind the fish-like swimming of American Mark McKeon who exited the water in 3 hours 20 minutes but to my amazement I did my fastest ever swim time of 5 hours 59 minutes, 40 minutes faster than last year. Now on to the bike, I would soon overtake the faster swimmers.

The Bike

It was fine and warm, I would try and complete 100 miles before dark when we would have to slow down due to the climbs, descents and sharp turns, I maintained a good speed overtaking all the other riders. (my fellow English man, Sam Smith said that I had frightened him with the speed that I was doing, “like a 10 mile time trial” was how he put it). I picked up food at the bottom of the climb whilst I was going at a slow speed, whilst it was daylight, but at night it was impossible to do this and I had to stop to eat. I had a brief stop at half way as I was feeling very hungry, possibly due to the effort I was putting in. I had another at 200 miles. I was ready for sleep now, but Mary drove me on. She promised me an ice cream at 236 miles, I made it with difficulty. Less than 100 miles to go now, soon it would be daylight and things would improve. I struggled on. Everyone was in difficulty now. We were very exhausted and it was still pitch dark. I managed 25 miles then another stop for food. I ate tinned pears, soup, bread, choc bars and drank coffee and iced coke and water. Hopefully it would soon be daylight, then I would finish this ride. At last daylight, I had 70 miles to go. I counted down the laps, eventually the end. Off the bike and ready for the run. 23 hours 51 minutes for the bike, 3 hours faster than last year but I had managed without sleep. I would pay for this later.
There was a sting in the tail for some reason on my last lap, the organisers moved the timing mat and as I tried to cross it for the final time they signalled me to cross another mat. As I steered to do so my front wheel hit a power cable they had stretched across the road. Down went my knee. “Ouch”. Running would be difficult now.

The Run

I had a quick feed whilst I changed into running gear, the bike had been finally completed. I would try and complete at least a marathon before dark and that would leave me with 54 miles to go, and hopefully I would be encouraged as I neared the end. I was in about 9th place. Hopefully I would improve on this as everyone tired. Running was difficult, my legs were stiff from all the cycling, my knee was sore from the crash and it was very hot.
I had hoped to complete at least one marathon before dark; I nearly did it, but not quite. It became very dark. I thought I was running through a very dark tunnel. Only my head torch lit the way. Still, on and on I continued for lap after lap, many seemed to overtake me, but it was not possible to tell whereabouts in the race everyone was during darkness.

I longed for sleep, I prayed for sleep, I was on a long journey through a far country eventually, I would reach the end, I told myself. It came sooner than I thought. My brain suddenly switched itself off, as if a lamp had gone out. My brain stopped working. Where was I? What was I doing?... some how I must have made it back to the start of the lap, perhaps my body knew the way by itself, I do not know. Mary asked me what was wrong. I said “I am asleep, I must lay down”. She found me a mat to lie on under the food tent. She woke me after an hour. “What am I doing” I said. She replied “you’re doing a triple Ironman, you must keep going.” “Is it absolutely essential?” I said, “Can’t I lay here and just sleep”. Mary walked a few laps with me but I was still unsteady in my feet. I kept pouring cold water over my head, which shocked my brain, but did not wake me up. Eventually Mary said “sit down, sleep in the chair for 15 minutes, I will make some coffee, it will be daylight soon, that will wake you.” I did as requested, drank the coffee and she walked two more laps with me. Eventually, I saw the light in the sky. I became awake; I left Mary and started to run again. Surprisingly I felt quite fresh. I was moving well, much better than before. I was well over half way and although other athletes were falling around me, I was going quite well. I might at some stage reach the end.

Meanwhile at the front of the race, Beat Knechtle, Switzerland, had reached the end of the bike with a 14 mile lead over Sergio Cordeiro, of Brazil. Sergio, running in bare feet, gradually ran Beat down. Lap after lap he gained, Beat increased his pace, and held onto his lead, just, winning by 10 minutes. I saw Beat after the race and could tell from the look of pain in his eyes what the effort had cost him.

Meanwhile I continued to make ground. I would run as much as possible before the sun became too hot, I was well over half way and still moving well. I drank cold water and coffee and ate Ritz crackers and cheese, honey sandwiches, beef stew and chic bars and ice cream as the heat increased.

I noticed as I got towards the end Sam Smith, G.B, and Peter Lefferts, USA, were closing on me. No one was going to catch me now after all this effort, so I increased my pace and moved away over the last three laps. Finally, the last lap. I was reluctant to leave this magnificent forest. I slowed to a walk, I would have a lap of honour and look closely for bears and snakes which fortunately I did not see. Finally, a run down the finishing straight carrying a Union flag to the strains of the National Anthem. A sit down and a cup of tea. It was all over for another year. Thanks to Mary the worlds best support crew, who got me over the finishing line despite all my difficulties. To Steve Kirby and his team whose organisation improves each year, and to Carl our host who as always looked after us very well. I could sleep on the journey home. A quick wash and off to the awards ceremony.

Time 28 hours and 44 minutes for the run. Total time 58 hours 53 minutes.

Results

1		Beat Knechtle		Switzerland		41:44:23
2		Sergio Cordeiro		Brazil		41:54:56
3		Garrett Mulrooney		USA		50:41:48
4		Dave Gaudette		USA		53:20:19
5		Tamas Zsolt		Hungary		53:50:00
6		Mark McKeon		USA		54:44:26
7		Michael Gartner		Germany		56:29:30
8		Arthur Puckrin		Great Britain		58:53:03
9		Robert Abate		USA		59:30:20
10		Sam Smith		Great Britain		59:10:20
11		Pete Lafferts		USA		59:12:31
12		Vincenzo Catalano		Italy		59:54:09
13		Sean Kramer		USA
14		Dan Jenson		USA
15		Greyson Daugherty		USA