“In 2008, having never run more than 10km in my life, I met Stuart Hoy and got life struck. It was the best experience in my short 25 years so far, but doubt anything would even come close!!!! I would never have made it if it hadn’t been for Stuart and his crew.”
Dr Lizl Westermann – M.tech chiropractic Lizlwestermann@gmail.com
The Road to Ironman – step by …
In January 2008 i decided i wanted to do a half marathon. For me a first in many respects. So a friend and I started training and in February 2008. The training meant me met for a run. I managed my first first ever 10 km race, and then my first half marathon in April that year (The Old Mutual Two Oceans half marathon). During my training, together with the late hours working in a pub whilst studying, I met a like-minded gentleman called Alex Hamilton. We became good friends, and in April of that year we officially started dating. It was Alex that suggested we do an ironman.
At that point i didn’t even have a bicycle or anything to swim in (except a bikini) The first stop was to buy a bicycle, nothing fancy, with all the cycling gear, as well as some goggles, a swimming cap, and of course a cozzy.
We met in the gym every day, for a spinning class, or a quick run and a bit of strength training. We didn’t do any swimming or proper cycling – I was still learning to cycle with cleats and fell on a regular basis and wanted to save myself from too much embarrassment, and as for swimming … well, It was winter and i don’t do well with cold weather, no matter how warm the water.
So as i got more confident and the weather got warmer, we spent a lot of time in the gym swimming (mainly with Alex laughing at my gracious strokes) and even more time outdoors cycling and running and doing a lot of 10km and 20 km running races.
Then it was time for my first ever cycle race – 94.7. Alex and I started at different times, but both in our new ironman tri-suites. (Alex on his very heavy mountain bike after a bet with one of his mates.) After a few km into the race, some bloke started talking to me and asking me all these questions about me and Ironman. Had a I done it? How was it? He finally introduced himself as Stuart Hoy, and told me as much as possible about LIFESTRUCK and his mission to inspire people to follow dreams.
I finished the 94.7 in 3:45. Exhausted, hungry, and very satisfied with myself that I’d finished in under 4 hours, I went home and slept till the next day. Waking up in a daze i remembered this conversation with Stuart and thought I’d give it a shot, see what it is all about. At that stage i was still in two minds whether i was actually still going to do the full Ironman, or only the half (Ironman 70.3). So i phoned him up, got everything i needed to know, and made the decision to join.
Later on we all received an email to say that one of the guys had to pull out, and we were then only 5, and would be recruiting another athlete. I immediately replied and told Stu about my boyfriend and how we started this out together. So as it worked out, Alex also joined LIFESTRUCK and we all met for the first time one evening, with the camera crew (that took a lot to get use to i might add).
Suddenly it all got pretty serious pretty quickly. The journey to Ironman became part of a reality TV show that Stuart was putting together . We did most of our training alone, but tried to meet up every other weekend for long rides or even some races.
So back the action – In December, only a few days away from half Ironman, I entered my first ever triathlon – 1.5 swim, 40km cycle, and 10 km run. It started out very anxious. I swam about 200m in Germiston lake, and raised my hand to get the attention of a life saver. I told the guy that i was tired and cramping and did not wish to carry on with the race. He took me out the water, and dying of utter humiliation and feeling extremely angry towards myself, i went into the ladies’ and cried for a good hour. I trained so hard and half IRONMAN was less than a month away, i was seriously doubting my swimming skills and confidence in water.
I decided the very next day that I was not going to give in, and realised that i had some very serious issues with water. I hated that my feet were not touching the beautiful earth as they are meant to. What to do, I got hold of my friend and armed with her foam lifeboard we went out to Emmerentia dam. I swam every other day there, with her or Alex staying close by my side in case of another panick attack, and slow but surely i gained the much needed confidence.
Before i knew it, half IRONMAN was here. My parents came along to support us and we were all feeling the vibe and excitement. The day before race day, Alex and I met Stuart and the rest of the crew for a warm up swim in the sea. We were going to swim the entire 1.9 km route around the bouys already laid out in the sea. The idea was to make sure that I could do it. To calm me for race day, just to say but I’ve already done it, so no stress!
It all went well, it was slightly scary at first, but once you got the hang of it, it was actually fun. Alex stayed close to my side as promised, so the rest were finished long before, and we had about 400m to go to shore, when a rubber duck boat pulled up next to Alex and advised us to get in the boat. Me being so happy with myself that i nearly finished the route, we said that we prefer swimming as its not that far anymore. Then we got the shock of our lives – there was a shark circling us, so best we get in soon! Obviously that put a dampner on our excitement, but the officials promised us a safe and problem (shark) free race the next day.
Race day Ironman 70.3 – So there we were at the starting line, men and women separated in categories. All waiting to get the race to start. The swimming was actually over a lot quicker than i thought and without any serious problems. I got a bit lost finding my bag to change, but started my cycle in good spirits.
I was promised the ride is flat and fast, but it was everything on the contrary! A hectic wind came up, and it was uphill for the full 45 km out. Turning around heading home, the wind changed direction, and what was then meant to be an easier ride, became even worse, and i was seriously loosing time. As i got into the transition area, the official advised me i just made it and told me to get changing quick to start my run. I was ecstatic as i was sure i missed the cut off!
I started the run with no problems, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I finished the race with 20 odd minutes to spare and felt so much joy and pride and was so happy to have Alex and my parents there to share that moment with me (I even cried with camera’s in my face)!
