Ironman 70.3 Porec (Croatia)

Having returned from Croatia, we are pleased to publish a report from both Iris Bennett & Mike Barrett on their Croatian adventure. MIke’s report is first followed by the thoughts of Iris.

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For the past 7 years I’ve been racing an A race abroad. And Ironman 70.3 Croatia this year did not let me down. Enjoyed more by bring Iris along on the journey, We’ve been training hard and ramping up the efforts as got closer to race day. I’ll let her tell you her adventure though.

My first race in a long time, I’d arrived injury free, my training was good, a few lake and sea swims would have been beneficial for sure, and partly off the back of all the running for MdS I’ve not put that much into my favourite discipline the ride. I was happy with my running. But word to the wise, don’t forget your brick sessions, bike to run are so important.

So, an early flight to Split, Croatia on Friday morning, we land in mild temperatures, push the bike boxes through the airport to funny looks by the locals and pick up our car. We then had a 5hr drive to our AirBnB with a preplanned playlist it went by fast. Kit dropped off and Iris was jumping at the bit to get to the food shop in.

That evening we chilled and watched Netflix planning out the day tomorrow, Saturday was spent bike building and check in at Ironman Village … You always get a bag at Ironman events and this was a great bag … we managed a swim to help climatise and settle Iris’ nerves.  

Race day arrives, for me, a slightly slower swim than expected but, nonetheless a point-to-point swim is great with the bank on your right, you swim out and round the peninsular before heading back to shore about 1km away from the start.

Then to the bike, oh the bike… wow wow wow… smooth, I did NOT encounter any potholes or cracks in the roads… 90k of pure flat smooth roads in a gentle breeze … it was incredible!

If you’re strong on the bike you need to do this event. Finally, the run, which took us through a wooded area while remaining on a path… lots of aid stations and cheering in a gentle summer heat, just two loops, 5k out, 5k back… meaning it was good to calculate your pacing.

I was happy with a 5hr 24m and think I’ve room to improve, where to next year? Turkey Portugal or South Africa; Bring it on Bee.

Mike

I was very excited to be taking part in my first triathlon abroad and felt proud to be pushing my own bike box across the floor of the bag drop at Gatwick airport at 3.30 am on a Friday morning.  Having asked the oversized luggage worker to ‘look after my bike’ we proceeded through security for breakfast.  ‘Landing in Split, Croatia to grey skies had me a little worried, this is not what we were expecting!  We picked up the hire car feeling relieved that both bike boxes, a suitcase and two cabin bags fitted and we began the 5 hour journey to Porec (pronounced Porridge)!  We shared the drive, which passed quickly and arrived at registration for our Ironman Croatia 70.3.  I was so happy to be there, despite the disappointing merch shop and again felt proud to have the red wrist band secured by the marshals. 

We then made our way to the villa which was just lovely, save for the flying shield bugs, of which there were quite a few and which at least 15 hitchhiked their way back to the UK in our bike boxes!

Saturday was build the bikes day; I was determined to do it myself and took time to ensure all was done correctly.  I had a little trouble inflating the rear tyre, the valve was maybe slightly bent or was I just struggling with the pump? Either way with a little help from Mike I managed to inflate it successfully.  We went for a trial ride and all seemed good, although Mike took his bike to maintenance for a slight adjustment of his disc brakes.  We then took the bikes to transition followed by a swim.  The water was clear and warm and I just felt the anxiety about the swim dissolve and for the first time ever I felt myself feeling confident about this part of the race.  There were no thoughts of ‘”I can’t do it” or feeling fearful whilst imagining all those other swimmers.  Even Mike believing he felt jellyfish (twice) did not break the confidence I was feeling and it was good.  It was raining now as we made our way to get a replacement chip tag (as Mike lost his within a couple minutes of being given it) and then we headed back to the villa.  Unfortunately, as it was sunny and dry when we left it did not occur to us that the race kit and transition bags we had laid out on the patio would get wet!  Another lesson learned as everything we needed for race day including post race clothes were soaked!

