10 Days in Mexico
by Arthur Puckrin of Cleveland Bike Traks Tri Club
The Deca World ChallengeMonterrey, Mexico - 6th to 16th November 2006
24 mile swim – 1120 mile cycle – 262 mile run
After a 30 hour journey from the North of England, we were pleased to be met by Carlos, assistant to Jorge Andonie, our host and race organiser. Although he spoke no English and my Spanish is of a rudimentary nature, we did manage to reach our home for the next 3 weeks, the Sports Village at the Parc Ninos Heroes in Monterrey. Both my bycycle and myself seemed to be intact and after a cup of tea I proceeded to have a long sleep to recover from the long journey.
We had come from a cold English climate to a hot Mexican one and I hoped I would be able to acclimatise in the few days before the start. Although the area in Mexico where the event was to be held is very similar in appearance to the North East of England where I live – industrial, smoke pollution and a tremendous amount of vehicular traffic (the only difference is that the temperature is much higher), the sports facilities are amazing. There is ample choice of large 50 metre swimming pools, tennis courts, cycling velodrome and various types of football stadia. I thought “no wonder these people beat us at various sports”. We could certainly do with some of these facilities in England.
I had a ride round the cycling track, fortunately my bycycle had survived the plane journey intact, then off for a “carbo loading” meal at the Sirloin Steakhouse where you could eat as much as you liked, a good bargain for hungry triathletes, especially after airline meals.
Gradually my opponents arrived, some I knew, others only by reputation. I feel very humble that I am able to meet with and compete against all these great athletes from all parts of the world. I hope I am able to give a good account of myself.
We have our race-day briefing at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Monterrey, ranked 8th best in the world, I am informed by the manager. After a look around and a sample of the food available (just about anything you could possibly want) I believe him. This is probably my last good feed for 2 weeks so I make the most of it.
The race conditions are that to stay in the race you must start the swim each morning at 9am. You have 24 hours to complete each Ironman. If you finish earlier the rest of the time is your own!!! I decided I would wake each morning at 6.30am., have a leisurely breakfast at the 24 hour café which was situated at the side of the track and then pack my gear for the transport to the swim area at 8.15am. I was pleased to note that the water was quite cool and I would enjoy the swim, probably the only time I would feel cool all day.
Day 1
I made a steady start – 1 hour 43 minutes for the swim. Then we had 30 minutes to transfer to the cycle track during which I made the most of the time to eat jam sandwiches, choc bars, bananas and drink energy drink. I usually had a few minutes to spare so I could be well covered with sun cream and then off on the bike, well behind the leaders. However, once on the bike I soon started to overhaul the field. It was very hot and dusty and everyone found the bike ride extremely hard.On the track you had to be very careful to avoid the many ducks and geese who inhabited the centre of the park in which the event was held. The local rule was a 10 minute penalty if you killed a duck, with a free meal if you handed the body in to the kitchen. There were also many black cats who came out at night and who presumably lived on the ducks, without any diminution of their numbers as far as I could judge.
I came off the bike in 4th place, a great improvement after the swim. I had eaten bananas and drank iced coke to try and keep my temperature down during the ride. 5 hours 45 minutes for the ride, now on to the run. After about 4 miles I could feel the sweat running down my body, this was no good. I had another 9 days to go, I could not afford to exhaust myself today. Caution was the order of the day. I changed into my MBT walking sandals. I must also eat, I could only eat on the run, so I had to walk part of each lap whilst eating and run the rest and take things very easily. This seemed to work better and although many overtook me I finished very easily in 10th place with 6 hours 50 minutes for the run in a total time of 14 hours 36 minutes.
Day 2
I had time for 4 hours sleep before waking at 6.30am for a breakfast of 2 fried eggs and bread followed by toast, jam and cornflakes. I was concerned that I was not hungry, I had not eaten very much, my body does not feel like food. The only time I could eat would be during the run, I must eat more.Surprisingly, the first day’s efforts had decimated the field. The heat and the dust and probably the psychological factor of 9 more days had taken effect. Still, off to start the swim again at 9.00am, again very cool, I loved this part at least. 2 hours for the swim, the lap counters made me swim extra laps. I decided it was easier to do it than argue about it. Then off to the bike. It was very hot – over 100 fahrenheit. I do not remember much of today, I think I had heat-stroke looking back. Pascal Jolly from France maintained his lead from day 1 with Hidelberto Villa from Mexico 2nd and Beat Knechtle from Switzerland 3rd. I dropped to 15th place.