We went out to celebrate that evening, and the next morning we went to fetch our certificates and t-shirts. We went down the list, got Alex’s details, got all his stuff, then looked for my name, which we couldn’t find. At that stage i was starting to panic and i was shown into a little room with computers and was told very abruptly that i didn’t make the overall bike cut-off by 2minutes, so was disqualified and i did not get any certificate or reward but was sent home with a very sunken heart.
I hit an ultimate low that day and the next, stayed in bed, feeling sorry for myself and angry at the world that I had failed. I wasn’t going to let me sit around on this, Thankfully Alex and my dad got my spirits back up and I started training harder than ever – The FULL IRONMAN was now less than 3 months away!
To sort out my swimming Stuart arranged for lessons with TOTAL IMMERSION. For the rides we went out on daily rides to improve my cycling, and over the weekend we pushed for 4-6 hours on the bikes and there was definite improvement and we did so many races to get used to the stress and excitement, and finally we all felt ready!
So to IRONMAN and the day before race day, we went out for a goof in the sea, only to swim to the first buoy as we all had the confidence, or so i thought. The guys took off and before i knew it, i was alone in the big ocean and with huge swells. I couldn’t see them anywhere. I started shouting for Alex, but he couldn’t hear me, I tried my hardest to push through and swim as fast i could (which is very slow if you’re panicking, freaking out and starting to hallucinate that you could see things swimming up towards you!) Eventually I got to the buoy. Everyone having an excited conversation that they hardly noticed my panicked state, until I didn’t answer Alex’s question. In truth, I could barely hold myself above water though all the crying and panicking. The crew eventually got me calmed down, and we swam gently back to shore, and chilled the rest of the day (or the guys did the chilling and i did the freaking out).
Then came the day we have all been waiting for, or in my case, dreaded! It was a very early start, I was practically sleep-walking, doing last minute checks on our bikes and taking goo’s and supplements and energy bars. Luckily the men and women started together this time, and Alex and I set off near the back, not wanting to get kicked or pulled or drowned. The cannon fired and it began.
With one a last kiss I was in the water for the first lap of the swim. Surpirsingly it went well, I had a better time than in I did for half IRONMAN, and was feeling great. Unfortunately, you do one lap of 1.9km, get out the water, run a couple of hundred meters on the beach for a quick safety check to ensure no one has drowned yet, then back in for your 2nd lap. In a word awful!! I felt bloated from all the water I had swallowed, i had a massive need for “the ladies”, and was starting to loose confidence as i was loosing speed and all of a sudden it all seemed way too far. I spoke to myself out loud the whole time, convincing myself that i would finish. My biggest concern was about the time. The last thing I wanted was to be disqualified again – Eventually i was out the water. I stood under the showers sighing with relief, and got ready for the cycle.
Ready to go, I rushed out, got on my bike, and then things fell apart, (again!) My chain came off, got twisted somehow, and me knowing nothing about bikes, I freaked out yet again. I struggled for about 20min to get the thing back on, cut open my hand, but was at least on my bike and set off again. The cycle was the most beautiful route I have ever done. It was flat, fast, and the ocean was magnificent! There was only one tough hill, at the start off each new lap, but it was over quick enough so you could enjoy the rest of the ride. On my last lap, about 40 km to go, i started taking a bit of strain and could feel my legs were getting tired, but i still pushed as hard as i could, and i came in with nearly an hour to spare! I had made it! After missing the bike cut-off in half IRONMAN, i made the cut-off for full IRONMAN! I was so chuffed with myself, that i had a 20min break in transition, just chilling and chatting to the camera crew!
By now it was early evening, when i started my 42.2 km run, and def feeling tired. But ready as never before. I ran my whole first lap, and as i came round the bend to the last stretch to get my first wrist band, a terrible storm broke out, and the wind whipped my tired legs right from under me and i landed very hard on my bum. Very “peed off”, i got up, got my wristband, and walked for the next five or so km. I tried my best to run a few km and to walk one or two, but eventually I got so tired that I resorted to a continuous fast walking pace.
On my 2nd last lap, (28km down … 14km to go) I thought to myself, if I see Alex I am going to run to him and quit the race – Iwas that tired and sore. Luckily for me, I never saw him. We kept on missing each other, but we were regularly updated by the camera crew and we knew that we were safe and still in the race.
Reaching my last lap, going around a bend, not very well lit with only a few scattered supporters every 5km or so, i got very de-motivated, and thought I absolutely cannot go any further. That’s when I met Butch, a 50 odd year man, doing his third Ironman. Butch invited me to join him. As we went along, we picked up another guy seemingly struggling and vomiting every now and again due to exhaustion. The three of us went on, sleep-walking the length of 2 lamp poles, and trying to shuffle-run the length of another. We were seriously struggling for time, and had to pick up our pace.
And then, suddenly in sight was this massive crowed of people, the speakers blaring with the famous voice of Paul Kaye sigining “you are an Ironman!” new HOPE, … 300 m to go! We still continued to walk, not being able to lift our feet high enough for a run. And then we were on the carpet, the three of us, Our utter exhaustion completely forgetten, Trying to do a gracious final run into the spotlight of victory! All three of us made it – barely being able to stand, with a total finishing time of 16 hours 51 minutes and 58 seconds – only 8 min from cut-off!!!
I MADE IT! – Alex was there to embrace me and congratulate me, after waiting for nearly 2 full hours in the rain and wind, to see me finish!
It was the best experience in my short 25 years so far, but doubt anything would even come close!!!!
Lizl.
Dr Lizl Westermann
M.tech chiropractic
082 558 0792
