Live Your Own Fit’s Head Coach Jaimielle shares her raw account of Ironman 70.3 Japan. Her passion for helping people live the quality of life they deserve with joy and love is what drives her.
Crazy sums up Ironman Japan 70.3!
Successful race days traditionally culminate in synchronicity of the mind, body and soul peaking. You’re emotionally dialled in, you’re grateful, you’re in the zone, the flow, you’ve got your rhythm and you’re being blown away by what you’re body is giving you.
I’ve witnessed these race days of Pete’s, most notably in Kona, when his body has sung and his heart has warmed. I’ve felt it in swimming, rowing and running races, albeit never in a triathlon.
Overseas races are always tricky. There’s language barriers, nutrition and fuel compromises, and expectations.
My wave was the last and 10th wave, with 15minutes in between each, my race start was 2hr 45min after the first wave. Ill prepared with one banana for the 4hrs since transition close and no shops around for water or food, wet to the bone and a shivering mess I still was in my element come race start. Cindy Lauper blaring, Wit on the microphone and having pictures with Japanese competitors (not sure why but they were blown away when I started putting my contacts in and wetsuit on, they couldn’t believe i was doing the race haha- it was all alot of fun).
I swam the 1.93km with 2 others, 1st out of the water in my division.
Bike was 65km of 4 loops. More hair pin turns than I could count, flooding, over steel grates, ramps and single person sections. Staying upright was the aim. Heart in my mouth, dodging crashes, coaching myself to ‘stay calm and carry on’. 35km remainder of the bike leg was on side walks, sea walls, through tunnels and up ramps. Avoided one crash with 3 cyclists heading the wrong way towards me as we all aimed for the side walk entrance at the same time.
Running into a side barricade, unclipping and shaken albeit in one piece I carried on. For an anxious rider who doesn’t enjoy group riding or corners it was an obstacle course of mental aptitude and grit – of which I had a plenty.
Had a mechanical at 80km. Seemed like an eternity but must have been only minutes.
Run was hills and more hills. Thanking my lucky stars for strength and hill training, having accompanied my friend on a few 37km hill runs for her upcoming ultra race.
Lessons Learnt On Race Day?
1. Keep Level Headed.
Don’t start telling yourself a story. � If I had reverted into my ‘fearful state’, enhancing my anxiety into a referendum of doubt, there would have been no finish line, no podium and no pride or glory.
2. Learn to be grateful.
Give thanks for the moment, bar how painful, scary or deterring it may be. Smiling at someone, laugh to yourself, mentally give thanks for the moment and the moments leading to the moment. As I shivered, hungry and deflated, I thought “i’m a foreigner doing what I love with the people I love and in the sport i LOVE. It can’t get any better than this. How dare you feel sorry for yourself. Right now you’re the luckiest girl alive. Grit your teeth, fill your heart with the love and warmth of those around you and get over your self. You’re where your meant to be.
3. Keep those arms pumping and feet falling underneath your hips.
Race day sees technique often go awry. Cadence is jeopardised as nerves creep in and conditions dominate. I aimed for my normal 185+ run cadence and focused on leaning into the hills for optimum efficiency.
4. Be Proud Of Yourself, Give Kudos and Self Love.
Years of rowing surfboats, into waves of 6ft faces and breaking my coccyx twice coming down on the gunnel of the surfboat never saw me as proud or mentally fit and physically strong as Japan 70.3. It was a race with technical hardship, danger, chaos and perplexity. Backing myself, telling myself a story of gratitude and love, and bringing a whole lot of grit to race day was my armour…….that allowed me to shine bright.
*I’m a super nervous racer and trainer. I have to coach myself mentally into group training sessions and races.
5. Leopard print exercise tights can double as ‘dinner wear’ when worn with funky gold shoes and a mid drift top haha
My Race Day Mantra:)
With self doubt comes pity
With confidence comes grit
Make your magic
Back yourself
Let your heart lead and Your body sing
You’ve got this!
It is my hope that reading my race day shenanigans, ignites a spark deep within you. You find the courage to sign up and commit to a goal and you back yourself to make your own magic!
Yours in health, with love
Jaimielle