Day 3
A better day for me today. I start the swim nice and cool. Gradually our numbers are dropping. 1 hour 52 minutes for the swim, then a quick change and something to eat whilst we drive to the cycle track. It is still very hot, however now I have the correct strategy. I must complete the cycle ride of 112 miles without stopping so far as possible despite the heat of the day. This will reduce the time I am out in the sun. I drink coke with ice to keep cool and eat bananas. I am still by far the fastest cyclist and make up the ground I have lost in the swim. 5 hours 55 minutes for the bike, then onto the run. I am in 4th place. I walk steadily to start with and have a large dish of ice cream whilst walking to help me to cool down. Then steadily walking and running, trying to increase the running part. The laps pass quickly and although it is dark it is still very hot. I ate Ritz crackers and cheese, tinned pears, egg sandwiches and drank mainly cold water. Pascal, with a marathon run time of 3 hours 45 minutes was increasing his lead over Hidelberto and beat but no one else was overtaking me.Day 4
Another bad day for me. Again very hot. The swim water is again very cool and I complete the swim in 1 hour 52 minutes. Then onto the bike. I have a regular supply of ice cream which helps to keep the inner man cool and I cycle with a bag of ice in my helmet but again I suffer from heat stroke and remember little of the days events. Pascal runs 4 hours 32 to increase his overall lead and I lose a few places. The timing equipment is not working very well and we have no up to date times or split times, so apart from the first three places it is difficult to know where we stand.Day 5
We drag ourselves reluctantly from our beds for another very hot day. The start is getting later and later which helps Vincenzo as he is finishing at the very end of the 24 hours and having to start the swim immediately. We cheer him on and applaud his determination but he is making life very difficult for himself and for the organisers who are too polite to say so but organise a special car to get him to the swim start. I complete the swim in 1 hour 53 minutes, nice and cool, the only time I will be cool all day. I tuck into my ice cream and hope, indeed I pray, for rain. My prayers are not answered!!!!Pascal with another good run increases his lead and I lose a few more places but again no timing equipment. The race has been surprisingly almost without incident compared to previous “deca” races where the unthinkable seemed to happen on a daily basis. I notice using this format we do not seem to be getting the serious injuries to the backside on the bike section and the feet on the run.
Day 6
Much cooler today. I decide to wear a long sleeve shirt on the bike. No one else like the weather but I think I will do well today. 1 hour 47 minutes for the swim, then a good feed whilst we are driving to the bike track. Cloudy and cool, ideal for me. I blast away, indeed I do a personal best for an Ironman ride of 112 miles - 5 hours 36 minutes – 16 seconds. The ranks are thinning out now. I finish the bike in third place overall and start the run. I still run and walk steadily, eating for tomorrow. I am still finding it difficult to eat sufficiently to keep me going. I complete the run in 4th place. Only the 3 leaders who are all well ahead of me and cannot be caught unless they completely collapse, but all the other places are up for grabs. I finish with a meal of fried eggs, toast and tea and cornflakes. Anything that will go down I stuff into myself. Then into bed for 4 hours sleep.Day 7
Lovely and cool in the swim, 2 hours and 3 minutes as I swim a few extra laps but I just do it rather than argue which just takes energy. Another very hot day – over 100 degrees. I am pleased to have my store of ice cream. I remember little of what occurred, but Pascal again increased his lead. I lose the places I gained yesterday but thankfully there are only three days left of our ordeal. Pascal is still running strongly, completing his marathon in 4 hours 36 minutes. He generally finishes third off the bike but quickly overhauls Beat and Hidelberto on the run. I usually give away about 40 minutes on the swim, gain the time back on the bike and lose a bit on the run. I notice that I am not being overtaken so much on the run now as everyone is tiring.Day 8
Pascal has maintained his winning form each day but today everything changed and the race was up for grabs. I only hoped that I could grab something. I complete the swim in 1 hour 57 minutes and then onto the bike. It is very hot again and everyone is suffering now. I gain lap after lap on everyone including Sergio from Brazil who, after his good swimming and running form must have been annoyed with his poor cycling. Eventually I overtake him one time too many and he blasts after me. We have a good “burn-up” for about 20 miles. I find some energy from somewhere and overtake him and we blast away for mile after mile. If he keeps this up then Beat and Hidelberto are at risk of being overtaken by Sergio so their support crews complain that Sergio is drafting. It makes no difference because after all his efforts Sergio is exhausted and falls back, eventually retiring from the race. I am sorry to see him go but it has enlivened my day.My cycle time is quite slow, 6 hours 1 minute, but still well ahead of everyone else. However everything changes when I start to run. I eat my ice cream whilst enjoying my usual slow start. I am surprised to find that I am enjoying the run, going easily in the darkness and remembering to eat as much as possible.