Race morning arrives and we are up, coffee, toast and a banana and we are off for a 10 mins walk to transition.  We check the bikes, my rear tyre has deflated a little so I take it to the maintenance tent and they top up the air with a track pump.  I re-rack my bike and we head for the swim start.  There are so many people but I am happy with my position in the 40-45 minute section and just feel the energy that I know will help me swim.  I take my place on the far left of the four lane funnel (so I can keep myself to the side) the adrenaline is almost too much to handle but before I know it I am jogging into the sea.  The water is warm, I am quickly in a rhythm but notice that my limbs feel like jelly and this was a little frustrating.  I count my strokes and keep my head and I’m feeling good.  To the first red buoy and it’s time to turn onto the back straight which is approximately 1000m, this passes fairly quickly and I haven’t had to pause, or reset or calm myself once.  Another turn for the final 500 meters, although in this direction the sun is in our eyes and it was extremely difficult to sight, the yellow buoys were impossible to see.  I had to stop and remove my goggles to check for the buoys and I spent the last few hundred meters with leaky googles.  Arriving at the swim exit was just the best feeling and I was super super happy with the swim and feel like I skipped down the red carpet to transition. 

In and out of transition, remembering to hang my bag on the peg and off to find my bike.  Run out to the mount line, on I get and the rear tyre is as flat as a pancake.  I wheel the bike back into transition and to the maintenance tent again and they whip off the tyre and replace the innertube.  Again, feeling smug as if there is anywhere to have a problem when you are not maintenance confident, it’s in transition, how lucky was that!  Back to the mount line I go and as I start to ride I notice a bump bump bump feeling.  I stop and hop off and notice a bulge in the side of the tyre wall, unable to diagnose what it is I decide to get on with it and accept that it will be a bumpy ride.  The route has a climb and then evens out, I take some hydration and two marmite sandwiches and feel good. I check my speed and am happy with that and as I make my way up the next incline I hear a bang.  I thought it came from the woods to the left of me but as I begin to sink and slow down I realise it is my rear tyre.  Having used my spare innertube at the start I walk a few hundred meters, carrying my bike to the marshal’s to the next roundabout in vain hope that I might find some help.  To no avail, I accept that today is not my day and I have my moment (thank goodness for the bike glasses) and then ask if it is possible to get a lift back to the start which is 12km away.  Arriving near the start and near the villa I leave my broken bike there and head back to the race route.

I decide that there is no excuse and I can still do the run.  I hand back my chip and take off my number, have access to transition to grab my trainers and off I head for the run.  At this point however, because I have not done my bike section, I realise that I am running with the pro’s and am being cheered on as if I am still in the race.  I carry on for 4km by which time it is all feeling wrong and I make my way off the course and onto some other roads.  The realisation that I won’t be able to run 20km in this heat without any hydration sinks in and I feel defeated again.  I decide to get my kit bag for my phone in readiness to capture Mike finish.  I see him come through the bike finish and  am relieved that his race is going well.  I track him for the remainder of the race and video him finish.  I see him go through the finishers funnel and do my best to hide whilst he takes in his moment, as I don’t want him to see me yet.  After he has sat down for a few minutes recovering he makes his way out into the public area where I am waiting and his face falls and we have a very long hug.  It was not the post race celebration we were expecting and without intending to, my inability to finish the race certainly took some of the celebration away from his completion of the race.

There is so much more to an event than race day.  It is the moment you decide and enter the race, the training (early mornings and late evenings; sometimes double sessions) in between doing life!  In this case travelling abroad, the logistics; it all requires planning.  My absolute favourite day by far was the Saturday, building our bikes and doing a swim recce, whilst having all those hopes for the race.  So much commitment is required just to get to the start line and that in itself is an achievement.  To have finally conquered my fear of the swim (long may it last) has been amazing but the icing on the cake was that despite my DNF and learning (that I must do more to be self sufficient on the bike maintenance front) I got to see Mike complete his race and in an amazing time too.  He never ceases to amaze me what he can achieve.  I have loved training together, he has kept me focused, at times I have wanted to quit and he helps me realise that I can do more than I think I can.

This does however leave a dilemma, whilst Mike has completed Croatia 70.3, I have unfinished business with the course; so where to next year and 2026?

Iris