Ironman Melbourne was an incredible triathlon event held in the beautiful city of Melbourne, Australia. It was a test of endurance, consisting of a 3.8-kilometers swim, a 180-kilometers bike ride, and a full marathon run of 42.2 kilometers. Athletes from all over the world gathered to push their limits and showcase their determination. The race took participants through scenic routes, offering a unique and challenging experience.
So, let's take this fantastic opportunity to hear about the challenges, triumphs, and overall atmosphere of the event from this amazing athlete who has shared her personal experience with us. It gives a detailed account of the race unfolded and what it was like to participate in !
Skye Wallace:
"Yesterday I raced at Ironman 70.3 Melbourne. It was a great day out and season opener. The day started off with a shortened swim due to the choppy water conditions. I didn’t think it looked that bad until I got in and felt like I was inside a washing machine! Once I got past the chop though the rest of the swim was fine. I kept my eyes on the pink turning buoys and 1 kilometere later I was back at shore.
Onto the bike I went, with a pocket full of sports gels to keep me going. I rode past Luna Park, through Brighton, past Hampton then made a U-turn at Mordialloc and started my return St Kilda, I did this twice to make up the total of 90km. It was good conditions for the ride, slightly warm and not too windy. The distance flew by until around the 50km mark when I started to tire a little. I made sure to keep fueling and finished the ride in 2 hours 26 minutes and was ready to start the run.
We ran along the St Kilda foreshore, up and through Elwood for a total of 21.1km. I was pleasantly surprised with my run, it’s an area which was up and down in races across last year, so it was nice to deliver what I know I am capable of. I ran 4 minutes per kilometere consistently until around 15km, then my legs started to cramp a little and I slowed around 5 seconds per kilometere. I ended up completing the half marathon in a time of 1 hour 24 minutes 39 seconds giving me a new PB!
I ended up finishing 2nd in my age group and 4th overall. A result I’m happy with considering the depth of field racing! Now it’s time for some recovery before I go again at Challenge Canberra in two weeks time.
A big thank you to Only Estate Agents for supporting me and getting me to the start line, I’m looking forward to the season ahead and sharing more journeys".
In light of this, Ironman Melbourne was not Only a physical feat but also a celebration of the human spirit and the pursiut of personal achievment. It was an event that brought together athletes, supporters, and the local community to witness the triumph of the human will !