My friend went to Singapore for Half Marathon 2XU race. She finished her run in so-so pace. It was hot and humid that day, she explained her so-so timing. One of her friends commented on why bother flying abroad for the sake of finsiher medal. But yeah, finisher medal for 2XU race is cool. One in Jakarta last year is also nice.
So, due to that comment (for Getget), Yola wanted to make a relay team in Ironman 70.3 event. Like I told you last year, Ironman races are costly. The closest and affordable one from Jakarta are either Putrajaya, Malaysia or Bintan. The later it is! :)) Geget is a friend we met in Berlin which incidentally my junior in high school.
If you wonder why there is “70.3”, here is the explanation.
I, being the slowest of the last two legs, of course opted to do the first leg, swimming! I am not fast swimmer though. But from the other two, yeah, I am better! Ha! Hope that explains the swimming’s log I wrote 😀
Saturday, 27 Agustus 2016
There were shuttle buses every 30 mins available for every hotel partner, Nirwana is included. We went to Lagoi with the bus to collect our race pack. Ada Indomie goreng — FTW — as Indofood is one of the sponsors.
After we picked up our race pack, we just wander around. The open water trial was scheduled at 4.00 pm. I made friend with Vilcie, Indonesian married to Singaporean and lives there since years ago. It was her husband’s first time doing half ironman. He was also in Bintan Triathlon last year. How come we didn’t meet? 😀
Anyway, in the regulation actually it is probihitted to have long sleeve and below knee swim wear. I asked one of the people from RO, she said it would not be problem for hijaber like me. I was the only hijaber female in the event.
Even though you can have your swim practice at your desired time, one which is scheduled by the organizer provides marshals along the course. So, it would be more safety. But at 5pm, sharp, all the marshals went back to sea shore and left the remain swimmers behind. Be sure you practice your strokes within 1 hour.
swim course
When I entered the water, I wasn’t sure of what I was doing. Nervous and literally was sick. I had my warm up for about 400 meter back and forth from sea shore to first yellow buoy and I stopped in the middle. Numb!
Someone : “Are you ok?”
Me : ” I’m fine. It’s ….far!” Trying to smile.
Someone : “it’s ok! it’s going to be fun! Are you doing this race all by your self”
me : (dalam hati) sianjisssss!! kelihatan muka perempuan lemah! :D. “Neah! I’ll do relay. I am with two other friends”
He is from Philippines and works in Singapore for the past few years! So thoughtful of him, though! Having conversation with a stranger in the middle of the sea is….rare! Right? 😀
There was a carbo-loading dinner party, in which I didn’t feel like eating. Meh! The fever, cough and cold were bothering me.
Food was okay, tough. There was a couple sat in front of us, they were from South America (the girl from Bolivia, the men from — I forgot) who now reside in Timor Leste! I always have this “whoaaaa” thing whenever I met people from this continent! It is really at the other side of Indonesia! I -myself- always wondering what it is like at that side of the world! I wish I’ll fly to Costarica or Chili or Belize one day! (Can I get the Amien?) The Mrs was very nice! Bintan was her second Ironman race and she did the first one in South Africa!
Sunday, August 28th 2016!
we had breakfast at 4.15 am at Nirwana Garden! zzzzzzz. I forgot what I ate! some carbo perhaps!
Shuttle bus from Nirwana to Lagoi should be departed at 4.45 am , but not arrived until 5.15 am! Tapi ya, namanya peserta bukan dari Indonesia, itu orang Malaysia (sama sama Melayu lho ini!), Singapur dan WNA lain sudah rapih antri bejejer dua baris menunggu bus! Ngga gerombolan macam orang Indonesia nunggu! Buat saya, budaya antri ini masih langka dan sulit diterapkan di negeri ini. Harus ada yang ngawasin.
Good thing most of participant were overseas athletes, they were making line to queue, so first one first serve.
To make it short, we arrived 15 mins later, Getget preparing her transition. I went to start line to have warm up. Things that I forgot, bringing my own water. Air laut asin, my man! i asked for freshwater from who ever I know :))
During warm up, I was very nervous again. Then, pak Tri Handoyo, former CEO Commuter Line, asked me whether I was oke or not. I replied the same answer as yesterday! I often saw him in trail races as well.
