My First Ironman, Check

Sunday I did my first ever ironman the Copenhagen Challenge. I did it in 11 hours 8 minutes. I did have a really fine day where I learn a lot of my body.

I have recorded a small video of the event, right after the finish. I’m probably not speaking clearly.

I saw a lot of people going out with punctured tires. I was hoping that I was not going to experience a flat, which thankfully never happened. I had filled the bag with to spare tubes, so I was prepared.

When I switched to the run the first 1½km until the first sign I saw was really long. It seemed like I had run for ever before I just saw that sign. Then the run started to be much better. I had expected to have some problems with the knees, but they thankfully never came. I guess the slow running style and the long practice had helped with strengthening my legs. I just felt strong.

It was such a wonderful experience to participate in the event. All the crowds that cheered along the way it gave an extra boost to see people sitting outside their house and having breakfast to watch us. On the running corse it was also real powerful to cheer on me with my name.

On the bike course there was an extra bonus. Normally when I see a traffic light change to yellow I stop paddling. Then I remembered that they have stopped the traffic for me. It gave an extra boost, also to go full speed into all the lights. It was also interesting to watch that the cars were stopped for our sake. I do feel the cars that they had to wait for us on all the traffic jams in Lyngby/Holte area. Sorry, but we had fun.

I had the following splits. I had expected 1:05 for the swim, and then 6:30 for the bike and 4:12 for the run. So it was a real god presentation. I was trying not to pace my self to hard during the first part of the biking trip. I hoped just on getting by and staying well within my comfort range. When I found that the speed was around the 32, then I was quite happy. I had a bit of side stitch in the first hour of the bike, but it just despaired.