After winning seven days in a row Pascal’s legs almost completely collapse and he is struggling to finish. Beat and Hidelberto in 2nd and 3rd are encouraged and the pace increases. I finish the run in 6 hours 49 minutes, 5th on the day. One of my better days. I am in about 10th place I think because times are not being given out but unless anyone completely collapses it is doubtful if I can improve my position.
We are all getting less sleep as we slow.
Day 9
I complete the swim in 1 hour 54 minutes, again losing about 45 minutes to the leaders. It is very hot again, about 102 degrees as I go onto the bike. After Pascal’s collapse Hidelberto Villa is making his big challenge for the lead. He is lapping me and everyone else on the bike. This is going to be his big day. I cannot keep anywhere near him so I just let him go. He is well ahead of me anyway. His run is good as well and Pascal and Beat struggle to keep near to him. It is a pity we do not have any times so no-one knows exactly how much time he has to make up to overtake Pascal.I would like to see a Mexican winner as it would be good for the race and the sport locally. I notice Hidelberto is waiting for the others to finish and counting down the time. Hopefully he knows exactly where he is placed.
Day 10
Our final day, just one more Ironman to go then we can have a proper sleep. It is very hot but also very windy I am pleased to note. Hopefully it will keep us cooler and no-one will like this wind. I hope I can do well. 1 hour 57 minutes for the swim. Only 6 hardy souls were left in the large pool I noticed this morning. There are 2 pools on the go and I presume the smaller pool, which is warmer, is full up with anyone else left in the competition.Onto the bike. I start slowly and build up. Very windy, no-one likes it as I thought. I concentrate on keeping a good steady rhythm with my legs and let the speed take care of itself. Extremely hot again but the strong wind helps to make me to feel cooler. About 20 miles to go, I am hoping for the end when Mary shouts “You are half a mile behind second place”. So I up the speed immediately. I am not bothered how far it is now, I will catch the second and hopefully the first place.
I soon overtake Beat and then after Pascal who, his running legs having gone completely is trying to win it on the bike. I take another lap from Beat, but no sign of Pascal. Hidelberto has exhausted himself on day 9 and is completely out of it now. I am second off the bike, but overtake Pascal in transition.
I am in the lead on the last day. Should I run all out and try and maintain my lead to the finish? I know there are some fast runners behind me but we have been going for nearly 10 days and everyone is exhausted. The most important consideration is that I have a large dish of ice cream waiting for me at the mile post and I must eat that to keep cool. I walk for a lap whilst I eat, then I run. I have a reasonable lead and everyone is tired. The leaders are desperate to maintain their positions but their legs are completely gone. Pascal runs slowly, I overtake him. However I cannot improve my position due to the time which I lost early in the race. I am comfortable and feel no need to unduly strain myself now. I decide to cruise to the finish.
Harn Wei Kua from Singapore has had a quiet race so far bit he has saved something for the last day. He is running two laps to my one, just about. I let him go. I had the fastest bike in 5 hours 51 minutes and the run takes 6 hours 29 minutes. Nearly my best time. The last Ironman on day 10 takes me 14 hours 27 minutes. 4th place on the day and 10th place overall.
If only the weather had been a bit cooler, I could have beaten this lot. Still, there is always the Double Deca – Denmark in 2007!
The competiton has been very hard, racing it out every day. I doubt there will be another in this format. The logistics were just too difficult and we wasted a lot of time travelling to and from the swim area and also had to stop late at night when I would have liked to continue.
I had a short sleep and then awoke for a final breakfast of fried eggs and toast and to cheer in Vincenzo who finished with 16 minutes to spare. He has completed a record 35 Ironman races this year and he wept as he crossed the line for the final time.
Thanks to Mary, my support crew who fed and watered me throughout the ten days and without whose support I could not have finished. Thanks also to Mr Andonie and his team whose organisation was superb as always. See you next year.
02 Hidelberto Villa Mexico
03 Beat Knechtle Switzerland
04 Alain Dupuis France
05 Susanne Beisenherz Germany
06 Marcel Heinig Germany
07 Harn Wei Kua Singapore
08 Tamas Zsolt Hungary
09 Vincenzo Catalano Italy
10 Arthur Puckrin Great Britain
11 Michael Roberts USA
12 Juan Alf. Munoz Montes Mexico
13 Sylvia Andonie Mexico
14 Daniel Gaucci France
15 Maichael Gartner Germany
16 Eileen Steil USA
17 Wolfgang Haller Austria
18 Gerardo Macias Mexico