Anyway, as any event in Indonesia, what was the opening act? Yeah speech! Then, our National Anthem was played! It gave me goosebumps ! Singing national anthem with other 300 Indonesian (amateur) athletes among 900 participants, 50 meter from the sea shore! Asli merinding!!!! Guess who sang the loudest? Pak Tri Handoyo, of course! well, thank you for your team work, sir! Commuter train is soooooo much better, now!
the first swim wave for Male Pro Athelete at 6.am and next waves start every 5 minutes. Mine, as a relay team along with individuals with Age group > 50 years old, was in the last wave and start at 6.30 am. Eh, btw, don’t underestimate the uncles and aunties! They swim very fast lah!
You know what? I was in starting pen when I heard the pro had done with his swim! WHAT? 1.9 km swim with less than 25 minutes?
Anyway, start line started 50 meters from the sea shore. The water was chest-high. But it was not chrystal clear though!
6.30 sharp! There went my turn and….I got kicked many many time as I predicted! Being slow swimmer I am! Gila nih orang orang, kayak ikan piranha!!!!!
One faster swimmer was doing breast stroke and had his/her feet landed in my eyes! WTF moment!!!! Well, it happens a lot in swimming leg! So, no hard feeling! :))
My personal target is 1 hour to complete the 1.9km course. I was swimming besides someone for the first 400 meters, then I lost him/her. On my own, in the middle of the sea. I did what Akbar, my coach, told me, relax swim, use my legs to kick and go with the flow.
Every 5-6 strokes, I look in front (we call this SIGHTING) so, I won’t be too far from the buoy. There was no rope after the turn. Many many times I got carried away by the current so I have to do breast stroke to keep me stay in course.
I kept looking at my Garmin 400 meter, 650 meter, 800 meter….
Then I cursed:
“Hanjissss! Jauh amat ini 1.9km!!!!”
Why 1.9km is so far in the sea? :))
“I will never do it again! EVER!”
Oh yeah! I just knew I’m good at cursing while swimming and sighting!
Fool story was, on last turn, I took the wrong course. A marshal said,
“salah jalur, ke sebelah sana!!”
He asked me to swim to the other course as I took the wrong track. I didn’t pay attention what the organizer said earlier in start line. Blame the fever!
This is what the course like :
Done with swim, went to transition area to give the timing chip to Geget.
My Timing!
Accompany my sister for a while, then I went back to hotel again to have shower and extra rest.Note : MAC Liquidlast Liner worked tremendously ! #gilak #penting #abis! It stayed after I had my swim! gw baru nyadar letak paripurna wajah gw yang pas-pasan ini terletak pada eyeliner instead of lipenstip :))!
Went back to Lagoi again with some other relay participants who would do the running leg! Oh em gee, why my sister came to event from the very beginning.
Oh, there was another WTH moment on this bus. It was run out of gas! Aslik! Gw complain ke sopir kok ngga prepare? The participants of course being nervous and pissed off! One from Singapore, with his limited Bahasa Melayu did complain to the driver and I act as translator as well. me, being the only Indonesian in the bus.
I wonder why the organizer use this vendor? They had ugly buses too! For an Ironman’s event, I wonder the local authority plays unfair business. I blamed it more to the local vendor rather than the organizer. As you may aware, there are still some kongkalikong practice take place within our country.
To make it all the recap short, it took 1 minute before Bike’s Cut Off Time for Getget to finish her leg then Yola started her run at 12.00! UNDER VERY SCORCHING SUN! She almost gave up on Km 10 due to her cramped legs. Both legs. Geget lack of practice due her busy schedule. I am glad I had 10 mins shorter swimming time from my target, otherwise, Yola wouldn’t have her run.
While waiting for Getget, Vilcie was there too. I wonder whether her husband made it before bike Cut Off Time.
us
A friend of mine sent private message to me, asking when will I have this race all by myself? I can’t tell and not able to set a target! It requires hard work and discipline! Now that I’m sick ( my fever got worst, I have ear infection as I told you here, and still have tp undergo some treatments), doctor won’t allow me to have hard exercise for the next 2 months. Waving goodbye to Tokyo Marathon 2017!
so, Ironman in Whistler , perhaps? 😉
yaaaa kaliii dehh, ke Luar benua gotong-gotong sepedaaaa!
The Third Winner
PS : the day before the event, I learned that my coach, Nusa, passed away due to accident. on Satuday morning around 2 am. He died on the way to hospital! Rest in peach coach! No more yelling
“Mbak Kiky, kepalanya jangan dongak! Pegel nanti!
“Kakinya nendang ke bawah, jangan ke atas!”
from the side of the pool.
Rest in peace, Nusa! Thank you for everything!
Nusa in green
me and my story 